Italy’s natural geography makes it ideal road trip territory. Long and thin, it extends some 736 miles northwest to southeast, its top and bottom like two different countries. Drive down it on any route and you’ll never be far from the coast and a dip in one of its three seas, the Adriatic, Ionian or Tyrhennian. Along the way you’ll encounter some of the world’s greatest cities, arguably the world’s most celebrated cuisine, and more culture than you could ever explore. An Italy road trip is a sensory assault of the very best kind.
How do I get to Italy from the US?
Italy’s layout makes your airport choice crucial depending on where you’re road tripping from and to. In the north, Milan is undoubtedly the best city to fly into from the US; modern Milan Malpensa airport is the second biggest in the country. The capital, Rome, sits almost equidistant between north and south and is served by Italy’s biggest airport, Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino. Direct flights depart regularly from major US cities to both Milan and Rome and these are likely the two most convenient entry points.
If you’re heading far south, you can also fly direct to and from Naples, most convenient for the legendary Amalfi Coast. And don’t forget Sicily – the island being kicked by Italy’s boot. Both Palermo and Catania airports are a quick flight from Milan and Rome and there are regular car ferries connecting it to the mainland in around 20 minutes. Plus, it’s gorgeous.
What sort of vehicle should I rent for a road trip in Italy?
As with most of Europe, Italy’s roads and freeways are largely well maintained and demand no special vehicle consideration. You may find some rougher roads off the beaten track (especially in Tuscany and the far south), but nothing of too much consequence. Choose your rental based on your budget and who you’re traveling with.
When is the best time to take an Italy road trip?
Italy’s climate changes dramatically from north to south and season to season so it’s important to plan your road trip itinerary and dates carefully.
In the north, Italy borders Austria, Switzerland and France (among others), fenced in by the Alp and Dolomite mountain ranges. It’s where you’ll find the famous lakes of Como and Garda, many of the major cities including Milan and Venice and Bologna. Its season ranges from hot and sunny to freezing and snowy, so late spring to early fall is the best period for a northern Italy road trip. KAYAK’s flight data reflects as much, with Milan at its busiest in May, April, and June.
Heading south into the central regions we pass Florence and the rolling hills of Tuscany down to Rome and Naples. The weather is generally more temperate here, with average Rome temperatures above 60°F from May to October, peaking at 74° in July and August (data from weatherbase.com). Rain isn’t really a concern, averaging less than an inch a month over the summer. Like Milan, Rome is busiest in May, April and June. Notably August ranks lower down the flight data list, tourists perhaps aiming to avoid the hottest summer days.
The foot of the boot leads to lovely Bari into the Puglia and Calabria regions and on to the tip of its toe and Sicily. Close to Africa, it’s warm year round but can get unbearably hot in the height of summer.
June is my month of choice for a road trip through Italy. It finds the right balance between warmth and good weather, crowds and convenience. Some places are of course busy year round, but in June you can dip in and out of the tourist hotspots as you please.
How much does a road trip in Italy cost?
Before you start booking, it’s handy to get an idea of how much a road trip in Italy will cost you. Here are some data for guidance, calculated by comparing hundreds of travel providers.
- Average price for a round trip flight from New York to Rome: $989
- Average price for one night in a double hotel room in Rome: 176 euros
- Average price for one night in a hostel in Rome: 108 euros
- Average daily rate for a rental car in Rome: 64 euros
- Cost of 1 gallon of gas in Italy: 6,84 euros (in April 2024, source numbeo.com)
The global cost for a seven-day road trip in Italy would be about 1,900 euros (around $2,040) for two travelers (950 euros or $1,020 per person). You could reduce the cost by staying in hostels, which could save you approximately 476 euros (around $544) from the total cost for two. The more people you travel with, the more costs you’ll be able to share.
Explore the north: an Italy road trip in 7 days
Italy’s most diverse and dynamic region is road trip nirvana. From the mountains to the lakes to the cities, you could drive its scenic northern roads for months and never get bored. Here’s the best way to do it in seven days.
