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An Epic 2-Week Italy Road Trip Itinerary: Milan To The Amalfi Coast

By Jessie Festa. This Italy road trip guide contains affiliate links to trusted partners!

For the past two summers, my boyfriend Andy and I have chosen countries in Europe to road trip through, taking our time to just enjoy the scenery and have adventures along the way.

Last year we explored the South of France, while this year we chose Italy, beginning in Venice and ending in the Amalfi Coast.

Our Italy Road Trip Route

Okay, so in reality we actually flew round-trip NYC -> Milan as flights to and from Milan seemed to be much more affordable than other cities. We didn’t really spend any time there, though, so for the intention of this post I won’t really be mentioning it.

As soon as we arrived into Milan we hopped on a pre-booked Trenitalia train to Venice.

After Venice we pre-booked an Italo train to Florence where we picked up a car and began our Italy road trip.

The full 2-week Italy road trip itinerary included Milan – Venice – Florence – Tuscany – Perugia – Amalfi Coast – Ischia.

Psst, Don’t forget to pin this post for later!

How to have an amazing Italy road trip

Booking Ferries & Trains In Italy

For train and ferry travel we booked in advance, using Omio’s easy interface and reliable booking system.

We also found Omio often had cheaper prices than booking directly with TrenItalia and Italo.

hiking mount epemeo
Trekking in Ischia (to the top of Mount Eppmeo)

Note: You’ll want to book in advance! The earlier you book your train and ferry tickets, the cheaper it will be.

For example, our train tickets from Milan to Venice were 60.80 Euros for two tickets (one-way) booked in advance.

When we arrived at the train station early from the airport and asked if we could switch our ticket to an earlier train, they said we would have had to pay the difference in price: 160 Euros.

Insane!

We were glad we booked early.

italy road trip
A glimpse of my scenic drive from Montepulciano to Perugia

Renting A Car In Italy

Ugh. So the truth is we booked our car through Hertz.

I hate Hertz. I’ve had so many problems with them over the years, and their customer service just is not good.

Typically I’d book with Enterprise, but they didn’t have a car rental office in the city in Florence (only the airport).

We tried to book with EuropCar, but they didn’t have automatic cars in the city (only the airport).

In short, if you don’t mind renting from the airport — such as if you’re flying into Florence anyway — book with Enterprise. In my experience they are the best and have great customer service.

If you’re desperate for an automatic car in Florence and don’t want to trek to the airport, Hertz has what you need.

Here is another option that I sadly didn’t know existed before this trip:

Use a comparison site like Discover Cars.

You can save up to 70% on your rental just by comparing your options!

Use their widget here and try it out for yourself: 

Best Hotels In Italy

We booked almost all of our accommodation through Airbnb. You can stay in everything from gorgeous countryside wineries to historic palaces-turned-city hotels.

Accomodation Links: We loved all our accommodations aside for Amalfi Coast, so I’m leaving that one out of the list.

Prefer hotels?

Click here to search for the best hotels in Italy!

You can also use this map to search for local hotels and rentals:

Italy Road Trip Video

Love traveling through video?

Check out my entire Italy trip video above!

Italy Road Trip Highlights

Wow! Where to begin. There were so many amazing experiences to be had on the trip, from the wine travel to the scenic adventures. Here are 12 highlights from our journey — truly one of the best road trips we’ve ever done!

Quick tip: download these 6 amazing apps before your road trip.

Venice

1. A Floating Apertivo Hour

While we did the whole gondola thing — hey, you gotta! — we also booked a Canal & Aperitivo Experience with Urban Adventures.

Full disclosure:

I work with Urban Adventures in NYC as one of their guides, so when coming to Venice I reached out to their Italy manager and they set Andy and I up with this awesome experience.

italy road trip
Aperitivo, anyone?

We took a private water taxi down the Grand Canal and beyond, seeing everything from the city’s ancient palaces-turned-hotels to outer islands like Murano and Lido.

