one week trip to italy

7 Days in Italy: 12 Amazing One Week Itineraries for Italy

Need some destination inspiration for a trip to Italy? Here’s my guide to spending one week in Italy, with 12 sample itineraries.

One week in Italy might not seem like much time. But, with some advance planning and ambition, you can definitely have a bucket list adventure.

There’s nowhere more romantic (or popular) than Italy. The word “Italy” conjures visions of crumbling Roman ruins, rolling cypress-studded landscapes, and secret canals.

Italy is rich in history, culture, and food. Italy’s beautiful towns boast some of the world’s best churches , palaces, museums, and historic landmarks .

I’ve been to Italy many times. Italy always blows my socks off (except maybe in the uber crowded high season). I love it and am already making a return trip next month.

There’s so many things to do and see in Italy and so little time, at least for most of us. How to choose between the myriad options?

To help you get started prioritizing and give you some destination inspiration, I’ve picked my top 11 itineraries for spending one perfect week in Italy.

Some of these itineraries include Italy’s most popular cities and sites. Others give you more off the beaten path options and hidden gems in Italy.

You can pick a sample itinerary to match your own interests — whether you want a glamorous city, historical and cultural options, outdoor scenery, or beaches.

You can also combine itineraries for a 2 week (or longer) stay in Italy. And I suggest possible combinations.

Of course, you can always adjust and tweak these itineraries to suit your needs. When you’ve settled on an itinerary (or two), be sure to read my must know tips for visiting Italy .

12 Ways To Spend 1 Week in Italy

I’m a rather obsessed itinerary planner and I can personally vouch for these particular one week in Italy itineraries.

For each 1 week in Italy itinerary, I also give you options for extending your trip, if you want to expand a 7 day itinerary into a 10 day itinerary for Italy or combine these sample open week itineraries.

There are essentially two ways to structure a 1 week in Italy trip.

You can move around 2-3 times for a fast paced trip that checks off Italy bucket list items. Or, you choose a single base or region for a week and take day trips from there.

These sample 7 day Italy itineraries offer both options. I’d be excited to take any of these trips again.

I’ve written more than 100 blog posts about Italy. I’ve linked some of them to the relevant Italy itinerary to help you along.

Here are my picks for the best ways to spend one week in Italy:

• 1 Week Italian Renaissance Tour
• 1 Week in Tuscany
• 1 Week in Italy’s Major Cities
• 1 Week in Rome + Day Trips
• 1 Week in Venice + Day Trips
• 1 Week in the Italian Lake District Itinerary
• 1 Week Dolomites Itinerary
• 1 Week in Rome + Amalfi Coast
• 1 Week in Northern Italy Venice to Milan
• 1 Week in Rome + Umbria
• 1 Week Milan to Rome
• 1 Week in Sicily

1. One Week Italian Renaissance Tour: Florence, Tuscany, and Venice

Tuscany has some of the world’s best cathedrals, art galleries, museums. It’s celebrated for its Medieval and Renaissance art.

Tuscany is even regarded as the birthplace of one of mankind’s greatest adventures, the Italian Renaissance.

Florence is an overwhelmingly beautiful city, the “Cradle of the Renaissance.” With the best Medieval and Renaissance art in Europe, Florence is a veritable art lovers paradise.

Florence has some of Europe’s best museums — the Uffizi Gallery , the Bargello Museum , and the Galleria dell’Accademia . And some of Italy’s most opulent palaces — the Pitti Palace and Palazzo Vecchio .

If you want to see these lovelies, you need to book them in advance. Here’s my guide to what attractions you need to pre-book in Florence .

READ : Florence Art Bucket List

Venice had its own Renaissance, distinct from Renaissance hotspots like Florence. Venice’s artists produced images that were less religious, more libertine, and more creative.

Venetian artists painted female nudes and erotic scenes, without the censure other artists like Michelangelo received.

READ : A Nutshell History of Venice

Siena is one of the best cities to visit in Tuscany for its rustic beauty, tasty food, and luscious chianti. Siena Cathedral is one of Europe’s most beautiful churches. Click here to book a ticket.

The greatest artists of the Renaissance contributed master works to the cathedral, including Donatello, Pinturicchio, Duccio, Ghiberti, Pisano, and Michelangelo .

Pisa and Lucca are also great for Renaissance art and architecture. You’ll want to discover the monuments on the magnificent UNESCO-listed Field of Miracles , which is so much more than just the famous Leaning Tower . Lucca is a town of a 100 churches.

READ : Tips for Visiting Pisa

In Arezzo, you can see Piero della Francesca’s greatest masterpiece . It’s the Legend of the Cross frescos in the Cappella Maggiore of the Church of San Francesco.

Padua is home to one of Italy’s must see wonders, the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua. Wallpapered with exquisite frescos by Giotto, the chapel is one of the world’s greatest art works.

It’s currently a candidate for the UNESCO list of world heritage sites.

Here’s how to spend one week in Italy immersing yourself in the Italian Renaissance:

• Day 1 : Arrive in and explore Florence
• Day 2 : Explore Florence
• Day 3 : Day trip to Siena
• Day 4 : Day trip to Pisa and Lucca or to Arrezo
• Day 5 : Drive to and explore Venice
• Day 6 : Explore Venice
• Day 7 : Day trip to Padua

For this itinerary, you’ll only have two bases: Florence (4 nights) and Venice (3 nights).

If you have more time in Italy, itinerary # 9 has the perfect one week itinerary for taking a road trip from Venice to Milan . If you want a nature break, you could head to the Dolomites with itinerary #7.

Need more information about this one week Italian Renaissance road trip? Check out these Tuscany and Venice travel guides for specific details.

• Best Art in Tuscany
• 10 Day Itinerary for Tuscany
• 3 day itinerary for Florence
• Best museums in Florence
• Hidden gems in Florence
• Michelangelo Trail in Florence
• Piero della Francesco Trail in Italy
• Andrea del Verrocchio’s Art in Florence
• 1 Day Itinerary for Siena
• Must See Sites in Pisa
• 2 Day Itinerary for Venice
• Guide To Padua’s Scrovegni Chapel

2. One Week in Tuscany Idyll

There’s nowhere more romantic in Italy than the stunning region of Tuscany. Tuscany is like a painting.

With its cypress-lined roads, golden wheat fields, and medieval hilltop towns, Tuscany offers the quintessential Italian village experience, complete with fine wine and delectable food.

I’ve discussed Florence and Siena above.

But this Tuscany itinerary also takes you to some of Italy’s most beautiful small towns — Arezzo, Cortona, San Gimignano, Lucca, and Pisa.

In these quaint towns, you’ll find showstopper public squares, stunning churches, and cobbled lanes.

San Gimignano is the romantic glamor girl of Tuscany. Nicknamed the “Medieval Manhattan,” San Gimignano is famous for its “Bella Torres” or “Beautiful Towers.” 

Here’s how to spend one week in Tuscany:

• Day 1 : Arrive and explore Florence
• Day 3 : Day trip to Arrezo or Cortona
• Day 4 : Drive to and explore Siena
• Day 5 : Day trip to San Gimignano
• Day 6 : Drive to Lucca and explore
• Day 7 : Day trip To Pisa from Lucca

For this 1 week in Tuscany itinerary, your overnight bases will be Florence (3 nights), Siena (2 nights), and Lucca (2 nights). If you want more details on this itinerary, check out my comprehensive one week in Tuscany itinerary .

More time in Italy? If you want to extend your Tuscany road trip and move at a more leisurely pace, check out my 10 day itinerary for Tuscany .

It covers all the destinations on this shorter 1 week Tuscany itinerary, and more, with much more detail.

Or, head south to Umbria and follow itinerary #10. If you’re ready for a city break, head to Rome and follow itinerary #4.

Need more information on Tuscany? Check out these other articles:

• Must see sites in Florence
• Best day trips from Florence
• Guide to the Medici Palaces
• Guide to the Uffizi Gallery
• Best things to do in San Gimignano

3. One Week in Italy’s Major Cities | Greatest Hits

Are you a city person? If you want to explore Italy’s greatest hits, this fun one week itinerary takes you to the “big three” — Rome, Florence, and Venice.

Endlessly inspiring and ethereal, Rome is the magical mecca of carbs and ancient architecture. It’s a grand showcase of Western civilization, full of Imperial pomp and circumstance.

Rome has spent centuries accumulating layers of beauty, history, and romance — just waiting for its admirers to arrive.

READ : History of Ancient Rome

Begin with the Imperial tour of Rome, which includes the iconic Colosseum , Palatine Hill , and the Roman Forum . Be sure to book skip the line tickets in advance!

Then, take a stroll through the historic center of Rome . There, you’ll find the stunning Piazza Navona the Pantheon , beautiful churches, and the Trevi Fountain.

Next, move on to visiting the Vatican Museums , the unparalleled world class museums in Rome , and Rome’s opulent palaces .

To see the Vatican you MUST book a skip the line ticket or wait hours in line. You can check out my guide to Vatican tours to see which appeal.

I’ve already discussed Florence above. Your last major city stop, Venice, is the most unique city in the world. I’ve written a one day in Venice itinerary that you can follow.

It’s an almost physical and mystical experience when you see Venice for the first time. The glimmering watery streets are right is front of you.

Venice defies logic; it’s a city that almost shouldn’t exist. Venice is a mind boggling maze of canals, lacy palaces, and artistic treasures.

READ: Must see sites along Venice’s Grand Canal

Here’s how to spend one week in Italy’s major cities:

• Day 1 : Arrive and explore Rome
• Day 2 : Explore Rome
• Day 3 : Drive or high speed train to Florence
• Day 4 : Explore Florence
• Day 5 : Day trip to Siena or to Pisa & Lucca
• Day 6 : Drive or high speed train To Venice
• Day 7 : Explore Venice

More time in Italy?

From Venice you can follow itinerary #9 and road trip from Venice to Milan. Alternatively, you can head to the Italian Lake District (itinerary #6) or the Dolomites (itinerary #7).

Need more information about this one week city-based Italy itinerary?

Check out these city travel guides:

• 3 day itinerary for Rome
• Hidden gems in Rome
• Best museums in Rome
• Archaeological sites in Rome
• Guide to the Borghese Gallery
• Masterpieces of the Vatican
• Rome’s secret palace museums
• 2 day itinerary for Venice

4. One Week Rome City Break + Day Trips

One of my favorite vacations in Italy was just spending 8 days in Rome. I didn’t move my base from the beautiful Trastevere neighborhood.

I just explored Rome at slower pace and took plenty of easy day trips. You don’t need a car. You can book a day tour or just hop on the train.

I’ve discussed Rome above. But on this Rome itinerary , you’ll also visit some of beautiful towns near Rome.

Tivoli is a charming small town just a half hour from Rome. It’s home to two amazing UNESCO sites: Hadrian’s Villa (Roman ruins) and Ville d’Este (a Renaissance mansion with incredible gardens and fountains).

You should definitely book a day trip tour to see them.

Pompeii is Italy’s most famous archaeological site, a living museum. In 79 A.D., Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried the city in 60 feet of ash. The city was entombed and preserved for many centuries.

Beginning in 1748, archaeologists began painstakingly excavating the ruins. The ruins are a remarkable evocation of everyday Roman life, which you can see on a guided tour from Rome to get all the history.

Charming Orvieto, the capitol of Umbria, is an easy day trip from Rome. It’s set high above a volcanic outcropping and chock full of medieval buildings.

Nothing much has changed in this rustic fairytale town in 500 years. Orvieto’s piece de resistance is its magnificent cathedral.

Here’s how to spend 1 week in Rome:

• Day 1 : Explore Rome
• Day 3 : Explore Rome and Vatican City
• Day 4 : Day Trip To Tivoli
• Day 5 : Day Trip to Pompeii
• Day 6 : Day Trip to Orvieto
• Day 7 : Explore more of Rome and/or half day trip to Ostia Antica

Want more information about this trip? Here are some of my other articles:

• 3 Day Rome Itinerary
• Hidden Gems in Rome
• Guide to the Vatican Pinacoteca
• Guide to Rome’s Palace Museums
• Historic Landmarks in Italy

5. One Week in Venice + Day Trips

Another one week itinerary where you don’t have to move bases is just to stay in Venice. You can enjoy the city at your leisure and take day trips from there by car, train, or ferry.

You could also base yourself in Verona the entire time and day trip to Venice and other destinations. Verona is less crowded and less expensive than Venice.

Venice is one of the world’s most beautiful and captivating cities, a natural movie set. No other place looks quite like it. Venice is a medieval city built on water that shouldn’t exist in real life. It’s a mind boggling maze of architectural and artistic treasures.

There are so many thing to do and see in Venice. You can take a gondola rid e , ogle the opulent palaces , take in some world class museums, or stroll the stunning floating city .

From Venice, you have so many day trip options. You can tour the Venetian lagoon islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello .

You can day trip to Padua to admire Giotto’s groundbreaking frescos at the Scrovegni Chapel. If you want less crowded canals, head to nearby Treviso. Treviso is an elegant little canal town, only a 30 minute train ride from Venice.

Fair Verona is for romantics and medievalists. It’s a pretty Italian town full of red and peach colored medieval buildings and Roman ruins.

Verona was made famous by Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet . Once you’ve made the obligatory pilgrimmage to Juliet’s Balcony, you’ll also want to tour the doughty Roman Arena in the Piazza Bra.

Ravenna was once the epicenter of the Western World, when the Byzantine Empire made Ravenna its capitol.

The Byzantine rulers blanketed Ravenna’s churches with gorgeous mosaics. This artistic legacy rivals Venice or Istanbul, making Ravenna a UNESCO site worth visiting .

Here’s how to spend one week in Venice:

• Day 1 : Explore Venice
• Day 2 : Explore Venice
• Day 3 : Day trip to Venetian lagoon islands
• Day 4 : Day trip to Padua
• Day 5 : Day trip to Verona
• Day 6 : Day Trip to Ravenna
• Day 7 : Day Trip to Bologna or another day in Venice

More time in Italy? Head to the Dolomites with itinerary #6 or road trip to Milan with itinerary #9.

Need more information about this area of Italy?

Check out these Venice travel guides and resources:

• 1 day itinerary for Venice
• Top Attractions in Ve nice
• History of Venice in a nutshell
• Guide to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum
• Guide to the Galleria Accademia
• Guide to the Scrovegni Chapel
• 7 day itinerary Venice to Milan
• Guide to the mosaics of Ravenna

6. One Week Italian Lake District Itinerary

Northern Italy is home to the seductively beautiful Lake District, set in the shadow of the Alps. Though just an hour north of Milan, this area feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of Italy’s second city.

In this romantic region, 19th century villas are covered in vines and set amid stunted palm trees. It’s a bliss-y area made for nature lovers.

You have several lakes to choose from and they all have their charms —Lake Como, Lake Garda, and Lake Maggiore.

Lake Como offering a heady mix of scenery, opulent palazzi, and relaxing vistas. Lake Maggiore doesn’t have quite the panache of Lake Como, but still has a faded elegance.

Lake Orta is smaller and less developed, a hidden gem of quietude without the crowds. It’s a favorite escape of the Milanese, who’ve nicknamed it Cinderella.

Here’s a breakdown of how to spend one week in the Italian Lake District:

• Day 1 : Arrive in and explore Milan
• Day 2 : Explore Lake Como, base in Varenna
• Day 3 : Explore Lake Como, ferry to Bellagio
• Day 4 : Explore Lake Maggiore, base in Stresa
• Day 5 : Explore Lake Maggiore
• Day 6 : Explore Lake Orta, stay in Villa Crespi
• Day 7. Explore Lake Orta

From the Lake District, head east to Venice. Here’s my two day itinerary for Venice .

Alternatively, head back to Milan and follow itinerary #11, which takes you on an amazing road trip from Milan to Rome.

Want more information about this itinerary? Check out these Milan travel guides:

• 1 day itinerary for Milan
• Top attractions in Milan
• Leonardo da Vinci trail in Milan
• Guide to the Brera Museum
• How to see Leonardo’s Last Supper Fresco
• Top art to see in Milan

7. One Week Dolomites Itinerary

Italy’s dramatic rocky rooftop is the Dolomites. This region of Italy offers some of the best mountain thrills in Europe.

The Dolomites feature flower speckled meadows, turquoise lakes, jagged gray cliffs, and spectacular driving routes.

Here, the region doesn’t even seem like Italy. It’s more Austrian and German in a felt-hat-with-feathers way. You can tour by car or go on a hiking tour .

The city of Bolzano is the gateway to the Dolomites. There’s yogurt and yodeling for breakfast. The Dolomites are especially beautiful in the fall.

And more hiking than you can imagine. Probably the most stunning hike is Tre Cime di Lavaredo Hike.

• Day 1 : Arrive and explore Trento
• Day 2 : Day trip to Rovereto and Lago di Tenno
• Day 3 : Drive to Bressanone, stop at Lago di Carezzo en route
• Day 4 : Day trip to Secede
• Day 5 : Drive to Lago di Braies, overnight in Misurina
• Day 6 : Explore Lake Misurina
• Day 7 : Tre Cime di Lavaredo Hike

This Dolomites itinerary has three bases: Trento (2 nights), Bressanone (2 nights), and Misurina (3 nights).

The nearest airport is Venice Treviso and Venice Marco Polo.

If you want to visit Venice before the Dolomites, here’s my two day itinerary for Venice . After leaving Venice, you’ll head to Trento, a very underrated city in Italy. Trento is frescoed and surrounded by mountains.

More time in Italy? Head to the Italian Lake District. Lake Garda is about 3 hours away. See itinerary #6.

8. One Week in Rome (or Naples) and the Amalfi Coast

This 1 week in Italy itinerary begins in Rome. From Rome, it’s over 3 hours to the drool-worthy Amalfi Coast. If you’ve been to Rome and would rather skip the drive or train ride, you can spend you first two days in Naples instead.

Like Rome, Naples is a big city that can be chaotic. But Naples’ historic center is rich and will give you a taste of the quintessentially Neapolitan lifestyle.

Naples’ finest attractions are its treasure chest Archaeological Museum and the Capodimonte Museum .

With its stunning scenery, hill towns, and historic ruins, the Amalfi Coast is one of the world’s most scenic rides.

From Sorrento to Salerno, the vistas will leave your mouth gaping and your camera’s memory card full. Villas cling to cliffs and sandy coves beckon below.

Over the centuries, the spectacular scenery has been a siren call for the rich and famous, luring Roman emperor Tiberius, Richard Wagner, Sophia Loren, Gore Vidal, and others to the Amalfi Coast’s special brand of la dolce vita .

Wedged on a ledge over the sea, the serene cliff top town of Sorrento makes a perfect springboard for visiting the Amalfi Coast.

From Sorrento, you can book day trips to Pompeii , Positano , Capri , and even Naples.

There’s a saying that Positano “bites deep,” it’s so dreamy. Positano is the star of the Amalfi Coast. Strolling the town comes complete with sherbet colored cliffside homes, stunning beaches, and tiny cobbled lanes.

Rugged mountainous Capri is one of the world’s most glamorous island. Capri was made famous as the vacation hideaway of Roman Emperors Augustus and Tiberius.

Today, it’s crowded. But even with the crowds, it’s drop dead gorgeous, set on a glittering blue sea and you should definitely book a guided boat tour to see it .

Pompeii is an ancient Roman town, which was stopped in its tracks by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Once buried under ash, the well preserved ruins of Pompeii offer you the best look anywhere at what life in Rome was like 2,000 years ago.

Here’s how to spend one week in Rome and the Amalfi Coast:

• Day 3 : Explore Rome
• Day 4 : Day Trip to Tivoli (Hadian’s Villa & Villa d’Este)
• Day 5 : Train or drive to Sorrento, explore Sorento
• Day 6 : Day Trip to Positano
• Day 7 : Day Trip to Pompeii or Capri

Need more information for this one week Italy itinerary?

Check out these guides:

• 5 day itinerary for Rome
• Guide to Palatine Hill
• Guide to the Roman Forum
• Guide to the Colosseum
• Guide to Hadrian’s Villa
• Guide to Villa d’Este
• Guide to the Amalfi Coast

9. One Week in Northern Italy: Venice to Milan

This one week road trip from Venice to Milan in northern Italy is a popular tourist route.

It’s only a 3 hour drive from Venice to Milan.

But this route is dense with amazing must see medieval villages, ornate palazzos, Roman ruins, and secret hidden gems of the Renaissance. There’s plenty of great destinations to explore along the way.

This northern Italy road trip begins in Venice, the starting point for your road trip.

It assumes you’ve explored the heady attractions of the world’s most romantic floating city, and are embarking to explore more of Italy.

From Venice, you can explore Verona , a town for romantics, and visit Mantua , a town for Renaissance lovers. You’ll also stop in Brescia and Bergamo before landing in Milan.

Here’s how to spend one week on a road trip from Venice to Milan:

• Day 1 : Leave Venice, stop in Padua and Vicenza, overnight in Verona
• Day 2 : Explore Verona, overnight in Verona
• Day 3 : From Verona, day trip to Mantua
• Day 4 : Drive to Brescia, stopping in Sirmione on the way, overnight in Brescia
• Day 5 : Explore Brescia, overnight in Brescia
• Day 6 : Drive to Bergamo, explore Bergamo, overnight in Milan
• Day 7 : Explore Milan

Need more information for this one week Italy itinerary? Check out these guides:

• Guide To the Must See Sites of Mantua
• Guide To Mantua’s Te Palace
• Most Beautiful Towns in Italy
• 1 Day itinerary for Milan
• Best Art in Milan

10. One Week in Rome + Umbria

I’ve covered Rome above and you’ll be there two days on this particular one week Italy itinerary.

Beautiful Umbria is quite similar To Tuscany. It’s just as sublimely picturesque, but less crowded. You can enjoy Italy’s scenic medieval hill towns and countryside.

Charming Orvieto is one of Italy’s most striking hill towns. Less than 90 minutes from Rome, Orvieto sits majestically atop a big chunk of volcanic stone amid cypress-dotted plains.

As I mentioned above, Orvieto’s walking highlights are its colorful-inside-and-out cathedral and pretty cobbled old town.

The stunning hill town of Assisi is a destination for art lovers. Because Assisi was the home and final resting place of St. Francis, it’s also a pilgrimage destination that you’ll want to tour . In fact, the 13th century Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is one of Italy’s best known churches.

The tiny towns of Umbria — Spello, Spoleto, Perugia, and Gubbio — are utterly charming. This is where you’ll really get a taste of real Umbrian culture.

Here’s how to spend one week exploring Rome and Umbria:

• Day 3 : Drive to Orvieto, stop en route in Civita di Bagnoregio
• Day 4 : Explore Orvieto
• Day 5 : Drive to Assisi and explore, overnight in Assisi
• Day 6 : Day trip to Spello and Spoleto
• Day 7 : Day trip to Perugia and/or Gubbio

In this one week Italy route, you’ll start in Rome. For a base, you’ll be in Rome (2 nights) Orvieto (2 nights), and Assisi (3 nights). For more details, check out my comprehensive one week in Umbria itinerary .

More time? Head north to Tuscany with itinerary #2.

11. One Week Milan to Rome Itinerary

The journey from Milan to Rome is a popular tourist route. It’s only a 6 hour drive from Milan to Rome.

But this well-traveled road trip route is dense with amazing must see medieval villages, ornate palazzos, Roman ruins, and sublime treasures of the Renaissance.

You start with Italy’s exciting northern capital of Milan and end in Rome, Italy’s ancient southern capital of Rome. Along the way, you’ll visit some of Italy’s most beautiful towns in northern Italy. You’ll experience a near overdose of art, from Ancient Rome to treasures of the Renaissance in Florence.

With this itinerary, you’ll get to visit Bologna. Nicknamed La Grassa , or the Big Fat, for its delicious food, Bologna just oozes medieval charm. And you should definitely take a food tour in Bologna .

Bologna is a bit of a hidden gem in Italy. But it shouldn’t be. Bologna is a historic city filled with striking architecture, beautiful piazzas, a swathe of palaces and towers, and gourmet restaurants. Eat, eat, and eat more!

Situated atop three hills, Siena is Italy’s ultimate rustic hill town.

Its thriving historic center , with movie set lanes cascading every which way, offers Italy’s best medieval city experience.

Here’s how you can spend one week on a road trip from Milan to Rome .

• Day 1 : Explore Milan
• Day 2 : Pick up car drive to Bologna and explore
• Day 3 : Drive to Florence and explore
• Day 4 : Explore Florence and optional half day trip to Pisa
• Day 5 : Stop in Siena en route Rome
• Day 6 : Explore Rome
• Day 7 : Explore Rome

In this busy 7 day Milan to Rome travel itinerary, you’ll have three bases: Milan (1 night), Bologna (1 night), Florence (2 nights), and Rome (3 nights).

More time in Italy? Spend more time in Bologna, one of Italy’s most underrated cities.

Or, head to the Amalfi Coast with itinerary #8.

Need more information for this Milan to Rome road trip? Check out these travel guides and resources:

• 1 day in Siena itinerary

12. One Week In Sicily Itinerary

Want to head to the beautiful island of Sicily? I was just there for 2 weeks and it’s divine.

Sicily is rich in history, culture, and food. It’s one of Italy’s most exotic regions, pure passion set amid wild beauty. You can enjoy diverse landscapes — rocky volcanic coastlines, pristine beaches, and clifftop villages.

Sicily will also dazzle you with ancient ruins, UNESCO sites, artistic treasures, Baroque architecture, and Italy’s most exotic street markets. 

One week in Sicily isn’t enough time to experience the island fully. Given the distances to be traveled, imperfect roads, and plethora of attractions, you should probably stick to one part of the island.

I’ve written 5 sample itineraries for spending 1 week in Sicily by geography or theme:

• Eastern Sicily Itinerary
• Western Sicily Itinerary
• Northern Sicily Itinerary
• Sampler Sicily Itinerary
• Archaeological Sicily Itinerary

These one week Italy itineraries take you to Sicily’s premiere destinations — the exciting capital of Palermo, the mosaicked churches of Monreale and Cefalu, the clifftop town of Taormina, the sensation old world town of Syracuse, and the late Baroque towns of the Val di Noto.

For details and destination inspiration, check out my 1 week in Sicily itineraries . Or, check out some of my detailed travel guides covering the must visit sites and towns in Sicily:

• 2 days in Palermo itinerary
• 2 days in Syracuse itinerary
• 2 days in Trapani itinerary
• 1 day in Catania itinerary
• 1 day in Taormina itinerary
• Guide to the Valley of the Temples
• Guide to Villa Romana del Casale
• Guide to Monreale Cathedral
• Guide to the Norman Palace and Palatine Chapel

I hope you’ve enjoyed my one week Italy itineraries. If so, pin it for later.

12 thoughts on “7 Days in Italy: 12 Amazing One Week Itineraries for Italy”

I loved the itineraries…now I’m even more overwhelmed! My daughter and I want to spend 30 days in Italy (including Sicily). Any info on where to stay (location/safety)?

I feel like Italy is pretty safe, if you take the usual precautions of staying in good neighborhoods and not being out late at night. 30 days in Italy? That’s amazing. Sicily is definitely on my bucket list.

Thank you so much these are great ideas for first time travellers!

We fly into rome and leave rome after a week what would you suggest for one week, would love to see venace Florence or Milan!

I really wanted to see the different towns through Italy without having it to rushed happy to use the trains but accomodation wise I would have no idea where to book each night!

Thank you so much these ar very helpful!!

You’re welcome! You could actually use Rome as your home base for the entire week and day trip to other places either by high speed train or guided tour. Here’s my guide to the best day trips from Rome: https://www.thegeographicalcure.com/post/day-trips-from-rome . Or you could split your time between Rome and Florence. Florence is much closer than Milan or Venice. I have lots of articles on all those cities.

Great info thank you! Looking for a Rome – Venice – Amalfi itinerary…. Any suggestions or is it possible in a week? Thanks CD

You can do it, but you’ll be rushed. I’d probably start in Venice and only spend one day there if you only have 7 days in Italy. I do have a 1 day and 2 day itinerary for Venice and a 3 days in Rome itinerary.

ITALY It’s Beautiful city in Europe

Ha! Yes it is.

By far these iterinaries were great. Were heading to Europe for 3 weeks. Were going back to Rome for 2 or 3 days then explore northern part of Italy. We would like to spend 6 days or so then would like to see Switzerland then France. Any suggestions on these places. We are traveling with our 13 year old daughter. Thank you in advance Dennis

Thank you Dennis! I hope you have a fantastic time in Europe. If you use the search function on my blog page, you will find loads of itineraries for Rome and must see sites, museums, and ruins. I also have many articles on France. I haven’t been to Switzerland in a couple decades, so nothing on that country unfortunately.

Hi We are flying into Naples in September and headed to the Amalfi Coast. We have 7 nights and need to be in Venice on the 8th day. I know this will be a rushed tripped. I would love to include Bologna.Any suggestions on an itinerary?

Here are my sample itineraries for spending 5 days on the Amalfi Coast. https://www.thegeographicalcure.com/post/5-days-in-the-amalfi-coast-itineraries . You could take the high speed train from Naples to Bologna, spend a day there, and then head to Venice.

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Last Updated on April 14, 2023 by Leslie Livingston

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Ultimate One Week Italy Itinerary for First Timers

Italy might just be my favorite country in Europe . But as much as I like love traveling Italy, several people I meet hate it! They find it too expensive, too touristic, or too this, that, and the other thing. Because of this, and because I hate to see tourists leaving one of my favorite destinations disappointed , I’m sharing how I would recommend spending one week in Italy as a first timer . I start with the high-level breakdown, and then include a day-by-day detailed itinerary. 

Now, I have to warn you. This one week Italy itinerary is super detailed . Like, how-the-hell-do-you-have-time-to-write-all-this detailed. And I did that on purpose. You can go to any old website to get a vague “two nights in here” and “one night here,” bare-bones itinerary for Italy. But those itineraries don’t tell you what to do in each place, or how to get from each city to city. You’d have to go look that up after. But not with this itinerary.

Basically, what I’m trying to say is: you might absolutely want to save this for later right now by bookmarking it or saving it on Pinterest, just in case you don’t finish all in one go . Then, grab a cuppa, sit back, and let’s get to it!

Italy One Week Itinerary Summary

For a first time visit to Italy, I highly recommend visiting the “big three” of Rome, Florence, and Venice. I recommend spending three nights in Rome, two nights in Florence, and two nights in Venice.

If you’re the average traveler with limited vacation days, I suggest breaking it down like below. This way, you only need to use five vacation days , but you actually get seven days in Italy .

Psst! Want to see even more of Italy ? If you can finagle just three more vacation days, you can also visit Cinque Terre, Pisa, and Milan with ten days in Italy . And if you can add in another four days, you can also add Positano and the Amalfi Coast, Capri, and Pompeii with two weeks in Italy . But if you can’t do more than one week in Italy, don’t worry – Italy is definitely a repeat-visit kind of destination!

The Best Month to Visit Italy

The best time of year to travel to Italy is hands-down the shoulder seasons of April – May and September – October . You can see everything in mildly warm weather, but you can avoid the notorious crowds (And heat! And prices!) of the summer months. If you want to swim in the sea, aim for September – October, so that the water has had all summer to get nice and warm.

How to Get Around Italy

One of the loveliest things about traveling Italy is how convenient it is to get around the country without a car. In fact, I totally believe trains are the best way to travel in Italy . This is particularly true for your first time in Italy. So, this one week Italy itinerary is completely car-free, relying solely on trains and water taxis .

One super important tip for train travel in Italy is to always validate your ticket ! Otherwise, you will be fined, and lemme tell ya – the fines ain’t cheap . (Like, truly. These fines are low-key high-key robbery.) How do you validate your train ticket in Italy? Simply insert your paper ticket into the machines before you enter the train. It’ll make a noise and time-stamp your ticket. These little validation machines are usually at the entrance to each platform. If you have difficulty finding them, just ask a train station employee. If you buy your ticket online or via the mobile app – no need to stress!

Another tip for train travel in Italy is to always  buy your long-distance train tickets online   as soon as you know your travel dates ! This way, you can purchase a Frecciarossa ticket (the faster kind of ticket) before the price gets too high closer to the travel date. If you are riding regional trains (which work fine for shorter distances), just buy them at the station on the day of, so you have flexibility in case plans change.

In this one week itinerary, I include all the details and prices for each time you’ll use public transport to move around Italy. I’ve got you covered!

AND NOW, LET’S GET TO THE ACTUAL ITINERARY ITSELF

Beforehand, I just want to let you know you can do this itinerary in the order I have it or the reverse order. Just look up flights and see which direction is cheaper.

As the former capital of the Roman Empire and the current capital of Italy, Rome is a unique mix of old and new. Try to ignore the street vendors with zero concern for personal space selling selfie sticks and whizzing gadgets, and I’m sure you’ll fall in love with Rome .

How to Get to Rome

This is the start of your trip, so you’ll need to fly in. Rome has two airports, so be careful you fly into the correct one. The  main international airport in Rome is Fiumicino (FCO) . This airport is the further out one. To get to the city center from FCO, you have two options.

• Option 1: Take the train.  Follow signs in the airport to the train platform. From FCO, take the train to Roma Termini train station. This costs €14 and will take 30 minutes. From Roma Termini, you can either walk to your accommodation, or use the Metro to take the subway if your accommodation is further away. Be very careful of pick-pocketers in this train station! Do not accept or ask help from anyone except official employees, and wear your backpack facing your front.
• Option 2: Take a taxi.  Taxis from FCO into central Rome are a fixed fare of €48. Make sure you get into an official taxi at the taxi pickup line. They should accept card, and you can double check this as well as fare before getting in. This will take 30 minutes, just like the train.

Rome’s other airport is Ciampino (CIA) . This smaller airport is actually slightly closer to central Rome. However, it is only used for budget airline flights within Europe, like RyanAir and EasyJet. If you’re flying here (or anywhere!) with RyanAir, definitely skim through my guide on  how to not get ripped off ! Once again, you have two options on how to get to central Rome from CIA airport.

• Option 1: Take a bus  to (right near) Roma Termini train station. There are multiple  options you can explore here . Some include SITBusShuttle for €6 one-way, or Terravision for €4 if purchased online or €6 in person. This ride takes 40 minutes.
• Option 2: Take a taxi.  Taxis from CIA into central Rome are a fixed fare of €30. Again, make sure you get into an official taxi at the taxi pickup line and confirm the fare before getting in. This ride takes 30 minutes.

What to Do in Rome (Three Days)

Below is exactly how to see Rome in three days. Take it easy on day one , since it’s the day you arrive on your flight. But feel free to interchange days two and three as works best for you. If you get in way too late on day one, you can tack it onto day three.

Walking straight through this route as I have it below is 30 min (2km or 1.25 miles), just to give you an idea of total distance on day one. Start at whichever end is closer to you.

• Scalina Spagna: The beautiful staircase known as the Spanish Steps gets busy in the evening as a popular hang-out spot.
• Trevi Fountain: This is Rome’s largest and most-famous fountain. Stand with your back to the fountain and toss a coin in to guarantee a return trip to Rome (if you believe the legend).
• Pantheon: This famous Roman-temple-turned-church is €5 to enter.
• Piazza Navona: Several cafes line the edges of this beautiful square with two impressive fountains.
• Largo di Torre Argentina: This is where Roman senators assassinated Emperor Julius Caesar by stabbing him 23 times (dramatic much?) to death in 44 BC.
• Colosseum: Perhaps the most famous landmark in Rome! Tickets are €16 and include this plus the next two sites, plus €2 if purchased online from the official site . But, unless you plan to be the first ones at the door, I highly recommend skip-the-line tickets. They are €22  here , or €37 for a  guided tour . These price quotes are the highest prices, but those 25 years and younger get discounts !
• Roman Forum: This once-bustling site is now ruins of numerous important government buildings during the ancient Roman Empire. Walking around, it’s amazing seeing how huge the ruins are, and wondering how it must have been back then – almost 2000 years ago!
• Palatine Hill: This is where all the rich kids lived during the Roman Empire – the aristocrats and emperors and all that jazz.
• Arch of Constantine: This arc, built in 302 AD and the largest surviving one of its kind, is right outside the Colosseum.
• Via dei Fori Imeriali: This street connects the Colosseum to the next attraction below. You can look down on the Roman Forum from above on one side and view other incredible ruins on the other. 
• Vittoriano: This huge, white, marble building almost doesn’t fit in with its ancient surroundings. It’s a memorial to Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of the united Italy as we know it today.
• Vatican City: Did you know this is its own country? It’s the smallest country in the world, ruled by the Catholic Pope. There are basically three things to see while here: St. Peter’s Square ,  St. Peter’s Basilica , and the  Vatican Museums . St. Peter’s Basilica is free to enter, but dress code is  very  strict. Make sure your shoulders and knees are covered. This goes for all genders and ages. There is a slow moving-crowd-slash-line to get in, but I found it moved quickly enough when I went. Once in the basilica, you can  climb up to the dome  for iconic views. To the right from the entrance, there should be a “Cupola” sign. Follow the sign until at the ticket office, where you can purchase a ticket to either climb the whole way or one to take an elevator halfway up. As far as I know, you can only buy tickets on site, and they should be around €8 and €10. The Vatican Museums house the world-famous Sistine Chapel. You’ll pay €17 for entry at the door, but  definitely  pay €21 for a  skip-the-line ticket  purchased online. Entry to the Museums is free on the last Sunday of every month and on World Tourism Day (Sept 27). Seeing Vatican City should take up a whole morning.
• Castel Sant’Angelo: Emperor Hadrian originally has this built as a mausoleum for himself and his family, but it’s since been used as a fortress, castle, and nowadays a museum.
• Wander: Explore on your own! Get lost! You’ve checked off all the “can’t miss” things everyone else does, but who wants their trip to be just the same as everyone else’s? If you just run around ticking off attractions, I’m not sure you’ll like Rome. But wandering it’s less-crowded streets, strolling along the river, popping into a random church – these are the things that will leave you loving Rome.

Florence conjures images of Renaissance paintings and fairytale Tuscan buildings. There are so many things to see in Florence, but I think two days in Florence is the perfect amount of time for a first visit.

How to Get to Florence from Rome

Take an early, direct train from Roma Termini train station to Firenze S. M. Novella train station . This takes either 1.5 hours or 3.75 hours depending on what kind of train you take. If you are buying a ticket for the next morning, you can expect to pay €21.65 for a 3.75-hour Regional train or €50 for a 1.5-hour Frecciarossa train. If you are buying one month out, the price for the 1.5-hour Frecciarossa train drops to €35.90.

What to Do in Florence (Two Days)

Some people recommend purchasing the Firenze Card , because it covers a lot of the main things in Florence. But for two days in Florence (or even three days in Florence), I am not sure the card is worth it. I actually recommend purchasing the Grande Museo del Duomo ticket instead. This pass includes entry into the Duomo, a climb to the Cupola (dome) of the Duomo, a climb to the Campanile (bell tower), entry into the baptistery, entry into the Duomo museum, and entry into the crypt beneath the church. It costs €18, plus a €2 pre-sale fee if bought on the official website.

Now, let’s get to all the things to do in Florence in two days! I haven’t split it out into separate days here, because I think it’s better if you choose yourself . Would you prefer to visit one museum a day, or have one big museum day? Would you try to avoid climbing stairs twice in the same day, or are you up for the challenge? Would you enjoy a viewpoint for sunset, or prefer sunrise? Your answers to those questions will determine what things you do and see each day in Florence, so I can’t recommend that for you. Most attractions in Florence are pretty compactly located, anyways, so planning a route shouldn’t be too bad on the fly!

* You can skip items with an asterisk if you’re not interested. I’ve only listed them since they’re included in the ticket I recommended above. If you want a more-detailed breakdown of the below, check out my full travel guide to Florence things to do (complete with pictures of each attraction!).

• Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo): It’s the third largest church in the world and practically the symbol of Florence itself. Entry is free, but prepare for a massive line at least an hour long.
• Cupola: Bruneschelli’s Dome, named after the architect who designed it, is actually the most impressive part of the entire church. They literally had to invent new tools and architectural systems to create it. Definitely climb up the steps for the view from the top. You’ll have to select a specific time slot, though, when you buy your ticket! Otherwise, you will be turned away and asked to return.
• Campanile di Giotto: Yes you already climbed up the cupola, but there’s another viewpoint nearby! This time, the view is the cupola itself.
• Battistero di San Giovanni: This is the octagonal building right across the main cathedral. The Byzantine-like mosaic inside was actually pretty surprising to find, in contrast to all the typical-Renaissance paintings. Tourists will be snapping pics of the gold doors outside, but those are copies. The real ones are in the Duomo Museum!
• Duomo Museum*: Since you already paid, it might be worth a quick visit. It will help you understand why all this Duomo stuff in Florence is such a big deal!
• Crypt of Santa Reparata*: This is also included in the Duomo combo ticket, which was the only reason I saw it. But once I got there, it was actually cooler than I expected. It’s basically church ruins from 405AD inside the main church. The unfortunate thing about the crypt is that you have to wait in the same line as for the free Duomo entry. So definitely time these two activities together!
• Piazza della Repubblica: One of Florence’s main squares.
• Piazza della Signoria: The best part of this busy square is definitely the Loggia dei Lanzi. It’s basically a free, open-air museum of dramatic sculptures that really should be in one of the museums. (Like really though, I’m super surprised these are just out there!) Also in this square is a copy of the David statue, for those of you who don’t pay to see the real thang.
• Palazzo Vecchio: I didn’t enter except for the free courtyard. But it’s supposed to have a great view of the Duomo.
• Ponte Vecchio: This iconic bridge has become synonymous with Florence itself! It was originally a passageway so the Medicis (a super rich family that basically made Florence….well, Florence) didn’t have to walk with the commoners on their commutes to work from their home palace. Since then, shops have been added and create the look it has today. Prepare for some crowds!
• Piazzale Michelangelo: The best viewpoint in Florence! It requires an uphill walk and is the furthest out you’ll get from the city center. So make the trek worth it Bring some snacks and hangout for a while like everyone else does.
• Acadamia: Unfortunately, the only reason to enter this gallery is for one piece of art. The David . Don’t at me, art fanatics. You decide if that’s worth it for you, but I have such FOMO that I had to pay €12 and see for myself. Pro-tip: avoid the lines AND the €4 online skip-the-line fee to book by visiting on one of the days they allow night visits! I got in so quickly! No one really knows about it, which is why it’s so empty, so let’s try not to tell too many people? *wink* Confirm the night time hours, or book online,  here .
• Uffizi Gallery: Uffizi means “offices” in Italian, and this building actually used to be the Medici’s offices. Nowadays, it’s a world-famous art museum. Its most-famous art piece is the Birth of Venus painting. Entry costs €12, plus €4 for the skip-the-line online booking fee on the official site . 
• San Lorenzo Market: This is Florence’s most-famous market. Stop by here to shop leather and eat in the indoor food stalls.
• Santa Croce: I didn’t enter this church, since admission was not free. But I do think it’s in a picturesque area and warrants passing by.
• Palazzo Pitti: Normally, palaces are for royalty…but not in Florence! This palace belonged to the Medici’s (shocker). I personally have seen way too many European palaces at this point. So I did not pay the €10 entry fee and simply observed from outside. However, I did regret not having arrived earlier in the day than I did, to buy a Boboli Gardens ticket (€6)!

Beautiful Venice is the perfect last stop for your week in Italy. It’s an insanely beautiful city built on canals , and it’s become famous amongst travelers for the chance to ride a gondola. As beautiful as Venice is, the crowds (especially in summer) can be brutal. Thus, I recommend knocking out all the main attractions at less-crowded hours. Then, spend the middle of the day exploring the rest of the city, where it’s much less crowded, but no less picturesque.

How to Get to Venice from Florence

Take the train from Firenze S. M. Novella to Venezia S. Lucia . For a direct, 2.5 hour Freccia train, expect to pay €39.90 if purchased a month in advance, but €57 if purchased the day before. If you use the slower trains, priced €20.35 – €26.90 and requiring one to two transfers, the travel time jumps to 4+ hours!

What to Do in Venice (Two Days)

Venice is pretty small and easy to walk compared to Rome or Florence, so you should have no trouble “seeing everything” with two days in Venice. You’ll also be able to fit in a half-day trip to the Instagram-famous island of Burano . If you want a more detailed walkthrough (plus photographs of each of the below!), skim through my guide for the best things to do in Venice .

• Piazza San Marco: Venice’s main square is where a lot of the city’s (tourist) action is. Firstly, there’s the Basilica San Marco . It’s free to enter, but there can be a very long line most hours of the day, so be careful what time you go. I went in the middle of the day when I saw it was shorter, and was in and out in 10 minutes! If you’d rather not risk it, you can  book your time slot online  during high season for a €2 booking fee. Large bags are not allowed inside, but there’s a free luggage storage the basilica will tell you to use. Across from the basilica is the Campanile (the bell tower). You can take the elevator up it for €8. If you want to skip the line, it’s the same website as the basilica. There’s also the Doge’s Palace . Entry is €25, but only €13 with the 29-year-old Venice Rolling Card I mentioned above. See the  official site  for more details.
• Bridge of Sighs: Walk around the Doge’s Palace, making a left turn around the corner along the water. From the first bridge, you’ll spot the famous Bridge of Sighs from the left. It’s named so because it connects the prisons to the palace, and prisoners sighed while taking one last look over Venice as they walked through the bridge to their dooms.
• Rialto Bridge: If you haven’t figured out by now, Venice has a lot of cool bridges!
• Accademia Bridge: This was my favorite bridge, because it has such an amazing view.
• Take a half-day trip to Burano and Murano: I wrote an in-depth guide on how to visit the islands from Venice , plus what each island is all about.
• Fondaco dei Tedeschi: This shopping center has free rooftop views of Venice, but you need to  book in advance . It’s located right at the edge of the Rialto Bridge on Calle del Fontego.
• The Grand Canal: The iconic way to float around Venice is on a Gondola. This will set you back €80 per gondola (six people max) in the daytime, or €100 sunset and later. Prices are fixed, so check current gondola prices , and don’t let anyone overcharge you. If on a budget, you can instead just ride the vaporetto between San Marco and the train station. This will be “free,” since the vaporetto pass necessary for the Burano and Murano half-day trip is still valid!

How to Get Out of Venice

Like all good things, your epic one week in Italy has come to an end! You’ll need to get out of Venice. Venice’s international airport is Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE). There are a few ways you can get from Venice’s city center to VCE.

• Option 1: By water bus . From any of Venice’s Alilaguna water bus stops at San Marco, Rialto, Fondamenta Nuove, or Guglie, ride the water bus for €15. The ride takes up to 1.25 hours. Purchase tickets onboard the water bus or online for a €1 discount. Private water bus rides are also an option.
• Option 2: By bus . From the Venice Piazzale Roma ATVO bus stop, ride the bus for €10. The ride takes 30 minutes. Purchase tickets at the ATVO ticket office in Piazzale Roma, from the automated ticket machine outside that ticket office, or online .
• Option 3: By taxi . The fare for this 30 minute ride from Venice Piazzale Roma is €40. Make sure you get into an official taxi. They should accept card, and you can double check this as well as fare before getting in. You can also purchase online in advance (select “Town > Venice (P.Roma)” for Venice city center).

Questions on this One Week Italy Itinerary?

If you’re planning your own trip to Italy soon and want some personalized advice, drop a comment below with your questions . I love playing travel agent for people – especially for Italy!

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91 comments.

Hello, I’m trying to plan a first trip to Italy with some family members and your blog is very helpful. But we will likely do the trip in the reverse order and are thinking about visiting Cinque Terre instead of Florence. Can you tell me how we would get to Cinque Terre (probably staying in La Spezia) from Venice, and how long would it take?

That Travelista

I’m glad my blog has been helpful! From Venice, take the fast trains to La Spezia, which will require two transfers — one in Florence and one in Pisa. The total journey time should be a little under 5 hours.

Hope that helps!

What a fantastic week in Italy! See the Vatican and the Colosseum first in Rome. Then ride the train to Florence to see the history and art. See the countryside of Tuscany before travelling to Venice to see its stunning canals. Come to an end in Milan’s breathtaking Duomo. Savour the ideal fusion of history, culture, and landscape.

Hi Fathima,

I’m glad you like this itinerary!

Hi Em, Thank you for curating this amazing itinerary. I’m planning a trip to Italy in October and this is saving me so much time and effort, thank you so much! I’m looking forward to a post about your accommodation recommendations. As Italy is known for its delicious food, could you please also talk more about where to eat and the must-eat places?

Thanks in advance, Anandita

Hi Anandita,

You’re welcome! I’m glad to know it’s saved you time in your planning! 🙂

I’m not sure if you’ve taken a look yet at my two week Italy itinerary , but recommends what foods to try in each destination. It has more destinations than this one week itinerary, you can just search “What to Eat in Rome,” Florence, and Venice.

I don’t have specific restaurant recs, except that for I like the Grom ice cream chain, and that I think Trattoria al Gatto Nero is where Anthony Bourdain ate in an episode of his show where he visited Burano (the day trip from Venice). I didn’t eat there because I wasn’t visiting during their opening hours, but I had it on my list.

I hope that helps a bit!

I’ve responded to your other comment. 🙂

Hi! We haven’t booked anything yet but we are planning to have 7-10 days trip in Italy. I wanted to know if it is practical to have a RT flight to Milan or Venice or Flying into Milan and leaving from venice. Would 10 days be enough to be able to visit Rome – Milan- Venice – Florence? Sorry to ask you a lot of questions since this will be our first trip to Italy.

Ten days is enough to visit those 4 cities. Milan would require just one more day on top of this one week itinerary for the other 3 spots.

Any combination of airports is doable, especially since you have extra days on top of my recommended 8 for these 4 spots to travel back to your airport of choice. But what I recommend is doing a flight that starts in Rome and ends in either Venice or Milan. OR the exact reverse. This will save you a couple hours of train time overall vs not using Rome as an airport.

The order would then be Rome > Florence > Venice/Milan > Milan/Venice (whichever you didn’t see after Florence) OR the exact reverse.

You could the extra days to add extra time in the 4 spots, and/or use one of the days tack on a day trip to Lake Como from Milan .

I hope that helps!

Hello there,

Thank you for such a detailed and lovely site. I am taking my hisband to Italy next week, and am oplanning to do Venice, Florence and Rome. Would you please assist me with the travel portion, as I would like to take the fast train from venice to Florence, and the Fast train from Florence to Rome. I would also like to know if taking the bus around Florence and Venice is convenient and worth it, or just walk.

I have been to Florence and Rome before, and have seen all the sites. I was considering doing something more romantic with my husband and maybe cutting short a day in Venice or Rome to add to Florence so we could stay in Tuscany on the coutryside. Please share your thoughts, as I would like a romantic,non-stressful and memorable trip. One that includes sighteseeing, but more taking in the town and dining and hanging with the locals. Please advise.

I’m glad to know my site has been helpful to you!

As I mention in the itinerary, you can go to the official TrenItalia website to book your high speed tickets in advance. Just copy and paste the train station names from my itinerary.

I don’t see much to benefit from taking the bus in Florence. It’s quite compact. Venice is also compact, and instead of the bus, you would actually be using the water taxi service, since it is all canals instead of roads. This isn’t necessary unless your accommodation is far from the train and you would like to avoid walking up and down the many small bridges. But I think working the public transport via bus or water taxi in places as compact as Florence and Venice can sometimes make things less convenient than simply walking.

My itinerary only allocates two days to Venice. If you have never been to Venice, I wouldn’t recommend cutting one day from those two days. It is considered the most romantic city out of the three due to its beauty, and you can even hire the gondola ride to be at sunset. If you have already been to Rome, I would remove the one day from there.

You could maybe look for a romantic countryside day trip tour from Florence, or rent a car for a day and go at your own pace. I’m sure you can find some lovely restaurants with stunning views. You could also look into AirBnB experiences. I’ve never tried them, but I’ve heard nice things from friends who have. It allows you some more personal interaction with the locals.

I hope some of that helps!

Nawanshu Sehrawat

I am planning from India to Milan (Italy) in coming Nov. Can you help me in giving a day wise itinerary starting from Milan (flight will land), Venice, Rome & Florence. And I have to board flight from Milan again. This will be a 7 day journey for me.

Hi Nawanshu,

As you can see from this itinerary and maybe my 10 day Italy itinerary as well, I recommend 3 nights for Rome, 2 nights for Florence, 2 nights for Venice, and 1 night or Milan. So in order to fit all 4 cities into 7 days, you’ll have to remove 1.5 days from Rome/Venice/Florence in order to make room for Milan and the additional travel time.

You can really do whatever order you prefer for the loop. But something like Milan > Venice > Florence > Rome > Milan might be slightly most efficient train-travel-time-wise. You might consider going from Milan straight to the next city for your first night, if your flight arrival time allows for it, to save moving hotels by one time.

The train station you use in Milan would be Milano Centrale.

Hello, What would you estimate a safe dollar amount this trip would cost. I tried looking on your 2 week itinerary but trying to gauge cost as well. Thanks

The biggest cost is going to be housing, and that is going to depend entirely on your personal preferences, your party size, the month or even week that you are visiting, and how far in advance you book. So it’s hard for me to ballpark that for you. I would recommend you look at some places in each city on a booking site (like Booking.com or Expedia) to get an idea of a per night rate for the type of accommodation that you personally will be ok with.

Besides that, I’ve tried to put all the prices of attractions and transport in this guide, so you can just add up all the attractions you would enter (for example, not everyone will do a gondola ride or enter every attraction) and the transport you would take (for example, using a cab is different than using a bus or ferry).

If you plan to have a restaurant meal 3 times a day, I’d budget around €60-80 per day to be super safe. But I personally usually spend less than €25 a day on food in Italy, because I have pastries for breakfast, simpler meals for lunch and dinner, and don’t care for wine.

Sorry to not be of more help!

Dileep Yadav

Dear That, You have already done a great help for the first time tourist traveler like us to Italy by this itinerary. Please can you also suggest decent 3star / medium range Hotel at centralized location for all three cities ? Self (75yrs) with my daughter (41 yrs) are planning the trip in first half of October 2024. Visa takes time so we need to apply now. Thanks.

I’m glad this itinerary has been helpful!

I unfortunately don’t have specific recommendations, but am working on a guide for that and can let you know when the post is live, in case you are still planning at that time. Otherwise, I can say that I usually use Booking.com to search, because I like that their interface allows you to filter criteria (like 3 stars, for example, or maximum cost) and then view the results on a map, which allows me to see where the accommodation is relative to the train station and attractions. (I’m not currently affiliated with Booking.com.) I then copy the hotel address into google maps and see the walking time from the train station.

Thanks. You responded and am happy for that. Will it be possible for you to at least define the area where we should be looking for the Hotel? central area from where the sightseeing spots/train station is closer as we intend taking trains and not cabs. Thank you for your additional support in advance. Kind regards.

I personally always try to book something walking distance to the train station, beacuse I also avoid taking cabs, since I usually travel solo and thus don’t have others to split the cost with.

In Rome, I liked staying in the area between the Repubblica and Viminale metro stops, because it’s flat walking distance from the main train station, but also reasonable walking distance to all the attractions, minus the Vatican.

In Venice, I would recommend staying on either the same island as the main train station, or just one bridge away (so one of the bordering islands). Otherwise, you will have to go up and down many bridges to reach your accommodation (like I did, and regretted!). There is the option to take a public water taxi, but I think it could add a might more stress to the journey to have to figure out the water taxi system through the canals immediately after arriving and with all your luggage. So that’s why I suggest staying on or near the island with the train station.

