Length: 10 Days | Budget: $$$
Italy is by far, my FAVORITE country that I’ve visited. If you’re looking for amazing wine and food (seafood, pizza, pasta, gelato galore!), picturesque scenery, romance, history and beautiful architecture, and casual strolls on the beach…this 10-day itinerary is for you. The country is comprised of 20 different regions, each relatively easy to get to from the other (the country itself is small), however, each one offering a completely different experience.
From the mysterious winding canals of Venice, to the rolling hills of Tuscan vineyards, to the medieval buildings of Verona….there are so many reasons to fall madly in love with this country and all that it has to offer. Check out the trip recap below.
Days 1 – 3: Venice, Burano Island, Murano Island
Our flight from Seattle landed at the Venice Marco Polo Airport late in the evening, so we decided to stay in a hotel (Best Western Hotel Bologna, Mestre) close to the airport for our first night. This was nice because it gave us time to refresh and recover from a long flight. The next morning, we enjoyed a luxurious breakfast buffet (most hotels in Italy will include a full breakfast spread with your stay!) before heading to Venice. The hotel was located opposite the Venezia Mestre train station which made it easy to get to Venice (10-12 minute ride from Venezia Mestre to Venezia Santa Lucia). While at the train station, we bought a 36-hour ACTV Vaporetto ticket which allowed us to explore Venice (and nearby islands) conveniently, and for a great value.
TIP: Look for ‘Biglietto Regionale Veloce’ regional ticket machines at the railroad stations which offer a quick way to buy train tickets to cities across Italy. Before boarding the train, make sure to validate your tickets in one of the machines near the platforms! We saw one couple get HEAVILY FINED for not validating their tickets prior to boarding.
Venice is easy to get around, and easy to explore by foot. The minute we got off the train, we were blown away by the sight of grand, majestic buildings jutting out from the water. The city is just buzzing with excitement, and the winding labryinth of alleys and canals make it feel as though you’ve just walked into a fantasy movie scene. We took a quick 10-minute vaporetto ride to our hotel (Hotel Violino D’Oro) which was in a convenient location only 5-minutes away from St. Marks Square and the San Marco ferry station. After dropping off our bags, we proceeded to see all the major sites: (Palazzo Ducale, St. Marks Square/Basilica, Torre dell’Orologio, Accademia Bridge, Rialto Markets). I won’t go into much detail on these main tourist sites, because you can read about them ANYWHERE. Honestly, the best part of our trip was just holding hands, roaming around/getting lost within the many hidden alleyways, and discovering little cafes and shops.
TIP: The Rialto markets open daily at 7am. Note, the Produce market is closed on Sundays and the Fish market is closed on Sundays and Mondays. If you’re interested in getting the full market experience, plan your days accordingly!
The Dorsoduro neighborhood has lots of atmospheric bacari (bars that serve cheap cicchetti -small snacks, all day), and I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND planning some apertif time into your itinerary (Aperol Spritz! Yum!). A good option for cicchetti is: Osteria al Squero (opposite of the gondola boatyard, famous for their variety of crostini).
A must-do (albeit touristy) activity in Venice is a gondola ride and serenade. We were trying to cut down costs so we did our gondola ride as part of a group (each boat sat six people, and there were 8 gondolas in total) but you can pay extra for a private ride if you’re feeling extra romantic (you are in Italy, after all). After dinner, spend some time sitting in St. Mark’s Square and listen to bands play for guests dining at outdoor tables in front of cafes.
We spent a full day exploring the islands of Murano and Burano, which are only a 30-minute ferry ride each from Venice. To get there, take Vaporetto 12 from Fondamente Nove (departs every half hour). You can also get to Murano from line numbers 13, 14, 4.1, and 4.2. Murano is known for producing beautiful Murano glass (look for the Vetro Murano Artistico trademark to avoid fake Chinese counterfeits!). Burano is famous for high-quality lace and rows of bright rainbow colored homes (legend states that the local fishermen painted their houses bright colors so that they could easily see them from the sea). It’s an island that exudes charm and offers some much needed tranquility from buzzing Venice.
TIP: Burano is a working fisherman’s island so it means you can get super fresh seafood for a great price. We had an AMAZING lunch at Al Gatto Nero da Ruggero (reservations recommended!) which consisted of seafood risotto and grilled fish.
Days 4-5: Verona
My husband and I have fond memories of Verona – we found it to be much more manageable and less touristy than it’s larger neighbor Venice. We also thought it to be quite literally, one of the most beautiful cities we’ve ever been to (it was awarded World Heritage Site status by UNESCO for urban structure and architecture). The train ride from Venice to Verona (Porta Nuova station) was only an hour long, and tickets cost ~9 EU/person. We stayed at the Hotel Giulietta e Romeo, which was PERFECT for us since it was a 7-minute taxi ride from the train station, and was located literally next to the Arena of Verona.
