Once youre there, you can drive yourself to different towns, wineries and markets or ask your hotel if they can organize a taxi or transfer service for you. Even just at the end of May it was sweltering hot, so I was grateful all the places we stayed at had working AC. No matter what time of year you go, be sure to pack a good pair of walking shoes. Its full name is the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, and its situated in an enormous, centrally located plaza. This is another museum where its essential to purchase. Lago Maggiore is the second largest lake in Italy and claims both Italy and Switzerland as it crosses the borders. Paying a bit extra for a room with a balcony overlooking the lake is essential, since this made the first leg of our trip feel really extravagant. For this Tuscany Itinerary, I highly recommend picking a home base in one place and taking day trips from there. Travelers with less time can hit the route's highlights in a week, which makes for a fast-paced journey. Be sure to read my guide to Rome in One Day before you go. Youll find more tips on renting a car in Italy, I wont even share where we stayed because it wasnt great! When youre planning your trip to Italy, think about what is most important to you. There are taxis, but especially in high season when its crowded its often faster just to walk than to take one. I recommend you spend your time boating around the lake and checking out all the magnificent houses, wandering the streets of Bellagio, and renting a scooter to explore. There is also an international airport in the city which is extremely convenient, and has direct flights from several major U.S. airports. I cannot recommend this hotel enough, it is absolutely FABULOUS! This area is usually crowded with both local and study abroad students gathering and relaxing, and is the perfect way to unwind after a long but fulfilling day. Be sure to buy tickets to Venice Santa Lucia and NOT Mestre! In my opinion, the best time of year to visit Italy is probably May or September. If youd rather make your home base in Varenna to make things easier and explore the rest of the lake from there, Varenna is also extremely charming and has plenty of great options for places to stay. Be sure not to miss the imposing Duomo of Milan and The Last Supper if you are interested in art history. Youll find more tips on renting a car in Italy below. See da Vinci's "The Last Supper" and take in the buzzing Milan nightlife, then visit Lakes Como and Garda for a spectacular week on the water. An Epic Northern Italy Itinerary (10 Days) - Home - Every Steph It was only the end of May, but it was already extremely hot and the city was insanely crowded with tourists. Romantic 10-Day Italy Itinerary: From Venice to Lake Como by sophie.mendel16 July 7, 2022 From Lake Como to Tuscany and Florence to Venice, Italy is one of the most romantic destinations in the world. Youll have tons of amazing things to do in Italy, and what you choose to do will largely depend on where you go and what time of year you go, but here are some of the top things to do in Italy: Download my FREE Italy Bucket List by clicking here. Skip to content. . Enjoy breakfast in the hotel garden with views overlooking the gorgeous Tuscan landscape. Spend the majority of your time in Lucca, an amazing walled city, largely free from traffic and filled with beautiful architecture. In this itinerary, I switched the order of Tuscany and Florence so that Florence comes first for future trips. We do custom trip planning for Italy if youre interested in something a little more involved. We will be there for 11 days in the area. We also spent time in Venice. American Express isnt widely accepted in Italy, so make sure to bring another credit card just in case. This is the perfect way to end an incredible day in Tuscany. Delta has direct flights from Atlanta to Milan, so we opted for a post-work flight on Friday to arrive in Italy Saturday morning. Be sure to grab a few gelatos during your time in Lucca as these were some of my favorite gelato shops in Italy. most of them have pools)! Venice is known for seafood, so be sure to indulge in some fresh fare. You might also consider buying a skip the line ticket for the. If you do rent a car, however, you may need to get your international drivers permit before you go, and make sure youre comfortable navigating driving in a foreign country. Lake Como is a very popular summer destination for Italians and other Europeans, so youll want to make sure you book with enough time to ensure availability. Spend your last moments in Italy floating down the canals, getting