7 Days in Italy – 4 Unique Itineraries

Italy has so much to offer & it feels almost impossible to put together the perfect Italy itinerary, because you could spend 100 days there and not see everything worth seeing! But, since that’s not really an option for most of us I decided to take a stab at putting together my four favorite 7 day Italy itineraries.

Jump To:

• Option 1: Classic Italy: Venice, Florence (with an optional day trips to Tuscany or Cinque Terre) Rome, & the Amalfi Coast!
• Option 2: Puglia Highlights: Bari, Matera, Polignano a Mare & Alberobello
• Option 3: Best of Northern Italy: Lake Como, Verona, Dolomites & Venice
• Option 4: A week in Tuscany: Florence, San Gimignano, Montepulciano & Saturnia

If you have more time to explore Italy check out my ten day Italy itinerary!

Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!

Seven days in Italy Option 1: Classic Italy

Venice, Florence, Rome, & the Amalfi Coast!

If you’ve never been to Italy before, this is likely the itinerary for you! It includes the major cities, and a few additional highlights. It’s a great option with a ton of variety.

• Day 1: Venice
• Day 2: Florence
• Day 3: Day trip to Tuscany or Cinque Terre
• Day 4-5: Rome
• Day 6-7: Amalfi Coast

Day 1: Venice

Venice is such a unique city, and for me, it’s a must see on a trip to Italy. I recommend starting in Venice (which is located in the Northeast part of Italy) and then making your way South during the remainder of your trip.

Venice is a smaller city that can be seen and experienced in a shorter time frame than some other Italian cities, which is why I recommend just one day in Venice! Not that it isn’t worth spending more time there, but with there being so much to see in Italy I think one day in Venice is enough to see everything you’d want to see!

Getting There:

Venice is accessible via plane or Italy’s extensive train system. Venice Marco Polo Airport is an international airport and about a 20 minute drive from downtown Venice. The main train station, Venezia Santa Lucia, is located right in the heart of Venice.

Where to Stay:

Venice is made up of mostly small winding paths and bridges that cross the many canals. This can make it tricky to navigate, especially with luggage, as you cannot simply hop in a taxi to get to your hotel. I recommend staying at a hotel is easy-ish walking distance to the main train station (especially depending on how much luggage you have)

Luckily, this puts you right on the Grand Canal, giving you tons of great hotel options and those picturesque Venice views! I recommend CHC BW Continental or Hotel Carlton on the Grand Canal, but you can find tons of hotel options across budgets in that area. Also, staying along the main canal makes it easier to find your way back to your hotel after a day or exploring (and some wine) the winding streets can lead to getting lost easily!

What to Do:

My personal favorite part of Venice is getting lost wandering through the dreamy streets. There are endless photo opportunities of little bridges spanning the various canals. I really think Venice is meant to be wandered, as opposed to having a structured itinerary with lists of things to see. But you’ll certainly want to explore:

• Piazza San Marco & the Basilica di San Marco, which is the main square of Venice.
• The infamous Rialto Bridge, which is one of the many bridges spanning the Grand Canal is also a can’t miss, but you’ll almost inevitably stumble across it during your exploring!
• A gondola tour is certainly the quintessential Venice experience, but they are very pricy. But the public Venice ferry system is also a cheaper option if you just want to get out on the canals!

Day 2: Florence

I say this a lot on here, but Florence is undoubtedly my favorite city in the world, so take my advice with a slight grain of salt! But Florence is an absolute must see on your Italy trip. It’s a walkable, stunning city with tons to offer for any tourist, but it’s also small enough to see the highlights in a short time if that’s all you have! One of the best parts of Florence is how conveniently it’s located for day trips to places like Tuscany & Cinque Terre.

I recommend spending two nights in Florence, and dedicating a half day (or so) to exploring some of the great spots accessible to Florence. This means you don’t need to drag your luggage with you on these day trips and you don’t need to check in and out of multiple hotels! Below is an overview of my Florence suggestions, but check out my full Florence travel guide for more suggestions!

Getting There:

The main train station in Florence, Santa Maria Novella, is conveniently located in the heart of Florence. There are high speed trains running from all major large cities in Italy many times a day, so you can catch a high speed train from Venice to Florence. Florence also has a small airport, but it’s easier to fly to Italy into one of the major airports, like Rome, Venice or Milan.

Where to Stay:

Florence is a a fairly small city, so no matter which area you choose to stay in you’ll be less than a 20 minute walk from almost any other area of the city. There are a ton of hotel options in addition to hundreds of rental properties, so finding your ideal location and price point should be possible. I’ve stayed in Florence mostly on longer term trips so I’ve opted for VRBO’s most of the time, but I’ve also stayed at a few hotels and have included recommendations in my favorite areas, the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio and Oltrarno, below.

Piazza del Duomo:

The Duomo is the center of Florence, towering over the city. You can catch glimpses of the massive dome from many different streets and areas of the city. If you want to be right in the heart of the action, staying in Piazza del Duomo is a great option.

