Bella Italia. A Mediterranean dream whose reputation has endured amongst guests for hundreds of years, Italy ought to be entrance and middle on any discerning vacationer’s bucket checklist.
The boot-shaped European nation is the house of legendary cities, world-famous artwork, enriching tradition, and naturally, a number of the greatest foods and drinks on the earth. That’s why annually, nearly 100 million guests contact down in Italy on the lookout for their subsequent massive journey – and discover it!
And in case you’ve solely bought seven days to see the most effective of the nation, I’m right here to point out you methods to do it, with my one-week “Intro to Italy” itinerary that may have you ever uncover three of the nation’s most iconic locations!
However first, let’s break down a couple of of essentially the most continuously requested questions on touring in Italy!
Tips on how to Get Round Italy
Italy, being one of many world’s hottest vacationer locations for such a very long time, has had a few years to streamline ways in which guests to the nation get round, and in consequence, touring Italy is a breeze.
You possibly can lease a automobile and see Italy for your self (though Italy is famend for its loopy drivers!), soar on an area bus (or a tourist-centered hop-on hop-off bus), see Italy from the again of a Vespa, and even take ferries and cruises round its many coastal hotspots.
Nonetheless, for my part, there isn’t any higher approach to get round Italy than by practice. Touring in Italy by practice eliminates the stress of airports and of flying from metropolis to metropolis, the Italian practice system is straightforward to navigate (many Italians communicate English or are multilingual), Italy’s trains are exceptionally comfy, and you’ll snag some significantly low-cost fares.
However better of all, you can be handled to the beautiful surroundings that makes Italy so beloved. I take advantage of Omio for reserving my practice journeys because it’s tremendous user-friendly and can present you your whole choices!
Professional Journey Tip: Should you guide your tickets upfront (ideally 2-3 weeks earlier than your ticket) for Italian practice tickets, costs will likely be loads cheaper!
What Is The Greatest Italy SIM Card For Vacationers?
There’s an enormous vary of Italy SIM playing cards for overseas guests to buy that may reduce information use or roaming prices whereas overseas, however I’d personally advocate buying an eSim
One in all my favourite current developments in journey expertise is the easiness of staying related with e-Sims (particularly since Apple removed the sim-card tray on the iPhone). The previous couple journeys to Italy/Europe I’ve bought a SimLocal eSim Europe legitimate for 28 days and works throughout 43 international locations. The service has labored nice, and it’s tremendous user-friendly and simple to put in.
Should you’re planning a visit solely to Italy, then I’d go along with the SimLocal eSim Italy because it’ll value you a lot much less.
Is 7 Days Sufficient in Italy?
Should you’re pressed for time and solely have every week to see a few of Italy’s world-famous highlights, it’s higher than nothing! The next itinerary that I’ve put collectively particulars methods to see the most effective of Italy in simply seven days (whereas limiting time in transit to benefit from your week), together with beautiful world cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice – and a number of the magnificent landscapes in between!
Every week in Italy gives you a style of what this magnificent nation has to supply and can be sure you encourage you to return repeatedly.
Is Italy Very Costly?
Western Europe, the place Italy is positioned, is mostly dearer than Japanese Europe or different extra budget-friendly areas of the world. Nonetheless, that doesn’t imply that there aren’t methods to journey round this iconic nation on a shoestring, whereas nonetheless having fun with a high-quality trip.
Many guesthouses and hostels supply very comfy lodgings for a fraction of the price of extra high-end motels, significantly in metropolis facilities. Touring through practice round Italy is one other nice approach to maintain your journey finances in test – saving extra Euros for pasta carbonara and late-night Negronis.
Additionally, touring throughout the shoulder seasons (avoiding peak-time summer time) is usually a big money-saving tip!
One Week Intro To Italy Itinerary
Now that I’ve answered a few of your most burning questions on touring in Italy, let’s dive into my one-week Italy itinerary! That is good for first-time guests who wish to get a small style of what makes this nation so magnificent!
- Rome (3 Days)
- Florence (2 Days)
- Venice (2 Days)
Beginning your week within the nation’s capital, Rome, is a good way to kickstart your Italian odyssey – and completely lives as much as the hype! I used to dwell in Rome, and it’ll all the time maintain a particular place in my coronary heart.
3 Days in Rome
The “Everlasting Metropolis”, famend for being the guts of the Roman Empire and the birthplace of many conveniences we take with no consideration as we speak, has all of it. Your senses will likely be heightened round each nook of this charming world metropolis. Rome has managed to retain a lot of its historic allure, whereas nonetheless being absolutely fashionable in its vacationer trade and the consolation guests can anticipate.