lost in the winding alleyways, and eating gelato! Of course we still had a nice time, but you can definitely expect Italians to be much nicer everywhere else! Surprisingly, Venice has direct flights to a number of major U.S. airports, so we were able to fly directly from Venice back home to Atlanta. , which was very easy and had a ton of options to choose from. A full 10 days in Italy gives you just enough time to visit several areas in the country and have some hands-on experiences without feeling too rushed. We are two couples traveling from Los Angeles and would like to see Rome, Florence, Saturnia, Pisa, Cinque Terre, and Almalfi Coast. Only one couple would like to see Venice and the Vatican. When originally planning this trip, I had forgotten how incredible Venice is. I personally love the beach at Atrani because you dont have to walk down a thousand stairs like Positano, but you still get that beautiful and classic look of Amalfi! Do you have something that can meet our needs? First things first, head to the symbol of Firenze, the Duomo. Best Time to Go to Italy Summer is by far the most popular time to go to Italy, but also the busiest and most expensive! The best places in the region are remote and hard to get to without a car, so unless you hire a taxi or private driver from Florence to Tuscany, renting a car will be your best bet. That said, I would still bring your vax card, or at least a picture of your card, with you when youre out and about, just in case. If youre stressing about how to plan a trip to Italy, take a deep breath. Mountains, history, food, beachesSicily really does have it all! 10 Days in Italy - 5 Amazing Itineraries - Home | i Heart Italy you really cant go wrong! I recommend taking a, If youre visiting Rome with Kids, there is so much to do! Time: 1 hourCost: $12- Adults $6- Children. Lake Como is one of the best places in Italy and one of my favorite places on earth. This is the exciting part, but it can also be pretty stressful. Experience the best of Lake Como in 10 days. Places You Will Visit on this Itinerary: Venice The Dolomites Verona Milan Lake Como and Bellagio With more time, or some modifications, you can also add in Lake Garda or more time in the Dolomites. Depending on which side of the island you decide to spend most of your time on (remember, its huge) either one of these could work for you. It can be a bit of a pain to get to, but its totally worth it. This was a lovely hotel situated perfectly near the Piazza San Marco and the Teatro La Fenice opera house. Having already been to Italy several times, I knew that would be the place to win him over. We picked up our boat in Menaggio, which was a 15 minute ferry ride from Bellagio where we were staying, and it ended up being kind of cool to check out another town. Keep your priorities in mind when choosing when to go to Italy. I was able to book the round trip flights we wanted for $600 each, which is a steal for direct flights to Europe. In this itinerary, I'll show you how you can see the best of Northern Italy in 10 days. Lake Como, Italy 3-day itinerary Day 1: Menaggio, Villa Carlotta, & Villa Balbianello. Now that youve had a chance to get a feel for the city, you can dive into its more cultural and historic features. After visiting Italy many times and living there for several months, I think its best to focus on only one region of the country at a time if possible. Time: 1 hour 20 minutesCost: $22- Adults $11- Children. If you want to see snowy mountains or go skiing, youll want to go in the winter. Compare tours, packages, and independent trips for a 10 day Lake Como vacation. Roma, Castel Sant' Angelo Day 1: Arriving in Rome Ive taken several of these tours and they never disappoint. Article from . Even just wandering aimlessly through the maze of canals or finding a picturesque patio for a glass of wine is a great experience in Venice. Unfortunately, our flight from the U.S. was delayed and we missed the first official day of our trip. Note that youll have to walk up a flight of stone steps to access it. Florence is known for its epic nightlife scene, so whether you head to a chic rooftop bar, nightclub, American dive bar, or have a drink out on a patio for something more low key, you should definitely experience at least one night out in Florence. In my opinion, traveling by train is the best way to travel around Italy and see the country. Time: 1 hourCost: $11- Adults $5- Children. See this list of the best places to see in Italy, Italy Itinerary 10 Days #2: Classic Italy, 10 Days in Italy 5 Itinerary Options for your Italy Trip. While this is probably my favorite city overall, basically all of the people we met in Venice were a little rude. Experience la dolce vita on this packed 11-day itinerary of Italy's. Honeymoon in Italy: Cortina, Venice, Cinque Terre & Lake . Explore Umbria, Tuscany, and Lake Como before leaving from Milan. For this Northern Italy itinerary, I highly recommend flying into Milan and renting a car. Some cant afford to travel often, and some dont really want to. On our trip, we will start on the west side of the lake, and drive down the coast to reach our various destinations. I cannot emphasize this enough. 