I took a trip to Italy in the summers of 2018 and it was an amazing journey.
Where all to go?
Rome & Vatican
Florence
Lucca & Pisa
Cinque Terre
Genova
Turin
Naples
Capri
Amalfi
Pompeii & Vesuvius
Rome & Vatican City
Mode of transport: Walk, Bus or Local Metro. Though I prefer walking since it is not a huge city
Accommodation:Hostel Palladini, a 5 min walk from Roma Termini. I prefer staying close to Train Station ( helps me in commute)
Where to Eat: Barnum Cafe,Via del Pellegrino, 87
Taverna Del Seminario,Via del Seminario, 105 (Near Pantheon)
Follow this link to get more info: Cheap Eats in Rome
What all to see in Rome:
Starting from Roma Termini, move towards
Piazza Barberini
Trevi Fountain
Piazza Di Spagna (Spanish Steps)
Piazza Del Popolo
Pantheon
Piazza Venezia
Roman Forum
Colosseum
Back to Roma Termini. This is a full circuit to see the best in Rome on a walking tour.
What all to see in Vatican: Starting from Roma Termini, take the metro till Ottaviano (nearest metro just outside the Vatican city walls)
Vatican Museum
St. Peters Basilica
Piazza San Pietro
Note- It is better to book the entry to museum and basilica online as there are long queues. Refer to this link: Tours in Vatican
Florence
Mode of transport: I would suggest just walk, it is a lovely city and walking through the streets is fun!
Accommodation:Hostel Archi Rossi, a 5 min walk from Santa M. Novella Station.
By far the best hostel in Italy with amazing breakfast spread.
Where to Eat: Mercato Centrale, Via dell'Ariento (100 mtr from Hostel Archi Rossi). You can find all kinds of food here!
For more options, check out: Cheap eats in Florence
What all to see in Florence: Starting from Santa M. Novella, move towards
Cappelle Medicee (Tombs of Medici Family)
Riccardi Medici Palace
Museo Leonardo Da Vinci
Academia (David)
Piazza Del Duomo
Palazzo Vecchio
Uffizi Gallery
Ponte Vecchio
Pitti Palace
Boboli Gardens
Piazzale Michelangelo
Lucca
How to reach from Florence:
Take the Regionale train from Santa M. Novella till Lucca : 1.5hrs (~€8)
Book the tickets on : Trenitalia
Mode of transport: It is a beautiful small town. Walk around the forted walls, look over the town and enjoy the view
Accommodation:
Domus Clotilde B&B, 5 min walk outside the walls
Though I didn’t stay in Lucca. Made a half day trip and then went to Pisa
Where to Eat:
La Cantina dei Sapori, Via Fillungo 154
For more options, check out: Cheap Eats in Lucca
What all to see here:
Take a walk along the 16th century walls (4 kilometers of panoramic walkway overlooking the city of Lucca)
Piazza Anfiteatro
Guinigi Tower (rooftop garden)
San Michele
Basilica of San Frediano (Incorruptible St Zita)
Pisa
How to reach from Lucca:
Take the Regionale train from Lucca: 0.5hrs (~€3.50)
Book the tickets on : Trenitalia
Accommodation:
Pisa Train Station Hostel, 2 min walk from the Train Station
Where to Eat: Best places to eat in Pisa
What all to see here:
Leaning Tower of Pisa
Piazza Dei Miracoli
Pisa Cathedral
Pisa Baptistry
Camposanto Monumentale
Cinque Terre
How to reach from Pisa:
Take the Regionale train from Pisa via La Spezia: 1.5hrs (~€11)
Book the tickets on : Trenitalia
There are 5 fishing villages on the Liguria Coast in Cinque Terre Region
Riomaggiore
Manarola
Corniglia
Vernazza
Monterosso
Commute:
In order to move from one village to another, hiking is the best way. You get to see the beauty of the CInque Terre National Park, the vineyards, the coastal ridge walk.
Alternatively, you can take the train from one village to another. It costs about €4 per ride (valid for 3-4 hours one direction).
Accommodation:
Ostello Corniglia,Via Alla Stazione 3 (At the center of Corniglia)
What all to see here:
Azure trail is one of the beautiful hiking trails in Italy (a must do)
Each village in the Cinque Terre region has its own charm.
