Wondering what you can do in Italy for 2 weeks? Here is a complete travel guide and a backpacking itinerary that will take you through Italy from the essential highlights like Rome, Florence, and Milan, to more remote regions of Italy like the Dolomites, and more.
Within this guide, you will find all the information you need to travel through Italy like a pro like when to visit, where to stay, how to get around, and more, to make your dream Italy trip happens.
Without further ado, here is the ultimate travel guide and a complete backpacking itinerary for Italy. Let's begin with a look at the itinerary map below:
- 2 Weeks Italy Itinerary Map
- 2 Weeks Backpacking Italy Itinerary
- When to Visit Italy?
- How to Get to Italy?
- How to Get Around Italy?
- How Much Money Do I Need for 2 weeks in Italy?
- Is it Safe in Italy?
- Which tourist SIM card is best for Italy?
- What to Pack for Italy?
- Further Reading for Italy
2 Weeks Italy Itinerary Map
2 Weeks Backpacking Italy Itinerary
Day 1: Milan (2 Nights)
Our 2 weeks backpacking journey across Italy begins in Milan, a world-renowned art and fashion capital of the world, home to some of the most iconic monuments and landmarks in Italy from the incredible artwork of famous artists like Leonardo da Vinci to all the historical churches and architectures that have stood the test of time for centuries.
With 2 nights in Milan, you can dedicate an entire day to exploring all the highlights of Milan by beginning in the city center and visiting Duomo di Milano, the largest cathedral in the country featuring over 135 adorned spires, thousands of statues, all intricately sculpted to perfection, and a beautiful interior adorned with dark and gritty Gothic decors. No wonder why it took over 600 years to complete!
The best part about visiting Duomo di Milano is the fact that you can also climb up to the top of the cathedral's roof and you will find a terrace with sweeping panoramic views of Milan's stunning cityscape. You will also be able to see all those statues up close on the roof. The views are especially beautiful at sunset when the city is bathed in a golden light.
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While you are in the city center, be sure to check out the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, an open-air mall housed in this stunning glass-vaulted arcade as high as a skyscraper that is home to a wide variety of high-end stores, restaurants, and cafes that will test the depth of your wallet.
If you like museums and you want to learn a bit more about Milan and the surrounding areas, you can also visit Palazzo Reale di Milano or the Royal Palace of Milan, which has a long and rich history, dating back to the 14th century, and house several museums inside.
If you are interested in seeing artworks from all the famous Renaissance artists like Leonardo da Vinci you can also check out Pinacoteca di Brera, one of the most important art galleries in Italy founded in 1809 by Napoleon Bonaparte himself, who wanted to create a collection of art that would rival the best in Europe.
Another highlight of visiting Milan is seeing one of the greatest artworks of the Renaissance, the Last Supper, a mural painting of the last supper of Jesus with the twelve apostles before one of them betrays him, created by the famous Italian High Renaissance artist, the great Leonardo da Vinci himself.
It was originally painted on the walls of the refectory using a technique known as fresco, which is a method of painting on wet plaster. Unfortunately, over time, the painting has undergone significant deterioration and requires a ton of restoration work as well as protection from the elements, which is why the painting is only open to visitors who book their visits in advance.
When I say in advance, I really mean in advance. When I was there in August, all the time slots were booked for 7 days straight and there was only 1 slot left on the 8th day, so if you really want to see the Last Supper, I highly recommend you book the time slot from their official website prior to your visit to Milan.
For the most fun museums in Milan, I have to give it to The Leonardo da Vinci's Museum of Science and Technology, a museum dedicated to all the works and inventions, both the awesome and the weird, of the famous artist, scientist, and inventor Leonardo da Vinci
From inventions like the bizarre triangular parachute to the medieval turtle-shaped tank that was designed to be the ultimate killing machine of war, you are sure to be both intrigued and bewildered by his creations.
The museum is an excellent place to understand the breadth and depth of Leonardo's contributions to science and technology and appreciate his curiosity and creativity as a whole as well as celebrate other technological advancements we have seen since his time like a collection of old telephones, space suits, satellites, and all things technology.
Other notable attractions you should visit in Milan are The Roman Columns of San Lorenzo, a group of 2nd Century ancient Roman columns, Basilica Di Sant'Ambrogio, one of the oldest structures you can see in Milan, Sforzesco Castle, a massive 15th Century castle complex full of museums and beautiful parks and gardens, and so much more.
For more information on things to do in Milan, you can check the link below. After spending an entire day exploring Milan, it is time to continue our journey and visit one of the most popular destinations in Italy, Venice.
Getting from Milan to Venice
From Milan to Venice, you are going to have to catch a train from Milano Central Train Station. There are several direct trains connecting both cities starting at 7:15 AM to 8:45 PM. The journey should take about 2.5 hours and cost 45 EUR. You can get your train ticket online from here.
Day 2: Venice (1 Night)
Ah... Venice, the city of art, culture, and picturesque canals, the birthplace of the Renaissance, and home to some of the most unique-looking architecture you will see in Italy.
There is no doubt that Venice is one of the most popular destinations for tourists to visit in Italy. I went there expecting as much and that is what I experience. Overcrowded streets, long queues, and just about any cliche you can come to expect from an overtouristic city like overpriced restaurants and cafes.
What I didn't expect to experience was how easy it was to escape the crowds and how easily it was to lose oneself in the crisscrossing narrow streets of Venice for hours without seeing a single tourist.
If you start your journey from Milan early, you should have some time to explore some of the highlights of Venice in the afternoon and evening like St. Mark's Square, a vast public in the heart of the city where most journeys in Venice begin.
The square has a long and rich history as being one of the most important social hubs in the city. It is a place where people have been gathering, meeting, and hanging out with one another for centuries.
While you are at the square, you might as well go and climb St. Mark's Campanile, a 98.6-meter-tall bell tower built in the 11th Century, offering one of the best views over Venice and its incredible Venetian lagoon.
There will always be a long queue waiting to get up to the top, which is very typical of most places in Venice. You can either wait in the sun and follow the queue as I did or you can get a ticket online from here which will allow you to skip the line without having to queue up.
Once you are at the top, you will have sweeping panoramic views of the entirety of St. Marks Square on one side and the Venetian lagoon and all its islands on the other. It sure was quite a sight to behold.
