Italy Travel Guide: The Ultimate 2-week Road Trip Italy Travel Guide: The Ultimate 2-week Road Trip

Italy Travel Guide: The Ultimate 2-week Road Trip

Italy, the country of pasta & pizza, architecture & history, jaw-dropping sceneries, world-famous cities & medieval little towns, and mouth-watering gelato. That’s right – Italy has it all, and that’s why it is one of the most-traveled destinations in Europe. Multiple visits are needed to see all the country’s highlights. Discover the best of Italy within 2 weeks in this Italy Travel Guide.

Italy Travel Itinerary

All popular cities, like Venice and Rome, are well connected by train, car, or airplane. The best and fastest option is traveling by train, and the best way to see the country is by car, so this Italy travel itinerary is a mix of those.

Day 1-3: Rome

Start your trip in the capital of Italy: Rome. Rome has some of the world’s most popular tourist attractions; the Colosseum and Vatican City. Flights to Rome are usually the most affordable, which makes it a great start location.

Find flights to Italy ✈️

Where to Stay in Rome

Rome offers accommodation for every kind of budget, including plenty of great hostels (search all hostels in Rome here).

Piazza Navona and San Lorenzo are central areas within walking distance of many of the top attractions. However, San Lorenzo is slightly cheaper if you’re traveling on a budget.

italy travel guide rome colosseum

Day 4: Tuscany – Best of the Italy Travel Itinerary

Tuscany, with its rolling hills and vineyards, is one of the most picturesque regions in Italy. Escape the city, rent a car in Rome, Italy, and drive 3 hours along Lago Di Bolsena to Saturnia, the thermal area. Spend the afternoon and have dinner in this tiny medieval village called Montemarano.

Day 5: Tuscany (Siena)

No better way to start your day than by dipping into the natural hot springs in Saturnia. Between 7-8 AM is the best time to visit, and if you stay at this hotel, it is just a 5-minute walk.

italy guide Hot Springs Tuscany Saturnia

Siena

Hop back into the car and continue your Italy travel itinerary for 3 hours along the most scenic roads toward Siena. Do note that your navigation has to be set to ‘Avoid Highways’. Siena is a beautiful old city with a UNESCO status.

Close off the day by having a delicious Italian dinner at Osteria Permalico. After that, spend the night in charming Siena (this was our hotel).

Where to Stay in Siena

If you’re only staying for one night in Siena, stick to the city center (around the Torre del Mangia), so you are close to all the historic landmarks, bars, and restaurants.

Alternatively, if you want to get back on the road early the next day, opt for rural accommodation within easy driving distance of the city.

Day 6: Tuscany (Siena to Florence)

On your last day in Tuscany, roam around Siena for a couple of hours, and visit Piazza Del Campo and the cathedral Duomo di Siena.

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Italy Travel Guide: The Ultimate 2-week Road Trip

Siena’s old city center has a great ambiance. Cars are not allowed inside the old city center. Therefore, the city is a favorite on every Italy travel route. Read more information about where to park your car in our Tuscany Guide.

Around noon, continue to your last stop: Florence. Optionally, visit San Gimignano or Volterra and drop off the car in Florence.

italy travel itinerary tuscany siena

Day 7: Florence

Welcome to Florence. Spend the next 24 hours wandering around this ancient city and discover sites like the Duomo of Florence and the ancient bridge Ponte Vecchio.

Tours & Tickets 🥾View all

While you’re in Florence, don’t miss out on a foodie adventure. Hop between cafes and restaurants, trying delicious fresh pasta and finding the best gelato!

Where to Stay in Florence

Florence has plenty of great accommodation options, from cute guesthouses and budget-friendly hostels (search for your hostel here) to luxury hotels.

Santa Croce is the best area to stay with loads of small bars and walking distance from all the things to do in Florence.

italy ponte vecchio

Day 8-10: Cinque Terre

In the morning, take the train from Florence to Cinque Terre, a 2.5h journey. Cinque Terre is a national park with five incredibly picturesque villages with hiking routes where you want to spend as much time as possible.

Spend two nights in Riomaggiore, Monterosso, or La Spezia, which is right outside the national park. (Find the best train tickets here)

Where to Stay in Cinque Terre

Accommodations inside Cinque Terre National Park are booked far in advance. Hotels are mostly available in Riomaggiore and Monterosso but expect to pay way over your typical budget per night.

A more affordable choice is to stay in La Spezia, where hotels start at 35 EUR a night. Alternatively, for the most budget-friendly option, search for a hostel in the area.

