Planning a European trip can be overwhelming. You want to cover as many countries as possible in the minimum days, yet miss out on a lot of must-visit places. In this blog, we share a simple and realistic travel itinerary for Italy that can either be combined with a Switzerland trip or as a standalone Italy tour. This is suitable for travellers who are planning a DIY Italy tour.

Tip: For convenience during train travel in Europe, buy a Eurail pass (multi-country).

Port of Entry: Milan Malpensa Airport | Directly connected with Delhi by Air India and multiple 1-stop options.

Port of Exit: Aeroporto Leonardo da Vinci di Roma–Fiumicino – Rome | Directly connected with Delhi by ITA Airways and multiple 1-stop options.

Day 1: Land in Milan

Land in Milan and check in at your hotel. Best to opt for a before 12 Noon arrival. Post check-in, take rest and explore the city for shopping, city tour, cafes and more.

Day 2: Lake Como

Time by Train: Milano Centrale to Como S.Giovanni: 45 Minutes to 01 Hour 20 Minutes

Start your day early and after breakfast, head to Milano Centrale station to catch a train to Como S.Giovanni. After reaching, explore Lake Como and the nearby areas. Take lunch in Lake Como and return in the evening to Milan. Explore the city and shopping. Overnight stay in Milan.

Tip: Milan is best for shopping and is termed as Italy’s fashion and cultural capital.

Day 3: Venice Day Tour

Time by Train: Milano Centrale to Venezia S.Lucia: 2 Hours & 27 Minutes

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and head to Milano Centrale station to catch a train to Venezia S.Lucia, Venice. You can opt for high-speed TGV trains that would need a seat reservation (can be done at the station) or regional trains. On reaching Venice, store your luggage either at the station cloak services or search for Luggage storage services near you. There are many options available and also pocket-friendly.

Go for a Gondola ride that would cover the canals of Venice and give you an overall glimpse of the city. Then head straight to St.Mark’s Square, the heart of Venice. In case the queue is huge, just skip taking pics from outside and move to the next attraction, the Rialto Bridge.

Places to See:
  • St Mark’s Square
  • Rialto Bridge (Must See)
  • Grand Canal (Must See)
  • Explore Venice and its narrow alleys
  • Gondola Ride in the Canals
Tip: To explore Venice, take a 1-day water metro pass, or you can explore it on foot. The temperature remains high during the day, so avoid heavy clothing.

You need a maximum of 3-4 hours on hand to explore Venice. Accommodation in Venice city on the canals can be costly; therefore, a day trip is recommended. Affordable options are available in the main city but not on the canals. Once you are done with important places, pick up your luggage and catch a train to Florence SM Novella. Overnight stay in Florence.

Time by Train: Venezia S.Lucia to Florence SM Novella: 2 Hours & 13 Minutes. Do keep a watch on the last train time that leaves from Venice towards Florence.

Day 4: Explore Florence

Start your day early to avoid crowds. Preferred mode of transportation will be bus, either buy tickets for every journey or take a day pass. Do not forget to try Gelato.

Places to See:
  • Florence Cathedral
  • Uffizi Gallery
  • Ponte Vecchio
  • Palazzo Vecchio
  • Pitti Palace
  • Piazzale Michelangelo
All the mentioned places can be covered either by walking or by Bus. Every corner of the city has a tale to tell from History. The city feels historic, and you can get a hilltop view of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo, a must-visit place, especially during sunset. Overnight stay in Florence.

Day 5: Pisa & Cinque Terre

Time by Train: Florence SM Novella to Pisa Central: 2 Hours & 13 Minutes

A trip to Italy is not complete without taking pics with the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Today is going to be a long day so take early breakfast and start the day early. Take a train from Florence SM Novella to Pisa Central Station. From the station, there are buses that frequently ply between the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the station. Have lunch and then start your journey to the affordable version of the Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre.

Time by Train: Pisa Central Station to Monterosso: 1 Hour 34 Minutes

Cinque Terre comprises 5 villages on mountains that overlook the Ligurian Sea. The 5 main towns that are collectively called Cinque Terre are Monterosso, Riomaggiore, Vernazza, Manarola, and Corniglia. Each town has its own railway station, and the Cinque Terre express stops at all these stations and connects them to La Spezia (major transit station). You can also cover this town on foot, but travelling with luggage on foot can be troublesome as the pathway has stairs and uphill walks. The world-famous pesto originated from this Italian town. You need a maximum of 3-4 hours to cover the important points.

Places to See:
  • Fegina Beach
  • Statue of the Giant (Il Gigante)
  • Sunset Over the Harbor
  • Castello di Riomaggiore
  • Terrazza di Santa Maria
  • Hiking the Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail)
It is difficult to cover all places during a day trip to Cinque Terre, but you can still cover important viewpoints from where you can witness the entire colourful Cinque Terre region. You can opt for a 1-night stay in any of the villages, but travel light as it is difficult to carry luggage in Cinque Terre.

Once you are done, return to the main station, Monterosso and from there take the next available train to Florence SM Novella. Most likely, it will be a 1-2 stop train in the return leg. Overnight stay in Florence.

Time by Train: Monterosso to Florence SM Novella via Pisa Central: 2 Hours 26 Minutes

Day 6: Rome

Time by Train: Florence SM Novella to Rome Termini: 01 Hour 30 Minutes

After checkout, head to the station and catch a train to Rome Termini. The journey takes 1.5 hours via the TVG high-speed train. After reaching Rome, check in to the Hotel, take rest and then explore the city of Rome.

Visit the Colosseum after sunset to catch this wonder lit in golden light. Then head to Trevi Fountains and Spanish Steps, followed by a Italian dinner at nearby eatery. Overnight stay in Rome.

Day 7: Rome City Tour & Vatican City

Book a Hop On and Hop Off bus tour that will take you across all the important Rome attractions, historical places, along with the Vatican City and a city tour. You will need a maximum of 5-6 hours to cover all places, including Vatican City. Not all attractions are covered by or near the metro, therefore, the bus is the best option, except for the Colosseum.

Places to See in Rome:
  • Trevi Fountain
  • Spanish Steps
  • Colosseum
  • Giardino degli Aranci (Optional)
  • Aventine Hill & the Keyhole (Knights of Malta)
  • Campo de' Fiori (Nightlife)
  • Pantheon
  • Roman Forum
Places to see in the Vatican:
  • Peter’s Basilica
  • Peter’s Basilica Dome
  • Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
I have listed only the must-visit and important places to see in Rome. The Colosseum looks amazing from the outside compared to the inside. So, if you fail to get online entry tickets, do not get disappointed. Avoid on-spot tickets from touts as they often scam tourists and overcharge.

Day 8: Checkout and Bye Bye Italy

Check out of the hotel and leave for the Airport. You can either take an airport bus or the Airport train from Rome Termini station.

Note: You can use this Itinerary either way, Start from Rome and end in Milan or the way mentioned here. If you are combining it with Switzerland, then the above Itinerary can be used as trains from Zurich to Venice travel via Lake Como and Milan. For a customised plan, write to us at info.essentialgyan@gmail.com.