If you are planning your first trip to Italy, My itinerary is a great place to start. With 9 days in Italy, you can visit the highlights: Rome, Florence, Venice, Cinque Terre and Milano. Visit ancient historical sites, cruise the canals in Venice, walk through the heart of Rome, take a boat ride on Lake Como and watch the sunset from the Cinque Terre. Based on my experience, it’s the trip of a lifetime.
DAY 1 Milan
I recommend getting to the Duomo di Milano (Milan Cathedral) early morning but it depends on the flight time. The cathedral is one of the largest and most surprising in the world but don’t forget to climb to the cathedral’s terraced rooftop. You can take an elevator or walk up the stairs which is the cheapest and fastest way up, as the elevator is more expensive and you will have to queue to go up. Then, I suggest heading to the Piazza del Duomo and going for a walk in the area, visiting also the street Via Dante and the Piazza della Scala. Shopping is a must in the capital of Lombardy. Head to the Quadrilatero Della Moda where the most luxurious brands and boutiques are. The most important commercial streets are Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga. You should also see the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
Cathedral’s terrace
Day 2 Lake Como
There are several ways of getting to Lake Como from Milan. The trip from the capital of Lombardy to the Lake District is very enjoyable if you decide to hire a car, since the roads offer stunning views of the lakes. If you do not want to drive, you can catch a train or book a guided tour. I recommend the following guided day trip that takes 10 hours: Lake Como, Bellagio & Lugano Switzerland from Milan. Lake Como has numerous charming villages. These are the most popular: Bellagio, Varenna, Tremezzo, Menaggio, Como.
Day 3 Venice
To maximize your time in Venice, take the earliest train with the shortest travel time from Milan. Spend the day exploring Venice: Tour the Doges Palace, climb the Campanile, visit St. Mark’s Basilica, and cruise the canals. A gondola ride is expensive and touristy, but a ride on the Vaporetto, the water taxi, is the best cheap way to cruise the Grand Canal in Venice.
Day 4 Florence
The next day, you can visit Murano and Burano on half day tour or leave early to your next destination: Florence. A great thing to do on your first day in Florence is to visit the Duomo and climb the 463 steps to the top of the dome for one of the best views in Florence. Spend the rest of the day strolling through Florence. I recommend seeing the Accademia Gallery, the Uffizi Gallery and then visiting the San Lorenzo Market, Mercato Centrale, and Palazzo Vecchio on the way. At the end, watch the sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo.
Day 5 Cinque Terre
In the morning, take the train from Florence to the Cinque Terre. Direct trains take less time but there are many more options that have a transfer in Pisa if you would like to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa. I recommend taking the tour from Florence for more fun: The Cinque Terre Hiking Day Trip from Florence. Five colorful, gorgeous towns are perched on the dramatic coastline of Italy: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. Each town offers something a little bit different than the others.
Day 6 Rome
In the Afternoon, heading to Rome by fast train from Florence and taking the free Rome walking tour is the best way to know more the town.
Day 7 Rome
In this day, you should see the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona and Campo de Fiori. In the afternoon, you should visit the colosseum. It takes about one hour to tour it but I honestly skipped that since it needs to be booked earlier to avoid the crowds. At the end of the day, you can visit villa Borghese with its beautiful gardens and lake.
Day 8 Vatican City
To avoid the crowds, get here at opening time or even before opening time around 7:00 AM. I highly recommend booking your tickets in advance to bypasses the lines and to see the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. Keep the afternoon for shopping and visit the streets of: Via Del Corso Via Condotti, Via Borgognona and Via Frattina.
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