Best Greece Italy Itinerary
Introduction
For many, visiting Italy and Greece is a dream come true, but it can be a long way and often a once-in-a-lifetime trip. If you have never been to either country but have limited vacation time, how can you maximize your Italy and Greece itinerary to make the most of your trip? Ten days may seem like a short time to see Italy and Greece, but you’ll still experience all the main destinations, with enough time for a beach day or two. Focus your trip on a particular theme — like history, wine, or family — to fully immerse yourself in your favorite day-to-day adventures. Regardless of your itinerary, it’s easy to modify any of these trips to give you more time in your favorite places. Ten days in the Mediterranean is enough time to see the capitals of Italy and Greece and spend a few days each in Florence and Venice for some Renaissance art and regional fare.
A Typical Itinerary of Italy to Greece
Start this 10-day itinerary in Rome, ancient center of the Roman Empire. You’ll tour the city center to see main landmarks, like the Piazza Navona, and explore Centro Storico — one of Rome’s most historic districts — to see classical Roman and baroque architecture. Dive into ancient history with a visit to the Colosseum and a walk down the Via Sacra in the Roman Forum, and pass by the Temples of Vesta, Antonino, and Faustina.
Catch a train to Florence in the heart of Tuscany for two days to see numerous Renaissance-era landmarks: the Uffizi Gallery, the Piazza della Signoria, and the one-of-a-kind Ponte Vecchio bridge. Complete your stay here with a culinary exploration of the city, which includes tours of both the Piazza Mattei and the 16th-century Jewish Quarter. You’ll enjoy a traditional Italian aperitif while learning about the history of the city.
Explore Italy as you transfer to Venice, the “Floating City.” Although it’s pretty different from Florence, you’ll still see plenty of art and architecture that tell the story of the city’s past. Visiting the Basilica San Marco (once the Doge’s chapel) is a must when spending the day in the city.
Catch a flight to Athens to continue your trip. You’ll only have one day in the capital of Greece, but it’s enough time to learn about Greek history on a guided tour of the Acropolis and wind down with lunch at a quiet café in the nearby historic Plaka neighborhood. Then, island hops to Mykonos for some of the world’s best beaches — from quiet and calm family gatherings to clubs humming with energy — before continuing to Santorini for your remaining two days. Spend your time here sipping wine as you enjoy views of the water, visiting medieval towns, and dining al fresco.
When to visit Italy and Greece
The best times to visit the Mediterranean are April-June and September-October. The weather is mild, and the crowds are generally low. High season is late June to early September, and prices will reflect the crowds, the number of cruise ships, and accommodation availability. Despite being busy, summer is still great, especially for beach time and some lesser-known spots. The water is warm, blue skies every day, and there is a fun holiday atmosphere. Orthodox Easter is an incredibly wonderful time to visit Greece as it becomes very festive with parades, parties, bonfires, fireworks, and other activities and traditions on many islands. In Italy, Carnivale in Venice ends with the Christian celebration of Lent, forty days before Easter. It usually occurs in February and March, while the La Biennial di Venezia, Europe’s premier arts showcase, starts in May. Christmas in both countries is very special, as are the many religious holidays and celebrations.
Transport
Hot to get around in Italy
There’s no better way to see the cities of Italy than by train; trains link just about every town or city of any size, center to center. Driving & parking in Italian cities is a nightmare, and high-speed trains are now faster, more convenient & more relaxing than flying – Between 2008 & 2018, the airlines’ share of the Milan-Rome market dropped from 50% to just 14%, for example. Rome to Florence takes just 1h32 at up to 186 mph & costs from €19.90, Rome to Venice 3h45 from €29.90, Rome to Naples 1h10 from €19.90, Rome to Milan 2h55 from €29.90. There is no check-in, no need to get to and from remote airports, and no baggage fees or weight limits. Journeys to and from Sicily can be made overnight on a time-effective sleeper or leisurely InterCity train.
- You can check train times and fares for any journey in Italy at the Trenitalia (Italian Railways) website or at one of several private agency sites that connect to Trenitalia and are easier to use. www.trenitalia.com is the official Trenitalia website that will give times & fares for most Italian routes & trains, including sleeper trains and direct international trains. You’ll need to use Italian language place names, Roma Termini for Rome, Venezia Santa Lucia for Venice, Firenze S. M. Novella for Florence, Napoli for Naples, and so on – use Tutte Le Stazione if you don’t know which station in a given city to choose.
Between Italy and Greece
Taking the ferry from Italy to Greece is one of the most popular ways to travel from one country to the other. The trip is preferred yearly by passengers traveling from central and northern Europe to Italy by car and then crossing to Greece by ferry. Note: Due to the current COVID-19 situation, ferry itineraries may change. Our search engine will update you weekly to find all the latest information on the Italy – Greece ferry crossings. Or you may take a flight between Italy and Greece. Check out our best flight deals on this page.
In Greece
The connection between Athens and any islands is made by regular ferries. Check out our Greek Island Hopping Guide to see the options. To search, compare, and book your ferry ticket, click here. You can also read the Greece Public Transport Guide.