10 Days in Italy Itinerary: Ten Perfect Itinerary Ideas ckanani Champagne tasting in Champagne, France - a perfect day trip from Paris! It is similar to itinerary one, but instead of Lake Como you will visit Rome. Flying into Naples and driving 4.5 hours down the coast can be beautiful and gives you the option of stopping in the Amalfi coast if you have time. The Ultimate Lake Como Itinerary: A Dreamy Week in Paradise Besides the fact that this is absolutely a once in a lifetime experience and will likely be one of the most unique moments of your trip, all of the food at Barbacani is also solidly delicious. You may also want to check to make sure your credit card. ALL TRAVEL BEAUTY LIFESTYLE DECOR PACK + SHOP. I wont even share where we stayed because it wasnt great! Outside of Milan and Rome, Uber isnt huge in Italy. Travelers with more time can enjoy extra sights and activities at each stop or explore more of the countrysome favored itinerary extensions include Verona or Rome. Our theory is that since alcohol suppresses the immune system, the wine simply calmed his allergies down. But if you only have one week in Italy, you can still have a great time. This is one of the best Italy vacations for really energetic and active travelers. After youve spent a few hours in Pisa, its time to head back on the train to Cinque Terre. Trains all over Italy are cheap and run frequently. can also be a great tool for finding the cheapest airfare if youre more flexible with your dates. RossHelen / shutterstock.com Guides & Tips Italy 10 Days in Italy: The Perfect Italy Itinerary TwitterFacebookFlipboardEmail Road Affair is reader-supported and may earn commission from purchases made through links in this article. This Lake Como Itinerary takes you to the best of this idyllic destination in Northern Italy's Lombardy region, with a shimmering blue lake sitting at the base of the Alps. Exploring The Villages of Lake Como - 5 Days - kimkim: Online Travel Time: 4 hoursCost: $36- Adults $18- Children, [maxbutton id=1 url=https://fave.co/2X2I4aG text=Book Train Tickets ]. Ive taken several of these tours and they never disappoint. Food costs around the same as in the US, fuel is a lot more expensive, and accommodation will differy greatly. While for a romantic trip I would definitely suggest spending at least one night in Tuscany, if you dont have the time, you can easily take just a half or full-day tour from Florence to Tuscany. Spend time on the beach, hiking, visiting ancient ruins, and tasting classic Sicilian food. Time: 1 hour 10 minutesCost: $24- Adults $12- Children, [maxbutton id=1 url=https://go.skimresources.com?id=130479X1592611&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.raileurope.com%2F text=Book Train Tickets ]. 14 Montepulciano Wineries to Visit in Tuscany. Time: 2.5 hoursCost: $44- Adults $22- Children. I feel so grateful to have been able to share this place and experience with my best friend and partner in life, and I would certainly recommend everyone who is able not to skimp out on Tuscany. Beginning your trip in Lake Como packs an impressive punch. Read all about what to do in Venice before going. Eat at, , or any of the charming outdoor patio restaurants in the square. If you dont have one, they can take it for you there. Its impossible not to fall in love with Florence. when I travel internationally because it lets you take out cash at any ATM all over the world and doesnt charge any international transaction fees. Depending on the length of your trip, how often youll be riding trains, which trains youll be taking, and how many countries youre planning to visit in Europe, it can be a great deal. Youll need a budget for your 10 days in Italy and that budget will depend a lot on what you can afford, how you choose to stay, and where you choose to go. Do you have anything that fits those regions? Once youve crossed over the Ponte Vecchio, youll be in Florences Santo Spirito neighborhood. Your advice would be greatly appreciated! Having your own car will give you the most freedom to explore the area at your convenience, and