Day 1: Milan
Fashion, food and finance are the lifeblood of modern Milan. Drink it all in before heading east. If you see one thing, make it from old Milan with a viewing of Da Vinci’s The Last Supper in the Santa Maria delle Grazie convent.
Where to stay in Milan: Hotel Magna Pars is an oasis of five-star calm in the heart of the fashion district – and it has parking
Day 2: Lake Como
Distance from Milan: 52 miles
Lake Como is a postcard. Drive its perimeter through picturesque lakefront villages populated by neoclassical villas and Hollywood A-listers. Stop off in Bellagio, Varenna or Como for a long lunch that as often as not will merge into a long evening. Take one of the local ferries onto the lake for a serene perspective over the surrounding mountains.
Where to stay around Lake Como: Everywhere is eye-wateringly expensive, which is why B&B Villa Rosalinda is such an extraordinary bargain
Day 3: Verona
Distance from Lake Como: 111 miles
If you’re on a romantic road trip, there’s nowhere better to visit than Verona. The setting for Shakespeare’s tragic love story, Romeo and Juliet, you can even visit the iconic Casa di Giulietta, Juliet’s House.
Where to stay in Verona: For romance and an unbeatable location, Relais Balcone di Giulietta
Day 4: Venice
Distance from Verona: 75 miles
If ever a city needs no introduction, it’s Italy’s floating city. Stroll historic palaces and stunning piazzas, float down magical canals on a gondola, take in the Basilica, Bridge of Sighs and a million other magnificent attractions. Get lost in it all and let the history and culture overwhelm you.
Where to stay in Venice: Loved for its service and location, La Veneziana Boutique Rooms are a budget priced treat
Day 5: Cortina d'Ampezzo
Distance from Venice: 99 miles
Two hours north of Venice sees you in the UNESCO World Heritage territory of the Dolomite Mountains. Italy’s most spectacular natural playground is home to hiking, climbing, biking and skiing, depending on the season. It also has some of the best mountain passes you’ll ever drive through.
Where to stay near Cortina d’Ampezzo: Hotel Villa Alpina is a wooden mountain retreat
Day 6: Lake Garda
Distance from Cortina d’Ampezzo: 201 miles
Italy’s largest lake is a lovely mix of culture and adventure. Drive by its charming lakefront towns at Sirmione, Garda and Malcesine. Take to the lake to sail and windsurf or adopt a more leisurely approach with a scenic tour.
Where to stay in Lake Garda: For lake views and its stunning terrace, Hotel La Dolce Vita
Day 7: Lake Orta
Distance from Lake Garda: 132 miles
If you don’t want to spend another night in Milan, consider bypassing it for lovely Lake Orta, my favorite of the Italian lakes. Quiet, refined, less glam but no less beautiful, it’s a lovely place to end an epic road trip.
Where to stay in Lake Orta: Casa Fantini is a family run oasis that epitomizes 'Lake Time'
North to south: the ultimate 2 week road trip in Italy
If you’ve got the time and are willing to put in the miles, a road trip through Italy is an experience like no other. An ever evolving landscape and culture painted against the backdrop of mouthwatering cuisine and unrivaled historical attractions. This is an end to end road trip, starting and finishing in different cities.
Day 1: Milan
As with my seven-day itinerary above, Milan is the most convenient starting point to your tour. Fly in direct from the US and make sure to spend at least a day discovering its many treasures.
Day 2: Portofino
Distance from Milan: 122 miles
Head south to the picture perfect fishing village of Portofino tucked away in a gorgeous cove on the Ligurian Sea. Take a dip and dry off with a stroll past its authentic pastel-painted houses and trendy harbor-front restaurants.
Where to stay in Portofino: Historic Hotel Piccolo Portofino for its private beach and balcony views
Day 3: Cinque Terre
Distance from Portofino: 45 miles
Cinque Terre national park isn’t car friendly, but it is so worth the effort to visit. Its five coastal villages are precipitous and extraordinary, linked by the Sentiero Azzurro cliff trail. You can stay outside the park at La Spezia and take the train in, or drive into Monterosso al Mare, the largest town.
