Italy

• Florence – Renaissance art, David, Ponte Vecchio, and the best gelato in the world
• Tuscany – Vineyards, cypress-lined roads, and agriturismos (farmhouses) to stay in
• Rome – Colosseum, Trastevere, Vatican – plan at least 3 days
• Amalfi Coast – Positano, Ravello, Amalfi – the most beautiful coastal road in Europe
• Cinque Terre – Five colorful fishing villages on the Ligurian coast, connected by hiking trails

• Accommodation: Agriturismos from €30/person, hotels from €80/night, Airbnb from €25/person
• Food: Pizza €6-10, pasta €8-14, aperitivo (with snacks!) from €8
• Rental car: From €30/day, budget for highway tolls (~€20-30 for longer distances)
• Activities: Museums €10-20, wine tastings from €15, Vatican €17 (book ahead!)

Budget tip: Never eat directly at tourist squares. Just 2-3 side streets away, you'll pay half for better food. And: Aperitivo is Europe's best happy hour concept.

Flights to Rome, Florence, or Naples are available from Germany with Ryanair, Eurowings, and Lufthansa from €30-80 one-way. Flight time just 1.5-2 hours.

Getting around: For the road trip you'll need a rental car. Italian highways have tolls (Telepass saves time). Trenitalia trains are a good alternative between major cities – the Frecciarossa does Rome–Florence in 90 minutes.

• Pizza Napoletana – Naples has the best pizza in the world (yes, really)
• Pasta Cacio e Pepe – Just 3 ingredients but heavenly – Rome's signature dish
• Aperol Spritz – The official drink of Italian evenings
• Gelato – Only from gelaterias with natural colors – neon colors = bad sign
• Chianti – Tuscany's red wine, best directly from the winemaker