Should you’ve by no means been to Rome, you’ll have oodles of world-famous landmarks to tick off your itinerary. And the most effective factor about Rome is that a lot of your exploration could be carried out on foot! Town is a pleasure to wander round, and in case your ft get drained, the town has an easy-to-navigate metro system that has stops close to all main sights.
I have already got an in depth three-day Rome itinerary & Weekend in Rome information on my weblog, which fits into nice element on methods to spend each minute of your time within the metropolis!
Nonetheless, to recap the highlights…
Day 1: Roman Landmarks With A Story To Inform
Get up! You’re in Rome and I hope you’ve packed some comfy strolling footwear!
In your first day, it would be best to see for your self the town’s many historic fountains, together with vacationer magnet The Trevi Fountain. Throw a coin in over your shoulder and make a want!
Subsequent, discover the magnificent Pantheon, climb the Spanish Steps and luxuriate in a piping scorching Italian espresso in one of many metropolis’s sprawling public squares, such because the Piazza Navona or the Piazza Del Popolo. Rome is a big treasure trove of discoveries, and in all places you look, you’ll see one thing grand that has an extended and storied story to inform.
Rome is bustling with vacationers in summer time so anticipate queues if you wish to get near most sights. The cooler months in Rome have milder climate than in lots of European cities, and with fewer crowds an low season journey can also be price contemplating.
After all, every single day in Italy ought to permit for quite a few stop-offs to pattern the delicacies the nation is understood throughout the globe for. Rome has a number of the most historic “gelaterias” within the nation, and its gelato – and the sheer vary of lip-smacking flavors accessible – is unattainable to say no to.
Day 2: A “Colossal” Journey
Your second day in Rome ought to be reserved for exploring the landmark to beat all landmarks – The Colosseum!
This nearly two-thousand-year-old Roman amphitheater is a marvel of historic structure and is infamous for being the location of the deaths of half 1,000,000 gladiators and slaves. This is a vital still-standing monument, and taking a tour of the Colosseum is an interesting, but sobering, expertise.
The Roman Discussion board is correct subsequent to the Colosseum, and plenty of tickets to both embody entry to each landmarks. This Historic Roman market is a sprawling open-air museum of relics and archaeological fascinations, and plenty of pivotal moments in historical past occurred proper right here.
After you’ve loaded up on historical past at these epic websites, why not spend the afternoon indulging in some first-class Italian buying? Rome has one thing for everybody, from iconic buying streets just like the Through Del Corso to tiny laneway flea markets, to one-off Italian boutiques dripping in type.
Day 3: Artwork And Structure At Its Best
Your last day in Rome saves arguably the most effective for final – a go to to the Vatican! This city-state – technically its personal nation – is within the coronary heart of Rome, and the place you’ll head to see St Peter’s Basilica, St Peter’s Sq., and The Vatican Museums, which embody a number of the world’s most priceless creative works. Most famously, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling masterpiece. It’s actually awe-inspiring, and also you’ll spend hours exploring the whole lot The Vatican has to supply.
Situated close to The Vatican is the formidable Castel Sant’Angelo, a Roman fort that dates again to 139AD and that guests as we speak can, fortunately for us, nonetheless tour.
You’ve now seen the most effective of Rome and it’s time to board the practice to your subsequent vacation spot… Florence!
2 Days in Florence
Rome presents seamless, direct connections to Florence, which take simply 90 minutes. Your practice from Rome to Florence will take you thru a number of the most picturesque countryside, and essentially the most charming cities, of Tuscany.
When you arrive in Florence, the capital of the area, you’ll be strolling within the footsteps of giants from all through historical past. This creative metropolis is the beating coronary heart of the Italian artwork world, and was as soon as residence to masters equivalent to Da Vinci and Michelangelo.
I’ve an in depth two-day Florence itinerary on my weblog, so for extra particulars and proposals, test it out! There’s a lot to see and do in Florence, so get a great night time’s sleep in one of many metropolis’s many lodging choices!
I lived in Florence for 1.5 years and it’s one other place that I’ll all the time cherish – and 48 hours within the metropolis is definitely loads of time to discover it’s charming streets, markets, and iconic landmarks
Day 4: Discover The Limitless Magnificence Of Florence
Your first day in Florence ought to be spent merely wandering. There’s few cities on the earth which might be as pleasing to discover on foot, or which might be as simple to get round. It’s much more compact than Rome!