Cinque Terre italy travel

Day 11: Cinque Terre to Venice

It’s time to head to Venice, your final stop on your Italy travel itinerary. Take the train from La Spezia to Venice, a 5-hour ride with one transfer in between. The train is super convenient in Italy as some of the best you will see in Europe.

Day 12-14: Venice

Welcome to the city where everything goes by boats and bridges. Venice is one of the world’s most unique cities and an absolute must-see when you travel to Italy. Spend your last days in Italy strolling along the canals or crossing bridges sipping Italian coffee.

The mornings or late afternoon are the best times to stroll down the narrow streets of Venice as the city center gets busy during midday as the day trippers arrive in the city.

Where to Stay in Venice

Stay in the middle of the city but tucked away in a quiet street 5 minutes walking from San Marco Square at Novecento Boutique Hotel.

If you’re on a tight budget, your best option is to stay outside of Venice on the mainland.

italy travel venice guide Rialto Bridge

Costs of Traveling in Italy

The costs of traveling in Italy depend on where you eat, sleep, and how you get from A to B. These are the average expenses when you follow this Italy travel itinerary, eat at medium-priced restaurants, and travel by train + car.

Costs of Traveling in Italy

Travel on a budget in Italy, from $570 − $630 USD weekly per person, mid-range $1220 − $2800 USD, and high-end from $2660 − $4090 USD. However, costs depend on factors like accommodation, transportation, and activities. We did not include flights. Check flight prices here

* Average daily costs
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italy travel itinerary

How to Get Around Italy?

Transportation plays an essential part in your Italian experience. Your Italy travel itinerary can be done by train, car, or plane. The fastest and most affordable way to travel in Italy is by train. However, a car gets you to those scenic country roads.

Renting a Car in Italy

For full flexibility and to go off the beaten path, driving a car is a perfect option. All major cities in Italy are well connected by train, but to visit Tuscany or the Dolomites, you need to rent a car. Avoid popular cities by car, as parking costs are sometimes the price of a train ticket.

italy travel road trip

Italy by Train

Traveling around Italy by train is excellent. They are incredibly fast (up to 350 km/h!), affordable, and much cleaner for the environment compared to an airplane. Book the train tickets a few days in advance to secure your spot on the train.

italy travel itinerary train

Italy by Airplane

Just like the train, all major cities have international airports with domestic flights that connect cities internally as well as international flights.

Find flights to Italy ✈️

However, the train might be a faster option for your trip around Italy, as the extra airport time adds up quickly.

Best Time to Visit Italy

Tourism in Italy is huge because it is one of the most-visited countries worldwide, so it is recommended to avoid the high season.

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor
🌧️
5°C
Jan
🌤
9°C
Feb
🌤
12°C
Mar
🌤
17°C
Apr
🌦️
21°C
May
🌤
27°C
Jun
🌤
28°C
Jul
🌦️
27°C
Aug
🌦️
22°C
Sep
🌦️
17°C
Oct
🌧️
11°C
Nov
🌧️
6°C
Dec
🌦️
8°C
Jan
🌦️
11°C
Feb
🌤
13°C
Mar
🌤
17°C
Apr
🌤
22°C
May
🌤
26°C
Jun
☀️
30°C
Jul
☀️
31°C
Aug
🌤
24°C
Sep
19°C
Oct
🌧️
14°C
Nov
🌧️
10°C
Dec
🌧️
13°C
Jan
🌦️
14°C
Feb
🌦️
14°C
Mar
🌤
17°C
Apr
☀️
21°C
May
☀️
26°C
Jun
☀️
30°C
Jul
☀️
31°C
Aug
☀️
26°C
Sep
🌤
22°C
Oct
🌦️
18°C
Nov
🌧️
15°C
Dec

The best time to go to Italy is in spring, from April to June, and fall, from September and October. Prices are lower, fewer tourists, and comfortable temperatures.

03/05/2023 https://www.saltinourhair.com/italy/italy-travel-guide/
Blog comments (14)

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  • Victoria Teji

    Hi, just wondering what you guys did with your rental car after Saturnia springs? Wondering if going back to Rome & returning it would be the best option to take the train to Florence. Definitely want to do Rome the first couple of days, Saturnia springs, as well as Elsa trail & Diborrato waterfall in Tuscany, then either Florence or Venice (would love if you could suggest one over the other) and definitely would like to stop in Cinque De Terre for a day or two. Just wondering if returning the car and going by train is best in that case. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you!!

    • Salt in our Hair

      Hi Victoria, time-wise it’s better to rent a car for the part from Rome to Florence and carry on by train from Florence :-) However, it depends on how much the rental company charges you for returning the car at another city. If that’s way too much, you can drive back to Rome and take the train.

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