How many days vacation should I take to see all of Italy along the periphery from top to bottom. Renting a car. Any suggestions and recommendations! TIA!
Also any airbnb’s you’d recommend.

Katharine
Puglia on the south Adriatic, and Sicily are remarkable, too...especially if you're driving. But as Amy said...pick and choose...you can't do it all. Too, Italy is wonderful to explore via train.

Katharine thank you!

Kristin Sehn prego.

Katharin

A year.

Sarah at least...alas only allowed 3 months.

Katharinthen 3 months!

Italy is such an incredible country! We did 3 weeks last time and did Venice, Framura (Cinque Terre and Portofino), Florence/Tuscany (great base for trips to Sienna, Lucca, Pisa, San Gimignano), Positano (Amalfi Coast) as well as Rome. Naples is also good for a day to see Pompeii. It is important to focus on quality vs quantity, and decide what places and historical stops you really want to visit as you will never be able to see it all in one trip.

Amy thank you

Amy did you stay in Florence and do day trips to Sienna and Luca?

Lisa We did! We stayed in a beautiful place just out of Florence. We had rented a car and did several day trips from there. We did Pisa and Lucca together for the day (renting and riding bikes along the top of the wall is a MUST)

Amy thank you! How was the driving?

Lisa I left that to my husband because he is a very confident driver! Once we were out of Florence with the car (our host picked us up and showed us the route) it was pretty straight forward from our stay, but it is the only section of the trip we had a car. Everywhere else in Italy was so efficient and accessible by train that we didn't really need one.

And you couldn't PAY me to try drive in Rome, lol.

Amy lol that’s what my sister said and also the Almafi

Lisa Yes! The Amalfi coast is SO narrow, and just finding parking would be an absolute nightmare. If you go in summer I HIGHLY recommend the ferry from Salerno so you can see the entire coast from the water. Positano was incredible and like no other place on earth (and yes, you should do Cinque Terre AND the Amalfi coast if you can)

Amy thank you for all the information. Did you make all the arrangements yourself or did you use a TA?

Lisa I always do all of our travel planning myself. I actually really enjoy that part! I do recommend stays at places run by locals if possible (b&b type places, places with a few units on one property, etc. On-site, boutique type owners are usually gems of local knowledge and are so passionate and fun!) If you have any questions about anything in particular feel free to DM me

Amy omg I do agree!! Driving in Rome was insane

I’d say 4 weeks minimum

Take the train

I syggest looking at Rick Steve's website for a ton of free info on Italy plus his tours to create your own. Italy is his most popular destination...many videos, self guided walks...
www.ricksteves.com
RICKSTEVES.COM
Rick Steves Europe: Tours, Travel, TV & Vacations

Katharin thank you!