Another important landmark at St. Mark Square is Saint Mark's Basilica, a grand cathedral that is considered to be one of the most important examples of Byzantine architecture in the world.
One of the most iconic and stunning features of the Basilica is the golden mosaics that adorn the facade and the interior, which depict scenes from the New Testament, including the life of Christ and the saints. The mosaics were added between the 12th and 15th centuries and are considered a masterwork of medieval art, something you definitely want to see when traveling in Venice.
The basilica is open from 9:30 AM to 5:15 PM with the last admission around 30 minutes before closing time and the ticket should cost around 3 EUR with an option to go up the second level for an extra 5 EUR if you do not mind queuing to get in. If you want to skip the line, you can check out some other online tickets here.
There are many iconic landmarks in Venice that you should definitely check out while you are here like Doge's Palace, a magnificent palace and the residence of the Doge, the elected leader of the Republic of Venice and served as the city's government headquarters, as well as a symbol of the Republic's independent, power, and prestige.
There are also many bridges in Venice that are worth visiting like the Bridge of Sighs, a famous covered bridge connecting the palace to the New Prison (Prigioni Nuove) across the Rio di Palazzo, which shows what the justice system of Venice was like back then.
Rialto Bridge is another iconic bridge in Venice you shouldn't miss. The bridge has been connecting 2 sides of the city together since the 12th Century when it was constructed with wood and rebuilt again with stone in the 16th Century, making it the oldest grand-canal-crossing bridge in the city.
For the bridge that offers the very best view of Venice, I have to give it to Ponte dell'Accademia, another grand-canal-crossing bridge, this time, made out of wood located near Gallerie dell'Accademia art museum, hence the name "Ponte dell'Accademia", or Academy Bridge.
Other notable landmarks and attractions in Venice are Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, a palace in Venice, known for its unique design, unlike anything you've seen before, Libreria Acqua Alta, a beautiful vintage bookstore built around a small courtyard that features a canal running through it, and many more.
To get the most out of your visit to Venice, I highly recommend you get Venice Pass so you can get easy access to all the main attractions in Venice without having to wait in a queue. That should be it for a day in Venice. Next up, we will visit the Dolomites!
Getting from Venice to Bolzano
From Venice to Bolzano, there are a handful of trains you can take from Venice Train Station to Bolzano Train Station from 5:40 AM to 8:10 PM every day with a single transit in Verona.
The journey should take about 3.5 hours and cost 50 EUR. It is a long journey so be prepared for your trip. You can get your train ticket online from here.
Day 3 - 5: Bolzano, the Dolomites (3 Nights)
After Venice, we are entering one of my favorite regions in Italy, the Dolomites, home to some of the finest mountain peaks in the world and there is no better place to base yourself in than Bolzano/Bozen, a charming city located right in the heart of the Italian Alps.
The journey from Venice to Bolzano can be quite long but if you arrive in Bolzano early, be sure to check out some of the city's best attractions like Bolzano Cathedral, a beautiful Gothic church, hang out at Waltherplatz, a 19th Century plaza set against the Dolomites, or visit the South Tyrol Archeological Museum.
South Tyrol Archeological Museum, also known as the Ötzi Museum, is a museum dedicated to the "Iceman", a 5,300-year-old mummified corpse that was recently discovered in the region in 1991, thanks to global warming 🥲.
The museum displays the remains of the Iceman, mummified and all, as well as artifacts, and other items that were found with him. They were many speculations as to how he was trapped in the ice for centuries, but the ongoing theory that seems to have the most legs is that he probably got mugged and left for dead up in the mountains. Poor soul!
The museum is a fascinating destination for anyone interested in archaeology or the history of the region. It is one of the top attractions in Bolzano and I highly recommend you check it out while you are in Bolzano.
Also, be sure to visit the Tourist Information in town and grab your Mobilcard, a tourist card that will allow you to take as many buses and trains as you wish for free for a period of time. Since we will be spending 2 days in the Dolomites, I highly recommend you get the 3-day one which should cost about 23 EUR per person.
Once you are done exploring Bolzano, you can retreat for the night and prepare yourself to visit some of the most beautiful parts of the Dolomites, Secada, and Alpe di Siusi tomorrow.
On your first full day in the Dolomites, we are going to visit the stunning Secada in the morning and Alpe di Siusi in the afternoon so be sure to get up as early as you can to catch the bus to Ortisei/Urtijëi, where the cable car stations to these places are located.
To get from Bolzano to Ortisei, you will have to go to Bolzano Bus Station and catch bus #350 to Ortisei. The journey should take about an hour and you can use the Mobilcard you got yesterday, tap on the card reader machine, and off you go.
Once you arrive in Ortisei, you can then make your way up the escalator to the Seceda Cable Car Station where you can then buy a roundtrip ticket for 38 EUR, and it should take about 30 minutes until you reach Seceda.
The moment you walked off the cable car station, you will be greeted with an expansive panoramic view of the Odle mountain range, which is known for its distinctive jagged peaks.
You can hike along Seceda Ridge and get up close and personal with the mountain or you can hike downhill and visit some of the mountain huts located down the valley.
You can spend half a day exploring all the beautiful viewpoints Seceda has to offer before you take the cable car back to Ortisei and stop there for lunch. There are many restaurants here but not as cheap and so if you want to save some money, I highly recommend you pack your lunch the day before in Bolzano.
After lunch, you can make your way to St.Ulrich Cable Car Station located just across the main road on the other side of the valley, buy a roundtrip ticket to Alpe di Siusi for about 24.9 EUR, and off you go to our next destination.
Alpe di Siusi is a high-altitude plateau that is known for its stunning alpine scenery and it is a popular destination for hikers, skiers, and nature lovers, with an incredible view over the valley and its surroundings. It is completely different from Seceda with its own beauty and charm.
With a short hike, you can get to Belvedere dell'Alpe di Siusi, a breathtaking viewpoint located at an altitude of about 2,200 meters (7,200 feet) in the middle of the valley and offers an iconic view of Alpe di Siusi and its golden rolling hills.
Supposedly, this viewpoint is one of the best places to see the sunset in the Dolomites but due to our limited time and the cable car operation hours, we only have time for a few hikes and that is it. Of course, if you really want to see the sunset at Alpe di Siusi, you can opt to stay overnight but it won't be cheap.
With the itinerary, you should have until 5:30 PM before you have to take the cable car down and catch the 7 PM bus #350 back to Bolzano and complete your first full day in the Dolomites.
