Italy, with its rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and delicious cuisine, has always been on our travel bucket list. Our 10-night adventure took us from Pisa to Florence, Bologna, Verona, and Venice, with each city offering a unique blend of culture, architecture, and food. While the weather didn’t always cooperate (we got rained on quite a bit in Venice!), it didn’t stop us from enjoying every moment.
Here’s a brief recap of our unforgettable Italian trip, including travel tips, city highlights, and lessons learned along the way. Look out for our posts on individual cities also!
Day 1: Flying Into Pisa
Our journey began with a flight from Manchester to Pisa. We arrived late in the evening, just as the city was winding down. Pisa might be known for its iconic Leaning Tower, but there’s much more to this city than just that. We stayed at the Hotel Bologna, which was a great, budget-friendly choice close to the city center. The hotel was just a few minutes’ walk from Piazza dei Miracoli and the famous tower. Despite arriving quite late, the excellent breakfast the next morning was a highlight, easily one of the best of our entire trip.
That first night, we ventured out to Piazza delle Vettovaglie for dinner. The square had a lively atmosphere, with plenty of bars and eateries serving local specialties. After dinner, we strolled along the Arno River, crossing the bridges and enjoying the sculptures in Piazza Garibaldi.
The next day was dedicated to exploring Pisa’s famous landmarks. The Leaning Tower is a must-see, of course, but don’t forget the other hidden gems in the area like the Lion’s Gate and the Baptistry, and Porta Nuova. We highly recommend getting there early to avoid the crowds – by 9 AM, it was already packed, making it hard to take the perfect photo!
A quick tip: Trains in Italy are a great way to travel between cities. We recommend traveling light—only one small suitcase per person. It makes navigating through train stations and hopping on and off much easier. Plus, it’s a good idea to validate your tickets at the machines before boarding. This is different from the UK, and we almost learned the hard way on this trip (having previously fallen foul of the same thing in Budapest!)
Day 2-5: Florence – Art, Architecture, and Opera
From Pisa, we hopped on a train to Florence, which took around an hour. The beauty of Italy’s train system is that it’s fast, efficient, and comfortable. Florence was a city we had been eagerly awaiting, and it didn’t disappoint. We stayed at the Casual Rinascimento Firenze Hotel, right in the historic center. This hotel was perfect for our three-night stay, with an underground pool and sauna located in a building dating back to the 15th century. The location was ideal, just minutes away from Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Signoria.
Florence is a city of art, history, and architectural marvels, and we made sure to visit as many of the key sites as possible. Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo), with its massive dome designed by Brunelleschi, was awe-inspiring. We queued early to get in and this was well worth it. The Uffizi Gallery, home to masterpieces by Da Vinci, Botticelli, and Michelangelo, is a must-see. We weren’t lucky enough to visit on a day when the gallery was free (it does have some free entries on specific days), and don’t forget to book tickets in advance, as the queues can get long.
One of the most magical experiences in Florence was watching an opera recital in Santa Croce Church. The acoustics were incredible, and the intimate setting made for a truly unforgettable evening.
Florence’s food scene is legendary, so don’t miss out on trying Bistecca alla Fiorentina, a local specialty, and of course, gelato!
Day 5-7: Bologna – Food, Porticos, and Hidden Gems
From Florence, we took the train to Bologna, known for its rich history and world-class cuisine. We stayed at the Urbanicooh Azzoguidi—an apartment with amazing views of the Torre Asinelli. The location was perfect, just a short walk from Piazza Maggiore and the vibrant Quadrilatero Market. While there was a minor issue with the loft in the apartment, it didn’t take away from the overall experience.
Bologna’s food scene was another highlight of our trip. We had breakfast at Piano Piano on the square (would recommend) and spent the day exploring the city’s markets, where we sampled fresh mortadella and pasta. Bologna is also home to the world’s longest portico, which leads to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. We took a land train to the top, then walked back through the 666 arches, taking in the beautiful views. It took about 90 minutes, but the journey was well worth it.