Florence is more compact than Rome and has no canals, so anywhere walking distance to the train station should be fine.

Hi Em! I appreciate you for sharing this itinerary. We’ll be visiting Europe this coming July and already booked one way flight ticket to Rome (no return ticket yet for a flexible schedule). We’ll be in Italy for a week so this itinerary works for me and my fiancé. We’re planning to stay in Hamburg and other cities in Germany too for about 7-10 days as we have relatives to visit. But other than those two countries, we want to add one more to visit even just for 2-3 days only. Can you suggest one where we can go from Italy via train and from there we’ll be flying to Germany? Or Italy-Germany-Another Country? Which route do you think would work best? TIA.♥

The only place outside Italy that I personally think could be reasonable to suggest you go to overland from Venice would be Slovenia. You could travel to the capital, Ljubljana, from Venice by bus, and do a day trip to Lake Bled before flying to Germany.

If you are willing to travel to Milan first, there are various cities in Switzerland that are a reasonable train ride away from Milan, so you could spend a couple days in Switzerland before flying to north Germany.

But I think it could be better to fly from Venice to Germany and then train from Germany to country two. If you depart from Hamburg to country #3, you could consider the Netherlands or Denmark. If your travels in Germany take you further west, you could also consider Belgium, which you can reach by train from Cologne or Dusseldorf. You could also reach Paris from Cologne (I’ve actually done this train ride!). If your travels in Germany take you further east, you could consider the Czech Rep, which you can reach by train from Berlin. You could also do the reverse – fly from Venice to one of the country #3 options and then train from them into Germany. Your most convenient airport options to get back home are probably going to be Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels, or something in Germany, so keep that in mind too when deciding your end point.

You have a lot of options, depending on your other stops in Germany, but I hope some of that helps!

Thank you so much for that response and taking your time to suggest all of these. I’d definitely discuss this with me fiancé! Also, I was thinking, upon checking the map, is it possible to go Rome-Florence-Pisa-Venice-Vienna or Salzburg-Munich-Cologne (might skip!)-Hamburg? What do you think of this route? We are coming from UAE btw.

Austria crossed my mind, too, but it would take you around 6 hours to get to Salzburg, or 7.5 hrs to Vienna. For me, 5hr+ train rides are where I start to consider short flights instead, because at that threshold, it would take the same amount of time door to door.

So as much as I personally loved Salzburg , I can’t really recommend that kind of long journey for either that and/or Vienna . I would also recommend a place like Hallstatt on an Austria itinerary, and I’d feel bad to suggest you go all the way to Austria on a long train ride without being able to also fit Hallstatt in, which would be hard with so few days and your public transport options.

Munich is similar. It would take so long to get there that I personally wouldn’t really consider it worth it for what it is. Munich to Hamburg will also be a long train ride (6hrs minimum). (If you guys do decide to go to Munich, I would just recommend also doing a day trip to Schloss Neuschwanstein!)

I don’t know if you’ve already seen my 10 day Italy itinerary , but since you mention adding on Pisa, you might consider using your extra 2-3 days to see more of Italy, and then flying to Germany from Venice. You could also thrown in a day trip to Lake Como from Milan .

Hi. Can you recommend hotel for each city?

I am currently working on a guide to that for different budgets and such, and it should be up in the next month or so. I can comment back on this thread to let you know when it’s live, if your trips isn’t for some time!

Hello there, Thank you so much for your detailed itinerary. It will be my first time in Italy in August(I know I know, worst time to go but hubby only has time off during this time). We have friends that live in Pescara and want to visit them…..however I am not sure where to start off. I am coming from Lisbon…..I want to skip Rome….we will have about 8 days in Italy…..feeling lost on where to start. Any recommendations?

My first visit to Italy was to Rome in August, and I had a lovely time. And my next trip will be this summer, again in August! 🙂 So don’t worry – you’ll have a great time. Especially considering you’ll be spending some time in a less-touristy place and along the coast.

If you are wanting to roughly follow this one week itinerary but replace Rome with Pescara, this is what I would recommend:

Fly into Venice from Lisbon. Spend 2 days in Venice. Then take the fast train down to Florence. Spend 2 days in Florence. Then take the fast train down to Pescara. This will require a transfer in Bologna and take around 4 hours. This gives you 4 days in Pescara with your friends.

To return home, fly out from Rome (FCO) airport. If your friends aren’t dropping you off, the fastest way to get there (besides private transfer) is via Flixbus to FCO. Option two would be to take a train to “Fiumicino Aeroporto,” which requires a transfer at Roma Tiburtina station.

If you don’t need to spend that many days with your friends, you can tack on the days you don’t need as extra nights in Florence or Venice, to go slower and be less rushed. You could also add on day trips from either Venice or Florence with any extra nights you give those two cities.

I didn’t see a mention on the best hotels or where you stayed; I was just skimming but also saved the link to revisit. Any recommendations for hotels and also thoughts on renting a car. Thanks in advance.

Hi Victoria,

I would not rent a car for this itinerary. You cover the distance way faster via train. To give you an idea, just from Rome to Florence is 3-4hrs by car but just 1.5hrs by fast train.

I am currently working on an accommodation guide and can respond back to your comment to let you know when it’s ready, in case you are still planning your trip. 🙂

Hello! I’ve read both this and your 10 day guide – thank you so much for going into so much detail, it’s amazing! My husband and I love to travel by train so I’m excited that it seems to be the preferred way to get around.

I think we’re likely to have 7-9 days, and we’re most interested in seeing the Cinque Terre, Florence and Venice. Do you have any recommendations for the order of them and the best way to get between them? I know you have Florence-Venice here, but you also have Cinque Terre between the two on the other guide hence me asking. We’ll be flying in/out from London.

Thanks so much in advance!

I’m glad the posts have been helpful in your planning! And I’m glad you’re also fond of trains! They cover SO much distance so much more quickly than by car in Italy when traveling between the main tourist stops.

If you’d just like to stick to those 3 spots and not Rome, I’d recommend flying into Pisa airport to start. From there, head to Cinque Terre (either La Spezia or whichever village of your choice). Next, train to Florence. And then train to Venice. Fly home from Venice airport. OR, the exact reverse order – whatever you prefer or whatever works out best for accommodation offerings, etc. This way, you have the least backtracking. 🙂

If you want to tack on Rome, add it before or after Cinque Terre and replace Pisa airport with Rome airport. So Rome > CT > Florence > Venice OR the reverse. Make sure to get the direct fast train between Rome and La Spezia.

Thanks so much – very helpful indeed!

Hello…this is such an awesome site and very nice and practical too. Would love to hear your recommendations for 4 days to Tuscany region ( Florence plus countryside / wineries ) Planning to do Rome for 3 nights according to your itinerary and then Tuscany for 5 nights and fly out of Rome .

Appreciate your time..thank you!

I’m glad to know you like the itinerary!

I think what you suggest sounds like a fine plan! You could find some organized tours from Florence for the 2 extra days there, that combine wine tastings with smaller villages or just show you the Tuscan countryside. I’m not a wine enthusiast, so I’ve never done these tours, but I’ve seen them offered online. You could also rent a car from Florence for 2 days and see whatever interests you most in Tuscany.

Where do we go for the extended if we have 2 weeks for Italy and have you ever been to Greece? Never been anywhere much as I’m solo and new to all of this! Much help appreciated haha 🤣 thanks in advance!

Hi Christal,

I haven’t been to Greece yet, but this is a detailed guide to how I’d spend two weeks in Italy as a first timer.

Thank you so much for a detailed post! really helped take away some of the anxiety as a first timer in Europe. I will be staying in Tallinn Estonia for 3 weeks in May, plan to go to Italy for 5 days and maybe Germany for 2 days during last week of May.

I have couple of questions: Out of 3 cities you mentioned, can I still do all 3 or you think I can stick to two cities. In my mind, Rome is must. Considering I only have 4-5 days in Italy.

Secondly, I have no proficiency in Italian language, do you think I can roam around Italy, especially countryside near Florence with only speaking English and using google translate?

Finally, this one might be a bit controversial, are people there friendly to foreigners? Especially, if I look like I am from India or Egypt.

Thanks again Ak

I’m glad this post has help reduced your pre-trip anxiety!

If you really want to see all 3, you can, but you will need to cut 1 day each from 2 cities (or 1 day from 1 city and a half day from 2 cities). You will have to be OK with rushing through those cities and maybe not seeing everything. I can understand this perspective if you may not be back in Italy in the future and prefer to see a little of everything. But if you want to see each place that you visit “fully,” then choosing 2 is the way to go.

You will be fine with English and Google translate. (You’ll honestly be fine without Google Translate too, unless you are going to a place with literally no tourists.)

Your final question is totally valid. I have never felt racism directed towards me in Italy, but I have first-hand witnessed it occurring to other people (sometimes from other tourists), and I’ve of course heard others speak about it happening to them. In my experience, Italians are friendly in that they are quite chatty/curious and willing to help if you ask or look like you need help. But you are going to find those people who work in something touristic and just seem sick of tourists and might take it out on you on that day. There’s really no way to predict whether you’ll face racism/xenophobia or not on your trip, but I would sum it up by saying I don’t think your experience will be much different than in other western nations. Another thing is that passport privilege is real, and my experience is that of someone with a US passport and a native US accent. I don’t know what nationality you are, so I wanted to mention that.

Hello, your post is great and very detail oriented. I just wanted to ask one thing, We are a couple travelling with a child, how convenient is travelling with a Child Buggy in Italy, especially on the public transports everywhere.

I’m glad to know you like my post!

I’ve never traveled with children, so I’m probably not the best to answer how it will be traveling with a child. If your buggy is foldable, you can put it up in the storage above your seats, and there is also storage for large luggage at the ends of of the train carriages. You can book your seats in advance and choose the seats that face a table, so that your child can have some room to draw/play and eat, if you want. And the train stations have elevators, in case you are concerned about carrying things up the stairs.

That’s all I can say from the perspective of someone who’s never traveled with kids. I hope some of that helps! 🙂

Thank you so much for the details and also the cost saving ideas. This is greatly appreciated as we are doing our visit on a very tight budget. A work colleague and I are doing a week in Italy after a work conference in Athens. We fly in and out of Rome. What would you recommend that we take out of this itinerary to add a night in Monza to check out the race circuit and then go onto Venice or something along those lines. Keep up the great work in helping people enjoy their holidays more 😊

I’m glad the tips in this itinerary have been helpful for you! 🙂

If you weren’t flying into/out of Rome, I would say to take out Rome and just stick to the main spots in the north of Italy (Venice, Florence, Milan + Monza, which is near Milan). Then, you can return to Italy and do Rome + Amalfi Coast in the future, if you want.

But since you are in Rome anyways, I say to keep it in your itinerary. That’s 3 nights. You also say Venice, so that’s 2 nights. Monza is 1 night. With the 1 extra night, you could see Milan. Or you could an extra night in Venice or Rome.

So you could do something like Rome > (Milan/)Monza > Venice > Rome or the reverse.

An alternative would be to just do one less day in Venice or in Rome than this one week itinerary suggests. But that would be quite rushed.

I hope some of those ideas help!

Thank you for your reply, appreciate it 😊

You’re welcome!

We are doing a family trip to Italy in early June with a 2 year old and 8 year old. Excluding flights we are there for 8 full days. We fly into Rome and want to just see a few of the major sites so our adult daughter and 8 year old can see them (we have been before). Next we hope to travel to Sorrento/Amalfi coast, Florence and finally Milan to depart.

Would you be able to provide some recommendations of how many days to stay in each location and things to do with the kiddos in tow? I don’t want to be burnt out from too much movement but know we have to get to Sorrento & Florence as our main locations. Rome & Milan are a means to an end for flights. I would love to do some shopping in Milan and see the highlights but I won’t be sad if we don’t have more than a day there.

Thank you in advance for your guidance and this blog! It’s SUPER helpful!

I’m glad the blog is helpful!

I’v never traveled Italy with kids, but I would suggest something like:

Day 1 – 2: Rome Day 3 – 5: Sorrento, other Amalfi Coast Day 6 – 7: Florence Day 8: Milan

If by “just see a few of the major sites” in Rome, you mean just view the Colosseum from the outside and maybe enter the free Vatican Basilica, then I think you can cut Rome down to one full day if you really don’t want to spend too much time there. Then you can add that extra day elsewhere, maybe Florence if it’s one of your main spots. I think Sorrento will be easier as a base for the Amalfi Coast with a toddler, because Positano is very steep. You can day trip to the other parts of the Amalfi Coast by either ferry or taxi.

I don’t really have kid-specific activities to suggest, unfortunately! Maybe a pasta making class, or the gelato making class I link to in the “What to Eat in Florence” part of my two week Italy itinerary ? There’s also going to the beach, if you are interesting in doing that in the Amalfi coast.

Thanks so much Em! We got our flights into Rome and out of Milan. We’ll do Sorrento for 3 nights but will have another 3 nights for somewhere between there and Milan (which will be our final night).

We are rethinking Florence because it sounds like it’s mainly an art draw. We’d rather focus on food and shopping with some Fulton art classes for the kids.

If you had your choice, where would you pick? We’d love to focus more on local culture than city if that’s feasible with the kids, transportation, and time.

Thanks for your input!

*culinary classes not Fulton art classes lol

Florence definitely doesn’t have a city feel, like Rome or Milan. Its role in the European renaissance is definitely the reason for its relevance, but it’s not that you just stare at paintings and sculptures in museums while there. The outdoor architecture itself is art, and there are a lot of vintage and artisanal markets to shop at. And I would say you can find culinary classes to book in any touristic destination in Italy, and that you will also find good food anywhere in Italy. So I just want to be clear that Florence isn’t at odds with any of the things you’ve listed that you’re looking for! 🙂

That being said, what do you mean by “local culture?” Do you mean a place that is less tourist-oriented? If so, you might consider the region of Emilia-Romagna. The main city there is Bologna, and from there you can visit Parma and Modena as day trips. It’s the region where a lot of the most famous Italian foods come from (bolognese sauce, parmesan cheese, balsamic vinegar), and it’s a lot less touristy than Rome, Florence, and the Amalfi Coast.

This is super helpful! Thanks sooooo much!!

Thank you, this was very informative. We are doing 4 days in Italy split evenly between rome and venice. Do you have suggestions on areas to stay?

I’m glad this was helpful!

For Venice, I’d recommend to stay on the same island as the train station or just a few canal crossings away. I stayed closer to the attractions, and regretted having to drag my luggage over so many bridges. There is obviously the water taxi service, but I didn’t really want to navigate it first thing after arriving.

In Rome, you can stay walking distance from the station if you prioritize being close to transport.

Other than that, I don’t have suggestions on neighborhoods or anything. I usually just booked based on where I find the best accommodation available for a fair price and the distance to the train!

Hope that helps a bit!

My husband and I are flying out of Pittsburgh 9/27 at 10 pm and arrive in Italy the next day at 4 pm. We fly into Rome and fly out of Rome 10/12 to return home. Can you do a itinaeray for us where to stay , how to get around , what to see like your one week plan. Ty

It sounds like you have 14 days in Italy. In that case, my recommendation is what I lay out in my 14 day Italy itinerary . At the end of the final day in Venice, just add a fast train to Rome that night/evening. Then, fly out of Rome the next day.

Thank you so much for such detailed post. It is exactly what I needed to start planning my Italy trip, and now I hope you can help with that 🙂. I plan on doing a 7 day solo trip to Italy, Easter 2025. I want to visit Rome, Florence and mostly Naples, and if I can squeeze in Tuscany great, but not a must for this trip. For me it’s more of a spiritual/mental retreat, a treat to myself. Any suggestions?

I’m glad this post has been able to help you plan your Italy trip!

Florence (a city) is in Tuscany (a region). So you’ll already be squeezing in Tuscany by going to Florence. 🙂

Assuming you are flying in and out of Rome, I would recommend Rome (3 days) > FLorence (2 days) > Naples (2 days) and then take the fast train (1.5 hours) back to Rome on the final evening to fly out of Rome the next day. OR the exact reverse. If you want an extra night in Florence to do a day trip to somewhere in the Tuscan countryside or a smaller Tuscan village, or if you want an extra day in Naples (since you write “mostly Naples), take it from Rome.

Thank you so much! Love this site so much.

We are doing Paris, Casablanca, Marrakech, Fes, , Merzouga, Seville, Madrid, Barca, Rome, Florence (checking out Pisa), and finishing off at Venice. We’ve learned so much from your site. Appreciate you so much for wonderful suggestions.

However on my last day – I’m actually flying out from Milan…I cannot really fit Milan anywhere on my schedule. I have 28 (from the morning) to 30 Sep in Venice. On the last night (30 Sep), would you suggest me to stay in Venice, the next morning take the train to Milan Airport or should I move to Milan on that night? My flight is at 2PM in the afternoon.

Appreciate it very much 🙂

Thanks so much for the kind words on the site! 🙂 You trip sounds like it’s going to be amazing!

The decision on Venice/Milan is really up to you. If it’s an international flight, they usually tell you to arrive 2 hours in advance, sometimes 3. So assuming they say 3, you’d need to arrive by 11am at MXP. The drive or train from the center is 1 hour, so you’d need to arrive in Milan by 10am. The train from Venice is 2.5 hours, so that means you’d need to depart Venice’s station by 7:30am.

Personally, I’d prefer to sleep in Milan and be able to wake up later on that morning of the flight, so I would move to Milan the night before. It would also make me not be worried about any train delays from Venice to Milan. But it’s all up to your personal preference!

I am planning a 10-day trip to Italy with Thursday as my departure day from the US, and the following Sunday will be departure from Italy. Friday morning is arrival in Rome. Upon arrival, I don’t feel like I’d be able to do much except wait around until 2-3pm hotel for check-in because we’ll have our luggage with us, and we can’t lug that around the city. Then, if we add 2 more cities, we’ll have do do the same process of checking out of a hotel by 11 or noon, traveling to the next destination, and most of the day is already gone by the time we’re checked in and settled.

How do you manage an itinerary considering luggage and hotel check-ins?

You can normally show up at the hotel at whatever time, as long as it is within their opening hours, and leave your bags with reception. Sometimes they will even have a special room to store luggage. Then you can leave to explore and return after check-in time. The same for check out. You check out when you need to, but leave your bags with reception. Then you return to pick it up before heading to your next city.

If you are staying in an AirBnB or something that doesn’t have reception, you can look for luggage storage in the city. This can be lockers or left luggage places with a person there. Train stations often have them nearby or even inside. Just google “left luggage [city name]” and find one close to you. Some even let you reserve in advance. But this is only if you don’t have reception. If you have reception, you should be fine! 🙂

Hope that helps! Enjoy your trip!

What a gem of a site Em! I’m wondering if you could make a recommendation on how to fit Naples (specifically Pompeii) into this itinerary. I’m taking my daughter there this coming September and Pompeii is on her “must-see” list. Would you add it to the Rome portion of the trip or tack it on at the end or the beginning somehow? She also has the Amalfi Coast on her list but I’m not sure we could add both Naples and Amalfi Coast onto this itinerary on an 8 day trip. Would love your thoughts. I love your itinerary though – it hits a lot of the other places she wants to see (Rome and the colosseum; Florence in the Tuscany area; Venice).

Hi Philcho,

I’m glad you like the site! 🙂

You can fit Pompeii easily as a DIY day trip from Rome by adding one day to this 7 day itinerary to make it 8 days, which it sounds like you have. So just add one more night to Rome. You can take a look at my 2 week Italy itinerary and scroll down to the “how to get to Pompeii from Rome” section. Then, just do that same journey backwards to return to Rome afterwards.

If you absolutely must see Amalfi Coast as well on this trip, then I’d recommend booking a group tour to Pompeii and Positano from Rome on that extra 8th day instead of doing a DIY trip to just Pompeii. It’ll be very rushed, but you’ll be able to “see” both Pompeii and the main star of the Amalfi Coast that way.

Thank you for the awesome itinerary. It is truly impressive and I am excited to save it for future reference. However, I would appreciate your advice on the following matter:

I am participating in the London Marathon this year. We are planning to spend 10 days in Europe and would like to visit the following cities: Brussels (2 days), Paris (3 days), and Italy (the remainder). Our intention is to finish our Italian journey in Rome and then return to England.

We would like to visit Rome and Florence during our time in Italy. Given the limited time we have, do we have to prioritize one city over the other? Would you recommend visiting Florence first, followed by Rome?

Your expert opinion would be greatly appreciated.

I’m happy to know you like the itinerary!

In this itinerary, I allocate 2.5 days to Rome and 2 days to Florence, so that seems to fit fine with what you have left in your 10 days after spending 5 days between Brussels and Paris. I would fly to Florence’s airport in the morning from either Paris or Brussels, then train down to Rome 2 days later and then fly back home after 3 nights there.

I hope that helps! Enjoy your trip, and good luck with the marathon!

We. Have 7 days in Italy flying in and out of Rome . No real plans but wanted to train out and then back . Was thinking straight to Florence and then back via Orvieto and the Rome for final 2 or 3 days but absolutely open to suggestions about best use of time and ease of travel ?

There seem to be direct trains between both Orvieto and Rome and Orvieto and Florence, so I think that sounds like a fine plan! And the trains are regional, so they’re the kind where the price stays the same.

I hope you enjoy your trip!

Thanks so much for this post. I learned so much. We are coming to Bari, Italy for a conference and will have about 3-4 days prior to hang out in Italy. I would like to make the most out of it despite not having 10 days. LOL. Do you suggest we focus on just Rome or try to do Venice too, etc. I would be curious on your thoughts.

Hi Danielle,

I’m glad this post was informative!

If it were me, because I knew even before my first trip to Italy that it would be a country I planned to make serval trips to over my lifetime, I would just stick to Rome. And maybe make a day trip from there to Pompeii (or even Amalfi Coast if you’re up for it and want to get a quick taste for it). That’s because I’m the type of person that would rather see a place more thoroughly and then see a new place thoroughly next time, rather than feel like I still had stuff left to see in both places because I was rushing.

But if you don’t know that you will get another chance to see Venice and prefer to just make sure you “tick” both Rome and Venice off your list this trip, you could squeeze my Rome part of the itinerary into two days (I say something about if your flight gets in late on day one, tack its sites onto day three) and then take the fast train up to Venice for two nights before returning back south on the fast train again. So it’s really up to you!

Thanks so much for the prompt response. Rome it is! -D

This looks great! We’re planning a trip for summer 2”2025 (two adults, two teenagers), and have two weeks total to split between Italy and Greece. Any suggestions on itineraries, getting from Italy to Greece, etc?

Hi Jennifer,

I’m glad it’s helpful!

I haven’t been to Greece yet, but Rome and Venice both have international airports, so I’m sure you will have no problem finding flights between either of them and Greece.

I assume you might want to see Athens, Santorini, and Mykonos. There are nonstop flights between each of those and Venice/Rome. I would probably make one flight connect to Santorini, because it’s far from Athens anyways, so you might as well start or end there. This is all assuming you would want to see the 3 biggest spots in Italy and 3 biggest spots in Greece during your two weeks, which I of course don’t know if you do. 🙂

I hope that helps you get started!

I am a new traveler, I have 2 kids that will be 17 and 14 when we go. I will be 53 (just in case I am a senior citizen). I have not idea how to budget for a week long vacation to Italy. Can you give me some idea? We will be going April-June sometime 2024. Thank you.

How exciting! Travel planning is definitely a skill that gets better with more practice.

To give yourself a rough idea, you can do the following: – look up flights for your trip. See what dates, times, and prices work for you. Don’t book this flight yet, but note the cost somewhere (Excel, Google Docs, scratch paper, whatever you prefer). – based on the dates of your flight plus this itinerary, decide what dates you will overnight in what city. So what dates in Rome, in Florence, and in Venice. Look up hotels for each city during those respective dates. Note/write those costs somewhere, or even go ahead and book the hotels if they offer free cancelation. – go back to my itinerary and decide which attractions you plan to enter. Unfortunately I am working through updating the prices for 2024 and haven’t gotten to this 7 day itinerary yet. But you can see the up to date prices and links for everything in my 14 day Italy itinerary . Note/write the costs of all the attractions you want to enter. – Then, go to the TrenItalia website and look up the train journeys you will need to take, based on the details in this 7 day itinerary. Decide which time you would likely take, and note/write those costs.

Add up all those costs (flights, hotel, attractions, and trains), and those will be the total of your minimum costs! Keep in mind to convert any euro prices to your home currency. Then , depending on how much you think you will eat a day, add in food costs. Are you likely to eat 3 sit down meals in a restaurant each day? If so, I would budget 20 euros per meal per person to be on the safe side. If you are likely to just grab a pastry for breakfast, street food for lunch, and only sit down in a proper restaurant for dinner, or if your hotel comes with breakfast included, that will save money. If you stop for gelato or snacks every day, that will add up. So by budgeting for 60 eur a person a day, you’ll be on the super safe side. (For reference, I usually spend less than even 30 eur a day on food in Italy, because I travel on a budget. But like a said, with 60, you can be on the safer side if you and your family prefer more comfort than I do. 🙂 ) Lastly think if you will want spare money for souvenirs, and if so, add some buffer budget for that too.

And that’s your total budget!

I hope that wasn’t too dizzying and was helpful! I always budget on Excel or Google Docs to keep it organized.

Hello! My husband and I are trying to plan a 1 week trip to Italy and your itinerary is perfect!! Thank you so much for sharing. We plan to relax a little more than maybe what you suggest, but I’m also concerned about food. Do you have food & dessert recommendations for each city? I like to eat well during trips haha, thank you in advance!

I’m glad the itinerary is helpful!

I would take a look at my two week Italy itinerary , if you haven’t already. On that itinerary, I list foods (desserts included) to try in each stop based on what each destination is known for or what was invented in that destination. All the stops on the one week itinerary are included in the two week one. Just search “What to Eat in Rome,” etc.

I don’t have many specific eatery recommendations aside from that 🙁 I do remember liking the Grom ice cream chain, and I think Trattoria al Gatto Nero is where Anthony Bourdain ate in an episode of his show where he visited Burano (the day trip from Venice). I didn’t eat there because I wasn’t visiting during their opening hours, but I had it on my list.

I hope that’s a little helpful!

Hello, my family (sisters and our mom and dad) are taking a Greek Isle cruise round trip from Rome (Civitavecchia) 8/25/2024 with Naples as one of the port of calls. We have booked flights to FCO arriving 8/19 and will have 6 days to explore before the cruise. Could you suggest an itinerary that is elderly friendly? ( mom and dad healthy in their 80s) Love to take the trains but not sure if renting a car makes more sense for us? Thank you so much!

Sounds like a very nice summer!

If I am understanding correctly, you will arrive in Rome 6 days before the cruise, and THEN travel by cruise to Naples at some point?

In that case, I would recommend 3 days in Rome and another 3 days in Florence. I would devote two of those days in Florence to Florence itself and use the 3rd day to do a day trip somewhere if you feel up for it (Cinque Terre, Sienna, San Gimignano, Pisa, are all options). You could also just leave the 3rd day as an extra day split between Florence and Rome (so 3.5 days in Rome and 2.5 in Florence), if you want to move slower and not pack as much into each day.

You could also do Venice instead of Florence, if it interests you more. But I said Florence because I think Venice doesn’t need more than 2 days, that Florence is easier to do a day trip from, and that Florence is closer to Rome.

I personally wouldn’t travel by car between the main cities in Italy. The train is much faster (Rome-Florence is 3.5-4 hrs by car and 1.5 hrs by train, just to give you an idea). If you want to rent a car for one day to visit somewhere harder to reach, then it could be worth it.

Hello! My daughter and I are planning a trip to Italy this summer. I love the itinerary you’ve shared. I’m curious. If we had 2 or 3 days to add ti this itinerary, which city/cities would you suggest between: Cinque Terre, Pisa, and Milan? And wbere would you suggest we add it/them to the itinerary? Thank you!

I’m glad you like the itinerary!

If you have 3 extra days to make the trip 10 days, then my ten day Italy itinerary is exactly what I’d recommend. 🙂 It tacks on Cinque Terre with a quick couple-hour stop in Pisa and then also Milan. If you only have 2 extra days, or don’t want to rush as much, I would personally just see Cinque Terre and Pisa (Cinque Terre being the priority).

I haven’t have time to update the 10 day itinerary yet, due to a change in the train travel times between Cinque Terre and Venice, but I will likely update it this week to be: Rome > Cinque Terre > Florence > Venice > Milan. Or the exact reverse can be done, too.

I hope that helps!!

Rome looks stunning!

It is! One of my faves for sure 🙂

Wow, a true whirlwind trip. I have to admit, I have been to all of those places and you did hit the big attractions. I agree that skip-the-line tickets are so worth the slightly higher price. A church that I would add to the Rome sites is Santa Maria del Popolo. Your photos are fantastic. Loved your Florence and Venice recommendations. Italy is my favotrite country, too.

Whirlwind is a good word for it, lol!

Thanks so much for the church reco! I’m jotting it down to visit on my next stop in Rome. 🙂

You have such beautiful photos–This made me miss Italy so much! Can’t wait to be able to travel!

Thank you so much, Denise!!

And yes, I can’t wait either!

Appetite for Adventure

You absolutely nailed it with this itinerary!! I did pretty much this exact trip two summers ago and I couldn’t agree more with all of your recommendations. Very well written!

Aw, thanks so much!!

And wow, I’m sure doing that trip was so fun! It’s taken me multiple trips to see all the “big” items, but I sometimes want to redo them with a fast-paced itinerary like this just for the thrill 🙂

Sarah Arnstein

I’m seeing so many posts about Italy lately and I love reading them every time! This brings me back to my trip in 2019. I can’t wait to visit again!

Same here, counting down the days practically!

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The Best of Italy: Ultimate Ten Day Italy Itinerary

Best christmas markets in cologne, germany: a first-timer’s guide, that travelista.

The Perfect One Week Italy Itinerary

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One Week Italy Itinerary

Do you only have enough time for one week in Italy? Here’s the perfect one-week Italy itinerary to help you maximize your time and see the highlights of this beautiful country!

Italy is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world, and it’s easy to see why. It has something for everyone: art, culture, history, and of course, FOOD.

Even if you only have one week, you can cover a lot of ground thanks to easy train travel in Italy.

This is very similar to the itinerary I followed on my first trip to Italy, and it’s a great introduction to all this country has to offer.

Related : If you have more time for your trip, check out my recommended two-week Italy itinerary .

Day 1: Arrive in Venice

Fly into Venice Marco Polo Airport to start your one-week Italian adventure.

Take a private water taxi (an expensive option but totally worth the unique experience) or public water bus (a cheap option) into Venice.

Venice is an incredible city (the prettiest in Italy) built around more than 100 small islands connected by over 400 canals and bridges. There are no cars or roads, and the only way to get around is on foot or by boat!

What to do on your first day in Venice:

• Walk to St. Mark’s Square, trying not to get lost in the maze of canals and bridges (although, if you have time, getting lost in Venice is highly encouraged )
• Visit the Doge Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica. Click here to your tickets online in advance because the lines get up to two hours long!
• Go to the top of St. Mark’s Campanile for a breathtaking view. You can buy tickets to the bell tower in advance here .
• Splash out for a gondola ride, or take a shorter ride for just two euros

Where to stay in Venice:

Hotel: I highly recommend the Grand Hotel Palazzo Dei Dogi . This gorgeous hotel is in a less touristy area of Venice and provides a free water taxi to St. Mark’s Square.

Where to Eat in Venice:

Whenever you stop for a meal in Venice, try to find a place away from St. Mark’s Square and the Grand Canal for better food and lower prices.

Related:  More amazing things to do in Venice .

Day 2: Venice

What to do on your second day in Venice:

• Visit the island of Murano, home of the famous Murano glass.
• Visit the extremely colorful island of Burano.
• Check out other famous museums in Venice, like the Gallerie dell’Accademia or the Museo Correr for art and history.
• Spend some time wandering around and getting lost in the canals.

🚤 Tip: I recommend this boat tour of the islands of Murano and Burano , which includes a Murano glass-blowing demonstration at an artisan’s workshop.

Related:  Essential Venice Travel Tips (accordind to a Local) .

Day 3: Venice to Florence

This morning, pack up and head to Florence!

Florence was the heart of the Renaissance in Italy and it’s known for its incredible art and food.

How to go to Florence from Venice

By train: You can book a train ticket in advance to take you from Venice to Florence, which is about a two-hour journey.

By car: You can also rent a car . It’s a two and half hour’s drive with normal traffic. What I liked about driving in Italy was being able to stop in different little towns along the way.

🚘 Tip: If you decide to rent a car, I always use Discover Cars in Europe. They have great rates and excellent customer service.

Where to stay in Florence

Hotel: I recommend The Westin Excelsior, Florence hotel . It’s in a great location not too far from Ponte Vecchio.

What to do on your first day in Florence:

• See the famous David sculpture by Michelangelo at Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze.
• Check out famous Renaissance art at the Uffizi Gallery — there is an unbelievable number of famous works by famous artists there.
• Admire the beautiful Duomo cathedral with its magnificent Renaissance dome.

Florence is always full of tourists, and they all want to see two things: the famous David sculpture by Michelangelo and The Birth of Venus painting by Sandro Botticelli.

And the only way to see both without wasting your entire day standing in insanely long lines is to buy tickets in advance and, preferably, book a tour that gets you in via the priority access door, typically reserved for guided tours.

🎨 Tip: This Uffizi, David, and Accademia tour with a professional guide will get you in and out of those two places in only three hours. And trust me, it’s worth the money! Just be sure to book the tour way in advance because it does sell out!

But of course, Brunelleschi’s Duomo of the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral is Florence’s main architectural attraction.

The Duomo is the highest point in Florence, and the view from up there is worth the 463-step climb to the top! Buy your ticket to the Cathedral with the Duomo climb in advance here to avoid lines and reserve your spot.

Day 4: Florence

What to do on your second day in florence:.

• Cross the ancient Ponte Vecchio bridge filled with all kinds of shops and vendors.
• Admire Florence’s open-air works of art.
• Visit the beautiful Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens.
• Watch the sunset over the Tuscan hills from the breathtaking views of the Piazzale Michelangelo with a panoramic view of Florence.

The Medici were a very wealthy Florence family of bankers (and three popes…) that loved art and commissioned so many works of art that they practically funded the Renaissance!

So much so that the Medici Mile, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a higher concentration of monuments and open-air works of art than anywhere else in the world!

🌳 Tip: Book this walking tour of The Medici Mile with priority entrance to Boboli Gardens .

Where to eat in Florence

Florence is known as one of the best food cities in Italy, and it will not be hard for you to taste why!

Like in Venice, wander away from the main tourist streets to find the best restaurants and the best gelato that Florence has to offer!

No eating on the streets!

Keep in mind that, in an effort to reduce littering and prevent congestion caused by hoards of hungry tourists, the city of Florence banned eating out on the streets of the historic district back in 2018.

The ban is still in effect and you can get fines of up to €500 for chomping down a slice of pizza on the sidewalk! Thankfully, it only applies only on the most popular streets—Via de’ Neri, Piazzale degli Uffizi, Piazza del Grano, and Via della Ninna—during peak meal times from noon-3pm and 6-10pm.

Related: What Not to Do in Italy (Mistakes Tourists Make)

Day 5: Florence to Rome

On your fifth day in Italy, it’s time to leave Florence and head to Rome!

Rome is one of the most interesting historic cities in the world, with incredible ruins and a long, fascinating history.

How to go from Florence to Rome

By Train: Your journey only takes about an hour and a half by train.

By Car: It’s about a 3-hour drive through the country or a 4-hour drive through the coast. Rent a car with Discover Cars — you will not regret your choice to drive. Both routes are beautiful!

Where to stay in Rome

Hotel: The Palazzo Naiadi is an elegant hotel close to the train station and within walking distance of many of Rome’s most popular sights.

What to do in Rome on your first day

• Visit the Colosseum, then head over to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill ruins to see what life used to be like for the Romans.
• Throw a coin into the Fontana di Trevi (Trevi Fountain)—legend has it that if you do this, it means you will return to Rome one day. (Fingers crossed!)
• Head inside the Pantheon to admire its beautiful interior and cool down on a hot day!
• Sit on the Spanish Steps to rest your feet and do some people-watching.

🏛 Tip: Book your tickets and tour ahead of time to skip the line! This tour gives you fast access to the Colosseum and includes a visit to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill .

Day 6: Rome and the Vatican

What to do in rome on your second day.

• Tour the Vatican City Museum and see the famous Sistine Chapel ceiling painted by Michelangelo.
• Admire the grandeur of Saint Peter’s Basilica’s facade and the splendor of its interior.
• Spend some time exploring the hip Trastevere neighborhood and have dinner there.

Rome is a huge city packed with historic sights, so after a jam-packed first day, you may want to take it easy on the second day and enjoy the ambiance of the Eternal City.

Having said that, the Vatican is one of the busiest places I’ve ever visited—head there early and, you guessed it, buy tickets in advance! Also, get a tour that includes entrance to the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s basilica—otherwise, you’ll need to face two separate lines.

✝️ Tip: Buy this early entrance, skip-the-line, small group tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and Saint Peter’s Basilica . The early entrance tour is more expensive, but trust me on this: you’ll be in before the crowds and out early enough to enjoy the rest of your day in Rome.

Day 7: Depart Rome

On your final day in Italy, wake up early and spend some more time walking around Rome again.

The Colosseum and nearby ruins are especially beautiful early in the morning before the crowds arrive.

Finally, depart Rome Fiumcino Airport as your one-week Italian adventure comes to an end!

✈️ Tip: The airport is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from Rome, and it can take 30 minutes to 1 hour to get there, depending on the time of day and traffic. If you don’t have a rental car , it can get expensive to get a cab. So, here’s a reliable transfer to the airport as an option . It’s a clean and air-conditioned bus that leaves from Rome Termini railway station.

Italy Packing Essentials

I wrote a whole blog on what to pack for Italy , but here are some commonly forgotten Italy packing essentials for your trip:

• European outlet adapter — I like this one because it also comes with two USB ports, so you can charge things like your phone or iPad without having to use the plug.
• Portable cellphone charger — charge your phone fully up to two and a half times. It comes in handy on those long days of exploration!
• Travel scarf with a hidden pocket — a stylish way to carry your valuables like credit cards, cash, passport, etc, while protecting them from pickpockets.
• Reusable water bottle — it’s eco-friendly and saves you money on bottled water – Italy’s water is some of the cleanest in the world!
• Travel-sized wrinkle release spray — to make your clothes look perfect even if you don’t have an iron or steamer wherever you’re staying!

Where to next?

One week in Italy may seem short, but if you plan ahead, you can experience some of the best highlights of the country. This one-week itinerary includes three of Italy’s most famous and popular destinations and is perfect for anyone visiting the country for the first time.

Whether you’re interested in art, culture, history, or food—or all of the above— Italy has you covered!

Italy is one of my favorite destinations in Europe. And I promise you that after one week there, you’ll be dying to return—so don’t forget to throw a coin in the Fontana Trevi!

🩷 Want more Italy travel tips? Check out my travel guide to Italy .

I hope you enjoyed this one-week Italy itinerary! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think.

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About Denise Cruz

Denise is a marketing executive who escaped corporate to travel the world… twice. A Brazilian native living in the U.S., she’s lived in 4 countries and visited 35+ others. After side-hustling her way to financial independence, she curates solo destination guides, slow travel tips, and travel blogging advice on Wander Her Way. When she’s not on the road, you can find her in Miami with her dog Finnegan.

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7 Days in Italy: How to Spend an Amazing Week in Italy

After two trips over the past two years that spanned six and three weeks respectively, we are confident in saying that Italy is one of our favorite places on earth. Which isn’t really a hot take – many people who spend a solid chunk of time exploring Italy feel this way. 

There’s something about the food, the diverse geography and cultures within Italy, and the cadence of the language that come together to envelop you in a warmth that is a little unusual when you’re traveling to well-trodden places (looking at you, Paris). 

If you’re planning a trip with 7 days in Italy and are looking for some ideas on what to do and see, you’re in the right place!

If you’re in the midst of planning an Italy trip – and especially if it’s your first time – it’s hard to narrow down what you should focus on. Should you do the highlights, or should you venture ever-so-slightly off the beaten path and hit some lesser-known cities in Italy?

It can be easy to over plan your trip, and end up with 17 cities to visit in 7 days (which we STRONGLY recommend you don’t do).

In this guide, we’re going to take you through six different ways that we’d spend one week in Italy based on our own experiences exploring the country. Our intention here is to help you plan an amazing trip to Italy by giving you some ideas and options for destinations that go together from a logistics standpoint.

From there, you can mix and match and customize for your trip. For example, if you have two weeks, you could go ahead and combine northern Italy and Sicily (or you could follow our 14 day Italy itinerary for first timers). 

By the end, we hope you’ll have a good starting point for planning your trip. If you’re craving more, well, there’s more where this came from! Throughout, we’ll link you to deeper posts for specific destinations that have all the details you need to plan an amazing trip. 

Sound good to you? Let’s get into it. 

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post, like hotel links, are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we make a little bit of money if you click through and book. That being said, we would never recommend something to you that we don’t stand behind 100%.

Structuring Your 7 Day Italy Itinerary

Before we get into exactly what to do with your time in Italy, let’s talk through some logistics, questions to think about, and things to know before you visit Italy. 

How Much Do You Want to Move Around?

As you’re thinking about how to structure your itinerary, the first question you need to ask yourself is how much you want to move around over the course of your trip. 

Do you want to stay in one or two places and use Italy’s excellent high-speed train network to do day trips, or do you want to move around more, staying in two or three places?

There are definitely pros and cons to each approach, and we prefer the first option – staying in fewer places and doing day trips – because packing up and carrying your stuff every day or two just kind of sucks. 

But if you’re someone who travels light and you don’t mind moving around a lot, the second option can work too, and you’ll get a different experience by staying in a place overnight, where you’ll have the ability to explore in the early and late hours when all the day trippers have gone home. 

How Many Cities Should You Include? 

Next, you need to decide how many cities you want to include in your trip.

We’d strongly recommend that you don’t try to fit more than 2-3 major cities into only a week. Even three is pushing it – that’s a lot of ground to cover in 7 days.

If you have limited time in the country and want to see the best of Italy in 7 days, you can just about fit Rome, Florence, and Venice into one week (more in the itinerary below). But be warned, it’s going to be a hectic trip.

Personally, we’d opt to focus on one geographical area (e.g. Tuscany) at a time, where you can spend more time and dive deeper into each place. Pick a base city (or two), then use Italy’s nice high-speed train network to get around and visit other destinations.

When Are You Visiting?

Another important factor to consider when planning your 7 day Italy itinerary is the time of year that you’re visiting. The weather can make a big difference to your trip.

The Italian peninsula stretches over 620 miles (that’s 1,000km) from north to south, with vastly varying climates between the different regions.

Visiting Italy in Summer and Fall

With its beautiful country-wide weather, summer is peak tourist season all across Italy. But this also means that it’s the busiest and most expensive time to visit .

During the peak summer months, many Italian cities get unbelievably hot. So if you’re not a fan of extreme heat or are traveling with young children or the elderly, you may want to avoid 7 days of city hopping during July and August.

Many locals and tourists also flock to the country’s beaches during the summer (especially in August). The Cinque Terre, the Amalfi Coast, and Sicily are some of the most popular coastal destinations to visit during the hot summer months.

September and October are the best months to visit the cities for warm and sunny weather, but with smaller tourist crowds and slightly more affordable prices. Trust us, we’ve been to Italy in consecutive years in September and October, and it’s our favorite time to explore Italy. 

Visiting Italy in Winter and Spring

The winter sees the biggest difference in temperatures throughout Italy.

Northern Italy has the coolest climate, with cold winters and even snow in some areas. The canals of Venice are known to flood during the winter months, while temperatures in Milan can drop below freezing.

However, if you’re looking for a cozy winter vacation, Italy’s northern cities are known for their charming Christmas markets and festive decorations.

Southern Italy has a Mediterranean climate, with pleasantly mild winters. So if you’re seeking some winter sun, you may want to stick to central and southern Italy for your one week trip.

Although, winter is also the low season in many coastal destinations. This means that the beach resort towns in the Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast are fairly dead, with most of the restaurants and shops closed until the spring. So it may not be the best time to do a couple of the itineraries below.

In spring, the weather in the north is starting to warm up again, and the coastal resorts in the south are reopening in preparation for the summer. This is an ideal time to spend time in Italy and do any of the below 7 day itineraries.

Use Italy’s Trains to Get Around 

The last thing to consider when structuring your trip to Italy is how you plan to get around during your trip.

For 99% of journeys in Italy, the train is the best way to go. Both when it comes to day trips and longer journeys. 

Italy’s high-speed train network is affordable, comfortable, and can get you between most major destinations in no time at all (usually much faster than traveling by car). The regional trains can get you between smaller destinations when taking day trips.

You’’re going to want to book high-speed train tickets in advance for the cheapest prices – those are the trains that cover longer distances, like between Rome and Florence, or Milan and Venice. If you know which days you’re going to be doing the longer journeys of your trip, such as Rome to Florence, you can save up to 50% by booking a month in advance. 

However, the tradeoff is that you’ll have less flexibility in terms of when, exactly, that train journey will happen. 

Book your trains through Trenitalia , the official site for the Italian train network. 

One Week in Italy: 6 Amazing Ways to Spend 7 Days in Italy

And now, what we’re here for! Let’s get into our ideas for a one week trip to Italy.

For each version, we’re going to give you the stops to make, the best time to do that specific itinerary, how to get around (sometimes trains connect all of the destinations, but occasionally you’re better off renting a car), what to do, see, eat, and drink on each stop, and more. 

At certain points, we’re going to include the same city in multiple itineraries. For example, Rome, Florence, and Venice pop up a few times throughout this guide. 

To avoid just re-writing what we said about the city in an itinerary, above, we’ll hyperlink you to that section so that you can easily go back and read through our recommendations on that city. 

#1: The Greatest Hits for First Timers (Rome, Florence, Venice)

If you only have a week, it’s your first time in Italy, AND you want to check off the country’s main highlights, this is the itinerary for you. It’s going to be a busy seven days, but you will get to experience three of Italy’s most famous and popular cities.

The Best Time to Do It

Not summer (if you can help it)! Italy’s major cities can get incredibly hot and extremely crowded with tourists during the peak summer months. It’s also the most expensive time to visit these popular tourist destinations. 

During August, many locals leave the cities to escape the heat and tourist crowds and head to the coast instead. Some local restaurants and shops may be closed.

Spring and fall are much better options. The weather will be cooler and crowds will be (slightly) lighter. Personally, we love September and October in Italy. 

Where to Fly In and Out Of

For this itinerary to work in just a week, you’ll need to fly into Rome and out of Venice.

Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO) is Rome’s major international airport. You can reach the city center from Fiumicino Airport in around 45-50 minutes by taxi or bus, or just 30 minutes by express train. This is the airport most international flights will fly in and out of, and is where you should aim to fly into. 

Ciampino Airport (CIA) is the smaller of Rome’s airports and serves many budget airlines such as EasyJet and Wizz Air. Despite being slightly nearer to the city, Ciampino Airport isn’t as well connected as Fiumicino. You’ll need to either jump in a taxi or get the bus, which takes around 30 minutes to reach the city center.

Venice Airport Marco Polo (VCE) is the major international airport serving Venice. The airport can be reached from Venice Island by train, water taxi, or water bus. Or from Venice Mestre (the mainland) by taxi, train, or bus.

Getting Around

Rome, Florence, and Venice are all well connected by Italy’s high-speed rail network. Getting between the cities is quick, easy, and affordable by public transportation. No need to rent a car for this one!

Days 1-3: Rome

Italy’s exciting capital city and the former capital of the mighty Roman Empire, Rome is truly one of the most impressive cities in all of Europe, if not the world.

With its long and fascinating history, incredible architecture – some of which dates back over a thousand years ago – and amazing food and drink scene, the Eternal City is a place that caters to just about every traveler, and is a must-visit when in Italy.

We’ve been to Rome several times now, including 10 days as part of our six week Italian adventure. There’s a lot more to Rome than the main sights, though you should make an effort to see those too. 

We’d recommend 3 days in Rome as a minimum. And if you have more time, then even better. You can check out our detailed 4 day Rome itinerary here.

But if you only have one week to explore the best of Italy, 3 days is certainly enough time to experience Rome’s top sites and attractions.

Our top recommendations for must-dos in Rome are:

The Vatican . An independent city-state and headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, The Vatican is home to the largest church in the world – St. Peter’s Basilica (they have actively stopped the construction of bigger churches, like in Bologna, to keep this title, which I think is funny) – and one of the greatest art museums on the planet. Don’t miss Michelangelo’s beautiful Renaissance frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. And check out the “ Pristine Sistine ” guided tour with TakeWalks to experience the Vatican Museums before they open to the public.

The Colosseum and Roman Forum . These are perhaps the city’s best examples of the grandeur of the Roman Empire almost 2,000 years ago. The Colosseum is the largest amphitheater in the world and an architectural marvel of its time. While the Roman Forum is home to the ruins of many of the most important buildings in Ancient Rome. We’d recommend visiting on a guided tour to really get the most out of your experience. We loved and highly recommend TakeWalks’ Skip the Line Tour – you can read about our experience here .

The Centro Storico . A self-guided walk through Rome’s historic city center is a great way to see many of the city’s most famous landmarks. We’d suggest doing something like this walk , which takes you past numerous iconic sites including the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and more.

Roman Cuisine . ​​Rome is most famous for its simple but delicious pasta dishes, most notably; Carbonara, Gricia, Amatriciana (our favorite), and Cacio e Pepe. Make sure to indulge in plenty of local coffee, gelato, and wine too. A great way to explore Roman cuisine and the city’s food culture is on a guided food tour with a local, who can give you the context around the food that will enrich your experience (and help you find the most delicious places to eat).

Note: Try to visit The Vatican and The Colosseum and Roman Forum on different days. You’ll be physically and mentally exhausted if you try to tackle them both on the same day. Trust us.

For more of the Italian capital’s best sites and attractions, check out our full guide to the best things to do in Rome .

Where to Stay in Rome

If it’s your first time in Rome, you can’t go wrong with the Centro Storico . It’s close to many of the city’s main attractions, you’ll find a good selection of hotels, and there are plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops right on your doorstep.

For somewhere a little different, check out Monti , a hip part of Rome that’s near the Colosseum and Forum, or Trastevere , which is a little further out but is one of our favorite areas of the city and where we stayed on our last stint in Rome.

The above is just a summary. You can read more in our detailed guide to where to stay in Rome . 

Days 4-5: Florence

During the 15th century, Florence was one of the richest cities in Europe (if not the world), which can still be seen in its elegance and grandeur today. The Tuscan capital is one of the most beautiful and most visited cities on the Italian peninsula. 

Known as the ‘Birthplace of Renaissance’, Florence is an unparalleled hub of art and architecture. The city is home to numerous world-class art museums housing more masterpieces than you’ll know what to do with.

In this itinerary, you have two days to explore the best of Florence, which is enough time to experience the city’s top sites and the two main museums. 

You’ll unfortunately be missing out on taking a day trip from Florence to places like Tuscany and Bologna, which is probably the first thing we’d add to this itinerary with more time. 

Our top recommendations for must-dos in Florence are:

The Uffizi Gallery . This world-class gallery holds an unparalleled collection of Renaissance and European art assembled by the ruling Medici family. The Uffizi has 101 rooms and thousands of artworks to explore, which can be a little overwhelming. This is why we’d suggest visiting on a guided tour to add context and richness to your visit (the one we linked is the one we did, and we loved it!).

Galleria dell’Accademia and the David . The Accademia Gallery is a must-visit for one reason; Michaelangelo’s Statue of David. It’s worth visiting the gallery on a guided tour to learn more about the world’s most famous sculpture.

Florence Duomo and Brunelleschi’s Dome . Florence’s striking 13th-century Gothic-Renaissance cathedral is one of the largest Christian churches in the world. The best way to experience the Duomo’s impressive interior is to climb its magnificent dome to see the detailed frescoes up close. Try to do it first thing in the morning for the fewest people, and book in advance here . 

Tuscan Cuisine. Florence and the wider Tuscany region are known for their fantastic cuisine. We love Pappardelle al ragù di cinghiale (pasta with wild boar sauce), pappa al pomodoro (tomato and bread soup), and the Schiacciata (similar to a focaccia sandwich). And don’t forget to pair your food with some bold Tuscan reds, like Chianti Classico or Brunello. Trattoria da Garibardi is our favorite spot in the city for trying traditional Tuscan cuisine and wines.

Note: Try to avoid visiting the Uffizi Gallery and Galleria dell’Accademia on the same day. Even for the most devoted art lover, it’s simply too much information to digest. And if you only have the time or budget for one guided tour, you’ll get more out of the Uffizi than the Accademia – in our experience at least.

Where to Stay in Florence

Florence is a fairly small and compact city, so you really can’t go too wrong no matter where you choose to stay.

A perfect place to stay for first-timers in Florence is the Centro Storico , centered around the Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Signoria (home to the Uffizi Gallery). The neighborhood is super walkable to the majority of the city’s main sites and close to the central train station. 

Another nice area to stay in Florence is Santa Croce / Sant’Ambrogio , which sits just a few minute’s walk east of the Duomo. It has the best food (we think), fewer tourists, and is still close to everything you’ll want to see in the city.

For more information, check out our full guide to where to stay in Florence .

Days 6-7: Venice

Located in the northeast of the country, the enchanting floating city of Venice is another of Italy’s most unique and well-known tourist destinations. 

We have mixed feelings about Venice. Unfortunately, the ever-increasing popularity has caused many problems for the historic city. Large crowds are putting too much pressure on the infrastructure. Locals are moving away to escape the chaos and skyrocketing cost of living, and pollution and erosion in the canals are continuing issues.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t visit Venice. If you want to go, we’d just recommend visiting in a considerate and deliberate way. Head out early morning or late in the evening, visit some of the more off-the-beaten-path locations. and eat at local cafes and restaurants to support the local economy.

This itinerary gives you a couple of days to explore Venice, so you’ll stay overnight and have at least one evening and morning to soak up the city without the large day-trip crowds.

Our top recommendations for must-dos in Venice are:

St. Mark’s Basilica . The 9th-century cathedral is the biggest church in Venice and one of the city’s most famous landmarks. The beautiful building is also one of the best-known examples of Italo-Byzantine architecture. The church’s intricately decorated interior is free to visit. But the lines to get inside can be long during peak periods, so make sure to arrive early. 

The Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) . This stunning Gothic-Renaissance building was the former residence of the Doges – the rulers of Venice – for more than 1,000 years. You can explore the unique Venetian palace on this Secret Itineraries tour to access the public areas of the palace and usually inaccessible areas such as the secret torture chambers and prison cells.

Gondola Ride Along the Grand Canal . A gondola ride along the city’s many charming canals is one of the most famous things to do in Venice and a bucket-list item for many visitors. You can pick up a gondola at stations all across the city, so no need to book in advance. The experience will cost you €80 for 40 minutes before 7:00 pm or €100 for 30 minutes after.

Ponte de Rialto . Venice’s most iconic bridge is home to a number of shops and boasts some of the best views along the Grand Canal.

