Now I want to preface this 8-Day Italy Road Trip Itinerary post with the fact that I’ve been to this country three times before this most recent trip. The first with EF Tours in 2008, the second studying abroad in 2011 and third a work trip in Milan in 2018. With a wedding in Tuscany, I knew I wanted to see more of the areas I had yet to visit. There were a lot of stops with packing and unpacking, but that also included medieval towns, daily pasta meals and wandering for hours. You really can’t go wrong anywhere you go, but I would recommend each and every place we came by.
Cost
As usual with any of my itinerary posts, let’s start with cost.
- While the flight says $750, it was actually paid with Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card points so it didn’t cost a dime.
- The rest of the expenses were divided by 2 since I was traveling with my boyfriend. Therefore, the total cost per person was $840.
- The cost is a bit high, but we ate and drank quite a bit, which increases the total amount.
Best way to come up with an itinerary
I wanted to start this off with how I even plan our itineraries. However, here’s a more in depth post on how: Best Ways to Come Up With a Travel Itinerary.
It’s extremely difficult when we only have 8 days to fit in as much as possible, especially when the places we want to see are all over the country. So here’s what I did:
- Wrote down all the cities and sites we wanted to see.
- Then I took a look at all the flight options and dates.
- Boston to/from Florence
- Boston to/from Rome
- Boston to Rome, Florence to Boston (and vice versa)
- Boston to another European country, then to Rome/Florence
- Depending on which is the cheapest option (which was Boston to/from Rome), then I started planning from there.
- When it came to dates, google maps is a great tool because it shows you most of the airlines, and all the dates and pricing for each. We decided on a Wednesday to Thursday trip (8 days total).
So with all that research, I created our itinerary that I can’t wait to share with you.
Buckle up and get ready for the Italy road trip of a lifetime.
Don’t forget travel insurance!
This is one thing that slips many travelers minds. Travel insurance is extremely important when traveling somewhere new. If anything were to happen abroad, having travel insurance can save you tons of money, and keep you safe!
I used to be that person who would take the risk. However, my friend was traveling, and wanted to pet a cute dog. The cute dog bit her, so she was rushed to go get a rabies shot. Do you know how much that would have cost her out of pocket if she didn’t have travel insurance? A LOT. So, I prefer not to risk anymore.
My go to travel insurance is World Nomads. Not only are they extremely affordable, they offer comprehensive packages and are super easy to use. They cover things like your medical emergencies, lost credit cards, delayed luggage, or even stolen items. Trust me, it is worth the small cost! Click below link to get a quote!
Day 1: Rome
The Rome airport is one of the cheaper ones in the country to fly in and out from (at least from the States). It is about 30 minutes (without traffic) to Rome and around $48 one way by taxi. We had less than 24 hours in Rome, so we opted for a taxi instead of having a nightmare of a time driving in the city. We went back to the airport the next day to get a rental car. You can easily book a rental car through Auto Europe Car Rentals. I like booking through them to do comparisons for the different companies!
We decided to make Vatican City our priority for the day. Whether you have a day or more, I would recommend doing the key tourist spots including The Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, The Pantheon & The Roman Forum. While these prime locations will be busy, but they are incredible pieces of the world’s history that are worth seeing. Vatican City should be done first thing in the morning, or later in the afternoon. You won’t need a ticket beforehand, but be prepared to potentially wait in line. Make sure to check the timing of when and how long it is open as they fluctuate from day to day.
Where to stay: Airbnb is a great option if you are on a budget. We found an incredible apartment near Vatican City with a view of the Vatican here.
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Where to eat: Have lunch at Pizzarium Bonci near the Vatican, an app and martini at La Poccola Cuccagna or take a cooking class for an authentic Italian cuisine.
