Apr 24 → May 3 · Tuscany and Liguria, Italy
Northern Italy & Tuscany: A 10-Day Grand Road Trip
Ten days, one car, and some of Italy's greatest hits: from the shores of Lake Garda and the glamour of Portofino through the clifftop villages of Cinque Terre, the Renaissance heart of Florence, the rolling hills of Chianti and Val d'Orcia, and finally the eternal streets of Rome.
Miha Rek
@miharek · creator's guide
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10
DAYS
68
STOPS
1713 km
ROUTE
28h 55m
TRAVEL
Flying fromUnited States·
Useful for this trip
1
Verona, Lake Garda & Portofino
12 stops
An action-packed opening day that sweeps from Verona's Roman arena to the pastel harbourfront of Portofino. Pace yourself — there is a lot of ground to cover, and every stop rewards it.
Parking
Verona
Park here at the start of the day before exploring Verona on foot. The garage is conveniently close to the historic centre.
1 km · 7m
Arena di Verona
Verona
A coffee break beside the Arena di Verona is hard to beat. The 1st-century Roman amphitheatre is one of the best-preserved in the world and worth a good look even from the outside.
1 km · 8m
Balcony of Romeo and Juliet
Verona
A short walk from the Arena brings you to Juliet's legendary balcony — touristy, yes, but undeniably charming. Step into the courtyard and soak up the atmosphere.
38 km · 28m
Public Parking
Sirmione
Park here for your Lake Garda detour. It is right on the way to Genoa and well worth the brief stop.
1 km · 9m
MORNING
Castello Scaligero
Sirmione
Even a quick visit to Castello Scaligero is worthwhile. The medieval fortress juts dramatically into Lake Garda and makes for great photos — one of those effortless roadside highlights.
254 km · 3h 6m
1 km · 13m
Antico Forno Patrone
Genoa
Do not leave Genoa without stopping at Antico Forno Patrone for focaccia. This is the real thing — Ligurian focaccia at its finest, straight from the oven.
4 km · 4m
Spiaggia di Boccadasse
Genoa
Feeling uneasy in the city centre, the group retreated to Boccadasse — a tiny fishing hamlet that looks like a miniature Cinque Terre. Aperol spritz on the beach here is a perfect reset before the drive to Portofino.
31 km · 23m
Garage "Portofino"
Portofino
Park at Garage Portofino and explore the village on foot from here. Parking in Portofino itself is essentially impossible, so this is your best option.
0 km · 5m
EVENING
Viewpoint Portofino
Portofino
The viewpoint over Portofino's harbour is one of the most photographed spots on the Ligurian coast — and for good reason. Catch it in the late afternoon light for the best colours.
0 km · 4m
Castello Brown
Portofino
A 15-minute uphill walk from the harbour leads to Castello Brown, a hilltop fortress with sweeping views over the bay. Time your arrival for sunset — it is spectacular.
83 km · 1h 1m
Affittacamere Cinque Terre Labi
La Spezia
Your base for the next two nights is this guesthouse in La Spezia, a practical and comfortable choice that puts you within easy reach of all five Cinque Terre villages.
2
Cinque Terre by Vespa: Vernazza to Riomaggiore
9 stops
The best way to experience Cinque Terre is on two wheels, and renting a Vespa from Vesparun proves it. Skip the crowded trains and weave between villages at your own pace, ending with the finest sunset of the trip in Riomaggiore.
Vesparun Rent and Discover
La Spezia
Vesparun sets you up with a scooter and solid local advice on navigating the Cinque Terre. Highly recommended over public transport: you can park close to each village centre for free and completely avoid the train crowds.
24 km · 21m
Vernazza
Vernazza
Vernazza is a wonderful first stop — grab a coffee, walk out along the pier, and take in the views of the colourful harbour from the water's edge.
0 km · 5m
View Point
Vernazza
A short hike up through the Cinque Terre National Park rewards you with a sweeping panoramic view over Vernazza's rooftops and the Ligurian Sea below.
5 km · 4m
Corniglia
Vernazza
Corniglia is the only Cinque Terre village perched on top of a cliff rather than at sea level, which makes it quieter and arguably more charming. One of the trip's favourite stops.
0 km · 2m
Enoteca Della Corte
Vernazza
A lunch stop that punches well above its weight. The focaccia is outstanding, the Aperol spritz flows freely, and the owner's hospitality makes it a highlight of the day.
12 km · 10m
Manarola
Riomaggiore
Manarola's stacked pastel houses tumbling down to the sea make it one of the most photogenic villages in Italy — and one of the trip's personal favourites. Arrive in the afternoon when the light is golden.
