How to Spend Two Amazing Weeks in Italy: A Slow Travel Itinerary

Two weeks. Five Italian destinations. But without the stress, the rush or the overwhelm.

As a longtime slow traveller, I usually avoid short trips. In fact, having the freedom to work from anywhere for months at a time has, in a sense, ruined the days when I used to happily take quick weekend trips to another country. Because now, anything less than at least a whole month in one place makes me question whether it’s truly worth going at all. Spoilt, I know!

However, when my mum (and favourite person on Earth) told me she’d been dreaming of visiting Italy, I happily put my usual travel preferences aside and planned a two-week adventure for us. And dare I admit it… I loved it.

In fact, it made me realise that slow travel isn’t always about the length of time you spend somewhere. Sometimes it’s about the way you move through a place.

Over two (and a bit) wonderful weeks, we travelled from Venice to Florence, Naples to Ischia, ending in Rome, moving mostly by train, ferry and on foot. The changing scenery and energies of Italy unfolded naturally along the way, and despite visiting several destinations, the trip still felt meaningful and intentional.

So if you’re planning a 2 week Italy itinerary and want to combine multiple beautiful destinations without feeling rushed, here’s the exact route we took ~ complete with places to stay, hidden local gems (what I’m always on the lookout for!), and a few personal stories along the way.

Stop 1: Venice (1-2 nights)

Start by flying into Venice and spend your first one or two nights practising the art of noticing what you notice.

And believe me, in Venice there will be plenty of moments that catch your eye: a string of clothes air drying in the sun, an empty floating gondola waiting for passengers, two friends sharing stories on a bridge with glasses of wine in hand, or a woman quietly sketching by the canal. These were just a few of mine…

I’d already been to Venice three times before this trip. The first at 17 with my first boyfriend, the second for my mum’s 50th birthday, and the third for a client business meeting during my brief 9-5 work life era. 

But this fourth visit was the first time I experienced its local side … the side where you can order small glasses of wine for just 1 EUR (yes 1 EUR!), and sit along the canal for hours watching the world go by. We only spent 36 hours in this beautiful place but it was hands down my favourite visit yet. 

If you also want to go for an aperitif or dinner where the locals go, you’re going to want to save the below two places because like they did for me, they may just make your trip extra special too.

Spots to save:

• Bacareto da Lele: Tiny and loved by locals. It’s very easy to miss, but it’s a fantastic place to grab small bites and a small glass of wine for an equally small price. When I mentioned the €1 glasses of wine earlier… this is the spot! It’s not fancy, and you’ll likely find yourself eating your delicious cicchetti outside or sitting on the steps by the canal (which is exactly what we did), but that’s all part of its authentic charm.
• Al Timon: Honestly, sitting outside here eating dinner along the canal felt like absolute magic ~ especially at sunset. It’s in a more local part of town, so you’ll feel like you’ve escaped the crowds of tourists for a while. It’s also the perfect place for people-watching. I love love loved it!

Where we stayed:

Hotel Apostoli Garden ~ Central, peaceful, and surprisingly affordable. A great little find for a night or two to ground your arrival in Italy. I chose this hotel because it was more reasonably priced than most options while still being in a fantastic, very walkable location.

Stop 2: Florence (2-3 nights)

Next, take a scenic train from Venice to Florence and stay for two or three nights. This is where the concept of slow travel can really be put into practice. Instead of rushing around trying to tick off every famous landmark, choose the right neighbourhood for you and explore it deeply.

I chose to stay in San Niccolò, one of Florence’s oldest artisan quarters, in a boutique hotel that used to be a 13th-century monastery. These were the words on their website that sealed the deal for me:

“If you want to explore a genuine and true artisan neighbourhood of Florence… specialty stores and boutiques are at your doorstep when you stay at Palazzo San Niccolò.”

Palazzo San Niccolò

And it was absolutely true. Heading out each morning felt like stepping into a moving museum ~ beautiful street art on every corner, artists, painters and perfume makers working in open studios, and small, ‘at home’ style cafés.

I nearly always choose accommodation based on the neighbourhood first, and it’s never steered me wrong. San Niccolò offered charm plus daily inspiration and I’d highly recommend staying in this area too.

Where we stayed:

Numa Florence Palazzo San Niccolò: One of my favourite hotel experiences that I hope to return to one day. As a former monastery, it was poetic and historic ~ a place where you’d hear the echo of your own footsteps down the corridors, feel the many stories within its walls and the garden had a really beautiful gentle energy. Feel welcome to watch my instagram video to get a visual impression.

