An Italian Summer Getaway with Asima Khan

Come with me on a Tour di Italia this summer!

I spent the most incredible two and a half weeks taking trains and boats from city to city, sharing a complete guide on how to plan, where to go, and of course what to wear! 

Our first stop is Venice (Venezia) 

It’s important to know that cars are not an option in Venice.  You will need to order a water taxi to get into the city.  Tickets are available at the airport and do not need to be purchased in advance.  You choose to ride on a private or public water taxi.  Private of course is more expensive but well worth the splurge!  

Since there are a ton of ports, usually you can have the boat drop you off fairly close to wherever you are staying.  But just in case, it is a good idea to pack somewhat light as Venice is all walking, bridges, and cobblestone which can get difficult.  

I however did the complete opposite and packed as if I was moving there, LOL.  Not a good idea, especially since the Festa Del Redentore was going on and getting my luggage from point A to point B was quite a struggle.  It all worked out though, as the right outfits for a euro summer are half the fun!  

Depending on how long you go for, an Airbnb is a great way to get a cute, spacious and cost-effective place to stay.  I personally think two days in Venice is plenty of time but if you stay longer, try to plan a night in Lake Como, as it is only a 4 hour train ride away. Unfortunately, I missed my train to Lake Como because I underestimated how exhausting the travel would be with so much stuff. Something to heavily consider when planning things out.  

My top places to see and things to do in Venice are:

- Dinner at Metropole 

- Gelato any and everywhere (especially the pistachio flavor) 

- A gondola ride and some shopping all at the Grand Canal 

- A guided tour of the Basilica and Doge’s Palace 

What I wore in Venice: 

Since Venice is a romantic city, your wardrobe should reflect that!  Although this was a solo trip for me, I still made sure to dress the part.  Here are two of my favorite looks in Venice: 

 Staud Dress

Bec + Bridge Lauryn Knit Top and matching maxi skirt.

Our next stop is Tuscany (Tuscana) 

The best part of touring Italy is how easy it is for you to get to one city from another.  Rail Ninja is a great site to get bullet train tickets and I would say it takes anywhere from 2-3 hours to get to your next destination. Be sure to check what cities are close by so you’re not having to go out of your way.   

Once I arrived in Tuscany, I headed straight to the Relais Villa Il Pillagia which was located in Regnano.  I booked my stay through booking.com and was happy that the property provided a beautiful pool on site and a light breakfast. However, there were no nearby food options and taxis and Ubers are not as accessible, which made it more difficult to get around. I highly recommend renting a car if you plan to stay in Tuscany and suggest 3-4 days to explore the area.

My top places to see and things to do in Tuscany:  

- Pasta making class (You can pre-book one of these on Trip Advisor)

- Vineyard Tour (Also can be pre-booked) 

- Luxury outlets shopping at the Mall Firenze

- A day trip to Florence to see the Statue of David among other things! 

- Visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa 

What I wore in Tuscany: 

The Tuscan aesthetic is more boho chic with authentic Italian vibes. Think linens and casual chic clothing when packing for this trip.  

 Loewe Anagram Basket tote and St. Agni Oliver thong sandal 

 L’academie Meadow Linen dress

Next stop on the list is Rome (Roma) 

Back to the train station I go for a quick 2 hour ride from Florence to Rome!   My stop in Rome is only for 48 hours but I found that to be just enough time to squeeze in all the things I wanted to do.  

I encourage you to map out the places you want to visit in Rome before your trip, and then plan accordingly.  For example, the Trevi Fountain, Vatican City/Sistine Chapel and Colosseum are all located in different areas of the city, and traffic can be very heavy. 

If you go to the Colosseum, I recommend having cocktails or mocktails at the Court which is located right in front of the Colosseum. There are scooters everywhere so be sure to get on one of those to take a spin around. The best time to go is in the evening. 

It’s also suggested that you wake as early as possible (preferably 5 am) to get to the Trevi Foundation by 6ish before all of the crowds come. It gets really heavy in the late morning through the day. 

What I wore in Rome: 

I chose to go with longer dresses for my two-day stay.  Simple, easy and Romanesque chic!   

Tiger print Fabienne dress

Asos linen maxi dress

Final Stop… Positano (Costiera Amalfitana) 

Ahhhh… we have made it to the best part of Italy in my opinion! Positano and the Amalfi Coast.  Up until this point, my travels had been rather exhausting, haha! Lots of tourist attractions, content creation, and tons of running around with over 100 pounds of luggage!  So this part of my trip was all about relaxation. 

I took a train from Rome to Naples, and then hired a private car service to drive me into Positano from Naples.  The service was though Transfeero and it was very easy to book everything online.  

Again, I highly recommend packing as light as possible (I know, I know, us girls can never pack light) because there are stairs everywhere in Positano and the heat is intense. If you can afford it, hire a porter service which costs around $15 per bag.

Positano is one of the most beautiful places and you can soak it all up in just a few days before heading to Capri, Sorrento or Ravello. A hotel is the way to go in Positano too. 

My top places to see and things to do in Positano: 

- Spend a day on the beach (bring your own towel or you’ll have to pay about $25 for a new one). Pick up some sandwiches and fruit on your way there so you have stuff to snack on.

- Dinner at Il Ritrovo. This was one of the best meals I had in all of Italy, so make reservations in advance. The food is all farm to table and you must try the zucchini flower appetizer.  It was so delicious!

- Franco’s bar is a must!  Go during sunset and try for a corner table next to the glass.  The vibes and view are incredible. Be prepared for a small line as they don’t take reservations. 

- For the full Italian experience, rent a Vespa and drive around - note, you will need to climb a ton of stairs so be prepared! 

What I wore in Positano:

Positano is on the coast and a little more fun, beachy, and carefree - think headscarves, big sunnies and bright colored dresses. I wore color and mixed patterns for this part of my trip. 

SOJOS retro oversized square polarized sunglasses, similar headscarves here, here, and here, and similar top

Camila Coelho Millie maxi dress

Siedres short Lily dress, similar bag

I hope this gives some insight on how to plan your next trip to Italy.  Feel free to reach out to me on Instagram @asimakemymark for any additional info.  Ciao for now!