0 km · 4m
Nessun Dorma
Manarola
Nessun Dorma is worth the queue — download their app in advance to join the waitlist remotely. The drinks are good, but the real draw is the view: one of the best vantage points over Manarola's famous harbour.
6 km · 5m
MORNING
Riomaggiore
Cinque Terre
Save Riomaggiore for last. Pick up a drink and something to eat from one of the village bars, head down to the rocky shore, and watch the sun sink into the Ligurian Sea. The best sunset in Cinque Terre.
12 km · 11m
Affittacamere Cinque Terre Labi
La Spezia
The generous owner at Vesparun allowed the group to keep the scooter overnight, making the Riomaggiore sunset possible. After drinks in La Spezia, a well-earned night's rest awaits.
3
Monterosso by train and ferry
7 stops
A more relaxed day centred on Monterosso al Mare — the largest and most beach-friendly of the five villages. Take the train in the morning and return by ferry for a completely different perspective of the coastline.
La Spezia Centrale
La Spezia
Today the group opts for train and ferry rather than the Vespa. Fair warning: the morning train is packed. If you can, go early or consider the scooter again — the ferry for the return leg, however, is a different story entirely.
13 km · 9m
MORNING
Monterosso al Mare
Cinque Terre
Monterosso is the only Cinque Terre village with a proper sandy beach, making it the natural choice for a lazy day. Settle in, order an Aperol spritz, and let the Mediterranean do its thing.
Cimitero Monterosso
Monterosso al Mare
A short hike up to Monterosso's hilltop cemetery offers unexpectedly lovely views over the village and the sea — a quiet, off-the-beaten-path detour well worth the climb.
0 km · 7m
Il casello sea view restaurant
Riomaggiore
Il Casello delivers on its promise of a sea view to go with your seafood pasta. A solid lunch stop with a terrace that makes the most of its clifftop position.
0 km · 2m
Consorzio Marittimo Turistico Cinque Terre Golfo dei Poeti
Monterosso al Mare
Buy your return ferry tickets here. The boat journey back to La Spezia hugs the coastline and reveals the clifftop villages from the sea — a perspective you simply cannot get from land. Highly recommended.
14 km · 24m
AFTERNOON
La Spezia ferry pier
La Spezia
Step off the ferry and into La Spezia's lively waterfront. The old town is worth a gentle evening wander before heading back to the apartment.
1 km · 16m
Affittacamere Cinque Terre Labi
La Spezia
Back at the La Spezia apartment for a final night before the road trip continues south. The old town nearby makes for a pleasant last evening in the region.
4
Pisa, Lucca & dinner at Cecchini's
7 stops
A morning of iconic silliness at the Leaning Tower, followed by a gentler afternoon inside Lucca's medieval walls — then dinner at a legendary Chianti butcher's before checking into Florence.
MORNING
Parcheggio Piazza dei Miracoli
Pisa
Driving in from La Spezia, this car park right beside the Campo dei Miracoli is the most convenient base for a Pisa visit. Pay, park, and walk straight to the tower.
1 km · 8m
Leaning Tower of Pisa
Pisa
You have seen the photos a thousand times, but standing in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa is still genuinely fun. Get the obligatory holding-it-up shot and enjoy the spectacle of everyone else doing the same.
17 km · 19m
Stazione Parcheggio Carducci
Lucca
Park here for your Lucca visit — a short walk from the historic centre and a straightforward place to leave the car while you explore the walled city on foot.
1 km · 13m
AFTERNOON
Piazza dell'Anfiteatro
Lucca
Lucca's Piazza dell'Anfiteatro is built on the footprint of a Roman amphitheatre, and its elliptical shape is still perfectly preserved. Grab a table at one of the surrounding cafés and take it all in.
0 km · 5m
Da Nonna Clara
Lucca
Da Nonna Clara is a proper family trattoria serving generous portions of homemade pasta. A reliable and satisfying lunch stop in Lucca's old town.
106 km · 1h 17m
Antica Macelleria Cecchini
Greve in Chianti
One of the most memorable meals of the trip. Antica Macelleria Cecchini is the legendary butcher's shop of Dario Cecchini in Panzano in Chianti — a theatrical, convivial dinner experience built around exceptional Tuscan beef. Book well in advance.
38 km · 28m
Hotel Golf
Florence
Hotel Golf serves as the Florence base for the next two nights. Check in quickly tonight — dinner at Cecchini's takes priority — and save the city for tomorrow.