The Rest of the Venetian Lagoon . While many visitors choose to stick to Venice island, there are plenty of other places to visit in the Venetian Lagoon. Jump on a Vaporetto (water bus) and spend an afternoon discovering some hidden gems, such as Burano and Murano. Burano is a beautiful fisherman’s town, known for its rows of brightly colored houses. Murano is a series of little islands linked by bridges, known for their luxurious Murano glass. 

You can read more in our detailed guide to 2 days in Venice . 

Where to Stay in Venice

Cannaregio and Castello are our two top recommendations for staying in Venice.

Cannaregio is the city’s Jewish quarter, located in the north of Venice. The residential neighborhood is filled with many beautiful synagogues, as well as plenty of affordable local restaurants and bars. Cannaregio is located within walking distance of Venezia Santa Lucia train station, so is convenient for shorter visits.

Castello is another good option just to the east of the main tourist district of San Marco. It’s a good place to stay to be just a short walk away from many of the city’s main attractions.

#2: A Week in Florence and Wider Tuscany

From the beautiful Renaissance architecture and art of Florence to the breathtaking natural landscapes of the Tuscan hills, Tuscany is a region that has something for everyone. It’s also a region that we think is worth spending some time delving deeper into, rather than a quick stop in its most famous city (as many tourists do). 

Last fall, I (Matt here!) was lucky enough to spend a full week in Tuscany with just my mom and I, and it was magical. There are few better places in Italy to soak up the dolce vita and slow pace of life than the Tuscan countryside. 

On this one week Tuscany itinerary , you’ll have the chance to peruse the world-renowned galleries of Florence, explore the charming medieval towns of Siena and San Gimignano, and journey through the rolling hills of the Val d’Orcia.

Fall is our favorite time to visit the Tuscany region. It’s harvest time in the vineyards, the weather is cooler but still sunny, and fewer tourists are around than in the peak summer months.

For this itinerary, you have a few options. You can fly in and out of Florence, Pisa, or even Bologna (which is what we did), depending on which works best for you.

Aeroporto di Firenze-Peretola (FLR) is Florence’s main airport, located just a couple of miles from the city center. But despite its proximity to the city, the airport is fairly small and only has one runway, so only serves a small number of flights per day.

Galileo Galilei Airport (PSA) , aka Pisa Airport, is Tuscany’s main international airport that serves the majority of European carriers. With more flights per day, there’s a good chance you’ll end up flying here instead. The airport is located 70km from Florence and can be reached in around an hour by train or bus.

Finally, Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ) is another option if you’re flying from the US and other destinations outside of Europe. The airport is one of the biggest in Italy and serves many international carriers. Sitting 100km from Florence, you can easily reach the city by jumping on a train to Bologna Central, then connecting to a high-speed train to Florence which takes just 35 minutes.

While it is possible to do the majority of the itinerary below using public transportation and guided tours, wider Tuscany is not the most accessible region using public transportation. Journeys may be long and require multiple changes and connections. 

The region is better explored by car. You won’t need to drive during your time in Florence, so it’s best to rent a car on your third morning to head to Siena and return to Florence at the end of your trip.

Days 1-2: Florence

As the regional capital, Florence is the obvious place to start your Tuscany trip. This itinerary gives you two days to visit the beautiful Renaissance city before heading out to explore the region’s picturesque countryside and historic towns.

Remember, if you want to see both the Uffizi Gallery and the David, plan to do them on separate days to avoid being burnt out for whichever you do second. 

– See above for more information on Florence.

Days 3-4: Siena

Siena is perhaps the best example of a Tuscan hilltop town and one of Italy’s best-preserved medieval villages, with its red brick houses, Gothic churches, imposing palaces, and narrow soaring towers.

Siena’s authentic charm and distinctive medieval architecture have even earned the city the recognition of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it a popular stop on most Tuscany itineraries.

Our top recommendations for must-dos in Siena are:

The Siena Cathedral . The city’s 13th-century cathedral is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in all of Italy. The marble exterior is adorned with statues and carvings by artist Giovanni Pisano, while the large interior is lavishly decorated with frescoes, paintings, and intricate mosaic floors. 

Piazza Del Campo . Siena’s main square is one of the most impressive of its kind in all of Europe, surrounded by historic palaces and lively cafes and bars.  The large square is also the location of the city’s world-famous Palio horse race each summer.

Days 5-6: The Val d’Orcia

Located to the southeast of Siena, the Val d’Orcia is one of our absolute favorite areas of Tuscany and a must-visit when in the region.

It’s quintessential Tuscany in our minds, a lush valley known for its rolling green hills, gorgeous landscapes, historic agriculture, and picturesque hilltop towns such as Pienza and Montepulciano. Oh, and the wine, cypress trees, and amazing food are nice, too. 

Thanks to its unparalleled beauty that inspired many Renaissance painters, the valley was even awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2004.

Note : The Val d’Orcia isn’t easily accessible by public transportation. Even if you’re doing the rest of your trip by train, we’d recommend renting a car for a couple of days for this part. The valley is a 45-minute drive from Siena and you can return the car to the city afterward – you’ll need to head back in this direction for the next destination anyway.

Our top recommendations for places to visit in Val d’Orcia are:

Montepulciano . A quaint Tuscan town on the edge of a volcanic rock cliff face, with small medieval streets engulfed by grand Renaissance buildings. Don’t miss the town’s signature Vino Nobile di Montepulciano red wine.

Pienza . A romantic Renaissance town perched on a hilltop with stunning panoramic views over the surrounding valley and countryside. The town is well-known for its Pecorino di Pienza cheese, but our favorite part is the excellent views out to the south. 

Montalcino . This town sits in the heart of Tuscany’s world-famous Brunello red wine production. Visit the local wineries and vineyards to learn more about one of Italy’s most popular wines – and sample plenty for yourself.

Day 7: San Gimignano and Volterra

As you make your way back towards Florence (or the airport), finish your Tuscany vacation with a day exploring the beautiful towns of San Gimignano and Volterra.

The small medieval town of San Gimignano is another of Tuscany’s UNESCO World Heritage sites and one of the region’s most popular destinations among visitors.

The town has been suitably nicknamed the “Manhattan of the Middle Ages” due to the 70+ medieval towers that once dominated its skyline. While only 14 of these towers remain today, it’s still a unique spot that’s very much worth visiting.

Our top recommendations for must-dos in San Gimignano are:

Torre Grossa . The 177 feet tall bell tower of the Palazzo Communale (town hall) is the tallest remaining tower in San Gimignano. You can climb 218 steps to reach the top and enjoy beautiful panoramic views over the historic town.

Vernaccia Di San Gimignano . While Tuscany is mostly known for its bold reds, Vernaccia is the region’s most famous white wine. The wine is produced in the vineyards surrounding San Gimignano. You can sample Vernaccia in restaurants and bars all around the town, or head to the Vernaccia di San Gimignano Wine Experience to learn more.

Located 20km west of San Gimignano, you’ll also find the town of Volterra.

Despite being slightly less well-known, the walled hilltop town is still a great place to explore, with many fascinating historic and archeological sites and smaller crowds than its famous neighbor.

Our top recommendations for must-dos in Volterra are:

Take a Walking Tour . This walking tour was the highlight of our time in Volterra. The short one hour tour takes you to explore the city’s highlights while learning about the local culture, history, and traditions.

Go Back in Tim at the Etruscan Museum . One of the oldest museums in Europe, showcasing ancient archaeological finds from the Etruscan civilization of ancient Italy (4th to 6th centuries BC).

Piazza dei Priori . The town’s grand 13th-century piazza is home to the impressive Palazzo dei Priori, the oldest town hall in Tuscany.

Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta . Volterra’s 12th-century cathedral is a beautiful mix of Romanesque and Renaissance architecture. The church houses a large amount of artwork by renowned Italian artists. The Baptistery of San Giovanni also sits just across from the cathedral.

Roman Ruins . Volterra is packed with ancient Roman ruins and archeological sites, but among the most famous has to be the extremely well-preserved 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheater and the 4th-century Roman baths.

Note : If you are traveling by public transportation, you should stick to just visiting San Gimignano to reduce travel time on this day. The town is better connected to both Siena and Florence by bus. It’s also difficult to move between the two towns using public transportation. If you do have a car, you’ll have more time and freedom to move between both destinations in one day.

#3: A Tour of Southeastern Sicily

Sicily is a large island sitting off the tip of Italy’s boot. It’s one of the country’s most popular summer destinations among both domestic and international tourists. And it’s not hard to see why. 

With its well-preserved Greek and Roman ruins, beautiful sandy beaches, laid-back coastal towns, and stunning natural landscapes, there’s so much to see in Sicily.

The bad news is that 7 days isn’t nearly enough time to explore the entire island. We’d recommend at least two weeks for this – which you can read more about in our detailed two week Sicily road trip itinerary here .

With 7 days in Sicily , we’d suggest sticking to either the eastern half OR the western half of the island. 

If it’s your first time in Sicily, we think you should head to the eastern half. As well as beautiful beaches and coastal landscapes, eastern Sicily is home to many of the prettiest towns and interesting sites like Mount Etna, Taormina, and Syracuse.

Summer is the most popular time to visit Sicily, with its beautiful sunny weather and vibrant atmosphere. If you’re not a fan of extreme heat and big crowds, it may be better to avoid this period.

Spring and fall are our favorite times to visit the island for warm weather and smaller crowds. Although it’s important to note (based on our experience) that many locals go away during October, so some restaurants and bars will be closed for a break after the busy summer months.

Winter weather in Sicily is still pleasant and mild around the coastal areas. However, being the low season, the region is pretty dead and a lot of things will be closed. You’ll still be able to see some of the main sights, but you might miss out on experiencing some of Sicily’s food and drink culture. But it will be cheaper!

For this itinerary, we’d recommend flying in and out of Catania.

Catania–Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) is Sicily’s second-largest international airport and the largest on the island’s east coast. It serves numerous European carriers. You can reach central Catania in just 20 minutes using the AMT Alibus shuttle bus.

Generally speaking, Sicily is a region that is best explored by car (other than in the major cities). Having a car gives you the freedom to move around at your own pace, explore the beautiful countryside, and visit more off-the-beaten-path destinations. 

However, if you do need or want to use public transportation, eastern Sicily is the easiest part of the region to get around without a car (which is partly why we picked it). 

Catania, Taormina, Siracusa, and Noto are all well connected by Trenitalia trains and Interbus buses. We’ve made sure the below itinerary is largely accessible using public transportation if you’re not into renting a car and driving in Sicily (which, speaking from experience, is wild and chaotic, but in a more orderly way than we expected). 

Read More: 7 Days in Sicily – A Complete One Week Sicily Itinerary

Day 1: Catania

Catania is the second largest city in Sicily and the largest on the east coast. Yet it’s somewhere that’s often overlooked in favor of other better-known destinations in the region such as Taormina and Syracuse (don’t worry, we’ve included these too).

But we think that skipping Catania completely is a mistake. 

Not only is the city an interesting city to visit in its own right, with a long and fascinating history, but it also makes a convenient and affordable base for exploring the likes of nearby Mount Etna and Taormina.

So for this itinerary, we have you staying in Catania for days 1-3 and doing day trips to Etna and Taormina , instead of moving around every day.

Before we get into these other destinations, spend your first day in Sicily exploring Catania itself.

Our top recommendations for must-dos in Catania are:

Monastero dei Benedettini di San Nicolò l’Arena . The city’s beautiful baroque Benedictine Monastery is one of the biggest of its kind in Europe and was one of our favorite places in Catania. The monastery can only be visited on a 75 minute guided tour which offers a great introduction to the history of the building and the city as a whole. 

Teatro Romano di Catania . The fully excavated remains of a 2nd Century CE Roman amphitheater are a great example of how the city is built on top of an old city due to the lava flows caused by eruptions of Mount Etna

Sicilian Cuisine . Food in Sicily is delicious, and Catania offers a great introduction. Don’t miss the local specialty of granita, which is like ice cream without the cream. The island is also known for its fish and seafood (check out Catania’s fish market), wine, and nuts. 

For even more, check out our full guide to the best things to do in Catania .

Day 2: Day Trip to Mount Etna

Sitting just north of Catania, Mount Etna is the second-largest active volcano in Europe and one of the most active volcanoes in the world. The volcanic activity has shaped much of eastern Sicily and is intrinsically linked to the history of the region.

There are a few options for visiting Mount Etna on a day trip from Catania :

• On a guided tour . On the plus side, a guided tour picks you up and drops you off in Catania, so you don’t need to mess around with public transportation if you don’t have a car. The downside is that no tours from Catania go to the summit. But we wouldn’t let this put you off. We did this tour and really enjoyed it. Our local guide Marco took us on a short hike to see Etna’s southeastern crater and lava flows in the Bove Valley. 
• By public transportation . Public transportation between Catania and Mount Etna is extremely limited. But it does exist. There’s one bus that runs to and from Etna once per day – so you can’t miss it! The bus drops you off at Rifugio Sapienza, where you can catch the cable car up to a certain point, then hike the rest of the way up to the craters.
• By car . If you do have a car, you can also drive yourself to Rifugio Sapienza in around an hour. Driving allows you to join one of the guided tours up to the summit which leaves at 9:00 am each morning.

Day 3: Day Trip to Taormina

On your third day in Catania, take another day trip to the charming little seaside town of Taormina. The town is fairly popular among day-trippers, so try to arrive early in the morning to avoid the worst of the crowds. 

Teatro Antico di Taormina . Taormina’s ancient Greek theater is perched high on a hill above the town and boasts stunning views back down over the sea. They still host shows at the theater, so it’s worth seeing if there’s anything on during your visit. 

Chiesa Madonna della Rocca . Take a walk up to this historic hilltop chapel for excellent views out over Taormina and the sea. It’s a bit of a hike, but well worth it. The views get better the closer to the church you get.

Corso Umberto . Take a stroll along Taormina’s lively pedestrianized main street which is packed with shops, bars, and restaurants.

Isola Bella . If you visit the town on a sunny day, take a walk (or the cable car) down to this small island that’s connected to the mainland via a narrow pebble beach that’s great for sunbathing and taking a paddle in the sea.

Days 4-5: Siracusa & Ortigia

First thing first, a quick geography lesson. It’s a common misconception to think that Siracusa and Ortigia are two different places. But this isn’t exactly true. 

Siracusa is the city on the mainland, while Ortigia is a small island that is home to the historical city center of Siracusa. The two are connected by two short bridges, so a visit to one means a visit to the other. 

Our top recommendations for must-dos in Siracusa & Ortigia are:

The Parco Archeologico Neapolis . Located on the mainland, Siracusa’s Archaeological Park is the most visited tourist attraction in the city. This is because it’s the site of both a Greek AND Roman theater, plus some beautiful gardens and limestone quarries.

Chiesa di San Filippo Apostolo . Take an underground tour of the crypts below this church in the city’s Jewish Quarter and see the tunnels that were used to shelter civilians during the Allied bombings in World War 2.

Lungomare . Taking a walk along the long promenade that encircles Ortigia is one of our favorite things to do in the evening. Watch the sunset over the sea and stop for a pre-dinner aperitif. Try something like this route , which makes a big loop.

Day 6-7: The Val di Noto

The Val di Noto is an area of southeastern Sicily that’s known for its beautiful baroque towns that glow orange as the sun sets. Most of the towns were built after the devastating earthquake of 1693 destroyed much of the area. The region was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the early 2000s.

With two days in the area, you’ll have enough time to visit a couple of different towns and enjoy some of the area’s natural beauty and sandy beaches.

The places we’d recommend visiting in the Val di Noto are:

Noto . The hilltop city of Noto is known for its beautiful baroque architecture made of limestone from the surrounding plateau. Take a stroll through the whitewashed streets and uncover the best viewpoints, admire the impressive baroque cathedral, and make sure to try some fresh fish and almond granita.

The Vendicari Reserve . This area is home to three beautiful beaches; Spiaggia di Vendicari, Spiaggia di Calamosche (the prettiest and busiest), and Spiaggia di Marianelli (a nudist beach). Park at the main entrance ( here ) then take a hike along the coast to find the beaches.

Marzamemi . Head to this small fishing village in the evening (around 7:00 pm) to enjoy an aperitivo and dinner around Palazzo di Villadorata .

Note : The city of Noto is quick and easy to reach from Siracusa by regional train, but you won’t be able to reach Marzamemi or the Vendicari Reserve easily by public transportation. It may be worth renting a car from Siracusa for these couple of days in the Val di Noto. You’ll be passing back by the city to reach Catania and the airport. Alternatively, you could organize a taxi to take you around the area.

#4: Central and Northern Italy: Florence, Cinque Terre, and Milan

To get the most variety from just a week in Italy, this central and northern Italy itinerary is a great choice.

From the rustic fishing villages and coastal views of the Cinque Terre to the Renaissance architecture of elegant Florence and the modern metropolis of Milan, this itinerary lets you experience Italy’s regional diversity from all angles. 

Spring, summer, and fall are all great times for visiting central and northern Italy. Try to avoid winter for this itinerary.

Much of the Cinque Terre is shut during the low season (roughly late October through March), while Milan can get extremely cold (and even some snow).

For this route, you’ll need to fly into Florence and out of Milan.

To get to Florence, there are three main airports you can fly to; Aeroporto di Firenze-Peretola (Florence, FLR) , Galileo Galilei Airport (Pisa, PSA) , or Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (Bologna, BLQ) .

Milan is also served by two main airports; Malpensa (MXP) and Linate (LIN) . Malpensa is the largest and busiest of the three, and is probably your best bet (with Linate as a close second). MXP can be reached from the city center by the Malpensa Express Train in 40-50 minutes.

This entire itinerary is easy enough to do using public transportation. High-speed trains, regional trains, and buses/coaches connect all three major destinations. 

Although, it’s worth noting that the train takes around 3 hours to get from Florence to Cinque Terre AND from Cinque Terre to Milan. It’s a lot of travel time to invest in one week. But it is the best (only) way to visit the Cinque Terre with limited time.

When in the Cinque Terre, you can either walk, take the small local train, or even catch a boat between the five different villages.

Start this version of the itinerary in the beautiful Tuscan capital of Florence. Spend your first couple of days soaking in the stunning Renaissance architecture and exploring world-class art galleries. 

Day 3: Day Trip to Bologna / Tuscany

While you should spend two days exploring Florence itself, you can use the city as a base for the first three days of this itinerary. Use your third day to take a day trip to either Bologna or somewhere in wider Tuscany. 

Below is a quick run-through of the places we’d recommend visiting. But for more information, check out our detailed post on the best day trips from Florence .

Bologna . Located in the heart of the Emilia-Romagna region, Italy’s culinary capital, this is the ideal day trip for foodies. The city is just 35 minutes away by high-speed train, making it one of the quickest and easiest day trips too. Here’s our guide to spending one day in Bologna .

Chianti . Wine lovers shouldn’t miss the chance to visit the largest wine-producing region in all of Italy and home of the prestigious Chianti Classico red wine. You can visit the wineries and vineyards on a guided tour from Florence. We did this one and really enjoyed it. 

Siena . The best example of a Tuscan hilltop town, with beautiful medieval architecture and some of the finest art in all of Italy. With one day in Siena, you can take a guided walking tour , visit the beautiful 13th-century Duomo, and take a stroll around the impressive Piazza il Campo. See more above .

Days 4-6: Cinque Terre

The Cinque Terre is one of Italy’s most unique landscapes and charming coastal destinations. Made up of five former fishermen’s villages, famous for their colorful houses tumbling down towards the sea, the Cinque Terre is a common addition to almost every Italian bucket list.

Quick geography lesson : The five towns of the Cinque Terre are Manarola, Riomaggiore, Vernazza, Monterosso al Mare, and Corniglia.

It’s going to take you 2-3 hours to get from Florence to the Cinque Terre by public transportation – the journey requires a couple of changes – giving you two and a half days to spend exploring the towns.

While many people visit the region on day trips, we think you need at least two days in the Cinque Terre to fully appreciate it .

Our top recommendations for must-dos in the Cinque Terre are:

Explore all five towns . Two and a half days is definitely enough time to make it to all five towns of the Cinque Terre. In fact, it gives you around half a day in each. Each town has its own unique character and different things to see and do, so it’s worth visiting them all.

Hike the Blue Trail . While it is possible to get between the five towns via the small local train, hiking is a much more fun and scenic way to explore the Cinque Terre. It’s worth hiking at least some of the Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail), the coastal route that connects the towns via terraced vineyards.

Pesto . Did you know that pesto is a DOP product that comes from the region of Liguria, where the Cinque Terre is located? Make sure to try some delicious local pesto slathered on warm focaccia or in a local pasta dish.

Boat trip . Get out on the water on a sunset boat cruise to experience the villages of the Cinque Terre from a completely different perspective.

For even more, check out this guide to the best things to do in the Cinque Terre .

Where to Stay in the Cinque Terre

It’s best to stay in one town for your entire time in the Cinque Terre, rather than moving around each day. It’s easy to move between the different towns.

Manarola, Riomaggiore, and Vernazza all make great bases for exploring the Cinque Terre.

Personally, we stayed in Manarola , and would absolutely do it again – it’s a little quieter than some of the other towns (namely Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare), and is the jumping off point for a couple of great hikes. 

Just don’t stay in Corniglia because of the brutal stairs from the train station that you’ll have to walk up and down over and over again – thank us later! 

You can read more about the benefits of staying in each of the four towns in our full guide to exactly where to stay in the Cinque Terre .

Day 7: Milan in a Day

End this itinerary by jumping on the direct train up to Italy’s fashion and financial capital of Milan, before catching your flight home/onwards.

To make this work, we’d strongly recommend an evening train on your last day in the Cinque Terre to give yourself a full day in Milan. 

Modern Milan is unlike any other city in Italy and provides a stark contrast to the historic city of Florence and the small fishermen’s villages of the Cinque Terre.

One day isn’t enough to experience everything the huge metropolis has to offer, but it is enough to see a few highlights and get a taste of the city. You can check out our one day Milan itinerary here for a detailed breakdown of how to plan your day. 

To summarize, our top recommendations for must-dos in Milan are:

The Duomo di Milano . Milan’s striking cathedral is the largest church in all of Italy and truly an amazing site to behold. There are four different areas of the cathedral that you can explore, but with limited time, we’d prioritize the Duomo Terraces – they’re pretty spectacular. 

The Last Supper . Da Vinci’s painting of the Last Supper is one of the world’s most famous and important murals. The painting is located inside the convent next to the church Santa Maria delle Grazie. Tickets are limited and hard to get, so make sure to book as far in advance as possible.

Castello Sforzesco and Parco Sempione . This grand medieval castle and surrounding park (Milan’s biggest green space) are a welcome break from the hectic streets of the busy city center.

#5: Rome, Naples, and the Amalfi Coast

There’s a reason we’ve left this itinerary until close to the end. Southern Italy’s Amalfi Coast is certainly one of the country’s most beautiful coastal destinations, but its huge popularity has led to insane crowds and over-tourism in the area. 

Personally, we prefer the Cinque Terre and Sicily to the Amalfi Coast. Yes, you still get lots of tourists in these places, but they’re not quite as overcrowded and have maintained a slightly more authentic feel. 

But if the Amalfi Coast is somewhere that’s high on your Italian bucket list (no judgment here – it is stunning!), this is the itinerary for you.

We’d recommend spring or fall for this itinerary. Rome gets hot and overcrowded during the summer, while everything will be closed on the Amalfi Coast in winter.

For this itinerary, you can fly in and out of Rome.

Rome has two international airports; F iumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO) and Ciampino Airport (CIA) . Fiumicino is the larger of the two, while Ciampino serves many low-cost European carriers. You’re probably going to fly into FCO, and that should be the one you look at first so you can catch the train into the city. 

The other option is flying into Rome and back out of Naples. Naples-Capodichino International Airport (NAP) is well connected to central Naples by public transportation.

Start your week in the historic Italian capital of Rome. Three days is enough time to experience the city’s best sites and still enjoy some downtime indulging in the local cuisine and sipping wine in a beautiful piazza.

– See above for more information on Rome

Days 4: Naples

Despite being the third-largest city in Italy (after Rome and Milan), Naples is far less visited by tourists than many other destinations in the country. This is what makes the lively Italian city such a unique and authentic place to visit. 

Our top recommendations for must-dos in Naples are:

Eat Pizza . Naples is the native home of Italy’s most famous dish and is where you’ll find the best pizza in Italy (read: the world). Neapolitan pizza is thin with a light crust and simple toppings. There’s nothing quite like it. L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele is one of the oldest and best pizzerias in Naples and a must-visit in the city.

Naples National Archaeological Museum . An important archaeological museum, filled with countless ancient Roman remains and many artifacts from nearby Pompeii, Stabiae, and Herculaneum. More information here.

Day 5: Pompeii Day Trip

Continue to use Naples as your base for day five, but use this day to take a trip out to Pompeii – a World Heritage Site and one of the most visited attractions in Italy.

The ancient city of Pompeii was a Roman city that was destroyed in an eruption of the nearby volcano Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Today it’s a fascinating archaeological site where you can experience the way of life of this ancient society through the perfectly preserved (thanks to a layer of volcanic ash) buildings and artifacts.

How to visit Pompeii from Naples :

• Public transportation . Jump on the Circumvesuviana train from Napoli Piazza Garibaldi station, reaching Pompeii in as little as 30 minutes. You can then buy a ticket at the entrance and explore the city by yourself or join a tour once you arrive .
• Guided tour . Another option is to take a Pompeii tour like this one which includes transport from Naples and a guided tour of the archeological site.

Days 6-7: The Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast is a 50km stretch of breathtaking rugged coastline, dotted with small beaches, colorful fishing villages, and grand villas. It’s one of the most picturesque coastal regions in all of Italy and a popular tourist destination.

Our top recommendations for must-dos on the Amalfi Coast are:

• Positano . A picturesque resort town with colorful houses and a pebble beachfront. The quintessential postcard image of the Amalfi Coast, the town is known for its many elegant villas and luxury hotels.
• Sorrento . This small clifftop town has a charming historic center filled with narrow alleyways and grand villas. It’s also the birthplace of Limoncello, so make sure to taste some (lots!) and grab a bottle to take home with you.
• The Blue Grotto . A hidden sea cave along the coast where the beautiful blue water appears to glow in the dark. The mesmerizing spectacle can only be seen by visiting the cave on an organized boat trip.

#6: Milan to Venice (with Verona)

Our final suggestion for what to do with a week is to explore the highlights of northern Italy. 

This itinerary takes you through the wealthy regions of Lombardy and Veneto, stopping at some of the country’s most popular and luxurious destinations, including Milan, Lake Como, and Venice.

We love this part of Italy, which is very, very different from central and southern Italy from a cultural, geographical, and culinary standpoint.

On our six week Italian extravaganza a few years ago, Verona was the standout city that blew our expectations out of the water, which is why we’ve essentially designed this itinerary around it, sandwiching it between a few of northern Italy’s more well-known destinations. 

Winters in northern Italy can get fairly cold with plenty of rain, so it’s not the best time to visit the likes of Lake Como and Venice. Spring, summer, and fall are better times to visit for a higher chance of beautiful sunny weather.

Start this itinerary by flying into one of Milan’s two main airports; Malpensa (MXP) , or Linate (LIN) .

Then, at the end of your trip, fly back out of Venice Airport Marco Polo (VCE) , which is located on the mainland of Venice, not far from Venice Island.

The entire itinerary can be done using public transportation. High-speed trains link all of the below destinations.

Days 1-2: Milan

Start this 7 day Italy itinerary in the country’s second-largest city; the chic fashion capital of Milan. The exciting and modern capital of the northern Lombardy region has plenty to see and do to fill the first couple of days of your trip. 

– See above for more information on Milan

Day 3: Day Trip to Lake Como

Continue to use Milan as your base, but use your third day in Lombardy to take a day trip to Lake Como, a vacation destination of the world’s rich and famous.

With just one day, we’d suggest jumping on the direct fast train to either Como or Varenna. 

Como is big but it isn’t the prettiest town on the lake. However, it is the nearest to Milan and takes just 30 minutes to reach by train. You can then jump on a ferry to explore more of the lake and visit other prettier towns.

Varenna takes around an hour to reach by train from Milan. It sits within the “Golden Triangle”, which is the most picturesque part of Lake Como, filled with beautiful lakeside towns and elegant Renaissance villas. From Verenna, you can easily jump on a 15 minute ferry to reach the popular town of Bellagio just across the water.

Days 4-5: Verona

Famous for being the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, “Fair Verona” is known as Italy’s city of love. It’s a true hidden gem in northern Italy that’s all too often overlooked in favor of nearby Venice. 

Verona is somewhere that really surprised us and makes for a welcome break from the much busier tourist destinations of Milan and Venice – which is why we included it in this itinerary.

Our top recommendations for must-dos in Verona are:

The Arena di Verona . Verona’s large Roman amphitheater is one of the biggest of its kind in Italy and is actually older than the Colosseum in Rome. You can visit the arena on a self-guided tour or even attend the Opera or a performance during the summer months.

The Castel San Pietro . A historic castle perched on a hill with amazing (and free) panoramic views back over the rooftops of Verona.

Adige River . A walk along the river that encircles the historic city center is one of the most peaceful things to do in Verona. Along the route, you’ll get to pass the city’s many historic bridges and other scenic views. 

Check out this post for more things to do in Verona .

End this 7 day northern Italy itinerary with another of the country’s most popular destinations; the floating city of Venice. 

Like we mentioned above, Venice suffers from over-tourism and the pressure it puts on its infrastructure and locals isn’t great. 

However, as we talked about above, that doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t go to Venice. It does mean that you should be conscious of your impact, and do your best to not contribute to the problem. 

We’d recommend staying in Venice for a few nights (rather than doing a day trip from a cruise ship, for example), spending money at local shops and restaurants that help the local economy, and visiting some of the less-visited places in Venice (relatively speaking – everything is highly visited in Venice!).

Oh, and definitely don’t stay in an Airbnb in Venice, which puts further pressure on a super constrained housing market that many locals working in Venice already can’t afford.  

– See above for more information on Venice.

Matt is the founder and main writer behind Wheatless Wanderlust, which he started back in 2018 as a way to share his gluten free travel guides with his fellow Celiac travelers.

Since then, Matt and his wife Alysha have visited 18 national parks, spent three months in Europe and six weeks in Colombia, and have explored every corner of the Pacific Northwest, which is where Matt grew up.

He writes super detailed guides to the places they visit, bringing together personal experience and historical context to help YOU plan an amazing trip.

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7 Days in Italy: 1 Week Itinerary from Venice to Rome

By: Author Scott Kendall

7 Days in Italy Itinerary

Italy is gliding down the Grand Canal in Venice , under the Rialto Bridge, and onward to the enigmatic St. Mark’s Square. Italy is staring in awe at Michelangelo’s masterpiece David, or the heavenly Sistine Chapel in Vatican City.

Italy is imagining the gladiators and wild beasts fighting to the death in the mighty Colosseum . Italy is delicious foods and wines , beautiful landscapes, and intriguing history, art and romance.

With just 7 days in Italy, the following itinerary will give visitors a taste of what Italy has to offer.

1 Week Italy Itinerary:

Day 1 & 2: Venice Day 3: Cinque Terre Day 4 & 5: Florence Day 6 & 7: Rome

Need help planning your trip? Don’t feel like planning this trip to Italy yourself? Then I recommend JayWay Travel! They offer custom trip planning services that tailor your trip to Italy according to your interests and budget. Take a look at their 8-Day Italy itinerary here.

7 Days in Italy: Venice (2 nights)

Flying into Marco Polo Airport, take the bus or water taxi into Venice. The city is made up of over 118 islands in the Adriatic Sea separated by canals and connected by over 400 bridges.

Venice was one of the richest and most powerful cities throughout much of its history, and today is best known for tourism and the hordes of visitors who come to see its architectural, historical and artistic wonders.

Also Read: Where to Stay in Venice

  A good start is to buy a 24 or 48-hour Vaporetto Pass . This pass will get you anywhere on the main islands of Venice as well as outlying islands like Murano , Burano , and Torcello. With your luggage in tow, your first stop will be the Accademia stop.

Depart the Vaporetto, take the first left and the first right, and the Hotel Ca ‘Pisani is just ahead on your right. Leave your luggage, grab a snack at La Rivista, the hotel restaurant, and head back to the Vaporetto stop.

Board and head east on the Grand Canal and get off at the St. Mark’s stop. If it tickles your fancy, on the way to St. Mark’s Square grab a Peach Bellini at Harry’s Bar. 

Because you are a smart tourist, you have already booked admittance to St. Mark’s Basilica . You arrive at your designated time in the very short line near the front doors, while others stand in long lines (sometimes up to 2 hours).

No photography is allowed, so cherish the time you have in person to admire the miraculous mosaics and architecture of the Basilica.

Next door is the Doge Palace. If you did not get tickets in advance , make a bout face, walk to the far end of the square, and go up the stairs to the Correr Museum counter, and buy a ticket that is good for the museum as well as the Doge Palace.

On the second day, take the Vaporetto to the two most famous islands around Venice: Murano and Burano . Murano, known for its glassworks, and Burano, which is known for its lace and brightly colored houses.

Spend the morning walking these less crowded islands and browse for glassworks, lace, and enjoy the beautiful neighborhoods lining the canals.

Have a nice leisurely lunch, and return to Venice. Spend some time wandering the streets of Venice, exploring its many nooks and crannies.

Check out the Rialto Bridge, churches, museums, the casino, and the fish and produce markets. And don’t forget to stop by one of the local bars for Cicchetti and an Aperol Spritz.

Ca ‘Pisani is a beautifully restored art-deco hotel located around the corner from the Accademia Vaporetto stop. Although out of the hustle and bustle of busier areas of Venice, Ca ‘Pisani is only a short walk or Vaporetto ride to St. Marks, the Rialto Bridge and other popular sites in Venice.

The spacious rooms are elegant and tastefully decorated, with comfortable beds, modern bathrooms, and air conditioning for those hot summer days. Guests can enjoy a drink on the rooftop terrace overlooking the rooftops of Venice, and the staff is very warm, personable and accommodating. Dorsoduro 979,  Venice , VE, 30123

Where to Eat in Venice

Ca ‘Pisani’s restaurant, the cozy La Rivista, served the best breakfast buffet we experienced in our week in Italy.

In addition to the gorgeous breakfast, La Rivista has a small but delightful lunch and dinner menu that includes tasty seafood, pasta, cheeses and other dishes. Try the insalata del pescatore or the pasta fresca alla laguna, and of course, leave room for some of the wonderful Tiramisu or chocolate mousse.

A few minutes west of the Academia, Al Vecio Marangon is a cozy bar tucked away on Calle de la Toletta in Dorsoduro. You can’t go wrong with a delicious mixed Cicchetti plate, cannelloni with spinach and ricotta, or their great lasagna, Al Vecio Marangon is a wonderful choice for an intimate dining experience slightly off the beaten path.

7 Days in Italy: Monterosso – Cinque Terre Italy (1 night)

Leaving Venice from the Santa Lucia Station, take the train westward to Monterosso, the northernmost of the five villages of picturesque Cinque Terre on the Ligurian Sea.

Each village is connected by a short train ride. For those more physically inclined, walk the scenic Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Path) along the cliffs hugging the rocky coastline and admire the scenic views. Take a look at our hiking in Cinque Terre guide . 

Some parts of the path have been closed because of storm damage, so be sure to check out current conditions before you depart.

Another great way to explore Cinque Terre is by boat . Spoil yourself and treat yourself to a lunch cruise to admire the stunning cliff-side towns. 

Where to stay in Cinque Terre: Hotel La Spiaggia

Right on the beach, this 19-room hotel has sea views and a great location near the train station and Ristorante Miky, a very popular restaurant in Monterosso.

Walk out your front door and in minutes you are on the beach, surrounded by blue water and rocky cliffs. The hotel serves a great breakfast buffet, has free parking, and air conditioning for those hot summer days.

Get the room with the large terrace if it’s available.

Via Fegina 98, 19016 Monterosso al Mare

Where to Eat in Cinque Terre

Ristorante Miky offers an elegant, refined dining experience. This family-run establishment is one of the most popular in Monterosso, as evidenced by the line of people waiting to get inside.

Sara and her dedicated team have created one of the most memorable dining experiences in Cinque Terre at Ristorante Miky, with stylish décor, outstanding food and wines, and warm, professional service.

Favorite dishes include fabulous baked sea bass with scalloped potatoes, an outstanding seafood risotto, mixed grilled seafood, homemade pasta, and a variety of anchovy dishes.  

Not only is the food delicious, but several dishes are served with a theatrical flair. Waiters put on a show as they debone and serve a delicious sea bass, or present a flaming pasta dish to diners. Via Fegina 104, 19016.

7 Days in Italy: Florence (2 nights)

A visit to Italy would not be complete without a trip to Florence , the capital of Tuscany and home to some of the world’s greatest architecture, art, and cuisine.

See Brunelleschi’s red terra cotta Duomo, Michelangelo’s magnificent David in the Accademia, and the collections of masters like Botticelli and da Vinci in the Uffizi.

Walk down via de Dante, the birthplace of the great poet and home of the Dante Museum. Stroll past the Palazzo Vecchio through Piazza della Signoria, cross the Ponte Vecchio to the Pitti Palace and the beautiful Boboli Gardens.

Continue east along the Arno River to Michelangelo Piazza, and enjoy the grand view of Florence below.

Browse the many street vendors with their wide selection of leather goods, scarves, jewelry and other wares. And don’t forget to check out the selection of meats, fish, cheeses and produce at the fascinating Mercato Centrale.

Florence is after Rome and Venice one of the most popular destinations in Italy, so we highly recommend you book “Skip the Line Tickets” for the main attractions in advance.

Where to Stay in Florence

In a perfect location in the center of Florence alongside the Duomo, A Florence View B&B is a great affordable choice to enjoy all that this wonderful metropolitan city has to offer. Units are clean and roomy, with comfortable beds and antique furniture.

The included personalized breakfast is wonderful, and the owners are very helpful in assisting visitors with advice on local restaurants, attractions, directions and other tips. Piazza di San Giovanni 2, 50123.

For additional recommendations, please take a look at our Editor’s recommendations for where to stay in Florence .

Where to Eat in Florence

Foody Farm is a new restaurant on the Florence scene that has quickly become popular with locals and tourists alike. A few minutes from the Duomo, Foody Farm has an interesting mix of traditional Italian dishes (like a delicious Strozzapreti Pasta with Sausage) along with tasty burgers, Asian inspired pastas, and fresh made to order salads.

In addition to the many creative entrees and salads, they have a great selection of desserts like the Zuccotto, a classic Florentine pastry, or the Mousse Agrumata alle Mandorle (citrus mousse with almonds).

Food Farm’s motto is, “The Right Food from the Right Places,” an indication of their commitment to research and locate the very best local producers of meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables and other ingredients used in their unique menu.

Foody Farm offers small or large portions to accommodate different appetites and to allow customers to try a variety of dishes.

Corso dei Tintori 10/R, 50122.

Another favorite restaurant near the Duomo is the Yellow Bar. Yellow Bar takes pride in using organic flour for their excellent pizzas and pasta. Favorites include the green pasta with mushrooms and ham, the huge salads, and a tasty swordfish.

A casual, friendly atmosphere combined with great food, friendly service, and a central location make Yellow Bar a winning choice.

Via del Proconsolo 39r, 50122.

And then there is, of course, Dario Cecchini’s famous butcher shop, Anthony Bourdain’s favorite place in Florence!

7 Days in Italy: Rome (2 nights)

Arriving by train from Florence, take the subway or taxi to the Spanish Steps, close to our recommended lodging, Hotel Madrid . Stop a few moments along the famous steps in the Piazza di Spagna and admire the Fontana della Barcaccia (Fountain of the Ugly Boat) and people-watch for a while.

Then head to the hotel, freshen up, and head back to the subway. Get off at the Colosseum stop – as you depart the subway station the magnificent Colosseum looms large in front of you.

Make sure you have already bought your Skip the Line tickets for the Colosseum , or you will likely have a long wait in line before you can enter. 

Find out if buying the Roma Pass or Omnia Pass is right for you and if it can save you money. 

The ticket you bought for the Colosseum also includes admission to the Forum and Palatine Hill. After your time at the Colosseum, if the line is overly long at the Forum entrance across from the Colosseum, consider walking a few minutes up via dei Fori Imperiali towards the Museo Sacrario delle Bandiere, for a second, less crowded entrance.

Allow several hours for your tour of the Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine Hill. Upon exiting the Forum, head west towards Piazza Navona, enjoying the sights and sounds of Rome. Grab the best pizza ever at Da Baffetto, one of our recommended restaurants.

The second day, get an early start (around 7:00 am) and head to St. Peters Basilica . It’s a nice thirty-minute walk, or take the subway from the Spanish Steps to the Vatican stop.

Spend an hour browsing through the beautiful church, and then head to the Vatican City Museum, home to wonderful works of art, including the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo’s iconic masterpiece. Remember to buy tickets online in advance for your expedited entry into the Vatican Museum.

I would highly advise visitors to use the audio guide available at the museum or from Rick Steves . After a morning of enjoying world-class art, walk across the Tiber River towards Piazza Navona and have a relaxing lunch at I Pizzicaroli.

Where to Stay in Rome

Hotel Madrid is a wonderful hotel in a convenient location, only a few minutes’ walk from the Spanish Steps (and subway station).

Enjoy the included breakfast on the rooftop garden overlooking the rooftops of Rome with St. Peters in the distance (the rooftop is also open during the day and evening to enjoy at your leisure.)

The staff is friendly and very helpful.

Via Mario de Fiori, 93-95 ,  00187 .

For additional hotel recommendations, please read our where to stay in Rome guide .

Where to Eat in Rome

I Pizzicaroli is a cozy place in the heart of Rome, just five minutes from Piazza Navona, with delectable cuisine from Umbria and Abruzzo. Owner Stefano has created a warm, inviting setting in this small, high-quality restaurant.

The limited menu includes top-notch meats and cheeses, fresh bread, spreads, and excellent wines at reasonable prices. We enjoyed an outstanding meat and cheese platter which included delicious roast pork, pancetta, liver sausage, pecorino cheese, a very flavorful cacio fiore (flower cheese), and tasty bread.

Via della Fossa, 9 ,  00186.

Da Baffetto is a very popular pizza place with just ten tables, so there is often a wait. Get there before the doors open (12:00 for lunch and 6:30 for dinner) and you will be treated to some of the best thin crust pizza imaginable.

My favorite is Pizza Baffetto, with tomato, mozzarella, mushrooms, egg (optional), sausage, green pepper, onions, and artichokes. For only 12 Euros for an indescribably delicious large pizza, this may be the best food bargain on the planet!

Time to rest your tired head this last night on Italian soil after this whirlwind 7 days in Italy tour. You will no doubt have many wonderful dreams as you recall all you have seen and done during the week.

You will cherish the many memories of your time in this magical country, and chances are that your initial taste of Italy will create an even stronger hunger to return soon to glorious Italy! 

Remember, you can also book a very similar itinerary as a tour – no planning involved. Just hop on a plane and let a local travel expert take you around Italy!

Book your 7 day Italy trip here. 

7 Days in Italy was written by Scott Kendall for EuropeUpClose. His stay in Italy was partially organized and sponsored by the following hotels and restaurants: Ca ‘Pisani in Venice; Ristorante Miky in Monterosso; Foody Farm in Florence; Hotel Madrid in Rome; I Pizzicaroli in Rome;

7 Days in Italy – Pin for later:

Scott Kendall

Saturday 2nd of September 2017

Jen, thank you for your kind comments. Yes, we love Venice. We have been there twice, and can't wait to return. Always so much to see and do in beautiful Venice.

Glad to read this itinerary of World's most beautiful place, as we all know that Venice is the most beautiful city in the Whole World. Also, it is my dream place soon i will visit this city. Thanks for sharing this amazing post.

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7 days in Italy itinerary: How to spend one week in Italy

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Italy is one of the prettiest countries in Europe. Full of historical landmarks, fashionable cities, charming towns and with a landscape so diverse that you will want to visit this country often. In this 7 days in Italy itinerary, we will share 10 different samples to choose from! 

The picturesque coastal cities, iconic UNESCO sites, mountains of the north, and the canals and delicious Italian cuisine make Italy such a popular travel destination and chances are that it has made its way into your heart and onto your bucket list. 

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

What can you do in Italy for 7 days ?

As a country, Italy is diverse and is a large country. Thanks to high-speed trains and a regional rail network, you can explore a ton of places in a short time. The key here is to plan your one week in Italy really well and know what interests you. That way you can definitely check off many places from your Italy bucket list. 

In this post, we will share multiple city-focused 7 day Italy itinerary, which is perfect for all year round (especially off-season). Then we have regional-specific Italy itineraries covering – Tuscan region, Amalfi Coast, or the northern part of the country. 

No car? No problem! We have a few itineraries that use day tours with a base city, and another that relies on the train network to explore more of Italy. 

So there is a lot that you can do in 7 days, just pick one that you like, and get packing! 

Italy Itinerary 7 days (most popular city & culture trip all year round – our sample 1)

• Day 1:  Arrive in Rome, explore
• Day 2: Rome and the Vatican City
• Day 3 : Explore Rome highlights
• Day 4:  Venice sighsteeing
• Day 5:  Venetian Islands
• Day 6: Explore Florence city
• Day 7: Florence

Or a regional specific 7 day Italy itinerary, keeping one city as a base. Like this Tuscany itinerary 7 days (sample 3)

• Day 1 : Arrive in Rome or Milan, and take the train to Florence
• Day 2 and 3 : Explore Florence
• Day 4 : Pisa day trip
• Day 5 : San Gimigano day trip
• Day 6: Explore Siena for a day
• Day 7 : Chianti wine tour and return to Rome or Milan

Is 7 days enough in Italy? 

Wondering how many days are enough in Italy? 7 days in Italy is enough to explore the key highlights that the country has to offer. Plan to fly to Rome or Milan , and then use trains to get to other major cities, or small towns. Stay there overnight. 

Or you can also keep a city as your base (like Rome or Florence), and then travel via trains/tours every day. 

Ideally, we recommend that you book an extra day for an Italian vacation from the United States, Canada, or Asia. Use this time to travel overseas, factor in the flight and time difference, and then you will have awesome 7 days in Italy to explore. 

Have more time? Check out our 10 days in Italy itinerary guide

Preparing for Italy 7 day itinerary: Travel Tips

If you are a first-time visitor, here are essential tips for preparing for your trip to Italy for 7 days (or more).

Italy is located on the continent of Europe (southern part). Its capital city is Rome, and Milan is the largest city. If you are traveling from overseas, especially from Asia, the United States, or Canada, consider arriving in Rome or Milan . Both cities have international airports with a variety of flight carriers that connect you to Italy. 

Italy is one of the popular destinations in Europe, and some of the cities are expensive to visit and explore, but it is still possible to keep sightseeing within budget. 

Italy is a member of the European Union, and Euro is its official currency. 

If you require a tourist visa to Europe or the Schengen zone , you can use the same visa to enter Italy. Visitors holding USA and Canadian passports do not require a visa to visit Italy for a stay of up to 90 days.  

For commuting and travel within Italy, we highly recommend using a mix of high-speed and regional trains and tours.

7 day Italy Itinerary: Best of cities & culture travel – Rome, Florence & Venice (Sample 1)

In this very first one week in Italy itinerary, arrive in the capital city of Rome, and then explore Florence and Venice – some of the popular and iconic destinations in the country.

The first route begins in Rome, takes you through the historical landmarks of the Ancient Empire, moves to Venice’s waterways, and then finally brings you to the Renaissance city of Florence. 

Are you ready?

Day 1 of Italy itinerary 7 days: Arrive in Rome and explore

Getting to Rome : Rome is served by the Roma Fiumicino Airport (largest), and the Ciampino Airport. This is a great entry point to the country. 

From either airport, take a train to get to the city center – Roma Termini (largest train station in the country) and then take trains to other Italian cities or Roman neighborhoods. 

• From Roma Fiumicino Airport, get to the city center via direct train service –  Leonardo Express (30 minutes), or shuttle buses (40+ minutes)
• If arriving at the Ciampino Airport, then you can book this shuttle bus ride

Where to stay in Rome: We recommend staying at a centrally located hotel in Rome, so that you can walk to popular attractions. Hotels near Termini Station, Piazza Navona, and Pantheon are good options for a short trip.

Hotels: Leonardo Boutique Hotel Rome Termini | Condotti Boutique Hotel | Prassede Palace Hotel

Read: Detailed 3 day Rome itinerary

On day one of your Italy itineraries, arrive in Rome and explore the iconic landmarks of the city. Check out the Colosseum , Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill on a guided tour. With a tour, you can enjoy a fast-track entry as well as learn about its history. Here is the tour we took, and recommend it.

In the afternoon, enjoy a hop on and off tour to get oriented to the city. 

In the evening spend some time wandering through a neighborhood like Monti or Trastevere (“beyond the Tiber”) to appreciate the city’s bohemian alleys and cute trattorias. 

Day 2 of Italy itinerary 7 days: Head to the Vatican, and visit other sites in Rome

On day 2 of the Rome itinerary, plan to visit Vatican City . Start early and check out St Peter’s Basilica, Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican museums with a guide. Here is a 2 hour tour that you can book.

After exploring the Vatican, stop by the Castel Sant’Angelo for an hour, before making your way to the heart of Rome. 

Castel Sant’Angelo, also known as called Hadrianeum was the mausoleum of the Roman emperor Hadrian. It was later converted into a fortress in the 5th century. You can check out various artwork at the fortress museum today.

Here is an entry ticket to the castle (of 1 hour). Be sure to admire the River Tiber and various bridges from the museum. 

Up next is the Trevi Fountain. Trevi Fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in Rome, and you can visit this attraction for free. If hungry, you can find a ton of trattorias nearby for a meal or snack!

If you wish to take amazing photos here, you can plan to visit this spot in the morning of day 3. 

End the day’s itinerary at the Square of Spain or Piazza di Spagna . The iconic Spanish Steps are located here, which are one of the longest in Europe. The steps climb between the square and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, leading to the Trinità dei Monti church at the top. 

It is completely free to explore, and we highly recommend it. Piazza di Spagna is also worth a visit – there are tons of designer shops from Gucci to Prada and beautiful cafes and restaurants for dining! 

Day 3 of Italy itinerary 7 days: Explore more of Rome, start for Venice in the evening 

On day 3 of this 7 day Italy itinerary, visit the Pantheon, followed by the Piazza Navona (you can swap this for Villa Borghese and museums). In the evening, start for Venice. 

Start for Pantheon bright and early in the morning. The Pantheon is one of the beautiful Roman attractions, and it is completely free to explore. 

It was built as a temple originally and is a Catholic Church now (Hadrian rebuilt it in 126 AD). 

Being free, and a touristy site, visitors line up at the entrance 30-40 minutes prior to the gates opening – highly recommend heading there before 08:00 am to beat the rush. 

If it gets too crowded, then skip going inside. There are cafes in and around the Pantheon at the Piazza Della Rotonda where you can grab breakfast. 

After the Pantheon, it is time to visit another popular spot in Rome – Piazza Navona . This piazza is another free attraction, and it is home to many beautiful Baroque architectures such as Bernini sculptures, and fountains. 

It is a great spot to soak in the ambiance of Rome by chilling out at the square or enjoying gelato in one of the quaint cafes. Plus there are lots of open spaces to wander around, hang out and soak in the sun!

After sightseeing, start for Venice . We recommend opting for a high-speed train. It takes about 3 hours to get there. Regular trains take 3 hours 45 minutes. 

• Trains depart from Rome Termini Station and arrive at the Venezia Santa Lucia . 
• Driving takes 6+ hours, one way. 

Day 4 of Italy itinerary 7 days: Explore Venice

Where to stay in Venice? 

For a short trip to Venice, we recommend staying by the Grand Canal or Santa Lucia Station. If you are looking for budget options, the neighborhood of Mestre is a good one.

Hotels : Palazzo Veneziano – Venice Collection | Hotel Campiello | Campanile Venice Mestre

You have a full day in Venice on day 4 of the one week Italy itinerary. Start your morning with a nice breakfast at a canalside cafe. 

Head over to the must-visit San Marco Piazza to check out the St Mark’s Basilica, Campanile tower, and the Doge Palace. You can opt for a 3 hour guided tour like this one – Piazza San Marco, and the Doge Palace tour which also covers the Bridge of Sighs.

In the afternoon, enjoy views of the picturesque Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge in Venice. If interested you can also wander the cute district or sestieri of San Polo, which is home to Rialto Market and the Basilica dei Frari.  

Go on a private gondola ride (45 minutes) in the evening.

Read : Is the gondola ride in Venice worth it?

Day 5 of Italy itinerary 7 days: Visit Venetian Islands, and start for Florence in the evening  

For day two in Venice, head to the Venetian Islands of Burano, Murano, and Torcello. We recommend booking a tour so that can explore all three places without hassles (in 5.5 to 6 hours). 

These popular islands are located near Venice, and can also be accessed by public transport. Burano and Murano are very well known for their colorful houses and lace and for glass factories respectively. 

After exploring 2-3 islands, you will be back in Venice by late afternoon. Vaporetto or water bus will drop you at the center of Venice, so do give yourself enough time to pick up your luggage and then head to Santa Lucia train station. 

Getting to Florence:

• Venice to Florence is 2 hours by high-speed train
• Driving takes 3 hours 20 minutes

Day 6 of Italy itinerary 7 days: Explore Florence  

Where to stay in Florence?: We recommend staying at the center of Florence for this itinerary. Firenze Santa Maria Novella or Stazione di Santa Maria Novella (train station) is located within walking distance of the centre. 

Hotels : La Terrazza sul Duomo B&B | Grand Hotel Cavour Florence | Hotel Vasari 

Florence is one of the most popular cities in Italy. Known as the cradle of the Renaissance, it is home to many museums, piazza, and stunning architecture everywhere. 

On day one of the Florence itinerary, visit one of the Renaissance museums – Uffizi Gallery and the Galleria dell’Accademia. Being a popular destination, we recommend that you book your tickets ahead of time. 

Allot time to explore the second museum the next day. Uffizi Gallery is a Renaissance art museum and is one of the popular places in Florence. Here is where you can book your tickets.

From the Uffizi, make your way to the Piazza Della Signoria, which is a large public square. This piazza is surrounded by iconic Florentian landmarks such as the Palazzo Vecchio (which is a town hall today), a copy of Michelangelo’s David statue, fountains, and other stunning statues.  

In the late afternoon, make your way to the Ponte Vecchio – a medieval arch bridge, built over the Arno River. This is an important city landmark, so don’t miss it. 

From Ponte Vecchio, it is a little walk to get to the Piazza Michangelo – but it is all worth it for the views! This is a free attraction and we highly recommend visiting for sunset!

Day 7 of Italy itinerary 7 days: Explore Florence, and return to Rome

On the final day of the 7 day Italy itinerary, visit the iconic Florence Duomo. Explore the interiors and then climb to the top for some amazing views of the city. 

In the afternoon, you can visit the Galleria dell’Accademia , which is another Renaissance museum. This gallery is home to the original statue of Michelangelo’s David. 

If you would like to skip the museum, then you can browse the Mercato Centrale Firenze market or pay a visit to the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella.

Travel back to Rome:

By evening, hop on a high-speed train to return to Rome. Florence to Rome is 1.50 hours by high-speed train, and 3.50 hours by regional trains. 