On our second day in the Dolomites, we are going to have our first proper hiking experience by hiking the Adolf-Munkel-Weg hiking trail, a 10 kilometers (6 miles) long trail that takes about 4-5 hours to complete.
Since you will be spending the entire day hiking, I highly recommend you pack your lunch in Bolzano the day before and start as early as you can. Go to Bolzano Bus Station and catch the train to Brixen, a beautiful small mountain with a German heritage we will be exploring in the evening.
From Brixen Train Station, you can catch bus #330 from the bus station right in front of the station and it will take you towards to Adolf-Munkel-Weg trailhead. Along the way, there is an optional stop at Ranui bus stop where you will be able to take photos and visit the iconic Church of St. John but you are going to have to wait another hour to catch the next bus to Adolf-Munkel-Weg.
I did stop here for a bit and spent an hour exploring the area. Not much to do except the church, to be honest, but I was there super early in the morning and I had plenty of time to catch the next bus to Adolf-Munkel-Weg trailhead.
If you choose to go all the way to Adolf-Munkel-Weg trailhead, the bus will drop you off at Rifugio Zannes, and then you can start hiking the Adolf-Munkel-Weg trail.
This 10 km hiking trail is one of the most photogenic hiking trails out here and it will take you as close to the jagged peaks of the Odle mountain range, the mountain you saw in Seceda, as you can get without needing mountaineering gear.
The trail's difficulty is quite moderate with a lot of ups and downs in the beginning and towards the end respectively. Most of the time, you will be on a flat trail along the foothills of the mountain which will allow you to catch your breath while hiking.
The trail will take you to the picturesque Gschnagenhardt-Alm, a mountain hut located right in the center of a natural amphitheater, formed by the towering cliffs of the Odle mountain range, which rise up to over 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) above the valley floor.
This incredible natural amphitheater was quite a sight to behold as you will find yourself in a vast green field of rolling hills, surrounded by the beautiful jagged peaks of the Odle mountain range, set against the beautiful blue sky. It is a worthy reward for a long hike such as the Adolf-Munkel-Weg trail.
I started hiking at 10:30 AM and arrived at Gschnagenhardt-Alm by 12:40 PM (2 hours). I was up there for about an hour until 1:30 PM before I started making my way down, arriving back at Rifugio Zannes by 3 PM (1.5 hours). Bus #330 to Brixen runs every hour between 9:43 AM and 6:43 PM so I was able to catch the bus at 3:43 PM to get to Brixen.
And that is it for the Adolf-Munkel-Weg hike. If you still have enough energy, I highly recommend you spend the evening in Brixen and explore its cute little town before heading back to Bolzano.
All in all, the Adolf-Munkel-Weg hiking trail is not particularly difficult but it is long and it can take you about 4 - 5 hours to complete the loop. The last train from Brixen to Bolzano is at 10 PM so plan accordingly. The next day, we are finally visiting the famous region of Tuscany starting with the wonderful city of Florence.
Getting from Bolzano to Florence
From Bolzano to Florence, you can also catch a train from Bolzano Train Station to Florence Train Station between 5:00 AM and 5:10 PM every day with a direct train taking around 3 hours and costing between 46 - 60 EUR.
You can also get the one that transits via Verona which is only slightly cheaper but takes almost 6 hours to get to Florence. It is another long journey so please prepare accordingly. You can get your train ticket online from here.
Day 6 - 7: Florence (3 Nights)
Florence is the stunning capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany, home to world-renowned art, delicious cuisine, and probably one of the most iconic churches in the world, Duomo di Firenze, a structure that will completely blow your socks off the moment you see it in person.
Since we will have 2 full days in Florence, I highly recommend you hit the ground running and check out the iconic Duomo which is located in the historic square of Piazza del Duomo, a piazza with a long and rich history that dates all the way back to the Roman era, a perfect place to begin your journey in Florence.
You can admire the beauty of the Duomo from the outside, trust me, the scale and the amazing details of the cathedral's exterior will blow you away, or you can get inside the duomo to see its beautiful Brunelleschi's Dome.
In addition to the Duomo, the piazza is also home to the Baptistery of San Giovanni, the Giotto's Bell Tower (an attraction we will be discussing next), and the Opera del Duomo Museum. These historic landmarks offer visitors a chance to learn more about the city's rich history and cultural heritage.
Accessing the Duomo is free but if you want to see Brunelleschi's Dome, the bell tower, the Baptistery, the museum, and the crypt, you will have to buy a ticket to get in. You can get the Duomo ticket from here with free cancellation or from the official website. It should cost between 30 - 40 EUR per person to get access to all the attractions around the piazza.
No matter what you choose to do here, I highly recommend you climb Giotto's Bell Tower, an iconic medieval tower standing at over 84.7 m (277.9 feet) tall, offering breathtaking views of the city and the surrounding Tuscan countryside. It is hands down, the best viewpoint you can get in the city especially if you want to see the massive dome of the Duomo up close.
You can climb to the top and take in the stunning views of the city given you don't mind ascending the 414 steps to get there. There is no elevator, unfortunately so there is no easy way out for this, but trust me, the effort is well worth it for the breathtaking panoramic views of Florence that await at the top.
There are also other viewpoints around the city as well that will allow you to see Florence from afar and really witness just how massive the Duomo is against other buildings in the city. One of the viewpoints to check out is Piazzale Michelangelo, a public square located on top of a hill overlooking Florence and it is one of the most popular sunset spots in the city.
The square offers breathtaking views of the city and the surrounding Tuscan countryside and it attracts a ton of people from across the world who want to witness the golden hour under the Tuscan sun.
Due to how popular the square is, the place can get extremely crowded at times, especially at sunset during peak tourist season. However, the views from the square are well worth the visit in my opinion.
If you are looking to avoid the crowds, you can also go a little further uphill and check out Abbazia di San Miniato al Monte, a beautiful Benedictine abbey founded in the 10th Century located on a hill offering another great view of Florence
Getting to the abbey takes a bit of effort as you will have to walk around 2 km from the city center and you will be climbing uphill for at least 20 minutes to reach the top. In the summer heat, this can be extremely challenging so please take your time and pace yourself while you walk. You can also visit the abbey in the evening to avoid the hottest time of the day.
