There’s little doubt that Italy and Greece are two of probably the most iconic nations to go to in Europe however planning a visit to Italy and Greece would possibly sound a bit overwhelming to some. If that’s you, we’re right here to assist.
On this complete information, you’ll discover all the sensible info you want to plan the right journey to Italy and Greece, alongside solutions on which locations to go to throughout your Italy and Greece trip. What’s extra, we’re recommending a few of the greatest Italy and Greece itineraries based on your journey fashion. Preserve studying and, quickly, planning a visit to Italy and Greece will seem to be a breeze.
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A Information To Planning a Journey To Italy and Greece
Greatest Time To Go to Italy and Greece
Each Italy and Greece are spectacular all yr spherical. That stated, when planning a visit to Italy and Greece, it’s best to take into account a number of elements, such because the climate and the locations you’ll be including to your Italy and Greece itinerary, however most significantly, your individual expectations.
For example, are you touring to Italy and Greece primarily for sightseeing within the main cities or are you largely interested by a soothing seaside trip? Regardless of the motive behind your need to go to Italy and Greece although, listed below are a number of ideas that can assist you resolve on the very best time to go to Italy and Greece. Each nations share related climate all year long, and are usually a bit of hotter within the south than north, saving us a while!
July & August – Good For Seaside Journeys or Make Financial savings in The Cities
Italy and Greece have very related climate situations. July and August are significantly sizzling. Should you’re used to the warmth and are spending your time by the ocean, this may be good. Within the cities, it may be too heat for comfy sightseeing in the midst of the day.
You might need heard that it’s greatest to keep away from Europe in summer season as a result of Europeans take their summer season holidays then. Keep in mind that the majority Europeans are heading only for the seashores (or mountains) and avoiding the cities, so lodge charges are sometimes decrease in locations like Athens, Rome, and Florence than within the shoulder-season months of Might, June, September, and October.
September – The New Peak Month
Throughout Italy and Greece, September would possibly simply be the right month by way of climate. It’s heat however not too sizzling and the times are nonetheless comparatively lengthy. However the Goldilocks month comes at a value. September has at all times been the month that sees extra Individuals visiting Europe than some other. Over 20% of our journeys begin in September in truth.
Hoteliers have cottoned on this. Subsequently, what may be historically considered summer season locations, just like the Amalfi Coast, or Greece’s big-name islands, are dearer than in July or August, when extra price-conscious Europeans make up the vast majority of the visitors. The cities are busy with locals, freshly returned from their very own summer season holidays, conferences and occasions are again in full swing, whereas seaside hotspots and widespread areas like Tuscany are filled with your countrymen.
Shoulder Season – The Greatest Time For Virtually Anyplace in Italy & Greece
Primarily based on our personal expertise, the very best months to go to Italy and Greece are April, Might, and October. Throughout these months, the temperatures are gentle and you may benefit from the open air to your coronary heart’s content material. No matter what the outside means to you. It may very well be sightseeing in grand open-air archaeological websites, mountaineering, or simply sipping a glass of wine in marvelous squares and quaint slender streets.
For a seaside vacation although, goal for late June or early October in the event you can’t deal with the chilly sea temperatures. In June, you’ll benefit from the longest days of the yr, nice for packing quite a bit in, even when meaning a number of time within the water.
Go All in on Tradition in Winter – True Off-Season Bargains
Winter generally is a nice time to journey in the event you’re not planning a visit to Italy and Greece for a seaside trip. Though the smaller cities and islands would possibly really feel a bit lonely within the winter, with a number of resorts and eating places closed till the excessive season, within the cities, winter would possibly simply be the right time to have the primary websites virtually to yourselves and expertise the native way of life in the absolute best method. Sicily is a enjoyment of winter, with the proviso that the purely vacationer city of Taormina will likely be in hibernation mode, however nonetheless worthy of a day journey.
How Many Days Every in Italy and Greece?
Though you may discover the fundamentals of Italy and Greece in 10 days, we’d say that it’s best to goal for at least two weeks if you wish to get pleasure from an immersive expertise in these two numerous nations. In case you have extra time to spare, that’s even higher. Three and even 4 weeks would enable you adequate time not solely to take a look at the primary websites and go to the very best cities, cities, and villages in Italy and Greece but in addition to delve into the distinct cultures of those magnificent nations.
Now, in the event you’re questioning methods to cut up your time between Italy and Greece throughout your 2-week journey, we’d advocate setting apart equal quantities of days for every nation.