Italy Itinerary 7 days from Rome: Rome, Florence & Pisa (Sample 2)

While the first 7 day Italy itinerary offers a great insight into the three iconic cities, here is a second option that makes it easy to explore – this one is also a more relaxed itinerary covering Rome and Florence in-depth and a day trip to Pisa . 

Day 1-3 of one week in Italy itinerary: Explore Rome

Without diving deeper into the Rome and Florence sightseeing tips in the subsequent Italy itineraries, we will just list the sites, hotel, and transportation information. 

Spend 3 days in Rome, and explore the following,

• Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill on a guided tour
• Check out Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and Piazza Venezia, and wander the neighborhood of Monti
• Visit the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Villa Borghese, and the gardens, followed by sunset at the Pincio Terrace

Day 4-5 of one week in Italy itinerary: Explore Florence

Start for Florence, from Rome. Use high-speed trains to get there in 1.50 hours. Alternatively, you can also use regional trains to get there in 3.50 hours. 

Use day four to settle and check in to your hotel. 

Here is what you can check out in Florence,

• Spend time exploring Renaissance art and structures in Florence like the Uffizi and the Accademia galleries
• Visit the iconic Firenze Duomo
• Palazzo Vecchio & Loggia dei Lanzi, and the Gucci Garden complex
• Check off the Ponte Vecchio bridge, Piazza Michelangelo, and the Central Market 

Day 6 of one week in Italy itinerary: Explore Pisa from Florence

Go on a day trip to Pisa from Florence, to see the Leaning Tower, Baptistry and the Cathedral. You can use public transportation to get there, visit the complex and then return to Florence.

You can also book this as a half-day tour.

Day 7 of one week in Italy itinerary: Florence & return to Rome

We will share a few options for day 7 of this Italy itinerary. You may choose one based on the return flight from Rome. 

• Option 1: Enjoy a wine tour from Florence. Florence to Chianti is 1.25 hours by train. Here is 4.50-hour tour, in which you will get to sample wines and also return to Rome in the evening
• Option 2: Explore 2 more sites in Florence such as Santa Croce Basilica Complex , and Boboli Gardens

7 days in Tuscany Itinerary road trip: Florence & beyond (Sample 3)

Tuscany is one of our favorite regions in Italy. In this 7 day Tuscany itinerary , enjoy the lovely countryside, rolling hills, wines, and more. You can use this sample as a road trip or take trains from Florence to explore. 

Getting to Florence: When flying internationally you can get to Italy by arriving in Rome or Milan, and then taking a train (or car rental) to Florence. We have traveled to Florence from both Milan and Rome via high-speed trains, and it has worked well. 

Trains take 1.50 hours to get there from Milan or Rome to Florence.

Kickstart your Tuscany itinerary with Florence, and then take day trips (by train, car, or guided tours) to explore more of the region. 

Your sightseeing agenda will look like this,

• Day 1 : Arrive in Rome or Milan, take the train to Florence
• Day 2 and 3 : Explore Florence (use sightseeing tips from the previous itinerary sample)

In Florence, visit the city highlights like the Uffizi and the Accademia galleries, Firenze Duomo , Palazzo Vecchio & Loggia dei Lanzi, Ponte Vecchio bridge, Piazza Michelangelo, and the Central Market,

On day 4, explore Pisa on a day trip. Visit Leaning Tower, Baptistry, and the Cathedral. You can also book this as a half day tour.

Explore the town of San Gimignano on a day trip from Florence (on day 5). This is a beautiful Tuscan hill town that is full of medieval architecture and towers. 

Here is what you can do in San Gimignano in one day

• Visit the town center of San Gimignano and admire its stunning medieval architectural gems 
• The Townhall exhibits at the Palazzo Comunale are worth a visit
• Visit the Cathedral of San Gimignano

On day 6 of your Italy itinerary, visit Siena . Siena is like mini Florence. It is known for its art, museums, medieval cityscape, and the Palio, which is a horse race held twice a year in Piazza del Campo. 

Here is what you can do in one day in Siena,

• Visit the Siena Cathedral or Duomo di Siena and admire the beautiful marble work
• Hang out at the Piazza del Campo, which is a central square of Siena 
• Take a look at the Palazzo Pubblico (palace) which has served as the seat of the Republic of Siena’s government
• Visit the Basilica of San Domenico

On the final day, take a wine tasting tour in Tuscany by visiting classic Chianti wineries. 

Northern Italy Itinerary one week from Milan: Milan & beyond (Sample 4)

We enjoyed exploring Milan, and we think it is a perfect base to explore the Lombardy region and other places in the northern part of Italy. 

Getting to Milan: Milan is served by the Milan Malpensa Airport, which is one of the busiest airports in the country. You can easily find good flights from North America to Milan. Here is a direct transfer between the airport and center

Where to stay in Milan? For a short trip, we recommend staying at the center (Zone 1 of Milan or near the Duomo), or Milan Centrale Station. In order to take day trips, Central Station accommodation is perfect like c-Hotel Atlantic Milano , where we stayed. 

Hotels : Starhotels Anderson | Park Hyatt Milan | c-Hotel Atlantic Milano

Day 1 – 2 of Italy 7 day Itinerary: Arrive in Milan & explore

Arrive in Milan and explore the city for the next 2 days. Milan is one of the wealthiest cities in the European Union and is home to the Duomo, the third-largest cathedral in the world. 

On your day one of your Milan itinerary , visit the Duomo. Take time to explore the interiors including visiting the archaeological site. Don’t leave without climbing to the rooftop terrace – we are sure you will love the views from up there.

Visiting the Milan Duomo is not free, you can book the tickets here . 

Up next is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, one of the oldest shopping arcades in the world. It is located in the Piazza Duomo, and there are cafes and restaurants nearby where you can stop for lunch!

After lunch, make your way to see Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper. It is located in Santa Maria Delle Grazie and is a popular attraction in the city. We do recommend booking tickets early to avoid disappointment.

On day 2 of the 7 day Italy itinerary, visit the Sforzesco Castle and the Sempione Park . 

In the afternoon, explore Europe’s richest business district aka Porta Nuova , and admire the Vertical Forest aka Garden Houses. You can also utilize the second half of the day at the Navigli canal district.to enjoy a river sightseeing cruise. 

Or you can go shopping in the afternoon. The top places to shop are Via Montenapoleone and the famous Quadrilatero Della Moda. 

Day 3 to 7 of Italy 7 day itinerary: Day trips from Milan

Milan is great to embark on day trips. For this reason, we recommend staying near Central Train Station. Here is how your itinerary will look like, 

• Day 3 : Lake Como
• Day 4 : Cinque Terre 
• Day 5 : Verona & Lake Garda
• Day 6 : Principality of Monaco 
• Day 7: Serravalle Outlet shopping

Enjoy a full-day tour to Lake Como, Bellagio, and Varenna from Milan . Milan to Como is about an hour by road and on this tour, you get to explore the lakeside, Villa Olmo, plus a sightseeing boat cruise. It also includes time in Bellagio and Varenna. 

It is a 10 hour guided tour , with round trip transportation. 

The following day get on the road for another day tour, this time to Cinque Terre with a cruise. It is a full-day tour of 13 hours, and it is great if you are pressed for time, and visiting in the off-season. 

As part of this guided tour, 2 villages of Monterosso and Manarola are covered. 

Up next is Verona – the land of Romeo and Juliet, with Lake Garda. Verona is 2 hours by road or high-speed train. To make it easy here is a 12 hour day tour for you.  

On this tour, a guided sightseeing trip of Verona, with stops at the famous Shakespearean sights of Romeo & Juliet, and the Roman amphitheater is included. 

Followed by time at the fortified town of Sirmione. The tour ends with sightseeing and an optional boat tour on Lake Garda. 

Day 6 of this itinerary is unique, it takes you to the Principality of Monaco on a day trip from Milan. Monaco is the second smallest country in the world; and is known for the Monte Carlo Casino, Grand Prix, and Grace Kelly! 

How to get to Monaco? From Milan, take the train to Ventimiglia, and then to Monte Carlo. It is possible to visit for a day, and then return. Ensure you book the earliest trains leaving for Monte Carlo, and return after 5:30 pm. 

Here is what you can explore on a day trip to Monaco,

• Check out the Monte Carlo Casino 
• Stroll the waterfront and check out fancy yachts! 
• Port Hercules is a must-visit, for a stroll and a nice meal 
• Visit the Jardin Exotique de Monaco , which is a beautiful garden located on the cliffside
• Visit Sainte-Dévote Chapel

On the final day of the Milan itinerary, enjoy outlet shopping at Serravalle . There are shuttles leaving for the mall, and you can shop from over 350 luxurious and fashionable brands! 

7 days in Northern Italy Itinerary: Milan, Verona & Cinque Terre (Sample 5)

Enjoy North Italian highlights on this 7 day itinerary. This is perfect if you wish to take it slow and spend 1-2 full days at each destination. 

Day 1 and 2: Arrive in Milan , and then explore Verona followed by Cinque Terre.

Where to stay in Milan? Starhotels Anderson | Park Hyatt Milan | c-Hotel Atlantic Milano

Here is what you can explore in 2 days, 

• Visit the Duomo and head to the rooftop terrace. You can book the tickets here .
• Hang out at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele  
• See Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper in Milan’s Santa Maria Delle Grazie
• Explore Porta Nuova , and admire the Vertical Forest aka Garden Houses
• Sforzesco Castle and enjoy a stroll at the Sempione Park
• Go shopping ( Quadrilatero Della Moda)
• Enjoy a food and wine experience
• Half-day food tour

Day 3 take a trip to Verona . It is about an hour and a half by train to get to Verona from Milan.

Explore the following on a day trip to Verona, 

• Wander the Piazza Delle Erbe which is the historical town center 
• Visit Juliet’s House and snap a photo of the balcony
• Visit Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore
• Soak in views from the Torre dei Lamberti

Spend days 5 to 7 of the Italy itinerary in the Italian Riviera.

In 2 days in Cinque Terre, you can quickly explore the five colorful villages of – Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare. 

Getting to Cinque Terre: Take the train from Milan to Monterosso. This town will be the closest to Milan. 

• Start your sightseeing in Monterosso, which is a town with a large beach 
• From Monterosso, hop on the 5 Terre Express train to reach other villages in a matter of a few minutes. You can also buy a hop-on-hop-off travel card at the station. Alternatively, you can hike to the next village, Vernazza which is also known for a lovely beach
• The next day, hang out at the Riomaggiore beach in the morning, and then by noon head to Manarola for lunch
• Complete the day with a sunset view from Corniglia
• On day 3, go on a short hike from one village to the next (part of the Cinque Terre National Park ), and then return to Milan in the evening to fly out

1 week in Italy Itinerary: Milan, Venice & Florence (Sample 6)

This one week itinerary for Italy skips Rome and instead covers Milan (arrival airport), Venice, and Florence. 

Day 1 – 2 of Italy itinerary: Arrive in Milan and explore

Getting to Milan: Get to Milan’s Malpensa Airport. From the airport, make your way to the center or train station (which is a good area for accommodation). Here is a direct transfer between the airport and center

Here is what you can explore in 2 days,

• Visit the Duomo . You can book the tickets here
• Go shopping
• Enjoy a food and wine experience or half-day food tour

Day 3 – 4 of Italy itinerary: Start for Venice and explore 

Getting to Venice: Milan to Venice by high speed train takes 2.50 hours

Spend 2 days in Venice exploring various neighborhoods and attractions like

• Wander along the Grand Canal and districts like San Polo
• Visit the Piazza San Marco, and the Doge Palace
• Go on a private gondola ride (45 minutes)
• Explore the nearby Venetian Islands of Burano, Murano and Torcello. We recommend booking a tour so that can explore without hassles

After the tour, take a train to return to Venice. Or stay overnight in Venice and start for Florence the next day. 

Day 5 – 7 of Italy itinerary: Start for Florence, explore and return to Milan

Getting to Florence: Highspeed trains take 2 hours to get from Venice to Florence. Driving time is 3.50 hours

Where to stay in Florence? La Terrazza sul Duomo B&B | Grand Hotel Cavour Florence | Hotel Vasari

Here is what you can check out in Florence on days 5 and 6,

• Check off the Ponte Vecchio bridge, Piazzale Michelangelo, and the Central Market 

On day 7, take a wine tour in Tuscany by visiting classic Chianti wineries. Or go on a day trip to Pisa. Return to Milan in the evening (Florence to Milan is 1.50 hours by high-speed train). 

Italy Itinerary 7 days from Rome: Rome, Pompeii & Amalfi (Sample 7)

You will LOVE this Italy itinerary that focuses on Rome, and Amalfi, and a day trip to Pompeii which can be done from either location. 

Day 1 – 3 of 7 days in Italy: Arrive in Rome, and explore

Getting to Rome: For this itinerary, fly into Roma Fiumicino airport. From Roma Fiumicino Airport, get to the city center via direct train service –  Leonardo Express (30 minutes), or shuttle buses (40+ minutes)

Here is a detailed southern Italy itinerary: Rome and Amalfi Coast itinerary 7 days

Day 4 of 7 days in Italy: Take a day trip to Pompeii from Rome

Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pompeii from Rome on a day trip. We took a tour, and enjoyed the company of an expert looking at the various sites and their history! 

As part of this tour, you can also walk up to the top of Mount Vesuvius with views of the Bay of Naples (available April through mid-November), or free time in Naples (mid-November – March). You can book this day tour with a guide

Alternatively, you can also take a train to Pompeii from Rome. Trains take 2 hours one way. The price of train tickets from Roma Termini to Pompei starts at €12.70 (for a Standard Class ticket).

Day 5 of 7 days in Italy: Amalfi Coast and return to Rome

To explore Amalfi Coast from Rome, you have to make connections via Naples. High-speed trains take 1.50 hours to get there. 

Plan to arrive at Vietri Sul Mare in Amalfi from Naples, which has a train station. Trains take an hour to get there. We recommend staying in Naples so that it is easier to get back on day 7 – to Rome to fly out. 

Hotels for Naples: UNAHOTELS | Renaissance Naples Hotel Mediterraneo (for hotels on the Amalfi refer to the next itinerary sample)

Once you arrive in Vietri Sul Mare on day 5, head to one of the cleanest beaches on the Amalfi – Spiaggia Della Crestarella. Spend the rest of the day here – lazying on a sandy beach. 

On day 6, start for Amalfi town. To get to Amalfi town, you can take the train from Naples to Vietri Sul Mare, and then a bus to reach Amalfi town center. It will take about 2+ hours, one way.

Or you can skip the bus, and instead hire a taxi to reach Amalfi in 20 minutes. 

Spend a full day in Amalfi, and enjoy a stroll at the Marina Grande , which is Amalfi’s main beach. Visit the Duomo di Amalfi with its unique striped Byzantine facade. Head to the top of the cathedral for amazing views. 

You will find a lot of souvenir shops, and restaurants to hang out in. 

On day 7, explore Naples for half a day, and then from there make connections for Rome.

7 day Amalfi Coast Italy Itinerary (Sample 8)

This itinerary focuses on the Amalfi Coast. When flying internationally, choose to arrive in Rome, and then take a train or bus to Sorrento. Keep Sorrento as a base to explore the coast.

Day 1 of 7 days in Italy: Arrive in Rome, travel to Sorrento

Use day one of the itinerary to arrive in Rome, and travel to Sorrento. Then check in to your hotel. 

Getting to Sorrento: Trains from Rome to Sorrento via Napoli Centrale and Napoli P. Garibaldi take around 3.50 hours. Flixbus offers routes that take around 4.50+ hours, one way. 

Where to stay in Sorrento? Hotel Regina Sorrento (with a view) | Sorrento Pool&Suites (affordable) 

Day 2 of 7 days in Italy: Sorrento to Vietri Sul Mare day trip

Spend a day in Vietri Sul Mare. You can get there by train from Sorrento.

Rent a sunbed, and enjoy one of the cleanest beaches on the Amalfi – Spiaggia Della Crestarella. 

After beach time, go ceramic shopping at the center. Do stop by the Church of San Giovanni Battista or the Cathedral of Vietri. 

Day 3 of 7 days in Italy: Sorrento to Amalfi Town day trip

To get to Amalfi town, you have a few options,

• By road (renting a car, taxi, etc). The road distance is 40 km
• By ferry from Sorrento to Amalfi Coast which takes one hour and 30 minutes (one way)

There are a few things to see in Amalfi town, other than beach time. Here is what you can explore on a day trip,

• Relax or enjoy a stroll at the Marina Grande
• Photograph the stunning beach and the steep cliffs surrounding the Amalfi town
• Visit the Duomo di Amalfi with its unique striped Byzantine facade. Admire the interiors, and also head to the top of the cathedral for views

Day 4 of 7 days in Italy: Sorrento to Positano day trip

On day 4, plan to relax in the beautiful village of Positano. 

From Sorrento to Positano, ferries depart approximately every two hours and take about 40 minutes to get there. The ticket price is around €15 per person and can be purchased online.

Positano is one of the picturesque villages on the Amalfi. Here is what you can explore in one day,

• Relax at the beach
• Admire the colorful cliffside houses
• (Window) shop in local boutiques 
• Visit Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta which features the iconic dome and a 13th-century Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary
• Hike Sentiero Degli Dei trail 

Read : Amalfi Coast itinerary 4 days

Day 5 of 7 days in Italy: Sorrento to Capri Island

We recommend this day tour from Sorrento to Capri Island and the Blue Grotto. This is a small group tour of 12 guests. 

The boat cruise departs from Sorrento and takes you to the sea cave from a small rowboat. 

The sea cave is formed by the erosive action of the sea, and its beauty comes from the intense blue color of the crystalline water. The tour covers the whole island and includes Faraglioni, the White Grotto, the Green Grotto, and the Lighthouse of Punta Carena.

You can swim or snorkel in the blue waters at your own pace. Book this day tour here

Day 6 of 7 days in Italy: Salerno 

Visit the coastal town of Salerno from Sorrento.

Getting to Salerno : Ferries take 2+ hours to get there, one way

Here is what you can explore in Salerno,

• Visit the Salerno Cathedral dating back to 1085. The church is dedicated to Saint Matthew
• Explore Parco Naturale Diecimare , known for its wildlife and safari park 
• Spend time hiking, or walking through this town and enjoying its landscape

Day 7 of 7 days in Italy: Sorrento to Pompeii Archaeological site day trip

Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pompeii from Sorrento on a day trip. As part of this tour, you can also walk up to the top of Mount Vesuvius.

You can book this day tour with a guide.   This tour also includes lunch.

7 days in Italy on a budget: Florence, Bologna, Lucca, San Marino & Pisa (Sample 9)

In this 7 day Italy trip, you will explore Florence, Pisa, Lucca, Bologna, and San Marino, a microstate in Europe. 

Kickstart your Italy travel itinerary with Florence, and then take day trips.

Where to stay in Florence: La Terrazza sul Duomo B&B | Grand Hotel Cavour Florence | Hotel Vasari 

• Day 4 : Bologna for a day
• Day 5 : Lucca day trip
• Day 6: San Marino day trip
• Day 7 : Pisa half-day trip

Spend one day in Bologna (day 4). Florence to Bologna is 35 minutes by train. 

On a day trip check out the Two Towers of Bologna, visit the Seven Churches of Basilica of Santo Stefano, and the Municipal Palace. Also, take time to eat some delicious Italian pasta, and admire the Fountain of Neptune.

Next visit Lucca (day 5) . Florence to Lucca is less than 2 hours by train.

In one day in  Lucca, visit its stunning Cathedral, and climb the Guinigi Tower for amazing views. The Church of San Michele in Foro is also another place to add to your list. Do tour the Pfanner Palace and visit the Museo Nazionale di Palazzo Mansi.

For day 6, visit the microstate of San Marino. It is one of the world’s oldest republics, and is wonderful views! 

How to get to San Marino? Take the train from Florence to Rimini, and then ride the San Marino bus (near the train station. Landmark: Napoleon Hotel). The bus ride is about 50 minutes. And from there it is just a short walk to the centre. 

These are the things to see in San Marino. Admire the Three Towers dating back to the 11th century, and wander the old town and narrow cobblestone streets of San Marino. 

You can enjoy a nice short hike, and then visit the Basilica di San Marino which is a Catholic church. If you have extra time, make way to the Palazzo Pubblico, the town hall of the City of San Marino

On day 7, go on a half-day trip to explore Pisa. Check out the Leaning Tower, the Baptistry, and the Cathedral. You can also book this as a tour.

Then return to Rome or Milan (to fly out). 

Italy Itinerary 7 days: Venice, Cinque Terre & Dolomites (Sample 10)

In our last 7 day Italy itineraries guide, we will share a sample that covers Venice , Cinque Terre, and the Dolomites. 

Day 1 to 3 of one week in Italy: Arrive in Venice and explore 

Plan to arrive in Rome or Milan, and then travel to Venice. Or you can make connections to Venice Marco Polo Airport. And then check in to your hotel. 

Where to stay in Venice? : Palazzo Veneziano – Venice Collection | Hotel Campiello | Campanile Venice Mestre

Explore the iconic landmarks like the Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge, St Mark’s Square,  Piazza San Marco, and the Doge Palace , and go on a private gondola ride (45 minutes). 

Use the second day in Venice, to explore the nearby Venetian Islands of Burano, Murano, and Torcello. We recommend booking a tour for this 

Day 4 to 6 of one week in Italy: Cinque Terre and return to Venice on day 6 

Explore the five villages of Cinque Terre next. Admire them all from Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza to Monterosso al Mare. 

To get to Cinque Terre, take the train from Venice. There are stops in every village but expect to change one train at least. It takes about 4.50 hours+, one way.

Where to stay in Cinque Terre? Arbaspàa (in Manarola) | Santa Marta Rooms via Roma (in Vernazza)

In order to explore all the villages, we recommend the 5 Terre Express train to reach other villages in just a few minutes. You can also buy a hop-on-hop-off travel card at the station to travel between villages.

Here is what you can explore: 

• Relax and chill out at a beach in Monterosso. 
• Go hiking from one village to another particularly from Monterosso to Vernazza . You’ll have to climb 550 steps along the way, but the uninterrupted views are worth it!
• Admire the colorful village of Riomaggiore, and also hit the beach
• Enjoy a nice meal in Manarola, yes the one with coast views .
• Head to Corniglia to admire Saint Mary’s Terrace for that postcard view of the village! 
• Enjoy hikes and trails in the Cinque Terre National Park (free entrance) 

On day 6, plan to return to Venice by evening. 

Day 7 of one week in Italy: Venice to Dolomites day trip

Without renting a car, use this full-day tour to get a glimpse of the UNESCO-listed Dolomite Mountains. 

Visit the mountain town of Cortina d’Ampezzo and go shopping. Take time to check out Lake Misurina as well as the Tre Cime di Lavaredo peaks. Tours also stop at seasonal areas like Lake Braies (winter/spring) and Lake Misurina (summer). This is a small group tour of 8 people. Book it here

Additional Italy tips:

So that’s a wrap! We hope you found our post useful in planning your trip to Italy. 

We will leave you with some additional tips

14 days in Italy allows you to explore the country without being rushed. We do recommend focusing on a particular region and picking 1-3 cities for this itinerary.  One week in Italy is great too, but if you wish to cover more ground you must be open to using high-speed trains and travel to the next destination in the evening or early to make the most of your trip. 7 days in Italy is best to explore one region and stick to that area only. 

Although Italy is expensive as compared to Lisbon or Sarajevo, it is definitely less expensive than Switzerland or Iceland.  For a 7 day trip, expect to spend $120 per person per day (double occupancy). This includes hotel, meals at a trattoria, and entry fees to some of the attractions.  You can find a nice hotel for $100 USD per night for two.  We didn’t include high-speed train tickets here, as it will vary depending on the itinerary, the city, and how far in advance you are booking.  So, $840 + return flight tickets. Airfare typically starts at $550+ USD round trip.

You can surely use one week in Italy to check off some of the iconic landmarks as outlined in our sample itinerary, and then set aside an extra day for traveling!

Other Italy travel guides: 

• Italy: Most beautiful list cities in Italy that you must visit
• Italy Itinerary : 2 weeks in Italy itinerary with Amalfi Coast
• Italy Packing List : What to wear in Italy or Italy in November
• Bucket list: From Italy Spain United Kingdom to Portugal, here is the ultimate European bucket list

Pin: 7 day Italy itinerary ideas to add to your bucket list

Mayuri is the founder & editor of ToSomePlaceNew. An Indian-Canadian globetrotter, she has traveled to over 100 cities and 40+ countries.

Mayuri has a graduate degree in History and is an MBA. She loves traveling the world particularly Europe, capturing historical nuances, and discussing that over a cup of coffee with her husband, Salil. 

She has lived in Portugal, Canada and India.

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Not a bad effort for an outsider.

HI Mayuri, My wife and I went to Italy based on your itinerary and it was very helpful. Thanks

That’s so good to hear! Appreciate your message 🙂 Thank you George!

I have just sat down and opened a map of Italy to start planning our trip for the beginning of May and saw your post … amazing! We really don´t have any set plans of where to go but would like to see Rome, Naples and some of the beautiful coastline of the Amalfi Coast so your Itineraries have been so helpful!! We just have a week so will check out your tours and hotels. Thank you for all your tips and advice! Excellent job!

Thank you, Vicky! Enjoy your trip!

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7 Days In Italy: An Epic 1 week Italy Itinerary

January 11, 2023 //  by  Follow Me Away //   Leave a Comment

Hoping to spend the perfect 7 days in Italy? This one-week in Italy itinerary includes everything you must see in this beautiful European country!

Although we do lay out our suggestions of where to go, what to do, and where to stay during your seven days in Italy, don’t be afraid to make changes you think will you suit you better. For example, if you’ve already visited Rome, perhaps spend a little more time in Tuscany.

Planning your trip to Italy last minute?

Make sure to book your hotels and tours in Italy in advance to ensure availability! Here are my top picks for your trip!

Tickets you MUST book in advance:

• Vatican Museums And Sistine Chapel (A MUST in advance)
• Colosseum Entry Tickets (Another MUST! Book online in advance!)
• Michelangelo’s David Tickets (Often sells out in Florence)
• Skip-The-Line Uffizi Gallery Tickets (Buy online to save time!)
• Doge’s Palace Entry Ticket (Very busy, can sell out)
• Milan Cathedral And Rooftop Tickets (Sells out and a must-see!)

Top picks for places to stay in Italy:

• Rome: Hotel Relais Dei Papi (Amazing Vatican location)
• Florence: Relais Pizza Signoria (City center location)
• Venice: Hotel Carlton Grand Canal (Grand Canal views!)
• Dolomites: Parkhotel Laurin (Central location with pool!)
• Cinque Terre: Affittacamere Casa Dane’ (Affordable location)
• Milan: Collini Rooms (Just 10 min from Milan airport!)

Remember that this seven-day Italy itinerary is meant to provide you with a structured idea of what you CAN do on your Italian vacation, not what you MUST do!

There are actually so many fantastic variations of the best 7 days in Italy itinerary that we’ve provided an alternative option for days six and seven.

Whether you are planning a 7 day Italy honeymoon, a family trip, or a solo trip, this will be an epic vacation!

Before you head off on your amazing Italian adventure, make sure you aren’t forgetting any of these 10 things on your Italy packing list .   We just want to ensure that you are prepared for this wonderful itinerary!

If you’re looking for a slightly longer Italy itinerary, check out our ten-day Italy itinerary and two-week Italy itinerary .

Now, keep reading to learn how to take on Italy in 7 days!

The Ultimate 7 Days In Italy Itinerary

Begin your 7 days in italy itinerary by flying into rome.

For the purposes of this seven-day Italy itinerary, you’ll fly into Rome. This is one of Italy’s major airports, so flights come to Rome from all around the world.

You will not  be flying out of Rome at the end of your 1 week Italy itinerary, but this will most likely save you a bit of money by booking two one-way flights out of Italy’s biggest airports!

We recommend  checking out Skyscanner  to find the best and most affordable flights into Italy. Use this tool to discover the best flights for your trip because you can easily compare rates.

We also suggest booking your best Italy itinerary on a travel credit card so you can earn points toward future travel! These are the   travel credit cards we personally use!  

Rome has two airports you can fly into depending on where you are coming from and what airline you are taking.

Rome’s Fiumicino Airport is the larger international airport so if you are coming from North America, South America, or Asia, you’ll be flying into this Rome airport.

Rome’s Ciampino Airport, on the other hand, is used by smaller budget airlines such as Ryanair and Easyjet. You will likely fly into this airport if you are flying in for your 7 days in Italy from other parts of Europe.

In comparison to the bustling Fiumicino International Airport, the Ciampino Airport is rather small.

The most affordable way to travel between the Fiumicino Airport and Rome’s city center is by a shuttle bus that stops at both Termini Station and Piazza Cavour, which is near the Vatican.

This shuttle takes around an hour and costs a few euros. There are also trains and taxi services that run into Rome as well.

Book Your Shuttle Bus To/From Fiumicino Airport Here

Book Your Ciampino Airport Transfer Shuttle Here

Getting Around During Your Week In Italy

There are quite a few different ways to travel around during your 7 days in Italy.

We recommend making use of Italy’s fabulous public transportation system. Italy has tons of high-speed trains that can get you pretty much anywhere in the country.

Even if it is your first time in Italy, the public transport system is easy to use. You can easily do Italy by train in 1 week.

If you don’t think public transportation is right for you, there are a few more options. You can also choose to rent a car or Vespa if you want to drive around during your one week in Italy and have a little bit more freedom.

We have also rented a car in Italy, but it will be a more expensive route than taking the train.

Do know you won’t be dropping the car off at the same place you picked it up, which will include an added cost.

If you decide to rent a car, keep in mind that tolls in Italy can be pricey 20-30 euros a pop and that parking is often hard to find in larger cities.

Finally, if you’re leaning towards renting a car, be sure to evaluate all of the pros and cons of renting a car in Italy .

We have driven in Italy and it is a great way to see the country if you hate waiting on trains and buses.

You can also hire a private driver to take you all around during your 7-day Italy vacation if it works with your financial position.

Stop 1: Explore Italy’s Capital City Of Rome

As the capital of Italy, Rome definitely has to make it into this one-week in Italy itinerary.

While many people can spend four days or more in Rome , for the sake of this sample Italy itinerary, we recommend spending only a day or two in this bustling, history-filled city.

Things To Do In Rome

Wander around the colosseum.

You can’t visit Rome and not see the Colosseum. This nearly 2,000-year-old amphitheater is truly a sight to see.

When you visit, you’ll be able to imagine what it was like to sit in the same seats as the ancient Romans. But you definitely won’t be the only one trying to see this iconic Italian attraction, so consider skipping the line with a tour.

Book Here: Rome: Skip-the-Line Tour to Colosseum, Forum, Palatine Hill

Visit Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona is a lovely Roman public square to visit at any time of year, but especially during the winter.

One of the best things to do in Rome in the winter is visit Piazza Navona while the Italian Christmas market is in full swing!

Munch on some roasted chestnuts, do a little shopping and enjoy the live Christmas-themed entertainment.

Even in other seasons, it is a gorgeous place to walk around and check out the fountains.

Set Aside Some Time For The Vatican  

Even if you’re not religious, a visit to Vatican City is one of the best things to do in Rome.

Between the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican has secured its spot as one of the most memorable things to do in Italy .

Because this is one of the most popular things to do in Rome, be sure to buy tickets in advance!

Book Here: Vatican: Museums & Sistine Chapel Entrance Ticket

Dive Into History In The Roman Forum

Steps away from the Colosseum, the Roman Forum is an underrated attraction. The Roman Forum is the remnants of the ancient Roman city center. With a little imagination, you’ll be able to picture hundreds of ancient Romans strolling around the very same area!

Book Your Roman Forum And Colosseum Tour Here!  

Toss A Euro Coin Into The Fontana Di Trevi

During your seven days in Italy, be sure to stop by the Fontana Di Trevi, or Trevi Fountain, and toss a coin in.

Legend has it, if you throw a coin into this fountain, you’ll one day find your day back to Rome. Who doesn’t want another Italian vacation?

Book Here: Rome: Trevi Fountain and Underground Guided Tour

Where To Stay in Rome  

Considering that Rome is one of the most visited cities in all of Italy, there are tons of accommodation options for you to stay at during your 7-day Italy tour.

To get a full picture of all of these options, check out our guide on exactly where to stay in Rome .

Near Vatican:  Domus Porta Angelica . Check Rates:  Booking.com

Mid-Range:  B&B La Scalinatella . Check Rates:  Booking.com

Upscale:  The Westin Excelsior Rome . Check Rates:  Booking.com

How Long To Spend In Rome During Your 7 Days In Italy

We recommend staying for two days in Rome to see all of the sights this wonderful city has to offer.

While you can modify this itinerary, we don’t recommend staying more than three days.

As a matter of fact, one of the biggest mistakes visitors make when planning a trip to Italy is spending too much time in Rome!

The only exception to this three-day recommendation is if you plan on venturing outside of the city for some day trips from Rome .

Otherwise, one of our top Italy tips is getting out of Rome and exploring what else the country has to offer.

Stop 2: Explore Both The Cities And The Countryside Of Tuscany

There are so many things to do in Tuscany during your 7 day Italy tour!

The most popular tourist destination in Tuscany is Florence, and while Florence is differently worth a visit, consider spending a bit of time in other parts of the Tuscany region.

Lucca, Arezzo, Siena, Pisa, and Livorno are just a handful of Tuscany’s other towns worth a visit. As a matter of fact, there’s so much to see in Tuscany you can actually do a Tuscany road trip ! 

For the best option, take the high-speed train from Roma Termini station to Firenze S M Novella in Florence. This will take 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Book your train here:  http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en

Things To Do In Tuscany  

See david at the galleria dell’accademia  .

If there’s one thing that should top your Florence bucket list, it’s seeing Michelangelo’s statue of David at the Galleria dell’Accademia.

his statue of the biblical figure of David is viewed as the zenith of sculpture-making, so you certainly shouldn’t miss out on it. Be sure to book a timed entrance ticket in advance, as the lines for this museum can get quite long.

Book Here: Florence: Timed Entrance Ticket to Michelangelo’s David

Take A Duomo Tour In Florence

Along with seeing Michelangelo’s David , a Duomo tour should be high up on your list of things to do in Florence .

Constructed over nearly 150 years and using three types of marble, the Duomo is truly a breathtaking work of architecture.

Do know there is a dress code for women and men; your knees and shoulders must be covered.

You also must be completely silent when visiting the Duomo. It is usually very crowded, but you can skip the line by taking a Duomo tour .

Book Here: Florence: Dome Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

Stroll Across Ponte Vecchio

Between its graceful arches and golden buildings, Ponte Vecchio is a picture-perfect bridge.

If you are spending your  Tuscany honeymoon  in Florence, this is a very romantic thing to do.

Plus, if you grab a scoop of gelato and head over at sunset, the atmosphere is absolutely magical.

You do not want to miss out on this activity during your couple’s trip to Italy in 7 days.

Feel Like Royalty In Tuscany’s Magical Castles

There are a bunch of magical castles within the region of Tuscany.

While some are privately owned, others have been converted to wineries.

Or if you want to truly feel like royalty, you even spend the night in one of these Tuscan castles .  

Book Here: Montalcino: Brunello Wine Tasting & Lunch in a Tuscan Castle

Relax At A Natural Hot Spring

If historic castles aren’t quite your thing, perhaps natural hot springs are a little more up your alley.

There are four free and natural hot springs in Tuscany worth a visit. So sit back, relax, and soak in the warmth of a natural Tuscan hot spring.

Take A Tour Of The Tuscan Countryside

Rather than spending all of your time in Florence, we recommend venturing out of the city and taking a tour of the Tuscan countryside .

If you’re a wine connoisseur, you can take a wine-tasting tour. If you prefer pizza and gelato, you can learn about those culinary processes as well.

Or if you love nature, architecture, history, or literature, there are amazing Tuscany tour options for those interests as well!

Book Here: From Florence: Tuscan Countryside Tour on a Vintage Vespa

Where To Stay in Tuscany  

Determining the best place to stay in Tuscany obviously depends on where you’ll be in the region. You can even stay at a stunning villa in Tuscany if you would like.

For a more detailed guide, refer to our guide on where to stay in Tuscany .

Florence: Four Seasons Hotel Firenze . Check Rates: Booking.com

Siena: Palazzo Ravizza . Check Rates: Booking.com

Lucca: Hotel Alla Corte Degli Angeli . Check Rates: Booking.com  

How Long To Spend In Tuscany

We recommend staying two days in Tuscany during your 7 days in Italy.

How you choose to split up these two days is completely up to you. While you could take your time and spend both days in Florence, you could also spend one day in Florence and one day exploring one of the many underrated Tuscan towns.

If you’ve already been to Florence, you could even consider spending both of your days exploring the Tuscan countryside.

Stop 3: Stare In Awe At The Colorful Buildings Of Cinque Terre

Take a little break from the cities during your fun 7-day trip to Italy and pop on over to Cinque Terre.

Filled with beautiful beaches and colorful buildings, Cinque Terre is the perfect place to relax in paradise.

It is a collection of five, cliff-side villages. Whether you love photography or beach days, there are so many fun things to do in Cinque Terre !

For the best option, take the train from Firenze S M Novella station to Monterosso in Cinque Terre. This will take about 3 and a half hours.

Things To Do In Cinque Terre  

Hike the monterosso footpath.

Once upon a time, you could only walk between the five villages of Cinque Terre.

The Monterosso Footpath, which connects the towns of Monterosso and Vernazza, gives visitors a little taste of this experience.

And this activity isn’t just great for hikers. If you love stunning lookout points, the Monterosso Footpath allows you to see magical views of Cinque Terre’s colorful villages and the Mediterranean Sea.

Be sure to bring a ton of water with you on your one- to two-hour journey to stay hydrated!  

Sail Away On A Boat Tour Of Cinque Terre

While you can see a couple of the towns of Cinque Terre from the top while on the Monterosso Footpath, consider experiencing the villages from the opposite perspective – from the water.

Instead of exerting a ton of energy by hiking, you can grab a nice comfy seat on a boat and see all five of Cinque Terre’s amazing villages!

Book Here: Cinque Terre: 2-Hour Private Boat Tour

Relax On One Of Cinque Terre’s Stunning Beaches

There are so many breathtaking Cinque Terre beaches  along the coastline.

Some Cinque Terre beaches, like Monterosso Vecchio Beach, are filled with sand, sun, and relaxation.

Others are a little more unique, like Vernazza Beach, which you’ll have to cut through the cliffs to experience.

Wander Around Parco Nazionale Cinque Terre

As one of the most beautiful national parks in all of Italy, Parco Nazionale Cinque Terre has been awarded the title of being a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Parco Nazionale Cinque Terre showcases the melding of the work of nature and the work of humans, as humans carved the steep slopes into steps in order to plant food.

And, of course, the views of the five villages and the Mediterranean Sea don’t hurt!

Where To Stay in Cinque Terre

When deciding where to stay in Cinque Terre, the most important factor is choosing which city you want to stay in, as each city has a completely different vibe.

If you’re looking for a larger village with shopping and nightlife, Riomaggiore might be your style.

On the other hand, if you’re looking to get the best views, consider staying in Manarola

For a few more Cinque Terre accommodation options, check out our guide on  where to stay in Cinque Terre .

Soak In The Sun In Monterosso:  Villa Tanca Hotel . Check Rates:  Booking.com

Find The Best Views In Manarola:  Olimpo Affittacamere . Check Rates:  Booking.com

Visit The Most Popular Village Of Vernazza:   Agretta Sea View Apartment . Check Rates: Booking.com

How Long To Spend In Cinque Terre

For your seven days in Italy, one day in Cinque Terre should suffice.

Within that time, you’ll be able to grab your share of relaxation of sunshine before dashing off to your next amazing Italian destination: Venice.

Stop 4: Float Around The Canals Of Venice

As one of the most unique cities in the world, Venice’s gondolas and bridges attract visitors from across the world.

This one-of-a-kind city is so special that it’s made it onto just about every single one of our Italy itineraries, including our Northern Italy Itinerary . Be sure to soak in as much of the Venetian atmosphere as you can during your Italy in a week trip.

For the best option, take the train from Monterosso Station to Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia in Venice. This will take about five and a half hours.

Things To Do In Venice

Spend some time at st. mark’s square.

Piazza di San Marco, also known as St. Mark’s Square, is the center of Venice.

This popular square is very important to Venetians for many reasons, one being its dominance as the center of both political and religious power in Venice.

From this single location, there is so much to do! You can climb the Companile de San Marco Bell Tower, explore Doge’s Palace, and wander around St. Mark’s Basilica.

Book Here: Skip the Line: St. Mark’s Basilica Guided Tour

Book Here: Venice: Doge’s Palace Reserved Entry Admission Ticket

Sail Away On A Gondola Ride

As practically the only city in the world that uses boats instead of cars, a gondola ride is one of the top things to do in Venice .

Float around Venice’s colorful buildings and under the ornate bridges for a tour unlike any other.

If you’re visiting Venice in the winter , be sure to bundle up with a blanket on your gondola ride! It can get quite chilly! Do know that gondola rides in Venice can be very expensive, so be sure to ask the gondolier how much the ride will cost  before  hopping in the boat.

Book Here: Venice: Grand Canal by Gondola with Commentary

Cross The Rialto Bridge

The Rialto Bridge, also known as Ponte di Rialto, is the oldest bridge in Venice that crosses the Grand Canal.

The construction of this bridge was quite a feat, as this 157-foot bridge was built between 1588 and 1591!

Despite its old age, the Rialto Bridge is definitely still a stunning sight to see, and that is confirmed by the fact that it also happens to be one of the  most popular Instagram spots in Venice .

Visit The Breathtaking Bridge of Sighs

A few feet away from St. Mark’s Square and Doge’s Palace, the Bridge of Sighs is a fascinating Venetian bridge.

Historically, this bridge was used as a walkway for prisoners. After criminals were interrogated and convicted in Doge’s Palace, they walked across this very bridge to prison.

According to Venetians, these convicted criminals would see the outside world for the last time on the Bridge of Sighs, causing them to sigh.

While most people can’t access the Bridge of Sighs, the Secret Itineraries Tour at the Doge’s Palace allows you to cross it.

Take a Trip To Murano

Venice is home to some of the  most beautiful islands in Italy , and Murano is one of them!

Just a short boat ride away from the main Venetian islands, Murano is home to some of Italy’s best glass makers.

You can even watch these glass-blowing masters in action during a glass-blowing demonstration

Seeing a glass-blowing artist transform piles of sand into a beautiful piece within just a few minutes is a truly magical experience.

And if you want to purchase a Murano glass piece for your home, you can do that too!

Book Here: Venice: Burano and Murano Boat Tour with Glass Factory Visit

Where To Stay in Venice

When staying in Venice, we highly recommend staying in the city center.

If you find yourself too far outside of that, you’ll end up back in the land of cars and buses, which ruins the magic of Venice.

For a few more options, feel free to check out our guide on exactly where to stay in Venice !

City Center:  Hotel Danieli . Check Rates:  Booking.com

Mid-Range:  Pensione Seguso . Check Rates:  Booking.com

How Long To Spend In Venice During Your 7 Days In Italy

For the purposes of this itinerary for Italy in a week, we recommend spending two days in Venice , although, as per usual, feel free to adjust.

Perhaps you’ll like to spend four days in this canal-filled dream city or maybe a day in Venice is all you need.

After spending time in Venice, your 7 days in Italy will come to an end. To find your way back home, you’ll fly out of the Venice Marco Polo Airport.

Alternative Day 6-7: Extend Cinque Terre and Add Milan

If you don’t want to take that five-hour train ride all the way to the eastern shores of Italy, we’ve provided an alternative for your Italy travel itinerary for 7 days.

Instead, you can add a day to your relaxing time in Cinque Terre and pop over to the luxurious city of Milan for an additional day.

For the best option, take the train from Monterosso Station to the Milano Centrale Railway Station. This will take about three  hours.

Things To Do In Milan  

Shop until you drop at the galleria vittorio emanuele ii.

If Milan is known for one thing, it’s shopping. Some of the best shopping you can do in Milan is at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

Located just steps away from the Milan Cathedral, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is one of the oldest shopping malls on the planet!

Yet even though it’s been around for centuries, it’s still a great place to stock up on the latest fashions or simply do some window shopping during your fun 7 day trip to Italy.

Pretend To Be Royalty In Castello Sforzesco

The Castello Sforzsco, also known as Sforza Castle, was originally built in the thirteenth century for Galeazzo Visconti, the Lord of Milan.

After undergoing a rollercoaster-like history of destruction and siege, Castelle Sforzesco is now a gallery filled with museums on Milanese history and art.

Visit The Eye-Catching Milan Cathedral

The Milan Cathedral, also known as the Duomo di Milano, is an iconic gothic cathedral located right in the center of the city.

It took nearly 600 years to build this cathedral, and thanks to the intricate details, you can definitely tell! To try to avoid the long lines, try to get to the Milan Cathedral early in the morning.

Book Here: Milan: Cathedral and Rooftop Ticket

Where To Stay in Milan

Since your time in Milan will be rather limited, you’ll want to stay close to the city’s attractions.

If you’re looking for a few more Milan accommodation options, take a peek at our guide to exactly where to stay in Milan .

Upscale:  Duomo Rooms . Check Rates:  Booking.com 

Mid-range:  Art Hotel Navigli . Check Rates:  Booking.com

How Long To Spend In Milan During Your 7 Days In Italy

In this alternative version of your 7 days in Italy, we suggest only spending one day in Milan .

While the city has made a name for itself globally, there really isn’t a ton to do after you’ve seen the handful of highlights.

That said, as always, feel free to adjust this Italy itinerary to your own needs.

After you’ve completed your time in Milan, you’ll be able to easily (and often more affordably) fly out of the Milan Malpensa international airport and head home!

Best Time Of Year To Travel To Italy

If you want to know how to plan a trip to Italy, you first must decide when you are traveling.

Depending on what you want, you can visit Italy at any time of the year. Different aspects such as weather, prices, and crowds change with the season.

We have broken down everything you need to know by season so you know what to expect for your week-long trip to Italy.

Keep in mind that Italy is a big country and weather can vary from the north to south and whether you are on the coast or inland.

Winter is off-season in Italy meaning there are less tourist crowds. Flights, accommodations, and car rentals are priced cheaper.

If you want to spend a week in Italy on a budget, this is the time to travel!

The one area where this is the opposite is in the mountains where ski resorts book up with tourists.

If you visit in December, Christmas markets will be in full swing as well. These draw in crowds but add a festive spirit.

For weather, expect average temperatures to range from mid-20s to high-50s F, or -5 to mid-10s C, depending on the region.

It can snow, especially in the north, but it often does not stick in urban areas. Expect rain as well.

Also keep in mind that many shops, restaurants, and attractions might close for the season or have shorter hours.

The Upsides: Few crowds, cheaper, skiing, Christmas markets

The Downsides: Colder weather, can be rainy, seasonal closures

Spring is shoulder season and a great time to visit Italy if you want to avoid the larger, peak season crowds. Prices are also still lower than summer.

If you visit around Easter, expect Rome to be crowded because of the Pope’s Easter Mass. Some things will close because of the holiday as well.

The weather in spring is very mild with rain decreasing as the season progresses. The rain bring many beautiful flowers!

Temps range from the mid-30s to the 70s F, or about 5 to the mid-20s C.

The Upsides: Less crowds, good prices, good weather, flowers

The Downsides: Easter closures and crowds, can still be rainy and cool at the beginning of the season

Summer is peak season with many tourists and higher prices. Book accommodations and attractions ahead of time.

August is when many Italians take vacations and because of this, many local restaurants and shops may close.

It can get quite hot in the summer, especially in cities. The temps increase from the mid-50s to the low-90s through the season with the south being the hottest.

It can also be humid, but the chance of rain is low. The ocean temps can get up to the 70s F or the 20s C. While the beaches will be crowed, this is the best time to swim.

There are also many outdoor festivals and concerts held in the summer.

The Upsides: Warm ocean temps, outdoor festivals, low chance of rain

The Downsides: Very crowded, high prices, humid, possibly too hot later in the season

Crowds begin to drop in fall as do the temps which decrease from the 80s to the 50s F, or the 20s to the 10s C.

It can be rainy this time of the year and the weather overall can be unpredictable so you have to be prepared. Pack an umbrella.

With harvest season, there are many awesome food and wine festivals to check out.

Venice can be crowded in September because of the famous Venice Film Festival.

As shoulder season, this is a great time to plan for 7 days in Italy on a budget. There are better prices and fewer tourists.

The Upsides: Less crowds, good prices, mild weather at beginning of the season, food and wine festivals

The Downsides: Can be rainy, unpredictable weather, things start to close at the end of the season

There is so much to see and do in this stunning country that it can be hard to narrow it down to just 1 week in Italy.

This itinerary gives you some structure to make some of the big decisions a bit easier. It is also completely flexible, so you can easily edit what you would like to see in Italy in a week.

Since not everything has made it into this guide, what are some of your favorite things to do in Italy?

Make sure to check out our guide on what a trip to Italy costs so you can budget for your trip!

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How To Spend 7 Days In Italy – Six 7-Day Italy Itineraries Written By An Italian

Posted on Last updated: February 2, 2024

Let’s start with the premise that seven days in Italy aren’t enough to see everything my beautiful country has to offer.

I’m Italian, I lived in Italy for 18 years and have travelled extensively around it, yet there are still places I haven’t been to.

But don’t let that deter you from visiting the “Bel Paese”. If you only have one week in Italy, you can still have an amazing trip and see many gorgeous sights that will leave you speechless.

In this Italy travel guide I have included everything you need to know to have an awesome weeklong trip.

Chilling by the Colosseum in Rome

Here you will find information on how to get around Italy, where to stay in each city and sample itineraries designed to make the most of your seven days in Italy.

These Italy 7-day itineraries are designed around specific interests or regions. Whether you’re looking for an active outdoor holiday, for a relaxing city break or a peaceful beach holiday, here you’ll find an itinerary for you.

These Italy itineraries are a guidance, which you can pick and choose based on your personal interests. So without further ado, let’s dive in and start planning the best week in Italy!

• 1 How to get around Italy
• 2.1 Days 1 & 2: Rome
• 2.2 Days 3 & 4: Florence
• 2.3 Day 5: Milan
• 2.4 Days 6 & 7: Venice
• 3.1 Days 1 & 2: Cinque Terre
• 3.2 Days 3 & 4: Tuscany
• 3.3 Day 5: Lake Como
• 3.4 Days 6 & 7: Trentino
• 4.1 Days 1 & 2: Golfo di Orosei
• 4.2 Days 3 – 5: Palau
• 4.3 Days 6 & 7: Stintino
• 5.1 Days 1 & 2: Venice
• 5.2 Day 3: Milano
• 5.3 Day 4: Lake Como
• 5.4 Day 5: Florence
• 5.5 Days 6 & 7: Cinque Terre
• 6.1 Days 1 & 2: Rome
• 6.2 Days 3 – 6: Naples & Amalfi Coast
• 6.3 Days 6 & 7: Matera
• 7.1 Days 1 – 7: Eastern Sicily

Sunset over the perched colourful houses of Riomaggiore in Cinque Terre, Italy

How to get around Italy

There are many different ways to travel around Italy, and the best way to do so ultimately depends on your Italy trip budget and destination.

I’m a fan of train travel, and always recommend it even for travelling around Europe .

While the Italian train system might not be the most efficient or punctual, it allows you to relax and enjoy the views, without stressing about driving.

Also, train stations in Italy are usually in the city centre, so that you can hit the road running without having to waste time finding parking.

However if you’re planning to head a bit more remote, renting a car is the best option as it will give you the most flexibility.

It can also be considerably cheaper than train travel, especially if you’re travelling with friends and splitting the cost.

Sunset over Milan from the rooftop of the Duomo, Italy

Italy 7-day itinerary for culture & city lovers

This 7-day Italy itinerary focuses on the main highlights and must-sees of Italy.

While it’s a city-heavy itinerary, especially well suited for those who have an interest in culture and history, it goes to all the main sights in Italy, and is therefore well suited also for any first time visitors.

It’s perfect for those who want to see all the famous spots in Italy in one go, and who don’t mind having an action packed and busy travel schedule.

Watching the sunset over the Vatican and Ponte Sant’Angelo from Ponte Umberto in Rome

If you love cities and want to tick off all the famous Italian attractions in one trip, here is my suggested Italy 7-day itinerary.

Day 1: Rome

Day 2: Rome

Day 3: Florence

Day 4: Florence

Day 5: Milano

Day 6: Venice

Day 7: Venice

Here is a breakdown of the best things to do in each city, and how to spend your days in this Italian itinerary.

Exploring the rooftop of the Duomo cathedral in Milan, Italy

Days 1 & 2: Rome

Every Italy bucket list features a visit to Rome, so it only seemed fair to kick off this Italy itinerary the same way. The Eternal City is considered one of the most beautiful in Europe, and you’ll soon find out why.

Rome is a basically an open-air museum, where you will find relics of ancient times dotted all over the city.

From the Roman Forums to the Colosseum, or from the Trevi Fountain to the Vatican, there is beauty in every corner of Rome.

I had a Roman boyfriend and spent many months living in Rome, and can highly recommend spending at least two days in Italy’s capital.

While it’s not enough to discover it all, it will give you plenty of time to see all the main sights.

When deciding how many days to spend in Rome , I always suggest spending at least two or three days in Rome , but if you’re on a tight Italy itinerary, here are my suggestions for how to spend one day in Rome .

| READ MORE: HOW TO SPEND TWO DAYS IN ROME |

Exploring the Pantheon in Rome

I suggest spending one day exploring the eastern side of Trastevere River, seeing all the main tourist sights like Piazza di Spagna, the Trevi Fountain and the Colosseum. You’ll also see some iconic views over the Roman skyline .

You can then spend the second day on the western side of Trastevere, discovering this gorgeous neighbourhood and all its delicious restaurants. Here you’ll also find many Roman picture perfect spots .

Make sure to spend some time exploring Rome after the sun goes down. Rome at night is magical, and seeing all the famous attractions lit up for the night is a unique experience.

If you want to go inside main attractions like the Vatican Museums to see the Sixtin Chapel or the Colosseum I highly recommend buying skip-the-queue tickets online .

These places get very busy, and if you only have two days in Rome you don’t want to spend them waiting in line!

Wandering up the famous Spanish Steps towards Trinità dei Monti in Rome

Best tours to do in Rome

Here are some great tours with very positive reviews worth checking out in Rome (both day tours and night tours )!

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Skip-the-Ticket-Line Entry   – Like I already said, if you only have two days in Rome you don’t want to waste part of that time queuing up for things! 

Rome: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill Priority Tickets – Same goes for the Colosseum, don’t waste time and don’t miss out on this awesome Italian attraction!

Rome: Street Food Tour with Local Guide – Italians take food very seriously, the best way to discover true Roman cuisine is with a local!

The Basilica di San Pietro and main square of the Vatican in Rome

The famous Altare della Patria in Rome

Where to stay in Rome

If you want to splurge a little, you could choose a hotel near the Colosseum , one near the Pantheon or any of these lovely Rome AirBnbs . Alternatively, check out these great places to stay in Rome for every budget. 

