An Italian vacation with a twist!

Italy is an excellent choice for a multi-centre vacation due to the diversity of the different regions, meaning there’s something new to see, eat and do in every city that you visit. But what if you want a bit MORE diversity on your vacation? If this is you then you may enjoy a multi-country vacation in Europe that includes stops in popular Italian cities as well as other hot-spots in Europe, including Barcelona, Greece, Croatia and Paris.

Here are some of our favourite multi-centre vacations to Italy and beyond!

Best for families

Italy has some great family-friendly places to visit and, in particular, we recommend combining Lake Garda into your family vacation – it is home to a theme park called Gardaland and a Sea Life centre, and also has fun activities to enjoy, such as quad biking. Lake Garda is not far from Brescia, Verona, Venice and Milan, meaning there are a range of airports that you can fly in and out from. From Milan Malpensa Airport you can fly in just 2 hours to Amsterdam, which is another great city for families. Here, you could enjoy paddle boating and bike riding, or perhaps a visit to the NEMO Science Museum, which has hands-on exhibits and a chemistry lab for children. If you get a Holland Pass you can save money on some of the more popular attractions. Alternatively, you could fly from Venice Marco Polo Airport to Paris, which is a magical place for children. While you should certainly visit Disneyland and the Eiffel Tower, other family-friendly activities include a day out at Jardin Luxembourg, which has peddle cars, toy boats and zip lines, or perhaps go treasure hunting at Musee Cluny. Plus, you can navigate the city using the Metro to avoid costly transport.

Best for those on a budget

If you’re on a small budget but still want to enjoy a multi-centre vacation then it’s a good idea to consider travelling to Italy outside of peak season, such as in March or November. During these months the weather is still fine but you can save money on flights and hotels. Alternatively, consider staying in cities or locations away from the tourist hot-spots.

Many cities in Italy offer excellent transport links to other cities in Europe with the budget airlines so you can still enjoy a multi-country vacation. For example, why not combine Rome with Budapest in Hungary, which is a good choice for budgeters as there are many attractions in both cities that you can enjoy for free, such as sightseeing around Castle Hill in Budapest and strolling by the ancient attractions in Rome. In addition, the spas based around the hot-water springs in Budapest are very affordable, making for a relaxing treat that doesn’t break the bank, and you can enjoy cheap pizza at an authentic pizzeria in Rome.

Another good option is Pisa and Rome with Lisbon in Portugal. In both Pisa and Rome you can enjoy the main sights for free and they also offer hop-on/hop-off sightseeing buses, which are a great and affordable way to travel around the cities. Meanwhile, Lisbon offers affordable accommodation and food, and has an attractive historic port to enjoy.

For a honeymoon or special break

If you’re planning a multi-centre vacation for your honeymoon then we highly recommend choosing relaxing locations with easy transport links so that you can have a stress-free and romantic escape. We love Rome and Sorrento as a romantic combination but, if a beach break is more your thing, consider combining the beaches of Sardinia with island hopping in Greece – popular beaches include Mykonos, Santorini and Rhodes. Alternatively, try mixing Croatia with Lake Como. We love Croatia for its beautiful natural scenery, as well as its vast national parks, which have some of the most stunning waterfalls you will ever see! You can also head for the Kornati archipelago for some sand, sea and surf. Meanwhile, Lake Como is well regarded as the most romantic of the Italian lakes and offers tranquility, pretty mountain landscapes and tasty Italian cuisine! You could also enjoy a day trip to Milan from Lake Como for a special shopping trip.

Another romantic combination is Venice and Paris, and you can read more about them in the section below.

Best if you’re short on time

If you’re short on time then its best to focus on cities that offer good transport links. One of our favourite combinations is Venice and Paris as there is a seasonal night train that links the cities, meaning you can fall asleep in Venice and wake up in Paris! You can also enjoy many of the main sights in these cities in a short space of time – opt for the CitySightseeing boat tour in Venice and “skip the line” tickets to see the Eiffel Tower in Paris so you spend less time queuing and more time doing!

Another great option is Florence, Pisa and Barcelona. You can cover the main sights in Pisa (the Tower and the Cathedral) on a day trip to maximize your time enjoying the art galleries and city attractions in Florence, before moving on to the delights in Spain. You can make the most of your time in Barcelona by taking a hop-on/hop-off bus tour or hop on a Segway to zip around the city.


If you’re thinking of a multi-country vacation that includes a city in Italy and you would like us to put together a personalised vacation quote, contact a member of our team on 0844 993 4139 or click here to send an online enquiry. Each and every one of our vacations is customized to the requirements of our customers and so any combination of cities is possible! However, for more inspiration you can visit our holiday offers page by clicking here.