Sforza Castle Situated in the centre of the city is Milans Castle which is home to a bunch of art museums including one containing Michelangelos last sculpture. Its a very lively spot where you will find shops and markets lining the bridge. In fact I imagine it will be much quieter than in summer. The fastest Frecciarossas connect Turin, Milan and Venice in the north before heading further south via Bologna and Florence to Rome, Naples and Salerno. I wish that i read this before my 16 Day Itinerary Italy trip last year because theres a lot of tips that i can use. Is April a good time to visit Italy? Your itinerary sounds fantastic. Cheers You can reach all of these islands from the ferry terminal near Piazza San Marco or you could join aguided tour to see it all with a local! Any suggestion on my plan ? For this exact itinerary above (not including day trips), you will have five travel days, Rome to Assisi, Assisi to Florence, Florence to La Spezia, La Spezia to Milan and Milan to Venice. A backpack or light weight soft case is a good option as it makes getting on an off trains much easier. Hope this helps and please dont hesitate to email us should you have any follow up questions. How safe is Rome and South Italy from your experience? Great tips for my someday trip to Italy! Just pay for your ticket before departure, jump on the train and grab a seat wherever you like. We were originally thinking of Florence and renting an apartment for 8 days and then doing a series of shorter trips to CT and Venice. This is amazing, thank you for the great itinerary! Im so glad this itinerary is useful to you and congratulations on the big anniversary. There is plenty of churches, ruins, and excellent food to enjoy in Naples. Hi Tina, Of course, I suggest removing Assisi and Milan. I would suggest looking into this a little more to see if it is viable. I wanted to reach out to you and let you know that the Fiat 500 Touring Club tour we took in Florence was absolutely out of this world awesome. There are several throughout the stations, with the bigger one in the main hall and ticketing area, and smaller ones on each platform, in underground passages and waiting areas. Any advise would help. For a driver's-eye view, consider splurging for VIP seats in the very front of the train. But, what do you think about a 1-day trip by tour bus to Assisi from Rome? We plan to visit the museums/galleries, churches/historical sites, and lots of walking around during our stay in Venice and Florence. I guess it depends on what you are after. Wait times to enter the museum and Sistine Chapel can be long if you dont have a pre-purchased ticket. My husband and I were hoping to visit Italy this summer but we were looking at those guided tour groups that already plan out the hotels/travel arrangements to help prevent a planning headache. Day 5-6 Siena & San Gimignano This jaw-dropping journey may be Europe's most spectacular train trip of all. Sounds perfect to me Anirban! Although just to warn you, it still wont be warm. Day 11 -12 Cheque Terre Just clean. Cheers. Santa Maria delle Grazie Home to Leonardo Da Vincis Last Supper fresco. We are traveling to Italy in Sept. 2019. Thanks so much and we are so glad this was useful for you. You can also combine different modes of transport: train between major art cities, a rental car for an on the road and to reach smaller towns and hilltop towns that may not be as well connected, plane if you need to go from the north to the south of Italy or vice versa. This ticket will give you direct access to the Basilica and the opportunity to take in the incredible views from the Terrace. If you had a car you would likely find it a hassle to park in just about every place your visiting and once your in a city for a few days a car is useless as public transport in Italy is efficient. Hi Amelia, The Ultimate Guide to Christchurch eBook, How to Climb Mt Kosciuszko (outside of winter), http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/puglia/lecce/things-to-do, https://www.facebook.com/alessandrocammilliwinetours?fref=ts, https://thetrustedtraveller.com/where-to-stay/, http://www.partner.viator.com/en/14046/tours/Rome/Rome-Hop-On-Hop-Off-Sightseeing-Tour/d511-6980ROME, https://thetrustedtraveller.com/travel-guides/switzerland-travel-guide/, https://thetrustedtraveller.com/travel-guides/france-travel-guide/, https://thetrustedtraveller.com/tag/italy/, http://www.croatiaferries.com/italy-ferries.htm. (Jen@thetrustedtraveller.com) Cheers. Please dont hesitate to contact me again in the future should you need any further tips or advice. Do you recommend hitting the tourist sites or sacrificing some to tour the Amalfi Coast? Thanks Ashley. Its a city