Location: Roma
Day 1 - 19 Jul 2020
Lungotevere Ripa 6 - «hotel»
Content: Arrive at your hotel, check in your bags then head out for the day. We chose this hotel as it was such a good price and in a fantastic location nearby to restaurants and bars. The atmosphere here was brilliant but we were still located enough away from this area for a quiet night's sleep. The hotel room was exceptional quality and the coffee machine was a Nespresso machine!
Location: Rome
Day 1 - 19 Jul 2020
Roman Forum (Foro Romano)
Content: The first stop I would recommend is the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. I would suggest to book online for this - we paid around €16 and this will give you an easy QR passcode to get into the gates. If you cannot book online, you can book outside also but their usually is a queue at any time of the day.
Roseto del Parco del Colle Oppio
Content: A beautiful spot right here to capture the colosseum for free! This is a local park, right next to the Colosseum. This park has many entrances and exits so you may use it to access a different neighborhood in Rome. It has a awesome viewpoint if you head higher up into the park.
Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi)
Content: Eat your lunch and and grab an ice-cream outside the Trevi Fountain. There is a famous ice cream shop to the left of the Trevi Fountain which does delicious pistachio ice cream and lots of other flavours. There are also a few others dotted around the streets leading off to the Trevi Fountain. Remember this place is always busy but there is still spaces to get a photo and a lovely view. Make a wish and throw in a coin.
Pico's Taqueria
Content: Grab a budget but beautiful evening meal at this lovely restaurant. We had a huge pizza each and ate every bit. As this was our first night in Rome, it was extra special to get a freshly made pizza. Are you a pizza or pasta kind of person? This restaurant has plenty of options of both!
Location: Rome
Day 2 - 20 Jul 2020
Castle of the Holy Angel (Castel Sant'Angelo)
Content: Start your day early with a walk to the Vatican city. On the way, stop off and admire many of the local sites in the direction that leads you. Take it slowly as you don't want to miss any of this stunning location.
Location: Vatican
Day 2 - 20 Jul 2020
Vatican Obelisk (Obelisco Vaticano)
Content: Buy a ticket for Vatican or if you would rather, you can hang about outside to capture some beautiful pictures for free. Again, as I always say - I would book online. SCAM ALERT - Avoid the people outside who tell you they can sell you a ticket on the street - this will end up a fake ticket and cannot be used inside.
Location: Rome
Day 2 - 20 Jul 2020
Biscottificio Innocenti
Content: Spend your afternoon exploring the stunning architecture and buildings around Rome. The heart of Rome really is in the neighborhoods of the likes of Trastevere, Monti, Tridente, Parlone, Prati, Testaccio, Pigneto. You could spend days exploring all of these locations. I would suggest stopping off in a cute coffee shop too to rest your legs.
Voglia di Pizza - Gluten free
Content: Amazing quality pizza for budget prices. Also all gluten free - including gluten free starters and beers. This pizza cost only €6. We chose this place based on Trip Advisor ratings as it was quite high on the list of restaurants to go to. It's run by a local family, both waiters are father and son so remember a tip.
Colosseum (Colosseo)
Content: Stop by the Colosseum at night while it's all lit up - it really is magical 😍 we were actually walking by here to go back to our hotel after dinner and noticed it was so beautifully lit up and stopped to snap some photos. It's very peaceful here at night also. If it's handy for you, there if a metro stop right outside the colosseum.
Location: Manciano
Day 3 - 21 Jul 2020
Manciano
Content: Hire a car in Rome and travel to Saturnia or a town nearby We used AutoEurope to find a car to hire and opted for something small. Check into an Airbnb or hotel of your choice. We chose an Airbnb so we could save on eating out. We headed to the local Lidl to shop for supplies and cooked our breakfast, lunch and dinner in our apartment. We also knew that most airbnbs would offer free local parking which is definitely something you have got to remember when hiring a car.
Location: Saturnia
Day 3 - 21 Jul 2020
Cascate del Mulino (o del Gorello)
Content: Travel to these free hot springs at night or early morning to avoid the crowds. A car is needed to travel to this location as no bus goes here. Parking is free, there is a cafe located on site, toilets and changing area available too for a small fee/tip for the cleaning staff. We travelled to Saturnia especially for these hot springs and we spent the majority of our evening here. This is definitely a spot not to be missed! 😍 P.s. Bring an old swimming costume as sometimes the sulphur in the water can damage clothing or stain it.
Location: Florence
Day 4 - 22 Jul 2020
Camping Firenze
Content: With your hire car, drive to the next location. This is a perfect spot to base yourself in Florence. It is only a 10 minute bus ride to the centre of Florence. You can camp here or live in these little cabins at the cost of €40 per night. They have two pools on site, laundry facilities, a shop, cafe and restaurant.