For art lovers, Florence is also home to some of the most comprehensive collections of artworks from famous artists like Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, the Florentines, and Raffaell, most of which are housed in the incredible Uffizi Gallery, one of the oldest and most famous art museums in the world.
The museum was founded in the mid-16th century by the Medici family, who was a powerful and influential dynasty in Florence at the time. The museum was originally intended to house the family's art collection, which included a number of important works by Renaissance artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Botticelli.
Over the years, the collection has grown to include a wide range of art from different periods and styles, and today the Uffizi Gallery is considered one of the finest art museums in the world with the most impressive collection of art you will ever see.
In addition to its impressive collection of art, the museum is also known for its beautiful architecture and design. It is housed in a series of connected buildings that were once the offices of the Medici government, all beautifully decorated, and they are designed to be filled with natural light, which is perfect for art viewing.
Things to note is that, if you want to visit Uffizi Gallery while you are in Florence, you are going to have to book the ticket and choose a time slot, weeks in advance so that you do not have to queue up at the gate while you are there. You can also go on an organized tour if you want to learn more about all the artworks you see here.
Another incredible art gallery you shouldn't miss is Accademia Gallery, an art museum best known for its collection of Renaissance art, which includes some of the most famous and iconic works in the world, such as Michelangelo's "David" sculpture.
Here at the museum, you will be able to gaze eyes upon one of Michelangelo's best works, the real 5.17 m (17 ft) marble statue of the Biblical figure David, in all its glory.
Getting into the Accademia Gallery can be quite tricky if you don't plan ahead. If you want to see David with your own eyes, I highly recommend you get the ticket online and book the time slot weeks in advance as the queue to get inside can be extremely long.
You can also go on a guided tour through Accademia Gallery if you want to dive deeper into the history of the masterpieces you see in the museum.
Other notable attractions in Florence you shouldn't miss are Basilica di San Lorenzo, one of the first churches built in the city, Palazzo Vecchio, an iconic town hall considered one of the city's most famous landmarks, Ponte Vecchio, another historic landmark of the city, famous for its picturesque appearance, and Pitti Palace, the original residence of the Medici family.
With so many things to do in Florence, there should be enough things for you to occupy your entire day here. If you are looking for more things to do, be sure to check out the complete Florence travel guide below.
Getting from Florence to Pisa/Siena
From Florence, it is pretty easy to get to Pisa or Siena via trains. They are both around an hour's train ride away from Florence and you should be able to easily catch one of the main trains from Florence Train Station.
The train runs from 6 AM to 11 PM every day and should cost around 9 - 10 EUR. You can get your train ticket online from here.
Day 8: Pisa (optional day-trip)
With a free day in Florence, you can choose to visit Pisa and see the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa or Siena, an incredibly beautiful medieval town full of houses with reddish brown roofs which is where the color "Sienna" got its name from.
Both are worth a visit but I prefer Siena more as it gets fewer tourists and there are more things to do there. Pisa is almost like a zoo with people running around, posing the cliche force-perspective shots that have been done to death.
All the attractions are also concentrated in one area and can easily be done in half a day. That said, Pisa is home to the iconic Leaning Tower, and that in itself might be enough of a reason to choose Pisa over Siena. All in all, no matter which one you choose, you will still have an incredible time here.
For those who choose Pisa, your journey will begin at the train station in Pisa where you will have to walk around 30 minutes through town to get to Piazza del Duomo, where all the attractions are concentrated in.
At Pisa, you can spend the day visiting Cattedrale di Pisa, go up to the top of the Leaning Tower for an incredible view over the city, and learn more about the history of the place from all the museums around Piazza del Duomo.
If you want to go up the Leaning Tower, you are going to have to buy the ticket and book a time slot before you can visit. The time slot gets booked out very fast and you might be looking at waiting around 3 - 4 hours before you can get up there.
In order to avoid wasting time, I highly recommend you buy the ticket online prior to your arrival and book a time slot in advance. The cathedral, the Leaning Tower, and the museum are open from 9 AM - 8 PM every day and you can easily reach Pisa from Florence via one of the many daily trains connecting to 2 cities.
You can also go with an organized tour which will save you a ton of time and will often include visiting other places as well like Siena, a place we will be discussing next, and San Gimignano which is not easy to reach via public transportation. This is the perfect option for those who do not have a lot of time in Florence.
Day 8: Siena (optional day-trip)
For those of you who are not interested in Pisa, you can also go on a day trip from Florence and visit Siena, one of the most beautiful medieval towns that will make you feel like you just traveled back in time as you walk through its crisscrossing streets.
Siena has a long and fascinating history, dating back to the Middle Ages. The city is known for its medieval architecture and is home to a number of important landmarks and historical sites, including the Piazza del Campo, the city's main square and my favorite place out of all, the Palazzo Pubblico, or the city's town hall, and the Torre del Mangia, a tall tower that offers panoramic views of the city.
Siena is also home to a number of museums and art galleries that showcase the city's rich cultural heritage, as well as the impressive Duomo di Siena, a 13th Century cathedral famous for its facade and its marble stripes in symbolic black and white pattern.
You can easily visit Siena from Florence with a 1-hour train ride which you can find from here or you can visit the town as part of an organized tour which will often include other places as well like Pisa, perfect for those with not much time in Florence.
Getting from Florence to Rome
From Florence, there are plenty of direct trains you can catch from Florence Train Station that will take you to Rome in a little over 5 hours.
The train runs from 5:45 AM to 10:43 PM every day and should cost around 36 - 50 EUR depending on the speed of the train. You can get it cheaper if you book the train ticket online from here in advance.
Day 9 - 11: Rome (3 Nights)
As we continue our journey across Italy, we have finally arrived in the Eternal City of Rome but before we start exploring the city right away, I recommend you spend the first half of the day in Rome and visit the Vatican City, the smallest sovereign state in the world and is located entirely within the city of Rome, surrounded by walls. Be sure to get there as early as 7:30 AM to avoid the long queue.
In case you do not know, the Vatican City is the spiritual and administrative center of the Roman Catholic Church and it is the residence of the Pope himself. You can also meet him in person as he often conducts the General Admission on most Wednesdays so if you wish to meet the Pope, be sure to plan ahead and visit the Vatican City on Wednesdays.
One of the highlights of visiting the Vatican City is checking out St. Peter's Basilica, one of the largest catholic churches in the world, and climbing to the top of its massive dome for incredible views of St. Peter's Square and the surrounding Rome cityscapes. The view from up here has got to be the viewpoint you can find in both the Vatican City and Rome itself.
