The day finally came when I visited Tuscany. I’d long dreamed of this region after seeing so many films set there, Under the Tuscan Sun, Life is Beautiful, Stealing Beauty, and hearing from everyone how wonderful it is.

This is my full road trip itinerary: 8 days, starting and ending in Rome, with Florence, San Gimignano, Volterra, Siena, and the whole of Val d’Orcia in between. Everything below is what I actually did, where I actually stayed, and where I actually ate.

TUSCANY ROAD TRIP ESSENTIALS

✈️ Getting There / This itinerary works starting from either Rome or Florence. Search flights to Rome or Florence on Skyscanner. If you won’t be picking up or dropping off your rental car straight at the airport, and you’re spending a few days in Florence or Rome first or last, book an airport transfer with WelcomePickups instead of sorting a taxi on arrival or departure.

🚗 Getting Around / As this is a road trip, you’ll need a car. I book through DiscoverCars for all international car hires. Full rental advice and driving tips (ZTL zones, tolls, parking) are below.

🏨 Stay / You’ll be changing hotels most nights on this route, full picks are under each day below. If you only book one thing now, book Podere Benintendi near Volterra, it was one of my favourite stays of the whole trip.

📱 Connect / You’ll need mobile data in Italy, particularly for Google Maps while driving. I always recommend an eSIM, there’s no need for a physical one. I use Holafly, use code TRAVELWITHPAU for 5% off.

🛡️ Get Insured / Things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for over 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

Getting To and Around Tuscany

The best way to get around Tuscany is by car, there are so many small towns worth visiting that simply aren’t reachable by other transport, which is why I planned this whole trip as a road trip. Book through DiscoverCars, get full insurance, and avoid Goldcar and any other ultra-cheap non-international brands, I’ve heard horror stories from them. I used Alamo and it was perfect, and you’ll be fine with any other well known brand too: Avis, Budget, Europcar, Enterprise, Hertz, National.

Driving in Tuscany, a few practical things to know:

• ZTL zones (Zona a Traffico Limitato): most historic centres, including parts of Florence and Siena, have restricted traffic zones with automatic cameras. Drive into one without a permit and you’ll get a fine posted months later. Park outside the ZTL and walk in, it’s usually a short walk anyway.
• Toll roads: Italy’s autostrade are toll roads, keep cash or a card handy at the booths.
• International Driving Permit: worth getting one before you fly if your licence isn’t an EU one, some rental desks ask for it.
• Parking: book accommodation with parking included where you can (I’ve flagged it below wherever a hotel has it), and generally park on the edge of town centres rather than trying to drive into the middle of anywhere medieval.

Most Tuscany road trip itineraries start from Florence, which makes a lot of logical sense since it’s in Tuscany. But for me, any trip to Italy is an excuse to visit Rome, so I started there instead. If you’d rather start from Florence, this itinerary works exactly the same, just skip the Rome days. Search flights on Skyscanner.

If there’s one place in Italy that genuinely stopped me in my tracks, it’s Cinque Terre. Five tiny villages stitched into steep cliffsides above the Ligurian Sea — each one more colourful and more dramatic than the last. Whether you’re planning your first visit or dreaming of going back, this guide covers everything you need to know: the best things to do in Cinque Terre, which village to base yourself in, how to get there by train, and honest tips to help you make the most of it.

I’ve been, I’ve hiked it, I’ve eaten the bruschetta at Nessun Dorma while the sky turned pink — and I want you to have the same experience. Let’s go.

What Is Cinque Terre?

Cinque Terre is a stretch of the Italian Riviera made up of five UNESCO-protected villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazzo, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. They sit in the Liguria region, south of Genoa, clinging to steep cliffs above the Mediterranean with the kind of views that make you forget you’re a grown adult who has a mortgage to worry about.

The villages are car-free, connected by train, coastal trails and ferry — and that’s a big part of why they feel so special. No traffic noise, no fumes, just the sound of waves and the smell of pesto. Around 2.4 million people visit each year, so it can get busy, but with the right timing (more on that below), you can still find pockets of calm.

VISITING CINQUETERRE: THE ESSENTIALS

✈️ Flights / The nearest airports are Genoa (GOA), Pisa (PSA) and Milan (MXP). Pisa is my personal pick — it’s the most straightforward route and I flew there from London. Search flights on Skyscanner.

🚂 Getting There / The most practical way to reach Cinque Terre from major Italian cities is by train to La Spezia, then the Cinque Terre Express. Book in advance on Trainline — I always use it for Italian trains and it saves a lot of queue time.

🚕 Airport Transfer / If you’re landing at Genoa or Pisa and want a stress-free transfer to La Spezia, WelcomePickups is my go-to for pre-booked airport taxis with fixed prices and English-speaking drivers.

🎟️ Tours / Browse sunset boat tours, pesto-making classes, kayak trips and guided hikes here. Book ahead in summer — things sell out fast.

🏨 Stay / ** I stayed at Malbo in Riomaggiore — sea views, a brilliant host, and the best balcony breakfast I’ve had anywhere. For a splurge, Hotel Porto Roca in Monterosso is Cinque Terre’s most distinguished hotel, with a clifftop pool and the best restaurant in the five villages. For something mid-range and beautifully kept, Ca’ d’Andrean in Manarola has wonderful gardens and an outstanding breakfast. Search all Cinque Terre accommodation here.

🛡️ Get Insured / Never travel to Italy (or anywhere) without cover. I use and trust World Nomads for comprehensive travel insurance that covers adventure activities like hiking.

📱 Connect / You’ll need mobile data while you are in Spain, I always recommend using an eSIM (there’s absolutely no need for a physical one!). I always use Sim Local, and you can get 5% discount with code TRAVELWITHPAU. Get it here.