Along the journey we learned fun facts about the city — like that Venice invented the Aperol Spritz — while sipping Prosecco, munching on tasty finger sandwiches and clinking glasses with new friends.

While the gondola was fun, this felt like a much more local experience. It was definitely an Italy travel highlight, and would be a great social experience for those traveling solo in Italy too.

2. Explore The Art

For an inspiring afternoon, wander the sculpture gardens at Giardino Della Marinaressa (public park) — Carole Feuerman‘s sculptures were on view when we visited — before boarding a ~10-minute vaporetto (ferry taxi) to Murano.

italy road trip venice art
Perusing the sculptures

Here you can drink an Aperol Spritz on the water before wandering the many Murano glass shops.

Within the stores, you’ll see gorgeous glass sculptures, jewelry, and housewares. Additionally, walking around the small island introduces you to giant al fresco glass works.

murano glass
Murano glass

Burano is another island nearby — though a bit farther at about an hour away from Venice. Here the houses are in crazy bright colors, with the shops introducing you to artisanal lace products.

3. Lido Beach

While you can’t swim in the Grand Canal — both because there are so many boats and because it’s full of sewage — you can head less than 10 minutes by vaporetto to Lido Beach.

lido beach
Lido Beach

It’s about a 15-minute walk from the dock to the shell-gowned shoreline, with tons of gelato shops offering a snack for the stroll.

Once there, walk along the sand or jump in for a swim.

It’s seriously beautiful, not to mention their beach cafe serves tasty Aperol Spritz cocktails.

Can you tell what my favorite cocktail is?

Check out my full article on responsibly exploring the city for more things to do in Venice.

Florence

4. Take A Fresco Class

Sadly, the art of fresco in Florence is dying out. In fact, there are only three fresco artists left in the city, and you can take a workshop with one through Context Travel.

We had the pleasure of creating our own frescos with Dr. Alan Pascuzzi in his San Frediano studio.

The neighborhood is known for its artisan studios and introduced me to the city beyond the Duomo.

fresco painting
A freso “cartoon” that’s been hole pricked and pounced

True fresco refers to applying natural pigments to freshly laid (wet) lime plaster.

There are no binders — like oil — in the paints, just water, and when the hues hit the limestone a chemical reaction takes place that leads to a truly lasting piece of art.

The tough part is having to complete your painting (and tempering!) before the plaster dries.

A truly creative race against time that leaves you with a deeper cultural appreciation and an authentic souvenir to take home!

This was one of a few great art experiences in Florence that we did!

5. Dinner In A Local Home

This was our second dinner through BonAppetour and as usual, it was a pleasure.

We opted for a traditional Tuscan dinner in the home of a local man named Andrea and his wife Giovanna, savoring a delectable spread.

Panzanella
Homemade Panzanella

On the menu: Tuscan tomato & bread salad (Panzanella), Tuscan onion soup (Carabaccia), spinach with baby squid in squid ink (Seppie al Nero con Spinaci) and cold chickpeas with tomato and sage (Ceci all’uccelletto) — all paired with wine of course. This meal made me seriously want to volunteer to do vineyard work in Italy and immerse myself in the vino culture!

We ended with a chestnut tart called Castagnaccio that’s typically eaten in mountain communities, paired with locally made dessert wine. Yum!

6. Wandering San Niccolo

We loved this Florence neighborhood! Walking around Florence we noticed a few recurring styles of street art.

One was the work of Blub, who painted small square portraits of cultural icons like Salvadore Dali and the Mona Lisa as scuba divers.

italy road trip art in florence
The work of Clet can be found around Florence

There was also Clet, who added stick figures in interesting situations to typical street signs.

Both of their studios are in San Niccolo — along with other Florentine artists — and you can purchase a creative gift.

7. Sips & Sculptures At Belvedere Fort

Okay, so there are MANY attractions offering a view over Florence. Andy and I first visited Boboli and Borelli gardens…and were unimpressed.

