Sample Itinerary: Northern Italy in 7 days

I love to travel, and I love to plan. So it's no surprise that I have spent hours upon hours pouring over Internet sites and guide books and ticket prices planning vacations that I will most likely never take. But my loss seems to be your gain - I'll be posting some of those itineraries here! Sample them, use them as a starting point, heck, even use the whole thing! Just be sure to come back and let me know how your trip went when you're done!

Destination: Italy - Florence & Venice (and surrounding areas)
Cost: $$$
Dates: Friday 5/1 - Saturday 5/9

Friday 5/1 - Day 0: 11pm flight from LAX to Florence, Italy

Saturday 5/2 - Day 1: Arrive in Florence, Italy - check into hotel, walking tour of Florence including the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi gallery walk, Arno river, and the famous Ponte Vecchio. The city center is actually really small and easy to get around - you can see a lot in a short amount of time. Other things to check out on a walking tour would be the Bargello, Santa Croce, and San Lorenzo market & Mercato Centrale. Take your time, have a coffee, people watch, and relax!

Sunday 5/3 - Day 2: Florence - spend the day taking in some of the more important sights in Florence. Visit the Uffizi gallery, then cross the Arno to visit Palazzo Pitti and its magnificent Boboli Gardens. Then, walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo for amazing views of the city and all of the landmarks you saw on your walking tour.

Monday 5/4 - Day 3: Florence - If you haven't already, check out Michelangelo's David statue. It's amazing in real life. Then, if you're brave, hop a bus to San Gimginano for the afternoon. Or just spend the day soaking in the Italian lifestyle!

Tuesday 5/5 - Day 4: Florence to Venice - Train from Florence to Venice, check into hotel, and take the rest of the day to get lost on Venice's winding streets. Don't worry, you'll find your way back. Be sure to make your way to Piazza San Marco, it's amazing at dusk.

Wednesday 5/6 - Day 5: Day trip to Sirmione - Sirmione is a tiny peninsula on Lake Garda. Cars are not allowed. It is a great day trip from Venice - a quick train to Desenzano del Garda and then a bus to the entrance of the peninsula.

Thursday 5/7 - Day 6: Venice - Venice is one of those places that you can spend days and days exploring. There are so many interesting things to see, including Ca' d'Oro (the House of Gold), the Doge's Palace in San Marco, the Rialto Bridge, the Bridge of Sighs, and the islands of Lido and Murano.

Friday 5/8 - Day 7: Traveling home. You'll be sad to leave Italy, but at least when you get home, you'll have the weekend to re-adjust!