A few hotels I’d recommend: Granduomo for the views, Hotel Cerretani for a more modern hotel, Palazzo Niccolini al Duomo for a charming Renaissance vibe or Guest House Bel Duomo if you’re looking for a lower price with an unbeatable location! VRBO also has tons of options near the Duomo!

Oltrarno:

Now that I’ve spent a significant amount of time in Florence, the Oltrarno (literally meaning “other side of the river”) is my favorite neighborhood. It right across the Ponte Vecchio, and is still close to the Duomo & train station, but I find that it has a bit more of an authentic feel. And some of my favorite restaurants, and spots in Florence are in the Oltrarno area of Florence.

My top recommendations would be Hotel Pitti Palace Al Ponte Vecchio (that terrace view alone is enough of a selling point) Hotel La Scaletta is also a nice option and a bit cheaper. If you’re looking to splurge 10/10 recommend would recommend Hotel Lungarno. There are fewer hotels on this side of the river, but there are plenty of VRBO options

Ponte Vecchio:

The Ponte Vecchio is my favorite thing in Florence. I never knew I’d be so enchanted by a bridge! But it is absolutely stunning at all times of day. It’s a great place to stay to be right by the Arno and easily cross the river, but also still really close to the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio!

The hotels in this area tend to be a bit on the pricy side, but the view and location are unbeatable! Some great options are Hotel Hermitage, Hotel Continentale & Hotel degli Orafi.

What to do in Florence:

I’d recommend spending your first day exploring the city. I’ve compiled a list of some of the best things to do in Florence, but it would be a lot to squeeze into one day. My top recommendations are climbing the Bell Tower or the Duomo, Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset, wandering across the Palazzo Vecchio, & checking out Michelangelo’s, The David at Galleria Academia

Duomo:

The Duomo consists of four parts – the cathedral, the main church the duomo sits on top of, Brunelleschi’s infamous Duomo ,the dome you can take a tour of, the Baptistery, a standalone building next to the cathedral, and Giotto’s Bell Tower. You can visit all four of these, or pick which ones you’d like to see. The Cathedral is free and does not require a ticket – be warned the lines get long. 

The other three require a ticket for entry and you’ll need to select a time. Depending on what you want to do there are multiple ticket options. Personally, I don’t think you need to climb the Dome and the Bell Tower, but that is an option. If you’re choosing between the two – I think the view from the Bell Tower is better, because you get to see the cityscape as well as the Dome up close, but if you’re interested in seeing the artwork in the dome up close you’ll want to choose that option. There are also skip the line and guided tour options!

Ponte Vecchio:

The Ponte Vecchio (or Old Bridge) is one of the most famous landmarks in Florence. You don’t need tickets or anything, it’s simply somewhere you must see in Florence! As you walk across the bridge it is lined with jewelry shops on either side for those looking to splurge! Also, make sure you check out the views of the Ponte Vecchio from the bridges on either side.

Michelangelo’s David:

The David really is a can’t miss experience. It’s hard to explain why it’s so impressive when you see it in person, but it really is breathtaking. It’s located in the Galleria del’Academia. I’d definitely recommend you book your tickets in advance, you don’t need to, but the line is always super long for people waiting for tickets. Tickets online through their site are 16 euro, but you get to skip the line by selecting a time. These sell out so definitely get them in advance. If they are sold out you can get tickets on Viator or book a tour to get access

Palazzo Vecchio:

Palazzo Vecchio (or the old Palace) towers over Piazza della Signoria and it’s definitely worth exploring from the outside, even if you don’t buy tickets for the inside. The inside has three separate areas (the tower, the wall and the museum) you can buy individual tickets for each, or a combo ticket if you’d like to do all three. If you decide you’d like tickets beware of really long wait times during peak tourist times. Tickets can be purchases ahead of time on Viator

There are tons of other things to do in Florence, like the Uffizi, Central Market and more. Check out my full blog post for best things to do in Florence, here.

Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo:

Piazzale Michelangelo is an absolutely can’t miss Florence spot! It’s a large piazza overlooking the entire city and offers the best sunset spot in Florence. Sit back on the stairs with a bottle of wine (you can buy them at the top) and enjoy the stunning views. It’s free to visit. Be warned there are a lot of stairs, but it’s totally worth the climb! If you’re not up to it you can take a taxi or car to the top as well.

To get there take a “Ponte alle Grazie” bridge (one down from the Ponte Vecchio) across the river into San Niccolo (located on the opposite side of the river from the Duomo) Follow via de San Niccolò to the left to Via S. Miniato through the Porta San Miniato (big stone gate) After you pass through the gates a little way up on your left will be the stairs that lead your to Piazzale Michelangelo. There are signs, so it’s easy to follow + you can usually just follow the crowds!