Another highlight is to visit the Vatican Museums and explore all the wealth and prosperity the Catholic church was able to acquire over the centuries from the great frescoes and artworks of the Sistine Chapel to an extensive collection of all sorts of artifacts from Egyptians to Romans to Greeks and beyond.
There are so many artifacts in the museum, they have to be housed in several buildings that will take you at least 2 hours just to see the highlights of the museum, so be sure to plan your time carefully.
The Sistine Chapel is also located inside the Vatican Museums and it is probably one of the most famous chapels in the world, known for its incredible ceiling fresco painted by Michelangelo which is considered to be a masterpiece of Renaissance art depicting scenes from the Book of Genesis, including the creation of Adam and Eve and the story of Noah.
To get inside the Vatican Museum, you will have to buy a ticket online and book a time slot in advance. You can no longer buy it at the entrance so be sure to prepare your visit accordingly. You can also go on an organized tour to learn more about the history of the artworks you see in the museum.
Spend the first half of your day in the Vatican City and visit these attractions to really understand how important this unique city-state is to Rome. Again, the place gets extremely crowded during the day every day so if you do not want to be in line for hours to get inside St. Peter Basilica, be sure to get there right before the opening time of 7:30 AM.
Once you are done with the Vatican City, on the same day, it is time to explore Rome proper. We start off right out of the gate of the Vatican City at Castel Sant'Angelo, a fortress, and mausoleum originally built as a tomb for the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD before it was later used as a fortress, and prison by the Popes, hence why it is so close to the Vatican City.
The fortress played an important role in both the Vatican and Rome's rich history. During the Middle Ages, the fortress served as a refuge for popes during times of danger, and it also played an important role in the defense of Rome during the Renaissance and the Napoleonic Wars.
If you are interested in history, art, and architecture, Castel Sant'Angelo is definitely worth a visit but do not use the free admission perk of your Roma Card as we will be saving them for the Colosseum and the Roman Forum later the next day. Use the Roma Pass to get a discounted ticket to get in instead.
Just across River Tiber, you will find Piazza Navona, a magnificent public square located not too far from Castel Sant'Angelo, known for its three beautiful Baroque-style fountains, as well as its numerous restaurants and cafes where you can have lunch and enjoy the beautiful Rome atmosphere. It shouldn't take long to get from the fortress to the square on foot.
My favorite fountain in the square is the Fiumi Fountain which has incredibly intricate sculptures that pay homage to the 4 rivers of Rome and it features a striking obelisk right at the center of the fountain. The details of this fountain will truly blow you away.
As you continue to walk east from Piazza Navona, you will find one of the oldest landmarks in the city, The Pantheon, one of the greatest architectural masterpieces of ancient Rome that have stood the test of time for more than 2000 years.
To this day, the dome is still considered to be the largest unsupported dome in the world which goes to show just how incredible the ancient Romans were at building massive structures.
And of course, you can't travel to Rome without checking out the famous Trevi Fountain, a beautiful Baroque-style fountain known for its legend that whoever threw a coin into the fountain, will surely return to Rome.
From the Pantheon, you can continue east even further through narrow crisscrossing streets before you stumbled upon a wall of people. That is when you will see the Trevi Fountain. This place is so popular among tourists that it is almost impossible to see it empty unless you are willing to wake up as early as 4 AM to get here before sunrise.
Just north of the Trevi Fountain, you will find another popular landmark of Rome, the Spanish Steps, a famous set of 138 steps that lead up to the Piazza di Spagna where you can get an incredible view of Rome.
The steps were built in the 18th century in order to connect the Spanish Square below to the French Church up in the hills, hence the name Spanish Steps. The place has been popular among visitors to Rome for Centuries especially for the writers and artists of the 19th Century to gather and exchange ideas.
Climb all the way up to the french church of Trinità dei Monti located at the top of the Spanish Steps and check out the view before we continue our exploration around Pincio Hill.
As you continue north from the top of the Spanish Steps, you will find Passeggiata del Pincio, a famous promenade at the top of Pincio Hill that offers an incredible view of the city.
The promenade is known for its picturesque gardens and terraces, as well as its historic monuments such as the Obelisk of Monte Mario and an observational deck with a sweeping view of Piazza del Popolo, a historical square where the oldest obelisk in Rome is located, from above. This is a great place to watch the sunset over the city of Rome.
After a jam-packed day in Rome, it is time to retreat for the night and prepare yourself for the second day in Rome where we will be exploring the iconic landmarks of Rome such as the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and more. Be sure to book a time slot (make it in the morning for the best experience) for your Colosseum visit in advance, even if you have the Roma Pass, as they have a daily limit capacity.
For the second day in Rome, we are going to start early again and be at the Colosseum around 7:30 AM so you can stroll around the area and get some photos without the crowds.
Depending on which time you are able to book a time slot to get inside the Colosseum, you can either wait until the gate is open or explore the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill while you wait for your booked time slot.
Using the 2 free admissions of the 72 hours Roma Pass, you will be able to get access to the Colosseum for free as well as the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, which is considered as one single attraction.
You can spend about an hour here and explore the 2 levels of the Colosseum as well as the museum inside which is more than enough to see just how impressive the Colosseum is.
With the Roma Pass, you won't be able to access the arena and the underground area unless you buy a separate ticket especially to get access to these areas.
Personally, I don't think the arena is worth it as you can also see the same view from the opposite side with the regular ticket. The underground is worth it if you really want to see the excavation site with your own eyes but you will still have to go with a guided tour as it is mandatory.
Next up, we visit the Roman Forum, an ancient Roman rectangular plaza surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient buildings located right by the Colosseum.
Walking around the Roman Forum is almost as if we have stepped back in time as you stroll past ancient sights like the Temple of Saturn, the Temple of Vesta, the Curia (Senate House), the Arch of Septimius Severus, and the Basilica Julia.
While you are inside the Roman Forum, be sure to spend some time exploring Palatine Hill, one of the Seven Hills of Rome, that played a significant role in the creation of Rome itself.
Around Palatine Hill, you will find all sorts of historically significant ruins like the Palace of Augustus, the House of Livia, the Palace of Tiberius, and the Flavian Palace, which was a luxurious palace complex that includes the remains of a palace, a stadium, and several thermal baths.
