Idyllic Italy

Arrive in Venice via Venice Marco Polo Airport, landing in the evening or late afternoon.

Walk from the terminal to the water transport area. You will wait for a short time for the Alilaguna, which takes you to the closest stop to your accommodations in Venice. A short walk from the Alilaguna stop to your accommodation gives you a quick taste of what’s to come.

After settling in at your accommodations, you will head out to experience Venice in all of its glory, exploring the local canals.

Generally, your accommodations will be in a quieter part of Venice, allowing you to choose when to engage with crowds, or when to stick to parks and less traveled areas.

A great local restaurant sits around the corner. Indulge in Italian classics including pizza and pasta.

No day in Venice is complete without gelato, closing out the day.

Get some sleep, you have an incredible day ahead.

For breakfast, head to a small local shop to get a pastry, quiche, espresso, etc.

Start your first full day in Venice seeing the Rialto Bridge and the Grand Canal. This area will be much more populated than where you are staying, but it is worth seeing the many small bridges and alleyways in this area.

Head to Fondaco Terrace, giving a panoramic view of the Grand Canal.

Check out Piazza San Marco, the main square of Venice, seeing the campanile, St Mark’s Basilica, and the outside of Doge’s Palace.

Surrounding these sights are many shops and places to eat for lunch. You can get arancini and other street foods or have a great sit-down meal in this area.

Self-guided tour through Doge’s Palace, which at one point also housed the government of Venice. This museum has a well-marked route with great information supplied throughout the many ballrooms, government chambers, and even the prison. Pass over the Bridge of Last Breaths for an alternative view of the famous bridge. Want to relax more? Save Doge’s palace for day 6.

Eat dinner at a fantastic local restaurant, known for seafood. For a more relaxed option, try an incredible take-out pizza place, eating back at your accommodations. Try a traditional margherita or mix it up with one of their unique creations!

Head home, grabbing a gelato on the way, to prepare for a Murano and Burano day trip tomorrow.

For breakfast, head to a small local shop to get a pastry, quiche, espresso, etc.

Head on a self-guided day trip to Murano and Burano. If interested, visit Torcello as well, as it is very close to Burano. Torcello is a beautiful little island with a few restaurants, a small museum, and a small basilica.
– Our favorite glass shops and furnaces on Murano to visit will be included in our full itinerary.

Before leaving Murano for Burano, make sure to stop at our recommended lunch spot and gelato shop.

Head to Burano for beautiful multi-colored buildings, the lace museum, and stop at a bakery in town to get famous local cookies. Towards the end of the day, the streets start to empty as day trip tourists return to their ships or travel accommodations.

Eat a set meal at a beautiful local restaurant, consisting of 7 courses.

Return to your accommodation, but not before grabbing a gelato on the way back!

For breakfast, head to a small local shop to get a pastry, quiche, espresso, etc.

Explore Lido, iconic for the film festival, in a quieter Venetian setting. Relax at the beach or by the pool.

Head down the road from the beach to a unique lunch experience. Eat a fresh crafted sandwich on a double decker bus!

Catch some more sun at the beach. (Rather catch some art than soaking up the sun? After exploring Lido, return to mainland Venice and head to Ca’ Pesaro International Gallery of Modern Art to experience art from the 19th and 20th centuries.)

Return to the main part of Venice to have dinner at a local favorite.

No day is complete without gelato. I recommend the stracciatella, which is vanilla with chocolate throughout.

For breakfast, head to a small local shop to get a pastry, quiche, espresso, etc.

Explore the beautiful Peggy Guggenheim Museum, a collection of art in her Venice home.

Around this area, are some shops and galleries to explore, catering to artistic tastes. A very short walk east is also Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, boasting stunning architecture and also providing a beautiful view of Venice.

Lunch at a delicious restaurant towards the Accademia Bridge.

Head back towards Piazza San Marco via the Accademia bridge. If you are interested in local art, there are many artists set up willing to paint/draw/create custom art pieces, along with their other works for sale.

Stop at a cafe or a bar for a drink, relaxing in the streets at a table.

View Venice how it was meant to be seen, from a gondola! For a different option, save this for after dinner for a nighttime experience.

