26 days in Italy, Greece & Lake Maggiore (Italy & Switzerland) Itinerary
Created using Inspirock Europe vacation planner
Start: Tucson, United States
Fly to Malpensa International Airport, Drive to Stresa
1
Stresa, Italy
— 3 nights
Drive
2
Modena, Italy
— 3 nights
Drive
3
Pisa, Italy
— 1 night
Drive
4
Siena, Italy
— 4 nights
Drive
5
Florence, Italy
— 5 nights
Fly to Athens, Bus to Olympia
6
Olympia, Greece
— 2 nights
Drive
7
Patras, Greece
— 1 night
Drive
8
Athens, Greece
— 5 nights
Fly
End: Tucson, United States
Fri, May 6 - Tue, May 31
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Stresa, Italy — 3 nights
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Stresa is a town and comune of about 5,000 residents on the shores of Lake Maggiore in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, about 90km northwest of Milan. Venture out of the city with trips to Distilleria Rossi d’Angera (in Angera) and Lago Maggiore (in Verbania). Next up on the itinerary: admire the natural beauty at Botanical Gardens Of Villa Taranto, don't miss a visit to Piazza della Chiesa, head off the coast to Sapori d'Italia, Lago Maggiore, and view the masterpieces at Palazzo Borromeo.
To see photos, traveler tips, maps, and tourist information, go to the Stresa online tour itinerary planner.
Tucson, USA to Stresa is an approximately 22.5-hour combination of flight and car. You can also fly. The time zone changes from Mountain Standard Time (MST) to Central European Standard Time (CET), which is usually an 8 hour difference. Prepare for little chillier weather when traveling from Tucson in May: high temperatures in Stresa hover around 71°F and lows are around 49°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 10th (Tue) early enough to drive to Modena.
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To see photos, traveler tips, maps, and tourist information, go to the Stresa online tour itinerary planner.
Tucson, USA to Stresa is an approximately 22.5-hour combination of flight and car. You can also fly. The time zone changes from Mountain Standard Time (MST) to Central European Standard Time (CET), which is usually an 8 hour difference. Prepare for little chillier weather when traveling from Tucson in May: high temperatures in Stresa hover around 71°F and lows are around 49°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 10th (Tue) early enough to drive to Modena.
Side Trips
Find places to stay May 7 — 10:
Highlights from your trip
Modena, Italy — 3 nights
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Capital of Engines
Deemed the Capital of Engines, Modena is the birthplace of Enzo Ferrari and the headquarters of Italian sports cars.Get out of town with these interesting Modena side-trips: Acetaia Cavedoni (in Castelvetro di Modena), Mantua (Basilica di Sant'Andrea di Mantova & Skyline di Mantova) and Parma (Battistero di Parma & Cattedrale di Parma). There's lots more to do: sample the fine beverages at Acetaia Villa San Donnino, don't miss a visit to I Love Maranello, and examine the collection at Acetaia Giuseppe Giusti.
For more things to do, photos, ratings, and tourist information, you can read our Modena trip itinerary planner.
Getting from Stresa to Modena by car takes about 3 hours. Other options: take a train; or do a combination of train, subway, and bus. In May, plan for daily highs up to 74°F, and evening lows to 54°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 13th (Fri) early enough to go by car to Pisa.
Side Trips
Find places to stay May 10 — 13:
Highlights from your trip
Pisa, Italy — 1 night
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Known worldwide for the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the city of Pisa historically served as a maritime power in the heart of Tuscany.Kick off your visit on the 14th (Sat): examine the collection at Museo Aviotruppe Esercito Italiano, then don't miss a visit to Piazza dei Miracoli, and then take in panoramic vistas at Leaning Tower of Pisa.
To find where to stay, photos, traveler tips, and other tourist information, use the Pisa day trip site.
Getting from Modena to Pisa by car takes about 2.5 hours. Other options: take a train; or do a combination of train and bus. In May in Pisa, expect temperatures between 71°F during the day and 52°F at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 14th (Sat) early enough to go by car to Siena.
Find places to stay May 13 — 14:
Siena, Italy — 4 nights
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Cultural Heart of Tuscany
Siena, a medieval Tuscan city, features numerous attractions, including a historic town center, alleyways, towers, and well-preserved buildings.Change things up with these side-trips from Siena: San Gimignano (Fattoria Il Piano & Guardastelle Vineyard), Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona (in Castelnuovo dell'Abate) and Castiglion del Bosco Winery (in Montalcino). There's lots more to do: don't miss a visit to Piazza del Campo, steep yourself in history at San Francesco, browse the exhibits of Palazzo Pubblico and Museo Civico, and savor the flavors at Food & Drink.
To find maps, more things to do, traveler tips, and tourist information, go to the Siena vacation planning tool.
Drive from Pisa to Siena in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. May in Siena sees daily highs of 74°F and lows of 53°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 18th (Wed) to allow time to drive to Florence.
Side Trips
Find places to stay May 14 — 18:
Highlights from your trip
Florence, Italy — 5 nights
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Birthplace of the Italian Renaissance
Considered a cultural, artistic, and architectural jewel of Italy, Florence is the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance.Florence is known for sightseeing, museums, and historic sites. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: explore the world behind art at Florence Academy of Fine Arts, don't miss a visit to Piazzale Michelangelo, step into the grandiose world of Palazzo Vecchio, and appreciate the extensive heritage of Piazza del Duomo.