Must-see sites include: Verona Arena, Castelvecchio (14th-century fortress with the Castelvecchio bridge running over the Adige River), Piazza delle Erbe (one of Italy’s loveliest piazzas with a central fountain, shops, and outdoor cafes), Torre dei Lamberti (a medieval bell tower that belonged to the Lamberti family and offers fantastic views of the city and surrounding hills), and Casa de Julietta. In the courtyard of Casa de Julietta stands the famous statue of Juliet – legends state that rubbing her right breast will make you lucky in love. To be honest, we were underwhelmed by the experience and felt claustrophobic from the crowds of tourists aggressively pushing their way to touch the statue!
TIP: Take a leisurely stroll along the Adige River and then walk down Corso Cavour to get some of the best gelato ever at Gelateria Savoia. I don’t like to admit it, but we got gelato every day while we were in Italy (sometimes, even twice a day!) My husband always gets the chocolate hazelnut gelato (also known as gianduja in Italian) and I’m a sucker for grapefruit and/or lemon flavored gelato!
This wasn’t part of our original itinerary, but our hotel concierge told us that we HAD to walk to Piazzale Castel San Pietro to see the most spectacular views of Verona. We’re so glad we listened to her because it was my favorite stop in the city! It’s a bit of an uphill trek, but totally worth the effort.
After the trek, we grabbed a meal at Leone’s Pizza, which by the way, was the best pizza I’ve ever eaten. The restaurant features Napoli-style pizza, is tucked behind the Verona Arena (down a side street) and heavily frequented by locals. We would’ve never found the place had it not been for our concierge, who had raved about their pizza. I ordered a classic margherita pizza and to this day, still reminisce about how creamy and fresh the buffalo mozzarella was. For dessert, we enjoyed some seriously good specialty coffee at Bottega del Caffe Dersut. The coffee in Italy is rich, intense, creamy, and full-bodied…way more satisfying than the non-fat lattes I’m used to in the states (and I’m from Seattle!).
If you have time, take a wine tour through the Valopolicella and Amarone regions of Verona. We took a half-day wine tour with Pagus Wine Tours, which included a stop at the hamlet of San Giorgio Ingannapoltron and a wine-tasting session at a local winery to enjoy Valpolicello Superiore, Ripasso, Amarone, and Recioto wines. The wine was incredible (we took home a half case!), the cheese was plentiful, and the tour was both scenic and educational. We definitely left the tour feeling “happy” (hint: we thoroughly enjoyed the wine).
TIP: Don’t be afraid to be adventurous and try some local Veronese food while you’re in Verona. We had a fabulous dinner at Enoteca Segreta where we enjoyed a selection of goose and duck cold cuts with cheese, pastissada de caval (slow-cooked horse meat), and fresh pasta.
Days 6-7: Florence/Tuscany
Next stop, the beautiful city of Florence. Florence is a relatively small European city, but it’s bursting with historical sites, famous artwork and architecture, and great food. We took a train from Verona Porta Nuova to Firenze Santa Maria Novella station. The train ride took roughly 2.5 hours. We were only in the region for 2 days. If you can, take at least 4-5 days (or, even better…a week!) to appreciate the sites. If time is not a luxury for you, this 2-day itinerary should give you a good taste of what Florence/Tuscany is all about.
In the short time we were there, we were able to check out these major tourist sites: Santa Maria Novella (one of the most charming Florentine churches), Duomo di Firenze (one of the largest cathedrals in the world), Galleria Degli Uffizi (home to some of the most prized Renaissance art), and Basilica of Santa Croce (church grounds where many famous Tuscans including Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and Galileo are buried). We made sure to leave some time to take a sunset walk across the famous Ponte Vecchio, and explore the shops across the bridge.
TIP: For my shoppers out there, Piazza Santa Croce is a great place to look for leather goods. Before our trip to Italy, I had kindly hinted (ahem, informed?) my husband that I was interested in buying a new leather jacket. He responded by printing a full list of good shops to check out (yes, I have the best husband ever!). I ended up buying a black leather jacket and I have no regrets.
After spending some time exploring leather goods shops in Piazza Santa Croce, we headed to the Piazza de Pitti (a.k.a Pitti Palace) to roam the large Boboli Gardens. The Pitti Palace was formerly the residence of the grand dukes of Tuscany, and later, the King of Italy. It houses several historical art collections and artistic gardens. Later, we had dinner at Ristorante Ginniano and made sure to order salumi, a large Tuscan Florentine T-bone steak, Chianti wine, and homemade pasta.
My husband and I usually stay away from large group tours (we can’t stand crowded buses and we love having the freedom to meander!), however, we decided to do a Best of Tuscany Tour to take full advantage of the time spent in the area. It was nice because we were able to pack in a TON OF SIGHTS in a day including: 1) a tour of the medieval city of Siena (another UNESCO World Heritage site in the center of Tuscany) where we learned about the Palio, a horse race held twice a year, 2) lunch at an organic family-run wine estate at a Chianti vineyard, 3) time in the enchanting hilltop village of San Gimignano where we enjoyed lovely sights of Tuscany and gelato, and 4) a short stop at the Leaning Tower of Pisa. If you’re limited on time, this tour comes highly recommended.
