When it comes to creating the ideal Italy-focused travel itinerary, Booking.com is my usual go-to for any and all types of accommodations and activities.
As one of the world’s leading online travel platforms, Booking.com conveniently allows me to book and store all of my travel essentials in one place- either on the website or app. From my accommodations to activities- inclusive of attractions, rental cars, flights, taxis, and more- Booking.com makes it easy to find properties and excursions that meet my requests. As a result, it’s the ultimate travel must-have when scheduling your next trip. Plus, Booking.com has incredible perks such as running travel deals, which users can find under “Offers” on the site’s homepage- these can include accommodations discounted at 15% or more. Many properties with long stays of 30 days or more also offer reduced prices on monthly stays.
Listed below are four top destinations located in both central and northern Italy for those who are looking to experience both cityscape adventures and lush, scenic stays. From bustling city streets to breathtaking lake views and mountain ranges, these are my top four destination picks for the ultimate Italian getaway.
Booking.com Accommodations and Attractions
Rome
Rome is home to one of the country’s busiest airports (Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport) and likely where you’ll be landing when embarking on your journey- making this the perfect place to begin your travels. Rome has it all. As the capital of Italy, Rome has an incredible history, stunning architecture, delectable food offerings, and beautiful views. When searching for accommodations in Rome, we made sure to stay central in order to remain close to top attractions such as the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. Thanks to Booking.com’s helpful reviews and quality ratings, we found Youroom Abruzzi, which features spacious air-conditioned guest rooms equipped with a comfortable bed, private bathroom, top-tier amenities (including Maison Margiela toiletries), a wardrobe, Wi-Fi access, television, and stellar service. This room felt like a little piece of luxury amidst the historic old town where Youroom Abruzzi was situated. Rated high in comfort, cleanliness, and locations, above others, this room is the perfect home away from home and was a short walk away from all of the top attractions we were hoping to visit during our stay.
We would highly recommend this property, as the overall space was comfortable, clean, and conveniently located to all of our favorite spots in Rome. The property also offers popular facilities- such as a terrace, as well as a communal reception space that features a stocked kitchen that guests can use to make tea or dinner. Overall, the space proved to be a modern oasis within the city and it was simple and easy to interact with the host if needed. Luxurious accommodations don’t always have to come with a high price tag- Youroom Abruzzi was efficiently priced to suit our travel needs and provided us with everything we needed- and more- during our stay.
When exploring Rome, be sure to visit all of the top tourist attractions, which you can book conveniently through Booking.com. The website offers an abundance of city tours, attraction admissions, hop-on-hop-off bus tours, exclusive experiences, and more to allow you to experience the city like never before. Some top attractions in Rome that we saw available on Booking.com included; Skip-The-Line Tickets to the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, a Sightseeing Bus Tour of Rome with Audiopass, an Ancient Rome and Colosseum Half-Day Walking Tour, a Pantheon Audio Guide Tour, and admission to the Leonardo da Vinci Museum. The best part about booking these attractions and/or excursions through Booking.com is that everything is accessible on one platform, so you can easily keep track of your day.
Milan
If you’re looking to stay in Italy’s most luxurious cities, look no further than Milan- known as one of the world’s most important fashion capitals. Think, bustling city streets lined with chic, luxury storefronts, in which Milan is home to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest shopping gallery and a true landmark of the city. When searching for accommodations in Milan, we knew we wanted to remain close to the heart of the city, in which we turned to Booking.com’s custom search filters to find exactly what we were looking for. In fact, the website offers options like the Travel Sustainable properties filter, and the Travel Proud badge, as well as filters to search for pet-friendly accommodations, accessibility options for disabled guests, electric vehicle charging stations, and more, which made our search incredibly easy to navigate.
As a result, we landed on a stunning apartment property complete with a kitchen, washing machine, Wi-Fi, and room to fit up to 4 adults, comfortably. The two-floor apartment was also conveniently located near popular points of interest such as; Palazzo Reale, Santa Maria delle Grazie, and Museo Del Novecento, allowing for easy access to all of our go-to spots. The spacious layout, property size, and proximity to notable tourist attractions and the city center made this a no-brainer for us as we enjoyed integrated features such as the quaint outdoor terrace, kitchenette, and facilities. I loved the first-floor living quarters with a couch- that doubles as a second bed- and TV. The layout was quirky, but it featured everything we needed and more for our stay.