Budget:  Palladini Hostel – This hostel is super central, close to the train station and all the action of Rome, with spacious dorms and a lively atmosphere

Mid-range:   Tridente Rooms – The rooms of this bnb are simple but spacious, and it’s right next to Villa Borghese, in the heart of all the Rome attractions

Luxury:   Hotel Eden – Dorchester Collection – Perfect if you want to treat yourself, this hotel is beautifully decorated and very conveniently located in the centre of Rome

Exploring Piazza Navona in Rome

Days 3 & 4: Florence

After exploring Rome, jump on a train and head to Florence, Italy’s art capital! This iconic city is home to many breath taking museums, churches, art galleries and streets.

In Florence you will also find many awesome restaurants, where you can taste delicious Italian food. My personal favourite place to eat in Florence was the Mercato Centrale, as it has a more casual street food vibe.

During your two days in Florence you have to visit the gorgeous Duomo of Florence, the Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio and of course, watch the sunset over the roofs of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo.

| READ MORE: THE ULTIMATE FLORENCE 2-DAY ITINERARY |

Sunset over Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo

Best Florence tours

Here are some tours with awesome reviews to check out for your time in Florence.

Florence: Uffizi Gallery Timed Entrance Ticket – Skip the queue for your visit to the Uffizi!

Florence: City Walking Tours with entry to Accademia – Discover Florence on foot with a local guide, and then explore the Accademia with them!

Florence: Small-Group Tour on E-Bike – Try something a little different and discover Florence by bike!

Getting up close to the majestic Duomo of Florence

Where to stay in Florence

Here are some lovely places to stay in Florence for every budget.

Budget: Plus Florence   – This hostel has spacious dorms, a sociable atmosphere and a spectacular rooftop with views over the Florence skyline.

Mid-range: Palazzo Riblet   – I stayed here when I visited Florence with my mum and can highly recommend it. This family run hotel is situated in a historical building, with affrescos on the ceiling and in a great location.

Luxury: Firenze Rentals Corso 12 – This lovely apartment has a balcony directly overlooking the Duomo of Florence. It doesn’t really get any better than this!

Light reflections at the Ponte Vecchio in Florence

Day 5: Milan

Milan doesn’t always feature on key Italian must-see bucket lists, but it’s my hometown and I wanted to include it. Milan is considered the city of fashion and the economic capital of Italy.

It’s also one of the most international and cosmopolitan cities in Italy, offering a vibrant Milanese nightlife and diverse dining scene.

The perfect visit to Milan combines a bit of sightseeing with Italian fine dining and, of course, the aperitivo experience.  Milan is an easy city to explore in one day, since all the main attractions are close to the city centre.

You can head out to explore it on foot and visit the Duomo Cathedral, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, Castello Sforzesco and Arco della Pace.

For your traditional Milanese aperitivo you can then grab a spritz at one of the many bars by Arco della Pace, or head to the hipster Navigli neighbourhood.

Even if you visit Milan in winter , you can still do all this, since bars and restaurants are equipped with outdoors heating. I actually prefer it than in summer, since there are less tourists and crowds around.

| READ MORE: BEST THINGS TO DO IN MILAN IN ONE DAY |

Piazza del Duomo in Milan, Italy

Best tours in Milan

Here are some of the best tours you can’t miss during your time in Milan.

Milan: Fast-Track Milan Cathedral and Terraces Guided Tour –  Discover the beautiful Duomo and its stunning rooftop, without having to waste time queuing!

Best of Milan Tour with Skip-the-Line to Duomo & Last Supper   – For the art lovers, no visit to Milan would be complete without seeing the Last Supper!

Milan: Grand City Highlights E-Bike Tour – Discover all the highlights of Milan on bike!

Admiring the perfect symmetry of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan, Italy

Where to stay in Milan

Even if you’re only spending one day in Milan, you’ll likely still have to sleep here in between train journeys. There are lots of cool places to stay in Milan .

Budget:   Ostello Bello – There are two hostels of this chain around Milan and both are good budget options, with a lively atmosphere, spacious dorms and convenient central locations

Mid-range:   Ibis Milano Centro – Part of the Ibis chain, this is a good mid-range hotel, with a guaranteed standard of room set up and a great central location

Luxury:   Galleria Vik Milano – If you’re looking to splurge a bit, this is the place to do so. Located in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, it couldn’t get any more central than this, with stunning views over the galleria just outside your window

Castello Sforzesco in Milan, Italy

Days 6 & 7: Venice

Read any Europe bucket list and you will very likely find going for a gondola ride on there. One brief look at the picturesque canals of Venice, its romantic gondolas and picture perfect corners and you will understand why.

With its canals and gondolas, Venice is completely different from any other city in the world, and is a must-see on any Italy itinerary. I’ve been to Venice multiple times and every time it surprises me.

I recommend spending at least one day here, seeing all the main sights like Piazza San Marco and Rialto Bridge, but also simply to walk around the city and get lost in its picturesque side streets.

| READ MORE: BEST THINGS TO DO IN VENICE |

Exploring the side streets, canals and bridges of Venice, Italy

Best Venice tours

Book one of these highly rated tours for your time in Venice!

Venice: Private Gondola Ride to Rialto Bridge   – Go for a private gondola ride amongst the most beautiful canals of Venice!

Venice: Doge’s Palace Priority Admission Ticket   – Skip the queue and visit this iconic site in Venice!

Venice: Small Group Wine Tasting and Food Tour with a Local   – Go for a guided tour of all the best places to eat and drink in Venice with a local guide!

Enjoying my gondola cruise around Venice

Our gondola ride took us close to Rialto Bridge

Where to stay in Venice

Here are some great accommodation options in Venice for every budget.

Budget: Combo Venezia   – This hostel has a combination of modern dorms and a traditional courtyard. It’s also in a great location and has a very sociable atmosphere.

Mid-range: Hotel alle Guglie – I stayed here with my mum and found it a perfect compromise for those looking for a comfortable room, great location and affordable price.

Luxury: Ai Patrizi di Venezia   – These luxury apartments are the perfect place to treat yourself during your Venice stay.

Sunset in Venice, Italy, at the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute

Sunset on the grand canal in Venice from Ponte di Rialto

7 days in Italy for nature lovers

If you don’t really care for cities, I have a different Italy 7-day itinerary for you. This itinerary goes to spots that are equally famous and recognisably Italian, but with a bigger outdoors focus.

This itinerary is perfect for people who want to spend large amounts of time outside, preferably hiking, exploring or also doing adventurous activities.

While it doesn’t go to any of the most famous Italian cities, the places in this itinerary are still recognisably Italian, so that you can enjoy your outdoors and adventure holiday while still being able to say you were in Italy.

The colourful houses of Manarola in Cinque Terre

If you’ve already seen the main cities in Italy, or aren’t interested in seeing them, and prefer spending time in nature, this is the perfect 7-day itinerary for you.

Day 1: Cinque Terre

Day 2: Cinque Terre

Day 3: Tuscany

Day 4: Tuscany

Day 5: Lake Como

Day 6: Trentino

Day 7: Trentino

If you have longer than seven days, this is an itinerary that you can easily stretch, taking your time exploring the beautiful nature and spending ten days in Italy or more.

Beautiful reflections at Lake Welsperg in Trentino, Italy

Days 1 & 2: Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is one of my favourite places in Italy. With its colourful houses, green hills and turquoise sea, it’s one of the most picturesque places in Italy. It’s also a great destination for hiking lovers.

Cinque Terre (or Five Lands in English) is the name given to the five towns of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. These are the most iconic towns in the area, which give the name to the national park.

There is a beautiful 12.5km hiking trail called Il Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Path) that connects all five towns. It has gorgeous views over the towns, the cliffs and sea, which make it one of the most beautiful hikes in the world.

| READ MORE: HOW TO SPEND 2 OR 3 EPIC DAYS IN CINQUE TERRE |

Admiring the colourful houses of Riomaggiore in Cinque Terre, Italy

Although you might see many photos on Instagram of girls twirling in colourful dresses here, don’t let that fool you. The Sentiero Azzurro can be a tough hike, and you will need all your usual hiking essentials .  

I recommend spending a whole day hiking the Sentiero Azzurro and exploring the cute town centres of the Cinque Terre towns.

You can then spend the second day enjoying the beaches, hiking lesser known trails in the national park or discovering the nearby town of Porto Venere, often referred to as the Sixth Land but rarely present in Italy itineraries.

Admiring the colourful houses of Manarola, one of the five towns along the Sentiero Azzurro in Cinque Terre, Italy

Admiring the colourful houses of Vernazza, one of the five towns along the Sentiero Azzurro in Cinque Terre, Italy

Best tours in Cinque Terre

You can explore Cinque Terre on foot by hiking the Sentiero Azzurro, but these highly rated tours can add a special something to your holiday!

Cinque Terre Sunset Boat Tour   – Admire the coloured houses of Cinque Terre as the sun goes down and the sky turns golden!

From Monterosso: Cinque Terre Kayak Tour – Combine a workout with a unique experience, and see Cinque Terre from a completely different angle!

From La Spezia: Cinque Terre Full-Day Boat Tour   – Spend a whole day sailing along the beautiful Ligurian coastline.

The coastline of Cinque Terre – can you spot Vernazza in the distance?

Just outside Monterosso, the first town in Cinque Terre, about to set off along the Sentiero Azzurro

Where to stay in Cinque Terre

While Cinque Terre is absolutely gorgeous, it’s also a fairly expensive destination. I always say the best place to stay in Cinque Terre is actually in La Spezia, a city 15 minutes train away.

Here are some accommodation options for every budget.

Budget:  Grand Hostel Manin   – This hostel has spacious dorms, a friendly atmosphere and is located in the heart of La Spezia. It’s the perfect place to use as base to explore Cinque Terre on a budget!

Mid-range:  ALTIDO Villa Monterosso Apartment Bellavista   – This modern villa is tastefully decorated, with gorgeous views of the Ligurian coastline and sea. It’s also in an excellent position in Monterosso.

Luxury:  La Vista di Marina by The First   – This apartment combines modern furnishing with exposed bricks for a rustic vibe, plus spacious rooms and white décor for an airy feel. It also has a spectacular terrace with view over the sea and iconic perched houses of Riomaggiore.

Manarola, one of the main towns along the Sentiero Azzurro in Cinque Terre

Days 3 & 4: Tuscany

While Tuscany is mostly famous for its gorgeous cities like Pisa , Florence and Siena, the Tuscan countryside is amongst the most beautiful nature spots in Italy.

Imagine rolling green hills, yellow wheat fields and country roads lined by picturesque trees. Walking around the Tuscany countryside will feel like stepping into an old movie.

In Tuscany you will also find many unique places to stay, like renovated barn houses or medieval towns turned to hotels.

You can spend a few days in one of these unique hotels, walking in the nearby fields and then cooling down on poolside as the sun sets over the Tuscan hills.

| READ MORE: BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN TUSCANY |

View over the Tuscan countryside

Best Tuscany tours

Discover some of the highlights of Tuscany with these highly rated tours.

Pienza and Montepulciano Wine Tour from Siena   – See some of the most beautiful spots in Tuscany and taste delicious local wine, it’s a two-in-one tour!

San Gimignano, Siena, Chianti Guided Tour from Florence – Are you ready to discover one of the most beautiful parts of Tuscany and Italy?

Chianti Wineries Tour with Food & Wine Tasting – No trip to Tuscany would be complete without a bit of Chianti wine tasting and, obviously, local Italian food!

Piazza del Campo in Siena

Where to stay in Tuscany

Below listed a variety of hotels for every budget located in the best regions of Tuscany.

Budget: Hotel Cecile   – A good budget option, with finely decorated rooms and conveniently located in Pisa.

Mid-range: Hotel Athena – This is where I stayed when I visited Siena. With spacious rooms and a rooftop terrace with awesome countryside views, it’s a great place to base yourself during your Tuscany adventures.

Luxury: COMO Castello Del Nero – As the name suggests, this place is an actual castle. Here you can enjoy a magical stay to relax during your Italy adventures.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

If you love hiking, you have to pay Lake Como a visit.

Many travellers visit this iconic location due to the fame of stars who have villas on the lakeshore. However, what they’re missing out on are the epic views from the surrounding mountains.

Lake Como is surrounded by hills and mountains, which give it incredible 360 views over the neighbouring countryside, all the way to the Swiss Alps.

If you’re up for a challenge you can hike up Monte San Primo, then head to Bellagio for a refreshing aperitivo.

For those who don’t want a challenging hike you can still enjoy the beauties of the lake, maybe going for a relaxing sail on the lake or a peaceful stroll along the lakeshore.

| READ MORE: 60+ AMAZING QUOTES ABOUT ITALY |

The picturesque streets and views of Bellagio in Lake Como, Italy

Best tours in Lake Como

Live incredible experiences with these highly rated tours in Lake Como.

Lake Como: Sailing Boat Experience – This is one of the best boat tours in Lake Como ! Sail along this beautiful lake, admire the shore and enjoy Lake Como from a different perspective.

Lake Como: Winery Tour with Wine Tasting   – Because we haven’t had quite enough wine tasting tours yet in this Italy itinerary.

Lake Como: Easy Mountain Trek with Funicular & Boat Ride – All the sight seeing and best activities in one tour!

Views over Lake Como from Essentia Guest House

Bellagio as seen from the ferry

Where to stay in Lake Como

Many people only visit Lake Como on a day trip from Milan , but choosing to stay in Lake Como is the best thing you can do! Here are some accommodation options for every budget in different locations along Lake Como.

Budget: Hotel Tre Rose  – With spacious rooms and lovely views, it’s the perfect place to stay for those who don’t want to break the bank.

Mid-range: Hotel Argegno   – Perfect for those who want a treat and great view at affordable prices.

Luxury: Borgo Le Terrazze   – With its balconies, panoramic pool and incredible views, it’s the place to be if you want to treat yourself.

The outdoors area and view at Essentia Guest House in Lake Como

Days 6 & 7: Trentino

Regardless of whether you’re visiting in Italy in winter or summer, the Italian Alps and Trentino deserve a visit.

They’re perfect in winter for skiers and snow sports fans, whilst in summer they’re ideal for hikers, cyclers and mountain lovers.

Trentino is home to many of the best ski resorts in Italy , as well as stunning alpine lakes like Lago di Carezza .

You can easily spend two days enjoying the beautiful nature and activities Trentino has to offer, while also tasting the delicious local cuisine.

| READ MORE: BEST THINGS TO DO IN TRENTINO IN SUMMER |

Hiking at Rolle Pass in Trentino

Best tours in Trentino

Make the most of your time in Trentino with this awesome tours.

Rafting Down Noce River in Val di Sole – Hope you’re ready for a bit of adrenaline!

Dolomites Full Day Excursion from Bolzano   – This tour is the easiest way to see it all!

Trento: Cooking Class at a Local’s Home – While the focus of this itinerary is nature, no Italy itinerary would be complete without some delicious local food!

Kayaking in Lake Caldonazzo, Trentino

Where to stay in Trentino

Here are some awesome places to stay in Trentino for every budget, both in the cities and beyond.

Budget: Hi Hotels – Located in the centre of Trento, this lovely hotel offers city views, spacious rooms and modern furnishing at an affordable price.

Mid-range: Miravalle – Combine an infinity pool with epic views and traditional Italian design and you have a winner!

Luxury: Hotel Chalet Al Foss – With its unique rooms and infinity pools, this is the perfect place to treat yourself.

Stand up paddling in Lake Caldonazzo, Trentino

A 7-day Italy itinerary for beach lovers

Italy is home to many gorgeous beaches. If you’re looking for a unique Italian beach holiday, this is the itinerary for you.

This itinerary is best suited for those who have already been to Italy and have already seen all (or most) of the main sights, since it doesn’t go to any of the famous spots in Italy.

My suggested Italy 1 week itinerary for beach lovers is focused on the gorgeous island of Sardinia. I always spend my summers in Sardinia, and I can confidently say it’s one of the best beach destinations in the world .

If you want to make the most of your Sardinian beach holiday, this is my suggested itinerary.

Days 1 & 2: Golfo di Orosei

Days 3 – 5: palau, days 6 & 7: stintino.

Cala Corsara on the island of Spargi in Sardinia in August (a bit too many boats!)

Despite spending all my summers in Italy ever since I was a child, I only visited the Golfo di Orosei for the first time this year, and I can honestly say it’s one of the most spectacular places I’ve ever seen.

Imagine a gulf 20km wide, with dramatic tall cliffs, mysterious caves, white sand beaches and crystal clear turquoise water. It’s an incredibly scenic place, and one that will leave you speechless.

This part of Sardinia is very wild, and you can only reach most beaches by boat (or hike for 1-3 hours).

If you’re feeling adventurous I recommend renting a kayak from Prima Sardegna for two days in Cala Gonone, and then spending a night camping in Cala Luna.

We did this and it was the highlight of our Sardinia trip. At 5:30PM all the day tours will leave, and you will be left to enjoy a magical beach alone.

Exploring the Golfo di Orosei and Cala Luna by kayak in Sardinia, Italy

Where to stay in the Golfo di Orosei

Obviously camping on a beach isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. If you prefer to stay sleep in a bed and visit the beaches of the Golfo di Orosei on a boat trip, then I recommend staying in Cala Gonone.

Cala Gonone is where all the tours start. Here are some accommodation options in Cala Gonone for every budget.

Budget: B&B Cala Luna   – This cozy bnb is very affordable and well located in Cala Gonone.

Mid-range: BUE MARINO Hotel – This hotel has an awesome rooftop terrace with epic views and spacious rooms at an affordable price.

Luxury: Hotel Villa Gustui Maris – With its incredible pool and view it’s without a doubt the best place to spoil yourself in Cala Gonone.

The famous caves of Cala Gonone in Sardinia, Italy

Cala Fuili in the Golfo di Orosei

Best Golfo di Orosei tours

If you don’t fancy kayaking, this Dinghy Rental in the Gulf of Orosei with Lunch has excellent ratings, and will take you to see everything in the Golfo di Orosei in one day.

The beautiful water and coastline of the Golfo di Orosei seen from our kayak

This is the place where I have spent all my summers since I was 1 month old. I may be a little biased, but I believe it’s home to some truly gorgeous beaches and deserves at least three full days of your Italy itinerary.

You need to spend one day doing a boat tour of the Arcipelago della Maddalena, to the islands of Spargi, Budelli, Santa Maria and Razzoli. I say need because these islands are truly stunning.

Imagine picture perfect white sand beaches with crystal clear turquoise water, surrounded by pink granite rocks. The tours usually spend the whole day at the islands, beach hopping between different hidden coves.

After that you can spend one day exploring the islands of Maddalena and Caprera, preferably by scooter. These islands are both quite wild, and make for awesome scooter rides as well as being home to gorgeous beaches.

On your final day you can relax at one of the many beaches close to Palau, maybe go for a sunset hike to Capo d’Orso or go to Porto Pollo to enjoy a sunset drink while watching the windsurfers and kitesurfers zipping past.

| READ MORE: THE BEST CATAMARAN TOUR OF THE MADDALENA NATIONAL PARK |

Enjoying our catamaran tour in the Archipelago of Maddalena in Sardinia, Italy

The best Palau & Maddalena tour

For an incredible day in the Archipelago of Maddalena, choose this Full-Day Catamaran Tour . You get a spacious boat, a knowledgeable crew, gorgeous beaches and a delicious local lunch. What more could you need?

Click below to see prices & availability for your chosen date!

Swimming in Sardinia, Italy, shot on DJI Spark

Admiring the crystal clear water of Spargi Island

Where to stay in Palau

I might be biased, but I genuinely believe Tiffany Palau is the best place to stay in Palau.

Located in the heart of Palau, this lovely apartment has everything you need; a friendly host, a beach within walking distance and a cozy vibe.

Jumping in the crystal clear water of the natural pools of Budelli

This is another part of Sardinia that I only recently explored. Less fancy than the Palau area, but not as wild as the Golfo di Orosei, the area around Stintino is home to some incredible beaches.

By far the most famous beach in the area is La Pelosa; a huge beach with a characteristic Sardinian “nuraghe” overlooking it, soft white sand and an incredibly clear turquoise water.

You’ll make the most of this beach if you’re visiting Sardinia in the low season , as it can get incredibly busy in summer. You can spend a day at La Pelosa beach and then head to the Capo Caccia cliffs for a DIY sunset aperitivo.

On your second day in Stintino another must-see is doing a boat tour to Asinara Island.

Here you will spend an awesome day exploring hidden coves, swimming in turquoise water and exploring the now abandoned jail of Asinara Island.

Floating away at the famous La Pelosa Beach in Stintino, Italy

Where to stay in Stintino

Here are some awesome accommodation suggestions for every budget in and around Stintino.

Budget: Lina Hotel – This cosy hotel is located in a prime spot by the Stintino town centre.

Mid-range: Club Esse Roccaruja – Located in a prime spot by La Pelosa Beach, this affordable hotel is popular amongst couples and families.

Luxury: Park Hotel Asinara – Treat yourself with a relaxing stay at this wonderful hotel with pool and view.

Chilling at the famous La Pelosa Beach in Stintino

Best tours in Stintino

The only must-do tour in this part of Sardinia is this epic Asinara Island Tour .

Chilling with my friends during a dinghy tour of Asinara Island in Sardinia, Italy

7 days in Northern Italy

This Italy 7-day itinerary focuses on the north of Italy. It’s perfect for those who are looking to see many iconic Italian sights, but who don’t fancy spending hours on a train crossing the country.

It’s a perfect blend of both cities and nature, and it will allow you to experience a bit of both during your week in Italy. It’s also well suited for those who have already been to Rome, and want to explore more of Italy.

Here is my suggestion for a northern Italy 7-day itinerary.

Day 1: Venice

Day 2: Venice

Day 3: Milano

Day 4: lake como, day 5: florence.

Day 6: Cinque Terre

Day 7: Cinque Terre

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan, Italy

Days 1 & 2: Venice

Start your trip in Venice, spending two days exploring the beautiful canals and streets of this city. Some must-see sights include: Ponte di Rialto, Ponte dei Sospiri, Piazza San Marco and the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute.

When it comes to must-do activities, you’ll want to go for a gondola ride!

While it may be considered a touristy activity, there’s a reason it’s so popular. Seeing Venice from the canals gives you a completely different and unique view.

In Venice I stayed at Hotel alle Guglie and I can highly recommend it.

| READ MORE: 10 ESSENTIAL THINGS TO PACK ON YOUR ITALY TRIP |

The best sunset spot in Venice, Italy, just across from the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute

The view from the rooftop of the mall next to Ponte di Rialto

One day in my hometown will give you plenty of time to see all the main sights, and to get a feel for the vibe in the City of Fashion.

You have to visit Piazza del Duomo, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, Castello Sforzesco and Arco della Pace.

You could also hit some of the shopping streets like Via Monte Napoleone (if you have a big budget) or Corso Buenos Aires (if you’re a normal person like me). Whatever you do, make sure to end your day with a Milanese aperitivo.

The trendy areas for aperitivo are Navigli and Moscova. Here you can drink a traditional Aperol Spritz, while tasting delicious focaccia, pizza and other nibbles.

One of the most gorgeous hotels in Milan is Galleria Vik Milano .

From Milan you can easily go on a day trip to Lake Como. Here you can spend the day wandering around the beautiful towns like Bellagio, or exploring some of the more exciting hikes.

There are loads of hiking trails in Lake Como, which will allow you to enjoy gorgeous sights over the lake, pianura padana and the surrounding mountains. You can even see as far as Switzerland!

You can visit Lake Como on a day trip and return to sleep in Milan, or you can treat yourself for a unique stay at Borgo Le Terrazze .

The view from the peak of Monte San Primo in Lake Como, Italy

Varenna at sunset as seen from the lake

A quick visit to Tuscany’s capital is a must on any northern Italy itinerary. While one day isn’t enough to experience it all, it’s enough to give you a taste of this beautiful city.

You can spend the day wandering around the beautiful streets, exploring the main sights like the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio and the Galleria degli Uffizi.

You can taste traditional Italian food at the Mercato Centrale, and end the day by enjoying the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo.

In Florence I stayed at Palazzo Riblet , a family run historical residence and can highly recommend it.

Aerial view of Florence – Photo by Garrit Wes Anderson on Scopio

Days 6 & 7: Cinque Terre

We’re at the end of your northern Italy itinerary, and have arrived at one of my personal favourites parts of Italy! My dad is from this region, and I was lucky enough to visit Cinque Terre regularly growing up.

Two days are enough to thoroughly explore the five towns, hike along the Sentiero Azzurro and soak in the Ligurian atmosphere. You can also venture to Porto Venere, the Sixth Land many tourists don’t know about.

One of the most spectacular places to stay in Cinque Terre is without a doubt   La Vista di Marina by The First   .

The harbour and colourful houses of Porto Venere

7 days in Southern Italy

After a 7 days in nothern Italy itinerary, I couldn’t help but include also a 7 days in southern Italy one! This itinerary is perfect for those who want to see some iconic Italian sights, without travelling across the whole country.

It’s best suited to those who have already seen Milan, Venice and other northern parts of Italy, and who want to combine a visit to Rome with other beauties of the Italian south.

With the Amalfi Coast and Matera, this Italy 7-day itinerary combines beautiful coastal views with unique historical sights. It’s perfect for Italy lovers who want to see more beyond the classics.

Here is my suggested southern Italy 7-day itinerary.

Day 3: Naples & Amalfi Coast

Day 4: Naples & Amalfi Coast

Day 5: Naples & Amalfi Coast

Day 6: Matera

Day 7: Matera

The Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy

Start your southern Italy itinerary in the gorgeous Italian capital. Two days are just enough to see all the main sights and enjoy the Roman vibe.

You can visit all the main spots like the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, Trinità dei Monti and the Basilica di San Pietro. For the history and art lovers you can also visit the Musei Vaticani and admire the Sixtin Chapel.

For a local Roman experience, make sure to taste spaghetti carbonara or with cacio e pepe. There are also many gorgeous neighbourhood and viewpoints you can explore like Trastevere and Giardino degli Aranci.

Rome is a wonderful city at any time of the year, however I personally recommend visiting either in spring or winter . Rome in summer is iconic, but very busy and touristy.

A bnb I stayed at in Rome and can highly recommend is Tridente Rooms .

Enjoying the beauty of the Colosseum in Rome, Italy

Days 3 – 6: Naples & Amalfi Coast

I travelled many times to Naples when I was younger, first on school trip and other times to visit friends. It’s an incredibly beautiful part of Italy, where you can experience a very different vibe from the northern cities.

Naples itself has many gorgeous sights to offer, but the main attractions in the area are without a doubt beyond the city, in the famous Amalfi Coast .

You can go on a boat trip to Capri , or explore the beautiful town of Positano . History lovers can pay a visit to the ruins of Pompei , and maybe even hike the Path of the Gods .

With so many gorgeous beaches in the area, you can spend three days alternating between sightseeing and relaxing on a beautiful white sand beach. And of course, you have to taste the real pizza napoletana!

Positano at sunset

The view over Positano from the second viewpoint

Best tours in Naples

These awesome tours in and around Naples will allow you to discover this beautiful part of Italy.

Naples or Sorrento: Full-Day Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius Tour – Discover the ancient ruins of Pompeii and the rugged beauty of Mount Vesuvius in one go!

From Naples or Sorrento: Full-Day Amalfi Coast Day Trip – Explore everything the Amalfi Coast has to offer!

Capri Boat Tour From Naples – You can’t visit Naples and not pay a visit to the gorgeous island of Capri.

Enjoying a swim at the main beach of Positano in the Amalfi Coast, Italy

Where to stay in & around Naples

Here are some awesome places to stay in Amalfi Coast for every budget.

Budget: Viaggio a Napoli B&B – This cozy and well located bnb is perfect for travellers on a budget.

Mid-range: The Foria House – Located just outside the Naples city centre, this beautiful apartment has a lovely garden where you can relax after sightseeing around Naples.

Luxury: Hotel Reginella – If you want to treat yourself, this is the place to do so. With its stunning views, balconies and beautifully decorated rooms, staying at Hotel Reginella is an experience in and of itself.

Enjoying our private boat cruise in Capri, with the iconic Faraglioni Rocks behind us

Days 6 & 7: Matera

I visited Matera for the first time in 2020, and it made me wonder why I waited so long to discover this gorgeous Italian town. From “Shame of Italy” to European Capital of Culture, Matera has come a long way.

The Sassi of Matera, the ancient cave network turned into traditional houses of the town, are the main attraction and a unique sight. Walking amongst the cobbled streets of the Sassi feels like stepping back in time.

Matera is a small town, but in my opinion you need two full days to appreciate it. You can spend some time wandering around the cobbled streets, admiring the many beautiful churches, tasting the cuisine and hiking in the surrounding hills.

The Sassi of Matera by night are an especially magical sight, with their soft golden light reflected on the white Italian marble.

| READ MORE: THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN MATERA |

The gorgeous view over Matera from the Convento di Sant’Agostino

The view over the Sassi of Matera from Belvedere Luigi Gurrigghio

Best Matera tours

Discover Matera with these awesome local tours!

Matera: 2-Hour Guided Tour of Sassi – Discover all the secret local spots amongst the Sassi, while learning the history of this incredible city.

Matera: Panoramic Tuk-Tuk Tour – If you don’t feel like walking, this traditional tuk-tuk tour is a great compromise!

Murgia Park: Rocky Churches Tour – Go beyond Matera and discover the historical rocky churches of Matera!

Enjoying the view over the Sassi of Matera in Italy

Where to stay in Matera

Here are some awesome places to stay in Matera for every budget.

Budget: Ostello dei Sassi Backpackers – This hostel gives you the opportunity of sleeping in a traditional “Sasso”, without breaking the bank!

Mid-range: The View Matera – I took my mum and grandma here and they loved it. You can enjoy an awesome view over Matera from both your bed and rooftop, without even having to leave the bnb!

Luxury: Palazzotto Residence & Winery – Experience sleeping in a traditional “Sasso”, with a little added luxury!

Relaxing at our hotel The View Matera

How to spend 7 days in Italy for beach & culture fans

While I absolutely adore Sardinia and the Sardinian sea, I’m conscious that others might prefer a more balanced holiday.

If you want to swim in the gorgeous Italian sea, but also discover Italian history and see some incredible sights, then Sicily is the place for you. Sicily is the perfect place to spend 7 days between beaches and culture.

In 2020 I spent 7 days in eastern Sicily, and I was reminded of just how beautiful my country is. The combination of natural beauty and historical magnificence left me speechless.

This Italy 7-day itinerary is best suited for people who have already been to Italy, as it doesn’t touch the main cities and sights. It’s perfect for those who want a taste of Italian history, but also want to relax by beautiful beaches.

Enjoying the views over Modica from the cathedral belltower

Sicily is a huge island and seeing it all in seven days isn’t recommended. I would focus on eastern Sicily, and this is my recommended 7-day itinerary.

Day 1: Catania

Day 2: Etna & Taormina

Day 3: Gole di Alcantara & Siracusa

Day 4: Laghetti di Cavagrande, Marzamemi & Noto

Day 5: Modica, Scicli & Ragusa Ibla

Day 6: Ragusa Marina, Caltagirone & Catania

Day 7: Aci Castello & Acireale

| READ MORE: HOW TO SPEND 7 AWESOME DAYS IN SICILY! |

Ragusa Ibla seen from the neighbouring hill

Relaxing at the beautiful Isola Bella beach in Taormina

Days 1 – 7: Eastern Sicily

I don’t want to include here my whole Sicily itinerary as it would take too long, and I’m conscious this Italy 7-day itinerary is already getting pretty long as it is!

Instead, I’m just going to list some highlights below and you can read my full Sicily 7-day itinerary here ! Some of the most beautiful places in Sicily that you have to add to your itinerary are: Taormia, Ragusa Ibla, Noto and Modica.

Taormina has an adorable Baroque old town centre, and is also home to a spectacular ancient roman amphitheatre. Located on top of a hill, it has the most incredible sunset view over Taormina, the hills and sea.

Exploring the Greek amphitheatre of Taormina at sunset

Perched on top of a hill, Ragusa Ibla is one of the most unique towns you will ever see. The town itself is magical, with incredible Baroque architecture and cobbled streets.

However, the view over the surrounding hills and the view of Ragusa Ibla perched on top of a hill is what took my breath away.

Enjoying the view over Ragusa in Sicily

Noto might not be as panoramic as Ragusa Ibla, but with its myriad of churches and distinctive architecture, it’s an incredibly interesting place to visit.

Simply wandering around the streets of Noto and discovering historically significant corners will excite and amaze you.

The main cathedral in Noto

Besides being home to some gorgeous architecture, Modica is also home to a famous chocolate making industry! Taste the traditional Modica chocolate while wandering around the cute streets of Modica and enjoying the views.

Being located in the south of Italy, the weather in Sicily tends to be warm also in winter. It’s what makes it a popular European winter sun destination , especially for travellers visiting Europe in the fall and winter .

The staircase leading up to the cathedral of Modica

Final thoughts on how to spend one week in Italy

There you have it, the ultimate guide to spending one awesome week in Italy! Simply one itinerary wouldn’t have been enough, so I have you six Italy itineraries that you can choose based on your interests.

Whether you’re a first time or returning visitor, a nature or city lover, a beach bum or museum aficionado, I’m sure you will find something for you in these itineraries.

Have you been to Italy before? Are there other places in Italy you think should feature in these itineraries? Let me know in the comments below!

As an Italian, I always recommend spending longer than one week in Italy. While even two weeks in Italy wouldn’t be enough, it would give you more time to see more spots on your travel bucket list .

That said, with these Italy 7-day itineraries you can still have an incredible time in my country. I hope you find this guide useful in planning your week in Italy!

Enjoyed reading my sample itineraries for 7 days in Italy? Pin it!

An Italian Mama's Guide to Italy

One week in Italy itinerary ideas for families: how to spend 7 days in Italy

One week in Italy itinerary ideas for families: 10 inspirational itineraries to help you decide how to spend a week in I taly with children, see Italy’s highlights and make wonderful family memories.

What’s the best itinerary to see Italy in one week with kids in tow?

This is one of the most common conundrums among families planning an Italy vacation with children and one of the most debated topics between people who have already been.

If you are part of my Travel Italy with Kids Facebook Group (if you are not, join via the button below, it’s free!) you probably have already noticed how many conflicting opinions this simple question elicits!

There is indeed no simple answer.

There are infinite ways to plan a trip to Italy with children and not just because Italy offers so many options.

How much to see with seven days in Italy also comes down to how much energy you and the kids have when it comes to hopping on trains and transport, the level of crowds, season and more.

In many cases, you will see recommendations to slow down whatever itinerary you have in mind and stay longer in one, maximum two places, for the week.

This is indeed good advice; however, it will inevitably mean compromising on how many places you see.

If you are happy with seeing a smaller area but in-depth, allowing space for downtime for the kids and no travel days, then you have plenty of beautiful and child-friendly areas to choose from!

You can find here >>> my guide to the best places to visit in Italy with kids , with individual family guides per area.

If, instead, you want to see many different places and find a lot of journey time is worth the effort, then just keep reading

Below, you will find severs one-week Italy itinerary ideas that can help you understand how much is doable in the time you have.

I wrote these itineraries on the basis of my own family travels in Italy and I have added some that our group members too and recommended.

I hope you can find one that matches your travel dreams and styles. They are all built keeping in mind the needs of families and with an emphasis on attractions and locations that parents and kids can enjoy together.

Below each, you will find city and area guides to help you make whatever tweaks you may need.

Safe travel planning!

Please note: this post contains affiliate links. Should you make a purchase through them, we might make a small commission on qualifying purchases.

If you want even more help or you have any questions, please in my FREE Facebook group about traveling to Italy with kids: I will be there to answer all tour questions and we have a great community of parents with incredible knowledge of Italy and lots of tips to help you make the most of your trip!

Itinerary 1: Florence, Tuscany countryside, Venice

This Italy itinerary will show you the splendor of Renaissance Florence, the relaxing rolling hills of Tuscany and unique Venice.

It is a trip for families interested in a classic Italy experience and who want to mix city and country. It is best planned with the use of both car and train.

At the end of it, you have links to our family city guides and area guides to help you pick the best activities, accommodation and restaurants among the many available.

This one week Italy itinerary for families develops as follows:

Day 1: Florence

• Morning: Florence city center self-guided walk (Duomo with duomo climb Piazza della Signoria, Piazza della Repubblica historical merry go round, Ponte Vecchio)
• Afternoon: Museum Visit
• Sunset: taxi to Piazzale Michelangelo, dinner in town

Day 2: Florence

• Morning: Family-friendly pasta-making class
• Afternoon: Boboli Gardens and Oltrarno in good weather / child-friendly Museo Leonardo in case of rain
• Evening: dinner

Day 3: Tuscany countryside day trip

• Day trip to the Tuscany countryside (views, wineries, farms…)
• Dinner in Florence

Day 4: Lucca (option to add Pisa)

• Full day trip by train to Lucca with a self-guided bike tour of the town (all ages).
• Optional stop in Pisa , on the same train line, to show the leaning tower of Pisa to the children

Day 5: Fiesole and Gelato Making Class

• Morning: Short bus to Fiesole and its Roman Theater / Museum visit
• Afternoon: family friendly gelato making class in Florence

Day 6: Venice

• Morning: train to Venice, arrival and settling in
• Afternoon: Venice city center walk (Rialto, San Marco, Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sights), Doge’s Palace tour
• Sunset gondola ride

Day 7: Murano and Burano (Venice)

• Morning: Scavenger hunt with Macaco Tours (several formats available for kids and teens)
• Afternoon: half-day trip to Murano and Burano – option to take a 15 min glassworks workshop for the kids in Murano at Ferro Toso
• Dinner in Venice Jewish ghetto

Travel resources for this one week Italy itinerary

Family city guide to Florence (things to do with kids, family hotel, tips) | Prettiest villages in Tuscany | Family guide to Venice (things to with kids, family hotels, tips) | What to eat in Venice | Two nights in Venice with kids itinerary

Itinerary 2: one week Italy itinerary visiting Rome, Bologna, Ravenna

This is a one-week Italy itinerary for families who love cities, history, food and have car lovers in the group (big or small!)

This itinerary is entirely traveled by train.

This one-week Italy itinerary for families develops as follows:

Day 1: Rome

• Morning: Rome city center highlights (self-guided or guided tour to see the Pantheon area, Spanish Steps, etc)
• Afternoon: Borghese Gardens
• Dinner near Piazza Navona

Day 2: Rome

• Morning: Colosseum visit. Break in Colle Oppio park.
• Afternoon: Explora Children Museum (small kids) / St Peter’s Square and and Basilica (all ages)
• Dinner in Trastevere

Day 3: Bologna

• Morning: train to Bologna
• Afternoon: walk in Bologna city center (Bologna’s secret window, Piazza Maggiore, kid-friendly Salaborsa).
• Dinner in the university area

Find here >> our guide to visiting Bologna with kids

Day 4 Modena and Maranello Ferrari Museum and factory tour

• Full day trip to the Maranello Ferrari Museum and Factory Tour and Ferrari Museum in Modena City center
• Evening: dinner back in Bologna

Day 5 Ravenna

• Day trip to Ravenna to see the mosaics and the kid-friendly mosaic museum.

Find here >>> our complete family guide to Ravenna with kids .

Day 6 Verona

• Train to Verona, arrival and settling in; pick up treasure hunt free map from tourist office beside the arena.
• Afternoon: Arena, Piazza delle Erbe, Arche Scaligere (all locations also on the kids’ map) on foot or city tourist train

Day 7 Verona

• Scaligero bridge, Juliet’s House, shopping in Verona city center
• Evening: dinner in Verona

Resources for this itinerary:

Family guide: how to visit Rome with kids | Family guide to Bologna | How to visit the Ferrari Museums | Family guide to Ravenna with kids | Family Guide to Verona

Itinerary 3: 7 days in Italy to see Rome, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast

This one-week family itinerary brings you to some of Italy’s most popular areas and children’s favorites such as Pompeii.

This family itinerary allows you to mix time in the city, on the coast and visiting family-friendly archaeological sites .

At the end of it, you have links to our family city guides and area guides to help you pick the best activities, accommodations and restaurants among the many available.

• Morning: Rome city center (highlights)
• Afternoon: Afternoon at the Borghese Gardens (all ages)
• Dinner in the Pantheon area

• Morning: Colosseum tour. Colle Oppio park.
• Afternoon: St Peter’s Square, Welcome to Rome Exhibition

Day 3 Pompeii and Sorrento

• Morning: Train to Pompeii and Pompeii visit as a stop over while going to Sorrento
• Train to Sorrento, arrival and settling in
• Dinner and night in Sorrento

Day 4: Amalfi Coast

• Full day on the Amalfi coast ferry hopping between towns
• Evening food tour in Sorrento with the Gourmet Girls Food Tours

Day 5: Capri

Full day trip to Capri by local ferry.

Day 6: Rome

• Morning: Train to Rome, settling into accommodation
• Afternoon: Castel Sant’Angelo

Day 7 Rome:

• Morning: Pizza del Campidoglio, Jewish Ghetto
• Afternoon: Gladiator School
• Evening (after dinner): Trevi fountain

Resources for this itinerary;

Family guide to Rome with kids | Capri with kids | Amalfi Coast with kids

Itinerary 4: 7 day Italy itinerary between Rome and Umbria

This one week itinerary between Rome and Umbria is perfect for families who want to see Rome and its marvels and then slow down in beautiful countryside settings.

Not too fast-paced, this family itinerary brings you to big cities, small towns and country locations, all within a relatively compact yet varied part of central Italy.

• Morning: Rome city center highlights (Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Spanish steps etc)
• Afternoon: Welcome to Rome Exhibition
• Evening: Dinner in the Pantheon area

• Morning: Colosseum tour. Colle Oppio Park.
• Morning: St Peter’s Square and basilica (all ages) / Vatican Museums (Older kids)
• Afternoon: Borghese Gardens, Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain area
• Pizza making glass

Day 4: Perugia

• Morning: train to Perugia and settling in
• Afternoon: explore Perugia (Perugina chocolate factory, underground city, artisan workshops)

Day 5: Day trip to Umbira’s small towns

Full day trip to Gubbio (tourist train ride, ‘crazy’ fountain’, medieval town) and Spello (older kids or with a carrier. medieval charm, flowery balconies) or Assisi , St Frances’ town

Day 6: Adventure park

Full day trip to one of Umbria’s adventure parks

Day 7: Rome

• Morning: train to Rome

Rome with kids travel guide | Umbria with kids | Family guide to Spello | Guide to Gubbio with kids | Family Guide to visiting Assisi with kids

Itinerary 5 Rome and Tuscany

Rome and Tuscany are at the top of many visitors’ travel wish lists for Itlay and they are lovely areas to visit with kids of any age.

It is perfect for families who want to see Rome but also spend time in the beautiful countryside, enjoying child-friendly farms, seeing small towns, and tasting the delicious food and wine Tuscany is known for.

The best way to follow this one-week itinerary is to mix time in Rome without a car and then get your own transport to explore Tuscany.

• Morning: Rome city center highlights (Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps etc
• Afternoon: Explora Children Museum (Small Kids) / Welcome to Rome Exhibition

• Morning: Colosseum Tour. Colle Oppio Park
• Afternoon: Pizza Making class
• Evening (after dark): Trevi Fountain

Day 4: Montepulciano

• Morning: drive to your agriturismo near Montepulciano
• Afternoon in Montepulciano (Playground, piazza Grande, wine shops)

Day 5: Pienza

• Morning: slow mornign in agriturismo
• Afternoon: Pienza (playground, pecorino, walk to ‘Gladiator Cypresses’)

Day 6: Siena and Bagno Vignoni

• Morning: Siena (Piazza del Campo, Duomo, child friendly orto de’ Pecci)
• Afternoon: Bagno Vignoni (kid-friendly thermal spa town)
• Dinner: Bagno Vignoni

• Morning: transit back to Rome

Resources for this itinerary: Family guide to Rome with kids | Tuscany with kids | The best agriturismo (farm stays) in Tuscany for families | Wine tasting in Tuscany with kids

If you are worried about driving in Italy, I recommend you also read our guides: driving in Italy, all you n eed to know and how to rent a car in Italy .

Itinerary 6 Lake Garda and Verona

The area of Lake Garda is one of the best places to visit in Italy with kids as it is varied, well served and packed with things to do for kids big and small.

Day 1: Peschiera

• Morning: explore Peschiera the tourist train
• Afternoon: Peschiera town center walk (playground, bastions, Piazza delle Armi)

Day 2 Bardolino

• Morning: excursion to family friendly Barolino (tourist train, playground, restaurants)
• Afternoon: lake side cycle to Lazise

Day 3 Gardaland

Fun day in Gardaland theme park, perfect for children of school age and up who love riders and the thrill of one of Itlay’s best amusement parks.

>>> Find info and tickets here <<<

Day 4 Sirmione

Ferry hopping around the lake to see Sirmione , Sirmione castle and Limone

Day 5 Parco Natura Viva

Full day out in Parco Natura Viva Safari Park to get up close and personal with the animals and spend the day outdoors

• Morning: train to Verona and settling in
• Afternoon: tourist train or city walks for city highlights (Arena, Piazza delle Erbe, Arche Scaligere)
• Morning: Scaligero Bridge and surrounding area
• Afternoon: family friendly cooking class

Resources for this itinerary: Lake Garda with kids | Best places to visit on Lake Garda | Family guide to Verona

Itinerary 7 Florence, Pisa and Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is high on the list of many families and it is best included in your itinerary if combined with Tuscany.

The two together allow you to experience a mix of art cities, countryside and coast; this is also a great Italy itinerary for kids who want to see the famous leaning tower of Pisa.

Day 1 Florence

• Morning: city center walk and duomo climb
• Sunset: Taxi to Piazzale Michelangelo

Day 2 Florence

• Morning: Ponte Vecchio and Boboli gardens
• Afternoon: Family friendly pasta making class

Day 3 Pisa and Monterosso

• Morning: train to Pisa (leaning tower of Pisa, cathedral and Battistero).
• Afternoon: train from Pisa to Monterosso and settling in

Day 4 day: Cinque Terre

Day trip ferrying around Cinque Terre

Day 5 : Cinque Terre

• Morning: Family hike to Corniglia
• Afternoon: beach day in Monterosso

Day 6 : Porto Venere

• Morning: Train to Levanto, then get bikes and cycle the family-friendly Levanto – Bonassola
• Afternoon: Ferry trip to pretty Porto Venere and its colorful town center

Day 7 Florence

• Morning: Train to Florence, settling in
• Afternoon: gelato making class

Resources to plan this itinerary: Family guide to Florence with kids | How to spend one day in Pisa | Guide to Cinque Terre with kids

One week Italy Itinerary 8 Puglia and Basilicata for families

This one-week Italy itinerary brings you to some of the most beautiful and, in parts, most underrated areas of Italy’s South.

The itinerary leads you to popular Puglia, its pretty beaches and towns, and then allows you to discover the marvel of Matera and the outstanding archaeological site of Paestum.

This itinerary is best followed by car and it is suited to families who want to explore small towns and spend time on the beach (summer).

Day 1 Trani  

• Morning: Trani (duomo, marina, Bike tour)
• Afternoon: Castel del Monte

Day 2 Grotte di Castellana

• Morning: visit to Grotte di Castellana (impressive caves with stalagmites and rock formations)
• Afternoon: drive to Aberobello, and city stroll (trulli)

Day 3: Alberobello, Locorotondo, Matera

• Morning: Alberobello (trullo Sovrano Museum)
• Lunch: in Locorotondo car free town center
• Afternoon: drive to Matera, settling in

Day 4: Matera

• Morning: tuk tuk tour of the city
• Afternoon: leisure walk in sassi
• Evening: Matera

Day 5: Paestum and Naples

• Morning: Drive to Paestum (Greek temples)
• Afternoon: drive into Naples, arrive and settle in, evening in Naples

Day 6: Naples

• Morning: Naples archaeological museum and city center stroll
• Afternoon: Pizza making class with local chef

Day 7: Pompei

Full-Day trip to Pompeii by train / guided tour including access to Vesuvius

Resources to plan this itinerary: Puglia with kids | Matera with kids | Naples with kids (coming soon) | Guide to Paestum

Itinerary 9: one week in Italy to see Rome, Amalfi, Pisa and Venice

This itinerary has been inspired by one of the most energetic members of our Facebook group who managed to see Rome, Amalfi, Pisa and Venice with two small children in 8 days!

It is a much busier itinerary than any other on this page; however, he showed all this can be done in a week and so I am sharing my recommended way to plan your time.

At the end of this one-week Italy itinerary outline, you will find all the family city guides to help you plan each stay at best.

• Morning: Colosseum Visit.
• Afternoon: City center stroll to see Rome highlights
• Dinner: in the city center

Day 2: Amalfi town

• Morning: train and ferry to Amalfi town and settling in
• Afternoon: Amalfi town visit

Day 3: Amalfi Coast town hopping

Full-day excursion by car or ferry to explore other Amalfi Coast towns.

Day 4: Pisa and Venice

• Morning: train to Pisa and Pisa visit (Leaning tower of Pisa, cathedral, etc)
• Afternoon: Train to Venice, arrival and settling in
• Morning: Venice city center. St Mark’s basilica and Doges’ Palace tour
• Afternoon: Row Venice Gondola experience

Day 7: Murano and Burano

• Morning: Ferry to Murano and glasswork demonstration and workshop for kids
• Afternoon: ferry to nearby Burano (colorful houses, lace, biscuits)

Resources to plan this trip: Rome with kids | Amalfi Town with kids | One day in Pisa | Venice with kids | the best towns on the Amalfi Coast | How to visit the Amalfi coast with kids

Other one-week Italy itineraries for families

As I mentioned at the start of this article, the family itineraries for Italy I have recommended so far are for families who want to cover a lot of grounds in the seven days in Italy they have.

If you are happy enough to, instead, settle in one area and explore locally, then I recommend you check out our guides about the most child-friendly locations in Italy, and in particular:

• Dolomites with kids
• Tuscany with kids
• Lake Garda with kids
• Umbria with kids
• Puglia with kids
• Liguria with kids
• Sicily with kids
• Sardinia with kids

Not yet sure how long to spend in Italy? Check out our itineraries for 10 days in Italy with kids and 2 weeks in Italy with kids to see what you can see with the time you have!

Planning a trip to Italy? Don’t forget to also check out our 100+ Italy travel tips and our guide to planning a first trip to Italy !

Marta Correale

Marta Correale is an Italian mama of two. Born and raised in Rome, Marta has a passion for travel and especially enjoys showing off Italy to her kids, who are growing up to love it as much as she does! A classics graduate, teacher of Italian as a second language and family travel blogger, Marta launched Mama Loves Italy as a way to inspire, support and help curious visitors to make the most of a trip to Italy and learn about Italian culture on the way.

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7 Days in Italy: 9 Amazing One Week Italy Itineraries

Are you so excited to plan a one-week trip to Italy?  Let’s make the most of your 7 days in Italy.  In this post, we are going to plan your one-week Italy itinerary. 

7 days in Italy might not seem like enough time, but don’t worry as long as you have a plan ready in advance you will be surprised at how much you can get done. 

In this post,I have come up with nine examples of sample Italy itineraries that hopefully help you decide what part of Italy you want to see. 

No matter which locations you add to your one-week Italy itinerary it will be an amazing 7-day Italy trip. You really can’t go wrong in Italy.

My family has been to Italy many times and always wants to go back.  There is a rich culture, architecture, art, history, and amazing landscapes to explore.  We love all of it! 

I created an amazing  Italy Travel Guide that has nine itineraries, food recommendations, and safety tips that you need to grab before you head to Italy!  I promise this is good information that you do not want to miss out on! 

Let’s create the best itinerary in Italy! 

If you want to save this information for later be sure to pin this to Pinterest! 

This post may contain affiliate links that will give me a commission at no additional charge to you

Planning a 1 Week in Italy Trip

Italy is an amazing country. There are many questions you have to ask yourself when you get ready to plan your 1 week Italy itinerary.

Is 1 Week Enough in Italy?

Yes, one week in Italy is enough time to explore a lot of this beautiful country! 

What Is The Best Month to Visit Italy?

May, June, September, and October are considered the best times to go to Italy.  You will get to experience the tourist season with wonderful weather.  I think that September may still be too hot.

We went in August once and we about melted.  It was so hot!  Also, August is the “month of holiday” where the Italians get almost the entire month off. 

A lot of places are closed, on the bright side crowds are typically lower because all the Italians tend to be on vacation.  Personally, I would not recommend it for a 7 day Italy tour.

Where Am I Going to Spend 7 Days in Italy?

The first question I like to ask is which part of Italy should I visit?  Do I want to stay in Northern Italy? Do I want to see Tuscany? Is Southern Italy the best? Do I want to get a taste of it all?

There are so many options when planning your one-week Italy itinerary, trying to decide can be tough.  Think about which cities are on the top of your list! What activities, museums, or buildings are a top priority?

How am I Going to Get From One Place to the Next?

What transportation options are there? This is the next question I would consider when planning my one-week Italy itinerary.  Am I going to rent a car, fly, take a train, or join a tour group?

We did a combination of trains, rental cars, and airplane travel.  We really wanted to see the majority of the country in the short amount of time we had.

What are the Best Hotels or Accommodations in Italy?

Where am I going to stay in Italy?  This is probably one of the first questions you need to ask after you book your flight. 

Each city is going to be a little different.  I can’t make this decision for you because everyone is different. Not to mention there are a lot of options out there. I would start with a site like Booking.com . Hotels.com   or VRBO.  You want to look at all of these options to find the best deals on accommodations in Italy . 

If you are a booking.com fan, you might want to get a membership to Wayaway Plus because they will give you discounts on both Booking and Viator.  

I also like staying at Marriott a s well. Planning lodging for Italy for a week is a big step but we are going to focus more on where to visit in Italy for a week! 

A Week in Italy – Top Cities to Visit

Most popular cities in italy.

We have to start with the most well-known and most visited places in Italy.  These cities include Venice , Florence , Milan, and Rome .

Venice is unlike any other city in the entire world because it is actually built on tiny islands and uses water canals for transportation.

Florence is a city full of renaissance art. Milan is the fashion capital of the world.  Rome was the capital of the Roman empire and is the most visited city in Italy and the world.

Most Beautiful Cities in Italy

Obviously, this is a matter of opinion and I haven’t been to every city in Italy.  If you are going to Italy to enjoy the intense beauty of the country, I would recommend the Amalfi Coast and the Islands of Capri and Ischia. 

Also in the southern area is Puglia which is so amazing. Venice is so beautiful that it needs to make this list.  I also visited the east coast in a city called Gaeta which was spectacular.

I have not been to Cinque Terre but if you have looked at pictures it fits into this category.

If you have been to Italy and want to add to the list of the most beautiful cities comment below and let us know! All of these are great options for an Italy week itinerary! 

Italy One Week Itinerary Tour Group Options

Before you get started creating your one-week in Italy itinerary, you might want to consider booking a complete already planned tour. 

I have done a lot of research and found a company I trust and also I thought was reasonably priced.  Travelstride has a lot of great options! 

Top Group Tours

• 12 Days Wonder of Italy Tour
• Italy in 10 days Tour
• Amalfi Coast to Puglia Southern Italy Tour
• Taste of Italy Tour
• Italian Riviera and Cinque Terre
• 7-Day Southern Itlay Tour

Now, if tour groups aren’t your thing, don’t worry. We are going to explore which cities in Italy you want to add to your one-week in Italy itinerary. 

The first 4 samples Italy itineraries are going to be fast-paced.  You will see as much as you can in your 7-day Italy trip.