The Towers of Bologna—the Torre degli Asinelli and Torre Garisenda—are iconic landmarks, and we climbed to the top of the town hall for panoramic views of the city. Bologna is an incredible place just to walk and sit and drink and eat, and wandering its medieval streets was one of the highlights of our time in the city.
Day 7-8: Verona – A City of Romance and History
After Bologna, we took a train to Verona, a city that captured our hearts with its romantic atmosphere and Roman heritage. We stayed at Hotel Sanmicheli, a budget-friendly option. While the hotel was a bit tired, it was still comfortable and centrally located. We only had one night in Verona, but we made the most of it by exploring the Piazza Bra and Arena di Verona. The Arena, a Roman amphitheater, is incredibly well-preserved and still hosts live performances – one of which was on when we were there.
We also visited Juliet’s Balcony, where crowds were thick, and the line to get a photo was long. We didn’t pay to enter the house but still enjoyed the experience of standing in the courtyard – and you can see the balcony from here anyway. The Giardino Giusti was another highlight of our day, with its stunning Renaissance garden and secret tower. Make sure to take the funicular up to the view point on this side of the river also!
We ended our day with a meal at a restaurant near Piazza Bra—surprisingly affordable for its location—and sampled the Amarone Risotto, a local specialty that was absolutely delicious.
Day 8-11: Venice – Canals, Art, and Relaxation
Finally, we made our way to Venice, and despite the weather being a bit gloomy (it rained heavily the first day – like, thunder storms and flooded St Mark’s Square), we were ready to experience the magic of the canals. We stayed at My Rialto Palace, right by the Rialto Bridge, with a canalside balcony that offered an unforgettable view. Venice was everything we knew (we’ve both been before) —breathtakingly beautiful, historical, and full of life. Some people say it is overly touristy – we can see this angle, but at the same time there are definitely places that are less busy, and there is something about the ‘life’ on Venice and its hustle and bustle that make it very cool. And, no cars!
On our first day, the weather was so bad that we sought shelter in a cozy bar and watched the Piazza San Marco flood, an experience that felt almost surreal. We managed to visit St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace despite the weather, and the Bridge of Sighs was a highlight.
The next day, the skies cleared, and we spent the day exploring Venice’s hidden gems, such as the quieter neighborhoods of Cannaregio and Dorsoduro as well as taking a water boat out to Burano and Murano – absolute must visits. On our last morning, we treated ourselves to a gondola ride, which was one of the most memorable experiences of our trip. Our Gondola chap was a legend, and actually chased off some pick-pockets as he dropped us off after our ride!
For our final afternoon and night, we stayed at Ca Tessera Venice Airport, a peaceful hotel located close to the airport. It was a great place to decompress before our flight home, with two pools, a shuttle service, and a tranquil atmosphere that was a welcome break after days of sightseeing. This was actually a great idea and one we would look at replicating on other long and busy trips.
Tips for Traveling Around Italy
1. Trains: The train system in Italy is fast, efficient, and affordable, making it an ideal way to travel between cities. Make sure to validate your tickets before boarding if you have paper tickets—it’s a system that’s different from the UK, and we almost got caught out.
2. One Small Suitcase: Keep it light! Only pack what you can carry easily, as there are often lots of stairs and narrow corridors at train stations. Particularly if you’re going to stay in buildings that are old or medieval!
3. Hotels Near Train Stations: If you’re only staying one night in a city, we recommend booking hotels close to the train station. It makes it much easier to move around, especially when you’re traveling with limited time. You can leave your luggage in the hotel, pop out for some early morning sight-seeing and get an extra moring in a city, before collecting your bag on the way back to the station.
4. Weather: It does rain in Italy. Not a huge amount on our trip, and we actually loved seeing the lightning in Venice and seeing the power of the storm, but neither of us had a coat. When it does rain heavily, while Venice’s flooded streets are part of its charm, be ready for soggy shoes.
