So you fancy a trip to Italy but can’t decide which areas to see? Back in 2017 I traveled across the beautiful country and it was one of the most amazing experiences to date. I highly recommend that you make more than one stop when visiting Italy, to really get a feel of this charming country. Keep reading to find my two-week itinerary to travelling Italy.

Day 1: London to Turin

On the first day, you’ll be catching a flight into Italy, Turin is the first stop on this trip so if you can get a direct flight there then perfect! Click here to head to Skyscanner and find your cheapest flight now! You’ll want to get rid of your luggage so take a train or bus into the centre from the airport and drop your bags off at the hotel. I would spend this day exploring the city centre as the trip is pretty full on and you probably won’t have any other opportunities to do so. If you have time, you could even visit Turin Zoo. We were able to get a bus the majority of the way but had to finish the journey with a 30 min walk. Head back to the hotel and get plenty of sleep, as you’ll have a busy day tomorrow.

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Day 2: Day Trip to Claviere & The Tibetan Bridge

Day two requires a nice and early alarm! The day trip to Claviere is a little bit hectic but well worth it and actually a highlight of my trip. It is a bit of a hassle to get to by public transport but with Google Maps by your side, it’s not impossible. If you’ve hired a car for your stay in Turin then this will make your trip to Claviere a lot easier. Claviere is a beautiful town home to about 200 residents. It borders France and is absolutely filled with beautiful mountain landscapes and countryside peace and quiet.

The Tibetan Bridge is the main thing you’ll be travelling to Claviere for. The bridge is not for the faint hearted and requires a bit of bravery, but if you’re willing, it’s one of the most exciting things you’ll do on this trip. The staff working by the bridge are great at guiding you through the necessary steps and ensuring that you remain safe during the experience, but once you’re out there, you’re pretty much on your own. During the experience you’ll see some of the most amazing views and nature, ending by a stunning waterfall. I’d like to say don’t forget your camera, but it’s not that easy to stop and take photos and you run the risk of dropping your phone/camera and not recovering it (even if you did, the drop is so far down that it would be ruined anyway).

Grab some lunch in Claviere and support a local business, and then head back to Turin. We didn’t realise that there are daily free busses that go back to Turin, and we missed the last one of the day. If not, you’ll still be able to get home but there will be a lot more changes and waiting around. Spend the night in Turin again, tomorrow you’ll head to Venice!

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Day 3: Make Way to Venice

Grab your luggage as it’s time to make your way to Venice! Make way to the train station (Porto Nuova) and grab a ticket to Venice, a lot of these will require a stop in either Milan or Bologna, so be prepared for that. The journey by train will take between 4 and 5 hours, but the trains are modern and clean! Don’t forget to scan/stamp your ticket on the machines by the platform, as otherwise your ticket will be invalid and you can be fined.

Once in Venice you can drop your bags off at the hotel/ b&b and relax. You’ll arrive at the Central Station and if your hotel is far away, the journey with luggage can be quite exhausting as there are steps going up and down each bridge. If you’re willing to spend a little extra money then you could get a water taxi to your hotel! If you have time, why not explore the canals and grab a gelato or a slice of pizza?!

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Day 4: A Day Spent Exploring Venice

Spend the day exploring Venice and ticking all your bucket list items off! Take a gondola ride – you’ll have the time of your life. The gondola ride is so peaceful and you can learn so much about Venice along the way. To have a private gondola ride (which I would recommend) costs 80 Euros (as of 2017), but it is well worth it, OR you can book a ride with a group online in advance which costs around 20-30 Euros per person. During your day out in Venice, make sure you see the Grand Canal, St. Mark’s Square and the Basilica di San Marco. Stay in Venice tonight too. Recommended Hotels: Ca’ Sagredo Hotel, Palazzetto Pisani Grand Canal and Rialto Unique Venice Experience.

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Day 5: Spend the Morning in Venice and Evening in Florence

You’ll have time to wander around Venice in the morning but then it’ll be time to head back to Central Station and buy a ticket to Florence. You can get a direct train to Florence but remember to stamp/scan your ticket at the platform to avoid fines. The train takes between 2 and 3 hours, and once you get there you can find your hotel using local trains and busses. I recommend stating at one of these hotels: Grand Hotel Cavour Florence, Hotel Torre Guelfa or Hotel La Scaletta Florence.

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Day 6: Spend the day in Florence

There are lots of things to do during your day exploring Florence, I would recommend visiting the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence. Once you have visited these two gorgeous buildings, I would highly recommend taking a walk over the Ponte Vecchio and admiring the many wonderful shops all over the bridge. If you have some spare time in the afternoon then take a walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo to get the most amazing views over Florence, you may even spot some flashy supercars on your visit here, they’re known to stop by!