Northern Italy – 7 Day Italy Itinerary

Our first sample itinerary will include Venice, Verona, Milan, Lake Como, Cinque Terre, Lucca, Pisa, and Florence. 

Some of these places can be seen in just 1 day or less others you may want to spend more time exploring. 

Important Tip for Planning the Best Italy Itinerary

Remember, anything in blue is a link to a more detailed post on the area or a tour.  You will be able to click and find out more information on what to do in each area.

1. One Week Italy Itinerary – Choice Number 1

Day 1 – day trip – venice.

•  Heading to   Venice is a great idea. If you want a   romantic Venice experience that is totally possible too! Venice is a great place to start your Northern Italy itinerary. You will want to spend at least one day in Venice.

Day 2 – Day Trip – Verona and get to Milan by sunset

•   Romeo and Juliet put Verona on the map. Take a day trip and explore!   A day in Verona is plenty of time to see some of the most impressive sites.

Day 3  – Milan

• Book the “ Last Supper ” at least 4 months in advance. A   Day in Milan   is a great choice and if you are lucky enough to book the Last Supper even better!

Day 4 – The Dolomites or Lake Como

• The Dolomites , are unbelievable. Close by is  Lake Como which is also a perfect way to spend a day. 

Day 5 – Cinque Terre – Lucca – Pisa

• Cinque Terre is an amazing coastal town you will love, and then after you explore them jump on the train and check out Lucca and Pisa.  

Day 6  Florence

• There is so much to do in Florence .   Florence is a great place to end your trip.  Some people prefer to spend a lot more time in Florence so it may be best to save Florence for another trip.   

Day 7  – Travel back to the airport

This is just one idea for your 7 days in Italy trip.  What I like about this itinerary is that you can add or take away any of these cities if you want to stay longer in one area.  Let’s explore some more one-week in Italy itineraries!

2. Northern Italy Travel Itinerary – Choice Number 2

This Northern Italy travel itinerary is for those who like to travel at a slower pace.  You can spend more time in each area and enjoy a few day trips. You will enjoy this option for Italy 7 days itinerary. 

• Venice is your home base.  You will tour Venice on day one and then do day trips from Venice to the Dolomites and Verona. (Romeo and Juliet) 

Day  2

• Explore the Dolomites with a tour from Venice.

Day  3

• Explore Verona and the Romeo and Juliet sites from Venice. From Verona take a train to Milan.

Day 4 

Milan now becomes your home base.  Book a Last Supper ticket and enjoy a hop on hop off or complete Milan tour. 

Day 5 

• Book a day trip to Cinque Terre 

Day  6 

• Book a day trip from Milan to Lake Como.
• If you have time book a train ride to the Alps then get ready to go home. 

Tours In Northern Italy

This next section will be dedicated to helping you know what the major highlights are in each area of Italy.  As you plan your 1 week in Italy itinerary you will want to include some tours.  

One thing that I found difficult about planning my Italy itinerary is realizing that sometimes staying in one area and taking a lot of day trips is okay too. 

I wanted to see everything in our trip.  I loved seeing all the different cities and going on adventures.  If you want to take it slower just stay in one area and do as many tours as you can.  These tour suggestions are great if you plan an Italy itinerary 7 days from Milan or Venice.

Let’s start with the best tours in Northern Italy.  

1. Lake Como and Bellagio

The Lake Como tour begins in Milan. You are picked up and transported north of Milan to the lake country.  This is a 10-hour tour and includes a cruise in the summer.

Lake Como Tour Options

• Boat Tour on Lake Como
• Lake Como Highlight Tour
• Lake Como Food Tour
• Train Tour to the Alps

2. Verona and Lake Garda

Best verona tour options.

• Dolomite Tour from Lake Garda
• Verona Walking Tour
• Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour
• Verona Food Tour

3. Venice Grand Canal Cruise

Best venice tours.

• Complete Venice Day Tour
• Murano and Burano Tour
• Venice Food Tour
• Venice Gondola Ride and Serenade

4. The Dolomites

The Dolomites Tour   allows you to see a section of the most amazing mountain range, the Alps!  It is an eight-hour beautiful escape from the city. The Dolomites make for grea t hiking in Italy adventure !

Best Tours of the Dolomites

• Dolomite Hiking Tour
• Lakes of the Dolomites
• Helicopter Tour of the Dolomites

5. Milan- Last Supper Tickets

Last Supper Tickets and Milan Sightseeing Tour is a one of the best things to do in Milan.  Besides just being a great tour I have read that you need to book your Last Supper tickets months in advance.

Best Milian Tours

• Milan Food Tour
• Full-Day Milan Tour

Central Italy – 7-Day Italy Itinerary

Florence is your home base in this itinerary. There is enough to keep you busy for days in this area of Italy! This Italy itinerary begins in Northern Italy but focuses mostly on Tuscany. 

3. One Week Italy Itinerary – Choice Number 3

Day 1 -2  – venice or milan.

• The most common places to fly into Northern Italy are Venice and Milan.  Pick some tours listed above for these days. You can also fly directly to Florence if you do not want to add Venice or Milan to your 7-day Italy itinerary, 

Day 2 – 6 – Florence

There are many things to do in Florence that could keep you busy for days.  However, I suggest you go on day trips throughout Tuscany.  I would consider doing day trips to the following cities:

• Cinque Terre
• Hill Towns of Central Italy
• SanGimignano
• Montepulciano

With this one-week Italy itinerary, you have a lot of options to see a lot of great cities. 

The same train stops at Pisa, Lucca, and Cinque Terre.  It may be hard to do this on a one-day trip, but you have the choice to stay the night in one of these cities.

Travel back to the airport to end these 7 days in Italy! 

If you plan to visit Tuscany, this is a great option for your 7 day Italy itinerary.  Do more research on each city.

4. One Week in Italy Itinerary – Choice Number 4

This is a more slow-paced itinerary of Italy central region.  You will split your Italy trip partly in Florence and partly in Cinque Terre. 

Day 1 – 2 

Explore Florence and visit the museums and art collections. 

Pick two day trips to the countryside or surrounding cities. (Pisa, Lucca, Siena)

Head to Cinque Terre and spend your last days exploring this area.  

Tours in Central Italy

Central Italy includes Tuscany and wine country.  There are some amazing cities to explore in this area.  You could easily spend a week in Tuscany. 

Let’s explore some tours in central Italy!

1. Pisa and Lucca

Pisa Tour from Florence is a great way to see Pisa.  This tour includes transportation and entrance to the cathedral.

Best Tours of Pisa and Lucca

• Pisa Food Tour
• Pisa Walking Tour
• Lucca Bike and Food Tour

2. Florence

Bike Tour of Florence is a great way to see Florence!  I love biking tours! This tour allows you to see much more than a bus tour.

Best Florence Tours

• Florence Walking Tour
• Food Tour in Florence
• Florence River Cruise

3. Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre Tour from Florence takes about 12 hours. Cinque Terre is a must-see. It is so beautiful.

Best Tours of Cinque Terre

• Walking and Food Tour
• Horse ride in Cinque Terre
• Boat Tour of Cinque Terre

4. Tuscany 

There is also a Treasures of Tuscany Tour   which is a journey through Medieval cities.  I have visited all of these cities and it was amazing!

Best Tours of Tuscany

• Tuscany Wine and Countryside Tour
• Tuscany Villas and Vineyards
• Cooking Class in Tuscan Farmhouse

Southern Italy –  7 Day Italy Itinerary

Southern Italy is beautiful.  This Italy travel itinerary will explore three areas: Rome, Pompeii, and the Amalfi Coast. So if you are looking for a 1 week Italy itinerary with Amalfi Coast this is it! 

5. One Week Italy Itinerary – Choice Number 5

This Italy travel itinerary has a home base of Rome for a few days and then the Amalfi Coast.

Day 1-3  – Rome

• Start in Rome.    3 Days in Rome Itinerary will probably be enough time.  There are so many historical, religious, and architectural sites to see. Once you have explored Rome it is time to visit a few more Southern Italian cities. 

Day 4 – Pompeii

• Pompeii is a archeological sites.  Over 2000 years ago Mt. Vesuvius exploded and its ash preserved the entire town of Pompeii .   Make a Day trip.

Day 5-7 – Amalfi Coast

• Plan a Trip to the Amalfi Coast. 

There are actually 13 towns along the Amalfi Coast but about 5 must-see stops.  After you conclude your 7 days in Italy itinerary head back to Rome or Naples to fly home!

This area is absolutely beautiful! The Mediterranean Sea is gorgeous!  You may want to consider going even further south to Calabria or Sicily if you have any extra time. 

6. One Week In Italy Itinerary – Number 6

This sample Italy travel itinerary is slower-paced.  It does not include Rome. 

• You will start this Italy vacation itinerary in Naples.  You can explore the city on day one and then do a day trip to Gaeta or Pompeii.

Day 4 – 5  

• You can take a ferry to Capri and spend the night on the island.  We did this and it was incredible! Spend two days exploring the island. 
• Take a ferry to Sorrento and explore the Amalfi Coast.  Sorrento will be your home base. You can check out all the major cities and do a few tours. 

Tours in Southern Italy

1. classic rome tour.

A Classic Rome Tour   will guide you all over the city hitting the sightseeing spots.

Best Rome Tours

• Colosseum Roman Forum Tour
• Vatican and Sistine Chapel Tour
• Rome Catacombs

2. Capri and Naples

Best capri and naples tours.

• Blue Grotto Tour in Capri
• Naples Pizza Making Class

Pompeii is a city that has been preserved from volcanic ash.  

Tours of Pompeii

• Pompeii Walking Tour
• Pompeii with an Archaeologist 

4. Amalfi Coast

Amalfi Coast Tour is one of the most amazing sites in Italy!  Undoubtedly, I would include this in my one-week in Italy Itinerary for sure!  It is absolutely stunning!

Best Amalfi Coast Tours

• Pizza Making and Limoncello
• Sorrento Food and Walking Tour
• Path of the Gods

Take On Italy – 7 Day Italy Itinerary 

This last sample 1 week Italy itinerary will start in the north  (Venice) and go all the way down to the Amalfi Coast.  It will hit the major cities with a few detours.  

This is a fast-paced way to see a lot of Italy! 

7. One Week Italy Itinerary – Choice Number 7

Day 1 – venice.

• Venice is a great way to start your trip. Spend a complete day exploring. 

Day 2 – 3  – Train to Florence

• Check out Florence
• Day Trip to Pisa, Lucca, and Cinque Terre
• (2 hours for Pisa, 2 hours for Lucca, and the rest of the day for Cinque Terre)

Day 4 – Rent a car and drive to Rome

• Stop in Siena for lunch
• Head to Rome   and spend a complete day (take a tour) 

Day 5 – Drive to Naples airport return car take the ferry to Capri

• Hang out in Naples if you have time.
• Capri is an amazing island with grottoes all around it! 

Day 6 – Amalfi Coast – Pompeii

• Travel Down the Amalfi Coast.  Positano, Sorrento, Amalfi, and Ravello and Paestum. 
• Visit  Pompeii

Day 7 – Fly back to Venice to return home

• You can fly pretty cheaply on Easy Jet within the country.

8. One Week in Italy Itinerary Without Rome – Choice Number 8

This is a southern Italy travel itinerary without Rome.  

Day 1  

• Spend your first day exploring Pompeii and Herculaneum. These are archaeological sites.

Day 2 – 3  

• Explore the Amalfi Coast.

Day 4 – 5 

• Head to the islands of  Capri and Ischia.

Day 6 – 7  

• Head to   Bari – Mare Caves.  Get ready to head back.

9. One Week in Italy Itinerary – The Boot of Italy – Choice Number 9

This is a super southern Italy travel itinerary! We like to call this the boot of Italy.

• Spend some time in Rome and then fly to Palermo. (There is a direct flight from Rome to Palermo)

Day 4 -5  

• Explore   Palermo and do a few tours,
• Spend the rest of your time Island hopping in Sicily and visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Are You Ready to Plan a 7 days Itinerary in Italy?

I hope thesesample Itlay itineraries help you plan out your one-week in Italy trip!   There are so many options!  No matter which direction you decide to go, you will have a wonderful time! 

I highly recommend getting an Italy Travel Guidebook before planning your trip. There are so many great reasons for you to visit Italy !  Make sure you review the Italy safety tips and be prepared for your trip.  

Oh yes, don’t forget your Italy gifts and Italy souvenirs ! 

Facebook Community

Above all, if you have any questions be sure to join my Facebook Travel Community. This great community can help answer any questions you may have about your upcoming trips. Plus, I try to add any great deals or promotions that companies send me! 

If there is another tour in mind be sure to ask me because I have access to a lot of fun options!

Get Your Free Free Italy Guide

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76 Comments

I would love to make it to Italy some day. Thanks for the inspiration!

It is a really awesome place to visit!

Your Italy posts inspire me to return as there is so much more to discover!

Venice is high on the list, but so isn’t going back to Capri. So many places….

I haven’t done the northern part so I would do that on my next trip!

I definitely want to make it to Italy at some point! These itineraries are amazing!!!!

Thanks! Italy is worth a trip!

Love Italy, been to many of these sites and enjoy the reminders

I have to go back and do the northern part of Italy!

I love learning about itineraries. They help me to follow the same path and see as much as possible.

I love making Itineraries!

I love following itineraries. Thanks for sharing!

Two years ago we were in Italy and flew to Venice and then to Rome. This time we are flying into Milan, driving to Stresa and then Como. After that, one night in Florence, one night in Assisi, and then down to the Amalfi coast. We found a hotel on the coast with parking, so we planned on bringing the car back to Naples after our time on the coast. Hopefully this will work.

Sounds amazing! I think you have a great plan!

There is so much to see and do. I think I will need all these tours!

I want to do everything when I travel!

I seriously love that you did this. It’s so handy and will help with so many travels. Thank you!

I appreciate the planning out for people like me who wouldn’t have a clue where to start

It is kind of nice to have a place to start.

Wow!! So much great info!! I feel like I could actually tackle planning a trip without being totally overwhelmed.

You totally should!

What great suggestions! They all sound wonderful! Thanks for putting this together!

I hope it helps start the planning process for everyone!

There is a small town not too far outside Rome that is isolated and cool to visit.

That sounds awesome!

Wow, such an amazing place! I would love to visit one day.

It was such a surprise, to find a place like this!

What a great itinerary. This is definitely so helpful for people visiting a new place. I am always afraid I am going to miss something important.

Wow, that’s an extensive list. Some great scenery views of Italy that I’d like to photograph

Some many great options!

We’ve never thought of Italy. Your pictures have us wanting to be there right now! Thank you for sharing.

Italy is amazing!

You have put together such a wonderful guide. I would absolutely love to see Italy someday. It’s become #1 on my bucket list. My daughter is going to Casalmaggiore in northern Italy this summer to study violin. I doubt she will have time to do any of these tours, but I just think she’s so fortunate that she gets to go at all. Lovely photos as always!

That will be so awesome!

Love this. Can’t wait to visit!

We have been a few times but are planning a trip back.

Wow, what a great thought out list! I’ll be sure to come back to read this again if we are ever going to Italy!

You should pin it to pinterest for sure!

Great mix of itineraries Lisa! Driving in Italy is not for the timid that’s all I can say. And a super fun tour I took in Florence was a 2.5 hour segway tour, so much fun! And Florence really should be on the most beautiful list 🙂

I loved running in Florence and seeing the whole city!

This is an amazing itinerary…my dream vacation…One day soon!

It is a dream!

Italy is definitely on my bucket list! Charm of Tuscany Tour sounds right up my alley!

It would be a great tour! I loved Tuscany!

Looks like an amazing and beautiful place to visit!

It really is so beautiful!

This looks amazing and very time consuming to plan. You have made it sooo much easier though.

Yes, Too many decisions!

Italy is hands down the best place I’ve ever visited! We are constantly daydreaming about taking another trip some day to Tuscany. When we went, we drove from Rome, to Sienna, Florence, Pisa, Bologne, all the way to near Venice. We also went to Milan too for some shopping!

I still want to see the rest of Italy. It’s such a gorgeous country!

OH yes, you need to go the opposite direction towards the Amalfi Coast! That was unbelievable.

Your photos are beautiful!

What a great itinerary! I am saving this for when I go. Thanks!

I love Italy. I was there for a month last Summer and did not want to leave. I plan to do the Amalfi Coast next. Great photos!

Love the Amalfi Coast. I loved Capri and wish I could have went to the other islands.

Beautiful and amazing pictures and trip! Italy is on my bucket list!

Italy is so amazing!

Wow! What a helpful post. So thorough and thought through.

Well now I need to do a 1 month trip to Italy to do all of this!!

That would be amazing!

This looks fantastic. Italy has always been one of my favorite places to travel.

Me too! I can’t wait to go back!

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Hello. I am italian and i live in Bologna, in northern italy, but i come from southern italy, a region called Puglia. I think that everyone should visit romanic cathedral of Puglia, if you like medieval time. They are incredible. And food and sea too. Some towns with astonishing cathedrals and medieval castles and monuments in Puglia and Basilicata(you can check on google) that you can t find anywhere in italy. Trani. Foggia. Bari. Troia. Lecce. Matera. Enjoy! And if you come to Bologna i will teach you how to make original italian pasta, because i take cooking classes!

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Destinations , Europe , Travel planning · January 24, 2024

The Ultimate 1 Week Italy Itinerary

Italy is a country on almost every traveler’s bucket list… and if it’s not, it definitely should be! Full of ancient history, beautiful coastlines, bustling cities, and delicious food, Italy has something that every type of traveler will enjoy. Whether you are headed to Italy for a honeymoon or a babymoon, a family vacation or a solo trip, there are hundreds upon hundreds of places to explore in this beautiful country! The only problem? Most of us have a very limited amount of PTO and time to wander. That just means we pack as much as we can into the time we have and make repeated return trips. 🙂 If you are ready to plan your Italian vacation but have no idea where to start, you’re in the right place! Keep reading to discover a packed 1 week in Italy itinerary.

Table of Contents

About this itinerary

Italy is a small country in comparison to places like the US and Canada, but it’s impossible to see it all in just one week. With this 1 week in Italy itinerary, we’ll barely scratch the surface, but that’s okay! You’ll see as much as you can in the short amount of time you have. So before we dive in, some quick notes about this week-long Italian itinerary. 

This itinerary is based around the trip my husband and I took in 2023. We spent about 9 days in Italy and ran ourselves ragged and didn’t feel like we got to see everything. This is the perfect trip for a young traveler, couple, or group that has not yet traveled to Italy and wants to go, go, go. This would not be a good itinerary for a family with small children or a traveler that likes a slower pace. I’m alllll for a slower pace but like I said: we have limited PTO sometimes! We’ll relax on our next trip to Italy 😉 

In addition to being impossible to explore in one week, Italy is also a bit harder to navigate than you might imagine. Getting from the Southern coast to a city like Florence will take you all day on a train. This 1 week in Italy itinerary is based from Rome and travels to the Northern coast and Florence. There are a million different ways you can divide your week in Italy and this is just one of endless iterations. If you are looking to see a mix of history, big cities, beautiful coastline, small towns, and hiking: this is the itinerary for you. Okay. Let’s keep going, shall we? We have a lot to cover! 

Should you use a travel advisor for Italy?

Traveling to Italy requires a LOT of planning and forethought. From what hotels to stay in, to getting from point A to B, from just deciding what airport to fly into. There are so many intricacies to planning a huge European vacation that it can take up a lot of your time. Using a travel advisor can help not only take some things off your to do list, it can also ensure your vacation goes from good to great. Travel advisors have endless knowledge and connections all over the world. I’ve spent hundreds of hours planning Italian vacations for couples and have extensive knowledge of the best ways to get around and what hotels are always a win. In addition, we have background knowledge about what hotels are doing renovations, places to avoid, and what will really be worth your time and money. And that’s priceless.

It’s not unusual to spend a minimum of 10 to 20 hours on a week-long Italian itinerary. Or, loop me in and spend zero hours planning your own vacation! We’ll take care of everything from hotels, tours, train transfers, and making sure your trip is customized exactly how you want it. It’s time to take planning off your to-do list.

In addition, book through me , and you’ll get these amazing perks at any of these listed resorts along with 2,000 other properties worldwide:

• Daily breakfast for two
• Room upgrades (when available)
• Early & late checkout
• Resort credit for the spa or onsite restaurants

And you’ll be known as a VIP to the hotel… I’ve got the hookup for ya!

Enter your email and where you want to go below or just fill out this inquiry form .

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Can you see italy in just 1 week.

Short answer: no. Long answer: As discussed in my one day in Rome and one day in Florence blogs, you could easily spend 1 week in just those locations alone! Italy is a country with many regions, cultures, and things to see and do. It’s impossible to see it all in just 1 week. However, we are often limited by the amount of time we have off or we visit Europe so infrequently we jam in as much as we can! 

With just 1 week in Italy, you’ll have to make some tough decisions. It’s recommended to pick just one place… two or three at the very most! Have an honest conversation with your travel advisor about what you’re looking for in a vacation to determine the best 1 week Italy itinerary for you.

Where to stay in Rome

Hotel de’ricci .

A luxury boutique hotel in the center of Rome, this hotel has the most amazing decor and boasts an amazing wine cellar…. So it’s perfect for vinos!

Book with me to receive:

• Room upgrade, if available
• Daily breakfast for 2
• Hotel credit
• Early check in and late check out 

Hotel Nazionale 

A lovely mid-range option in the city center, it offers clean, classic decor with solid service and is close to many tourist sites.

JK Place Roma

Want to feel like you’re in your own personal luxury apartment with 5 star service in the middle of Rome? JK Place is the place for you. You will feel like a family member at this small, luxury hotel.

Portrait Roma

Similar to JK Place, Portrait is a small boutique hotel that oozes luxury and amenities. Enjoy the modern, beautiful rooms, amazing service, and being in the center of the action.

1 Week in Italy Itinerary

Fly to Italy 

Many flights to Europe leave in the evening from the United States. This is great because you can still work a half day and save some valuable PTO and arrive early at your destination the next morning. 

Flying into Rome is usually the most affordable option but sometimes you can find great deals flying in to Milan, Florence, or Naples. For the purpose of this itinerary, I recommend flying into Rome.

Arrive in Rome  

After a great night’s sleep on the plane (slightly joking… unless you flew business class!), arrive in Rome and get started on your first day. There’s no time for relaxing and getting up and moving will help you beat jet lag. Check in to your hotel, if you can (you get early check in when you book with me !) or just drop your baggage at the front desk. Many hotels will store it for you while you wait for your room to be ready. 

Grab a quick breakfast–espressos all around!–before heading to your first tour.

Tour of Vatican City

As long as you arrive on a day other than Sunday, you will start your trip to Italy with a private or semi-private tour of the Vatican. I highly recommend a tour because the Vatican is huge and it can help provide context for what you’re experiencing. In addition, queues into the Vatican can be very long and you’ll want VIP access. Make sure you book with me to be a Vatican VIP. 

In the afternoon, spend some time just getting lost in Rome. I love the Trastevere neighborhood and there’s always amazing food to be found. Grab some gelato (look for the shops that have silver covers over the gelato!) and wander in and out of the streets. Some of my favorite times in a new city is just getting lost and seeing everything. This is one of my favorite things to do in Rome because you never know when you’ll wander upon some old ruins. 

Find yourself near the Colosseum? Be sure to grab cocktails at The Court for amazing views. The Court has a view of the Colosseum and is voted one of the top bars in the world! 

There are one million delicious restaurants in Rome to choose from! Da Enzo al 29 in Trastevere is always a favorite and Pierluigi is great for a special occasion. 

Tour of Colosseum

Another day, another tour! The Colosseum is always crowded but it’s always worth a visit. Splurging for a private or semi-private tour is also worth it because lines are very long. And, with a private tour you’ll get to go underground and to the Colosseum floor to see what the gladiators saw. It’s an experience you won’t soon forget. 

See the sights

After wandering the Colosseum and Palatine Hill, spend your afternoon marking off some of the other famous sites in Rome: the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, the Parthenon, the Spanish Steps, and Piazza di Spagna. All of these sites are in close walking distance to one another so they’re easy to hit in quick succession. Don’t forget to stop for gelato! 

After exploring, take a taxi to Piazzale Garibaldi for some of the best views in Rome. You can see most of the historic buildings in the city center. Following, grab dinner at the delicious Casa Bleve.

Last morning in Rome

Enjoy a slow morning or hit some of the sites you haven’t yet checked off your list. Some recommendations include Galleria Borghese, Santa Maria della Vittoria and Largo Argentina. But hey, we’re only at the beginning of a jam packed week so no judgment if you sleep in a little! Check out of your hotel and head to the train station… it’s time to head to the beach! 

Train to Cinque Terre 

Hop on a train to Cinque Terre. The train station you’ll want to get tickets to is La Spezia and then from there, you’ll get a 3 day train pass at the train station. This will allow you to travel between the 5 towns in this area without buying a ticket every time you want to use the train.

Where to stay in Cinque Terre 

Cinque Terre is a small fishing area that has rapidly become a populated tourist area. Because of this, and the fact that the towns are situated on cliffsides, there are not many major hotel chains or luxury hotels in this area. Instead, you’ll see a lot of home rentals and small B&Bs but there are plenty of hidden gems! 

Il Sogno di Manarola by the First

A beautiful hotel overlooking the Ligurian Sea, this is a go-to recommendation for clients looking for a hotel and not a home stay. The rooms are bright, clean, and airy with many suites offering terraces overlooking the sea and private hot tubs. 

La Vista di Marina by the First 

With the same owners as Il Sogno di Manarola, La vista di Marina is also located in Riomaggiore and offers beautiful views of the marina. With more of a home feel, you’ll choose from an apartment or generously sized suites. 

Ca’ D’Andrean

This is where we stayed while visiting Cinque Terre, and it fit our needs perfectly! Tucked on the main area of Manarola, this hotel is not fussy and provides a terrace and rooms with your basic comforts. It was perfectly placed near some of the best restaurants in Manarola, too, which was a plus!

Once you arrive in Cinque Terre, I recommend walking around your “home base” town to get a feel for things. Each of the five towns that make up Cinque Terre are very small–they can be explored in just a few hours. Most of the towns have “Takeaway Pasta,” a restaurant that offers just that: pasta that can be taken out and enjoyed on your terrace as the sunsets. It’s the perfect way to enjoy some delicious Italian food and relax after a big journey.

Hiking in Cinque Terre from Monterosso to Corniglia

The main attraction of Cinque Terre is exploring each of the 5 towns. To make it even better, Italy has set up Cinque Terre National Park and created hiking trails linking the five towns. The hikes can be difficult at times but are overall moderate, providing amazing views along the way. The trails are steep in parts and contain gravel, roots, and dirt, so I recommend having a sturdy pair of shoes for the trek! 

I recommend training into Monterosso and starting there. If you get up early and it’s hot, you can also spend a few hours on the beach in Monterosso before your hike! This is the only town in Cinque Terre that has an actual beach with sand, so it can get pretty crowded and is why I recommend going first thing in the morning. Grab a quick breakfast in Monterosso, enjoy the beach, and plan to hike from Monterosso to Corniglia. Along the way, you’ll pass through Vernazza. Vernazza makes the perfect stop for lunch! There are several restaurants right along the small beach that give you amazing views of the cliffs and buildings built along the way. 

After lunch, stroll through Vernazza, grab some gelato, and then continue your hike to Corniglia. Explore Corniglia for a few hours before heading back via train to clean up and prepare from dinner. Train back to Manarola for dinner at the amazing Trattoria dal Billy. Reservations are highly recommended and sitting on the terrace is a treat! Enjoy fresh seafood, pasta, and grab a bottle of locally made Ligurian wine. 

Hiking in Cinque Terre: Corniglia to Riomaggiore

On your final day in Cinque Terre, you’ll hike the remaining trails in Cinque Terre. Start where you left off yesterday: Corniglia. From here, you’ll continue on to Manarola and then into Riomaggiore. The trail is often closed between Corniglia and Manarola due to rock slides. If this is the case, you’ll just start in Manarola instead. Riomaggiore offers some of the most iconic views of Cinque Terre that you’ve most likely seen plastered all over Pinterest. I’m here to confirm it is just as magical in person as it is in photos! Be sure to grab a cone of seafood from one of the local restaurants! Anchovies are a Cinque Terre specialty… but I won’t judge if you can’t stomach it 😉 

Finish off your time in Cinque Terre with dinner at Da Miky in Monterosso al Mare. 

Train to Florence

Wow, we have almost reached the end of a jam packed week in Italy! It’s day 6, so you have two major choices here: you can train back to Rome and spend one night before flying home on day 7… or if you want to really pack it all in, you can train to Florence and spend a day in Florence. 

Let’s just assume you pick Florence. Good choice! Just be sure to plan a return trip because there’s too much to see in just one day! 

Once you leave Cinque Terre, you’ll take a super quick 1.5 hour train ride into Florence before checking into your hotel. Once again, when you book with me you’ll get early check in so no worries about your lunchtime arrival! 

Drop your bags and start wandering! The Piazza della Signora is the perfect place because not only is it beautiful, you have plenty of dining options and people watching. Centered right around the Uffizi Gallery, this piazza is a great meeting place. 

Wander through the beautiful streets of Florence for the rest of the afternoon. You could easily squeeze in either the Uffizi Gallery or the Academy after lunch so you don’t have to do both in one day, as well.

We had dinner at the Michelin star restaurant, Borgo San Jacopo, but to be honest… we much preferred the little holes in the wall we stumbled upon in the evenings! 

It’s your last day in Italy, and it’s an action packed one. We only have one full day in Florence so there’s a lot to see and do! 

The two main things you’ll want to see today (if you haven’t already seen one yesterday) is the Uffizi Gallery and the Academy where the famous David sculpture lives. Not a huge art fan? Skip Uffizi Gallery and grab tickets to climb to the top of the Duomo and explore the beautiful Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. 

End your exciting day enjoying the view at the Piazza del Michelangelo. It’s one of the best views of the city in my humble opinion! 

Fly home from Florence airport

On day 8, it’s time to pack your bags and fly home. While it can be cheaper to fly out of other airports, Florence is certainly the most convenient. However, it’s definitely doable to get up early and take a train to Rome for an afternoon flight as that’s what we did. 

Final thoughts/recommendations on a 1 week Italy itinerary

Italy is an amazing country full of so many different cities, towns, history, culture, and food. You can make any number of combinations of cities and towns on your visit to Italy but if you want to see Rome, Florence, and Cinque Terre this 1 week Italy itinerary is perfect for you! It’s fast paced but will allow you to see a lot in a short amount of time. The only downside? This 1 week Italy itinerary will only leave you wanting more! But that’s okay, I’m here when you’re ready to plan your return trip to this amazing country.  

Ciao for now!

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7 Days in Italy: 7 Ways to Spend a Week in Italy

Trying to figure out exactly how to spend 7 days in Italy isn’t an easy task for one simple reason: with only a week in Italy, it’s virtually guaranteed you’ll need to leave some of your Italy bucket list items unchecked.

That being said, you can absolutely have an amazing trip to Italy in 7 days and walk away feeling like you’ve enjoyed a fantastic taste of the country (literally and figuratively!).

We’ve put together this guide to seeing Italy in a week to help you choose the best 7 day Italy itinerary for you, offer some guidance on your trip planning, and give a realistic overview of what spending a week in Italy can look like.

Table of Contents

How to Structure a Week in Italy

About our italy city itineraries, traditional 7 day italy itineraries, deep dives: choose a base + build your own week in italy itinerary, tips for spending 7 days in italy, what to pack for a week in italy.

Some links in this post may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more detail.

There are essentially two ways to structure a 7 day Italy trip: move around 2-3 times and have a very fast-paced trip that covers a lot of ground, or choose a single base for a week and take day trips from there.

Both possibilities have benefits: for example, with a classic Italy itinerary that moves around frequently, you’ll likely cover a broader geographic region. 

On the other hand, staying in one place for the week will be less exhausting, allow you to get to know one part of Italy a bit better, and allow you to spend more time exploring and less time in transit.

While there are near limitless ways to spend a week in Italy, we’ve outlined 7 Italy itinerary options below that are designed to appeal to first-time visitors to the country.

Four are typical moving-hotels-every-couple-days itineraries, and three are suggestions of popular bases in Italy and days trips you could take from them.

All make for fabulous weeklong Italy itineraries–if we had 7 days in Italy, we’d personally be excited about any one of these trips!

We’ve intentionally kept this guide to spending a week in Italy fairly high-level, and avoid getting bogged down into too many details about how to spend time in a particular city (since at this stage of your planning, you’re probably not even sure how long that will be!).

When you are ready to plan your stays in certain destinations in detail, though, we have you covered!

Our Escape Clause has nearly 100 Italy blog posts available, including extremely detailed itineraries (and sometimes more than one itinerary!) for most of the destinations mentioned in this post, including Rome , Florence , Tuscany (outside of Florence), Venice , Milan , Cinque Terre , and the Amalfi Coast .

We’ve also written a few compare-and-contrast posts for popular destinations if you can’t fit them all in–for example, how to decide whether to visit Rome or Venice or choose between Rome and Florence (if you absolutely must, that is).

I’ve linked some examples in the above sentence and will include more links throughout this post, but if you’re curious about our coverage of a certain destination, you can also use the search bar in the top right-hand corner of the screen to see what we’ve published!

These four Italy itinerary options all move around every couple of days, giving you roughly 2 days per destination.

As a result, these are fairly exhausting itineraries–but with only 7 days in Italy, moving quickly is required if you want to cover a lot of ground!

Classic Italy Itinerary: Rome + Florence + Venice

This is, without a doubt, the most classic and popular of these 7 day Italy itinerary options.

Rome, Florence, and Venice are Italy’s most popular cities to visit, and with careful planning and the help of high-speed trains, you can sample all three with a week in Italy.

From wonders of Ancient Rome like the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Pantheon to more recent additions like the Vatican Museums, Trevi Fountain, and winding cobblestone streets of Trastevere, exploring Rome is a captivating, engaging experience that we can’t recommend highly enough.

Rome is arguably our favorite city on the planet and the perfect place to kick off your trip to Italy.

The Cradle of the Renaissance is known for its phenomenal art, iconic Duomo, winding streets, and delicious food, is an absolute delight to explore as part of your Italy itinerary.

Be sure to check out the view from Piazzale Michelangelo, eat lots of gelato (it was invented in Florence, after all), and stroll across the Ponte Vecchio while you’re there.

Visiting Florence also includes access to the Tuscan countryside with its gorgeous vineyards, beautiful hilltop villages, and rolling hills–and even with only 7 days in Italy, you can squeeze in a quick day trip outside the city!

Exploring the city of canals, gondolas, and a seemingly endless maze of tiny streets and footbridges is a truly unforgettable experience, and a fabulous way to cap off your week in Italy.

While you’re there, stroll across the Rialto Bridge, glide along the canals in a gondola, admire the colorful houses of Burano, check out glass-blowing in Murano, and marvel at the beauty of the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica.

Countryside & Fishing Villages: Tuscany + Cinque Terre

Want to focus on two distinctly different parts of the country without traveling far?

Focusing on Tuscany and Cinque Terre will allow you to spend your 7 days in Italy in a combination of a fabulous city, small hilltop towns, and coastal fishing villages!

Florence + Day Trips

By narrowing your focus to just Tuscany and Cinque Terre, you can spend longer based in Florence–perhaps even five days, and really get to know the city in detail while also scheduling some day trips to nearby locations like San Gimignano, Siena, and Pisa.

Alternatively, you could base yourself for a couple of days in Florence and then stay in a smaller town or countryside Tuscan villa for a portion of your 7 days in Italy before moving on to Cinque Terre!

Cinque Terre

This collection of five Ligurian fishing villages has captured the hearts of Italy travelers for generations: come here to stroll along the rocky coastline, go sunbathing in Monterosso al Mare, eat delicious pesto and seafood, admire the viewpoints above Vernazza, and watch the sun go down over Manarola.

City & Sea Itinerary: Rome + Amalfi Coast + Pompeii

In this third option for spending a week in Italy, you’ll visit Rome and then veer south instead of north (as in the first option), making your way to one of the most famous and stunning coastlines in the world, which is conveniently located right next door to one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world!

Like the classic Italy itinerary option, this trip will start in the Eternal City, exploring the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, and Vatican City.

Be sure to leave time to sample Rome’s fantastic cuisine along the way: in our totally biased opinion, you can’t go wrong eating carbonara nearly every day that you’re in Rome.

Amalfi Coast

The stunningly beautiful Amalfi Coast is a feast for the eyes: while you’re here, explore famous Positano, hit the water in a rented boat, admire views from Ravello, hike the Path of the Gods, and take a day trip to fabulous Capri.

I’m listing Pompeii separately here because it’s such a huge tourist destination in its own right, but if you’d like to avoid changing hotels an additional time during your 7 days in Italy, you can visit Pompeii as a day trip from the Amalfi Coast itself–otherwise, it’s very easy to access while staying in Sorrento or Naples.

Regardless of where you stay, though, there’s no doubt that strolling the streets of Pompeii is an incredibly moving and fascinating experience to have during your week in Italy.

We had high expectations before visiting, but Pompeii was truly even more impressive than we imagined.

Venice + Milan + Lake Como

Prefer to focus on the north? This 7 day Italy itinerary takes you from canals, to the taste of a beautiful city, to Italy’s most famous lake.

Start your 7 days in Italy in Venice, strolling across the Rialto Bridge, marveling at St. Mark’s Basilica, and gliding along Venice’s famous canals in a gondola.

Milan (or Verona, or Bologna)

The most typical next second stop on this 7 day Italy itinerary is Milan, Italy’s fashion capital, the location of Da Vinci’s The Last Supper, and the home of one of the most iconic Duomos in Italy.

It’s a fabulous option–but depending on your taste, this itinerary could also work by substituting Milan for Bologna (perfect for foodies) and Verona (perfect for those looking for an incredibly picturesque city with fewer crowds than Venice or Milan).

Glamorous, gorgeous Lake Como is, by far, the most popular lake to visit in Italy–and how can it not be, given how easily accessible it is by train, how stunningly beautiful the lake itself is, and how lovely the mountains are surrounding it?

Wander the streets of Bellagio, admire the beauty of Villa Carlotta, relax on a boat tour of the lake, visit charming Isola Comacina, and head out on an incredibly picturesque hike.

The options for spending 7 days in Italy outlined below take a bit of a different approach than the more traditional trip plans above, but in our opinion, can make for incredibly rewarding trips.

Do you want to spend less time (and money) changing cities? Do you hate unpacking and repacking? Do you love the idea of getting to know “your” neighborhood in a city for more than a couple of days?

If so, spending a week in Italy all based in one city might be for you!

Spending your entire trip to Italy in one spot when you no doubt have a huge list of things you’d like to see may seem counterintuitive, but it can also be incredibly rewarding–and with the help of 2-3 day trips during your trip, you can still see a decent variety of places in Italy in a week.

A Week in Rome + Beyond

I mentioned above that Rome is probably our favorite city in the world, so of course it’s our top suggestion for where to base yourself for a week in Italy!

Not only is Rome big and complex enough that a lifetime wouldn’t be long enough to uncover all of the phenomenal things to do in Rome, but it also makes a fantastic base for exploring central Italy.

Fun Day Trips from Rome

We have a full guide to day trips from Rome , but for a quick round-up, if you’re looking for incredible day trips from Rome, Florence is a fabulous and reliable option.

Tivoli is popular for gardens and history, Naples is great for seeing a very different Italian city than Rome, and Orvieto is a fabulous hilltop Umbrian town that is within easy reach.

If you’re willing to make a long day of it, you can even take an Amalfi Coast day trip from Rome –it’s not ideal, but with only 7 days in Italy, it’s a great way to make the most of your time.

For a beach that’s within much easier reach, Sperlonga offers great swimming during the summer months.

A Week in Tuscany + Beyond

There are two ways to structure spending a week in one place in Tuscany: you can either base yourself in a city like Florence or Siena and take day trips from there, or you can rent a villa in the countryside for a very different kind of week in Tuscany.

We’ve personally structured trips to Tuscany both ways and love them both for different reasons–we’d recommend Florence for city lovers who don’t want to drive much, and the countryside for travelers who are searching for peace, quiet, and possibly a vineyard to overlook while sipping their coffee in the morning.

Fun Day Trips from Florence

We have a full guide to the best day trips from Florence , but for some top picks, San Gimignano and Montepulciano rank among our favorites for classic Tuscan villages.

Pisa is within a half-hour train ride and an easy bucket list item to hit, and Cinque Terre, while a bit of a stretch, can easily be done with the help of a tour .

Venice, while not ideally done as a day trip, is also an option–so if you want to base yourself in Florence for the entire length of your 7 days in Italy but still squeeze in a gondola ride, that’s definitely an option.

A Week in the Amalfi Coast + Beyond

Do your dreams of Italy include dramatic coastline, long boat rides, and glamourous villages–maybe with a side of ancient history thrown in?

If so, you can’t beat the iconic Amalfi Coast!

Fun Day Trips from the Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast area makes a fabulous launching pad to touring the surrounding region–from here, you can take day trips to Capri, Pompeii, and even Naples, among many others.

The only catch is that the Amalfi Coast itself is a tad isolated, as no trains run there and it’s a difficult road to drive. If you want to take several day trips during your time in Campania, you may prefer staying in Sorrento than on the Amalfi Coast itself.

If your Amalfi Coast dreams are more focused on sunbathing, cocktails, and boat rides, though, you may prefer to stay right on the coast!

Want to enjoy a beach week in Italy without splurging on the Amalfi Coast?

If so, consider a week in Puglia or a week in Sicily!

While not as swanky as the Amalfi Coast, both offer absolutely stunning beaches, beautiful small towns, interesting history, and fabulous food, at a fraction of the price of spending a week on the Amalfi Coast.

Want to save just a little money while still sticking near the Amalfi Coast?

You can save a bit on lodging by staying in Sorrento or Salerno, or step off the beaten path and spend a week on the island of Ischia or Procida.

Don’t overcommit to destinations.

I really want to emphasize this as much as possible, if only because I know personally how insanely tempting it is to try to squeeze 5 or 6 destinations into a week in Italy: the slower you go, the better.

I would recommend spending the night in an absolute maximum of three places over 7 days in Italy–two places with a day trip for variety would be even better.

There are a lot of one week Italy itinerary outlines out there that suggest that you can visit 4+ places in a week–and while you technically can, of course, we absolutely don’t recommend it. 

The unfortunate reality is that if you try to move hotels nearly every day, you’ll end up spending a large portion of your week in Italy on trains, locating your next place to stay, checking in and out of hotels, and lugging your suitcases around historical centers instead of enjoying all the beauty that Italy has to offer.

With only 7 days in Italy, try to stick to a smaller geographic area if possible.

With the exception of the first Italy itinerary listed in this post (which is the most popular/classic choice), all of these ideas for spending a week in Italy strive to limit how far you travel from place to place.

That will save you considerable time and headache in changing destinations, and quite honestly, any one of the regions of Italy covered here hold enough treasures to captivate you for at least a week!

Take advantage of day trips.

With only a week in Italy, day trips are a lifesaver when it comes to squeezing in an extra destination–trust me, there’s a good chance you’ll see more of a nearby city by taking an early train there, exploring for the day, and heading back on one of the last trains at night than by arriving around midday, losing time by checking into a hotel, exploring for an evening, and then having to pack up and check out of your hotel the next day.

Generally, the best way to change cities on these Italy itinerary options is via train.

Italy’s train system is very comprehensive, especially between major cities and in the central and northern parts of the country. 

More likely than not, it’ll be the best way to travel between each city during your 7 days in Italy!

Book (some) train tickets in advance.

We go into this in a bit more detail in our travel tips for Italy post, but essentially, if you’re planning on taking the high-speed train (aka fast train) between any two cities (which you likely will, especially for day trips), you’ll want to book your train tickets in advance, as the prices are dynamic and will go up over time.

For the slower, regional trains–like taking the commuter rail between Florence and Pisa, for example–the prices are set and there’s no reason to book in advance.

We recommend shopping for high-speed train tickets on Omio, which will search multiple companies for the best combination of price, train time, and travel duration (it can vary dramatically depending on which exact trains you take, if there are layovers, etc, so check carefully!).

Shop train tickets for your week in Italy today!

Travel Insurance — We don’t ever suggest traveling without travel insurance–anything can happen, and this is definitely a case of better safe than sorry. We use and recommend Safety Wing for trips to Italy.

Comfortable Day Bag  — We currently use  Pacsafe’s sleek anti-theft backpack  and love it, but if you don’t want to shell out the cash for this trip, that’s totally understandable. Just aim for something comfortable to wear, not flashy, and medium-sized–we used a  Northface Jester backpack  for years and loved it as well.

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About Kate Storm

In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, I’m working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA.

81 thoughts on “7 Days in Italy: 7 Ways to Spend a Week in Italy”

Excellent suggestions!

This was gold! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the info. We had a tour cancel but decided to stay and plan our own week. Been scratching our heads on how to handle because as you pointed out, there is soooo much! We’ve been to Italy several times and have seen the major sights, but I haven’t tired of most of them yet and could easily go back and want to go back to several spots. But, as you pointed out, to do it right it’s best to find a base, or two and then add day trips. Thank you again for taking the time to share your thoughts and opinions, I think they’re spot on!!

So glad we could help! And yes, sadly, no absolute perfect solution… but plenty of amazing ones! It’s hard to go wrong.

I appreciate the great suggestions. What do you think of Rome and Bologna for bases? I have seen a lot of Italy and of course can’t get enough but I haven’t been to Bologna. Maybe Ravenna for a day trip (from Bologna), a full day in Bologna and then back to Rome. We are starting in Rome and fly to Paris on the 7th day.

Sounds fantastic! We adore both cities, and they’re very different. If you wanted to squeeze in another very famous city, you could even visit Florence as a day trip from either place.

So glad I found this, it’s super helpful! What would you recommend for a 6 day trip, end of October, flying in and out of Rome. I have seen a lot of Rome but my little brother hasn’t, and he has done a lot of Florence and Siena, San Gimignano but I haven’t.

Ideally, I’d like to have 2 bases, Rome and somewhere else? I appreciate any suggestions (I’ve also never been to Italy in the Fall)

You’re in for a treat! Italy in the fall is my favorite.

In October I’d say you can’t beat Tuscany as a second base (though there is a risk of rain). If you want somewhere neither of you has been, basing yourselves in Montepulciano or Lucca could be great.

Alternatively, if you want somewhere new to you both, the Amalfi Coast area won’t be beach weather anymore, but the views and hikes will still be sublime and the weather likely reasonable. Exploring Pompeii is much more pleasant in October than July, too!

Any suggestions for a 6-7 day trip in January?

Other than the beach destinations, the world is your oyster in Italy in January as long as you’re prepared to bundle up and enjoy the gray weather!

In January, I’d probably prioritize cities, as the weather likely won’t be the best–but the restaurants and museums are stunning year-round, and great places to warm up.

Hi, visiting Italy for the first time and I might be able to do so for only 7 days. For a first-timer, which itinerary would you recommend? Is Rome a must? I’m also interested in seeing Lago di Garda. But I have no idea where or how to start!

For a first-timer, I’m partial to a classic Rome + Florence and Tuscany or Venice + Rome or Florence itinerary. But it’s all down to individual preference–there are a million “right” ways to spend your first week in Italy.

Rome is probably my favorite city in the world, so I highly recommend it, but nowhere is a must if it doesn’t personally excite you!

Lake Garda is a bit out of the way of many first-timer itineraries, but it’s easily combined with a trip to Verona, which is a stunning and potentially underrated city itself. Verona + Lake Garda + Milan or Venice could make a wonderful itinerary.

What about if our main reason for going is Cinque Terre? What are other great places around that?

So many! Not sure how close you’re looking for, but Portofino is about a 1.5-hour drive up the coast and Genoa is a bit past that.

Florence is 3-4 hours by train, less by car. And Lucca and Pisa are even closer than that!

Of course, if you want lots of beach time and hiking, you could also easily spend a whole week in Cinque Terre and have an amazing, slow-paced trip. 🙂

Love the blog. We are doing a cruise out of Venice (going to Greece and Croatia), but want to add an extra week for exploring. This is helpful. We want to see as much as we can, but not over extend ourselves either. We cannot decide if we should split our stay or arrive early / depart late and do it all at once. We have never been to Italy. I like your homebase idea. Any insight is appreciated!

What a fantastic trip!

I’d say that whether or not to split it up depends on how far you’re coming from (jet lag can be terrible the first couple of days if you’re coming from North America). A full week at the front will be more leisurely, splitting it up will be busier but you’ll still have a great time.

Personally, I’d probably be inclined to stay in Italy 5 days at the front of the trip and 2 on the way back–not quite a 50/50 split, but enough that you’re not in a complete rush to leave after your cruise.

For home bases, I certainly love Venice enough to stay there for a week! But if you’d like somewhere less crowded, Verona and Bologna are excellent options that you can easily reach from Venice by train.

Wife and I are looking at visiting in early May. We’d love to base in Rome and day trip to the Amalfi coast if possible. What do you think of using Verona as the second base and day tripping to Venice and the Italian Alps from there?

In a pinch, it’s possible to day trip to the Amalfi Coast from Rome, but we highly recommend booking a tour (and know that it makes for a very long day).

Verona makes a beautiful base, you can definitely have a lot of fun with that! I’d plan to get to Venice very early and/or stay until after the bulk of the crowds go home to see it at its best.

As for the Alps, it’s definitely possible to visit on a day trip but you’ll be very rushed and limited in how much you can see! I’d pick 1-2 places that are your top choices and dig deep into the logistics of getting there and back in a day before deciding.

Bolzano is one of the biggest cities in the Dolomites for example, and it’s easy enough to reach for a day trip via train, but once you get there, you’re still a funicular ride away from feeling completely in the mountains, if that makes sense.

Hi I am planning a 7 day trip to Italy. Is Alberbello worth a visit or there are better options?

Alberobello is striking but fairly small and probably not big enough for a full week! If you want to spend a week in Puglia, I’d plan an itinerary that includes Alberobello and a couple of the other coastal towns, basing yourself out of 1-2 places. You can also take a day trip to Matera in that amount of time!

Hi- My boyfriend and I are planning a trip to Italy mid- July. It is the first time for both of us. We would be leaving here on a sunday and arriving there on a monday and leaving back to new york the following Monday. What do you suggest for two first timers in mid- july?

Hi Jessica!

It all depends on what you want, but be prepared for heat and crowds in mid-summer (definitely pre-book tickets to popular places like the Colosseum).

If you’re looking for the classic Italy first-timers itinerary, Rome/Florence/Venice is always a blast regardless of what time. However, you will definitely be hot.

Other popular first-time itineraries for a week could include Rome + the Amalfi Coast, Florence/Tuscany + Cinque Terre, or Milan + Lake Como + Venice.

This is a gold find! Thank you very much. Just wanted your opinion about a 7 days trip end of the year (24-1st Jan) do you think that time will be too cold and would you recommend Florence + cinque Terree or Milan+boldega.. really appreciate your help

It’ll definitely be a bit chilly–you’ll want a winter coat–but I sure wouldn’t turn down a January trip to Italy, especially in the cities.

Personally, of the options you listed, I’d choose Florence + Bologna. 🙂

Hi! Visiting Italy for the first time with a friend for 7 days and def wanna do the Rome/Florence/Venice itinerary but not sure how to split up the base. Was thinking of staying in Florence for the first 3 days then Rome for the last 2 days (flight is early in the morning on the 7th day).

What are your thoughts?

It completely depends on where your priorities lie. Be prepared for a whirlwind but exciting week!

If you’re open to it, I’d consider changing hotels one more time and spending one night in Venice–Venice is so much nicer outside of day-tripping hours!

Whatever you decide, definitely book your train tickets ASAP, as you’ll want to take advantage of the high-speed trains to give you maximum sightseeing time and the prices go up as the date of travel gets closer.

I will visit Italy in late June (early July) next year for approximately ten days. Rome is a must; so are Naples and Pompeii. However, I still want to go to Florence to see the Renaissance art and then head north to Milan (where I will return to NYC.) I also must stop by Cremona–it’s the violin capital of the world. I have no problem taking train rides and looking at the countryside 🙂

Here’s a breakdown of my allocation system for the aforementioned places: 2 days in Rome, 1 day exploring the Castelli Romani, 1 day in Naples, 1 day in Pompeii, 2 days in Florence (with a day trip to Pisa, wine, and San Gimignano on the second day), and 2 days in Milan (with a day trip to Cremona on the second day.)

Finally, the primary reasons for this trip are violins, art, history, food, wine, and the countryside. Do the places I listed suit these interests from your perspective? What do you think I could omit from this itinerary/most overrated? Additionally, since I will be arriving in Milan-what order should this itinerary be in?

*My travel plans are not finalized yet, so I will be open to your input 🙂

Sincerely, Timothy (P.S. Sorry for the bombardment of questions, what are your thoughts on living in a pensione, AirBnB, religious monastery, or hotel? Which is the best in terms of price and convenience to the city center?)

Hi Timothy,

Those are a lot of wonderful destinations. 🙂

I know little to nothing about violins except that they sound beautiful, so the only advice I can offer there is to mention that the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Florence, where the statue of David is located, also has a beautiful collection of historic musical instruments that you will likely want to check out.

As for your schedule, I do think that it’s far too packed and you’ll have a better time if you eliminate a couple of destiantions. No one ever wants this advice, but it’s really the only option other than extending your trip.

It’ll take the better part of a day to travel between some of your destinations, so rather than having a day in Naples and a day in Pompeii, for example, you’ll be looking more at an afternoon in Naples and a day trip to Pompeii from there.

I’ve never been to Cremona, but it sounds like it’s a must for you, so certainly keep that.

Nothing on your list is overrated (that’s what makes planning Italy trips so difficult!), but Naples and Pompeii are definitely the odd destinations out geographically. I’d strongly consider trimming those and spending more time in Rome, Florence/Tuscany, and Lombardy. There is plenty of everything you’re looking for there!

As for where to stay, there’s really no hard-and-fast answer, as it varies based on destination, season, etc. We’ve stayed in every option you mentioned except monasteries and tend to pick either a hotel or apartment based on how long we’re staying and our needs at the time. In your case, I’d prioritize a central location above most things, as you’ll be moving around quite a bit.

Hope you have a wonderful time in Italy!

Hi, Kate! Thanks for the reply.

Due to technical issues, the “reply” button would bring me back to all the other comments. On a happy note, I modified my trip to Italy to two weeks instead of ten days. Do you think the itinerary is possible? If not, I’m planning to omit Naples and Pompeii (internally crying!) and supplement them with Venice and some small towns (Italian countryside.)

In your opinion, do the interests I wrote in my last comment suit Northern Italy or Southern Italy better? *I will be arriving and departing from Milan Malpensa (MXP) 🙂

Sincerely, Timothy (P.S. From where would you start this itinerary from? Here’s my opinion, I’ll head south from Milan to Rome. Then, I’ll head north to Florence. After that, I will head to Bologna. North to Vence, and finally east to Milan.)

Hi, Timothy!

2 weeks does make it more feasible. You’ll still be very tired at the end, but it’s more doable. I’d recommend taking one of your extra days and adding it to Florence/Tuscany as well. Where you begin isn’t too important, but starting with the longest journey is a solid choice.

I do recommend booking your high-speed train tickets between the major cities at least a few weeks in advance for this, both because they can be pricey last minute and because making sure you get the fastest routes will be important.