Grab Dinner at one of Florence’s Many Great Restaurants

Florence has tons of great restaurants, seriously so many that I wrote a full blog post about it. All of the options noted on there are lovely, but grabbing a family style dinner at Il Latini is one of the absolute best ways to experience the food scene in Florence!

Day 3: Day Trip to Cinque Terre or Tuscany from Florence

Cinque Terre:

I’ll preface this by saying it’s a long day trip from Florence. But I love a good jam packed day to see as many things as possible, so if you’re in Florence and want to see Cinque Terre, it’s definitely doable! There are tours you can sign up for, but it’s also easy enough to get there on your own and explore.

Just take the train to La Spezia from Florence. At the La Spezia station make sure you buy your Cinque Terre pass. This will get you unlimited access to the 5 Terre Express, a train that runs every few minutes between La Spezia and each of the five towns of Cinque Terre. It will take about 2 and a half hours to get from Florence to La Spezia.

You can check out my full guide on a Cinque Terre day trip from Florence here

Tuscany:

If you’re a wine drinker, I 100% recommend taking a Tuscan wine tour, but if you’re not into wine taking a day trip to Tuscany is still something I highly recommend. The landscapes are stunning and pictures absolutely do not do them justice.

You can plan your own Tuscan wine tour, but generally this would mean needing to rent a car (the roads are narrow and windy + you’ll be drinking) and you’ll need to research and find wineries on your own. Most of them are small, family run wineries without websites, etc. For this trip I do recommend a guided tour. You’ll learn much more, you don’t need to worry about driving after drinking & the tour guides know the local wineries and in my experience have great recommendations.

The most recent tour I did left Florence in the morning and stopped at two wineries. Both were stunning and the wine was fantastic. You get a tour of both wineries as well as a tasting. These tasting are generous and there is no lack of wine. At the second winery you’ll also have a tradition Tuscan lunch. The food was incredible. We went through Tuscan Wine Tours and I would absolutely recommend them!

Tuscany Options (not wineries)

• San Gimignano is a quintessential Tuscan town. It’s encircled by stone walls built hundreds of years ago. It’s a perfect town for wandering through for a few hours and the views of Tuscany from the edge of the walls is incredible. You can get there from Florence by train & bus, but it was a bit of a pain and I’d probably recommend just taking a bus tour from Florence. I took the train to Poggibonsi and then ended up waiting a long time for the bus to San Gimignano. With all the time spent commuting It probably would have been easier to just take one of the bus tours that stops in San Gimignano, Pisa and Sienna!
• Pisa is close to Florence if you’d like to see the infamous tower! Other than that, there’s not a ton going on in Pisa. Luckily, many of the tours combine a short stop in Pisa with some other classic Tuscan towns, like Siena, Lucca or San Gimignano!
• Siena is famous for it’s signature medieval brick buildings. It’s a great day trip from Florence. There are busses that run between Florence and Siena that take about an hour and a half. Siena is also included on many tours from Florence. It’s a small town so you can explore in a couple of hours!

Days 4-5: Rome

The next stop I’d recommend is Rome, the Italian capitol has so many things to see. It’s much larger in scale than Venice or Florence, and you definitely need a few days in Rome itself to even scratch the surface of all there is to see!

You can see my full Rome travel guide here.

Getting There:

From Florence (and all other Italian cities) there are high speed trains regularly running to Rome’s main train station, Roma Termini. Rome also has a major international airport, Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, the airport is located about 40 minutes outside of the city. There are regular high speed trains running between the airport and the main train station in Rome. The train runs regularly (every 15 minutes during peak hours) and takes around a half an hour. Follow signs for The Leonardo Express when you’re at the airport.

Where to Stay:

As I mentioned, Rome is a massive city with tons of options for where to stay. Certain main tourist sites in Rome are located close together to help you decide where to stay, while others are spread across all areas of the city. I recommend choosing the area where you envision spending the most time and finding a hotel near there.

Area 1:The Colosseum, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon & Piazza Navona all sit on the same side of the river, and these neighborhoods are where I generally prefer to stay. These are not all super close, for example, the Colosseum to the Spanish Steps is about a 30 minute walk, but you can easily navigate between all of the these areas on foot if you choose to stay in one of them.

I love the area around the Trevi Fountain and most recently stayed at Relais Fontana di Trevi, located just steps from the fountain with a rooftop bar overlooking the Trevi Fountain. It was a great spot and I highly recommend.

Area 2: Trastevere If you’re looking for a more authentic an Roman experience & to stay somewhere a bit removed from the more touristy areas of Rome. Trastevere has some great options. Just keep in mind you’ll need to travel a bit farther to get to some of the main landmarks!

What to Do in Rome Day 1: Explore Ancient Rome

The Colosseum & Roman Forum are two of the most iconic things to see in Rome and are located next to each other. You’ll need to buy a ticket ahead of time (they do sell out) The ticket will get you into the Roman Forum & Palantine Hill as well. Tickets can be purchased here. If you’re interested in the history and understanding what you’re looing at (particularly in the Roman Forum) I recommend taking a guided tour, which will cover all three areas.