Enjoy a dinner at a local small restaurant, in an intimate setting.

No night is complete without gelato. For an interesting combo, see if they have an affogato, which is espresso poured on your choice of gelato.

For breakfast, head to a small local shop to get a pastry, quiche, espresso, etc.

Stroll through Venice’s green areas, enjoying the quieter parts of the city. Giardini della Biennale, located in the eastern part of Venice, houses some sculptures and architecture.

Get a takeout pizza from a delicious local place, eating back at your accommodation.

Stop at a local bar in the park, with tall glass windows, giving the feeling of being in a conservatory.

Return to favorite locations from your trip, to savor your last day in Venice.

Eat dinner at a fantastic local favorite, showcasing fine regional favorites with quality ingredients.

Get some sleep to prepare to fly out early afternoon, but not before one last gelato.

Eat like a local for your last Venetian breakfast and head to a small local shop to get a pastry, quiche, espresso, etc.

Say goodbye to your favorite spots in Venice, relaxing at a cafe until your train arrives.

Depart Venice on a high speed train heading to the Cinque Terre, changing Trains in Florence. Head from Florence to La Spezia. Change Trains again in La Spezia, finally getting on the Cinque Terre Express. The trip takes about 7 hours.

Arrive in Levanto, a town just one stop after the Cinque Terre. This cute little town is more relaxing due to being a bit larger and spread out, along with sporting much less tourists. Grab a snack and explore the town.

After exploring, you are sure to be hungry. Dinner tonight will be at a beautiful restaurant in town.

After dinner, head right around the corner to a quaint wine bar for a drink.

Take a peaceful stroll back to your room in the Italian Riviera.

Head to our recommended local cafe or bakery for a great start to your day. For a quick traditional meal, enjoy a local fresh baked good and an espresso.

Today you will be exploring the Cinque Terre by water, on a small group boat tour.

Catch a short train ride to Monterosso to meet your boat and guide, providing a tour taking 2-3 hours. Sunset tours are also available.

When returning from your boat tour, you will probably be hungry, and Monterosso has a few great places. Eat lunch in the old town, also giving you a chance to explore.

Take a short walk to a local winery to relax in a beautiful atmosphere with a wine tasting.

Walk along the beach before returning to Levanto by train to head to dinner.

Head to dinner at a great seafood restaurant with a unique atmosphere.

If you want to extend your night out past dinner, there are a few great bars in town to check out.

Head to our recommended local cafe or bakery for a great start to your day. For a quick traditional meal, enjoy a local fresh baked good and an espresso.

Catch the train to the beautiful town of Riomaggiore, taking about 26 minutes. Walk through the tunnel that runs alongside the train to get to the rest of the town, separate from the train station.

Explore the town, beginning your exploration by walking through the village’s main street, Via Colombo, lined with shops, restaurants, and cafes. Admire the architecture and the vibrant colors filling the town. Don’t miss the Church of San Giovanni Battista, dating back to the 14th century, known for its Gothic-Ligurian style. Some other things to see are the marina, and for those willing to take on a long climb, the Castle of Riomaggiore. It is worth the climb, if just for the view of the coast.

Head back to the train platform to grab some lunch at a great pizzeria.

After lunch, take the hike from Riomaggiore to Manarola, taking about 30 minutes. Make sure to take Via Dell Amore and not Via Beccara, unless you want a more difficult hike, rewarding you with different views. The entrance to the path is not far from the pizzeria.

Explore Manarola, namely the marina and the town. You can swim and view fish or jump off the large rock at varying heights. When near the water, continue around the path to get a beautiful view of the town. Part way up the main street will be a set of stairs on the left. This set of stairs takes you to a path through the vineyards.

After getting your fill of Manarola, head back to Levanto for dinner at a beautiful local restaurant dedicated to quality.

Head to our recommended local cafe or bakery for a great start to your day. For a quick traditional meal, enjoy a local fresh baked good and an espresso.

Hop on the train to take a short ride to Corniglia, exploring the beautiful town perched atop the cliffs. After hopping off the train, you will walk through the pedestrian tunnel to the town. A few things to see in town are of course the beautiful buildings with narrow winding streets, terraced vineyards, hiking trails, and you guessed it, a 14th century church. You could get a meal in town, but many cater to tourists, meaning less authenticity, so opt for our recommendation in Vernazza instead.