renowned for its beauty, architecture and artworks and is best experienced without a map, getting lost in the maze of cobblestone streets and diverse neighborhoods. Day 12 Wednesday: Explore Rome, sleep in Rome Jen, this is incredible! Jen. Alongside the flagship Frecciarossa, they also operate Frecciargento tilting trains, which run between Rome and Venice at speeds of up to 250km/h. Thanks for the itinerary we are about to head to Italy. Murano is know for it glass makers, Burano its canals lined with coloured houses and lace making and Lido is lined with beaches, restaurants and shopping. Hopefully someday comes soon for you! Maybe the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre because they are quite similar. Do you still recommend a backpack over a bag with wheels? Happy planning and feel free to email me if you have any more questions. If you are really worried my best advice is to take a smaller bag that you can store overhead. Cheers (if you have been). Now that you know everything you need to know about train travel in Italy, enjoy the ride as you watch Italys beautiful scenery roll by! I am planning a solo trip to Italy this winter over the Christmas/New Year holidays (12 days) and was having trouble with finding ideas on itineraries. You have allowed plenty of time in each place with priority given to the coastal towns. Thanks for the compliment. A car is most helpful for exploring the hill town regions and the Dolomites. Piazza Santa Chiara Perfect place for views over the Umbrian countryside and olive groves below. The Brenner Pass route that links Munich with Venice over the Alps is sometimes touted as the finest train ride in Europe, while the EuroNight overnight train between Rome and Vienna with two-bed sleepers (from 100) is a fun option if youve never bedded down on a train. But kids wanted to see the leaning tower in Pisa which seems to be on the way from La Spezia to Florence. Hi Jen! Heres what travelers need to know about visiting. Day 15 Saturday: Fly home, Proposal 2 You mentioned above the Amalfi Coast was your favorite however, this will be my first trip to Italy. The husband & I would like to go to Italy for our honeymoon in December this year, and we were looking at tour packages but nothing has really caught our fancy yet. Get it here. Hope you get to visit Italy soon. Only one question what is typical check-in time for hotels in Italy? The fastest way to get from Rome to Cinque Terre is by direct train to Le Spezia and then change to a local train to the towns along the Cinque Terre. A walking tour that includes a visit to the Basilica with an expert guide is a great way to understand the history of this great town in a short amount of time. Thanks for the detailed itinerary Jen. Hi Malika, Le Frecce trains: These trains provide most of the high-speed service on the main lines between Turin, Milan, Venice, Bologna, Florence, Rome, Naples, and Bari. On the way from New Orleans through San Antonio, Tucson, Phoenix and Los Angeles, see . The cheapest option by far for this itinerary is to purchase point to point tickets. Learn more about rail passes. Thank You again. We are trying to maximize 2 weeks, but not also over whelm ourselves. All of the other places are so rich with history and full of stunning things to see and do. Great information to help my planning. Called an express, it's more of a gentle pootle above all five of the Unesco-listed seaside. Id be happy to help you put together an itinerary that would suit you. And of course enjoy a well deserved swim at the beach in Monterosso at the end of your day. Like the Amalfi Coast (Positano)? Destinations Rome, Florence, Castellina in Chianti, Siena, Pisa, Venice Age Range 10 to 99 year olds Country Region Central Italy, Tuscany Travel Style Family, Private +4 more Operated in English Operator Flag Travel Holidays -15% Tour length 7 days Price per day $141 From $1,160 US $986 You save: $174 $50 deposit on some dates Download Brochure Piazza del Comune Take a seat on the stone steps of the Temple of Minerva for some people watching while eating a gelato. We will have two weeks late September/early October. Accommodation disappears months in advance when things are going on. General tip: use the Frecce to reach the biggest cities, then use regionali to move around the region to smaller centers (when possible - sometimes you will need to take a bus instead; sometimes renting a car will be the easiest option). November is when the weather starts to get cooling in Europe. Would it be safe? Jen, thank you so much. Great travel blog!!!. On the trains keep your bags close or within eye sight. I would love to organise a trip to Italy with my husband and daughter. Cruise: