The Art of Planning Slow Travel
- lauren-meredith
- May 31
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 1
What if your next trip didn’t feel like a checklist?
What if you came home not needing another holiday, but feeling full, calm, and completely changed?
At Lento Studio, we believe the best travel leaves space; for surprise, for stillness, for wonder. But planning a slow trip doesn’t just mean doing less. It means doing what matters, with care.
In this post, I’ll share the key principles I follow when designing slow travel itineraries through Italy. These ideas can help you shift your mindset, whether you’re dreaming up your next adventure or still unsure what slow travel even means.
And if you’re looking for someone to make it all seamless? That’s exactly what I do.
What Slow Travel Really Means
Slow travel isn’t about doing less for the sake of it. It’s about tuning in: to the rhythm of a place, the texture of a day, the feeling of being somewhere fully.
It means staying a while instead of rushing through. Walking instead of hurrying. Swapping packed itineraries for rich, layered moments you’ll actually remember.
And it doesn’t mean skipping the famous spots, it means seeing them differently. With time to wander before or after the crowds, and space to sit with the beauty once you’ve found it.
Plenty of people have a sense that this is what they want. Fewer know how to plan a trip that truly flows that way. That’s where slow travel becomes an art, and it’s exactly what I build into every Lento itinerary.
Less Movement, More Meaning
One of the biggest myths about travel in Italy is that more places = more value. But in reality? Constant movement just leaves you tired, frazzled, and with a blur of train stations instead of memories.
Choosing fewer bases is one of the simplest, most powerful ways to shift the tone of your trip. It turns a holiday into an experience. It gives you time to settle in, find your favourite morning coffee spot, and feel the place instead of just ticking it off.
In a ten-day trip, two bases is often perfect. Three if they’re close together. Anything more, and you’re spending too much time packing, checking out, navigating.
Knowing that is one thing. But choosing the right places to base yourself, the ones that offer both beauty and ease of connection, takes local knowledge and experience. And that’s the kind of detail that makes all the difference.
When I first planned a trip to Florence, I thought three nights would be plenty to soak it all in. But what I found was that three nights barely scratched the surface — especially when you want to experience the city beyond its famous art and piazzas.
Florence isn’t just about ticking off the Uffizi or climbing the Duomo; it’s about lingering in a quiet café at dawn, watching the Arno reflect soft morning light, or finding a hidden garden where locals retreat mid-afternoon. These moments need time — time to show up slowly, without a checklist looming overhead.
Plan Around Rhythm, Not Just Sightseeing
Travel isn’t just about where you go, it’s about how you move through your days. When you design your trip around rhythms instead of sights, the experience shifts from frantic to fulfilling.
Consider the natural pace of the places you visit: Italians savor long lunches that stretch into late afternoons, shops close for riposo mid-day, and evenings unfold slowly with candlelit dinners and gentle conversation. Festivals bloom with vibrant local energy, but they also bring a chance to rest and reflect with the community.
Try to structure your trip with a balance in mind: a full day of exploration, followed by a lighter day or even a rest day. This helps you absorb each place fully and keeps travel fatigue at bay.
And remember, slow travel is about mixing the known with the quiet. Sure, you might visit the iconic landmarks, but make space to discover tucked-away corners, local markets, or a shaded piazza where you can simply be.
Structure With Space
A slow trip needs a flexible framework, not a rigid schedule. Aim for one or two meaningful activities each day - just enough to give your day shape without filling it to the brim.
Between those anchors, leave generous room for wandering down unexpected streets, pausing over an espresso, or striking up conversation with a friendly local. These unscripted moments often become the memories that last longest.
Avoid the urge to over plan. It’s tempting to fill every hour with something ‘important,’ but the truth is, space is where magic happens. When you let your days breathe, you allow yourself to slow down enough to notice details; the way the light hits a terracotta roof, the scent of fresh basil drifting from a trattoria, the sound of church bells in the afternoon.
Sample Framework: 10 Slow Days in Italy
Here’s a simple example of how you might shape a 10-day slow trip:
Bases: Choose 2 places to settle—say, the charming town of Lucca, then a countryside villa nearby.
Rhythm:
3 days exploring local sights, markets, and cafes
1 full rest day with no plans
2 easy day trips to nearby villages or vineyards
2 free days to wander wherever your mood takes you
Final day to savor a slow morning and prepare for departure
This rhythm lets you alternate between gentle activity and rest, keeping your energy and curiosity fresh. It’s a pace that invites connection and reflection, not exhaustion.
When to ask for help
Slow travel feels effortless once you’re there, but the truth is, it takes work to plan well.
Researching local festivals, coordinating train times, finding authentic restaurants off the tourist trail, navigating language quirks... all that can quickly overwhelm even the most enthusiastic traveler.
That’s where someone who knows the place can save you hours (or days) of stress. Whether it’s a one-off consultation or a fully custom itinerary, I’m here to help you craft a trip that’s slow, seamless, and deeply rewarding.
Ready to travel beautifully? Explore my services or get in touch to start planning your next unforgettable journey.
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