Day 2: Capalbio
Once we go our rental car the next morning, we started our trip north. A small town just north of Rome on the coast, Capalbio is a perfect stop on your Italian road trip. It’s simple, quiet, a precious walk throughout castle walls and of course, amazing food. If you have some time, head to the beach, visit the Tarot Garden or splurge and watch sunset at one of the oceanside restaurants.
Where to stay: Valle Del Buttero was perfect location and a nice assorted free breakfast for a great price.
Day 3: Drive to Lucca
Heading up the coast towards Lucca will take about 4 hours. We stayed just 20 minutes outside in Borgo a Mozzano at an airbnb on a wine vineyard. While there isn’t much to do within the town, it is a central location to Lucca and other small medieval villages.
We took a drive to Barga, which is known to be the most Scottish town of Italy. We wandered through the streets, got some fruit at a market, and met the sweetest english couple who now lived there.
What I loved about this area is the little amount of tourists. Italy is filled with adorable small towns. I’d highly recommend fitting in some of them during your trip.
Day 4: Lucca
This may have been my favorite day of the trip. Lucca is so unbelievably charming. Just take a drive 20 minutes west to the underrated little town that most people pass by. Grab a sandwich and a cappuccino to start the day. Then rent a $3 bike to ride along the castle walls. Wander through the streets with gelato in hand. Lucca is magical and a day trip you won’t want to pass on.
Note: if you do drive, you will need to pay a parking fee. We had no idea what we were doing and ended up getting a ticket! You will need to pay to park when you arrive.
Day 5: Siena
To break up the long drives on our way to Abruzzo, I found cities that would be good options for day trips to explore. Siena was about halfway between Lucca and where we were staying in Abruzzo. The best part about Italy is pretty much every restaurant is going to be good. Wander the streets, eat food, pop in the shops and climb up the Torre Del Mangia for a 360° view of the city. There is so much to do in Siena, so a night or two is perfect.
Where to stay: Airbnb about a 5 minute walk into the city center.
Day 6-8: Abruzzo
This was a difficult area for me to find information on as it is not a super touristy region like the rest of Italy. I didn’t have much to go off of, so it was a go with the flow experience with little planning.
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And if you need even more inspiration, check out these 20 Photos To Inspire You to Visit Abruzzo, Italy.
Where to stay:
- We stayed at an Airbnb in Calascio, which was charming and romantic.
- Sextantio hotel in Santo Stefano di Sessanio isn’t as budget friendly, but a great option if you are willing to splurge.
- Pescasseroli is a town in Parco Nazionale D’Abruzzo that is great location if you are looking to do lots of hiking.
What to do:
- Take a drive (or hike) through Strada Statale 17bis for gorgeous mountain views.
- Take a day trip to Parco Nazionale D’Abruzzo. There are over a hundred hikes, except it is very hard to find anyone to help you find them. I recommend heading into Pescasseroli to their tourist center to get a map.
- Visit Barrea, a picturesque town with hiking and the most beautiful landscape.
- Wander through the medieval towns of Calascio, Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Ofena and Castel del Monte.
- Watch sunset at Rocca Calascio with a bottle of wine.
Where to eat:
- L’Elisir Del Poeta – Located in Santo Stefano di Sessanio and you need to make a reservation. This place is absolutely phenomenal.
- La Bettola di Geppetto – Located in Santo Stefano di Sessanio and a great location for lunch.
Italy Road Trip Helpful Tips
- Tipping: Tipping is not standard in Italy. While appreciated, don’t feel like it is something you need to do, especially if you are on a budget.
- Money: Get cash out/exchange your money (euros) beforehand or at the airport. A lot of places do not accept credit cards, so it’s good to have some money on hand.
- Transportation: The subway in Rome is a cheaper option for transportation, but you will need cash.
- Additional tips:
- You can use your credit card throughout all the Italy tolls. Don’t stress if you don’t have cash on you! Also, they can be very expensive.
- Learn how to do hello and thank you in Italian. They will appreciate the effort, as Italians are very proud – as they should be!
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