Head to Vernazza by getting on the train, taking a very short ride.

Have lunch at a great place for some seafood in Vernazza. It is a small place, so you may have to settle for take away if a table is not available, but there are many beautiful places to take your food and sit in the harbor.

Some things to see in Vernazza include exploring the harbor and waterfront, visiting Doria Castle, seeing the Church of Santa Margherita d’Antiochia, hiking the trails, dining at local restaurants, shopping for souvenirs, and visiting wineries.

To catch restaurants that do not cater to tourists as much as the 5 towns for which the Cinque Terre is named, we have our guests eat most meals in Levanto. While still a tourist town for the Italian Riviera, it will have a larger concentration of Italians, leading to a higher quality food as they have to impress locals too. This isn’t to say you can’t find great restaurants in the 5 towns, but you will have a larger concentration of quality restaurants in Levanto. For dinner, return to Levanto.

Head to our recommended local cafe or bakery for a great start to your day. For a quick traditional meal, enjoy a local fresh baked good and an espresso.

Catch a train to move one town over.

Today you will relax in Monterosso, soaking in the sun at the beach and exploring more of the largest town of the Cinque Terre.

There are a few good restaurants in Monterosso’s old town so you may stay here for dinner as well, or you can have lunch in Monterosso and return to Levanto for dinner.

Head to our recommended local cafe or bakery for a great start to your day. For a quick traditional meal, enjoy a local fresh baked good and an espresso.

Levanto is also a great place to relax all day, with a beautiful beach and a fantastic view of the coastline.

Pick from our list of recommended restaurants for lunch and dinner and spend the day enjoying the relaxing riviera.

Head to our recommended local cafe or bakery for a great start to your day. For a traditional meal, enjoy a local baked good with an espresso.

Take the Cinque Terre Express back to La Spezia. Change trains to head to Florence.

A car will be waiting for you to take you to your accommodations from the train station. Get settled in to your room for the night, but don’t unpack as it is just for tonight.

Today will be some attractions that are pretty close together, within a mile or two (2-3 km).

You are sure to be hungry, so head to the Central Market. This bustling food market is a hub for culinary delights, offering a wide variety of fresh produce, meats, cheeses, and prepared foods. Within the Mercato Centrale, there’s also a food court area where visitors can sample a diverse range of traditional Tuscan dishes and gourmet delights.

On your way to Piazza della Signoria, take a walk by the Duomo, the building with the largest dome in the world. This gives perspective to the rest of the city, providing a landmark as reference.

Piazza della Signoria is essentially an outdoor museum with a fountain and sculptures, while historical buildings surround the piazza.

Just a few blocks southeast of the piazza is Ponte Vecchio, which is the old bridge with shops on either side, not of the river, but actually on the bridge.

About an hour before sunset, you will be heading to Piazza Michelangelo which has a beautiful view over the city. You may walk but the stairs and/or hills can be tiring, so it is worth it to get a taxi unless you want the exercise.

Head to dinner a few blocks away from the tourist attractions to a beautiful little trattoria.

If you haven’t shut down the restaurant, you may still have time to grab gelato after dinner! You can always head to a local bar too. On this trip, there are a few bars easily within walking distance, so if you don’t want to end your night when the restaurants close at around 9:30 pm, there are some great options to keep it going.

Head to our recommended local cafe or bakery for a great start to your day. For a traditional meal, enjoy a local baked good with an espresso.

We will set up a taxi ride for you or take a 15-minute walk west of the Duomo to get your rental car to head to the Pienza, in the Val d’Orcia. We can also make arrangements for a taxi to take you to one of the beautiful little towns in the valley, but we recommend having a car so you can move about freely.

Depending on your route, the drive to Pienza takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours, allowing you to see the beautiful views on your way.

Arrive in Pienza, heading to your accommodations to get settled in. If you have chosen the option to stay in the countryside, you will have to take a short drive through rolling hills to Pienza which is only 10 minutes away max. If you are in town, take a walk out of your front door.