The ancient ruins of the Forum are impressive, but without a guide it’s hard to know what you’re looking at, plus they offer tons of great insight in the Colosseum as well. Tours can be found here (and include the cost of admission) I recommend skipping some of the upgrade options, like adding additional areas of the Colosseum, speaking from personal experience, the main entry tickets get you the best views.

While you’re in the area of the Colosseum, you can check out the Arch of Constantine, which sits right next to the Colosseum, and the Altar of the Fatherland, dedicated to the fist King to unify Italy.

Later at night I recommend:

• Spanish Steps – one of the best places to watch the sunset. See my full guide to the best sunset spots in Rome here.
• Piazza Navona – great piazza with stunning fountains. I recommend grabbing drinks with fountain views and then heading to one of the many great restaurants in the area. See my full list of best restaurants in Rome here.
• Trevi Fountain – a must see at night! To get a better view try the Rooftop at the Relais Fontana Di Trevi Hotel

What to do in Rome Day 2: Explore the Vatican & Trastevere

I recommend exploring the Vatican on a different day than the day you spend in Ancient Rome. It’s a lot to try and see in one day and the two are not close by! The Vatican consists of several things worth seeing, like, St. Peter’s Square, St Peter’s Basilica, The Sistine Chapel (which is a part of the Vatican Museum complex) Entrance to the Basilica is free, but you should beware that the lines will be long almost no matter which time of year you go!

There are many tour options that offer guided tours + skip-the-line access to the Basilica, the Sistine Chapel & the Vatican Museums – I highly recommend this option to save you time and enhance your overall experience! Even if you don’t choose a guided tour, tickets are required for the Sistine Chapel & Vatican Museum, these can be purchased as a combo or individually.

After spending your morning at the Vatican, I recommend exploring the Trastevere, one of Rome’s most famous neighborhoods, that also sits on the same side of the river as the Vatican. There’s not a lot of touristy type destinations to see here, it’s just a great place to experience more authentic Roman culture. I recommend exploring and having dinner over here!

See my full list of best restaurants in Trastevere here.

Days 6-7 Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast is a great way to end your Italian trip. By this point you’re probably for a little less non-stop sightseeing and a little more relaxation. The Amalfi Coast is the perfect for that, plus it still offers plenty to see!

There are several towns on the Amalfi Coast, but I absolutely recommend staying in Positano for the quintessential Amalfi Coast experience. There are also some great day trip options, including Pompeii, stopping at Pompeii & storing your luggage on the way to Positano is a great way to plan it!

You can see my full Amalfi Coast Travel guide here.

Getting There:

From Rome you’ll want to take the train to Naples to get to the Amalfi Coast. Once you’re in Naples you have several options, many people opt to rent a private driver, especially if you’re going to Positano or Amalfi, but this options is pricy!

There is the Circumvesuviana train, which runs between Naples and Sorrento every 30 minutes that is a cheaper option. The train also stops in Pompeii, if you’re interested in making a detour. These trains are cheaper, but they can get very crowded if you plan on having a lot of luggage you may have difficulty getting on a train!

From Sorrento you can take busses to Positano or Amalfi. I personally had no problems with these busses being on schedule, but I have read reviews stating otherwise! This is definitely a budget and less convenient option, as Positano is still about an hour bus ride from Sorrento, so if you’re looking for convenience, I’d take a private car.

Where to Stay:

As I said, I definitely recommend staying in Positano. It’s a small town with tons of hotel options! The last time i stayed there I stayed at the Casa Guadagno, the room offered a stunning balcony with views of the ocean and the houses cascading down towards the Mediterranean! It’s a lot of stairs up from the beach, but the views were worth it!

What to do in the Amalfi Coast:

Catch the Sunset in Positano:

For me, Positano has the best sunsets in the Amalfi Coast (see picture above) and even if you’re not staying in Positano you should definitely find time to see a sunset there. Bar Franco is a great place to catch the sunset if you’re in Positano

Spend a day Exploring Capri:

No matter where you’re stating in the Amalfi Coast Capri is a short ferry ride away. Capri is a great day trip. Some of my top recommendations for Capri would be:

• Hike or take the funicular up to the city center
• Explore Marina Piccola
• Grab drinks at Capri Rooftop
• Explore Giardini di Augosto
• Take a boat tour and see the infamous Blue Grotto
• Take a trip to the small town of Anacapri

Head to Music on the Rocks in Positano:

If you’re interested in having a night out while you’re in the Amalfi Coast, Music on the Rocks in Positano needs to be on your list! Located at the end of the beach in Positano. It’s a massive stone structure, so you can’t miss it. Inside the “cave” you’ll find a DJ and tons of people on any night of the week.

Explore Amalfi Town:

Amalfi is a great town to day trip to and spend a few lazy hours exploring the hilly streets and shops. Three are tons of great little cafes, bars and restaurants, or you can grab some drinks at the beach!