What to do:

• Visit artisan workshops around San Niccolò. Wander without a plan and follow your senses. And make sure to walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo, which offers one of the best sunset views in Florence.
• One afternoon, we did take this vintage vespa tour through the Tuscan hills, which turned out to be a really great way to experience the countryside surrounding Florence. Riding a vintage Vespa through Tuscany might just be the most Italian experience possible, especially in this stunning location (it comes with a short scooter lesson beforehand to make sure you’re comfortable riding so don’t worry if it’s your first time).

Stop 3: Naples (2 nights)

From Florence, hop on another train to Naples. Uff, what can I say about this city?… Young teenagers on scooters, chaotic streets, visible poverty but also immense city pride ~ these were my first impressions during the 45-minute walk from the train station to our Airbnb.

In a way, it transported me back to the neighbourhood of Lapa in Rio de Janeiro, where I once lived. Naples has long been considered the black sheep of Italy, but I’ve always had a soft spot for places like this. Cities that are gritty, chaotic, and imperfect, yet deeply authentic and with soul. A beautiful mess, you could say.

And perhaps like Berlin, it seems to be a city that people either love or hate. And personally, I loved it. Here I have just two recommendations for you. The first is the accommodation and the second is what Naples is known for, none other than a pizza spot (but a local hidden gem of course):

Where we stayed:

This airbnb listing stopped me in my tracks as soon as I scrolled to it. The reviews warned me that it was damp and humid (which it was) BUT they also said that “for a couple of nights, if you want to stay somewhere extraordinary, almost castle-like, among ancient art and add an extra layer of authenticity to your Naples experience then this is your chance.”

An old Neapolitan factory turned art gallery, where there’s no wifi, but instead chess boards, paints and canvases invite you to go back to “thinking and imagining without distractions.” That did it for me. I’ve never stayed anywhere like it, and even for that reason alone, the positives outweighed any negatives.

Where to eat in naples:

Pizzeria Concettina ai Tre Santi – The place for authentic Neapolitan pizza. It’s in a super local neighbourhood with a cute hidden backyard. Most definitely a gem so make a note! From the front you will absolutely not know the backyard is there, so be sure to have the waiter point you in the right direction as this is where the atmosphere lies.

Stop 4: Ischia (7-9 nights)

Next, take a 1.5 hour ferry from Naples to Ischia, one of Italy’s island gems, known as Capri’s quieter, less touristy little sister. “It’s where the Italians go to holiday” i’d heard over and over ~ and in itself this was the attraction.

To go somewhere authentic that offers a heartwarming dose of real slow Italian living. There’s such beauty to visiting a volcanic island ~ especially one that focuses on the wellness of mind, body and spirit.

Where we stayed:

Villa Ravino Secret Retreat ~ Checking in here was the best possible start to our nine days of island life – nestled among the mountains and with the best sun set views in town, this family run boutique hotel was the perfect base to both explore and enjoy a little “dolce far niente.”

What to do in Ischia:

Final Stop: Rome (1-2 nights)

End your trip with 1–2 nights in Rome. We only had one night and one full day here, and while I’m not usually a “fit everything in” kind of traveller, the walking route I put together ended up being really really enjoyable (and didn’t feel rushed at all).

Since all the places were just a 5-20 minutes walk from each other, it made the day flow beautifully whilst also seeing other spontaneous things en route. If you’re into visuals, feel welcome to watch my instagram video of the day.

One perfect day in Rome (walking route):

1. Take in the Colosseum from outside
   
2. Walk 20 min to the Trevi Fountain and make a wish
   
3. Five minutes away is St. Ignatius Church, where the ceiling is absolutely breathtaking
   
4. Walking 15 minutes more to have lunch at Canova Tadolini, an art-filled café restaurant inside a sculptor’s old studio
   
5. 20 more minutes walk to Limoné for the cutest lemon gelato
   
6. End in Trastevere, the bohemian local neighbourhood that feels like a village inside the city

Where we stayed:

An affordable apartment which has unfortunately been removed from Booking.com so I cannot link it here ~ it wasn’t anything luxurious, but was comfortable and affordable. Having been there, next time I will opt to find somewhere in the Trastevere neighbourhood as it was so lovely.

Best Time to Visit Italy

We enjoyed this wonderful trip in September, the shoulder season, and as such even though the weather was still absolutely gorgeous, the crowds had thinned out ~ making it the perfect time for a relaxed yet enriching trip.

Final Words