Our favorite stop of the tour was San Gimignano…it’s a quaint, charming hilltop town in the heart of Tuscany with beautiful views surrounding it. We loved strolling through the streets, wandering past medieval buildings and views of the countryside. Bonus: we got to taste some delicious gelato (some would say, “world’s best” – the Gelato Master Sergio Dondoli won the title in 2009) at Gelateria Dondoli.
TIP: The last stop of our Tuscany tour was in Pisa – instead of heading back to Florence with the rest of the group, we brought our luggage with us on the tour bus. You don’t need a full day in Pisa. We took a few hours to see the Tower of Pisa and get dinner before taking a train from Pisa Centrale to La Spezia Centrale. At La Spezia Centrale, we transferred to a short local train (Sestri Levante) to Riomaggiore, which is the first town of Cinque Terre.
Days 8-10: Cinque Terre
I dreamt of visiting Cinque Terre for the longest time…and when I finally did, it did not disappoint. There’s something truly magical about the colored houses scattered across the rugged coast, the scent of lemon trees, and the sweeping landscape of olive groves. Although visits to Cinque Terre have increased substantially over the past few years (they’ve even begun turning away tourists!), it felt very isolated and peaceful compared to the other locations we had visited. Cinque Terre is actually comprised of 5 villages that are minutes apart by train – 1) Riomaggiore, 2) Manarola, 3) Corniglia, 4) Vernazza, and 5) Monterosso. We stayed in Riomaggiore but most people end up staying in Monterosso, which felt more like a beach resort-town.
TIP: Once in Riomaggiore (or in any Cinque Terre train station), buy the Cinque Terre Train Card which gives you one week unlimited travel between the villages, use of the ecological parks, access to all trekking paths, and access to Wi-Fi. The card costs ~12.50EU/person.
If you’re visiting Cinque Terre, you absolutely cannot miss the hiking trails. On our first day, we hiked the most popular route (took about 6 hours to complete), which is also known as the “Blue Trail” and spans across the 5 villages. We started the hike from the Monterosso end, but technically, you can start from either direction. Before hiking the first leg from Monterosso to Vernazza, we enjoyed a stroll on the beach and took pictures with the Il Gigante statue. We also picked up some foccacia bread and packed it as a mid-hike snack at Il Massimo della Foccaccia, which was located right outside the train station (try the zucchini foccaccia, it was our favorite.)
The path from Monterosso to Vernazza took us about 2 hours, but we took a lot of stops to take pictures of citrus orchards, exotic plants, and the cliffs overlooking the water! Some parts of the path can get very narrow so be careful as there is no wall on the side of the sea. The hike wasn’t too difficult and the majority of the way was shaded by trees and lush vegetation. The view of Vernazza from the path was absolutely breathtaking. When we finally arrived in Vernazza, we spent some time walking along Via Visconti, the town’s bustling main street and then enjoyed 1-2 hours resting in the port area, enjoying a glass of Aperol spritz, our packed foccacia bread, and a large plate of fresh mozzarella.
After Vernazza, we continued the footpath to Corniglia which took us another 1.5-2 hours. From the path, you’ll see the the beach of Guvano and and cross variety of landscapes like olive groves, vineyards, and flowery meadows. I found this leg of the hike to be the most difficult (it could’ve been the spritz?) since there was a fair bit of climbing and descending. Cornigilia is the smallest of the 5 villages, so we only stayed a short while there before continuing our hike.
The footpath from Corniglia to Manarola was easy compared to the previous 2 legs of the hike, and took us about 1 hour to complete. Make sure to rest before taking the stairs down (377 steps!) to the railway station of Corniglia. From there, the path flattens out – once you arrive at the cemetery, follow the path to a picnic area where you’ll have a stunning view of the houses and the port. When we reached Manarola, we were STARVING so decided to stop for dinner. A good dinner option is Trattoria dal Billy (lobster pasta anyone?).
TIP: Unfortunately, the most famous leg of the hike, the Via dell’Amore (also known as the Lovers’ Lane) from Manarola to Riomaggiore was closed for construction during our time in Cinque Terre. We ended up taking the train back to Riomaggiore. Make sure to check which paths are closed for construction before you visit!
The rest of our time in Cinque Terre consisted of relaxing and meandering (primarily in Riomaggiore). We took a 30-minute uphill trek through gorgeous vineyards to the Santuario della Madonna di Montenero and enjoyed more stunning views of the coast. On our last day, we enjoyed a lunch of cheap, fried seafood (a specialty of Riomaggiore) at Il Pescato Cucinato (be prepared to wait in line!). We then made our way back to Venice by train before concluding our splendid Italian vacation!
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