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.
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Miha Rek
@miharek · creator's guide
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10
DAYS
68
STOPS
1814 km
ROUTE
30h 50m
TRAVEL
Flying fromUnited States·
Useful for this trip
1
Verona, Lake Garda & Portofino
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.
1 km · 7m
1 km · 8m
42 km · 31m
Public Parking
SirmionePark here for your Lake Garda detour. It is right on the way to Genoa and well worth the brief stop.
1 km · 9m
256 km · 3h 7m
1 km · 13m
6 km · 7m
Spiaggia di Boccadasse
GenoaFeeling 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.
32 km · 23m
0 km · 5m
EVENING
Viewpoint Portofino
PortofinoThe 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
85 km · 1h 2m
Affittacamere Cinque Terre Labi
La SpeziaYour 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
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.
28 km · 24m
Vernazza
VernazzaVernazza 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 · 6m
View Point
VernazzaA 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.
6 km · 5m
Corniglia
VernazzaCorniglia 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
12 km · 10m
Manarola
RiomaggioreManarola'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.
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6 km · 5m
MORNING
Riomaggiore
Cinque TerreSave 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.
16 km · 14m
Affittacamere Cinque Terre Labi
La SpeziaThe 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 SpeziaToday 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 TerreMonterosso 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.
0 km · 5m
Cimitero Monterosso
Monterosso al MareA 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
RiomaggioreIl 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 MareBuy 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.
27 km · 46m
AFTERNOON
La Spezia ferry pier
La SpeziaStep 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 SpeziaBack 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
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.
1 km · 8m
Leaning Tower of Pisa
PisaYou 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.
18 km · 21m
1 km · 13m
AFTERNOON
Piazza dell'Anfiteatro
LuccaLucca'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
108 km · 1h 19m
Antica Macelleria Cecchini
Greve in ChiantiOne 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.
40 km · 29m
Hotel Golf
FlorenceHotel 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
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.
1 km · 8m
Vivoli Affogato Bar
FlorenceVivoli 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
FlorencePonte 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
FlorenceGiardino 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
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6
Chianti wine country & agriturismo near Montalcino
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 ChiantiA 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.
6 km · 7m
Montefioralle
Greve in ChiantiMontefioralle 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.
19 km · 22m
Fattoria Casa Sola
Barberino TavarnelleA 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.
21 km · 24m
MORNING
Casale dello Sparviero
Castellina in ChiantiCasale dello Sparviero earns a photo stop for its picture-perfect Tuscan setting. One of those landscapes that looks almost too beautiful to be real.
10 km · 11m
Castellina in Chianti
Castellina in ChiantiCastellina 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.
15 km · 17m
Monteriggioni
MonteriggioniThe 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.
78 km · 57m
Agriturismo Bombina
MontalcinoAgriturismo 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
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
SienaSiena'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.
34 km · 25m
MORNING
Crete Senesi viewpoint
AscianoThe 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.
10 km · 12m
Agriturismo Bombina
MontalcinoBack 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
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'OrciaBagno 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.
14 km · 16m
MORNING
Pienza
Val d'OrciaPienza 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
PienzaThis 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.
7 km · 8m
AFTERNOON
Chapel of Our Lady of Vitaleta
San Quirico d'OrciaThe 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.
16 km · 18m
Cipressi di San Quirico d'Orcia
San Quirico d'OrciaThe 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.
17 km · 19m
Agriturismo Bombina
MontalcinoA 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
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
MancianoBegin 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.
158 km · 1h 56m
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2 km · 23m
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2 km · 33m
Vatican City
Vatican CityEven 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 · 57m
203 km · 2h 29m
Agriturismo Bombina
MontalcinoA 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.
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