Planning your first trip to Italy can feel overwhelming with so many Italian cities, landmarks, and foods you don’t want to miss. That’s why we created this 10-day Italy itinerary featuring Milan, Venice, Lake Como, and the Amalfi Coast—some of the most beautiful places in the country, plus a few hidden gems.
What's In This Blog Post
If you’ve ever dreamed of traveling to Italy but didn’t know the best way to start, you’re not alone. That’s exactly why we designed our Soul Sisters Italy trip: to bring women together for a guided journey that blends Italy’s top attractions with authentic experiences you can’t find on an official website.
This post gives you a preview of what we experienced on our first Soul Sisters Travel public trip. It’s an itinerary for women who want connection, adventure, and a true Italian experience. Eventually, we’ll be offering the full week Italy itinerary with detailed information, hotels, and restaurants, but here’s a taste of what made our journey unforgettable.
Day-by-Day Italy Itinerary
- Day 1 – Milan Arrival - Milano Malpena Airport
- Day 2 – Bike Tour – Cooking Class – Shopping
- Day 3 – Milan – Lake Como – Bellagio
- Day 4 – Venice – Wine Tasting – Venice Photoshoot
- Day 5 – Venice – Walking Food Tour – Gondola Ride – Group Dinner
- Day 6 – Naples – Pompeii Tour – Roman Forum
- Day 7 – Amalfi – Lemon Grove – Cooking Class
- Day 8 – Capri – Boat Ride – Island Tour
- Day 9 – Amalfi – Beach Club – Relaxation
- Day 10 – Amalfi – Travel Home Naples Airport
Recommended Travel Apps
- Google Lens – Perfect for translating menus, street signs, or even your own voice when English isn’t enough.
- Google Maps – A lifesaver for finding your way through narrow streets in Italian cities or locating train stations.
- Viator - Great for finding local tour guides and activities.
- Whatsapp - What most internatioal tour guides communicate through.
Milan: The Perfect First Stop
Milan is one of the best places to begin your Italy itinerary. With a major international airport and high-speed trains connecting to other major cities, it’s a great hub for first-time visitors. Milan blends fashion, food, and culture into one beautiful city.
Day 1 was all about settling in. After checking into our hotel near the Milan city center, we grabbed viral focaccia sandwiches at All’Antico Vinaio, then walked over to the Piazza del Duomo to see the iconic Duomo Cathedral. This is the first thing every traveler should do in Milano. You can opt for a guided tour to the top for the best views of the city or simply enjoy the grandeur from below.
Dinner was across from the Duomo at Vista Duomo where we sipped our first Aperol Spritz with the cathedral lit up in front of us.
On Day 2, the group split up. Some joined a morning bike tour through Milan while others took a slow morning and did some shopping at the Galleria, where the original Prada bag store is located
That’s the great thing about group travel—some women love adventure, others want downtime, and both are okay. Later, we came together for a food tour through the historic center, tasting everything from balsamic vinegar from Modena to authentic gelato.
The evening ended with a cooking class where we made pasta dough, bruschetta, and tiramisu. For me, it was the highlight of Milan. There's nothing quite like standing in a sunlit kitchen listening to a local teach you how to measure ingredients with your heart and knead the pasta until it tells you it's done.
Next, we're off to Lake Como!
Lake Como: A True Northern Italy Gem
Just a short ride from Milan, Lake Como is one of the most beautiful places in Italy and an absolute must for any Italy itinerary. One of the best things about traveling with a big group of women is we all ride together in a tour bus and get to talk and visit while someone else drives!
We started with a guided tour of Como’s old town, walked its cobblestone streets, and learned about its rich history before taking a boat ride across the lake.
Our next stop was Bellagio, often called the Pearl of Lake Como. This small town has narrow streets, colorful houses, and the best views of the lake and Italian Alps. It’s the perfect place to shop, sip wine, and enjoy lakeside terraces. This was such a fun place to explore the winding streets, shop, and take in the views. Bring comfortable walking shoes because there are a lot of stairs!
Villas like Villa Melzi and Villa Serbelloni are also worth a quick visit if you have enough time.
And now we continue on to Venice!
Venice: A City Unlike Any Other
From Milan, we continued by regional train and arrived in Venice via water taxi—a moment you’ll never forget as the Grand Canal comes into view.
Venice is truly a UNESCO World Heritage Site and belongs on every first trip to Italy. We wandered Piazza San Marco, which is the main square of Venice, and crossed the Rialto Bridge (the oldest and most famous of the four bridges that cross the Grand Canal), and explored hidden alleyways on a Venetian food tour. Some of my favorite things we ate were Venetian tapas, fried mozzarella, gelato from SUSO, and spritz paired with prosecco, also known as an Italian spritz.
A gondola ride at sunset was the perfect way to end the day. Cynthia and I took it up a notch and dressed up. I don't think my Gondoleer was amused, but we didn't care! We had so much fun!
We also took time to dress up for a Venice photoshoot along the canals—because for your first visit, epic pictures are a must. Our amazing photographer, Bunn Salarzon followed us everywhere, taking the most amazing photos. The last thing you want on an epic girls' trip is not to have any amazing photos of you to look back on!
The Amalfi Coast: Southern Italy at Its Best
No Italy itinerary is complete without a stop on the Amalfi Coast. After the buzz of the big cities, Amalfi felt like paradise.
Some of the group headed home at this point, but the rest of us traveled to our hotel in Positano overlooking the ocean and within walking distance to the ferry, which is basically how you get around in this area.
On the way to Amalfi, we stopped at a winery our guide recommended called Cantina Del Vesuvio Winery, which is at the base of Mt. Vesuvius. The food and the wine were amazing, and we even signed up for the subscription.
One of my favorite things we did on the Amalfi coast was the Amalfi Lemon experience, where you get to learn all about the real Amalfi lemons, cook many different delicious foods and desserts, and tour the groves. The lemons are HUGE and are sweeter than regular lemons. So sweet, you can even eat the rind!
Next, we took a private boat tour around Capri Island while sipping prosecco with views of Sorrento and the Amalfi coast. We also went for a swim and explored some gorgeous caves.
The last day, we relaxed at a gorgeous beach club in Positano. This was a great way to end our trip and relax before the long flight back home.
These slower-paced days were some of my favorite things on the trip—long lunches, spritzes by the sea, and plenty of time to connect.
If you have an extra day, consider adding Pompeii, Naples, or even a road trip to small towns along the coast.
Final Thoughts
For your first Italy itinerary, combining Milan, Lake Como, Venice, and the Amalfi Coast is the best way to experience both northern and southern Italy. You’ll see major cities, small towns, medieval streets, and some of the most beautiful countryside landscapes in Europe.
Our Soul Sisters Travel trip made the first visit unforgettable because it wasn’t just sightseeing—it was about connection. Strangers quickly became sisters, and the memories stretched far beyond Italy.
👉 Stay tuned for our full detailed itinerary, including hotels, restaurants, and affiliate links so you can plan your own 10-day trip.
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