For the best viewpoint in Palatine Hill, I highly recommend you check out Terrazza Belvedere del Palatino, a beautiful terrace overlooking the Roman Forum where you will be able to get a sweeping view from the Colosseum all the way to the Altar of the Fatherland.
After you are done with the Roman Forum, continue walking the path towards the northern exit which is right by our next destination, Campidoglio or Capitoline Hill, one of the other Seven Hills of Rome, home to some of the oldest museums in the city.
Here you will find an impressive Renaissance square, the Piazza del Campidoglio, designed by Michelangelo himself way back in the 16th century, and the Capitoline Museums, one of the oldest public museums in the world that house a vast collection of art and artifacts from ancient Rome. You can check the museum out too if you are interested in history and art.
As we continue our journey north, you will stumble upon another important landmark of Rome, the Altar of the Fatherland, a massive marble monument dedicated to the first king of a unified Italy to commemorate the first anniversary of the king's death in 1900.
You can climb its 243 marble steps to get to the balcony on top of the monument and you will be rewarded by the amazing views of Rome's cityscape right at your fingertips, all for free.
Once you are done at the Altar of the Fatherland, you can then take bus #51 or #118 to Ara Coeli/P.Za Venezia bus stop and walk a little to get to the Baths of Caracalla, an incredibly well-preserved public bath complex and one of my favorite ruins in Rome, which I prefer even more so than the Roman Forum and the Colosseum themselves.
The bath complex was built during the reign of Emperor Caracalla between 212-216 AD covering an area of around 30 hectares. The place is considered to be one of the largest and most impressive public bath complexes of the ancient Roman world and you can really feel the true scale of the place as you stroll along the path passing through its giant arches and domes.
Since not many people know about this place, you won't see as many tourists here as in places like the Colosseum and the Roman Forum which I think were way too crowded for my liking. The Baths of Caracalla, on the other hand, is just perfect.
And that is it for our last day in Rome. You can spend some time and explore the area where your accommodation is located or check out some of the many awesome local restaurants in Rome like Il Cuore Di Napoli Ribelle Restaurant, one of my favorite family-run restaurants in the city.
They serve local dishes with a variety of seasonings and flavors from seafood pasta to original Napolitan pizzas at a very reasonable price. I tried their seafood pasta dish and I love it! If you are looking for a nice place to eat out in the evening, be sure to check them out.
Getting from Rome to Amalfi Coast
From Rome to Amalfi Coast, you are going to have to take a train from Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale first and from there, switch to an L1 train, which is operated separately from Trenitalia, and it will take you to Sorrento, our base on the Amalfi Coast, in less than an hour.
There are many trains running between Rome and Naples starting from 5 AM all the way to 11 PM every day. This leg of the journey should take about 3 hours and cost around 30 - 40 EUR. You can get your train ticket online from here.
From Naples to Sorrento, you can only buy a train ticket from the train station but don't worry, there is plenty of space on the train so you do not need to book it in advance. The train ticket should cost about 5 EUR and takes around 1 hour to reach Sorrento.
Day 12 - 14: Amalfi Coast (3 Nights)
Once you arrive at Sorrento Train Station, I highly recommend you find a travel agency near the train station, and buy the COSTIERASITA card, a 10 EUR transportation card that will give you unlimited access to the SITA bus, the bus system that runs along the Amalfi coast, for 24 hours after the first validation.
This way, you can explore the Amalfi Coast all day the next day without having to worry about bus fares. Unfortunately, you can't buy the COSTIERASITA card online just yet but there are plenty of travel agencies and the train station so you should have no trouble getting your hands on one.
After you got the card and settled into your accommodation, you can start exploring this holiday hot spot by visiting its beautiful old town and checking out some important landmarks like Chiostro di San Francesco, a tranquil 14th Century monastery, perfect for escaping the crowds, stroll around Villa Comunale di Sorrento and check out the ocean view from there.
You can also spend the rest of the first evening in Sorrento at one of the many swimming areas and beaches like Peter's Beach and Bagni Salvatore, swimming, sunbathing, and really enjoying the beautiful coastline of Sorrento before we explore the rest of Amalfi Coast the next day.
On the 13th day of this itinerary, we will begin exploring the wonderful Amalfi Coast proper by starting our journey at Positano, the picturesque seaside town, known for its iconic colorful houses cascading down a steep hillside to the sea.
If you wake up early enough and was able to catch the first bus leaving from Sorrento to Positano, you might be one of the few people who have a chance to see Positano without tourists, which is not so easy to come by as this place is almost always crowded all the time.
Even way back in the Roman time, the city had been a popular destination for wealthy Romans, before it became a center of maritime trade during the medieval period, and eventually become a tourist attraction from the 20th Century to this day.
Traveling by bus, I highly recommend you get off at this bus stop so that you can walk through the most beautiful part of Positano first as the walking path zigzags its way along the cliff, overlooking the colorful cascading houses and the beach below.
As you continue to walk down the walking path, you will be passing through some of the prettiest parts of Positano that seem like they came straight out of a fairytale. From colorful houses and flowers to small markets selling fresh fruits and souvenirs, it is almost impossible to put into words just how incredibly breathtaking this place is.
Once you arrive at the beach, you will have the option to either pay to get into one of the many private beach areas and rent a sunbed for 25 EUR per day and get access to its facilities including toilets, bars, restaurants, etc.
Or you can go to the free strip of public beach which is very small and can get extremely crowded during the day. Unfortunately, this is a big problem in Amalfi Coast as well as the rest of Italy since more than 70% of Italian beaches have already been commercialized which makes it difficult for us backpackers to really enjoy nature for free, which is what it should be.
Despite that fact, you can still walk around the beach area for free and take photos so make sure you make it all the way to the beach before you head over to the next station. Also, there are many great viewpoints in Positano if you don't mind hiking around the area.
You can stroll along the narrow streets of Amalfi Coast and make your way to Costiera Amalfitana Positano along its winding coastal roads for an incredible view overlooking the sea. It is quite a walk through and with the summer heat, it can be quite difficult to tackle if you are not used to the heat so take it slow.
After you are done, you can walk back to the same bus stop you got off at and wait for the next bus to take you to our next destination, Amalfi, another old town since the Roman time which gave this coastline its name.
