The essential itinerary for a good time in Italy!
Italy, famous for its exquisite fashion and cuisine, is one of Western Europe’s oldest countries. Italy is also the fifth most visited country in the world. You’ll need a week or two to visit all of this alluring country that everyone should probably visit. Here you have the best places to visit in Italy in 14 days.
Best time to visit Italy:
The best time to visit Italy is during the Fall or Spring as the climate is pleasant and enjoyable. Summer is considered to be the season for massive crowds and the costs of accommodation and transport are pretty high. Ironically, consider an August visit, because many Italians are on vacation. This means that some attractions and restaurants are closed, so options are slimmer but the city less crowded. Plus, the rates are much lower. So make sure you book your tickets in advance and get ready for your fun trip.
Day 1: Milan
You will arrive in Milan at the Milan Malpensa Airport. Begin your trip to Milan by visiting the picturesque Duomo di Milano. It is one of the most magnificent churches in the world and visited by millions of people every year. It took almost six centuries to construct this work of art. You can access the roof for a panoramic view of the city. You can then visit the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II which is one of the significant luxury shopping destinations. It’s home to top brands such as Prada, Gucci, Fendi, etc.
Day 2: Milan
On the second day, visit the Sforzesco Castle (Castello Sforzesco). This citadel dates back to the 15th century. It was built with gardens and towers in the medieval style and has been turned into a museum. Make sure to explore the Navigli quarter. It attracts revelers because it has some of the finest cocktail bars in town. In addition to fashion, Milan is pretty famous for its nightlife.
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Day 3: Venice
Board the train from Milan’s central station and head out to Venice. You can opt for trains or buses but trains are the better option as your journey duration will be about 2 hours 30 minutes.
Visit St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale). These two buildings form a significant part of the history of Venice. These cathedrals comprise of Italian and Venetian Gothic architecture. Explore this cathedral by seeing the sacred relics that were stolen in the 13th century from Constantinople.
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St. Mark’s Basilica -
Doge’s Palace
Next, go to the Doge’s Palace. This palace is considered to symbolize the political culture of Venice. Get to know about the mystery behind the black veil in Doge’s portraits. Explore the prisons of this palace which gives you a peek into the dreary life of a prisoner. You will also be seeing the apartments and courtrooms. You can end your visit here by walking across the Bridge of Sighs. This iconic bridge has been a romantic spot for years but with a dire history. You can visit the palace for free with a fast-track entry by obtaining a Venice City pass. You can get to these iconic buildings by skipping the lines by hiring a guide for a joint tour around the cathedral and the palace.
Day 4: Venice
Spend the fourth day cruising through the canals. Take a ride on a gondola, a must-do in Venice. It’s a little pricey but this unique experience is worth the ride. Cruise the Grand Canal by a Vaporetto, a public ferry system.
Day 5: Florence
After spending about two days in Venice, leave for Florence. It’s the city of some of the incredible museums. Board the Freccia high-speed trains from Venice to head out to the capital city of Tuscany. The train journey is about two hours.
Visit the Duomo which is one of the iconic sites in Florence. This cathedral was built with a huge dome with terracotta tiles. Get to the top of the dome by climbing the 463 steep and winding steps. You will see the most captivating view of Florence. Make sure to get the tickets in advance if you plan on climbing the dome. Otherwise, the entry to the cathedral is free of cost.
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Ponte Vecchio -
Pitti Palace
Later in the day stroll through the Ponte Vecchio– the oldest bridge in Florence and also one of the iconic landmarks. Right after the bridge, you will come across the Pitti Palace (Palazzo Pitti). This elegant palace is a work of art built in the 15th century in Renaissance architecture.
Day 6: Florence
You can spend the second day meandering through Florence before visiting the Uffizi Gallery. Here again, make sure to get your tickets in advance to avoid waiting in long queues. The Uffizi gallery is known to be one of the significant museums in the world! Book a guided tour to explore this gallery which will take about 2 to 3 hours, especially if you don’t want to miss seeing the important masterpieces. Some of them include works by Michelangelo and Leonarda da Vinci. Spend the rest of the day shopping in some of the famous marketplaces in Florence, such as the Central Market (Mercato Centrale). That would be a perfect end to your trip here to Florence.
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Day 7: Naples
After you visit Florence, board a 3-hour high-speed train to Naples. Spend a day here in this city.
Naples is the largest city in southern Italy. From museums and churches to piazzas, this city has a lot to offer to its tourists, making it one of the best places to visit in Italy. Start your day by visiting the Naples National Archaeological Museum. The museum is full of artifacts from the Renaissance period, Egypt, and the Roman eras. Naples has a lot of churches such as the San Gregorio Armeno, Basilica of San Paola Maggiore and the San Lorenzo Maggiore. If you spend more than a day here you can visit all three churches. But if you’re visiting for a day then you must visit the San Gregorio Armeno. It is one of the oldest and significant churches in Naples of Baroque architecture. Naples cannot be completely visited in a day but these are some of the iconic sites you need to visit for a day’s trip.
Day 8: Pompeii
After Naples’s next stop is Pompeii. It is only 30 minutes away from Naples and the easiest and fastest way to get there is by the Circumvesuviana train. Spend a day visiting Pompeii.
Pompeii is one of the important tourist attractions in Italy and a UNESCO world heritage site. To get entry to this archaeological site you need to get tickets which cost about 16 euros. Make sure you get the tickets first thing when you arrive at the train station in Pompeii. Wander through the 22 hectares of the site which is open to visitors for almost half a day. But you will get exhausted because of the scorching heat, so spend about three hours exploring the ruins.