most accommodations in Tuscany offer free overnight parking. Even if you dont choose this specific hotel, I would definitely recommend staying in the Chianti Classico wine region of Tuscany. From the waterfront, narrow, cobblestoned streets and walking paths lead uphill through town. Lake Como; Venice; Why do I need this guide? Just cut one location out of any of these itineraries and you'll be fine! The Best Places To Stay In Lake Como, Italy. Getting around Italy can be easy and fun! xo Vanessa. Note that there is a two-hour limit. Be prepared to take taxis, and know that while some will accept credit cards, most prefer or only allow cash. xo Vanessa. Lake Como: Day 10: Free Day on Lake Como: Lake Como: Day 11: . Also see: Italy Itinerary;Amalfi Coast Itinerary;Rome Itinerary;Venice Itinerary;Milan Itinerary;Florence Itinerary. Read more. Romantic 10-Day Italy Itinerary: From Venice to Lake Como - The Summer in Lombardy: 10 Days in Milan, Lake Como & Bergamo; Cities of Northern Italy: 10 Days in Venice, Verona & Bologna; . The regular wine tasting was still lovely and inexpensive, though. Day 1: Bellagio Town Center | Punta Spartivento | Pescallo | Bellagio Water Sports | Menaggio | Sunset Drink Day 2: Varenna | Walk of Lovers Promenade | Hike to Castello di Vezio | Villa Monastero | Orrido di Bellano | Bellano The ferry would have taken two hours and been much cheaper, and the water taxi was quite expensive, some 140 euros I believe, but only took half an hour. Spend 5 days on this beautiful Italian island that is the second largest in the Mediterranean Sea. Enjoy the ancient feel the city, walk the Ponte Vecchio, visit famous museums and see incredible artwork! Once there, you dont really have to wear masks anywhere except for on the trains between cities, and honestly we were never asked to show our Covid vaccination card anywhere during the trip, including in museums, restaurants, bars, etc. This dreamy itinerary will leave you swooning at every turn. The lake is filled with cute towns, but trust me, Bellagio is where youll want to be based. Spend a day and a half exploring museums, walking along the Ponte Vecchio, and eating gelato in this renowned city of culture. Lake Iseo, known as Lago dIseo is a little-known lake between Garda and Como that is a hidden gem in Italy. However, for most itineraries, 2 days in Lake Como is a sufficient amount of time. Welcome to Lake Como, Italy's captivating gem nestled at the foothills of the majestic Italian Alps. We chose a room with a canal view (you might consider upgrading to a room with a balcony overlooking a canal instead), and the lobby opened up directly onto a canal so when our water taxi picked us up to take us to the airport, we stepped directly out of the lobby and onto the boat. This is a great way to experience the hustle and bustle of the city, and youre likely to find a variety of talented street performers playing live music. If you want to spend more time on the beach, youll want to go in the summer. There is so much to see in Rome, youll be glad you have three days to see it! Trip Highlights Dinner at a canal-side table in Venice ahead of time. The water taxi was an experience in itself, and we absolutely loved it. Tuscany (and the whole trip really) was right out of a movie. If you dont want to use the data one of the days or at all, simply keep your phone on airplane mode. There is still so much that you can see just in a day and a half! The local gondoliers are available at any time of day or night and are very easy to find. Its fabulous! Where to go in Italy? You can spend your time here hiking, ferrying across the lake, or visiting Grumello Castle. Cinque Terre is one of my very favorite places in Italy! We rented it ahead of time and picked it up at Milans central train station. It is truly beautiful. 10-Day Lake Como Venice Tuscany Tour - Italy Vacations & Escorted Italy Italy beaches are known as some of the best in the world, and, in my opinion, most of them are on Sardinia! Both beginning in the vibrant city of Milan, you cannot go wrong with either itinerary and you're sure to fall in love with this incredible area of the country. Sardinia is known as a Blue Zone which means that people who live here live longer than anyone on Earth. We took the train from Florence to Venice which was easy and relaxing. We stayed in the iconic lakeside town of Bellagio, which I would recommend for any first-timers to Lake Como. Florence isnt very large, so nearly everywhere you would want to go is accessible within a 20-minute walk or less. , a romantic restaurant tucked away in one of the cobblestoned corners of Bellagio. These