Italy in 10 Days

Italy is the clearest example of what this whole site is about. Ten days, one country, and at least six completely different trips depending on what you care about. A budget traveller moving by regional train through Rome, Florence and Bologna will have almost nothing in common with a couple spending the same ten days between Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast, except the passport stamp.

Distances help. The north and centre are tied together by fast trains, so Rome to Florence is roughly an hour and a half and Florence to Venice about two hours. That means you can change scenery often without losing whole days to transport, which is exactly why Italy works for so many travel styles.

What catches most first-time visitors out is density. Rome alone can absorb four days without repeating anything. Trying to add Venice, Florence, Naples and the Amalfi Coast to the same ten days is technically possible and usually a mistake. Three bases is a comfortable maximum, four if two of them are close together.

Seasons matter more than people expect. July and August are hot and crowded in the cities, and the coast is at its most expensive. Late April to early June, and mid September to late October, give you better light, better prices and a far more pleasant walking temperature.