You can then go onto visiting the Amphitheatre and the Roman Forum, which are some of the important places in Pompeii. After that take a bus and head to Mount Vesuvius – the only active volcano in mainland Europe. It’s about 10 kilometers and an hour away from Pompeii. You will need about an hour and a half to see the massive crater.
Day 9: Sorrento
After Pompeii, board the Circumvesuviana train for the 20-minute ride from Pompeii to Sorrento.
Sorrento is a favorite destination by tourists from all over the world for its picturesque views and relaxing environment. It is one of the best places to visit in Italy for its captivating views from cliff-tops and shopping – from clothing to handicrafts. Start your visit by strolling on Leonelli beach. There is also a public park by the beach called the Villa Comunale. It’s a lovely and peaceful park to meander before you head to the Ponta Marina Grande. It is an enormous gate built in the 4th century of Greek architecture. You can then head out to explore the Sedile Dominova which is a historic landmark. The interiors of this building are remarkably done with lifelike artworks. Walk around the shops in this beautiful city of Sorrento.
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Day 10: Positano & Amalfi Coast
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Amalfi -
Positano
Take the long-distance bus from Sorrento to the Amalfi Coast. The trip takes about 90 minutes and Positano is the bus’s first stop. Spend a few hours exploring this beautiful village bursting with vibrant colors, definitely one of the best places to visit in Italy. Situated on the Amalfi Coast, Positano has some pristine beaches, such as Spiaggia Grande. It is one of the most stunning beaches on the Amalfi Coast and attracts quite a lot of people from the entertainment industry. Visit the Museo Archeologico Romano to discover the history of Positano if you intend to spend more time in Positano.
After lunch, board the bus to the town of Amalfi. Spend about an hour or two on the Amalfi Coast wandering around the town and admiring its stunning view and mountains around. This is a place of tranquility and you quickly come to realize it is one of the best places to visit in Italy.
Day 11: Capri Island
On the second day, head to Capri island. Try to get here as soon as possible. Once there, head straight to the Marina Grande, from where you board a boat tour to the Blue Grotto. After spending about two hours in the Blue Grotto head back to Marina Grande. Head out to Anacapri for your next stop via a bus – Monte Solaro. You can spend the rest of the day having some fun shopping in some of the finest boutiques in Capri.
Rome
For exquisite food, historic landmarks, and awe-inspiring art, Rome is definitely one of the best places to visit in Italy. It is a city with exuberance. Three days is certainly not enough to complete an entire tour of Rome but this curated list of attractions will show you quintessential Rome.
There are many options to go to Rome from Capri. The easiest and most efficient way to go is to take a ferry from Capri to Naples. Board the train from the Napoli Centrale to Rome, where you will arrive at the Roma Termini.
Day 12: Vatican city, St. Peter’s Basilica & Castel Sant’Angelo
Begin your trip by visiting Vatican City. It is one of the best places to visit in Italy for exploring some of the world’s most famous landmarks, such as the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica. Since these sites are so popular, you should book your tickets before you arrive to avoid the crowds.
The Vatican Museums, which include the double helix exit stairwell, the famous Sistine Chapel, and the Pio Clementino Museum. A tour of the museums can take at least four hours.
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Castel Sant’Angelo -
St.Peter’s Basilica
Next visit the St.Peter’s Basilica – the world’s largest church, which is a work of art. It includes the works of renowned artists, such as Michelangelo, Raphael, and Carlo Maderno. You can also get a panoramic view of the Basilica from the dome. After lunch, visit the Castel Sant’Angelo. This museum was once a fortress for almost 2,000 years. Now the public can explore this beautiful architecture.
Spend the day exploring all the Renaissance works of art. Make sure to get your tickets in advance and book a guided tour for a better experience.
Day 13: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill
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Colosseum -
Roman Forum
Visit the Colosseum first. It is one of the significant sites in Rome and the largest amphitheater in the world. There’s always a line to get into the Colosseum, so book your ticket in advance. When you’re done at the Colosseum, move over to the Roman Forum, which is steps away from the Colosseum. It’s a major archaeological site and has numerous excavations. Follow the Roman Forum, with a visit to the nearby Palatine Hill as well. Palatine Hill is a plateau and one of the most famous amongst the Seven Hills of Rome.
Day 14: Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Villa Borghese and the Borghese gallery
Visit the Piazza Navona. It is a plaza in Italy featuring fountains, street art, cafes, and restaurants. Spend some time here getting to know the real life of the people in Rome.
Head to the Trevi Fountain, a must-see in Rome. This fountain is a highlight not only for its design but also for the tradition connected to it. According to legend, if people successfully fling a coin over their left shoulders into the fountain when their backs are facing the fountain, they will return to Rome! Over the years, this belief turned tradition into a good cause. All the money well-wishers have thrown into the Trevi has been given to charity.
A little further from Trevi fountain is the Pantheon. It is one of the most well-preserved ancient Roman monuments. It was first built as a temple to Roman gods. Now it is a church. The Pantheon dome is still considered to be one of the world’s largest unreinforced concrete domes.
End your trip in Rome by visiting the Villa Borghese and the Borghese gallery. Villa Borghese is a beautiful garden and also the third largest public park in Rome. The gallery has a world-famous art collection. It has collections by some famous artists like Raphael, Canova, and Bernini.
We hope you enjoyed our 14-day travel itinerary highlighting the best places to visit in Italy! If you happen to not have any trips planned yet then check out JoinMyTrip to kick start your incredible adventure. Here you will find like-minded travel mates and many cool yet unique trips. Join already planned trips or lead your very own trip!
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