From Positano, it should take around an hour by bus before you arrive at Amalfi Town, another charming town known for its stunning coastline, historical architecture, and charming Mediterranean atmosphere, that you should definitely not miss.
Again, Amalfi is another important town with a rich history that dated back to the Roman Time but unlike Positano, there are many things to do here than just swimming and sunbathing at the beach.
While you are in Amalfi, be sure to check out Duomo di Amalfi, a beautiful 9th Century cathedral known for its iconic Norman-Arab-Byzantine-inspired stripe facade as well as the 1800s frescoes you can find inside. It's a nice walk from the bus stop and one of the first places you should visit while here.
You can also hike up to Torre dello Ziro for an incredible view over Amalfi and the coastline or if you are not much of a climber, you can just walk up to Belvedere cimitero monumentale which should give you a pretty nice view of Amalfi from above as well.
After you are done with Amalfi, go to this tunnel entrance located in the town square, walk through it for about 15 minutes, and you will arrive in Atrani, another picturesque town on the Amalfi Coast, known for its charming atmosphere and traditional architecture.
Other than its picturesque surrounding, Atrani is also known for its small tight-knit community, which gives it a unique and authentic feeling, unlike the other 2 towns we just visited.
While here, you can explore the town's winding streets, lined with colorful houses and traditional shops, and admire the beautiful views of the sea.
This place also has a much better public beach area than the other 2 towns boasting a significantly larger public beach with fewer people making it a great place to stop for a while and take a dip in the Tyrrhenian sea.
After spending the entire day exploring the Amalfi Coast, it's time to head back to Sorrento and call it a day. To get back from Amalfi to Sorrento, you just have to catch the same SITA bus back to Sorrento using the same COSTIERASITA card and you will be back at your accommodation in around 1.5 hours.
Getting from Sorrento to Pompeii
From Sorrento to Pompeii, you just have to take the train from Sorrento Train Station and get off at Pompei Scavi Villa Dei Misteri, and you should be right at the entrance of the archeological site. The train ticket should cost around 2.5 EUR per person per trip and it should take no more than 20 minutes to get there.
Since we will be visiting Pompeii as a day trip, you will also have to take the train back to Sorrento which follows the same instruction as above but in reverse. Just make sure to make your way back to the same exit on the western side of the park so you do not have to walk back outside.
Day 15: Pompeii (Day Trip)
On our 15th day in Italy, we are going to visit the famous ancient Roman City, Pompeii, the city that was almost wiped off the face of the planet by the gigantic volcano Vesuvius located not too far from the ruins.
Pompeii is known for its incredible preservation as the city was completely buried and preserved by ash and pumice following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Before the eruption, Pompeii was a striving city of around 11,000 people and one of the biggest cities of its time.
The eruption buried the entire city under meters of ash, which in turn preserved the city and its buildings, as well as the remains of its inhabitants, all of which remain intact to this day.
Within Pompeii, you will be able to get a glimpse of what life in a Roman city like Pompeii was like back in the day as you stroll around its cobblestone street, surrounded by houses and villas.
In between these well-preserved structures, you will also find some incredible features like preserved wall paintings or beautiful floor tiles that provide us with enough details to imagine what the Roman houses may have been like way back when.
In some places, you will also find casts of the bodies of the victims of the eruption, which give a unique insight into the lives of the people of Pompeii. Basically, the cast bodies allow us to literally see the last moment of their lives. It was both eerie and fascinating at the same time.
Pompeii is incredibly big and you can expect to spend around 3 - 4 hours to really see them all. Be sure to visit Villa dei Misteri, a villa with well-preserved colorful frescoes, the Sanctuary of Apollo, and the Amphitheater of Pompeii, a large well-preserved amphitheater that can hold over 10,000 people in it.
There is also another well-preserved Roman city nearby that you can visit called Herculaneum which some claimed to be even more well-preserved than Pompeii and you can easily visit the area with a guided tour which will help organize transportation for you as well as guide you through each archeological sites in great details.
For those who want to visit Pompeii as well as other sights nearby like Herculaneum, and Mount Vesuvius, you can also check out one of these organized tours that will allow you to see these places without having to worry about the logistics:
- From Pompeii: Small-Group Pompeii and Herculaneum Tour
- From Sorrento: Pompeii & Herculaneum Tour with Skip-the-Line
- From Sorrento: Day Tour to Pompeii Ruins and Mount Vesuvius
Getting from the Amalfi Coast to Naples
From Sorrento (the Amalfi Coast) to Naples, you can take the same L1 train from Sorrento Train Station you took here, back to Naples. The ticket can only be bought from the train station, costs around 5 EUR, and takes about 1 hour to reach Naples.
Day 16: Naples (1 Night)
Congratulations! You have completed the ultimaite 2 weeks backpacking itinerary across Italy. After spending 2 weeks here, it's time to head back home. The closest international airport you can fly out from is in Naples so you can either spend a night here before heading back or leave Sorrento early and take the Alibus to the airport straight away. Go ahead and celebrate to your heart's content. You deserve a good nice rest after such a long trip! Enjoy Naples!
When to Visit Italy?
The best time to visit Italy is from late May - late September when the weather is nice and warm perfect for exploring the beautiful outdoors of Italy.
That said, it is also the hottest, most crowded, and most expensive time to visit but due to the fact that we are going to rely on public transportation for the entire itinerary, you are going to have to brace for the heat and the crowds as this period is when the buses run the most often which is especially important in remote places like the Dolomites if you do not want to rent a car.
Winter is not recommended since many restaurants and hotels in remote regions of Italy are often closed for the season except for a few guest houses and bed and breakfasts, so for this itinerary, I highly recommend you stick to the recommended period.
How to Get to Italy?
From the US, there are many direct flights from JFK that will take you straight to Milan in about 11 hours via Emirates, Delta, and American Airlines. You can browse through great direct flights from here.
From Europe, you have quite a lot more options here. You can either fly directly to Milan from places like the UK via Wizz Air, take a train from all the major train stations around Europe, or catch one of the many buses to Milan. Flixbus is highly recommended when it comes to bus travel in Europe.
From Asia, there are also many direct flights to Milan operated by local carriers from cities like Singapore, Seoul, or Tokyo or you can go with connecting flights which are often a bit cheaper. There are many flights from Asia that connect via middle east countries like Emirates via Dubai or Etihad via Abu Dhabi. The journey should take approximately 12 hours direct.