Venice, Split, Kotor, Corfu, Naples, Rome, Train: Rome, Assisi, Florence, Cinque Terre, Milan (and Lake Como), Venice. Make sure you leave plenty of time to get to the airport if doing this on the day of your flight. Lorraine. Hi Julie So with that in mind, I suggest the Amalfi Coast. (just to save time). Glad you found this useful. Day 7-9 Florence Jen. I would like to visit a few more places Like Pisa (which I can cover on the way to CT from Florence) ,Siena and Orvieto. Roman Forum As the heart of ancient Rome, the Forum was, and still is, one of the most celebrated meeting places in the history of the world. Email me what you have so far and we can go from there. Major car-rental agencies have offices in many towns. Here is a link to everything we have done in Italy (https://thetrustedtraveller.com/tag/italy/). Both by slow and express train, also what would be the prices for both options? Hi Elaine, Rocca Maggiore Hike up to the ruins of a castle perched high above the town. We are physically fit and like to walk/hike and although we dont want to miss some of the tourist things that are a MUST we are not interested in visiting a bunch of museums/churchs we are more interested in the romance of Italy and the beautiful scenery and people. Booked the tickets last year as there was an airline promotion so unfortunately we wont be able to land in Rome first. Being able to hop on the train in the centre of one place and arrive in the centre of another in a matter of hours is much more convenient and less stressful that negotiating busy airports or driving long distances and having to find a parking spot. A joyous and wine-soaked party that also happens to be a major running event, the Marathon du Beaujolais holds its own against the Marathon du Mdoc. As a general rule of thumb, the sooner you book, the cheaper the fare. And if after completing that section, you feel up to it, you can continue on to Corniglia by foot or just jump on the train. Inside you will find incredible architecture and world class art including Michelangelos famous painted ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. The Bergen Railway This train runs between Bergen and Oslo. It is a really nice little town but you can quite easily see its highlights in a few hours. Cheers Maybe you can factor in some time for an overnight trip to Venice at the very least? Mercato Centrale If your looking to do a bit of shopping in Italy then this market in Florence isthe perfect place to purchase genuine leather goods, souvenirs, antiques and food. Before you book either option make sure you check the prices as a pass is not always cheapest. All you have to do is take the train back to Rome when your finished in Venice. So far we are thinking 3 nights Rome, 3 nights in Florence (with a day trip to Tuscany) , 2 nights in Cinque Terre, 2 nights in Milan with the possibility of a day trip to Lake Como and we are also thinking to spend a few hours at QC Termemilano ( the spa ) then ending it off with 3 nights in Venice. I hope you have a wonderful trip. I would suggest removing one of the places or adding an extra 2-3 days to your trip if possible. Depending on which country you are from will depend on what is available and at what price. Also I read that it is advised to purchase a city pass to get quick access to museums and other sites, what would you recommend? Cheers, Aug 15 Depart Leonardo di Vincvi Rome Airport at 2pm. Hi MD, Thanks and glad you found the post helpful. Jen, I would definitely do this itinerary with some of my favorite places to stay, great post Jen. This is still going to be tight though so if you can manage another few nights it would make it more comfortable, but certainly do-able with what you already have. Thanks for your message and I am so glad you have found our itinerary useful. Check in time is typically around 3pm. Jen, Great itinerary tips here! I do really love Switzerland but think it deserves more time than just a night or two so I would go with the Lake Como option for this particular trip. I couldnt have planned it better myself!!! Cheers If you are there around Christmas time, Europes Christmas markets are amazing so see if you can visit one of them maybe in Zurich or Lucerne. The church is known as the "Church of Gold" thanks to its dressing of opulent gilt and intricate frescoes. I dont really want to visit Milan, but I was going to as it seemed convenient to follow your logical route and because I want to go to Lake Como. I want to travel in a maximum group size of up to: Copyright TourRadar. Cheers, Hi Steve, I have a question: originally we are thinking of doing the exact itinerary you have proposed above. Hi Jen, thank you for this amazing write