Maybe in other seasons there is a lot to see, but in late August there were not many flowers, especially after paying 10 Euros each to get in.

italy road trip belvedere fort
A delicious lunch at Belvedere Fort

While wandering around the gardens, we stumbled upon Fort Belvedere next door, which was just 3 Euros each to get in.

Not only were the views stupendous, but the historic fort houses an indoor art museum and outdoor sculpture garden.

It’s pretty interesting to look out over a massive 79-foot skeleton with a Duomo backdrop.

belvedere fort
My view while having lunch at Belvedere Fort

Bonus:

The Aperol Spritz cocktails and pizza were delicious!

While TripAdvisor said it would be expensive, we thought $55.50 USD for two meals, two cocktails, and two coffees was very affordable, especially for what we got.

8. Drinks On Ponte Santa Trinita (Bridge)

Of course, the Ponte Vecchio is a must, though expect tons of tourists eating gelato and perusing the impressive amount of jewelry shops.

Once the sun goes down, grab a bottle of wine — might I suggest some Chianti — and head to the Santa Trinita Bridge.

It’s beautiful to see the reflections of buildings at night on the Arno River, and there are many people on the bridge also sharing some wine and taking in the peace.

Montepulciano (Tuscany)

9. Take A Scenic Bike Ride

If you’re active, I highly recommend a scenic bike ride with Cortona Wine Tours through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Val d’ Orcia.

The valley is known for inspiring Renaissance painters and being landscaped in a way that led to locals living in harmony with nature.

You’ll cycle through cypress-lined paths, olive groves, medieval towns and endless rows of sangiovese, the predominant grape in the famed Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wine.

While challenging — it’s those steep rolling hills that make Tuscany so beautiful — it’s worth it for the views.

bike tuscany
Journeying through Tuscany by bike

Bonus:

The 21-kilometer ride ends with a delicious farm-to-fork Podere Il Casale.

Clinking glasses of homemade wine while sharing plates of house-made pici (a local chickpea-flour pasta) and suckling pig laced with goat’s milk and ginger, the tastes and company were enhanced by a gorgeous aerial view of the valley.

If you’d prefer not to exert so much energy, Cortona Wine Tours also offers private wine tours by car, as well as Vespa tours, truffle hunting excursions and custom experiences.

Perugia (Umbria)

10. Stay At An Agriturismo (With Pets!)

While we stayed at some amazing accommodations, our favorite was Agriturismo La Fonte, a gorgeous farm stay accommodation in Perugia.

I was shocked to learn that not many Americans visit Umbria, skipping over it for the nearby Tuscany.

agriturismo la fonte
A delicious spread in our apartment kitchen

Which is a shame, because Umbria — known as the “green heart of Italy” — is so breathtakingly beautiful.

As soon as we drove onto the property and saw our apartment backed by endless rows of olive bushes and chestnut trees, we were in heaven.

Inside, a table showcased a spread of homemade and farm-sourced goodies:

Fresh eggs, lemon cake, tomatoes, olive oil, preserved eggplant and zucchini, jam, bread and a bottle of red wine — which quickly got poured into our glasses as we ducked out onto the patio to take in hillside views.

italy road trip la fonte
Wine and view from our patio

On property, we hiked, lounged by a pond, napped in hammocks, played with dogs and cats, swam in the pool, played ping pong and foosball, and just enjoyed the feeling of complete peace and quiet.

This is a must-stay in Italy! Also, if you’re looking for weekend getaways from Rome, Perugia is a popular option.

Amalfi Coast

11. Trek The “Path Of The Gods”

The 5-mile “Path Of The Gods” — also known as “Il Sentiero degli Dei” — sits beautifully embedded into the slopes of Monte Peruso.

It begins in Bomerano and ends in Positano, taking you along the hillside towns and ancient ruins.