To find a cheap flight to Italy, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.
How to Get Around Italy?
Italy is very well-connected by trains and buses and these are the 2 modes of transportation you will be relying on most for this itinerary.
By trains: The trains here are quite ok with a reliable enough schedule with a chance of 5 - 10 minutes delay and excellent coverage. They are operated by Trenitalia and you will be using them when you travel from one city to another.
Due to how short the transit time is sometimes, and how trains here have the tendency to be delayed, always give at least 20 minutes of transit time if you can. You can book a train ticket online beforehand which is extremely convenient.
By Bus: Buses are also a great way to get around Italy, especially for remote areas where the train doesn't go like the Amalfi Coast and some regions in the Dolomites. The bus schedules in most places in Italy are often available online and you should be able to easily reserve seats online without having to be at the bus station beforehand. This and Flixbus are my preferred modes of transportation when I want to move around quickly and directly.
By Rental Cars: You can also rent a car straight from the airport in Milan and drive around Italy but for this itinerary, you won't need it. If you insist, keep in mind that the traffic in cities like Rome and Milan can get extremely jammed during peak hours and parking lots can be a challenge to find at times. To Rent a car, hit the link below:
How Much Money Do I Need for 2 weeks in Italy?
From this 2 weeks itinerary, we can calculate approximately how much money you will be spending here as follows:
Accommodation: For 16 nights in Italy, you can expect to pay around 640 EUR for accommodation minimum considering you are staying in hostels.
Food: For 14 days, 3 meals a day in Italy, you can expect to pay around 420 EUR for food considering you eat out every meal. It will be cheaper if you cook it yourself.
Transportation: For this itinerary, you can expect to pay approximately 200 EUR for transportation from city to city, usually on trains, and around the cities via metros and buses.
Activities: Depending on how much you want to follow my itinerary you can expect to pay approximately 464 EUR for activities like museums, entrance fees, City Passes and more.
Total Budget for 14 days in Italy: 1,724 EUR
Is it Safe in Italy?
In most places outside of big cities in Italy, it's pretty safe but when it comes to cities like Rome and Milan or any other big cities in Europe for that matter, you are going to have to be on your toes at times, especially in crowded places like the train stations and the metros where there are higher chances of petty theft and pickpocketing which can be quite prevalent here.
It's best to always exercise precautions by not leaving your belongings unattended when you visit Rome and always, ALWAYS keep an eye out on your belongings at all times. Keep your hands in your pockets when entering or exiting crowded places like a metro or a train station and make sure you are holding your phones and wallets tightly.
Other than that, you should be fine traveling around Italy. I didn't have any problems in Italy when I was there for about a month. Keep your wits with you and you will be fine.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Italy?
There are 4 major carriers in Italy, TIM, Vodafone, W3m, and Iliad, that offer prepaid sim cards tourists can buy while they are traveling in Italy. Unfortunately, with the rise of esims, having to be in the country to buy a sim card at a store is quite inconvenient and not ideal.
If you have a smartphone that supports esims, I highly recommend you take a look at this esim. They have a variety of data packages, price points, and durations for you to choose from ranging from 1 GB for 7 days costing only 5 USD to 10 GB for 30 days costing 22.5 USD.
The setup is fast and instant and you can buy it prior to your trip so you don't have to scramble your way to get one at the airport after a long flight. The data speed is also equivalent to what you get with a local sim card with 4G speed across the entire country.
Or if you are traveling to Italy as part of a bigger Europe trip, I highly recommend you get the regional Eurolink esim which will give you access to data from over 39 countries across Europe. I have personally used this esim on my 3-months trip around Europe and it has worked wonders.
For more information on esims in Italy, click here: Check Italy's Available eSim.
What to Pack for Italy?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Italy:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Italy
I hope you found this Italy travel guide useful. If you want to read more about Italy, here is a selection of articles you might like:
- First time visiting Italy? Here are the 15 Best Places to Visit in Italy.
- Want to travel around Italy for one month, from the Dolomites in the north to Sicily in the south? You are going to love this backpacking itinerary packed with information: One Month Backpacking Italy Itinerary.
- For a complete 7-day backpacking itinerary in Central Italy that will take you from Rome to Pompeii to the Amalfi Coast, be sure to check out: 7 Days Backpacking Italy Itinerary.
- Wondering what you can do in Rome in 3 days? Check out our 3-day Backpacking Rome Itinerary.
- If you are looking for a place near Rome with beautiful coasts, charming towns, and beaches to relax in, you can't go wrong with the Amalfi Coast. Here is The Ultimate Backpacking Guide to the Amalfi Coast.
- One of the best-preserved Roman ruins in the world, you definitely will want to visit Pompeii while you are in Italy. Here is The Ultimate Backpacking Guide to Pompeii.
- Looking for a complete itinerary for Northern Italy? Check out: 2 Weeks Backpacking Northern Italy Itinerary.
- Every trip to Northern Italy starts in Milan. If you are a first-timer, here are the 16 best things to do in Milan.
- Want to make the most out of 3 days in Milan? Check out: 3 Days In Milan: An Itinerary For First Timers.
- Ah... Venice, the city of art, culture, and the birthplace of the Renaissance. You just can't visit Italy without seeing it with your own eyes. To help you plan a trip there, here are the 15 best things to do in Venice.
- For a complete backpacking guide to Lake Como, check out: The 3-Day Lake Como Itinerary For Those Without A Car.
- At the heart of sunny Tuscany lies Florence, one of the most beautiful cities to visit in Italy. If you are planning to visit Florence, check out: 16 Best Things to Do in Florence.
- Cinque Terre, known for its picturesque stacked houses on cliffs and coastlines, is the perfect destination for those looking to escape the bustling city life in Northern Italy. To start planning, be sure to check out: A Complete Guide to Backpacking Cinque Terre.
- Want to explore the Dolomites but not sure where to begin? Check out the 10 Best Places to Visit in the Dolomites.
- For a complete backpacking itinerary for the Dolomites, check out: the 7 Days Dolomites Itinerary For Those Without A Car.
- Looking for a complete backpacking itinerary for Sicily? Check out: One Week Backpacking Sicily Itinerary.
- Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
- To see all the articles about Italy, visit the Italy Travel Guide page.
- Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
- Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
- Or if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Southern Europe Travel Guide, Western Europe Travel Guide, or Central Europe Travel Guide pages.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
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