are all excellent questions, and a great starting point for this Italy itinerary trip planner! The beautiful towns built on cliffs are honestly one of the best things to see in Italy. Day 1: Take the Redeye and Arrive the Next Morning, How to Book a Day Trip or Half-Day Trip from Florence to Tuscany. Just make sure youre done in time to catch the last ferry back to Bellagio, or organize a water taxi ahead of time. One of the most memorable moments of your trip will definitely be watching the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo. , as those can quickly add up on a vacation. Relax, read, write, eat, drink, stroll around, and just be present. How to Plan the Perfect Day Trip to Lake Como - Earth Trekkers | Family Check into your hotel and explore Bellagio. It was only the end of May, but it was already extremely hot and the city was insanely crowded with tourists. My boyfriend is incredibly sensitive to pollen and we must have been there just as everything was starting to bloom because his allergies were absolutely horrible! If you are planning a trip to Italy, youll want to follow my basic advice, especially if it is your first trip to Italy! Keep in mind that this is an unusual city, and the roads are mostly canals which you can only access by boat. A Guide To Italy's Amazing Lake Como If youve only got a couple days in Florence, youll want to hit the ground running by seeing the citys most iconic sights right off the bat. There are tons of high end and antique stores. We've been to Italy three times and still feel like we haven't seen it all so I'm sure you can already guess that a 10 day Italy itinerary will really only give you a tiny . Driving can be a little terrifying in some areas. If you only have 2 days in Lake Como, obviously you are going to want to make the most of your location. By the time we got to Florence, we were in such a relaxed mindset and had grown so used to the calm that when we arrived in Florence (hungover from too much wine in Tuscany) it was like a shock to our systems. Its an easy train ride from city center to city center. If you want to climb to the top of the dome, consider buying, Another classic tourist destination in Florence, the Ponte Vecchio is an iconic bridge over the Arno River. Youll have the opportunity to see celebrated artwork and architecture. This was one of the highlights of our trip; it was such a unique experience to see the lake and its colorful towns from the water. How many days do you need in Italy? If you want some great tips on traveling Italy, join my Italy Travel Group on Facebook for more helpful tips! Florence is a beautiful city that is home to much of Italys Renaissance art. If youre up for it, head to. Tip: Gustapizza will probably have an extremely long line to sit down at a table. Let me do all the work for you! EPIC LAKE COMO Itinerary! (2023 Guide) - Adventure Travel Blog For us, it made the most sense to rent a car in Milan and drive it down to Florence and Tuscany. If youre traveling in summer, this site is likely to be extremely crowded and chaotic, so dont plan to spend too much time here. It is located just south of the Swiss Alps which means there are beautiful mountains surrounding the lake all with incredible views. Italy drives on the right-hand side of the road, same as in America. I have AT&T which lets you have unlimited data for $10/day. On our next trip this summer wed like to see more of the southern areas ( Amalfi, Positano, Sicily, Calabria, Abruzzi). These are my top 5 Italy vacation ideas. If you play it right, Venice can be a relaxing way to end your trip. But plan to split to explore our own interests. Italy is so large, it can be overwhelming. When considering how to plan a trip to Italy, you may want to avoid heading to Tuscany in the early spring and opt to go later in the summer or even in the fall instead. Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, is a must for your classic trip to Italy. For these itineraries, I dont recommend buying one. Tuscany somehow makes you forget about absolutely everything else and simply exist in the moment. Since this would be our first international trip together, I knew it had to be special. Ancient history is everywhere in this large city. Which town you train to will depend on which of the 5 towns you stay in. How much does a trip to Italy cost? Lake Como Itinerary: 7 Day Trip Starting in Milan, Italy This 10-day Lake Como, Venice, Tuscany tour package is a slow-paced Italy tour. How long should you plan for your trip around Italy? Youve got endless fantastic options to choose from, but check out the list below for a few of my top picks. But if youre on a mission to see it all, take an entire day to relax and enjoy the sites. Follow. What is the cheapest month to travel to Italy? As the locals what they recommend doing nearby. So when you make your itinerary, do it with that in mind. My interactive 40 page PDF contains everything you need to pull off this amazing itinerary! 