Which Nation To Begin Your Journey From
With worldwide flights to major airports in each Greece and Italy, it doesn’t make a lot of a distinction which of the 2 nations you go to first. Each Italy and Greece are plentiful in historic websites however are additionally splendid for laid-back moments along with your family members. Subsequently, your time between sightseeing and stress-free might be going to be balanced in both nation.
One of the best ways to find out which nation to enter first when planning a visit to Italy and Greece is to examine the worldwide flights accessible and select these which can be higher suited to your Greece and Italy itinerary.
Really feel Like One Nation Would possibly Be Sufficient?
There’s no disgrace in deciding that you just may be taking up an excessive amount of in visiting these two magnificent nations in a single journey and specializing in only one. Our journey advisors will have the ability to craft an itinerary with loads of selection, even in only one nation. And in the event you’re visiting Greece since you need to see some Historic Greek temples, properly southern Italy has these too, in Paestum, not removed from Naples and the Amalfi Coast, and scattered round Sicily.
How To Journey Between Italy and Greece
You may get from Italy to Greece by airplane or ferry. The latter although, entails very lengthy journey instances that may solely make sense in the event you had been on a multi-month journey throughout Europe. Subsequently, flying is one of the best ways to get from Italy to Greece and vice versa. A number of airways – each low-cost and full-service ones – function direct flights from Italy to Greece, connecting not solely the capitals and major cities but in addition lesser-known cities and island locations.
Greatest Method To Journey Inside Every Nation
Italy is famend for its trendy, environment friendly, and quick trains. With a railway community overlaying the whole nation, Italy is without doubt one of the greatest nations in Europe to discover by practice. However, Greece will not be for practice lovers.
But, with its so many islands, Greece boasts a few of the greatest, cleanest, and most secure ferries in Europe. Getting on board a ferry must be your go-to approach to uncover the Greek Islands. Nonetheless, on your mainland Greece escapades, you’d be higher off renting a automotive or – if driving isn’t the best choice for you – reserving automotive transfers with a non-public driver.
Distinctive Lodging in Italy and Greece
Each Italy and Greece have been welcoming visitors from everywhere in the world for a lot of many years. The vacationer infrastructure and hospitality services in each nations are second to none. Subsequently, when planning a visit to Italy and Greece, get able to expertise a few of the best lodging you’ve been to throughout your travels. From high-end 5-star resorts to fashionable boutique properties to totally serviced flats, Greece and Italy can cater to the wants of all forms of vacationers.
Some locations inside these two nations additionally provide distinctive stays that may considerably improve your general journey expertise and this is the reason it’s best to be sure to add a few of these particular lodging sorts to your Greece and Italy itinerary.
Some examples can be a farm keep in a centuries-old property tucked away within the rolling hills of Tuscany, a room with a view of the Grand Canal set in a wonderful palazzo in Venice, or one which opens to the magnificent Trevi Fountain in Rome, an atmospheric sojourn in a lakeside mansion on Lake Como or a luxurious cave lodge with many tales to inform in Matera or Santorini, or a few nights throughout the partitions of Monemvasia in the Peloponnese, a medieval fort city that by no means ceased to be inhabited all through the centuries.
These are only some of probably the most putting examples of the one-of-a-kind lodging you will discover in Italy and Greece however they’re not the one ones. Each nations provide numerous alternatives for a keep to recollect.
What To Eat and Drink in Italy and Greece
It’s no secret that each Italy and Greece are culinary gems. Italian and Greek cuisines have transcended the boundaries of their respective nations and may be discovered in every single place on the planet. But, nothing beats sampling genuine Italian and Greek meals of their birthplace.
Eat Italy’s Areas
In Italy, you may eat your weight in pizza, pasta, and gelato, however Italian delicacies doesn’t cease there. Italian eating places exterior of Italy are likely to serve up the best hits of Italian delicacies. However there’s a lot extra to uncover. Be sure you style the regional dishes of the locations you’re visiting to find not solely the gastronomy but in addition the tradition and traditions that solid these native cuisines.
In Northern Italy, the everyday dishes are often meat-heavy, however the nearer to the south you get, the recent greens, a give attention to domestically sourced and seasonal components, and easy but hearty recipes work collectively to place actual masterpieces in your plate.
Uncover The Breadth of Greek Delicacies
After which there’s Greece. Blessed with sunshine all yr lengthy, the Greek land renders top-quality fruit, greens, and naturally, probably the most scrumptious olives and additional virgin olive oil, Greece’s liquid gold. It’s best to positively strive the quintessentially Greek souvlaki however don’t neglect that Greek delicacies could be very numerous and has much more to supply.