As for whether the food, history, wine, art, and countryside (leaving out violins because you undoubtedly know more than I do on that) are better in Northern vs Southern Italy… that’s a painful choice!

Both have absolutely fantastic options, though they are very different. Milan and Naples both have legendary food, for example, but do you want to eat risotto or pizza? Basically, every subject is a choice between 2 good things.

The clearest divide for your interests, I’d say, is art. Central Italy (where both Rome and Florence are) and Northern Italy are home to some of the most globally famous art in the world. Southern Italy also has incredibly interesting art, but for a Renaissance or Baroque art buff on their first trip to Italy, Florence, Rome, etc. are hard to miss.

Thanks for the reply. I am considering departing from Bologna instead of Milan due to the cheaper fares. I won’t have to retake the path I took to get to Rome–if it makes any sense. On that note, can I get off the train and go back on? For example, let’s say that I’m going to Rome from Florence. Would it be possible, per sé, to stop by at Orvieto or other small towns along the train line and then board back? In other words, in Italy, is there such a thing as “unlimited” train rides? Are there any passes or something like that? This is because my itinerary includes stops in Cremona, Parma, etc. 🙂

Additionally, is it possible to squeeze a day for the Amalfi coast or Cinque Terre? I know–I love to squeeze as many places as possible!!!

Thanks for helping me plan this trip. I deeply appreciate your insight!!!

For train tickets, you can’t get on and off–you’ll need to book separate tickets for each leg of the journey you take, as the tickets are tied to your start and finish.

An Eurail pass would solve that problem for you, but comes with its own complications (some routes require advance reservations) and they often don’t translate into saving money. In your shoes I’d likely just buy tickets for each journey.

I definitely wouldn’t recommend extending your itinerary any further, but yes technically you could do an Amalfi Coast day trip from Naples or Cinque Terre from Tuscany. If you do choose to, I’d definitely recommend booking an organized tour for that!

Hi Kate, I found your advice is really helpful to others and hope I may have your advices for my first and unplaned visit in Italy shortly from 20 Sept 2022, in about a week (Im from Viet Nam). I havent booked any tour, accommodation yet. I want to stay 1-2 places in Italy (Venice is a must), alone in a week, then join with my friends in Hungary later on. Please help me with below issues: 1. Where must visit? 2. Any recomendation about hotel/home stay with normal prices? 3. How can travel within a city? is it convenient with a bike or a motor? 4. How to go to another city? 5. How to get bus from Italy to Hungary? 6. Any further advice would be appreciated

Many thanks and have a good day Emma

I’m so glad you find our site helpful! 🙂

By train, so much of Italy is reachable from Venice for your second destination that it depends on what you’re looking for. Verona, Florence, and Bologna would be places I would look at.

We have suggested hotels on our all of city-specific guides, including lots on Venice! Here’s our most popular Venice post: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/2-days-in-venice-itinerary/

Within Venice, you can mostly travel via foot or water taxi. Other cities you may want to use buses or metros, depending on where you are. Not many visitors rent scooters in Italy the way they do in Vietnam, but it is possible.

Going between major cities, trains are generally easiest, but buses can be less expensive.

Between Italy and Hungary, though, you’ll want to fly. Lots of budget airlines fly from major Italian cities to Budapest, so you should be good there!

And yes, there is plenty of wifi in Italy! 🙂

Hope you have a wonderful trip!

Hi Kate, Me Emma (VN) again. I have to work online abit during the visit. Is wifi is avaible in Italy or how can I get wifi – portable transmitter?

Thanks, Emma

Kate This is a wonderful blog. We are spending a week in Italy for thanksgiving 2022. We have 6 full days plus travel days. Based on your blog we are leaning Rome + Florence. Venice is a close third but we had to drop it. Would you have any recommendations of a better itinerary given the time of the year.

Hi Aravind!

Rome + Florence is an excellent itinerary at any time of year. You guys will have a great time!

Hi there, thanks for the great recommendations! My situation perhaps is different than most.

I will be taking my then 17 yr old son on a trip to Italy. This was our compromise destination. He’s a big ww2 buff and there are two iconic museums in the Rome area that we will go to. Then we want to see some classics in Rome butttt I want countryside, rolling hills, quaint villages and wine. We can spend 7-9 nights. Based on what I read – maybe one change in homemade, Rome and Florence? The other thing is we will be coming on Good Friday 2024. I’m wondering if Rome for Easter will be epic site to see or if it will just be pure chaos and we should start the trip at destination 2 and then finish in Rome. Thanks for any input!

Hi Rebecca,

One base in Rome and the other in Florence would definitely work (don’t miss the Boboli Gardens for those countryside views, there are some great ones looking away from Florence).

However, if you’re more drawn to the countryside than Florence as a city, you could also base yourself in a smaller place. Siena and Lucca are both cities, but smaller than Florence.

Or, if you’re willing to drive, a place like Montepulciano would be a great option for exploring the Tuscan countryside by car.

As far as Easter weekend goes, it would definitely be interesting to be in Rome then and see the parade, etc. If that appeals to you it would definitely be crowded but memorable!

Regardless, though, it will be important that you book ahead for those dates, both in Rome and anywhere else. In much of Europe, Easter is a secular holiday as well as a religious one, and crowds and prices get crazy at all the popular vacation spots.

Think of Easter weekend as a combination of Christmas weekend and American Spring Break. It’s absolutely not a reason to stay at home, but book your hotels well in advance, and if you’re driving, know that parking may be a bit more competitive than usual in some places.

Thank you for a very informative and helpful guide. My wife and I have booked air fares to Rome for January 4 arriving at 5.20pm. Returning to Manchester Jan 13 departing 1.25 pm. We would like see as much as possible of Rome and would also like to visit Florence. We would appreciate your feedback for an itinerary and whether we should be visiting any other cities or regions. Thank you John

Rome + Florence is a great itinerary for about a week!

If you’re looking for day trips for a bit of variety, Tivoli, Ostia Antica (Roman ruins), and Orvieto are a few great day trips from Rome.

From Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, wine tastings in the countryside, and Lucca are great options.

We do a have a full post on day trips from each, too! Here’s the one for Florence: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/best-day-trips-from-florence-italy/

My fiance and I are planning on going to Italy for our honeymoon next April, and I have just spent the last few hours reading a ton of your Italy blog posts – I am so happy to have found your blog! It is going to be so helpful for planning!!

Neither of us have ever been to Italy, so we would love to hit Rome + Florence (possibly base here) + Venice for sure, and take some day trips in the Tuscany region. We want to go for at least two weeks (possibly three!). We’d also love to spend a few days on the coast (I am torn between the Almafi Coast or Cinque Terre). I don’t want to move around too much since it is our honeymoon. Any recommendations for a trip of that length? 🙂 Thanks so much!

– Cate

Congratulations on your wedding! And great name you have. 😉

In my very biased opinion, you guys are planning one of the best honeymoons on the planet, you’ll have a great time!

Our recommended 2 week Italy itinerary sounds like exactly what you’re looking for–it covers all of those areas (except the Amalfi Coast, though you can certainly add it in with 2.5-3 weeks if you like): https://www.ourescapeclause.com/2-weeks-in-italy-itinerary/

The reason I recommend Cinque Terre over the Amalfi Coast for an itinerary like yours is two-fold: first, geography, it means moving around less. And second, Cinque Terre is fairly compact whereas the Amalfi Coast is larger, a bit tougher to navigate, and generally more of a standalone destination in its own right.

Both are fantastic, of course, but unless you really want to see it and/or are planning on dedicating close to a week to the whole Amalfi Coast/Naples/Pompeii experience, Cinque Terre is definitely the simpler option!

As for Florence, basing there and taking day trips around Tuscany makes for a fantastic trip leg, I wouldn’t hesitate to do that at all!

Happy planning! 🙂

I must comment on what a fantastic journey and guidance here you have given to all of us, kudos to you guys!

I am looking at doing my first visit to Italy in a couple of weeks from now. Looking at following your Rome + Vatican city + Venice + lake como and possibly Milan for a day.

What do you suggest? Me and my wife are both first timers to Europe and to Italy and will be commuting via trains mostly. Do we keep changing bases regularly?

If you may please advise.

Thank you so much,

Thanks so much, Yazan!

If you’re only visiting for a week, I’d consider trimming one of those destinations. If you have closer to a week and a half, you can cover them all easily.

All of those places are well-connected by train, so that will be easy enough.

I’d recommend one base in Rome to cover Rome/Vatican City, one base in either Milan or Lake Como (you can easily take a day trip from one to the other), and one base in Venice.

Hope you guys have a wonderful trip!

Thanks for the suggestions!! I am thinking of going to Rome + Amalfi and Pompeii in April. How much time would you recommend spending in each city and what’s the best way to get to the Amalfi Coast from Rome? Would you recommend flying in to Rome and Flying out of Naples for that itinerary?

Thanks a lot for your help 🙂

With a week in Italy, I’d recommend spending 3-4 of those days in Rome!

Pompeii can be done in a day (possibly with a visit to Mt. Vesuvius too if you like).

As for the Amalfi Coast, it’ll be very much shoulder season there in April–you may be able to wear light layers and enjoy the sunshine, or you may be in jeans and sweaters (especially at night).

For that reason, I’d recommend planning a day trip there too (a day trip from Naples can give you a taste of Positano + Amalfi + beautiful views) and budgeting more time somewhere else.

But that being said, if you have your heart set on the Amalfi Coast, I’d choose one of those towns to base in and spend 2-3 days town hopping. Keep in mind that not everywhere will be open for the season, especially in smaller towns, but popular places like Positano won’t be deserted.

To get there from Rome, I’d take the train to Naples (visit Pompeii from there), and then either take the ferry to the coast or book a transfer.

No trains run to the Amalfi Coast, but you can take the train as far as Sorrento and then take a bus or ferry to the coast from there, too.

Hello Kate!

Thanks for all your wonderful suggestions. I am booking a 2 week trip for me and my husband end of March / early April (will likely be ending during / soon after Easter which I know can be crazy crowded in Italy). We are planning to go to Dublin for a few days first, then fly and spend ~1 week in Italy. I was initially thinking of going to Cinque Terre for 3 nights/2 full days and then moving to Tuscany/ Florence for the remainder – either staying in Florence and doing day trips vs just staying in a villa in Tuscany vs splitting between both. My husband and I both like a more relaxing trip where we can really soak in the culture and be more spontaneous/ not spend all our time packing and repacking. Im nervous I am over committing / being to ambitious. What are your thoughts? Could we spend our whole Italy trip just in Cinque Terre (found a hotel in Monterosso we love) or would that be too many days there? Is 2 full days enough in CT? Is it reasonable to add in Florence or Tuscany. Or is that exhausting as well? Would you recommend just picking one – this would likely be the city we end our trip / fall on Easter weekend.

Thanks for any advice!!!!

Sounds like so much fun! My first thought: definitely book your hotel(s) for over Easter week ASAP. The crowds and prices do get pretty crazy!

Two full days in Cinque Terre should be plenty. Early April is a bit of a dice roll as far as that area goes–the views and hiking will be wonderful if you get lucky with the weather, but some places will still be closed for the off-season. Definitely don’t expect summer vibes! (There are some photos of me in jeans and long sleeve shirts in Cinque Terre floating around the website that were taken during a rainy week in mid-May).

You can definitely get a nice taste of Tuscany in 3-4 days that won’t feel too rushed. I’d decide whether you’re more interested in Florence or the countryside and choose your base from there. If you do stay in Florence, planning a nearby day trip could give you a quick taste of a smaller town/vineyard views without repacking or adding too much travel time.

Very helpful article. We – spouse, me and high school child planning trip to Italy. Fly into Rome from USA and reach May 27 night. 5 night stay in Rome which will give 4 full days. I have been told 1 day for Vatican city, 1 day for Colosseum and 1 day for Rome. 4th day – plan to do Rome to Pompeii + Amalfi coast day trip v/s Rome to Amalfi coast day trip. Then go to Florence -so half day for traveling and 1 1/2 -2 days to see Florence. Day 5 and Day 6 Plan to do Day trip from Florence to Cinque Terre (Tour) Day 7 Plan to do day Trip – Tuscany (Tour) Day 8 Plan to see Leaning tower of Pisa (1/2 day) and go to Venice which give 1/2 day in Venice (night 1) – Day 9 and another full day in Venice (night 2) – Day 10 or leave at night and go to Milan ( 2 1/2 hours by train and cheaper to stay in Milan then Lake Como) and do day trip from Milan to Lake Como (1 hour by train) – Day 11. Fly out from Milan on Day 12 later afternoon/evening after trying to get ticket to see Last Supper in the morning. Can I and should I make Rome as a base for any of the following – day trips to Florence, Pisa, Tuscany and Cinque Terre or better to stay in Florence itself. I know I can do day trip from Rome to Venice but 4 hours on train each way will take away most of the time hence not planning to do that. Will appreciate input and advise.

It definitely sounds like you guys are the types to pack as much sightseeing in as possible! Even still, though, I’d recommend trimming a couple of places.

Visiting Pisa, then going to Venice (opposite directions from Florence), then hoping to sightsee in Venice at night… that day is a bit too packed. I’d recommend skipping Pisa unless it’s very high on your priority list.

You can take a day trip to Florence from Rome if you’re not planning to stay there, but it makes for a busy day. Everything else on your list of potential day trips in your final question is much better accessed from Florence than Rome.

Do keep in mind as you plan that the train distance itself is only part of the journey–Lake Como is technically only an hour away from Milan, true, but navigating to different villages, etc, definitely makes it a full day trip, unless you plan to just enjoy the views from Varenna.

Last Supper tickets open 3 months in advance, so if you want to see it, mark your calendar now! There’s really no realistic way to get tickets the day of. You can often book a guided tour through a 3rd party like Get Your Guide 2-3 weeks in advance (which is how we booked tickets), but even those sell out during the summer. Here’s the official website if you want to try to get tickets ahead of time: https://cenacolovinciano.vivaticket.it/

Hope you guys have a wonderful time!

Hi Kate, Thanks for the super-informative blog and answering all the questions – awesome! We’re planning a family trip in July with landing in Bologna (limited choice – we’re redeeming some miles..) but for the rest we are flexibe for 7+ days. We’re first-timers to Italy and I was thinking of the classic first-timer itinerary – Bologna/Florence (3 full days) to Rome (2 full days) to Venice (2 full days) + travel days. Two questions: (1) after landing in Bologna, can we look at being based in Bologna with day trips to Florence and Pisa or would you recommend staying overnight at Florence in which case we will need to split between Bologna and Florence? (2) which is better to fly out – Rome of Venice? Or doesn’t matter? We will have to plan either Bologna / Florence -> Rome -> Venice or Bologna / Florence -> Venice -> Rome. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance

Flying into Bologna will be very cool! Definitely a great spin on a first trip. 🙂

Assuming you want to see all the typical sights in Florence, I’d definitely recommend staying there, but I’d reserve at least half a day for Bologna if you can. Definitely order the tagliatelle al ragu, and consider heading to the top of the Asinelli Tower as well! We have a guide to seeing Bologna in a day here: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/one-day-in-bologna-itinerary/

As far as flying out of Rome vs Venice, it doesn’t matter much. Taking the water taxi to the Venice Airport is definitely more memorable than the train to Rome’s airport(s), but I’d let pricing and scheduling be your guide here.

Once you do have your flight booked, I’d book the Rome-Venice high-speed train (whichever direction you need) as soon as you can, as those tickets can be pricey at the last minute.

Super! Exactly what I had mind, thanks again for all the helpful tips! Cheers!

Visiting Italy for the first time and planning a 14 days vacation. It is getting very difficult to plan my itinerary as I am still not sure about the transportation.

I would like to stay in Rome, Naples, Amalfi coast/Capri & Sardinia/Sicily.

Appreciate if anyone could help me out, Rome would be my start and end point, however, I am open to skipping any of the other cities or add any cities instead.

Thanks a lot.

I’m assuming you’re planning to pick one between Sardinia and Sicily–and assuming that, you should be good to go.

To get to either island, you’ll want to compare the cost (both money and time) of planes and ferries (and in Sicily’s case, trains).

Check out Grimaldi Lines for the ferry, they do a lot of routes in those areas. We took one of their boats from Barcelona to Civitavecchia (just outside of Rome) last year and were glad we did. They’re not the only company, either–you’ll find lots of ferry options! You can look at routes from Naples to either island as well.

For the Amalfi Coast and Capri, I’d recommend staying on one (probably the coast) and day-tripping to the other (probably Capri).

To get from Rome to Naples, the train is probably going to be the simplest option.

Rome – Naples – Amalfi Coast + Capri – Naples – Island – Rome is probably going to be the easiest path, but it depends a bit on where you decide to go and how you decide to get there.

Hope that helps a bit!

This is lovely. Thank you so much for the wonderful recommendations. we’re planning to go in July for the first time and will definitely pick one of these combos. Is it better to get a rental car or just use the train?

It completely depends on your itinerary! Most first-time visitors don’t need a car, but there are exceptions.

Getting around or between any of the big cities or major tourism centers like Rome, Florence, Venice, Cinque Terre, the Amalfi Coast, etc, etc–absolutely not, a car is a liability there and the trains are much easier and more pleasant.

However, if you want to explore more rural areas–like parts of the Val d’Orcia in Tuscany, for example–a car makes your life easier.

We talk a bit more about the pros, cons, and what to know about renting a car in Italy here: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/italy-road-trip/

Hi, I am traveling to Italy with my husband and 2 teenagers in July. We are flying in and out of Rome and have 7 nights. My husband and I were just in Milan, Lake Como, Venice, Tuscany and Portofino so we want to head south from Rome. Thinking a night in Naples (for pizza) and then 3 nights in the Amalfi Coast area then back up to Rome for 3 nights. Does that sound reasonable? One teenager really wants to hit the coast or a coast and I agree. I am not familiar with Puglia at all but looked at that. Is Sorrento a good idea or is that not really the AC? I am worried about the heat and crowds and reading a lot about how nuts the Almalfi Coast might be. Any recommendations on where to stay or an alternative location? Should we rent a care to get from Rome to AC?

Hi Danielle,

Yes, that sounds like a solid plan in terms of your timeline!

Puglia is further away from Rome than the Amalfi Coast (you’d probably want to catch the high-speed train to Bari and then stay in and around Monopoli for a few days), but it’s much more relaxed. Very different vibes!

The Amalfi Coast will definitely be nuts in July, just par for the course! It’s doable, but it’s good you’re going in with your eyes open.

Sorrento isn’t on the Amalfi Coast but it’s beautiful, and a popular base for visiting since you can day trip to the Amalfi Coast + Capri + Pompeii and more from there. Train service from Naples goes as far as Sorrento and then doesn’t reach the Amalfi Coast, so it’s popular for that reason as well. It also has a wonderful view of Mount Vesuvius!

I’d definitely avoid renting a car if you can. Parking and traffic are almost always big challenges on the Amalfi Coast, and July is near the peak. I’d suggest taking the train to Naples and then (if you do stay in one of the towns on the Amalfi Coast itself) potentially booking a private transfer from Naples to the Amalfi Coast if your goal is to do things as peacefully as possible, otherwise, buses + ferries are an option.

Hope that helps a bit! 🙂

Thank you for this – I loved the information and pics! I would love your suggestion on where to visit for 5 days in Italy. We have already been to Rome, Florence, Venice, Lake Como and Milan. What would you suggest this time around in 5 days? I would like Naples/Amalfi coast but also Sienna/Montepulciano. Is that doable? Any other ideas?

With 5 days to work with, either of those options is very doable, but both of them would be really pushing it.

Personally, I’d pick either Naples/Amalfi Coast or Siena/Montepulciano and enjoy that location to its fullest. 🙂

Hi there, we are going to Italy at the end of July for one week with our teenage son (14). Would you recommend Venice for 2 nights, Rome for 3 nights and maybe 2 nights in Naples with a trip to Sorrento to get out on the water? Is it worth going to Venice?

Whether Venice is worth it is very personal–it’s a bit of a polarizing place! Personally, we love it there and have visited many times. This post will give you a feel for what it’s realistically like to visit in July: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/summer-in-venice/

With only one week, though, sticking with 2 of your 3 listed bases/regions would be best. If you decide not to go to Venice, I’d recommend expanding your time in the Naples/Amalfi Coast region and potentially adding in visits to places like Pompeii, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast villages, or even more offbeat spots in the area (there are tons).

Hello Storms,

I just discovered your website, and just love it so much.

My wife and I have never been to Italy, so would like to do your Classic Italy Itinerary: Rome + Florence + Venice over 7 days during the first half of October. We would like to fly from Houston into Venice, then go to Florence and Rome, and fly back from Rome.

First question – Might 3 cities be too much in 7 days? Second question – We are both 65+, not particularly adventurous, and would like to leave all the internal logistics to someone else. Since it is too late to join an escorted tour, which we have never done anyway, I am looking for small tour operators or travel agencies that would take care of all the logistics from the moment we land in Venice to the time we leave Rome. Does such an animal exist in Italy? I know you are not in the business of recommending specific companies, but any suggestions would be most welcome.

October is a fantastic time to visit those cities!

Regarding timing, I have the opposite conversation much more frequently–most people want to squeeze in as much as possible! When designing our suggested itineraries, I try very hard to balance the desire to see as much as possible in a limited time, with reasonable expectations about travel logistics.

If you’d like to cut it to two cities, you’ll definitely have a more relaxed trip! However, many people visiting Italy for the first (and maybe only) time can’t bring themselves to cut one of the “big 3”–and it is doable to visit all 3 cities, especially if you fly into one city and out of another. You won’t have time for any day trips this way, though.

If you want to fit all 3 in but don’t want to change hotels twice, Florence makes a nice day trip from Rome if you plan it carefully (you’ll need to take the high speed train–more details on planning that here: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/day-trip-to-florence-from-rome/ ).

As far as a tour operator like you’re describing, I’m not familiar with any particular ones. If you mean taking care of logistics in the sense of booking hotels and major transportation for you, a travel agent will be your best bet. If you’re looking for something more involved than that, though, it does seem like you’re describing a (private) escorted tour, which surely exists but will undoubtedly be quite expensive.

Hi Kate, my wife and I just got married and we plan on going to Italy late April 2024 for a week! We have both been to Venice already on separate occasions, so we were wondering if you think that your first option but substitute Milan for Venice would be a wise idea? Or original thought was to fly into Milan and work our way south into Florence and then Rome.

Thank you so much for this guide, it has gotten us very excited about our trip!

You can easily do that, and depending on your schedule, I’d plan a day trip to Lake Como from Milan as well if you have time: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/day-trip-to-lake-como-from-milan/

Congratulations on your new marriage!

Hi Kate, First of all, Thank you for all the great info. Really gets our minds going on what can be… I am planning 10 days for northern Italy in early Sept 2024 to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. We have been elsewhere in Italy, but never to the north. My plan is to cover Milan, Lake Como, and Cinque Terra. So far I have secured some sweet business-class airfare from JFK to CDG. Now I need to put the rest of the logistics together. Any thoughts on how much time is needed in each locale? My plan to date is: catch an EasyJet to LIN to get us to Italy, then not sure where to go…North or South or how to get back to Paris on day 9? Any input is a gift I can share with my Wife.! Grazie!

It’s truly a matter of preference and how long you want to spend in each place! For example, if you take a day trip to Lake Como, you could almost squeeze in one last destination (Venice, Bologna, Parma, and Verona would all be great options)–but if you hope to spend a couple of nights up there, sticking with 3 is best.

Generally I’d recommend a minimum (no such thing as a maximum) of 1-2 full days in Milan and 2 full days in Cinque Terre. This is what a day trip to Lake Como could look like–up to you whether that’s exactly what you’re looking for or not nearly enough time: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/day-trip-to-lake-como-from-milan/

Assuming you plan and book tickets in advance to get the best times/routes, the train from Milan to Paris takes about 6-8 hours and is much more comfortable than flying! If you’ll be spending that last night in Paris, this will likely be easier than flying (and you’ll arrive in the center, able to enjoy the city for the night).

PS- Your Train Link goes to Cars…OOps!

Thanks for letting me know, I’ll take a look! 🙂

Thank you for this incredibly detailed post! My husband surprised me with a trip to Italy over Christmas, and we plan to go for about a week at the end of March 2024! It will be our first time to Italy, but we are still debating where we want to go. We are thinking of starting in Rome for 2 days, then heading to Florence for 2-3 days with trips to Tuscany, Sienna, and San Gimignano. We thought about the Almalfi Coast, but I don’t know if we have time. Do you think our proposed agenda for a first-time-to-Italy trip makes sense/we would get a lot out of it? Thank you!

Happy to help!

Your Rome/Florence/Tuscany plan sounds perfect, I think you’ll have a wonderful time and it’s the perfect balance for a week.

Personally, I think you’re right to skip the Amalfi Coast this time–not only do you not really have enough time, but it’s a highly seasonal destination, and it’ll be very quiet and shut down in March. If you’re absolutely determined to get a small taste of it, you could book an organized day trip from Rome which will allow you to see it briefly (without navigating getting there and back in one day–a hassle in the best of times, let alone in the offseason!). I definitely think your best bet is just to stick further north, though, and save the Amalfi Coast for another trip.

Hope you guys have an incredible first trip to Italy!

Hi Katie! Thank you for this incredibly information. We are planning to go Italy early in July, I know is high season and I would like some recommendations. It will be our first time to Italy, there are so many places we want to go but we have only 8 days. We want to do Rome, Florence, Pompei maybe a day trip to Amalfi.

Thank you so much!

If you structure it well and are willing to only get a brief taste of the Amalfi, your plan is very doable!

I’d recommend splitting your time between Rome and Florence, and then booking an organized day trip to Pompeii + the Amalfi Coast. It’s a very long day best done with a group–but it’s a very popular way to get a small taste of the area on limited time, and ensures you have enough days left over to make the most of Rome/Florence.

Hope you guys have a great time!

Hi Kate, Thank you so much for your blog posts. They’re detailed, captivating, and incredibly practical, and have helped my husband and I plan our first-time Italy trip for late August/early Sept of 2024! We plan to do the Rome + Florence + Venice itinerary, with 3 nights in Rome, 3 nights in Florence, and 2 nights in Venice. I’d love your opinion on the following: -What would be the best day trip from Florence, with focus on both food + beautiful views, but not leave us exhausted given the # of days we’re in Italy? (We will not have a car for the entire trip and relying on trains or guided tours). My husband prefers trips focused around food- so Bologna seems like a great option per your blog. I’d love a trip focused on beautiful views, including views of Tuscan countryside and lovely piazzas/cute “Instagrammable” streets (love your posts on this, btw!). So I’m looking at independent train day trips to Siena, Verona (I adored the movie Letters to Juliet, and would be fun to visit sites from that movie), even the small town of Arezzo stood out to me on your blog. We are open to doing a guided Tuscany day trip tour of San Gimignano/Siena/Pisa, but hesitate at the 10-12 hour day many tours describe, and they can get a bit pricey for our personal budget even though we’re doing a mid-range trip. Trying to decide if we want a slower pace on our Florence day trip, and to instead do a “Half-Day Tour” (5-6 hours), whether independent or guided. I hesitate to do a guided half-day tour tour however, because most of them focus on Chianti Wineries + Countryside (looks beautiful, but we’re not huge into wine.. we’ll certainly enjoy savoring wine throughout our trip, but debate if we want to spend money towards an outing where that is the primary focus).

Hi Victoria,

With only one day trip to choose from I’d say it’s very hard to narrow it down–good news is that excellent food + good views are a staple of basically everywhere in the area. If you guys do Bologna, I recommend climbing the Asinelli Tower and up to St. Peter’s Terrace, which will mostly have city views but also include some countryside views in the distance! I’d also recommend seeking out the canals–that’ll give you a chance to wander some of those cute back streets you’re looking for.

As far as Tuscan hilltop towns, a general rule is the smaller the place, the less likely it is to be connected by train, which in your case means either navigating buses or booking a tour. Siena and Lucca would both be middle of the road options you guys–they’re Tuscan, has great views and great food, and are a bit bigger (by Tuscany standards) so they’re easily connected by train.

You guys might also enjoy Orvieto: it’s a gorgeous hilltop town in Umbria, right between Rome and Florence, that is easily accessible by train and has some unique food culture (pigeon!). You also can’t beat the views: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/things-to-do-in-orvieto-italy/

Definitely sounds like a half-day Chianti trip isn’t the right fit for you guys! As for the full day, it’s definitely long and you’ll be very tired (and tipsy, if you drink all the wine offered) after–but it is the simplest way to combine San Gimignano + Siena into one day by far, so it just depends on how big of a priority seeing both of those specific places is to you guys!

Thanks for the detailed blog post! Really gave a good insight for first timers. My boyfriend and I are planning to visit Italy late April, and wanted to go the Almafi Coast & Capri. Do you think April would be a good time? If so, what would be the best route? Should we rent a car or would trains be the best way? Also, do you think we should make a base or just travel as we go. We will be flying from US to Rome as it is the only airport that offers direct flight, what would be our best option to make our way back to Rome on the last day? If we do choose this option, is Venice too out of the way for this trip?

April is definitely the early side of shoulder season on the Amalfi Coast. Pros will be good deals on hotels, hopefully some beautiful sunny days, and fewer crowds. However, some hotels and restaurants may not be open for the season (especially if you go earlier in the month), and it definitely won’t be swimming weather. Plan to bring layers and wear a jacket at least some of the time!

I wouldn’t recommend renting a car for the Amalfi Coast unless you’re very confident drivers who want to get quite off the beaten path in the area–it’s not a fun place for most people to drive. However, the train doesn’t run past Sorrento, so to get to the actual Amalfi Coast, you’ll need a combination of buses and ferries.

I’d definitely make your way back to Rome at least one night in advance (and Rome is worth exploring a bit anyway). I wouldn’t stretch your itinerary by including Venice this time–it’s way too far to make sense logistically with Rome + Amalfi Coast + Capri already on your wish list.

I’d suggest two bases, one either on the Amalfi Coast or in Sorrento, and then 1-3 nights in Rome depending on how much of the city you want to see. Traveling from Rome to the Amalfi Coast will eat up the bulk of a day in each direction, too, so keep that in mind as you plan–you’ll need to take the train as far as Naples, and then a ferry, private transfer, or train + bus/ferry to get to the coast.

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8 days in Italy: best Italy 1-week itinerary

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Last updated on March 11th, 2024.

One question I frequently get asked by readers is ‘how many days should I visit Italy’? 

And to this, I typically have the same response: it depends on the M.O. of your Italy trip. 

For many first-time visitors to the country, I’d say that 8 days in Italy is a good timeframe.  

Eight days factors in sufficient time to deal with issues relating to jetlag and travel time to other destinations. Spending 8 days in Italy also means that you can comfortably see several places in Italy and really enjoy it. 

Based on this, I’ll be outlining a 1-week Italy itinerary presented in two ways. The first will detail an Italy 1-week itinerary starting from Rome, while the second Italy itinerary will start from Milan.

All the places included in this one week in Italy itinerary will be destinations that are within easy reach of each other. 

Customize this 8-day Italy itinerary to fit an Italy itinerary for 7 days if it better suits your travel plans. Both these itineraries can also be extended to fit a ‘10 days in Italy’ itinerary if preferred. 

My hope is that both day-by-day itineraries will help you plan your own trip to Italy . 

How to spend 8 days in Italy: starting point: Rome 

Suggested number of days: 3  

The Italian capital makes an excellent starting point for any southern Italy itinerary, more so for first-time visitors. It’s also one of the best places in Italy to visit.

The Eternal City is home to historical landmarks, striking architecture and is also the gateway to visiting Vatican City .  

Day 1 

Arrive at your Rome hotel (see where to stay in Rome ) from Rome Fiumicino ‘Leonardo Da Vinci’ international Airport (FCO).  

The journey by car from Rome’s international airport takes around 35 minutes (not including traffic). By train, the ride time from Fiumicino Airport to Roma Termini station is around 32 minutes. 

Should you arrive in Rome late at night, suffice it to say that major attractions will already be closed. If arriving in the morning, aim to visit 2 or 3 landmarks in Rome.  

With 8 days in Italy, you can easily allocate day 1 as a rest day if needed. 

Day 2 

Begin your 7-day Italy itinerary by visiting some of Rome’s best attractions. In a popular city like Rome, arrive as early as possible and be sure to book tickets in advance. 

Lines are typically long and by booking ahead, you get to skip the lines and jump to the attraction.  Some of my favorite things to do in Rome include: 

• Booking a skip-the-line tour of the Colosseum    
• Visiting the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel    
• Getting tickets to enter St. Peter’s Basilica ( Basilica di San Pietro )  
• Booking tickets to see the Pantheon   
• Visiting the Roman Forum    
• Touring the Catacombs of St. Callixtus   
• Taking a guided tour of the Borghese Gallery ( Galleria Borghese ) 
• Seeing the Trevi Fountain   
• Walking up the Spanish Steps  
• Booking a guided tour of the Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo   
• Visiting the Capuchin Crypt    

It’s not expected that you’ll manage to see all these sites in 1 day. However, choose which activities you most want to do and save the rest for day 3.  

In the evening, explore the charming neighborhood of Trastevere. Stroll through its streets and stop at a local pizzeria to indulge in a traditional Roman pinsa. 

Day 3  

Visit the remaining sights in Rome that you didn’t see on day 2.  

Time permitting, consider booking a fun Rome street food tour or a Roman pizza cooking class . Both are fun, and educational, activities not only for adults but also if visiting Rome with kids. 

Map of Italy

Day 4 and 5 

There are several options for your remaining 8 days in Italy that make easy and realistic day trips from Rome.  

Rome to the Amalfi Coast 

Suggested number of days: 1-2 

Rome to the Amalfi Coast is one of the most popular trips to book from the capital. There’s a distance of 279km (173mi) between the two, which if you rent a car , translates to approximately 3hr 40mins.  

Traveling by train from Rome to the Amalfi Coast requires a bit more effort. This is because the route usually involves at least two modes of transport like train and bus/ferry. The overall journey time using public transport depends on which town on the Amalfi Coast you plan to visit. 

1-week Italy itinerary with the Amalfi Coast 

At this point, you may prefer to spend the remainder of your 8 days in Italy exploring the Amalfi Coast. 

While I added a suggested timeframe of 1-2 days, it’s a short amount of time to fully appreciate the region. We were lucky to spend 4 days visiting the Amalfi Coast and its pretty small coastal towns like Sorrento . 

But, in order to see the best of Italy in one week, a day trip will work out much better. 

The following are some top tour options for 1-day day trips from Rome to the Amalfi Coast to consider booking: 

• From Rome: Amalfi Coast group day trip  
• From Rome: Pompeii, Amalfi Coast and Positano day trip  
• Rome to Amalfi Coast tour with limoncello tasting and cruise  
• Transfer from Rome to the Amalfi Coast with private tour in Herculaneum  
• 3-day tour from Rome to Naples, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast  

Day 6 

Rome to naples .

Suggested number of days: 1 

Around 1hr 13mins by high-speed train from Rome is the Goliath city of Naples.     A city known for being a little rough around the edges, we had the best time on our one day in Naples .

And with regular Frecciarossa (fast train) services between Rome and Naples, it makes an ideal Rome day trip. 

From Naples, there’s also the option to extend your stay to tour Pompeii or to see the Amalfi Coast.  

The journey time via car and public transport is much shorter from Naples to the Amalfi Coast than from Rome. 

Day 7 

Rome to florence .

A trip from Rome to Florence nicely rounds up the remainder of your 8 days in Italy itinerary.  

While it’s possible to see many top attractions in 1 day, aim for 2 days in Florence if possible. This allows enough time to comfortably visit the city’s must-see sights and to explore a few of Florence’s best museums .  

Some of the best things to do in Florence include: 

• Booking a guided tour of Florence’s Cathedral and heading to the top of Brunelleschi’s Dome   
• Touring the cathedral’s museum (Museo dell’Opera del Duomo di Firenze)  
• Booking a timed tour of the Uffizi Gallery   
• Taking a guided tour of the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo’s David   
• Touring Pitti Palace ( Palazzo Pitti )   
• Visiting Palazzo Vecchio  

Day 8 

Departure day. Make the journey back to Rome Fiumicino Airport. 

Depending on your flight time you may prefer to spend the last night at a hotel near Rome’s airport . 

Northern Italy 1-week itinerary: starting point: Milan 

Suggested number of days: 2 

The city of fashion, design, art and architecture, Milan is a good starting point for any northern Italy itinerary. 

Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) caters for plenty of international flights and has good transport links heading to the center. 

The journey time by car from Milan Malpensa Airport to Milan city center is approximately 52 minutes. This doesn’t factor in traffic, of which Milan typically has a lot of. A train from Aeroporto di Milano Malpensa to Milano Cadorna station will take around 38 minutes.    I’ve suggested 2 days in Milan as I think it’s enough time to see the city’s main sights. Naturally, feel free to extend this to 3 days if you prefer to spend longer exploring the city. 

Arrive at your Milan hotel (see Milan hotels near the Duomo ) after arriving at Malpensa Airport

Like Rome, the itinerary for your first day in Milan will depend on several factors. What time your flight arrives and whether you’re too jetlagged/tired to do any activities will also play a role. 

Saying that, day 1 of your north Italy travel itinerary may be an allocated rest day.  

However, if none of the above applies to you, start exploring Milan and its top attractions listed under day 2. 

Like the other big Italian cities, I also advise booking ahead for major attractions in Milan.  

From personal experience, we didn’t find the lines in Milan as long compared to Rome and Florence. But booking skip-the-lines tickets are still super helpful especially if you’ve only 8 days in Italy to spend.

Some activities you might like to add to your Milan itinerary include: 

• A guided tour to see Milan’s Cathedral ( Duomo di Milano ) 
• Exploring the shops, eateries and architecture at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II  
• Visiting Sforzesco Castle ( Castello Sforzesco ) 
• Taking a guided tour of the Pinacoteca di Brera  
• Watching a performance at the Teatro alla Scala   
• Booking t ickets to see Da Vinci’s Last Supper painting (read the detailed guide ) 

Days 3 and 4 

Take a trip to lake como .

A trip from Milan to Lake Como is unmissable when visiting the city.  

There are several ways to get to Lake Como from Milan and the journey times are short too. By car, the journey is approximately 1hr 7mins (starting from Milan’s Cathedral). The Milan to Como train on the other hand is much quicker at around 38 minutes. 

I suggest spending 2 days in Lake Como, but a day trip is also doable given the short distance. Should you prefer to extend your time here, our 3 days in Lake Como itinerary provides a helpful detailed breakdown. 

Days 4 and 5 

Visit venice .

From the north to the north-east, no 8 days in Italy itinerary would be complete without a visit to Venice.

The high-speed Frecciarossa train from Milan to Venice takes around 2hrs 28mins. This may vary depending on the day you travel and the time of your train. By car, the journey time is slightly longer at approximately 2hrs 52mins.  

The capital of the Veneto region, Venice is like walking into a real-life fairytale. I’ve suggested 2 days for the purposes of this northern Italy itinerary, but you may prefer to extend it.  

What to see in Italy in a week 

Visiting Venice can easily take up more than 2 days given the many surrounding islands in the lagoon.

Explore the different neighborhoods in Venice , visit Murano, Burano and Torcello , and relax on the sandy beaches of  Lido di Venezia .

With a few days in which to explore Venice, these attractions and activities are a must for any Venice itinerary. 

• Taking a guided tour of the Doge’s Palace ( Palazzo Ducale )  
• Skipping the line to enter the magnificent St. Mark’s Basilica ( Basilica di San Marco ) 
• Booking a gondola ride through the canals of Venice  
• Visiting the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello   
• Seeing the exhibits at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection   
• Taking a guided tour of the Academy Gallery ( Gallerie dell’Accademia ) 

Days 6 and 7 

Tour turin .

Explore the architecture, grand streets and salivating food scene of Italy’s first capital.   A high-speed train will get you from Milan to Turin in around 1hr 5mins. The journey time by car is approximately 2 hours, not including traffic. 

Turin has plenty to see and do and the attractions in the city will easily fill 2 days. Some of the Turin attractions I advise adding to your 8 days in Italy itinerary include: 

• Booking a guided tour of the Royal Palace of Turin ( Palazzo Reale )  
• Seeing the exhibits inside the Egyptian Museum ( Museo Egizio ) 
• Taking a guided tour of the Mole Antonelliana  
• Exploring the National Museum of Italian Unification ( Museo Nazionale del Risorgimento Italiano )  
• Admiring classic Italian cars at the National Car Museum ( Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile )   

Should you manage to see all the above, you may want to consider visiting the following places just outside Turin. 

• The Royal Palace of Venaria (Reggia di Venaria). A grand estate with baroque furnishings surrounded by 50 hectares of garden. 
• The Langhe wine region . Tour the land where they produce Barolo and Barbaresco wines. 

Alternative options for days 6 and 7 

There are alternative options to Turin should you prefer to visit other destinations from Milan. They include: 

• Parma (1hr 25mins by car, 47mins by train) 
• Lake Garda (2hrs by car) 
• Cinque Terre (3hr by car, 3hr by train) 

Which destination you choose to add to your 8 days in Italy itinerary is completely up to you. I’ve suggested Turin given its rich history and the short travel times to get to and from Milan. 

Departure day. Make the journey back to Milan Malpensa Airport. Consider checking into a hotel near Milan’s airport if you’ve an early morning flight. 

Is one week enough in Italy? 

One week is never long enough for any vacation. But, for first-time visitors, one week in Italy is a good amount of time providing it’s properly planned out. 

What should I pack for a week in Italy? 

What to pack for a week in Italy depends on several factors. This includes when you plan to visit Italy and the type of activities you want to do.  

Understanding when is the best time to visit Italy will help you pack right. Make sure to bring all the  travel essentials for Italy so you won’t need to buy anything on your trip.  

What are your thoughts on this 8 days in Italy itinerary? Which destinations would you most like to see? Let me know in the comments below. 

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that I’ve recommended. Thank you for your support.

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32 thoughts on “ 8 days in Italy: best Italy 1-week itinerary ”

Great post. I traveled around Italy last year. It was a fantastic adventure. I want to go back.

Thank you, I’m so glad you enjoyed your time here 🙂

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Journey of Doing

15 One Week Italy Itinerary Ideas to Inspire Your Vacation

I’ve been percolating on a series of Italy itinerary posts for awhile.  After all, we’ve spent several weeks in Italy every single year since 2015 (minus 2020).  Most of our trips are longer than a week, but I recognize that the United States offers the shortest vacation times in the modern world.  For a lot of people, taking more than a week off at a time is incredibly challenging, if not impossible.  Thus, I thought the best place to start these itinerary posts are at one week.   Obviously you could combine some of these if you are able to plan a longer trip, but on the longer itinerary posts, I’ll give you more ideas that might not be on the one week Italy itinerary plans simply because of how challenging it can be to get to some places.  This is particularly true in parts of Northern Italy, as well as Southern Italy

For all intents and purposes, this post is going to cover 7 day itineraries for Italy.  If you can leave on a Thursday evening and return the following Sunday (or Monday if it’s a holiday week!), you can fully utilize both weekends and get a little extra time without having to take a lot of extra vacation time.  When I worked in consulting, this is how I would maximizing my 7 (yes, 7 per year) days of vacation – by creating long weekends over holiday weekends when we already had Mondays off.          

Disclosure:  This post contains affiliate links for tours and products I love at no additional cost to you.  You can read my  full disclosure policy here.

Making the Most of One Week in Italy

Italy in 7 days.

A week in Italy is doable but you can’t do Italy in a week, so let’s kick of these Italy itineraries.  If you’re someone who is going to have to leave on a Friday (or a Saturday) and come back the following Sunday, these one week Italy itinerary ideas are for you.  You’re going to have to figure out what is most important to you (architecture, art, history, food?) and choose a single city as your starting point.   

For each of these itinerary ideas, I will share some of my favorite things to do in each destination.  Hopefully this can help you figure out what you want to explore – and get a better idea of what is important to a place!  That said, travel is personal, so use my suggestions as a jumping off point – not a point-by-point map or checklist.    

Open Jaw Ticketing

If you want to cover a lot of ground, the best tip I can give you to make the most of your one week Italy itinerary is to utilize open jaw flights.   What does this mean?  It means that you will fly into one city and out of another city.  Often times, if you plan in advance, this does not result in a more expensive airline ticket.  It will save you money on having to backtrack to get back to your original point of departure though.  I use ITA Matrix to search for open jaw itineraries and use Book with Matrix to actually book the itinerary. 

I always book with the airline directly.  It makes things so much easier when flights change.  Our November Italy itinerary had multiple cancellations due to British Airways schedule changes.  We changed our airport of departure 3-4 times.  In every case, because I booked with American Airlines directly, I could search their availability, call in with what worked best for me, and they would rebook us.       

Go Beyond the “Big Three” Italian Cities

There are a lot of tour companies that will sell you an Italy itinerary that visits Rome, Florence, and Venice (and likely includes a drive-by of Tuscany, lol).  All of these cities are amazing and they should be visited, but it’s not necessary to do all of them on a single one week Italy itinerary!  In fact, I would argue that the best way to see Italy for the first time is to see both sides of it – see one of the “big” cities and see small town Italy.  Not only will this give you a more authentic look at the country as a whole, but it will also help you figure out what you enjoy. 

If you’re traveling to check off as many big sites on your Italy bucket list as you can, this might be the itinerary for you… but if you’re traveling to experience La Dolce Vita , slow down and see the smaller cities as well.    

Skip the Day Trip

Recently, one of the Italians I follow posted a link to the proliferation of Florence day trips and asked how people felt about it.  I’ve already railed against the Cinque Terre day trip on this blog; I can’t imagine spending one day in Florence.  The truth is, no matter where you go, if you spend one day in a destination, you’ll spend most of your time getting there.  You’ll likely arrive at the most crowded time of the day and you’ll leave before magic hours – the time when a place slows down, the skies go from blue hour to inky blue, and only the locals are left.  

No matter how popular a place is as a day trip, I can promise you that if you slow down and spend or night or two, you’ll unlock some of the magic that is absolutely missed on day trips.  There is magic to be found everywhere.  I promise.  

Transportation within Italy Matters

How you plan to get around will influence your itinerary for Italy.  If you absolutely do not want to drive in Italy , you’ll want to visit places that are well-connected by train or bus.  The train in Italy is a lovely way to travel, and they have certainly improved since I first studied abroad here. 

We also really enjoy driving in Italy because we can get to places that are not easily reachable by train or bus.  It also gives us the flexibility to have dinner at agriturismos outside of town, visit wineries, and have a few experiences that would be more difficult without a car.  And, since I’m being totally honest here, I can only travel by train if we don’t drive.  I get very carsick on buses.  When we drive, I have a bit more control over the elements that affect my carsickness.  (This is true in the US, as well.  It’s not just an Italy thing.)    

Rome Itinerary Ideas

American Airlines offers a direct flight from DFW-FCO (Rome), so a lot of our Italian itineraries start by flying into Rome.  Rome can be difficult as a first destination in Italy, but it’s also popular for a reason.  There is truly something for everyone in Rome.  Food, history, culture, religion – whatever your reason for visiting Rome is, you’ll find it there. 

Why do I say Rome is difficult?  One , it is a big city and isn’t necessarily well-connected by public transportation.  You’ll need to be comfortable exploring Rome on your own two feet.  Two , there are a lot of tourist traps for restaurants.  I think most of the worst meals I’ve had in Italy were in Rome.  (Don’t worry – I have tips for you to avoid this.)  Three , there’s no way to see it all.  You have to make concessions.  You can see the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain, but they’re on the other side of the river from the Vatican Museums.  The most delicious restaurant areas are a pretty good walk (or metro ride) away from the sites of ancient Rome.  It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit them, but it is really important to do your research ahead of time and decide what is most important to your group.      

Religious Rome & Assisi

(This itinerary does not require a car.   You can do it by train.)  

Day One in Rome  

• Morning:  Arrive in Rome and check-in to your hotel.  Get out, walk around, and start beating the jet lag.  If you must take a nap, don’t sleep for more than 20 minutes.  Walk into every church you find.  You never know what is beyond the facade.  
• Evening:   Book a Rome food tour for dinner on your first night in Rome.  This will save you a lot of bad meals.  Our family favorite was the Trastevere food tour , but the Testaccio food tour gives you a great look at local life in Rome, too.   

Day Two in Rome

• Morning:  Book an early access tour of the Vatican Museums .  This will allow you to see the Sistine Chapel in almost private conditions.  If you’re traveling with a bigger group, we booked a private tour with Deborah from LivTours .  (I loved our experience so much that I’m going to share my discount code with you – save 10% by using DEBORAH10 .)  (Read more of my tips for visiting the Vatican City. )  After visiting the museums, head over to St. Peter’s and take a DIY tour using Rick Steves’ Audio Guide for St. Peter’s Basilica.  
• Evening:  Take a sunset walking tour of Rome and see the monuments at their best.  Make sure that you have a late dinner reservation ready to go!   

Day Three in Rome

• Morning:  Head to the Pantheon before the line gets too long.  You can purchase an audioguide or use Rick Steves Audio Guide to the Pantheon .  (Tom loves doing these.)

Day Four in Rome / Assisi

• Afternoon:   Assisi is only 2-2.5 hours away from Rome by train (or car).  I recommend traveling after you check out from your hotel.  This will allow you to miss the most crowded parts of the day and minimize having to store your luggage.  By the time you get settled into Assisi, you’ll have the place all to yourself.  (Check out some of my Assisi recommendations !)

Day Five in Assisi

•   Morning:  Take this Assisi walking tour .  Seriously.  It shouldn’t be missed.  You’ll visit a lot of the churches in Assisi, including the famous Basilica of St. Francis.  I learned so much on this tour, and all of the churches are worth visiting.  You’ll have the afternoon to go back and visit the ones that intrigued you for longer.  (Please don’t forget to respect the Basilica’s wishes and don’t take pictures of the inside of the church.  It’s really disruptive to everyone else when they have to yell at you.)

Day Six in Assisi and Rome

• Late Morning: Before heading back to Rome, don’t miss this wine tasting in Assisi .  If you aren’t a wine drinker, they also offer olive oil tastings .  (You can book a private transfer to their vineyard.)  This family provides the most delicious and entertaining experience in Assisi.  We visited in June 2021, and I would go back in a heartbeat.  They fed us a delicious meal using fresh ingredients, allowed us to try their olive oils and wines (and taught us the difference in quality), and provided so many laughs along the way.  This is a wonderful way to end your time in Assisi and enjoy some incredible views, too. 

Day Seven in Rome

• If you have time, do anything that you missed out on or wanted to experience again.  (I keep an on-going list of my favorite tours in Rome that is updated every time I find a new one to love!)                    

Historical Rome & Pompeii

(This itinerary does not require a car.  You can do it by train.)  

• Morning:  Arrive in Rome and check-in to your hotel.  Get out, walk around, and start beating the jet lag.  If you must take a nap, don’t sleep for more than 20 minutes.  
• Evening:   Book a Rome food tour for dinner on your first night in Rome.  This will save you a lot of bad meals.  Our family favorite was the Trastevere food tour , but the Testaccio food tour gives you a great look at local life in Rome, too. 
• Morning:   Skip the line at the Colosseum and visit the Roman Forum  with a guide.  Honestly, this was probably the most interesting tour we’ve done in Rome and I’m not nearly as obsessed with the Romans as my husband is.  If you don’t use a guide, you’re just looking at ruins.  This tour made everything come alive for me. 
• Evening:  Take a night walking tour of Rome and see everything from the Piazza Popolo to the Campo dei Fiori and everything in between.  As of late 2021, the Roman Forum is not illuminated in the evening again, so while you might want to take a night tour of the Colosseum , you won’t be able to see much else.
• Rome is your oyster!  Visit the Pantheon, take a tour of the Capitoline museum (Tom loved this), take the train out to Ostia Antica, or visit Hadrian’s Villa and Villa d’Este . 

Day Four in Rome / Amalfi Coast 

• Morning:  Head south by train!  The most cost effective way to enjoy Pompeii with time constraints (and enjoy Amalfi) is to make Sorrento your home base.  Sorrento is about 2.5 hours from Rome by train and 30 minutes from Pompeii.  You could venture further south to the more popular Positano, but you’re going to pay much higher prices and it will be more difficult to get around.
• Afternoon:   Take some time to relax, recharge, and enjoy the view.  You can take a hydrofoil to some of the more glitzy towns of Amalfi if you’re feeling ambitious.  Just make sure to plan how you’re going to get back to your home base. Driving in Amalfi isn’t for the faint of heart!  

Day Five in Pompeii and Herculaneum

• Book a guide and board the Scavi train to Pompeii.  I recommend getting out early before it gets too hot and too crowded.  If you can’t make the morning work, go in the late afternoon before the site closes.  You’ll have less crowds to contend with than if you go in the middle of the day.  Whatever you do, skip a midday arrival if you can! 

Day Six in Sorrento and Rome

• Give yourself a leisurely morning to relax and enjoy the coastal views before heading back to Rome.  The train is only 2.5 hours, so there’s no reason to be in a hurry.  If you can store your luggage at your hotel, maybe it’s worth taking a day trip over to Capri and heading back to Rome in the evening.  Either way, make it an easy travel day so you’re ready to wrap up your time in Rome tomorrow.     
• If you’re not leaving today, make sure to do anything that you missed out on or wanted to experience again.  (I keep an on-going list of my favorite tours in Rome that is updated every time I find a new one to love!)   

Rome & Umbria

If you are flying into Rome but were hoping to visit Tuscany for wine and food, may I suggest Umbria instead?  Umbria is a more rustic Tuscany with beautiful hill towns, amazing resorts, and extremely tasty food… and it’s largely ignored by guidebooks and tourists!  While it’s no secret that I love a beautiful Tuscan hill town , I also really love Umbria.  I recommend doing three nights in Rome and two or three nights in Umbria. 

If you’re really ambitious, you can do what we do and drive from Umbria to the Rome airport on the morning of your flight.  We’ve done that multiple times to extend our time in the Italian countryside.      

For Food & Wine, Visit Montefalco

Montefalco was our first foray into Umbria during winter 2018.  We drove over for dinner and were completely flummoxed by the fact that it wasn’t in our guidebooks.  It’s a very well-preserved walled city that is underrated and under appreciated.   It’s about 2 hours northeast of Rome.   

If you love food and wine, I highly recommend adding Montefalco to your Italy itinerary . Montefalco is a quiet town with a beautiful town square, amazing restaurants, and delicious wines. You can book a wine tasting of Sagrantino, Montefalco Rosso, Passito, and even Trebbiano white wines .  (We’ve purchased dozens of bottles of Bocale wines in past few years.)  Truffles are very popular here, so if you’ve been wanting to experience truffles, Montefalco is a great place to go.

In addition to food and wine, Montefalco has some incredible frescos and old churches to see.  On our last trip to Montefalco, we walked all the small streets beyond the town center and stumbled upon numerous very old churches that had remnants of beautiful art.  Again, you won’t read about these things in the guidebooks.  You just have to explore. 

STAY:   Full review of Palazzo Bontadosi

For Meat and Mountains, Visit Norcia

Norcia is one of the new places we discovered on our trip in summer 2021.  2.5 hours northeast of Rome, you’ll wind through some mountains and valleys and stumble upon a small town that need you to visit.  In the past, Norcia was famous for its butchers, which means it is famous for its sausages and salumi.  Norcia has some truly amazing sausage pasta dishes.  (One of our waiters in Cortona recommended Norcia to us for the food.  He definitely wasn’t wrong in his recommendations!)  While we couldn’t bring home sausages, we did bring home truffle cheese from Norcia.  It did not disappoint.