10 Days in Italy: The Best Itinerary Ideas for 2023 I was able to book the round trip flights we wanted for $600 each, which is a steal for direct flights to Europe. The main villas to explore here are, , which is an eight minute walk from the town center, and. Have dinner at a dreamy lakefront restaurant, or eat at. Our family backpacked around Europe, spending an entire month in Italy. Head to Pisa to see the famed Leaning Tower of Pisa! I would 100% recommend making reservations for all the places you plan to stop at (even if you dont end up making it to all of them) because they do tend to book up. But if you dont know that yet, you can book tickets to La Spezia and pick up a regional train to any of the towns Cinque Terre towns last minute. If you have 10 days in Italy, we have five great ideas for how you can spend your time. These are both central locations to anything youll want to see and do in Florence, so if youre nearby one of these youll be good to go. I've also got a map at the bottom to help you visualize the journey. If youre wondering how to plan a trip to Italy thats certain to exceed your highest expectations, this is it. In the Lakes in the North, Dolomites, Tuscany, and Sardinia are all great places to drive in Italy. But if you only have one week in Italy, you can still have a great time. Welcome to one of my favorite places on earth. Northern Italy Travel FAQ Day 1: Milan You want to start your 10-day itinerary of northern Italy from its most famous and glamorous city, Milan. A full 10 days in Italy gives you just enough time to visit several areas in the country and have some hands-on experiences without feeling too rushed. Luckily this trip delivered, and it ended up being the perfect fairy-tale backdrop to our love story. Its a great place to take a cooking class (BOOK HERE). We bought stunning glass-blown drinking glasses, but you might also consider bringing home mirrors, figurines, beads, jewelry and more as keepsakes from your trip. You can easily get from Rome to the Amalfi coast by taking the train from Rome to Naples. But it can also be a waste of money. AC isnt as common in Europe as it is in America, so youll want to check ahead of time to make sure all of your accommodations come with it. For this trip, we actually had an idea of the exact flights we wanted to get, and then I got an email from Scotts Cheap Flights tipping me off that flights to Italy for May would be cheap during the next two days. Larger cities like Rome, Venice, and Florence will be quite a bit more expensive than traveling in the countryside. Thanks for being so thorough and planning a wonderful adventure. This is the best Italy itinerary if youre interested in exploring the beautiful lakes of Northern Italy. All of Tuscany is beautiful but Chianti is the absolute most scenic area, which will elevate your experience tenfold. You can even take a self-guided bike tour of the city. The only downside is that youll need to make sure you have enough money available in your account several days before you go, because if it turns out you want to take out more than you have, it will take a few days for the money to transfer over. Most affordable flights to Italy will take you to Rome. Head to the central square, the Piazza San Marco, where youll find the citys. You can learn more here: https://iheartitaly.co/custom-trip-planning-italy/ Please reach out with any questions. Renting a car was easy and relatively inexpensive. This is likely just because there are SO many tourists in Venice (overtourism has been a major problem there, actually), so everyone who lives and works in the city is kind of just over it. . With 10 days in Italy, you have just enough time to visit these three cities and add in a quick visit to a nearby destination. Its time for your very last train ride in Italy! It will allow you to see around three areas in the country without getting too tired, and its the average paid vacation time for most Americans. Take a day to explore your own little Tuscan town. If youre up for it, head to Bellagios iconic Villa Melzi, which is known for its stunning gardens and chapel. This area is (slightly) less touristy and a little more local, though its still home to some of the citys top tourist sights. savoredjourneys.com - Laura Lynch.