From vegetable stews in wealthy tomato sauce to excellent seafood dishes to the omnipresent feta-filled Greek salad, Greece is a paradise for foodies and vacationers who’re conscious that one of the best ways to get to know a vacation spot is thru its tastes.
Paradises For Wine-Lovers
Wine lovers will likely be equally – if no more – happy in Italy and Greece. Each Italian and Greek wines are spectacular, constructed from indigenous grape varieties. Probably the greatest issues to do in Italy and Greece is to plan excursions of assorted wineries the place you may pattern native wines and uncover the variations between the wine-making strategies of those two nations, but in addition the similarities shared by two peoples which have at all times been neighbors all through their historical past.
Two Takes on a Cup of Joe
Espresso lovers are in for a deal with, too. From swiftly sipping an espresso standing at a bar in Italy amongst loud locals to taking your time to lazily get pleasure from a Greek espresso beneath the brilliant Mediterranean solar in Greece, the espresso tradition in Italy and Greece can by no means go unnoticed.
Greatest Locations To Embrace in Your Italy and Greece Journey
With so many wonderful locations to select from, deciding on which locations so as to add to your Italy and Greece itinerary isn’t any straightforward activity. Nonetheless, we’ve come to the rescue once more. On this part, we’ve included a few of the greatest locations to go to in each nations, relying on how acquainted you’re with Italy and Greece.
Italy and Greece Fundamentals
If it’s your first time in Italy and Greece, it is smart to begin with the fundamentals and perhaps sprinkle your itinerary with a few of the extra laid-back locations when you’ve got sufficient time.
Rome and Venice
When in Italy, you merely can’t skip Rome and Venice and they’re by far the most-visited areas within the nation. Sure, they’re each fairly busy and infrequently overcrowded however for a motive. In Rome, historical past is tangible at each flip. Websites just like the Colosseum, Roman Discussion board, and Palatine Hill narrate the Italian capital’s historic historical past in probably the most eloquent method. But, there’s extra to the Everlasting Metropolis than its historic previous.
From marveling on the wonders of the Vatican Metropolis, such because the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica, to snapping the right photographs on the most emblematic areas just like the Spanish Steps and Piazza Navona, Rome is certain to seduce you in a heartbeat however perhaps not as instantaneously as Venice. The beautiful Metropolis of Canals can have you pinch yourselves to be sure to’re not dreaming as you stroll previous the long-lasting cafés lining Piazza San Marco or take pleasure in a mesmerizing gondola trip.
Florence and Tuscany
One other must-see vacation spot in Italy is Florence, a metropolis that appears like an open-air museum with its abundance of artwork and grandiose structure. From becoming a member of a guided tour alongside the corridors of the famed Uffizi Gallery to strolling via Piazza della Signoria with its spectacular copy of the Statue of David, Florence is a treasure trove of masterpieces that can amaze all artwork lovers.
However Florence shouldn’t be your solely cease in Tuscany. A journey via the area’s celebrated hills, previous cities and villages that appear as if they’ve sprung out of the pages of a storybook, like Siena, Lucca, or San Gimignano, will grace your eyes with magnificence.
A Bit Extra of Italy
Within the south, the Amalfi Coast awaits to fill your days with sunshine, lemon scents, and scenic drives. In case you have extra time to spare throughout your first journey to Italy and Greece, there are a number of different locations in Italy to take a look at, resembling Milan, Naples, the colourful Cinque Terre, or the plush Italian Riviera.
Athens
Shifting on to Greece, extra magic awaits. In Athens, you’ll be immersed within the fascinating historical past of one of many world’s oldest cities as you wander across the sacred historic ruins of the Acropolis and so many different sun-kissed archaeological websites. However after you’re performed with the historic websites, Athens awaits to enchant you with its unparalleled culinary scene and give you the reward of jasmine-scented nights sipping wine within the firm of locals.
The Cyclades Islands
From there, your journey continues to Mykonos and Santorini, the preferred Greek Islands. In Mykonos, strive to withstand the sirens that decision you to spend the wildest get together nights earlier than you proceed to the Aegean Sea’s final enchantress. Few locations can declare the distinctiveness and great thing about Santorini, an island born of a volcanic eruption that was accountable for a surprising panorama that was meant to turn into immediately recognizable to folks from all corners of the world.
For an island-hopping journey to recollect, don’t stick with probably the most well-known Greek Islands, although. The close by islands of Naxos and Paros provide a glimpse into actual island life and numerous alternatives for probably the most stress-free moments of your Europe journey.
