Whether you’re driving through the Italian Lake District, cruising through wine country or hitting the top sightseeing spots in Florence, Venice and Rome, a self-drive vacation in Italy is immensely rewarding. See what this romantic country has to offer on your own terms and at your own pace. Your self-drive holiday planning comes complete with navigating the red tape of driving in a foreign country, car rental, accommodations, maps and directions, sightseeing and dining recommendations - all you need to figure out is where you most want to go.
Consider these examples of personalized Italy itineraries, then let’s chat. We can easily turn any ideas you have into an inspiring road trip.
Drive the Lake District of Italy
Take your time exploring the stunning Lake District. Feel the wind in your hair as you drive through the countryside from Lake Maggiore to Lake Como to Lake Garda, each view seemingly better than the last. As you drive, enjoy fantastic Italian food and wine in local, under-the-radar restaurants and cafes and enjoy cultural activities with the locals in beautiful lakeside villages. You can even include a couple days in Milan, fashion capital of Italy and home to the magnificent Duomo.
Want more? Add in a wine-tasting tour in Lake Garda, hop on a panoramic train for a day trip to St. Moritz, stop for a day (or more) in Centovalli and Locarno or tour the Monastery of Santa Caterina del Sasso.
Wind Your Way Through Wine Country
Photo by Engjell Gjepali on Unsplash
Take as much time as you please driving through Italy’s famed wine region. Visit the regions of Piedmont that produce world-renowned Barbaresco and Barolo wines. Visit the “Underground Cathedrals” in Canelli where Asti Spumante is made. Take a pasta-making class, complete with wine pairings. Savor every twist in the road through the Orcia Valley, including the Montalcino, Pienza and Montepulciano areas of Tuscany. Explore historical Siena and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of San Gimignano. Perhaps you’ll ask to add on a private Saint Mark’s walking tour in Venice or tickets to the Accademia Gallery. Your self-drive vacation can include these extras and more - whatever your heart desires.
Other Inspiring Italy Road Trip Ideas
Drive through Tuscany in a Ferrari, enjoying all the food and drink you wish and staying at quaint Italian village hotels.
Rev up on the road of the Amalfi Coast, exploring Naples, Sorrento, Positano, Salerno, even Mt. Vesuvio
Climb to the best views when you drive Stelvio Pass through Bolzano, Stelvio, Bormio and Livigno in the stunning Ortler Alps of northern Italy.
Explore the island of Sicily from Catania to Mount Etna, Taormina and Messina, stopping to discover monuments, ruins and your new favorite restaurants.
Surround yourself with nature in the Lake Garda area, through Verona, Brescia, Limone sul Garda and Trento.
Make your way to Rome, then through the Sabina foothills to Terni, around Lake Albano, through the Marcigliani Natural Reserve, along the Tevere River, to the summit of Mount Terminillo and through Lago di Campotosto State Reserve.
Ready to roam? Let’s chat. Request a consultation here or sign up for my weekly newsletter below.