Get acquainted with the stunning old town, which will be your base for the next few days to explore the countryside. Pienza holds traditional Renaissance architecture and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This small but charming town is renowned for its harmonious urban design, stunning views of the Tuscan countryside, and delectable local cuisine.

After exploring the little Tuscan town, you will be craving some local food and wine. We have some great options for food scattered about, no matter what you are looking for. From meat and cheese boards to plates of wild boar pasta, tons of traditional dishes are within reach. Get lunch at a little osteria. I recommend the wild boar pasta!

The wineries in the rolling hills are waiting for you after you eat. Walk to your car and head down the road less than 10 minutes to one of a few great local wineries.

Head to in town Pienza for dinner at a beautiful local place with small plates, so you can try many different dishes.

Head to a local cafe or bakery for a great start to your day. For a quick meal, enjoy a local baked good with an espresso.

Today, you will be embarking on a small road trip to different small towns in the Val d’Orcia, stopping at wineries in and/or between the following towns:

San Quirico d’Orcia- Some things to do include exploring the Renaissance Gardens of Horti Leonini, 12th century church, medieval walls and gates, Palazzo Chigi (renaissance palace), artisan workshops, and wine tasting.

Torrenieri – Torrenieri offers a tranquil and authentic Tuscan experience due to being less known than towns like Pienza and Montalcino. As all of these towns, there are also many wineries.

Montalcino – Great restaurants, wine, food, and scenery. Some things to do are the fortress, historic town center, museums and galleries, and of course, wine tasting. We recommend lunch at a beautiful small place here.

Castelnuovo dell’Abate – Some things to do include a 12th century romanesque church, the Abbey of Sant’Antimo, along with many surrounding wineries.

Castiglione d’Orcia – Some things to do include Rocca di Tentennano, a 13th century fortress and the historic center.

On your way back to Pienza, stop in Bagno Vignoni, at Parco dei Mulini, which is a hot spring. I would recommend not swimming in the public area here, but it is an interesting thing to see! Interested in a hot spring experience? Consider adding one for day 5!

Head back to Pienza for dinner at one of the many fantastic restaurants.

Head to a local cafe or bakery for a great start to your day. For a quick meal, enjoy a local baked good with an espresso.

When in Tuscany, after breakfast we drink wine. Head to Montepulciano to see the beautiful hillside town, the vineyards on the slopes, along with the many tasting rooms in town. Before arriving in Montepulciano, there is a winery just off the main road, with picturesque views of the rolling hills. We have a selection of 4 wineries in town to visit and, as always, many places to eat as well.

Walk to lunch 5 minutes away at a beautiful osteria. You will pass by the beautful Piazza Grande on your way. The osteria is run by a local family, offering typical dishes of Tuscany including Florentine steak, Tuscan meat boards, ribollita (stale bread soup, a personal favorite in Tuscany), and wild boar dishes (another personal favorite, anywhere in Tuscany).

Stroll back through town to the parking lot to depart the town of Montepulciano, to head to a winery in the countryside.

Production amount here is not a focus, but quality as it is a relatively small place compared to some others in the area.

On your way back to Pienza, have dinner at a beautiful restaurant in Montichiello, exploring the tiny town before departing for Pienza.

Head to a local cafe or bakery for a great start to your day. For a quick meal, enjoy a local baked good with an espresso.

On your last day in Tuscany, what better way to relax is there than lounging in the rolling hills sipping wine? Take a short drive out of town to a local winery down the road or you can head to your favorite one from the trip, as the furthest town on the itinerary is 40 minutes away.

For lunch and dinner you will dine at your preferred places on the trip or you may check out some recommendations that you have not yet had the opportunity to try.

For something else to do besides wineries, visit different agricultural producers nearby, such as pecorino cheese and olive oil.

In town are also a few interesting shops, but one you may not have thought of visiting is the grocery store. Check out what an Italian grocery store looks like if you haven’t as you may be surprised at the differences between Italy and home. Some others include a leather goods shop, cheese shop, and many clothing stores.

Head to our recommended local cafe or bakery for a great start to your day. For a quick meal, enjoy a local baked good with an espresso.

