The Perfect Itinerary For Your First Trip To Italy
Planning where to go on your trip to Italy can be difficult. There are so many options, and usually so little time. And if it’s going to be your first time visiting Italy, you no doubt want to make the most of your precious time on “the bella boot.”
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the perfect itineraries for those who haven’t been to Italy before or are returning for the first time. Many of my friends visited me while I was living in Italy. But let’s be real… they didn’t just want to see me. They also wanted to have an epic Italian vacation.
Some of them knew little about Italy, except for the major attractions. Other friends had specific Italian spots in mind and their hearts were set on visiting those places. It was interesting to learn how they wanted to spend their time in Italy, and it has helped me to sort out what I think is the best itinerary for first-time visitors.
I’m eager to share this itinerary for your first visit and why I think it is the best. It is based on a 14-day schedule, with a couple of variations for slightly shorter and longer stays.
Let’s dig in!
1st Visit Itinerary
Rome (3 days) – Tuscany (6 days) – Amalfi Coast (5 days)
If you’re planning your FIRST trip to Italy, this is an amazing itinerary!
I’ll be honest… I now love and prefer visiting places that are more off the beaten path, a fact that I hope comes across on this blog. That said, I completely understand wanting to visit Italy’s best-known destinations on your first trip to the boot.
My first trip to Italy included visiting Rome, Florence, and the Amalfi Coast. It was wonderful and memorable, albeit tourist-filled and predictable. I stood in a lot of lines and took in the classic sights, like the Coliseum, the Uffizi Museum, and the Statue of David.
Even though I plan trips to Italy differently now, that first trip made me fall in love with Italy and helped me figure out what I wanted to see and do on the next visit.
It’s tempting to do and see too much, but your goal during your first visit should be to get a feel for the country. Get a taste of what it has to offer, and then use that experience to help you plan your future visits.
The perfect trip to Italy includes some land, some sea, some city, and some countryside. You cannot really get to know Italy by visiting just places like Rome, Florence, Venice, and Milan. Nor can you get to know it just by spending your time at beaches. You need the variety!
Why Rome, and why 3 days?
Rome lets you experience city life and see history before your eyes. It’s the perfect place to start any trip in Italy. The buzz and excitement of Rome will set the ideal tone for your vacation.
Book a walking tour. Visit the Coliseum. Try the best of Roman cuisine. Take in panoramic views of the city. Wander the endless enchanting streets.
It’s convenient and easy to fly in and out of Rome. And it’s situated in the middle of the country, which makes it faster and easier to get to other destinations.
It’s impossible to see and do all that Rome has to offer in several visits, let alone one. So make it the place to return to each time you visit Italy. For this reason, 3 days is a great length of time to stay in Rome during your first visit.
I wouldn’t spend more than 3 days in any major city in Italy unless I was going to be in the country for a longer period of time. During a 2-week vacation, 3 days in one city is perfect!
Why Tuscany, and why 6 days?
You just have to visit Tuscany at some point. It’s non-negotiable! Why not experience it during your first trip to Italy?
There’s so much you can do and see in this region, but you’ll still be relaxed and truly feel like you’re on vacation. You can fill your days by visiting wineries, strolling hilltop towns, trying Tuscan delicacies, and bathing in hot springs.
The region has countless, beautiful towns and cities that you could visit. A few options are: Siena, San Gimignano, Montalcino, Montepuliano, Cortona, Lucca, Florence, Volterra, Greve in Chianti. None of these places will disappoint you!
You could spend just a few days here, but it won’t be as relaxing as staying for 6 days. Staying in any Italian region for 6 days gives you a chance to really settle in and enjoy a slower pace. I think every trip to Italy should include a minimum of 6 days in one region.
I would also suggest staying in the same accommodation for the duration of your time in Tuscany. There are some beautiful, central locations to choose from that make it easy to do many day trips. Personally, I would stay in the general area of San Gimignano, but you can map out the places you want to visit in Tuscany and choose a central spot to go back to at night.
Why the Amalfi Coast, and why 5 days?
After spending time in Rome and Tuscany, you’ll be ready to experience the coast and the sea! And what better place to experience that than the Amalfi Coast?
This area of Italy can be crowded and expensive, but there’s a reason why everyone goes. It’s stunning! I wouldn’t recommend going in July or August because of the crowds and heat. Spring or fall is the perfect time to visit.
On the Amalfi Coast, you’ll have the opportunity to get out on the water, lounge on the beach, eat seafood, soak up breathtaking views, enjoy some hikes, and maybe visit an island, like Capri. I also highly recommend visiting Pompeii, to learn more about what life was like in that area 2000 years ago. Super interesting!
If you’re on a strict budget, I still feel you can visit the Amalfi Coast. Visit places like Positano and Capri during the day, but do not stay there overnight. Stay in a less popular, but still incredibly lovely town, like Cetara, Vietri sul Mare, or Maiori. You’ll save money on accommodations, breakfasts, and dinners by staying in a lesser-known spot along the coast. And you’ll escape the crowds!
I really feel that 5 days is the perfect amount of time to stay on the Amalfi Coast. I wouldn’t stay any less than 5 days, but I also don’t think more than 5 days is necessary if you want to spend time in other parts of Italy. You won’t see all that it has to offer, but you’ll experience enough to know whether you would like to return in the future.
Also Read: My Italy Bucket List (And How To Make Yours)
If You Have Less Time
If you don’t have 14 days to spend on your first trip to Italy, I would suggest shaving 1 day off of each destination. An 11-day trip to Rome, Tuscany, and the Amalfi Coast is definitely still doable. Those places are not located too far from one another, so driving to each one is still reasonable within 11 days.
If You Have More Time
If you can spend more than 14 days in Italy, then you have some options. You could add one more day to each destination. That would make for a truly relaxing time.
But if you would like to see a bit more of the country and want to visit another well-known and loved destination, I suggest visiting the Cinque Terre. It’s not far from Tuscany, and even though it’s on the sea, the area offers something quite different from the Amalfi Coast.
If you would like to add a less explored destination to your itinerary and get a taste of the quieter side of Italy, I would suggest visiting the region of Abruzzo.
The center of Abruzzo is only two hours from Rome and about three hours from the Amalfi Coast. The region has breathtaking mountains, beautiful national parks, and beaches along the Adriatic Sea. You can stay between the sea and the mountains and drive to either in about 20 minutes.
Final Thoughts on this Itinerary
Here’s the thing about this itinerary: you won’t regret visiting any of these places! It’s a bit of a “greatest hits” trip, without doing too much and feeling exhausted by the time you go home.
Even if you like to venture outside the tourist norms, there are plenty of hidden gems in Rome, Tuscany, and the Amalfi Coast.
Believe me… these places will check off everything you could want on an Italian vacation, but still leave you wanting to plan your next trip to Italy!
What is the one thing you’re looking forward to most on your first trip to Italy? And if you’ve been before, what did you do on your first trip? Leave a comment below!