12 days traveling solo in Italy from North to South

I did my first solo trip through Italy, traveling from North to South. It was also the first time I really understood how different solo travel is compared to going with a group of friends.

There were a lot of ups and downs. I had way more time to think, not just about the trip but about life and how I deal with being on my own. As an introvert, even small things felt new, like talking to strangers or figuring out how to start a conversation, something I haven’t really done much before.

The first few days were honestly tough. I felt so alone that I even thought about going back home. But I pushed through. Staying in hostels in a couple of cities helped a lot, I met some people, and just being around them made it easier to continue. Slowly, I started enjoying it.

I also began writing a travel journal, which is something I’ve never done before, not even regular journaling. Most of my happy moments were simple, mostly around food. Trying different places and somehow ending up on my fifth gelato of the day 😅 No matter where I went, the food was just really good.

One of the highlights was visiting Pompeii with an archaeologist group. I learned a lot, and it made the experience much more interesting.

I had quite a few takeaways, but one big one is that I’d try more hostels next time. Since it was my first solo trip, I only stayed in hostels in two cities, and the rest were private rooms.

Pic 7: The figure is actually holding his own skin (“Saint Bartholomew” in Duomo di Milano).

Pic 12: The streets of Naples felt chaotic, within minutes I saw someone’s phone get snatched by a guy on a bike, which caught me off guard. But at the same time, I loved how lively and colorful everything felt.

My itinerary was:
Venice → Milan → Modena and Maranello (day trip) → Florence → Rome → Naples → Pompeii (day trip)

Overall, it was a mix of uncomfortable and really good moments, but definitely worth it.