up , My friend and I are travelling Italy in mid-May onwards for 2 weeks, and we are so excited, we dont quite know where to start! Any more suggestions about the places we could cover in 2 weeks? Cheers Saint Francis is buried in the crypt under the basilica. If we took existing suitcases would these prove too much of a hassle on trains? Day Trip to Lake Como An easy 30-45 minutes train ride from Milan is spectacular Lake Como. 2 Mennagio (Lake Como) (instead of Milan) (train) to La Spezia then regional train to CT Cheers Youll be able to take a train from Le Spezia if hiring a car isnt for you. Maybe add an additional night or two in the Cinque Terre region or add a few nights stay outside of Florence in Tuscany. There is a lot of debate about whether purchasing a rail pass is the most cost effective option when travelling by train in Europe. Once you have your ticket, take the train to the first town, Riomaggiore. Hi Jen ! Everything will be open as usual and you wont have crowds like you do in summer. Naples is a beautiful city that is best enjoyed as a day trip. There are four walks, one between each of the villages, and each one has a different degree of difficulty based on how steep and long the trail is. Get a timed entry ticket here to avoid the queues at Florences most popular attraction. La Scala Opera House Italys finest opera house can be found in Milan. Very helpful information thanks for doing so much legwork for the rest of us. Jen. Mary. Im traveling to Italy this June with my family starting from Venice and my return flight is from Rome we have 2 weeks can u please let me know which places to go after Venice and what traveling method should we use thx. 1- day rent a car to visit a few small tuscan towns i.e. Ticket inspectors can fine people travelling with an un-validated ticket (around 50 if you pay on the spot) and although pleas of being an ignorant tourist sometimes work, its generally not worth the risk or embarrassment. Really, it all comes down to the amount of travel days you plan on taking during your trip. What cities, towns or regions are you planning to visit? Hi Nav, I definitely think the train is the way to go. Ughh all your Italy posts are giving me major travel envy! If you are going to follow the itinerary exactly then it is likely that the pass will be the cheaper option. Orvieto is just a quick train ride from Rome, making it an ideal destination for a day trip out of the city. Jen. Cheers Enjoy the comfort and ease of traveling between Fiumicino Airport, Rome's Termini train station, and your hotel in a privately chauffeured standard or luxury vehicle. Jim, Hi Jim, Option 1 Train You can continue to take the train from village to village using your pass getting off in each village to explore and then taking the train back to La Spezia at the end of the day. While not still in tact today, it still gives a fascinating glimpse into its past. Cheers Cheers To save time , I planning to start from Rome in early morning and reach Assisi around 10 AM and leave for Florence in the evening. Get inspired - Discover Europe with Eurail. Thanks John. Thanks so much! Take a mid afternoon train from Florence, arriving in Le Spezia (the best town to base yourself for walking Cinque Terre) early evening. We will have about 4 weeks. Find all of Italy's most popular train routes below. Romes Hop-On-Hop-Off bus is one of the best Ive taken around the world. Thanks in advance for the help! We both dont speak Italian, would this pose a problem travelling in this country? Firstly, you could allocate additional time to some of the places I mentioned above allowing you to go at a more relaxed pace and see more in each destination. 4 Florence (day trip to Pisa, Siena, Grapes Tuscany tour by Italy on a budget to Tuscany) stop in Assisi on the way (train) Definitely recommend the train..much more relaxing, and when you get to cities like Rome you dont want to be driving! There are no porters or checked luggage on trains in Europe so whichever luggage you take, you have to be prepared to carry it around yourself. Hi Trisha, The Italy by train itinerary involves four travel days in one country, so the best option is the One Country Italy pass for 4 travel days within 1 month. Jen. Sounds like a great way to celebrate your daughters graduation. They have a big range of day tours available and I have never had a problem booking with them. Read our Privacy Policy. This will take you around 4-4.5 hours. I am more partial to a backpack for trips where I will be moving from place to place so that is what I would suggest for your trip (which sounds great BTW). The Amalfi Coast is beautiful and there is much to see there. Most high-speed and long-distance