7 Days in Italy Option 2: Puglia Highlights

Bari, Matera, Polignano a Mare & Alberobello

If you’re looking to explore an up and coming region of Italy before it becomes massively touristy – head to Puglia. The southeastern region of Italy is the “heel” of the boot and has a series of diverse cities that make for a unique and stunning Italy trip.

You’ll want to rent a car for this trip, as exploring this region is much easier by car!  I usually rent my cars through Booking.com as they aggregate costs, options and reviews from all rental companies in the area.

• Day 1: Bari
• Day 2: Polignano a Mare
• Day 3: Day trip to Monopoli
• Day 4: Alberobello
• Day 5-7: Matera

Day 1: Bari

Bari is the charming capitol of the Puglia region. The lively coastal city is a university town with a picturesque Old Town, vibrant night life, and an excellent food scene. I recommend starting your Puglia trip in Bari.

For more information on Bari, find my full travel guide here.

Getting There

By Plane

Bari has it’s own international airport located not too far from downtown. From the airport you can take the FM2 Trainline (the train station is attached to Bari Airport) to Bari Centrale, the main train station.

The train takes about 30 minutes and costs 5 euro one way. It runs every 20-30 minutes, so you’ll never have to wait too long.

By Train

Bari Centrale, the main train station in Bari is connected to all other major Italian cities via Italy’s extensive rail network. From Rome the fastest trains reach Bari in four hours.

Where to Stay

I recommend staying in the Bari Vecchia (Old Town) area of Bari along the harbor. This is where you’ll find the majority of what you want to see as well as the best restaurants. iH Grande Albergo Delle Nazioni is a lovely 5 star hotel located right along the harbor in Bari Vecchia. They have a stunning rooftop patio at the restaurant on site that’s a great place to grab a drink or dinner with a view after a long day of exploring!

What to do in Bari

One of the reasons I love Bari is that there is not a huge list of “must see” and “must do” things like Rome or Florence, it’s much laid back, and the main experience is to explore the charming streets, relax and enjoy!

Explore Bari Vecchia

Bari’s Old Town, Bari Vecchia, is a maze of charming alleys. I loved exploring early in the morning before it got too crowded. The area is filled with restaurants, street food, shops, gelato spots, bakeries and more.

You’ll see many of the highlights of Bari simply by exploring this area! Like:

• Basilica San Nicola
• Basilica Cattedrale Metropolitana Primaziale San Sabino
• Piazza Mercantile
• Il Fortino di Sant’Antonio
• Lungomare Imperatore Augusto

Try the Local Cuisine

Bari has tons of amazing food, definitely visit hungry! You can explore Bari’s food culture on your own or can join a tour. There’s tons of options from street food tours, to bike tours, pasta tours, tours with cooking classes & more!

See my post on the best restaurants in Bari here.

Day 2-3: Polignano a Mare

Next head south down the coast to Polignano a Mare, a charming coastal town with a picturesque rocky beach, and stunning cliffside views.

For more information on Polignano a Mare, find my full travel guide here.

Getting There

By Car

From Bari, if you have your own car it’s about a 30 minute drive.

By Train

for the rest of this itinerary it’s easier to have a car, but it is possible without one!

The Trenitalia train from Bari to Polingano a Mare takes less than an hour (between 30-45 minutes) and runs hourly. It costs about $3.00

Where to Stay

Hotel Covo dei Saraceni is a 4 star hotel right in the heart of Polignano a Mare that offers some of the best views of any hotel in Polignano. I highly recommend staying here!

What to do in Polignano a Mare Day 1:

Polignao is a super laid back town, so there isn’t really a long list of “must do” things. I spent most of my time finding the best views and exploring the charming alleyways of the old town area around the Palazzo dell’Orologio.

Some of the best viewpoints:

• Belvedere su Lama Monachile – best viewpoint of the picturesque rocky beach (Lama Monachile) in the heart of Polignano with the town as the backdrop
• Belvedere Terrazza Santo Stefano – best viewpoint of the dramatic coastline
• Ponte di Polignano – best viewpoint looking over the beach (Lama Monachile) out onto the water
• Lama Monachile – if you want to hike down to the beach itself (Lama Monachile)

What to do in Polignano a Mare Day 2: Day trip to Monopoli

Polignano is a super small town, so for your second day there you can either choose to relax beachside or explore a nearby Monopoli, another charming coastal town.

It’s only a fifteen minute drive from Polignano and makes for a good half day or so trip!.

Day 4: Alberobello

From Polignano a Mare head inland to Alberobello. This is honestly one of the most unique areas of Italy I’ve visited.  The Trulli Of Alberobello are white-washed stone huts with dark, sloped conical roofs, and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

For more information on Alberobello, see my full travel guide here.