For more things to do and tourist information, read our Florence online trip itinerary builder.
Traveling by car from Siena to Florence takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or take a train. May in Florence sees daily highs of 71°F and lows of 52°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 23rd (Mon) to allow time for travel to Olympia.
Find places to stay May 18 — 23:
Highlights from your trip
Olympia, Greece — 2 nights
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Inhabited since prehistoric times, Olympia remains best known as the site of the original Olympic Games, held there for the first time in 776 BCE. Inscribed on the World Heritage List, the remains of Olympia's sanctuary allow visitors to admire the timeless mastery of ancient Greek builders.Start off your visit on the 24th (Tue): delve into the distant past at Archaeological Site of Olympia, get engrossed in the history at Archaeological Museum of Olympia, and then pause for some photo ops at Hermes by Praxiteles. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 25th (Wed): relax in the rural setting at Klio's Honey Farm, learn about winemaking at Olympia Land Winery, and then indulge in some personalized pampering at Euphoria Spa.
To find maps, more things to do, ratings, and tourist information, you can read our Olympia sightseeing planner.
Getting from Florence to Olympia by combination of flight and bus takes about 10 hours. Other options: do a combination of flight and bus; or do a combination of train, flight, and bus; or drive. The time zone difference when traveling from Florence to Olympia is 1 hour. May in Olympia sees daily highs of 76°F and lows of 56°F at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 25th (Wed) so you can go by car to Patras.
Find places to stay May 23 — 25:
Highlights from your trip
Patras, Greece — 1 night
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Patras is Greece's third-largest city and the regional capital of Western Greece, in the northern Peloponnese, 215km west of Athens. Kick off your visit on the 26th (Thu): delve into the distant past at Roman Odeon, then do a tasting at Achaia Clauss Winery, and then take in the views from Rio-Antirrio Bridge (Charilaos Trikoupis).
To see ratings, maps, and other tourist information, go to the Patras road trip planning app.
You can drive from Olympia to Patras in 2 hours. In May, daytime highs in Patras are 76°F, while nighttime lows are 56°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 26th (Thu) early enough to drive to Athens.
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To see ratings, maps, and other tourist information, go to the Patras road trip planning app.
You can drive from Olympia to Patras in 2 hours. In May, daytime highs in Patras are 76°F, while nighttime lows are 56°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 26th (Thu) early enough to drive to Athens.
Side Trip
Find places to stay May 25 — 26:
Highlights from your trip
Athens, Greece — 5 nights
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The Birthplace of Democracy
One of the world's most ancient cities, Athens remains Europe's undisputed historical and cultural capital.Athens is known for historic sites, museums, and sightseeing. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: delve into the distant past at Acropolis of Athens, take in the awesome beauty at Mount Lycabettus, wander the streets of Monastiraki, and take in nature's colorful creations at National Garden.
To see more things to do, reviews, maps, and tourist information, read our Athens road trip planning website.
Use the Route module to find suitable travel options from Patras to Athens. Plan for somewhat warmer nights when traveling from Patras in May since evenings lows in Athens dip to 64°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 31st (Tue) to allow enough time to fly back home.
Find places to stay May 26 — 31:
Highlights from your trip
Italy travel guide
Italy is a land of high fashion, fine art, exquisite architecture, luxury sports cars, outstanding cuisine--and an insatiable taste for "la dolce vita." It's also home to the greatest number of World Heritage Sites in the world, making it an ideal place for your next holiday. The country boasts a varied landscape of mountain ranges, alpine lakes, and coastal towns, so it's no wonder travelers often refer to it as the bel paese (beautiful country). With so many places to visit, visitors often have a difficult time planning their itinerary. The smaller villages each feature a distinct character and a blend of architecture, art, and cuisine. In the country, you'll find countless archeological sites dating back to Roman times and beyond. The country's cities and seaside resorts are cosmopolitan powerhouses with museums, galleries, restaurants, shops, open-air markets, and pedestrian-friendly historic areas.
Tuscany travel guide
Birthplace of the Italian Renaissance
Known for its landscapes, traditions, and history, Tuscany possesses an unparalleled artistic legacy that continues to influence world culture. Regarded as the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, the region boasts a lengthy list of attractions, including world-class museums, art galleries, and archeological sites. With a distinct culture and a very strong linguistic identity, this region is sometimes referred to as a nation within a nation. A land of picture-postcard areas, Tuscany contains plenty of places to visit on your holiday, with seven World Heritage Sites, including the historic town centers of Florence and Siena. With more than 120 protected nature preserves, Tuscany is not only a land of culture and historic monuments, but also a great place to discover and enjoy the Italian outdoors. Take it slowly here (as the locals do), and give yourself plenty of time to get to know the local culture and cuisine of Tuscany's medieval towns and ancient villages.
Greece travel guide
Few places manage to capture the world's imagination quite like Greece, a land of sun-kissed coastlines, tranquil whitewashed villages, lively seaside towns, and well-preserved ancient sites. One of the world's top tourist destinations since ancient times, the country draws nearly 20 million visitors each year. Athens, the birthplace of Western civilization, continues to attract the biggest crowds and serves as a base for exploring the country and its 227 inhabited islands. Away from its cities, Greece features a picturesque countryside of olive groves, vineyards, and tiny settlements nestled against rolling hills and rugged mountain ranges. Explore the old mainland on foot and discover the islands on a guided boat or ferry tour.