According to The New York Times, the Path was “carved out by Greek settlers in the eighth century B.C. and was later used by those living in secluded monasteries.”

path of the gods
View while on the Path of the Gods

Not only are you traversing history, but the views over the sparkling Gulf of Salerno and of Naples as you wind your way up and down the terraced hillside are absolutely jaw-dropping.

What’s really neat is you have a view of chic Positano and its pastel-colored houses most of the time, so your eye is literally on the prize as you hike.

This was one of the most stunning, interesting hikes I’ve ever done.

Bonus: it’s free!

Naples

12. Have A Heavenly Island Getaway In Ischia

Just a 90-minute scenic ferry ride from Naples port sits Ischia, an island settled by the Greeks in 770 BC that’s shrouded in mythology.

In fact, it’s said that after an altercation with Zeus, a monster named Typheus was banished to live under the island, which is why it’s filled with volcanoes and thermal pools.

italy road trip ischia
Terrace view from Ornella’s Airbnb

For the perfect itinerary stay in Ornella’s Airbnb in the island’s Campagnano neighborhood, a true slice of heaven on earth.

The accommodation has both a lush garden terrace and 360-degree rooftop, both offering gorgeous views of the medieval Aragonese Castle, the Gulf of Naples, and the adjacent islands of Procida and Vivara.

On the island also don’t miss a hike to the top of Mount Epomeo, the highest point on Ischia at 2,589 feet.

Follow the adventure with a wander through Sant’Angelo, a pastel-hued village full of artisan and clothing shops.

sant'angelo ischia
Sant’Angelo

One favorite:

NaturIschia, where Andy and I sampled free tastings of local limoncello, locally-made liqueurs laced with melon and pistachio, and delicious chocolates filled with limoncello.

From there, walk down to the sandy Chiaia di Rose Beach, secluded Cava Grado Beach or the steamy Le Fumarole Beach.

Deal: Click here for $40 off your first Airbnb stay!

Travel Insurance

While you hope everything runs smoothly, sometimes travel just doesn’t go according to plan.

This is why I recommend always purchasing travel insurance. The scary truth is it only takes one bad accident to lose everything — or be thankful you were covered.

Personally, I use SafetyWing, as they’ve got a large network, offer both short-term and long-term coverage (including limited coverage in your home country), are budget-friendly, and offer $250,000 worth of coverage with just one low overall deductible of $250.

Click here to price out travel insurance for your trip in just a few clicks.

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This epic 2-week Italy road trip itinerary shares beautiful places to stop along the way, from Florence to the Amalfi Coast and beyond. Discover unforgettable adventures in Tuscany and fun things to do in Ischia, Montepulciano and more! // #ItalyRoadTrip #ItalyTravel #ItalyItinerary #RoadTrips #ItalyCities

Have any Italy road trip tips to add or questions to ask?

Logistics:

Stay:Get $40 off your first Airbnb with this link!

Route: Milan -> Venice -> Florence -> Montepulciano (Tuscany) -> Perugia (Umbria) -> Amalfi Coast -> Ischia -> Milan. Note: We spent very little time in Milan, but flew round-trip from there as flights to and from NYC were signficiantly cheaper than other airports.

Car Rental: We used train travel until we reached Florence.

Sigh. I’ll admit we rented from Hertz, my least favorite car rental company in the world, but they were the only ones we found who didn’t require us to go to the Florence airport to pickup an automatic car (instead we simply walked 10 minutes from our Airbnb to pickup).

Of course, when we got our final receipt we’d been charged ~$75 USD for fuel — even though we’d filled up the tank before returning — and I had to spend time getting the charge removed. Can you tell I looooove Hertz? Nope!

I’d recommend using Enterprise or another rental company instead. You can use Discover Cars to price compare, and save up to 70% on your rental booking!

Getting Around: We loved our Italy road trip! The only difficult area to drive on our itinerary was the Amalfi Coast (definitely scary, though not impossible if you’re comfortable with driving). Also big cities like Rome and Naples will be challenging, too (we avoided those).