Piazzale Michelangelo
Content: Take the campsite bus into Florence for a day of exploring. You can pick up the campsite bus outside the reception and it's €3 per person one way. It leaves every hour and picks up every hour from the centre of Florence. The bus driver will let you know where to arrive for pick up.
Fontane Delle Rampe Del Poggi
Content: A fantastic spot right here for the most instagrammable photo opportunity in Florence. Not very far from where you get dropped off by the campsite bus. Day or night, there is no perfect time to stop here. Just know there is quite a few stairs to climb but suitable for any age group.
Ponte Vecchio
Content: This is the main area of Florence, where you will find lots of things to see and do. You could walk this canal for miles and the scenery is quite the same - pastel buildings, Italian architecture and small local business to explore.
Signorvino
Content: A famous spot in Florence that you may have seen on TV and travel magazines. This bridge gets a little busy in the day time and I can't quite believe people have houses and businesses on this bridge. It's awesome to see in real life. An ideal thing to do here would be go take a walking tour of Florence to learn about the culture and history of this bridge and other locations.
Piazza del Duomo
Content: My favourite spot in Florence which cannot be missed. You can enter for a small fee, however you must climb lots of stairs to reach the top of the tower. I have heard the views from the tower are incredible though I just stayed outside to admire the exterior. The whole building has this insanely beautiful design - remember to walk right around to take it all in. There are plenty of water fountains here too incase you need to top up water - which is drinkable by the way.
Piazza Santa Maria Novella
Content: Another beautiful spot in Florence and close to lots of great restaurants and bars. We did enter this chapel for free, but not much to see inside. The outside is definitely more of a spectical.
Camping Firenze
Content: Take the campsite bus back. The bus driver should tell you where the pick up spot will be. Dinner in the accommodation was delicious and super budget friendly. Vegan and vegetarian options available. There is a bar located here too with a huge screen if you are into sports. Quite a chilled atmosphere and plenty of space.
Location: Pisa
Day 5 - 23 Jul 2020
Piazza Garibaldi
Content: On the road again, and next stop Pisa. We stayed in an Airbnb here for €36 per night. It was a 10 minutes walk from Pisa and had its own parking spot, which you will need to remember when trying to book somewhere. We left the car at the Airbnb and walked into Pisa. I wouldn't drive into Pisa unless you are willing to pay parking tickets which can get very expensive. A lot of Pisa is no car zones too and very walking friendly.
Murales di Keith Haring "Tuttomondo"
Content: A famous mural and a free entry spot to grab some cool snaps! This mural has its own restaurant - however we found the prices quite expensive and there are definitely lots of other amazing places nearby which you can locate on Trip Advisor.
Pisa
Content: The best thing to do in Pisa is just to wander the streets and admire the pastel coloured buildings. Or go on a walking tour if you would rather be guided through and shown some of the history that Pisa holds.
Tower of Pisa (Torre di Pisa)
Content: The number one thing you want to see in Pisa is the Leaning Tower. The price to enter here is quite expensive and you cannot take a bag inside, small lockers are available for €10 in another building outside the Leaning Tower, so remember to stop there first before you climb the Leaning Tower staircase. We opted to view the outside and it was such a lovely day. Lots of people/ groups of friends and families surround the grass areas here and have picnics - fab option! There isn't much else to see in Pisa and I would recommend the one day here for that reason.
ArnoVivo
Content: A great outdoor spot for a few cheap cocktails and live music. Sits on the banks of the canal and is very popular with the locals. There is a bouncer on site so young children will have to leave at a certain time as it becomes an adult only venue.
Location: Portovenere
Day 6 - 24 Jul 2020
Porto venere
Content: Arrive by car to Porto Venere as a stop over before heading to Cinque Terre. I loved the colourful buildings in this cute little town. This place is famous for the old castle ruins and the seafood, which is to die for.
Tre Torri
Content: Take a wander around the streets of Porto Venere and visit the castle grounds above the city. All free! Remember locals live in these areas so be quiet and respectful to the neighbors.
Anciùa
Content: Have a spot of lunch at this famous spot. They do lots of fried seafood and it is so delicious 😍 We tried a mix bag of fried squid, fried mussels and other dishes. I would go back for sure!
Location: La Spezia
Day 6 - 24 Jul 2020
Airbnb
Content: Check into your Airbnb or hotel in Cinque Terre. We opted to stay in a Airbnb this time as it was much cheaper than a hotel. Cinque Terre can get quite expensive in the summer months so I recommend staying in the La Spezia area of Cinque Terre and getting the train between the town's which is super fast. Another reason to stay in La Spezia, is because the hills of Cinque Terre can become very overcrowded with cars and people during the summer months, so to avoid the hassle of trying to find parking spaces and travelling between islands, just take the train.
Riomaggiore
Content: Take the train to the first town Riomaggiore or another town. The five towns to visit are: Corniglia, Vernazza, Monterosso Al Mare, Manarola, Riomaggiore. All amazing in their own way, however our favourite was Vernazza for its spectacular views.