Lesser-Recognized Italy and Greece
Should you’ve been to Italy and Greece earlier than, it’s essential to have coated the fundamentals already. That’s nice information as a result of now you may delve into lesser-known Italy and Greece, the place pure magic awaits.
Italy’s Sturdy Second String
In Italy, you can begin with the considerably much less widespread locations, resembling Romeo and Juliet’s Verona, the traditional cave city of Matera, or the spectacular islands of Sicily and Sardinia, earlier than you progress on to the nation’s precise off-the-beaten-path elements.
Bologna, the beating crimson coronary heart of Emilia Romagna, is a foodie’s dream. Within the south, the rugged area of Puglia awaits to take you on unforgettable strolls via historic olive groves, whitewashed villages that resemble the Greek Islands, and lengthy sandy seashores with crystal clear turquoise waters.
Farther south, the unspoiled Aeolian Islands appear to dwell solely in a romantic creator’s creativeness whereas, within the north, the Dolomites promise probably the most rewarding mountaineering and panorama pictures periods amid a surroundings of unfathomable pure magnificence.
Greece: Past Athens and The Cyclades
In Greece, the magical advanced of the Meteora monasteries constructed atop dramatic gigantic rocks, and the close by metropolis of Ioannina, dominated by a tranquil lake that has outlined the locals’ lives for hundreds of years on finish, are among the many nation’s best-kept secrets and techniques. The now-not-so-secret co-capital of Thessaloniki within the north nonetheless retains its genuine character and it’s one of many high culinary locations in Greece. Corfu is the best place so as to add some island time to a northern Greece itinerary.
Within the south, no phrases can describe the alluring Peloponnese, a peninsula of wonders that abounds in vibrant cities, like Kalamata, conventional villages, pure treasures, and delightful seashores. No second – or third – journey to Greece and Italy can be full with out a keep in Crete, the biggest of all Greek Islands, a blessed land that renders scrumptious native merchandise, a singular vacation spot steeped in historical past, Greek tradition, and long-standing traditions.
Steered Itineraries For Italy and Greece
At JayWay Journey, we’ve crafted extra Italy and Greece itineraries than we will depend over the past couple of many years. On this part, we’re presenting you an excellent small number of a few of our hottest Greece and Italy itineraries. These will not be set in stone, although. They’re solely there to set off your creativeness and get you began on dreaming of your very personal Greece and Italy journey.
Italian & Greek Showstoppers
Ultimate for first-time guests, this Italy and Greece itinerary exhibits you round the perfect these two nations have to supply, with stops in Rome, Florence, Venice, Santorini, and Athens.
Italy and Greece For Foodies
As we’ve already talked about, Italy and Greece boast two of probably the most scrumptious cuisines worldwide. This rigorously crafted itinerary is for these wishing to embark on a gastronomic journey via Italy and Greece, that includes locations, resembling Rome, Bologna, Crete, and Athens.
The Final Italy and Greece Honeymoon
There aren’t any higher locations to create cherished recollections along with your favourite individual on the planet than Italy and Greece. Spending a honeymoon in these two nations is the dream of many and, though the sky’s the restrict when deciding which locations so as to add to your honeymoon itinerary, our suggestion would come with Rome, Positano, Naples, Mykonos, Santorini, and Athens.
Study a Little of The Language
Wherever you journey, it at all times helps to study a number of phrases within the native language. We’ve made that straightforward for you with a few quick language movies filmed by our locals.
Planning a Journey To Italy and Greece With JayWay
These advised itineraries are solely a tiny pattern of the numerous wonderful vacation spot mixtures and themed routes our skilled employees can provide you with for you. It is because, right here at JayWay, we all know Italy and Greece fairly properly.
Our educated journey advisors and journey planners will assist you to select probably the most outstanding lodging in Italy and Greece, guarantee probably the most memorable actions, meals excursions, day journeys, and experiences are added to your itinerary, and maintain all of the time-consuming and infrequently irritating logistics, resembling reserving practice and airline tickets inside Europe or arranging non-public automotive transfers, for you.
Like Touring With a Native Good friend
The ultimate contact? Our distinctive employees on the bottom in each nations are all keen to point out you their lovely nations via their eyes. Subsequently, in the event you’re at the moment planning a visit to Italy and Greece, why not go away all of the logistics to us and skip to the great half as a substitute? In any case, one of the best ways to see Italy and Greece is, after all, with JayWay!
Born and raised in Athens, Maria’s obsessed with journey and storytelling, a mix that makes her splendid for her position as our content material supervisor.