Additionally, train travel in Italy is phenomenal. For the few trains we did take we loved Omio’s prices and interface. Actually, we found Omio to be cheaper than booking directly with Italo and Trenitalia, the train companies we used.

Safety Essentials: I never leave home without:

Currency: Euro

Dining Tips:

  • Understand that in many places there will be an extra charge for sitting at a table.
  • Note that you do not need to tip — service is typically included — though you can leave 5-10% if you wish.
  • While in the US if a restaurant serves a snack that was not asked for, like bread or peanuts, it’s safe to assume it’s complimentary. In Italy though we were often charged a few Euros for these. If you don’t want them, say so.

Language: While many locals speak English, it’s helpful to know some Italian. At least know a few common words and phrases.

Accommodation: I found Airbnb to be really affordable with tons of great options — many with views, gardens and patios. Get $40 off your first Airbnb with this link.

SIM Cards: While you can buy your SIM card from the airport, I recommend purchasing it within the city of your first stay. This way, if there’s a problem you can go back to the place you actually purchased it to get help.

I sadly purchased mine from the Milan Airport, and wasn’t told you’re supposed to *not* use your phone until you receive a certain text message (which is in Italian). I used up my entire 40-Euro package — which should have lasted my entire 10-day trip — in less than an hour due to this error and had to re-purchase one, because the Vodafone representative in Venice (the first city visited on the Italy trip after landing in Milan) told me the airport wasn’t affiliated with his shop.

Road Trip Through Italy Travel Video

Check out my entire trip video above

Italy Road Trip Travel Infographic

Jessie Festa standing in front of grafitti wall

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14 Comments

  1. Nana | PatagoniaDreaming on at 10:18 am

    I actually have that on my bucket list: road trip in Italy! I want to go from North to South and visit Sicily as well. I only know a bit of the north, but Italy is such a beautiful country I need to know more one day! Thanks for sharing such fine article:)

  2. Eva on at 10:21 am

    Great itinerary, nice to see you included Umbria!

  3. Zoe on at 10:37 am

    Great post with lots of details! Makes me want to leave now!

  4. Sarah on at 6:36 am

    Your photos are brilliant they really make you want to organise a road trip through Italy. I have never heard of Bon Appetour it sounds really interesting, Is this only found in Europe?

  5. Anna on at 10:22 am

    This post got me yearning for Italy and Europe (I’m in Thailand at the moment). Going back to Finland for the summer but not sure about my finances. I’d so want to do a road trip in Italy now!

  6. California Globetrotter on at 10:27 am

    Goodness me this is a thoroughly informative post!! DEFINITELY saving this for a future return to Italy! #blogpostsaturday

  7. Cherene Saradar on at 10:45 am

    Italy has so much to see! You are brave to drive there. One of the few places i felt a bit…timid. LOL

  8. Selam on at 4:08 pm

    I have booked twice with Hertz here in France and they are the WORST! I’m glad I’m not the only one, haha. I love Italy and am actually planning a roadtrip in Tuscany soon! Thanks for your post.

  9. Kristi on at 9:21 pm

    This is my dream trip! Good to know its well worth it to book early. That’s a huge price difference!

  10. Leah Sullivan on at 7:12 am

    I travelled Italy by car last year but you definitely have be jealous with everything you got up to!! We couldn’t hike the path to the gods because of wild fires Next time ❣️

  11. Nick on at 11:25 pm

    This whole itinerary is awesome. Great photos, so much cool stuff. Looking forward to Italy!

  12. andreea on at 5:42 am

    hi,

    the links for the AIRBNB don#t seem to work anymore. Can you please reshare

    • Jessie Festa on at 11:28 am

      @Andreea – If they don’t work it may mean that those listings aren’t live right now. I’ll try to see if I can find new links as soon as possible!

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