Location: Cinque Terre
Day 6 - 24 Jul 2020
Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre
Content: Take one of the coastal walking paths from one town to another just to see beautiful scenes like this video here. You can walk between most towns and also get the train. You have to pay a fee to be on the coastal pathway and sometimes rangers will be around to see your tickets. Book your ticket online which is around €10 for 3 days - which is good value for money. You can opt for a joint train and coastal path ticket for around €20 for 3 days. Prices may very depending on season or year you visit.
Location: Vernazza
Day 6 - 24 Jul 2020
Sentiero Azzurro (Vernazza - Corniglia)
Content: Stop in the beautiful town of Vernazza for the night and to get a meal in the many taverns and restaurants. Check menus before you sit down so you are aware of the prices. Take the train back to your accommodation in La Spezia for a good night's rest.
Location: Manarola
Day 7 - 25 Jul 2020
Marina di Manarola
Content: Early rise to take the train to the visit the picturesque town of Manarola. This view is found just off one of the coastal pathways so you must join to really get a view of the town from a far.
Da Aristide
Content: Walk around the town of Manarola, taking in the pretty sites and getting lots of pictures. This town is perfect for a coffee stop or even pick up a fruit juice. They sell awesome orange fruit juices here which are freshly squeezed for around €3. So refreshing any time of the day.
Location: Riomaggiore
Day 7 - 25 Jul 2020
Fuori Rotta
Content: Stop in another town, which is famous for the houses on the hills. It really is beautiful. Find a lovely lunch spot here in the main town or if you are on a budget, grab a snack from the local supermarket.
Location: Vernazza
Day 7 - 25 Jul 2020
Porto di Vernazza
Content: Last but not least to visit, is this small coastal town. Perfect for a dip in the turquoise blue waters. Early on in the day, you will find that locals and tourists come here with their towels and don't move all day. Vernazza is known as the party town out of all of Cinque Terre towns, so if you are into dancing then stay here to spend the evening dancing the night away.
Location: Melegnano
Day 8 - 26 Jul 2020
A1 - Milan South Toll Plaza (A1 - Barriera Milano Sud)
Content: Drive to Milan in the early morning. Remember the toll prices for crossing into Milan and the toll booth area can be quite busy. The toll price is around €20 for one car - prices vary for buses or motorbikes too.
Location: Milan
Day 8 - 26 Jul 2020
Hotel Rossovino Milano
Content: We checked in to our hotel and straight away which had parking suitable for us. To note, Milan has a zone where cars are not allowed to drive or park at certain times. We made sure our hotel was outside this zone before we booked. We only had to walk around 15 minutes into the centre of Milan or take the metro. Our double room in the hotel was €42 per night.
Piazza del Duomo
Content: Spend the afternoon exploring the cente of Milan. Milan has a mix of things to do to suit any personality, style and age group.
Cracco Cafè
Content: Grab a spot of lunch or coffee in this cafe. Great spot for people watching too. A coffee will set you back €2-4 which is the standard European price. Coffee in Italy is usually an espresso so if you want a large coffee you must state this when you order.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Content: Spend the rest of the day window shopping around all the luxury and big name shops. Milan is famous for its big name brands and fashion.
Cook Window
Content: Probably the cheapest menu we seen in all of Milan. This place has awesome reviews too on Google Maps and on Trip Advisor. The pizza was €7 and the calzone was €6. Plenty to choose from too and only 5 minutes walk from the centre of Milan.
Cl Fusion Restaurant
Content: A lovely bar to end the night with budget friendly prices and a quiet outdoor seating area. What is your favourite cocktail?
Location: Milan
Day 9 - 27 Jul 2020
LEGO Certified Store
Content: Another day in Milan filled with shopping and museums. We loved this Lego shop, it was more like a museum with all the cool Lego sculptures created.
Lindt Milan
Content: Get a hazelnut ice cream cone from the Lindt store and shop for all the flavours of Lindt you can imagine 😍. We came away with a huge bag of chocolates for around €15 each - it was totally worth it.
Free walking tour milan
Content: Head back to the centre of Milan to go on a walking tour. There are lots of free walking tours you can book online. It's usually custom to leave a small tip if you can for all of the effort the person has went to.
Location: Milano
Day 9 - 27 Jul 2020
Rossopomodoro
Content: More pizza and pasta in this delicious restaurant. Pizza for only €8 and beer for €4. We had a full veggie pizza with fresh ingredients.
Location: Milan
Day 10 - 28 Jul 2020
Malpensa Airport
Content: Head to the airport on your final day in Milan. If you have time you can spend your morning going a walk around Milan again. However, your flight might be early just like ours. Get to the airport from Milan on the XP1 which takes approximately 37 minutes to reach the airport from Milan centre.