5
Florence: Duomo, Ponte Vecchio & Piazzale Michelangelo
8 stops
Florence deserves a full day, and this one delivers: the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, the best sandwich in the city, hidden gardens, and a sunset from the city's finest viewpoint.
Piazza del Duomo
Florence
Start the day at the Piazza del Duomo, where Brunelleschi's terracotta dome dominates the skyline. Even without going inside, the square itself is one of the great public spaces in Italy.
1 km · 8m
Vivoli Affogato Bar
Florence
Vivoli is one of Florence's most historic gelaterias, and their affogato — espresso poured over gelato — is the ideal mid-morning pick-me-up.
1 km · 10m
Ponte Vecchio
Florence
Ponte Vecchio's medieval shops, draped over the Arno, are as beautiful in person as in any photograph. Walk across, linger on the bridge, and watch the river below.
1 km · 13m
Giardino Bardini
Florence
Giardino Bardini is one of Florence's lesser-known gardens, climbing the hillside south of the Arno with terraced lawns and sweeping views over the city's rooftops.
2 km · 29m
All'Antico Vinaio
Firenze
All'Antico Vinaio is famous for a reason: enormous, overstuffed schiacciata sandwiches loaded with Tuscan cured meats and cheeses. Join the queue — it moves quickly and it is absolutely worth it.
1 km · 17m
Fontana di Piazza Santa Croce
Florence
The square in front of Santa Croce basilica is one of Florence's most animated gathering spots, with the elegant fountain at its centre providing a fine backdrop for an afternoon passeggiata.
1 km · 19m
Piazzale Michelangelo
Firenze
Arrive at Piazzale Michelangelo around 19:00 and claim your spot before the crowds do. The panoramic view over Florence — the Duomo, the Arno, the hills beyond — at sunset is simply unmissable.
2 km · 25m
Hotel Golf
Florence
Return to Hotel Golf for a well-earned rest after a full day on foot in Florence.
6
Chianti wine country & agriturismo near Montalcino
7 stops
Leave the city behind and wind south through the Chianti hills — past vineyards, medieval villages, and cypress-lined lanes — before settling into a Tuscan agriturismo near Montalcino for the final stretch of the trip.
Castello di Verrazzano
Greve in Chianti
A scenic detour on the route south, Castello di Verrazzano is a working Chianti estate with a history stretching back centuries. Worth a glance from the road even if you are not stopping for a tasting.
3 km · 7m
Montefioralle
Greve in Chianti
Montefioralle is one of Tuscany's smallest and most perfectly preserved medieval villages, perched above Greve in Chianti. A quiet, photogenic stop that most visitors drive straight past.
17 km · 20m
Fattoria Casa Sola
Barberino Tavarnelle
A pre-booked wine tasting and lunch at Fattoria Casa Sola is a highlight of the Chianti leg. The wine is excellent and the setting — a working estate surrounded by vines — is everything you imagine Tuscany to be.
18 km · 21m
MORNING
Casale dello Sparviero
Castellina in Chianti
Casale dello Sparviero earns a photo stop for its picture-perfect Tuscan setting. One of those landscapes that looks almost too beautiful to be real.
9 km · 11m
Castellina in Chianti
Castellina in Chianti
Castellina in Chianti is a handsome hilltop town with an intact medieval centre. A good place to stretch your legs and pick up a bottle of local Chianti Classico for the road.
14 km · 16m
Monteriggioni
Monteriggioni
The perfectly circular walls of Monteriggioni are one of the most striking sights in Tuscany — Dante himself described them in the Inferno. Walk the perimeter and enjoy the views over the surrounding countryside.
75 km · 55m
Agriturismo Bombina
Montalcino
Agriturismo Bombina near Montalcino is the base for the final nights of the trip. With a pool, rural tranquillity, and a central position for exploring Val d'Orcia and Siena, it is the ideal Tuscan retreat to end on.
7
Siena, Crete Senesi & pasta-making at Bombina
3 stops
A day of contrasts: the Gothic grandeur of Siena in the morning, the otherworldly clay landscapes of the Crete Senesi in the afternoon, and a hands-on cooking class back at the agriturismo in the evening.
AFTERNOON
Piazza del Campo
Siena
Siena's Piazza del Campo is one of the great medieval squares of Europe — a vast, sloping shell-shaped space ringed by ochre palazzi. Arrive late morning, find a café on the edge, and take your time.