Getting there

By Car

From Polignano a Mare to Alberobello is about a 30 minute drive without traffic

By Bus

It is possible to take the bus from Polignano to Alberobello, but it requires a change and takes an hour & 40 minutes, so it is much longer than driving.

Where to Stay

In a Trulli

If you’re looking to splurge a bit and have a unique experience try staying in a Trulli!

Options:

• Trulli Holiday Albergo Diffuso
• Le Alcove-Luxury Hotel nei Trulli

Where I Stayed

I was only in Alberobello for one night and wasn’t planning on spending much time in the room, so I opted for a hotel on the cheaper side that was still easily walkable to the Trulli.

Hotel Ramapendula is about a ten minute walk from the Trulli area of Alberobello. The hotel is simple, clean, has a restaurants and a pool. Highly recommend it if you’re looking for an affordable option in Alberobello with parking!

What to do in Alberobello

Alberobello is fairly small & the main attraction really is wandering through the unique Trulli Unesco Heritage site. There are no specific attractions or things I’d recommend seeing/doing other than just taking a few hours to explore the area!

I also recommend grabbing a sunset drink at Bar “Veni,Vidi,Mangi” This small bar boasts a simple, but stunning patio overlooking the Trulli.

Day 5-7: Matera

For your last 3 days, head to Matera. My absolute favorite stop in Puglia! The epic, ancient city is technically in the nearby Basilicata region of Italy & not Puglia, but the two are easily combined into one itinerary.

Matera is an ancient city that originally consisted of a series of cave dwellings, or Sassi, carved into the rocky landscape. The impressive city has been built around the Sassi, which are no longer inhabited, but have been turned into museums for visitors to explore.

You could likely do Matera in 2 days, but I was there for 2 and wished I had a third day! For more information on Matera, see my full travel guide here.

Getting There

It’s only an hour drive from Alberobello to Matera if you’ve rented a car

There really is no good public transportation option, so if you’re not renting a car you’ll need to book a private transfer or take a taxi.

Where to Stay

L’OSPITE – LIFESTYLE RESIDENCE

I stayed at L’OSPITE – LIFESTYLE RESIDENCE during my recent trip to Matera and I cannot recommend this place enough! The pictures do not do it justice, it’s way nicer in person, and very reasonably priced ($150/night)

The location cannot be beat, it’s about a 3 minute walk from the entrance to Sassi Barisano, one of the two Sassi districts that make up Matera. They also have street parking or offer paid parking in a locked lot

The man who checked me in was also that absolute nicest host. He drove with me to the private parking so I didn’t get lost, and then he walked me through a guide to the city and hand drew all the best places to see and visit in 2 days + gave me a list of his favorite restaurants

What to do in Matera

Find the Best Viewpoints of the City

While you’ll want to wander down into the Stassi districts themselves (see below) The highlights of Matera are the stunning viewpoints along the roads that surround the Stassi districts. These roads are up the stairs from the Stassi districts and offer the most epic views of the landscape.

See this map I’ve created on Google Maps for the best viewpoints. All of these are close to one another and walkable as you explore the city with the exception of Belvedere Murgia Timone. This viewpoint is across the deep valley that separates Matera from the nearby area, you can easily drive to the viewpoint or hike if you have time!

Viewpoints (referred to as Belvedere in Italian)

• Belvedere Luigi Gureicchio
• Belvedere di Piazza Giovanni Pascoli
• Piazza San Pietro Caveoso
• Piazza Duomo
• Convent di Sant’Agostino
• Belvedere Murgia Timone

Explore the Infamous Sassi Districts

Matera consists of two Sassi districts, (they connect to one another) Sasso Caveoso & Sasso Barisano. The most epic thing to do in Matera is wander from the roads that encircle the Sassi into the heart of the Sassi themselves and get lost among the winding streets and alleys.

Tour a Traditional Sassi

If you’re interested in learning more about what life in Matera was like when the Sassi were still inhabited you have several options in Matera to tour a traditional Stassi. I visited Casa Grotta nei Sassi di Matera.

This tour is quick & informative, and you can buy tickets at the entrance. It wasn’t too long of a wait when I went, shorter than 10 minutes.

Visit Some of Matera’s Most Famous Churches

• Basilica Cattedrale di Matera
• Chiesa di San Pietro e Paolo
• Chiesa di San Nicola dei Greci

Find the Best Spots for Drinks with Views

Madame Giulia

Madame Giulia offers some best panoramic views over the Stassi of any restaurant/bar in Matera. The views are stunning at all hours of day, but sunset & golden hour are unreal.

Regiacorte – Restaurant & Lounge Terrace

Regiacorte is a close runner up here with similarly stunning views, particularly over Piazza San Pietro Caveoso.

Option 3: Best of Northern Italy

Lake Como, Verona, Dolomites & Venice

Northern Italy has so much to offer. This itinerary is perfect for those seeking to see the diversity of Italy’s cities and landscapes. Lakes, mountains, famed ancient cities, dreamy canals & more!

