9 Days in Northern & Central Italy: A Chill Road Trip from the Coast to the Tuscan Hills

Looking for an exciting road trip adventure in Italy?

You’ve come to the right place — here’s a 9-day itinerary to help you plan your Italian adventure.

If you're dreaming of a trip that mixes colorful seaside villages, peaceful lake views, cozy vineyards and authentic local experiences, keep reading!

Over 9 days and 8 nights, we explored the Ligurian coast, the stunning Lake Como, and the rolling hills of Tuscany — all at a chill pace, with plenty of time for relaxing, taking photos, and enjoying good food.

The main goal of our trip was to visit Cinque Terre, but reaching the coastal villages by car isn't easy. Hotels and B&Bs in the area can also be quite expensive, so we chose to stay in La Spezia, which turned out to be the perfect base.

We arrived in La Spezia late at night, checked into our B&B, and went straight to sleep — we wanted to be fresh for our full Cinque Terre day.

The next morning, we took the Cinque Terre Express and visited Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola, and Riomaggiore, skipping Corniglia (it’s the one with all the steep stairs and climbs, and we wanted to keep things relaxed). Each village had its own charm — from beachside vibes and panoramic viewpoints to coloreful streets and amazing food.

The following day, we took it easy and explored La Spezia itself — walked around the port, enjoyed the local food, and packed for the next part of our trip.

From the coast, we drove north to Lake Como, where we spent four beautiful days. Our accommodation was just 10 minutes from Como's city center by car — perfect for exploring.

We arrived in the afternoon, took a walk along the Lungolago, then rode the funicolare to Brunate for a short walk and lake views from above. In the evening, we had dinner in Como’s city center — the atmosphere at night is so peaceful, with lots of restaurants and pretty wine bars.

The next morning, we drove to Bellagio, wandered through its pretty alleys and viewpoints, and then took a ferry to Menaggio. Spending the day between these two towns gave us such the perfect mix — Bellagio is elegant and full of little shops, while Menaggio feels more local and calm.

On our last full day, we visited Varenna, which quickly became one of my favorites. It’s smaller, quieter, and has such a romantic feel — the Passeggiata degli Innamorati (Lovers’ Walk) along the lake is just beautiful, and the town's center has such a picturesque vibe.

Our final stop before heading home was Montepulciano, in the heart of Tuscany.

We left Lake Como in the morning and arrived in the afternoon — just in time for sunset! We had dinner surrounded by vineyards and went to bed early to be ready for the next day. After days of moving around, this was the perfect place to slow down.

The next morning, we explored Montepulciano’s stunning cypress views and its historic center, and, of course, enjoyed some local wine and pasta. It’s such a peaceful town — the kind of place where you just walk slowly, take in the scenery, and savor the moment.

This trip really showed me how beautiful and diverse Italy is — from the seaside charm of Cinque Terre to the calm views of Lake Como and the peaceful hills of Tuscany. Traveling slowly made each place even more special.

The best time to visit is at the beginning or end of summer, when the weather is warm but the crowds are smaller.

More detailed posts coming soon 🤍