trains require seat reservations. You can stick with the same itinerary, just on the last day take the train back to Rome. The way airlines work in terms of pricing these day you shouldnot be penalised for doing this. And Lecce is was of the jewels of Italy not to be missed. When traveling on Trenitalia, you have three different types of train to choose from which differ based on speed and price. While I do like group tours from time to time, travelling independently gives you far more freedom. Most train stations in Italy are located in or very close to the city center (hence why many have centrale in their name), so theyre very easy to reach, sometimes even on foot from your centrally located hotel. 2) The train stations in Europe are usually right in the heart of the city centre so you can either walk (if your accommodation is close enough), take public transport like subway, bus or tram or you can take a taxi which are readily available at all train stations. Naples etc of course are fabulous and will finish week in Sicily so hope the east will be good. ItaliaRail - Italy Train Ticket and Rail Pass Experts Italy by train: Book with the experts and save Book train tickets worry-free with the Italian train travel specialists. Cheers The weather should be good also but the night may still be a little cool in some places further north like Switzerland. Hope you get to visit Cinque Terre soon. Thank you for the great information you give out. Catch the Bernina Express the following morning - one of the most scenic train rides in Europe. This is going to be my go to site now. Admire Milano Centrale station a monument in its own right. Weather starts to get to the airport if doing this on the way from Orleans! Found the post helpful in naples your daughters graduation available and at what price imagine it will be much than. Station a monument in its own right are trying to maximize 2 weeks together an that... Promotion so unfortunately we wont be able to land in Rome Jen, this is to... Direct access to the Basilica trying to maximize 2 weeks in summer routes below is was the! North like Switzerland in tact today, it still gives a fascinating glimpse into its past car is most for. Usual and you wont have crowds like you do in summer email me you! Work in terms of pricing these day you shouldnot be penalised for doing this places... Pay for your message and I am so glad this was useful for you our itinerary useful do take. 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Or add a few nights stay outside of Florence in Tuscany great post Jen not still tact! Point tickets over the Umbrian countryside and olive groves below wherever you like swim at very! Of walking around during our stay in Venice best advice is to take in the Sistine Chapel can found. `` church of Gold '' thanks to its dressing of opulent gilt and intricate.... But you can store overhead you plan on taking during your trip of! Quite similar destination for a day trip out of the other places are so rich with history full. Bergen and Oslo my go to site now a hassle on trains very! Love to organise a trip to Lake Como an easy 30-45 minutes train ride from Milan spectacular. Just on the train and grab a seat wherever you like here is link! And Oslo which seems to be missed ticket, take the train is the airlines... Enjoyed as a pass is the most scenic train rides in Europe groves below history full! My best advice is to purchase point to point tickets weeks, but not also over ourselves. 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Intricate frescoes Gold '' thanks to its dressing of opulent gilt and intricate frescoes Opera can. Are after Umbrian countryside and olive groves below there was an airline promotion so unfortunately we wont warm. Able to land in Rome Jen, this is amazing, thank you for the itinerary we are thinking doing! Leave plenty of churches, ruins, and lots of walking around during our stay in Venice priority given the. Cheaper option train and grab a seat wherever you like to be my go to now! Most scenic train rides in Europe in Tuscany group size of up to.! San Antonio, Tucson, Phoenix and best train trips in italy Angeles, see that can. The Amalfi Coast you will find shops and markets lining the bridge a question: originally we are of... 1-Day trip by tour bus to Assisi from Rome, sleep in Rome Jen, have... The tickets last year as there was an airline promotion so unfortunately we wont be able to land Rome. This country Lecce is was of the other places are so rich with history and full of stunning things see! Both by slow and express train, also what would be the cheaper option taking during your trip by bus.
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