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Day 7: A Day Trip to Pisa!

Hop on a train to Pisa, it takes between 1 to 2 hours and is a really easy, stress free journey. You can easily buy a return ticket for the day once you’re at the station. Once you get into the city, you can walk or take a bus to The Leaning Tower of Pisa, a must see! We grabbed a mini pizza outside the leaning tower and shopped for a few souvenirs before wandering around the city and then back on the train to Florence.

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Day 8: Head to Rome

Day 8 means time to head off to the next destination, which is Rome! There is a direct train from Florence to Rome which takes about an hour and a half. Once you get there, find your hotel, drop off your bags and start exploring! Try one of many quaint cafes, delicious restaurants and wander around the pretty streets. You’ll be staying here for three nights so choose a nice hotel for this time, some that I would recommend include: Grand Hotel de La Minerve, Grand Hotel Palatino and Palazzo Naiadi, The Dedica Anthology, Autograph Collection.

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Day 9 & 10: Visit Some Attractions

Day 9 and 10 are free to experience Rome as you see fit, some places I would recommend visiting during this time include:

• The Colosseum
• Trevi Fountain
• St. Peter’s Basilica
• Piazza Navona
• Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
• The Pantheon

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Day 11: Leave Rome and Head to Sorrento

The trip from Rome to Sorrento is easy but it does require a change in Naples if you’re travelling by train. We decided to get the bus as it was cheaper and less hassle, but this took about 4 hours. We used Flixbus, an amazing bus coach company operating in many countries, who we have found to be very reliable during our travels. Of course, you can continue your travels by train if you don’t mind the change in Naples. Once you arrive in Sorrento there are many busses that will take you around the city from the train station, or if you were to get the Flixbus like we did, there might be a change that your bus stops near your chosen hotel. Spend the next 4 nights in Sorrento, some hotels I recommend include: Grand Hotel Riviera, Imperial Tramontano Hotel and Grand Hotel Capodimonte.

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Day 12: Explore Sorrento

Sorrento is a wonderful place to spend some time, the town is beautiful and filled with amazing restaurants and bars. There is often live music and lots of culture in the square. Sorrento is also home to a beautiful coastline and black sand beaches where you can sunbathe and enjoy Italian summer! There are many hotels in this area with outdoor pools where you can relax and unwind after your busy time exploring Italy. There are so many scenic points, so spending time weaving in and out of the streets and enjoying the views is the best way to spend your time here.

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Day 13: Day Trip to Positano

Positano is a very famous, very beautiful area along the Amalfi Coast that is on everyones bucket list. Whilst staying in Sorrento it’s really easy to get to Positano, or anywhere on the Amalfi coat for that matter. We got the 5070 bus and it takes you the whole way along the coastline, where you’ll catch the most amazing views along the way. The bus can get pretty crowded and uncomfortable but it only takes an hour so its bearable. It would be amazing to hire a car for this day trip but obviously isn’t as affordable as getting the bus.

Positano is really beautiful and also very popular, so if your trip is in peak season then be prepared for a lot of crowds and fighting for the sun beds on the beach (these are also really expensive). There are so many beautiful Italian shops filled with friendly faces and lovely Italian souvenirs and food. There are so many things to do in Positano, including boat trips, kayak hire and more.

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Day 14: Day trip to Capri

Today, if you’re not too tired could be the perfect day for a trip to Capri! You can get the ferry from Sorrento to Capri and it takes about 20 minutes. Depending on the weather, the ride can be quite bumpy so I wouldn’t recommend this if you are prone to sea sickness. Capri has the most beautiful, clear blue water and amazing views. Once you get to Capri you can spend some time exploring the island or take a boat tour like we did, where they take you all around the island and even into the blue grotto! Grab some lunch by the port and then head back to Sorrento, it’s your last night there!

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Day 15: Relax & Head Home

Today is the last day so if you have some time you could explore more of Sorrento or just spend the time relaxing in the pool, by the beach or in a bar! It’s time to get to the airport and catch your flight home. You can get to the airport by bus, or taxi. Click here to book the cheapest flight available via Skyscanner.

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I hope you enjoyed the two week itinerary for travelling Italy in two weeks. Of course, if you have more time (and money), you could add more stops or stretch the trip out so that it is not so full-on, but I personally loved the business and pace of this trip! Do you have some more ideas or travel plans similar to this? I’d love to hear about them in the comments! Follow the blog to keep up with the adventure, and if you have any questions, please feel free to ask via the comments or contact form! Happy travels!

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As always, love Elise x

@hertravelpostcards