31 km · 23m
MORNING
Crete Senesi viewpoint
Asciano
The Crete Senesi — the rolling clay hills south of Siena — produce some of Tuscany's most iconic landscapes. This viewpoint captures the bare, sculptural beauty of the region at its most dramatic.
6 km · 7m
Agriturismo Bombina
Montalcino
Back at Agriturismo Bombina for a cooking class that is not to be missed. The family teaches you to make traditional handmade pasta and tiramisu from scratch — a genuinely memorable experience at €75 per person.
8
Pienza, Val d'Orcia & the Gladiator road
6 stops
The most scenic drive of the trip: Renaissance Pienza, the cypress avenue of the Val d'Orcia, the Gladiator road, and the tiny chapel of Vitaleta — all within a few kilometres of each other on some of Tuscany's most beautiful back roads.
Bagno Vignoni
San Quirico d'Orcia
Bagno Vignoni is unlike any other piazza in Italy — the central square is filled not with café tables but with a steaming thermal pool, a remnant of the town's ancient bathing tradition. Worth a short stop to admire it.
12 km · 14m
MORNING
Pienza
Val d'Orcia
Pienza was redesigned in the 15th century as a model Renaissance town and has barely changed since. Stroll the main corso, pick up some Pecorino di Pienza from a local shop, and enjoy the views over the Val d'Orcia from the town walls.
1 km · 3m
Gladiator Shooting Spot
Pienza
This stretch of road through the Val d'Orcia was used in Ridley Scott's Gladiator — the scene where Maximus runs his hand through the wheat fields. Standing here, it is easy to see why they chose it.
6 km · 7m
AFTERNOON
Chapel of Our Lady of Vitaleta
San Quirico d'Orcia
The Chapel of Our Lady of Vitaleta is one of the most photographed spots in all of Tuscany — a tiny stone chapel flanked by cypress trees on a hilltop ridge. Arrive early to have it to yourself.
13 km · 15m
Cipressi di San Quirico d'Orcia
San Quirico d'Orcia
The famous cypress avenue near San Quirico d'Orcia is the quintessential Val d'Orcia image. Walk among the trees, breathe in the Tuscan air, and take as many photos as you need.
15 km · 17m
Agriturismo Bombina
Montalcino
A final night at Agriturismo Bombina before the drive to Rome tomorrow. Enjoy the pool and the silence while you can.
9
Saturnia hot springs & Rome in a day
8 stops
Start the day at the thermal springs of Saturnia, then drive north to Rome for a whirlwind tour of the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and Vatican City before a memorable dinner by the ancient arena.
EVENING
Terme di Saturnia
Manciano
Begin the day with a soak at the natural hot springs of Terme di Saturnia — cascading turquoise pools set in open countryside. A perfect, unhurried start before the drive to Rome.
151 km · 1h 50m
Parcheggio Colosseo - DriveDrop
Rome
Parking near the Colosseum is straightforward at this car park. Drop the car here and explore Rome on foot for the rest of the day.
0 km · 5m
Colosseum
Rome
The Colosseum needs no introduction. Even if you have seen it in photographs a hundred times, standing before the real thing — nearly 2,000 years old and still intact — is genuinely awe-inspiring.
2 km · 23m
Trevi Fountain
Rome
Toss your coin, make your wish. The Trevi Fountain is unmissable, and despite the crowds it retains its theatrical grandeur. Visit in the early evening when the stone glows warm in the fading light.
1 km · 9m
Pantheon
Rome
The Pantheon is one of the best-preserved ancient buildings in the world, and stepping inside to look up at the oculus is one of Rome's great experiences. Arrive early to beat the queues.
2 km · 33m
Vatican City
Vatican City
Even a walk around the perimeter of Vatican City — the piazza, the basilica's dome rising above the colonnade — is worth the detour. Book tickets well in advance if you plan to go inside.
4 km · 48m
Coming Out
Rome
A happy accident: Coming Out is a welcoming bar right beside the Colosseum with a brilliant view of the illuminated arena. The tiramisu is good, the atmosphere is warm and friendly, and the location is unbeatable.
204 km · 2h 29m
Agriturismo Bombina
Montalcino
A quiet final night to close out an extraordinary ten days on the road.
10
Bologna farewell lunch
1 stops
One last Italian meal before heading home — and Bologna makes sure you leave on a high note.
MORNING
Osteria dell'Orsa
Bologna
Osteria dell'Orsa is a Bologna institution, beloved by locals and travellers alike for its honest, generous portions of tagliatelle al ragù and tortellini in brodo. A fitting final meal before the journey home.