• Day 1-2: Lake Como
• Day 3-5: Dolomites
• Day 6: Verona
• Day 7: Venice

Day 1-2: Lake Como

Lake Como is one of my favorite places in Italy. It’s picturesque, glamorous and a great place to spend the first two days of your northern Italian vacation.

Getting There:

Lake Como is easily reached by train from Milan. You can take the train to either the town of Como or the town of Varenna. Both are popular options for places to stay while you’re in Lake Como. It’s 40 minutes by train to Como and 2 hours to Varenna.

Where to Stay in Lake Como:

I’d recommend staying in thr town of Como. It’s the easiest to reach from Milan and offers access to the other areas of Lake Como you’ll want to visit. Como also has many accomodation options!

What to do in Lake Como Day 1:

Visit one of Lake Como’s Villas

Many of the Villas on Lake Como for those of us who could never afford to stay in one (ie. me lol) You can book through the villas directly or book a tour on a site like Viator,they have a bunch of options here.

Take the Funicular to the village of Brunate

And enjoy the expansive views of Lake Como & the Alps! The funicular departs right from the lakeside in the center of Como and only takes about 7 minutes to get to the top. The funicular runs every 30 minutes and costs less than 6 Euro round trip. From the top you can explore the little town and venture to some of the overlooks to get a sense of just how massive the lake really is. You can also grab lunch at one of the restaurants at the top, all of them offer patios with great lakeside views!

Sunset Dinner by the Lake

The sunset in Como over the mountains really is quite beautiful! I recommend finding a dinner spot (or hotel/AirBnb) with a view! I had dinner at Ristorante e Pizzeria Fontana d-Oro and the views and food were both incredible! I got a ricotta and spinach pizza that was one of my favorite pizzas in Italy!

What to do in Lake Como Day 2:

Take the Ferry to Bellagio

You can’t take a trip to Como and not venture out on the lake! Luckily, the ferries all leave from right in downtown Como and travel anywhere you want to go on the lake! With limited time I recommend you prioritize seeing Bellagio and Varenna, arguably the two most popular towns on Lake Como. From Como you can take a ferry directly to Bellagio (with many stops in between) this allows you to see many of the little towns and villas on the lake without getting off the boat.

You could also book a tour that takes you directly to Varenna and Belaggio.

Boat schedules and details can be found here. There are options for a regular service vs. fast service. The fast service does not make all the same stops as the slow service, but it always stops in Bellagio and Varenna. I opted to take the slow service there to enjoy the views and the faster service back! The regular service takes about two hours from Como to Bellagio and the faster service is around 45 minutes.

Bellagio is a small town that you can explore leisurely. There’s many cute cafes to grab a coffee and a croissant. From Bellagio you can catch a short ferry to Varenna.

Take the Ferry from Bellagio to Varenna

From Bellagio it is only one stop to Varenna. Varenna, like Bellagio is a cute resort town dotted with colorful houses and windy lakeside paths. It’s also small and doesn’t take long to explore. To me, a trip to Lake Como is for relaxing, and is a good break from all the more active sightseeing visiting the big cities of Italy entails! I recommend grabbing a long lunch at one of the many lakeside cafes and enjoying the views before catching one of the ferries back to Como.

The ferry routes are the same as on the way to Bellagio, where you can opt for either a regular or fast service!

Day 3-5: Dolomites

The Dolomite region of Italy has been becoming way more popular the last few years. This mountain region is stunning & unique. It honestly doesn’t really feel like Italy to me. Many people speak German (and Italian, although it’s predominantly German) the architecture & cuisine has a heavy German influence as well.

If you’re looking for a few adventurous days in the mountains this is the place for you!

Getting There:

From Como, you’ll take the train to Verona. You can either rent a car in Verona or you can catch a train to Bolzano and rent a car there, whichever is easier. But you’ll definitely want a rental car for the 3 days exploring the Dolomites.

Where to Stay:

I recommend basing yourself in Bolzano for exploring the Dolomites. There are a bunch of acccommodation options in Bolzano and a bunch of great restaurants. It’s also conveniently located for getting to other popular areas of the Dolomites.

My favorites hotels to stay at in Bolzano:

• Parhotel Laurin – upscale, conveniently located, on-site restaurants, great breakfast, patio & on site bar
• Hotel Greif – mid-upscale, conveniently located, great breakfast

What to do in the Dolomites Day 1:

Explore Bolzano

I recomend exploring Bolzano. It’s a charming mountain town. You can take the cable car that leads to some of my favorite Dolomites views! The cable car is about a 5 minute walk from the main train station in Bolzano. The cable car takes about 15 minutes to the top. A round trip ticket is ten euros, for 16 you can add on a ticket for the train at the top. The scenic train navigates between a few small mountain towns and offers amazing views of the Dolomites.

There are also a few great hotel restaurants to grab a meal or drinks with views at the top of the mountain.