Drive back to Florence from Pienza, taking around 1 hour 30 min to 2 hours.

Piazza di Santa Maria Novella is a nice area where people congregate in front of one of the old main churches of the city. You can pass through this piazza on your walk after dropping off your rental car or we will have a taxi waiting to take you to your accommodation.

Today you will be entering the Duomo, exploring the beautiful cathedral that is larger than a football field. To round out the UNESCO World Heritage site, for an extra cost, you can also go inside Giotto’s Tower and the Baptistery.

Lunch today will be in a beautiful trattoria a few blocks away from the action. If you aren’t feeling a longer meal, I offer a few different options for each meal in my complete itineraries, so you will always be able to navigate to a great food experience.

The afternoon starts off with seeing David at the Accademia Gallery, which also houses many interesting items including old instruments such as violins by Antonio Stradivari. It is not a very large museum. If you are interested in a longer museum experience in addition to the Accademia, the Uffizi Gallery is another incredible museum in Florence, and definitely worth it if you find yourself with extra time.

Go across the river to a fantastic wine bar. They also have great snacks like antipasto (charcuterie) or sandwiches.

Stroll through the beautiful Boboli Gardens and Bardini Gardens located across the river from the Duomo. The beautiful gardens will provide a tranquil escape from the busy city, allowing you to wind down before traveling home the next day. Admire the many renaissance sculptures in the gardens.

Head up to Piazza Michelangelo via taxi to view the sunset over Florence before dinner.

Dine in a beautiful trattoria for your last night, enjoying Tuscan classics in a cozy setting.

Head to a local cafe or bakery for a great start to your day. You may want a larger meal this time to hold you over if you have a long trip.

If you have time, enjoy the beautiful streets an architecture sitting at a cafe with a drink while waiting your taxi.

A taxi will pick you up at your accommodation to take you to the train station. The train ride to Rome takes about 1 hr and 40 min. A car will be waiting to take you to your accommodation in Trastevere.

Many great restaurants exist around your hotel or bed and breakfast on your way to the first sight that we recommend, the Colosseum. Eat a great first meal at a small local restaurant.

Seeing the Colosseum first gives a great perspective point of the city, allowing you to compare other landmarks. Directly by the Colosseum also sits the Forum and other ruins. We will save the touring of inside of the Colosseum and other structures for our first full day, as to not be rushed. For a different perspective, also visit some of these places at night, as they can be less busy. While you can’t go inside them, it gives a more peaceful environment to appreciate the environment surrounding you, full of ancient structures once bustling with life.

After exploring the ancient center for a while, you will have worked up an appetite for a Roman dinner. Head to one of our recommended local spots for a relaxing environment.

No day in Italy is complete without a gelato, unless you had a tiramisu with dinner, then we can let it slide.

Grab a coffee and pastries from a local bakery. We can always snack on street food, so we don’t want to start with too heavy of a meal!

The best things to start off with are the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Palatine Hill Area. They are all located near each other, making it easy to take a break, before heading to your next activity. Also close by is the monument to Victor Emmanuel II, who was the first King of a unified Italy. This is a massive structure built between 1885 and 1935, so while it doesn’t fit into the ancient theme, there are many ruins between the Colosseum and this monument. After a tour of the Colosseum, you will probably be hungry for lunch.

Eat lunch in a local spot, a few blocks west of the monument. We have street food or cozy restaurant recommendations, so depending on how much time you want to take away from the ruins, we got your back!

Return to the area for more tours of the ruins, this time heading to Palatine Hill, Circus Maximus, and the Roman Forum.

Eat Dinner at a local restaurant, a few blocks northeast of the Roman Forum.

No day in Italy is complete without a gelato.

Grab a coffee and pastries from a local bakery. We can always snack on street food, so we don’t want to start with too heavy of a meal!

First head to the Trevi Fountain. One thing to keep in mind is that if it is too busy for you, you can always visit at night when it is much less crowded. Note: Right in front of the fountain is a great gelato place. After the fountain, check out the Pantheon. This beautiful structure is not large, but it is fascinating, and it is also filled with art.