The Florence metropolis middle is brimming with wonderful sights only a hop, skip, and soar away from one another. This contains the beautiful Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (“The Duomo”), the Basilica of Santa Croce, and the various historic bridges that cross the Arno River, together with the Ponte Vecchio. Florence was as soon as a base for the Italian higher crust, together with the highly effective Medici Household, and the town is residence to many regal buildings and palaces that you could nonetheless go to as we speak, together with the Pitti Palace and the Palazzo Vecchio.
You’ll be full up on historical past and tradition after your first day in Florence, so be sure that to get pleasure from an al fresco native meal for dinner, capped off with a bottle of native Tuscan wine. Till tomorrow!
Day 5: A Metropolis Of Masterpieces
An early begin is a should as we speak, not solely to beat the crowds however to cram in what your second day in Florence is all about – artwork! Your second day in Florence is greatest spent taking in a number of the most well-known artwork from all through historical past at two of the town’s well-known websites.
First up, head to the Uffizi Gallery, Italy’s reply to The Louvre. This gallery is residence to Italy’s largest collections of art work behind The Vatican Museums. The Uffizi Gallery homes over 2000 artworks over 100 rooms, and you’ll anticipate to see works by masters like Botticelli (his “Start of Venus” calls the Uffizi residence), Da Vinci, Rembrandt and Caravaggio. To call however a couple of.
I hope you’re not too full up on artwork but, as the most effective is but to come back!
After your go to to the Uffizi, wander over to the Accademia, a museum that exists principally to accommodate essentially the most well-known sculpture in historical past… Michelangelo’s David! This Florence museum can also be residence to different sculptures by Michelangelo, and a go to here’s a should.
I hope your time in Florence has been inspiring and academic, and now it’s time to leap on the practice, calm down and zoom in direction of your last vacation spot – Venice!
2 Days in Venice
Trains from Florence to Venice depart all through the day and night time, and the journey is simply 2-3 hours, relying on the service you select. You’ll journey up by way of Bologna and different well-known places, into the Veneto area of northeastern Italy. Your practice will pull up proper into Venice’s Santa Lucia Station, which is located proper on the Grand Canal within the coronary heart of city!
Venice is a novel metropolis, one floating on a lagoon, and there’s nowhere on the earth fairly prefer it. Artwork, historical past, tradition, and nice meals await you, so test into your lodging and let the sounds of Venice’s canal currents ship you to sleep!
Professional-Tip: Should you’re touring with plenty of baggage/ heavy suitcases, be sure you guide lodging close to the practice station to maintain issues easy. Strolling round and getting misplaced within the canals is half the enjoyable, so that you don’t wish to spend an excessive amount of time location your lodging.
Day 6: A Formidable Sinking Metropolis
Good Morning! It’s your second-last day in Italy, and also you’ve woken up in a metropolis that has impressed artists, writers, and leaders for hundreds of years. Right now, spend the day on the principle island the place most of Venice’s most closely trafficked landmarks are. Do you know that Venice is definitely comprised of 126 islands?!
Your day will likely be stuffed with visits to a few of Venice’s most famous places, together with St Mark’s Sq., The Doge’s Palace, The Bridge of Sighs, The Grand Canal, The Rialto Bridge and the various cathedrals and museums that dot the Venetian panorama.
After all, no go to to Venice is full and not using a gondola journey alongside its many canals, being serenaded by a gondolier. These rides could be expensive, and it’s extra pleasing within the hotter months than in winter, when Florence can flood, however a gondola journey remains to be effectively worthwhile and a little bit of enjoyable!
Day 7: Expertise The Colours Of Venice
Your last day in Italy, and your second day in Venice, ought to contain spending time on the opposite islands that decision Venezia residence, significantly the colourful locales of Murano and Burano. Well-known for its brightly-painted buildings and wealthy traditions in glass making, that is the place to choose up a one-off Italian memento that you just’ll treasure perpetually. Venice has a unbelievable community of water taxis and ferries to get you across the many native islands.
Afterwards, discover a cozy, genuine trattoria, away from the vacationer traps, and bask in a last Italian meal to put in writing residence about. Should you’re fortunate, you’ll additionally get to absorb a well-known Venetian sundown, which illuminates the town’s colourful buildings and has been the inspiration for a lot of artists all through historical past. There’s nothing prefer it. Get pleasure from!
I hope that your week in Italy is the whole lot you anticipated and extra! Whereas it is going to be one jam-packed week of sightseeing – it’ll be effectively price it and could have you FALL IN LOVE with Italy simply as a lot as I’ve!
Planning a visit to Europe?
My journey weblog is stuffed with tons of useful vacation spot guides, issues to do, and useful itineraries that I assure will likely be useful on your upcoming Europe journey. I’d love for you to have a look, and be happy to achieve out with any questions.
Thanks a lot for studying my Intro-to-Italy itinerary!