When we ventured out to explore Milan, we made sure to make note of top attractions throughout the city we could schedule on Booking.com. For instance, we took particular interest in the Duomo Admission with Rooftop Access, and the Hop-On-Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Tour that allowed us to experience every inch of Milan during our short but sweet stay in the fashion-forward city. If you’re interested in taking any day tours, you can also find a scenic full-day tour to Lake Como, Bellagio, and Varenna from Milan on Booking.com.
Lake Como
Speaking of Lake Como, this should be a definite addition to your Italy itinerary. As one of this season’s top destinations, Lake Como offers stunning lake views surrounded by picturesque mountains and resort villages that make this a must-visit in any lifetime. As a result, it’s only fitting to book a quiet yet quaint bed and breakfast in one of the many villages situated throughout Lake Como. We took to Booking.com to find the perfect stay in Lake Como by using the site’s 28 million total reported listings, with 30 different types of places to stay. That’s where we found Villa Marina, located in Bellano.
Featuring guest rooms that are part of a restored Art Nouveau building dating back to the early 20th century, this bed and breakfast includes comforts and amenities that made this stay wildly unique. We especially loved the charming in-room details and complimentary toiletries, as well as the furnished communal terrace with sunbeds, and a hot tub, which made for relaxing afternoons spent lakeside. Breakfast is served alongside a stunning view of the lake, and guests have the opportunity to engage in various activities, such as snorkeling, cycling, and canoeing. There is also a beautiful garden situated on the property. This bed and breakfast is highly rated when it comes to comfort, cleanliness, facilities, and staff, which made it an overall wonderful stay.
After we had a relaxing few nights in Bellano, we craved a slight change of scenery so we ventured to another highly-rated property called Villa Liberty located in Como. Offering rolling mountain views, the hotel offers guests a communal terrace as well as spacious rooms that come complete with a private bathroom, toiletries, and Wi-Fi. This property also features a spa center, open upon prior reservation, which includes a hot tub, sauna, and Turkish bath. It also features a sensory shower. This tucked-away oasis is a hidden gem and one of the highlights of our Lake Como stay, having come highly recommended by other Booking.com users.
Dolomites
To round out this northern Italy leg of the trip, a visit to the Dolomites is a must-add to any adventure-lover’s itinerary. While exploring the Dolomites, it’s recommended to have a personal vehicle to allow for scenic drives through the mountains. This is where we took advantage of Booking.com’s car rentals, which are available in 158 countries. As a result, we were able to seamlessly book a rental car through Booking.com and pick it up for our drive and overnight stay in the Dolomites. Since Booking.com has 800 car rental suppliers across the globe, the platform can provide free cancellation for all car rental customers up to 48 hours before pick up and customer service support in over 30 languages, which makes booking a breeze. Our rental made it easy for us to travel throughout the Dolomites and experience the stunning scenery from the comfort of our own vehicle.
When finding accommodations in the Dolomites, we used Booking.com’s 6.6 million instantly bookable reported listings in homes, apartments, and other unique places to stay to help locate and book one of our favorite accommodations to date- Hotel Villa Groff. Situated only 500 meters from the center of Auer in the Dolomites, this hotel features spectacular views and amenities. For instance, guests can enjoy a spacious garden, swimming pool, sun loungers, and hot tubs. There is also a restaurant on-site where guests can be spoiled with authentic and local Italian cuisine. Guest rooms are charming in style and design, offering comfortable beds, a balcony, Wi-Fi, and a television. Hotel Villa Groff made our experience in the Dolomites one to remember and featured a variety of Instagrammable spots throughout the property. It’s a definite addition to any northern Italy itinerary in the Dolomites that will not disappoint.
Next time you’re looking to book an unforgettable trip to central and northern Italy, be sure to visit Booking.com to help with all of your travel planning needs. Since Booking.com takes pride in its maximum flexibility and transparency, this allowed us to customize our experience as well as payment plans for each property during our stays, making the booking process that much simpler. We also love that Booking.com offers travelers great value, convenience, and support, as it continues its ever-evolving mission to help more people experience the world around them.
Published by HOLR Magazine.