Where to stay around Cinque Terre: Simple, satisfactory La Rosa Dei Venti is meters from the beach and a total bargain
Day 4: Pisa
Distance from Cinque Terre: 75 miles
You have one day; there’s only one thing you have to do. Make for the Campo dei Miracoli, field of miracles, and prepare your best leaning tower pose.
Where to stay in Pisa: Lungarno Buozzi 7 Apartments are central, extravagant and have on-site parking
Days 5 & 6: Florence
Distance from Pisa: 53 miles
The Renaissance City demands at least two days of your time, although any art and culture lover could spend weeks here. You’ll have time to tick off the big hitters – Palazzo Vecchio, the Duomo, Pitti Palace and the superb Uffizi Gallery. Compact and walkable, en route you’ll get to soak up centuries of history writ large like few other cities in the world.
Where to stay in Florence: Corte Calzaiuoli Elegant Suites are as central as you can stay and the highest rated on KAYAK
Day 7: Siena
Distance from Florence: 50 miles
Tuscany is a glorious place to drive through – warm pastel landscapes, medieval hilltop castles, curated columns of cypress trees that define the entire region. Siena is perhaps the prettiest of all its towns. Don’t miss the Piazza del Campo, one of Europe’s most impressive medieval squares.
Expert tip: The Val d’Orcia region south of Siena is my pick for Italy’s most scenic drive. Stop an extra night to soak it in at the wonderful Locanda in Tuscany, a former farmstead turned boutique bolthole.
Day 8: Montepulciano
Distance from Siena: 40 miles
Famed for its excellent wine, Montepulciano is rustic, authentic and a great place to taste the best produce Tuscany has to offer. If you have time, escape to the nearby hot springs at Bagni San Filippo to soak away some of the miles.
Where to stay in Montepulciano: Quiet, welcoming Hotel I Due Cigni is an absolute bargain and offers discounts to the nearby thermal baths
Day 9: Assisi
Distance from Montepulciano: 55 miles
A slight detour on the road to Rome, Assisi is worth the extra miles. Birth and resting place of St Francis, it’s charm personified; geranium-scented, cobbled streets climbing erratically to impressive viewpoints from the hilltop basilica. Keep an eye out for it on your drive in – it towers over the landscape – and expect plenty of tourists and pilgrims.
Where to stay in Assisi: Brunelli B&B for its show stopping courtyard, the perfect place for breakfast
Days 10 & 11: Rome
Distance from Assisi: 109 miles
The splendor and opulence of Italy’s capital defies description. Known as the Eternal City for good reason, it is a vast interactive museum; testimony to the creativity, culture and tenacity of humankind over thousands of years. Walk its streets, visit its most unfathomable attractions, and let yourself be overwhelmed.
Where to stay in Rome: The Villa Agrippina Gran Meliá is a sea of five-star calm steps from Vatican City
Days 12 & 13: Amalfi Coast
Distance from Rome: 173 miles
The Amalfi Coast may be only 34 miles long but is a road trip in its own right (and one of my favorites, albeit in low season). Winding roads cling to the cliffs connecting impossibly glamorous towns and villages where rich Europeans linger over endless lunches under cloudless skies. Positano is the big draw, but I prefer quieter, more refined Praiano and Conca dei Marini.
Where to stay along the Amalfi Coast: Hotel Le Terrazze for its jaw-dropping sea views on the outskirts of Conca dei Marini
Day 14: Napoli
Distance from Amalfi Coast: 39 miles
The birthplace of pizza and your final stop (unless you’re planning a month-long round trip!), Naples is one of Italy’s more rough and ready cities. On your way back from Amalfi, stop by Pompeii to explore the world’s best preserved Roman ruins thanks to Mount Vesuvius. And then there’s nothing for it but to gorge on the city’s trademark meal – you’ve earned it.
Where to stay in Napoli: The best of the new, upscale B&Bs is The Dante House
The hotel recommendations included in this article are based on customer ratings and the author's personal choices, so please feel free to use our hotel search tool to find the accommodation best suited to your needs.
