Cinque Terre:
Throw on a swimsuit and hit the ground running to one of my favorite places in the world: the five villages of Cinque Terre. We took the first train out of Florence and started in Monterosso, where we walked around, spent time on the beach, and grabbed lunch.
Once you’re in Cinque Terre, it’s incredibly easy to train between the villages, making it more than doable to see a few villages in one day. From there, we explored another village before hopping on a boat. I definitely recommend seeing Cinque Terre by boat. It's truly incredible.
We ended our boat ride in Riomaggiore, grabbed dinner, explored the village, and then headed back to Florence.
Venice:
A must see! For me, one day is plenty since you can see most of Venice’s highlights in a day, and compared to other cities, I didn't feel the need to stay overnight for the nightlife.
A Venice water taxi and gondola ride through the canals are such unique experiences, and in my opinion, some of the best ways to experience the city.
Milan:
Not only is Milan one of the major fashion capitals of the world, but it offers so much more than that. Milan is a clean, modern, big city, so lean into its walkability as you explore the various shops, restaurants, bars, and streets that lead you toward the Duomo.
Rome:
Personally, I have no interest in spending more than a day in Rome. I’ve been twice and after about a day, I’m ready to leave.
That being said, this city is a MUST to see at least once in your life. Rome can feel overwhelming with the crowds, street vendors, and traffic, so I recommend using the hop-on hop-off bus as your personal shuttle between the major tourist spots. Get off, explore the area, then hop back on and continue to your next stop.
The Trevi fountain, Spanish Steps, Colosseum, and Pantheon are all must-sees and are incredible, but for people like me, they can all be seen in one day.
Pisa:
I recommend walking from the train station to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, to maximize your time exploring. I was amazed and honestly fascinated by how odd this city felt. Somehow, having a leaning tower just makes sense.
After taking the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa photo, we grabbed a drink and hopped on a train back home, making for an extremely quick and easy field trip.
Portofino:
Another beautiful beach option, but with more of a luxurious, high-end vibe and spectacular views.
Portofino doesn’t have a main train station, so coordinate a ride from the train station in Rapallo or Santa Margherita Ligure to your destination. We spent the day at a beach club, and it was the most perfect R&R.
Day Trip Tips:
Take the first train out and the last train back.
Be dressed and ready to go before the train ride so you can hit the ground running when you arrive.
Bring an easy to carry day bag with only the essentials.
Come up with a realistic list beforehand of what you want to see & do - you need a plan to get it done
🌊 Beach: Cinque Terre & Portofino
🏛️ Sightseeing: Rome & Venice
👗 City/Fashion: Milan
📸 Quick & Easy: Pisa