Do try out the Gelato here!
Genoa
How to reach from Cinque Terre:
Take the Regionale train from Cinque Terre till Genova Brignole: 1hr (~€3.50)
Book the tickets on : Trenitalia
Accommodation:
Abbey Hostel, Vico di Santa Fede (2 min walk from Principe Station)
Where to Eat:
Cavour 21, (Do try out their Pesto Pasta)
For more option, refer to : Genoa Cheap Eats
What all to see here:
Aquarium of Genoa
Piazza De Ferrari
Genoa Cathedral
Porto Antico (Enjoy the sunset here)
Turin (Torino)
How to reach from Genova:
Take the Intercity train from Genova Brignole till Porta Nuova: 2hr (~€10)
Book the tickets on : Trenitalia
What all to see here:
Mole Antonelliana
Egyptian Museum
National Museum of Cinema
Palace of Venaria
Piazza San Carlo
Porto Antico (Enjoy the sunset here)
Do enjoy the panoramic view of Alps surrounding the Turin city from Santa Maria del Monte dei Cappuccini
How to reach from Turin:
Take the Frecciarossa from Porta Nuova: 6hrs (~€40)
Book the tickets on : Trenitalia
How to Commute:
Naples is connected to nearby areas by its Circumvesuviana Metro Lines. It connects Sorrento, Pompeii, Vesuvius to Naples.
Accommodation:
Hostel Mancini, 2 min walk from Napoli Centrale
Where to Eat:
Naples is the birthplace of Pizza and one can get pizza for €3 as well.
L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele (one of the oldest pizzeria in Naples, serves Marinara & Margherita Pizza)
Do try the coffee here! One of the best I had in Italy.
What all to see here:
Centro Storico
Castel Dell’Ovo
Piazza Del Plebiscito
Teatro Di San Carlo
Castel St’Elmo
Galleria Umberto
How to reach from Naples:
Take the Ferry from Molo Beverello Naples: 45min (~€20)
Book the tickets on : Caremar, Snav, NLG
How to Commute:
Capri is connected internally by its network of mini-bus which operates quite regularly. Also, if you have time you can take the hiking trails all around the island coast
Where to Eat:
El Merendero, located on the Marina Piccola beach
Capri Pasta( as known as Da Roberto), offer pasta, sandwiches and fried specialties (including ravioli fritti) ready for take-away
Pizzeria Aumm Aumm
What all to see here:
Grotto Azura (a must visit)
Monte Solara ( Best views of Faraglioni Rocks)
Villa San Michele
Villa Jovis
Punta Carena Lighthouse
Amalfi
How to reach Amalfi: Take a Regionale train from Naples to Salerno and then SITA bus to Amalfi Take circumvesuviana to Sorrento and then SITA bus to Amalfi
Info on SITA bus timetable: SITA Timetable
How to Commute: Hiking is best way to go around the villages in Amalfi Coast. Alternatively, you can take the SITA bus.
What all to see & do:
Villa Rufolo Villa Cimbrone Museum of Paper Torre Dello Ziro
Path of Gods is one of the amazing hiking trails in Amalfi region which connects Bomerano to Positano. Along this panoramic walk, you get the best views of Amalfi coast.
Positano is a picturesque village on Amalfi coast with an amazing beach to chill out and spend the summers.
Pompeii & Mt. Vesuvius
How to reach Pompeii:
Take circumvesuviana from Sorrento/Naples till Pompeii.
Book your tickets online at :Pompeii Sites
What all to see & do:
Explore the ancient ruins of the historic Pompeii city. I would suggest either take a guided tour or get the audio guide and explore the site at ease.
Once you are done with the site excursion, take the local EAV bus to Mt. Vesuvius.
Timetable for the same is shown below.
Mount Vesuvius is famous as the volcano that erupted in Roman times (AD 79) and buried Pompeii. It is one of the world's most dangerous volcanoes. The volcano has an eruption cycle of about 20 years, but the last eruption was in 1944.
It is a gentle climb of about half an hour to the crater. At the top, it is usually windy and if you have a clear sky, then you can get a magnificent view of the Sorrento coast and Bay of Naples.
Its feels like "It's a wonderful Life" after going through this vivid experience in Italy.
Keep Exploring!
Godspeed!