Head to Piazza Navona, which is essentially an outdoor museum, with the three art piece fountains, along with tourists and locals alike relaxing in the square.

After Piazza Navona, cross the river to visit Castel Sant’Angelo. This museum was originally a masoleum for Hadrian, along with other things throughout time. If pressed for time or you want to head to the park, you can save this for day 6.

After working up a bit of an appetite, head to a local restaurant for lunch. If you don’t want to slow down much, head to our recommended Pizza Al Taglio place, where you order by the weight, or dollar amount.

Take a 35-minute train ride out to the suburbs of Rome to see the ancient aqueducts, strolling around Aqueduct Park while also getting to see what outside suburbs are like. They are culture rich with many small places to eat or drink, along with people living their everyday lives. Tourists here are few and far between compared to center city Rome.

Enjoy dinner in small restaurant a few blocks from the park. Surrounded by locals, you know that you are eating some of the best food that you can get!

Return to Trastevere via train, stopping on your way back to the room to get to gelato.

Grab a coffee and pastries from a local bakery. We can always snack on street food, so we don’t want to start with too heavy of a meal!

Explore Vatican City, seat of the Catholic church.
– St. Peter’s Basilica
– Vatican Museums
– Vatican Gardens
– Sistine Chapel
– Head to lunch in Prati, a beautiful neighborhood just east of the Vatican
– Dinner will als4o be located in the Prati area, due to the abundance of great options

– OR –

Take a day trip to the mountainside town of Tivoli. Explore a renaissance palace, ancient ruins of emperor Hadrian’s palace, lush gardens/parks, and stunning waterfalls in this charming hillside town.
– Villa d’Este: Beautiful gardens are a UNESCO World Heritage Site
– Hadrian’s Villa: An ancient Roman archaeological complex
– Parco Villa Gregoriana: A picturesque natural park featuring lush vegetation, dramatic cliffs, and stunning waterfalls
– Grande Cascata di Tivoli (waterfalls)
– Eat lunch in Tivoli at a beautiful small restaurant in a relaxing environment
– Return to Rome and have a relaxing dinner in Trastevere

No day in Italy is complete without a gelato, no matter what you did today.

Grab a coffee and pastries from a local bakery. You may want a bit heaver of a meal here due to traveling a bit to get to your destination even after arriving in Naples, or you can grab a snack when arriving in Naples.

Head to Termini Station to catch a highspeed train to Naples, taking about 1 hour and 10 minutes.

After arriving in Naples, catch the Circumvesuviana train to the Ercolano (Herculaneum) stop. Here you will be able to catch the bus up to Vesuvius, so you can hike the last little bit to the top. For an alternative to the Vesuvius hike, you could explore the Naples Bay, the area around Castel del Ovo, the historic center, or explore Pompeii in addition to Herculaneum.

After hiking Vesuvius, you are the in perfect town already to explore the ruins of Herculaneum. These ruins are similar to Pompeii, but seem to be better preserved, and less known!

Return to Naples center for a pizza to experience it in the city in which it was invented, or opt for seafood, as it will be incredible as well with Naples being on the bay.

Explore the port area or Naples’ Old City, which is one of the oldest continuously inhabited urban areas in the world.

Catch the train back to Rome.

Relax with dinner in a local spot, not too far from your accommodations.

No day in Italy is complete without a gelato.

Grab a coffee and pastries from a local bakery. We can always snack on street food, so we don’t want to start with too heavy of a meal!

Spend the day in Villa Borghese, a green sprawling park with manicured gardens, verdant groves, and serene lakes. Enjoy walking trails, encounter exotic animals at the quaint zoo, or marvel at a replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

Inside the park is Galleria Borghese, which houses many art pieces.

Enjoy lunch in the park or just outside, at our recommended place west of the park.

Relax with a beautiful dinner at a local restaurant just Northeast of the park. Often offering a tasting menu, let the chef craft the perfect meal for your last dinner in the Eternal City.

No day in Italy is complete without a gelato.

Grab a coffee and pastries from a local bakery. This is the one time we recommend a larger meal in the morning as you don’t want to rely on any airport food!

Head to Fiumicino Airport via private car, leaving the Eternal City until next time.