Lago di Carezza

If you have time I also recommend visiting one of the Dolomite’s most famous alpine lakes, Lago di Carezza. Lago di Carezza is an alpine lake with turquoise waters, pine trees, and the Dolomites in the backdrop. I was unfortunately there on a cloudy day, so you couldn’t really see the mountains in the backdrop.

What to do in the Dolomites Day 2:

Lago di Braies

Lago di Braies is an alpine lakethat features some of the most picturesque turquoise water with the Dolomites looming in the background. In the summer the lake also has a series of wooden rowboats that you can rent, or just take cute pictures of.

I visited in the spring, so the boats weren’t in the water yet, the lake wasn’t also completely full yet as the snow hadn’t fully melted!

Even in the shoulder season, this place was busy midday! So I can only imagine how the summer is. I would try to get there earlier in the AM if possible. There’s a few parking lots right near by, You’ll need to pay a couple euro an hour for parking.

Selva di Val Gardena & Jimmi Hütte

From Lago di Braies head to Selva di Val Gardena, one of the Dolomites most charming towns. From Selva di Val Gardena you can take the  Dantercepies cable car up into the mountains. From the top of the cable car you’ll walk about 10 minutes to Jimmi Hütte, a charming restaurant/bar that features some of the best views of the Dolomites.

What to do in the Dolomites Day 3:

Seceda

Start day 3 off with a trip up to Seceda, one of the most iconic Dolomites viewing points.  It is accessed by cable car from Ortisei (Urtijëi) There is plenty of parking in the area around the cable car. From the top of the cable car you only need to walk about 10 minutes or so to the viewpoint.

St. Magdalena

St. Magdalena is a one of the most picaresque towns in the Dolomites that offers views of rolling hills, charming churches with the epic backdrop of the rocky Dolomites on a clear day. Google maps has a few of the various viewpoints in St. Magdaela marked, so you can find them there! This town can be reached by car and some of the viewpoints need to be accessed by foot.

Day 6: Verona

For day 6 head to charming Verona! Verona is a picturesque Northern Italian city that feels like a bit of a mix of Rome & Florence (but smaller) Verona is most famous for being the setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. Verona also has a Colosseum-style Arena.

You can spend the night in Verona or spend a few hours there and grab a train to Venice so you can spend the night in Venice and wake up there to have the entire day to explore. My recommendation would be to go to Venice.

Getting There:

If you rented your car in Verona, you can drive from Bolzano and return your rental car in Verona. If you return your rental car in Bolzano, you can take the train to Verona.

Where to Stay:

Verona is a fairly small city and most of the main sites are in the downtown area around the arena. I’d recommend staying in that area if you decide to stay in Verona.

What to do in Verona:

Visit the Verona Arena, located in the main town square. The impressive amphitheater was built in 30 AD and is still in use today, and you can purchase tickets to see an opera there. Stroll along the Adige river on either side for beautiful views of Verona. If you’re a Shakespeare fan, you can also visit Juliet’s house, which is thought to be the inspiration for the infamous play.

Day 7: Venice

Spend your last day exploring one of Italy’s most infamous cities, Venice. Venice is small and if you’re short on time it can be explored in one day!

Getting There:

From Verona take the train to Venice!

Where to Stay:

Venice is made up of mostly small winding paths and bridges that cross the many canals, which makes it tricky to navigate, especially with luggage, as you cannot simply hop in a taxi to get to your hotel. I recommend staying at a hotel is easy-ish walking distance to the main train station!

Luckily, this puts you right on the Grand Canal, giving you tons of great hotel options and those picturesque Venice views! I recommend CHC BW Continental or Hotel Carlton on the Grand Canal, but you can find tons of hotel options across budgets in that area. Also, staying along the main canal makes it easier to find your way back to your hotel after a day or exploring (and some wine) the winding streets can lead to getting lost easily!

What to do in Venice:

My favorite part of Venice is getting lost wandering through the dreamy alleyways. There are amazing views of little bridges over the various canals. I really think Venice is meant to be wandered, as opposed to having a structured itinerary with lists of things to see. But some highlights to see:

• Piazza San Marco & the Basilica di San Marco, which is the main square of Venice.
• The infamous Rialto Bridge, which is one of the many bridges spanning the Grand Canal is also a can’t miss, but you’ll almost inevitably stumble across it during your exploring!
• A gondola tour is certainly the quintessential Venice experience, but they are very pricy. But the public Venice ferry system is also a cheaper option if you just want to get out on the canals!

Option 4: A week in Tuscany

Florence, San Gimignano, Montepulciano & Saturnia

If you’re looking to explore one region of Florence and a bit of a slower itinerary, I cannot recommend spending a week in Tuscany enough. Also, if you love wine this is the itinerary for you. Tuscany is my favorite region of Italy, there really is no place in the world like it in my opinion!

• Day 1-2: Florence
• Day 3: San Gimignano
• Day 4-5: Montepulciano
• Day 6-7: Saturnia