If you look up Norcia online, you’ll probably find that it was severely damaged by an earthquake in 2016 and 2017, which significantly damaged a lot of the town.  The cathedral is closed and covered in scaffolding and you can hear work being done non-stop during the day.  While there isn’t a lot to see in town, they need you to visit.  Tourism has largely disappeared because of the damage.  In the summer (May – July), the mountains and fields are in bloom with the Castelluccio di Norcia, so bring your hiking gear but stay in town to support the local economy that needs you.          

STAY:   Palazzo Seneca (We booked through Tablet Plus so we could take advantage of a room upgrade, a hotel credit, a welcome amenity, and a late checkout.  It is a Relais & Chateaux property, so these benefits may also be available through your favorite travel agent.) 

For Relaxation Away from Rome

If all the hustle of Rome has you overwhelmed and in need of a break, head to my favorite spa resort two hours north of Rome.  Borgo dei Conti is the perfect place to unplug from Rome, enjoy nature, and indulge in wellness.  We stayed at Borgo dei Conti after Christmas in 2018, for easter in 2019, and in summer 2021.

From the moment you check in, you’re encouraged to relax.  Seriously.  They sent us to the bar to enjoy a glass of wine while they prepared our room.  The chateaux rooms are beautifully decorated but maintain the charm of the original architecture with exposed beams and period art throughout the hotel.  There is a beautiful library where you can curl up with a book (or peruse their collection).  The spa has a jacuzzi and a small pool, as well as a steam room and sauna, and you can book treatments as well.  There are multiple restaurants on property, so you really don’t have to leave… though I do love the pizza restaurant (Valpino) that is a short walk or drive from the hotel!    

There are multiple pools, tennis courts, and other opportunities for wellness, but what I loved most in summer 2021 were the guided mediation walks throughout the park around the property.  You’ll feel miles away from Rome and the only noise you’ll hear are the birds.  It’s truly lovely. 

My favorite memory is buying a bottle of wine from the bar and watching the sunset over the lake from one of the many terraces at the hotel.         

STAY:   Borgo dei Conti Resort

Venice Itinerary Ideas

The second easiest place in Italy for us to visit from the US is Venice.  American Airlines offers a direct flight from PHL-VCE (Philadelphia to Venice), and we used this flight for anniversary trips in September.  Tom loves Venice.  It’s his favorite place to visit in Italy.  I like Venice because it’s beautiful and unique.  Given it’s location, my recommendation for spending a week in Venice is to do a few days in one sestiere (district) and move to a second sestiere or one of the Venice islands for a few days for a different experience.

One of my favorite sesitere to stay in is Dorsoduro.  This area has a lot of quieter canals and art galleries that I love to visit.  I’ve also stayed in San Marco and Guidecca, as well as the island of Murano and the Isola della Rose.  I loved staying in Murano .  After walking around Castello, I think it would be a neat and very local place to stay (as local as Venice can be these days).

I think it’s really important to understand how the over-saturation of tourism and daytrippers from cruise ships has contributed to a Venice that is not sustainable for locals to live there.  For that reason, I think it’s important to stay in Venice and slow down, as well as contribute to the economy.  Susana has a great 3-day sustainable Venice itinerary if you don’t want to spend a week in Venice.          

Making the Most of Your Venice Trip

Here are just a few Venice travel tips to make your trip more enjoyable .  

•   Find a hotel in Venice and stay in Venice.   Not in Mestre.  Not a train ride away.  In Venice.  We really love Palazzo Veneziano in Dorsoduro.  The Hotel Danieli is perfect for a romantic trip to Venice.  The Hilton Venice is a great mid-luxury hotel, especially with a vaporetto pass.
•   Buy a vaporetto pass for the duration of your stay.  It is far more cost effective than individual rides and it will save your feet.  (There are a lot of stairs in Venice.)
•   Give yourself plenty of time to get places, particularly if you have a reservation to honor.  Because of the tight roads, sometimes internet doesn’t work perfectly.  (And, really, put the phone away.  The beauty is in the walk.)
•   Practice sustainable tourism.  If you want Venice to be there when you go back, patronize local businesses.  This means buying locally made glass and masks, instead of things manufactured and mass produced elsewhere.  It includes not contributing to the affordable housing problem by encouraging the proliferation of AirBnB.  And, book local guides and tours, rather than just looking for the perfect instagram background.  We’ve been to Venice twice post-COVID, and in a lot of ways, it is so much nicer to visit now because it doesn’t feel overrun with mass tourism.  Let’s do our part to help continue to grow Venice back to a place where locals can and want to live and tourists can enjoyably visit!            

Suggested One Week Itinerary for Venice

Day One in Venice

• Morning:   Book a walking tour of Venice with a to get your bearings.  I love Lu with Secret Venice Tour or these free Venice walking tours .  By doing this early, you can get local recommendations and avoid the tourist traps, of which there are many.
• Evening:  Give your feet a break, board the #1 Vaporetto before sunset, and grab an outdoor seat in the front.  Cruise down the Grand Canal with this DIY audio tour .

Day Two in Venice

• Morning:  Head to St. Mark’s Square before the daytrippers arrive and enjoy the quiet beauty of Europe’s oldest and most beautiful living room.  Visit the Basilica of San Marco, take the stairs to the rooftop, and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the square as it starts to fill up.  If you need a coffee (or gelato) break, we love the iconic (and expensive) Caffe Florian .
• Afternoon:  Visit the Frari Church, one of Venice’s famous churches that is far from where the tourists usually wander.  (Another under appreciated church nearby is the Chiesa di San Pantalon.) 
• Evening: Prepare for apertivo and learn more about the Venetian tradition of cicchetti with a wine tasting at Venice bar off a small canal.  While Venice doesn’t create its own wine, the Veneto does and this is a great place to try it without leaving the islands!  The owner provided us with an entire rainbow of wines to try! 

Day Three in Venice

• Morning:  Take a  guided tour of the Doges Palace .  Yes, you can visit on your own, but unless you know a lot about Venetian history, you won’t really know what you’re seeing.  You’ll even be able to cross the Bridge of Sighs from the inside.
• Evening:  If it is in your budget, take a  gondola ride in Venice .  (I have a few suggestions for ways to make it work in that post!)  I think sunset and blue hour is the most magical hour for gondola rides in Venice.  Night gondola rides are extremely romantic though.                   

Day Four in Venice

• Depending on whether or not you decide to stay in Venice or move to one of the islands, today should be a day for exploring the islands.  We’ve stayed at the Hyatt Centric Murano in December 2021 and loved the experience.  We saw parts of Murano that tourists don’t usually see and some of the more beautiful glass shops are deep in Murano. 
• If you are feeling adventurous and want to DIY this tour so you won’t feel rushed, I love Torcello.  The ancient church is incredible.
• If you’re looking for souvenirs, head to Murano for glass or Burano for lace. 
• If you’re looking for the colorful Venetian buildings, they are on Burano.     

Days Five through Seven in Venice

• Your goal for the rest of the trip should be to experience the “real” Venice away from all the touristy sites.  I strongly recommend taking another walking tour of Venice to see a different area that you’ve visited before.  However, you could take a traditional Venetian Carnival mask-making workshop or try your hand at Venetian glass-making , as well.
• Don’t underestimate the beauty of exploring Venice at night.  First of all, it’s very safe.  Second of all, it’s incredibly captivating to have the canals to yourself.  I also love this night walking tour of Venice , which can provide you a lot more insight into Venetian history and help the city feel even more magical and mysterious.
• Don’t be afraid to get lost.  Put the phone away.  Look up.  Go wherever intrigues you.  (I love the left, right, or straight game.)  One, Venice isn’t *that* big.  Two, you’re never far from a vaporetto stop if you get tired.  Three, you are on islands and can’t get off (unless you walk back across the causeway).  The beauty of Venice is found in smaller canals and campos, far away from the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s Square, though you can’t miss those either.          

Florence and Tuscany Itinerary Ideas

I could dedicate an entire post for one week Italy itinerary ideas for Florence and Tuscany.  Arguable one of our favorite regions of Italy and where we return to because there is just so much to explore, it is hard to know where to begin.  You could put together a Tuscany road trip , bypassing Florence completely, or you could put together an entire 7-day itinerary for Florence, and in either case, you would only scratch the surface of either place. 

If Tuscany’s small towns don’t appeal to you, but you’re still looking for good food, you can board a train and be in Bologna in 35 minutes.  Bologna is delicious and a short train ride away from Parma and Modena, which offer more delicious delights.  Visiting Emilia-Romagna (twice) is one of our highlights from our 2021 travels, and it can easily be coupled with Florence.

Similar to the Rome itinerary ideas I shared above, I’m going to give you a day-by-day look at what I think you should consider doing in Florence.  From there, I’ll give you a little bit of information of places in Tuscany that you could add on to your itinerary with options for travel by train or by car.

For what its worth, there are multiple airports to start (and end) your Florence trip.  While Florence (FLR) does have its own airport, Bologna (BLQ) and Pisa (PSA) are very popular airports to fly into to visit Tuscany and Florence.  We generally fly British Airways into Bologna or Pisa from LHR.        

Suggested One Week Itinerary for Florence

Day One in Florence:

• Take a free walking tour of Florence .  If you are extra ambitious, take both the morning and the afternoon tours.  It’s the best introduction to the city, the Renaissance and its history.  We have taken both of these tours multiple times and always learn something new. 
• Evening:  Head to the Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset and the best view of Florence.  (You can also climb a little bit further up to San Miniato and avoid some of the crowds.)    

Day Two in Florence:

• Morning:  Book a guided tour of the Accademia or the Uffizi Museum (but not both in one day) to learn more about the evolution of the Renaissance artists.  If guided tours aren’t your thing, make a museum reservation for an early timeslot to avoid the crowds  Grab lunch at one of Florence’s famous panini places.  I recommend ‘Ino near the Uffizi and Sandwichic near the Accademia.     
• Afternoon:   If you aren’t museumed out, I recommend switching gears and learning more about the scientific discoveries of the Renaissance.  I love the small DaVinci Museum and the Galileo Museum .  Choose one and create your own adventure! 

Day Three in Florence:

• Morning:  Visit Santa Croce or the Duomo when it first opens to avoid the lines.  I prefer Santa Croce because the interior is just stunning, but you can’t come to Florence and not appreciate the Duomo.  If you want to marvel at Brunelleschi Dome, book a ticket to climb the dome OR the bell tower.  Climbing the dome will let you go in between the two-dome system.  Climbing the bell tower will give you a view of the dome.  
• For lunch you could head to the Mercato Centrale (near the Duomo) or the Sant’Ambrogio market (near Santa Croce).
• Evening:  Whether you are planning to head to Tuscany or not, I would book a food tour of Florence , a Tuscan wine tasting (at different price points!), or walking tour of Florence at sunset !    

Days Four through Seven in Florence:

• Take a cooking class in Florence (one of my favorite activities)!
• Visit the Duomo Museum to see the original art that was in the Duomo.
• Tour the Bargello Museum to see more Renaissance sculpture.
• Visit the Florence Synagogue to learn more about the history of this beautiful building and the Jewish people in Florence and Italy (Make sure to get the audioguide) 
• Visit the Medici Chapel and Museum
• Take a guided tour of the Palazzo Vecchio
• Ride the bus to Fiesole to see the Roman ruins and for some incredible views of Florence
• Visit the Boboli Gardens and/or the Pitti Palace .
• Head to the less popular but very beautiful Bardini Gardens.
• Hopefully this will be open to more than tour groups again soon, but you can see a grain market that was converted to a church – Orsanmichele has an alterpiece that was designed “in situ” (in and for the place it was designed) and it’s absolutely gorgeous.  You can also visit the small museum upstairs, if it’s open.
• Take a vintage Fiat 500 driving tour of the Tuscan hills at sunset.  You need to be able to drive a manual transmission for this.  The views are incredible, but it can be stressful.  Everyone needs to take their patience for this (speaking from experience, lol). 
• Have more food and wine tours in Florence to learn more about local cuisine.  

Tuscany Side Trips from Florence (by train)

If you want to experience Tuscany but don’t want to rent a car in Italy, there are several great Tuscan hill towns that you can reach by train or bus.  I recommend spending at least two nights in the smaller Tuscan towns.  Two nights gives you the opportunity to enjoy a few restaurants, experience the town in both the morning and the evening, and see a little bit more of a town.  If you only spend one night, you’ll check into your room around 3, have the evening to explore, and often have to check out of your hotel by 11:00 the next morning.  That’s an intense schedule.  

If you just visit these towns as a day trip from Florence, you’ll miss the magic that happens before and after the tourists leave.  Some of my favorite memories in Siena are sitting on the Campo in the evening, having dinner at an agriturismo outside of Pienza on a rainy evening, and watching the sunset over Montepulciano with a glass of wine.  Those aren’t experiences that are easy as a daytripper.  Plus, Florence hotels are expensive (comparatively).  If you are going to spend the money to be in Florence, be in Florence.  Tuscany hotels are less expensive, so you can splurge for train tickets (or rental cars), meals, and other adventures.

While I’ve only listed a few towns here, it’s because these are the ones where I can personally recommend where to stay and things to do based on personal experience.  Other hill towns I’ve visited and that are high on my list are Volterra, Pienza, Pisa, and Lucca.  My unpublished Tuscany restaurant and hotel list currently has 94 entries on it, so I’ll be adding to this post for awhile.       

Medieval Siena

Siena is 1-1.5 hours from Florence by bus or train. 

Siena is one of the best preserved medieval cities in Tuscany. The entirety of historical center of Siena is a UNESCO World Heritage site.  I love the architecture, the views from the city walls, and I especially love watching the passeggiata around the Campo in evenings.

I loved this walking tour of Siena because we were able to learn more about the different Contrada in Siena, and the Palio.  We even got to see some of the tapestries in a neighborhood museum.  

Make sure you visit the Siena Duomo , and specifically don’t miss visiting the Piccolomini Library.  (I overlooked it on three trips to Siena.)  It’s one of my favorite things because it’s so breathtaking.  It’s even more beautiful after you’ve visited the Uffizi and you have better understanding of why it’s so impressive.  Truly, I’ve never seen frescos like this.

Another thing I recommend is to take a food tour in Siena .  You’ll have the opportunity to taste some of the flavors of Tuscany without even leaving the city. We have ended up with so many  souvenirs from taking food tours !

STAY:  La Terraza Sul Campo  

Classic Cortona

Cortona is 1.5 hours from Florence by train

Cortona is absolutely beautiful.  It’s the subject of Under the Tuscan Sun, but don’t let its fame deter you.  (I did for several years.  Learn from my mistake.)  

I would hardly consider Cortona off the beaten track, but it certainly felt that way when we were there in June and October 2021. We were surrounded by Italian speakers in restaurants and on the main square. This hill town feels alive and “lived in,” in a way that some more popular hill towns seem to be lacking.

We start each day with a walk through town, including an intense climb to visit the churches in the northern parts of town. Don’t miss the Basilica of Santa Margherita. It is the most beautiful church I’ve seen in Tuscany.  After a mid-day nap and spa treatment at our hotel, we would start our evenings with a passeggiata, pause for an apertivo, and wrap up with dinner and gelato.

Cortona is a wonderful place to eat , drink, and walk around.  Ask waiters to make recommendations for you.  You’ll never go wrong.  I promise.  

STAY:   Monastero di Cortona Hotel and Spa (full review on our rooms at the Monastero di Cortona Hotel & Spa )

San Gimignano – The Towers of Tuscany

San Gimignano is 2 hours from Florence by bus or train.

San Gimignano is one of the most pleasant surprises of our hill town adventures.  I thought it would be overrun by tourists, but it does have a lot to offer.  It is a relatively flat hill town, which makes it a very walkable city.  It’s not as flat as Pienza, but it is way less steep than Cortona, Montalcino, and Montepulciano.  Even though it doesn’t have the height of the other towns, it also offers incredible views of green vineyards and rolling hills, as well as the olive groves of Tuscany.  Beyond that, there seem  to be a lot of art galleries scattered through town, which I loved.

Another thing that makes San Gimignano great for the traveller without a car is that they have a great winery within walking distance of the old town.  You can do a wine, olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting near San Gimignano .  I love booking a tasting that includes lunch because you can enjoy a seasonal Tuscan meal, in addition to your tasting.  The family that runs the winery is so hospitable, and their products are wonderful.  They also ship to the US!  (We’ve order a lot of wine and olive oil from them, especially during the pandemic in support of Italy in 2020 .

Tuscany Side Trips by Car

If you’re not afraid of driving in Italy, you will certainly be rewarded with some incredible hill town experiences.  There are some really lovely towns that are best reached by car.  If you are planning to travel by car, I strongly recommend renting from a multi-national car company.  I’ve had the best experiences with Sixt and Hertz.  Similar to my recommendation to book open jaw airline tickets, I highly recommend one-way car rentals if it makes sense for your itinerary.  As you can tell, I’m not a fan of backtracking!

When driving in Italy, make sure to reach out to your hotel for any information on directions and parking.  First , some hotels have ZTL zone where only residents and cars with permits can drive.  It doesn’t mean that you can’t drive there, but they will need to register your license plate so you don’t get fined.  Second , sometimes parking has to be arranged in advance.  This isn’t the US where valet parking is unlimited.  You’ll want to reserve your spot or get details on where the best public parking is close to your hotel.  Third , your hotel can give you the best instructions for getting there.  Google maps doesn’t always know that you can’t drive through the city center.  The point-by-point instructions that I’ve received from hotels are always – well – on point.      

Montepulciano – The Classic Italian Hill Town

Montepulciano is 1.5 hours from Florence by car.  (It’s 3-3.5 hours by train or bus.)

We’ve made at least overnight 4 trips to Montepulciano, not counting a few side trips to the Christmas market or for lunch on our way to another destination. The hills are steep, but you are rewarded with sweeping views of the countryside (book my favorite suite at Palazzo Carletti ), a beautiful town center and fortress, and one of the best bistecca fiorentinas in Tuscany. It feels like a classic Italian hill town, and like Cortona, it feels “lived in.”  You see locals going about their daily business.  

From mid-November until early January, there is a fabulous Christmas market in Montepulciano that runs throughout the town.  This market feels very local with a lot of typical Tuscan meats and cheeses on offer, as well as gifts that range from ceramics to wooden decor. 

Montepulciano is also famous for its wines, though they are not as famous as the Brunello di Montalcino, they are very good.  We really enjoy heading up to Enoilteca , a wine bar at the very top of town, that offers beautiful views of the Tuscan sunset, as well as an extensive wine-by-the-glass system so you can try numerous Tuscan wines.  There are also a couple of wineries in the center of town that will let you tour their wine cellars that are actually built into the hillside. 

With a car, you will have the flexibility to visit some of the wineries outside of town (or even head to Montalcino), but you will need to make an appointment in advance.  Your hotel will be able to help you with this.  You are also only a short drive from Pienza, home of the famous pecorino di Pienza cheese (and my favorite gelateria, Buon Gusto).  There are numerous shops and farms where you can stop for tastings between Montepulciano and Pienza.  

STAY:   Palazzo Carletti  

Staying in the Tuscan Countryside

Near Arezzo

Il Borro is about 30 minutes from Arezzo and 1 hour from Florence by car.  

If you’re looking for a place where you can enjoy the Tuscan countryside, focus on wellness, and also enjoy really great food, I love Il Borro .  This is truly a place to disconnect from everything, enjoy nature, and maybe – just maybe, venture into one of the nearby villages for dinner if you don’t want to stay at the resort the entire time.  It’s the perfect place to slow down; I booked it in the middle of a three-week trip through Italy. It fell between Cortona and Florence on our itinerary.  We spent our time going between our suite, the spa, and the pools.  It was glorious.

The thing that makes Il Borro unique that it is actually a  village-turned-resort by the Ferragamo family.  The suites are cottages spread throughout a traditional Italian village. The rooms all have beautiful views of the mountains with a comfortable seclusion… with all the amenities of a luxury 5-star hotel at your fingertips. 

Il Borro offers an on-site winery, two pools, two restaurants, and multiple craftsmen and artisan shops where you can see how products are made.  As it relates to wellness, Il Borro offers hiking trails, a lovely spa, and a gym.  (I had a wonderful massage in the spa.  It was incredibly relaxing.)  As far as activities go, Il Borro offers everything from horseback riding to cooking classes to truffle hunting. 

While it may seem sort of like Disneyland (I wasn’t at all sure when I booked it), the resort offers a very authentic Tuscan experience (without the hill town).  It is also a member of the Relais & Chateaux hotel collection , so the experiences are designed with both authenticity and quality in mind. 

I booked through  Tablet Hotels as a Plus member .  Plus members receive a space-available upgrade (we were upgraded to an incredible junior suite), a 90 euro spa credit, daily breakfast, and a free wine tasting.  These perks proved to be a great way to experience a lot of what the resort had to offer in a short time. 

Near Montalcino

Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco is about 20 minutes from Montalcino and 1.5 hours from Florence by car.

We decided to spend a few days in Tuscany and Umbria at the start of the new year before flying out of Rome.  I wanted to find a hotel similar to Il Borro, and the Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco fit the bill for the time of year when we were visiting.

Prior to our arrival, I was able to set up a wine tasting (because when near Montalcino), as well as a fresh pasta cooking class.  One of the things that I loved about the Rosewood is that they had an extensive brochure that detailed all of the activities you could participate in – from sports (golf and tennis), to food and wine experiences, to hiking and wellness, to guided excursions throughout the area, to children’s activities.  It was very detailed and caters to both couples and families.   

The rooms are extremely luxurious with small touches like weighted blankets that make them especially cozy and romantic.  (If I could bring the entire bed, including the bedding home, that would be amazing.)  There were candles in the room and all the lights were on dimmer switches.  Our bathroom had a separate extra long tub and shower – long leisurely bubble baths were my favorite and bath salts were included!  We also had a private patio with lounge chairs overlooking the countryside.  Turndown service included a bottle of rosso di Montalcino wine.  This is the perfect hotel for a honeymoon in Tuscany.    

My only regret? Neither Tom nor I were feeling at our best, so we didn’t make the most of this incredible resort.

I booked the Rosewood through a travel agent.  Our stay included a room upgrade, free breakfast, a $100 hotel credit, a welcome amenity, and extended check-in/out times.  The Rosewood is a splurge and a half, but if you’re looking to make one – this one to make.      

Additional One Week Italy Itinerary Ideas

Bologna and emilia romagna.

In 2021, we made two trips to Bologna and the Emilia Romagna region .  With Bologna only being 35 minutes away from Florence by high speed train, it’s a wonderful side trip from Florence , but you could easily spend a week in this region, especially if you’re really into food.  I loved Bologna and Parma both because they felt SO alive, especially in the evenings.  We didn’t have a single bad meal while we were there. 

I feel like I’m just starting to peel back the layers on this region, so I can’t give a definitive guide to how to spend your time here, however I do have a few recommendations on my mini guide and where to stay below.  I highly, highly, highly recommend taking a cooking class and/or food tour.  (Convincing you to do both is the dream!)  

STAY:  Palazzo Gozzi in Parma  

STAY:  051 Suites in Bologna      

Milan, Torino, and Lake Como

I find it easiest and most authentic to write about the things I know well.  All of the places I’ve mentioned here are places where we have spent a lot of time over numerous visits over the years.  You might notice that Lake Como is missing.  While we have flown into and out of Milan a few times, we haven’t spent much time there yet. We did spend two nights at the Park Hyatt Milan and took time to see The Last Supper. 

We coupled a trip to Milan with a week in the Piedmont region , including staying at Palas Cerequio and Turin .  I was inspired by Stacie Flinner’s instagram stories and visits to Torino , Lake Como , and the parts of northern Italy that we haven’t visited yet.  I’m hoping that we can continue to explore these areas more.

Puglia and Southern Italy

In winter 2019, we spent a little bit of time exploring the Puglia region .  It was absolutely lovely.  (It’s also very affordable.)  This is on the Adriatic coast of Italy and is most known for the trulli houses in Alberobello and the white stone towns that line the sea front.  While I loved our stay at La Sommita Relais in Ostuni , there is a Four Seasons Puglia that is supposed to be opening.  It will be a beachfront property and I’m excited to see what it looks like.  I’d like to head further south and check out Lecce and Matera.

If you could find a good flight into Bari or Brindisi, it would be a lovely off-the-beaten path destination for 7 days in Italy.  It’s definitely more affordable than some of the other coastal regions on the opposite coast of Italy.  You will definitely need to rent a car in Puglia though.      

Another Italian destination that we are really interested in adding is Sicily .  My sister spends quite a bit of time there, and she’s definitely sold me on it.  Without a direct flight, it seems like an ambitious trip to make on a 1 week in Italy itinerary.  We usually try to limit our connections to one for a 1 week Italy itinerary.  Sometimes I will stretch to two stops if the flights line up really well, but I have an easier time with jetlag if we can arrive in the morning versus in the late afternoon or evening. 

I think you need at least a week to explore Sicily, if not two weeks, so I would save it for another longer trip.   

Sara loves to help people use their vacation time more effectively by planning beautiful, memorable, and delicious trips. She spends several weeks every year exploring Italy and central Europe. In addition to her full-time job, she is constantly searching for beautiful places and spaces. She loves the direct flights between Dallas and Italy, France, and Germany but is always up for wherever a great deal on an airline ticket will take her. (Sara also really loves European Christmas markets and tries to visit at least one new one every holiday season.)

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This is INCREDIBLE! And now I’m all the rage for our horrendous work ethic and vacation policies here in the United States. It’s just flat out gross. But this is amazing – you are by far the most knowledgeable and well traveled friend ever <3

Wow for sure pinning this. Thank you! Italy is still on our list (this was to be our 2020 trip) and this will be so handy when we actually go

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Is One Week Enough For Italy? | 8 One-Week Itineraries

So, you’re planning a trip to Italy and are wondering if one week is enough? It depends on what you’re planning to visit in Italy. We created several inspirational itineraries for one week in Italy. 

One week in Italy is enough to visit several highlights in the country. It is not enough for a complete roundtrip throughout Italy. You can choose for a roundtrip through an Italian region, hiking in the Dolomites. Exploring the coastline, go on an Italian food trip, or an Italian city trip visiting the world’s most famous cities. Italy has it all! 

We went to Italy several times. In 2019 we traveled through the country with our 15-year-old Toyota Yaris and a rooftop tent on top. It was a great adventure, Italy became one of our favorite European countries! We love the people, the Italian cuisine, the unique history, and the beautiful nature. 

When you only have one week to travel to Italy, it can be a challenge choosing which part of the country you should go to. So that’s why I created several one-week itineraries for different areas and things to do in Italy. 

Hopefully, it helps you decide where to go. You’ll get much more inspiration for the possibilities for visiting Italy. Let’s find out more! 

One Week Itineraries for Italy – What To Expect

Before I describe the different articles more detailed, let me first tell you what to expect in this article. 

In the next part, I’ll describe the highlights of each itinerary. Where to go, and the best way to travel around. For almost every itinerary, I will add a link to one of our other articles. This article is more like a summary of many different possibilities. Our other articles are much more in-depth guides. Where you’ll also find roadmaps, best places to stay, and additional helpful information.

The itineraries that we added in this article are; 

• A 7 Day City Trip to The Major Italian Cities 
• Northern Italian Roadtrip
• One Week in Tuscany Region
• A countryside road trip between Venice and Florence
• Visiting Italians West Coast (Amalfi Coast & Cinque Terre) 
• Sicily Island Tour For One Week
• Sardinia Island Tour For One Week
• Italian Food Road Trip in Emilio Romagna Region (Northern Italy)

As you can see, 8 completely different adventures in one of the most diverse European countries. 

Fun Fact: Italy, as we know it today, exists since 1861. Centuries before that, the different regions were independent Italian countries. It is one of the reasons why there’s so much diversity within the Italian cultures. Between 1861 and 1946, Italy was official ‘the Kingdom of Italy.’ It became a republic after the 2nd World War. 

1) A 7 Day City Trip to The Major Italian Cities 

In this itinerary, we focus on visiting the major Italian cities Rome, Florence, and Venice. A trip discovering the Italian and European history, exploring the extraordinary ancient architecture, unique city vibes, and lovely Italian countryside during your travels between the cities.

Of course, it is up to you where to start with this itinerary. For this example, we begin in Rome and travel up north towards Venice. But it is also straightforward to go from Venice to Rome (North to South). I don’t recommend starting in Florence with this itinerary. Florence is located between Venice and Rome, so it is not logical to travel back and forth this way.

I recommend spending two days in each city. Which gives you one extra day for travel time, staying a while longer in a city, or adding an additional destination to this itinerary.

Choosing Rome as a starting point is what I think the most convenient because you can quickly fly into the city from almost every major airport in Europe. And a few times a day there are arriving direct flights that depart from New York as well.

There are multiple ways to travel between the cities. The fastest method of traveling is by taking a domestic flight, but this is probably also the most expensive and non-eco friendly way. The two options that I would recommend is either traveling by train or by rental car. Both ways of traveling are safe, and they are both convenient. The most significant advantage of traveling by car is that you have the freedom to stop wherever you like, and can also visit the small villages in between these major cities.

Traveling by train is much faster, and you don’t have the hassle of finding a parking spot. You directly arrive in the city center while hopping off the train. I think it is the ideal way of traveling for this itinerary!

You can find the latest ticket prices and train schedules between the cities on the website of  Tren Italia  (The Italian Traincompany)

Highlights of Rome

The city is, of course, known as the capital of the Roman Empire. It was once the greatest civilization in the world. Known for its unique architecture, monuments like the trevi fountain, Spanish steps. And ancient buildings like the Colosseum and Pantheon. It is the only entrance to Vatican City, the capital of the catholic church. Roman civilization had a significant influence on our daily life. It was the first civilization that used a public sewage system, for example. You can read many more interesting facts in our article;  What is Rome Known For.  

Rome is a fantastic city to visit, and most of the city’s highlights are within walking distance. When you’re looking for a 2-day walking itinerary for your visit to Rome, make sure to read our article  Is Rome A Walkable City? 

Highlights of Florence

Florence is known as the capital of the renaissance. The renaissance is a period in European history between the 13th and 17th centuries. Also known as the middle ages. During this period, art forms, architecture, politics, and science were all changing. 

It was the period of modernism, new inventions, renaissance humanism. This period created a whole new perspective on human life. Florence is often referred to as the capital of this period, and the city where the renaissance began. Renowned artists and scientists, like Da Vinci, Michaelangelo, and Copernicus, all lived during these ages. 

A few of the Famous buildings from that time are  the Duomo (Florence Cathedral), Ponte Vecchio, and Church of San Lorenzo. 

Highlights of Venice

The city of water  or  the floating city . All well-known nicknames for one of the most famous Italian cities. Did you know the city exists out of more than 118 small islands that are all connected by bridges? There are over 400 bridges in Venice!  

With all those small canals and lovely bridges, it is known as one of the most romantic cities in the world. It is also one of the busiest cities in the world, receiving millions of tourists throughout the year. 

During the middle ages and the renaissance era, Venice was an important financial and international capital for Italy. You’ll find many historic buildings throughout the city, with, of course, San Marco square as one of the most famous central points of Venice. 

Climate change has its effects on the city. Over the last years, high tides, and heavy rainfalls, flooded the ancient city several times. Damaging historical sites for millions of dollars. The city is still a unique place to visit. However, many parts are being renovated for the coming years. 

2) Northern Italian Roadtrip

A road trip through the northern part of Italy can lead you through several provinces of the country. The region  Lombardy, Emilio-Romagna, Veneto, Tuscany,  they can all be part of the road trip. But if you only have a week to explore this part of the country, it can be overwhelming to choose where to go, and which parts you should leave for another time.

This itinerary is a road trip alongside some unique highlights of Northern Italy. It is based on our road trip itinerary  A Roundtrip through Northern Italy .  Where we created several routes for 5, 10, and 14 days through this part of the country. If you’re looking for more inspiration, I recommend reading the article.

The route we chose for this itinerary starts and stops in Milan. In between, you’ll visit the highlights of the region, like Lake Garda, Verona, and Cinque Terre. Milan is a metropolitan which is easy to reach by plane from many cities in Europe and the United States. It is the perfect starting end ending point of this road trip.

Recommended Route & Highlights Northern Italy

The northern part of Italy is most famous for its beautiful nature with the Dolomites mountains, and several splendid lakes. Also, it is known as the fashion capital of the world. And many renowned Italian recipes were invented in the Northern part of Italy. We recommend the following route for this road trip:

Milan – Lake Garda – Verona – Parma – Cinque Terre – Milan.  Check out  the route in Google Maps .

It is a route slightly more than 700 kilometers, and easy to follow using public transport. However, the best way of traveling for this road trip is using a (rental)car. Driving around this part of Italy is the best way to experience the beautiful nature.

Milan is one of the most influential fashion capitals in the world. But did you know the city was already founded 600BC? And it hosts one of the world’s most famous paintings  Last Supper  of Leonardo Da Vinci. Read more about the Milan highlights in our article;  What is Milan Famous For?

For a long time, Lake Garda was used as a holiday destination for wealthy Italians. Today it is a perfect place for hiking, swimming, exploring the Dolomites, and exploring ancient old castles. Like in the renowned village Sirmione. 

 Find out more in our article;  What is Lake Garda Famous For?

Famous as the city from Romeo and Juliet. You can even visit Juliet’s balcony in Verona. But did they both ever existed? They did in the mind of Shakespeare, but actually never in real life. Still, it is one of the most visited attractions in Italy. 

 Luckily Verona has a lot more to offer. It is a beautiful ancient city with unique buildings and surroundings.

Find out more about Verona’s highlights in  this article.

Fan of the world-famous Parma ham? How cool is it to visit the city where this tasty dried pork meat is created. Did you know there are many quality standards before a ham can be called  parma ham?  The most important factor is that it’s to be made in the region. 

 Parma surprised me as a city. I really liked the vibe when being there. It is a student city, but also with a great historical vibe. When visiting Parma, make sure to visit Teatro Farnese, a unique wooden theater built during the middle ages! Find out more in our article  What is Parma Famous For?

Cinque Terre

A road trip through this part of Italy isn’t complete without a visit to the famous coastline of Cinque Terre. A UNESCO world heritage site! The region exists actually out of five old fisherman villages, with all their unique identities. Known for their houses, painted in many colors and built along the cliffs.

In our article  What is Cinque Terre Famous For ,  you can find out all the important details of this amazing coastline.

Did you know Genoa is the most important harbor city of Italy? The city hosts the largest container port of the country. But the city has this naval function for a long time. It was even the birthplace of Christopher Columbus, and also the departure point for its journeys exploring the world.  

More information about this unique city is available in our article  What is Genoa Famous For . 

3) One Week in Tuscany Region

A trip to Tuscany is a trip to history. The region is the birthplace of the renaissance, with as the capital Florence. Tuscany is a region known for its green landscapes, villages where you still feel walking back into the middle ages. Just like other parts of Italy, the region is known for its excellent cuisine. Because of its climate and unique countryside, it also has a perfect wine and olive oil region.

The best way to travel around the Tuscany region is by traveling by car. It is simply the best way to explore the beautiful countryside and small villages. However, when you go for a wine tasting tour, it is probably best to park your car and go on a guided tour with transport. So you can enjoy some of the wines and don’t have to worry about driving 😉

Most famous cities in the Tuscany region are  Florence  and  Pisa. 

Fun Fact; The Famous Tower of Pisa straightens every year! Find out more in our article What is Tuscany Known For?

The Chianti region is the most famous wine region. Some highlights you can’t miss are, of course, villages like  Sienna, Prato, San Gimignano, Volterra, and Trequanda.

  I think a week is perfect for exploring this region. It is recommended starting your route in Florence and do a roundtrip through the region. If you have plans to go to other parts in Europe during this trip as well (or coming from a different European city), you might want to start or end this trip in Pisa. Pisa international airport offers many flights to the major European cities, so it is a perfect city to use for a transfer.

You don’t need to spend much time in Pisa, though, except for the famous leaning tower, there’s not much to explore in the city. I would recommend spending a lot more time exploring the countryside of the Tuscany region, which is definitely worth it! In our article,  What is Tuscany Known For ,  we describe many more of the highlights in the region.

4) A countryside road trip between Venice and Florence

The two most important cities from the Renassaince period were Florence and Venice. Florence because it was basically the birthplace of the renaissance. And Venice because it was one of the most important financial and (maritime) trade hubs during these ages.

A road trip between Venice and Florence is possible by following different routes. If you don’t want to drive around yourself, it is also convenient for traveling by train between these two cities. When traveling by train, you will follow basically a straight line between the two cities and even cross the famous city of Bologna.

I would recommend traveling by car and taking your time to explore the beautiful landscapes you’ll come across in between these famous cities. Here’s an excellent example for a route you can follow;

Venice – Verona – Modena – Bologna – Florence

This route is around 340 kilometers long, and 450 kilometers if you plan to avoid tollroads. Avoiding toll roads is recommended in Italy. It saves you a lot of money. And most toll roads aren’t even quicker when you compare them with normal roads.

A different route you can follow is exploring the eastern coastline. You can visit the national park Veneto Delta. And when you cross the city Ravenna, you’ll head in the direction of Bologna. It is all straightforward driving.

Both routes are unique and beautiful for exploring the Italian countryside. It can be a bit overwhelming to decide which route you’re going to take. If you like to visit the old ancient cities, make sure to follow the city route we just described. 

And when you’re more into exploring nature, you might be better of exploring the route alongside the eastern coastline of Italy.

You can find both routes on Google Maps  here .

Not sure if you want to travel by car or train? In our article  How To Get Around Italy ,  we tell you the best ways of traveling through Italy.

Best Travel Must-Have For Every Traveler

These items are must-haves for every traveler, and I can highly recommend them without any hesitation: Travel Hammock :   This lightweight hammock is made of ultra-light parachute silk material. The hammock fits in a small portable bag and is very-easy-to you use. You can relax comfortably anywhere: on the beach, by the lake, in the forest, campsite, your hotel, Airbnb and even at home!  The North Face Backpack :   This is a high-quality, versatile, and practical daypack from one of the best brands in the world. It is a perfect choice, no matter what kind of travel plans you have. Oasis Kindle E-reader :   A waterproof E-reader for unlimited reading while traveling. It is a must-have for every traveler that enjoys reading. This E-reader has an adjustable warm light to shift screen shade from white to amber. It also works with Audible, so you switch effortlessly from reading to listening. Sony Noise-canceling headphone :   A world-leading noise-canceling headphone to make your travel trip more comfortable and less exhausting. One of the best travel products out there. Either for listening to music, podcasts. Or to block all the noise during traveling, for example, when you’re in an airplane.  GoPro HERO 8 :  We’ve been using a GoPro camera since the first generation came on the market. It is our go-to travel camera ever since. Perfect for making the best pictures and memorable videos. It’s easy to use, waterproof and fits in your pocket or daypack. The new generation has a built-in stabilizer so that videos will be even better quality!  Check out our  recommendations page  for more travel gear and recourses. 

5) Visiting Italians West Coast (Amalfi Coast & Cinque Terre) 

The Italian Westcoast, worldwide renowned by what many people say, are the most beautiful parts of coastline in the world. I’m talking, of course, about the Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre.

Cinque Terre is located in the northern part, close to Genoa. And a region consisting out of five traditional fisherman villages. The Amalfi Coast is close to Naples , more in the South of Italy. Both areas are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Both are known for their steep cliffs, fantastic nature, and beautiful roads between the villages. Perfect for a road trip alongside the coastline. Many people asking themselves which part is better to visit?

What if I told you, you can visit both the Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre in one week, wouldn’t that be a fantastic thing to do?

Driving between the two coastlines is only around 700 kilometers, and straightforward to do. We drove this route in a few days ourselves during our road trip through Europe. If you plan things ahead, it is an easy route to follow. You can find the different directions on Google Maps  here .

I recommend flying into Naples, which is easy from many major cities in Europe. From there, you can rent a car and drive in the direction of the Amalfi Coast. You’ll have enough time exploring the villages like Sorrento, Positano, and Salerno. A maximum of two days for the Amalfi coast is enough. Unless you want to go hiking, then I would recommend planning three days.

When you finished exploring Amalfi Coast, you can drive up north in the direction of Cinque Terre. On the way, you’ll cross the ancient site of Pompeii, Naples. You can even stop in Rome, and Florence if you like.

Once you reach Cinque Terre, two days of exploring are enough. That’s including hiking in the region. Cinque Terre is a bit smaller and more comfortable to drive around. 

Cinque Terre vs. Amalfi Coast

You can, of course, stay longer in both areas. You can also decide to go to one of the two regions, and save the other for a different trip. Either way, you might want to read our articles  What is Cinque Terre Famous For?   And  Why Is The Amalfi Coast So Famous?  So you can learn more about the two famous coastal regions of Italy.

6) Sicily Island Tour For One Week

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean sea. The island is separated from the Italian mainland by a small sea street. It is located west of the Italian peninsula. Until 1860 Sicily was an independent region. It was merged with the Italian kingdom during the unification process of Italy. However, Sicily became an autonomic island within the Kingdom of Italy (which is now the republic of Italy).

There are a lot of differences between Sicily and Italy. That has not only to do with the independence of Sicily over the years. The island has a rich cultural history and was an important settlement in the development of humankind.

You can read the most significant difference between Sicily and Italy in our article;  What’s the difference between Sicily and Italy?

Sicily is famous for the place where the Italian (Sicilian) Mafia is originated. And while the mafia is still active in Italy and Sicily, the island is entirely safe to visit. It is not like you’re walking into a movie scene from the  Godfather  or something. The Sicilian mafia, which is known for their violent behavior and as an organized crime organization, started off quite innocent.

When Sicily became a part of Italy during the unification process in 1860. The new Italian government distributed land to Sicilian citizens. This process created many landowners, but the new Sicilian government didn’t have the manpower to make sure everyone was paying taxes and obeyed the law. To make sure Sicily didn’t become an outlaw state, the new landowners appointed themselves as ‘land protectors,’ which became the Sicilian Mafia.

Highlights of Sicily

Luckily Sicily is not only known for its history with the Italian mafia. There’s a lot more to discover on this island. I think it is a must-visit when you go to Italy, there’s so much history and beautiful nature to find. Sicily is an island that has it all!

Did you know it was one of the first international settlements in the world? Around the 11th century BC, it was the Phoenicians who started an agreement on the island. The Phoenicians were a civilization coming from the direction that we now know as Turkey (they probably left on the exploring journeys from Lebanon). They were a largely known civilization before the Greeks went on their exploring journeys and reigned over a large part of Europe.

The Phoenicians created their settlement at the most north-western point of Sicily. Their most important city was where we know to find the city of Palermo.

Greeks arrived in Sicily around the 8th century BC and created the settlement Syracuse. The Roman Empire took over the reign of Sicily around the third century BC after they won the Punic Wars. Germans, Spanish, Catalan, Arabs, and Vikings also greatly influenced the island’s culture. 

It is because of this history that Sicily is known as one of the best-preserved historical islands in the world. It is a modern island, but you’ll find many historical sites like the valley of Temples. You can still visit original Greek temples (some of the best in the world!).

The island is also known as a hiking paradise. Especially for adventure hikers, looking to explore one of the most active volcanos in the world; Mount Etna. Did you know the Volcano erupts several times a year? Luckily most eruptions are not dangerous for the Sicilian inhabitants. 

 Mount Etna is not only a hiking paradise, but many winter adventurers are also visiting the Volcano. Despite the extreme warmth of the Volcano, it is possible to go skiing from the mountain during the winter months. Because of the Volcano’s height (3300 meters above sea level), snow slopes are something that often occurs during the winter months.

Roadtrip Sicily 

You can imagine that there’s a lot to see and do while visiting Sicily. And I didn’t even mention the beautiful beaches you’ll find on the island! I think it is a perfect holiday destination. But I would recommend choosing for a dedicated visit to the island, and not combining it with other tours to Italy if you only have a week.

In our article  Best City in Sicily ,  you’ll find different road trip ideas. If you want to know more about the island, make sure reading our articles  What is Sicily Famous For   and  What is The Best Time to Visit Sicily .

7) Sardinia Island Tour For One Week

Of course, this list of best one-week itineraries in Italy is not complete without mentioning the island of Sardinia. Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean sea, after Sicily. However, the island is entirely different than Sicily, and thus also unique to visit. 

Sardinia is known as a blue zone. A region in the world, where people live much longer than average in healthy conditions. The island has the world’s highest rate of people that are 100 years or older! There’s a kind of a magic formula, which researchers and scientists discovered while comparing the lifestyle of people living in the different blue zones in the world. Read more about this in our article; What is Sardinia Famous For ? (or you can order the book The Blue Zones on Amazon)

Anyway, Sardinia is not only known as the blue zone island. It is known for its beautiful nature, white sandy beaches, and crystal clear waters. In fact, it has the most beautiful beaches and seas in the Mediterranean sea. People are often surprised at how clear the seas are around Sardinia. Some of the best beaches are  Porto Istana  and  Cala Luna. 

Sardinia is the perfect place if you’re looking to visit an Italian island and beautiful nature. Almost 25% of Sardinia is designated as a national park. The island has a wide variety of eco-systems. It is one of the most important places in Europe regarding biodiversity. 

Famous cities in Sardinia are, of course, Cagliari, Oristano, Sassari, and Olbia. The island of Corsica is closeby, which is officially French, and also a national park. 

Sardinia is best to reach, taking a ferry from Civitavecchia, which is close to Rome. A must visit when you’re going to Sardinia is exploring the islands of Maddalena. Interesting settlements, and beautiful nature in the north of Sardinia. 

Best Time To Visit Sardinia

The best time to visit Sardinia is between April and June or September and October. During these months, the tourist season is not on its peak, and temperatures are convenient. It is not to warm, and there’s less rainfall. The southern part of the island is perfect for surfing and kitesurfing. And other parts are ideal for hiking. So the island has a lot to offer. Find out more on when to visit Sardinia in our article;  What is the Best time to visit Sardinia. 

8) Italian Food Road Trip in Emilio Romagna Region (Northern Italy)

Italy is, of course, best known for its unique and tasteful Italian cuisine. So how great would it be if you can explore the country and its unique food heritage? A road trip alongside the different cities where some of the best Italian food is originated. 

The northern part of Italy is somehow known as the best region to explore Italian cuisine. More specifically, the Emilio-Romagna region is known as the area where much world-famous Italian food is originated. Parmesan Cheese, and Parma ham in Parma. Bolognese sauce in Bologna, and the renowned balsamic vinegar from Modena. 

Also, some famous pasta’s like lasagna, tortellini, and gnocchi are made in the traditional way in this region. It has even one of the world’s best restaurant  Osteria Francescana   (according to  the world’s best 50 , this restaurant ranked #1 in 2016, 2018, and 2nd in 2017.)  It is hard to reserve a table because it is often fully booked. But maybe you’re in luck and can get a reservation, it’s worth a try! More information on the restaurant’s  website . 

Italian Food Route

Anyway if you can’t get a table at Osteria Fransecana don’t worry, there are many other great establishments you can try. Let’s find out the best route for exploring the Emilio-Romagna region (check out the map with driving instructions on Google Maps  here ). 

It is probably most convenient to fly into Florence. The city offers many connections both from Europe and intercontinental flights. However, when you’re traveling from another European city, it is also convenient to go directly to Bologna. There are many connections from major European cities to Bologna airport. 

So, let’s say you’re coming from the USA, you start in Florence on the first day. Give yourself some time to explore the unique historic city, which we mentioned earlier in this article. 

Bologna, Parma, Modena are the other cities I would recommend visiting. If you had more time, there’s a lot more to explore in this region as well! 

Bologna is not only known for the best Gelato in Europe, and maybe in the world! It is also known for its unique architecture, with classical porticos, connecting important buildings in the city. 

 I would recommend reading our article ‘ What is Bologna Famous For? ‘  before you’re going to the city. We tell you all the highlights of the famous city. 

After Bologna, it is time exploring Modena, not only known for one of the best restaurants in the world. Also, the place where Balsamic Vinegar is originated. There are many places where you can try this traditional, tasteful vinegar. 

Parma is the best-known place in this region regarding food. You can enjoy Parma ham, Parmesan Cheese. It is excellent to visit a food factory where you can learn how everything is made traditionally. We tell you more about the Parma highlights in our article;  What is Parma Famous For?

Getting Around Emilio Romagna

I would recommend renting a car to get around this area. When traveling in a car, you can easily explore the beautiful countryside as well. 

It is more convenient to visit some local farms and restaurants. In Italy, known as  Agriturismo.  Where you can often find the best food and hospitality. 

A different way of exploring this area is by renting an Italian Vespa scooter. Perfect for driving around the hilly countryside, and picking out a place in the hills where you can enjoy a traditional Italian picnic. 

Both ways of transportation are safe, and it is straightforward driving around in Italy. However, if your driving you can’t enjoy the Italian wines, so if you plan to have a wine tasting, you might want to book a tour where the transport is included! 😉 

Renting a Car in Italy

If you’re going to rent a car for one of these road trips, I would recommend using rentalcars.com . We always use them when renting a car in a different country. I find them trustworthy, and I like that it is basically a search engine, finding the best prices in the market. 

Make sure always renting a car with insurance, it is something I would recommend to double-check. Sometimes prices can change if you add insurance. You can also inform with WorldNomads, a great insurance company focused on travelers like you and me. 

Travel Insurance

Either if you need a car or full travel insurance, I would recommend using World Nomads . Their coverage is, from what I’ve seen, the best and most complete of every (online)travel insurance. And they’re not very expensive. Which is also an essential factor. 

WorldNomads offers a wide range of activities for their insurance, and they are incredibly flexible. If your travel plans change, you can just let them know, and easily change your insurance as well. 

Find out more about car rental and travel insurance on our  recommendations page . 

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One Week in Italy

Visiting Italy for one week? You are about to have an amazing trip, no doubt.

We have handwritten several guides that will help you with your Italy itinerary.

Let’s go to …

For the absolute best tours around the big, Italian cities, we highly recommend TakeWalks . They offer handcrafted, small tours. They also have exclusive access to some sights at nights.

Below you find all our guides to planning to travel Italy and Europe.

All our handwritten articles

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One week in Rome: The best 7 days itinerary

7 days in rome: the best one week itinerary + where to stay.

You’re planning to spend one week in Rome and you’re looking for the best itinerary?

You’re at the right place!

In order to help you plan your stay , I have prepared for you this 7 days itinerary in Rome. In this guide, you will find:

• All my best tips to avoid waiting in line and save a lot of time (and money!)
• The day to day itineraries , with details about your visits and my best tips
• My selection of the best hotels for your 7-day stay in Rome , depending on your budget.

And if you’re going to Rome as a family, I will also give you a few ideas of activities that will make your stay truly wonderful for your kids!

So, how to spend 1 week in Rome? Where to stay?

Let’s find out!

1. The Rome Tourist Card

2. the omnia card, 3. skip-the-line tickets for rome’s tourist attractions, one last tip for a perfect 7-day stay in rome, a. the colosseum, b. palatine hill, c. the roman forum, d. piazza del campidoglio / capitoline museums, e. piazza venezia / the monument to victor emmanuel ii, a. vatican museums and the sistine chapel, b. st. peter’s basilica, c. castel sant’angelo, a. piazza navona, b. the pantheon, c. the trevi fountain, d. the via condotti, e. the piazza di spagna (spanish steps), f. villa borghese gardens, a. the campo di fiori market, b. trastevere district, c. the aventine hill, d. the catacombs of rome, day 5 – day trip to tivoli, option 1: visit pompeii.

• Option 2. Visit Pompeii and Vesuvius

Option 3. Day at the beach Lido di Ostia

Day 7 – castel gandolfo, where to stay in rome, a week in rome with your family, more things to do during your 7 days inrome, map of your one week itinerary in rome, 7 days in rome: flight prices, you’re traveling in italy these articles will help you, how to avoid waiting in line (and save a lot of time) at rome’s tourist attractions.

You know it: Rome is for sure one of the most touristic cities in the world.

No matter in which season you’re planning your one week trip to Rome, you can expect to face huge waiting lines in front of the Colosseum or St Peter’s Basilica , the city’s iconic monuments.

But don’t worry, I am here to help!

In this guide, I will give you all my best tips to skip the waiting lines and optimize your visit to Rome.

So, here are the 3 solutions to avoid queuing and save a lot of time:

For your one week itinerary in Rome , one of the best solutions is to buy the “Rome Tourist Card” , sometimes also called “Rome City Pass” .

It includes priority entrance to Rome’s must see attractions. All skip the line tickets are sent by email , and you will get a 100% digital pass. This means you won’t have to collect anything from a ticket office.

This is really the most convenient way to avoid waiting in line during your 7-day visit to Rome!

Here is what’s included in the Rome Tourist Card:

• Priority entrance to the Colosseum with audio guide + Roman Forum + Palatine Hill
• Guided visit (skip the line) for St. Peter’s Basilica + audio guide
• Skip the line ticket to the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel
• 10% discount on museums (Castel Sant’Angelo, Borghese Gallery), guided tours (Tour of the Catacombs, Rome by bike) and excursions around Rome (Florence, Venice …)

To buy your Rome Tourist Card, simply click on the green button:

There is another option to save time and money during your 7-day stay in Rome: buying the Omnia Card .

Even if it also includes skip the line tickets for the most popular tourist attractions, this card is only valid for 3 days . This means that you will have to group the visits included in the Omnia Card during the first days of your stay.

Hopefully, I have organized this itinerary in a way that will make your purchase of the Omnia Card, also known as the “Vatican and Rome Pass” , profitable:

• During the 3 first days, you will visit tourist sites included in the Omnia Card
• The rest of the week, you will do free visits and/or day trips around Rome.

Here are tourist attractions you can access with your Omnia Card:

• Priority entrance to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel
• St. Peter’s Basilica: priority ticket + audio guide
• St. Peter’s Prison: skip the line ticket + audio guide
• Basilica of St. John Lateran and the cloister: skip the line ticket + audio guide
• The Colosseum, Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum
• Castel Sant’Angelo
• Borghese Gallery
• Capitoline Museums
• Free access to all public transport for 3 days in Rome
• Discounts for some activities and museums
• 1 ticket for Rome Hop-On Hop-Off tourist Bus

To buy your Omnia Card, you need to click on the green button below:

You’re hesitating between the Omnia Card and the Rome Tourist Card?

It’s very simple, you will just have to decide if you want to take public transportation and what you want to visit:

• You don’t want to use public transportation or visit the entire Vatican? Then the Rome City Pass is cheaper for your 7 days in Rome.
• You plan to take the bus and want to visit as much of the Vatican as possible? The Omnia Card is the best choice.

Your 3rd option to visit Rome in 1 week is to buy skip-the-line tickets for each attraction separately.

You can also book all your entrance tickets, guided visits, activities and excursions in advance . It’s also a great way to avoid unnecessary waiting and save money !

Here is the list of the best skip-the-line tickets for your one-week stay in Rome.

To check prices and to book, simply click on the orange links below (you will also find them throughout the article):

• The Colosseum
• St. Peter’s Basilica
• The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel
• The Pantheon
• St. John Lateran Basilica
• Villa Borghese
• Hop-on Hop-Off tourist bus
• The Catacombs of Rome

Be careful of where you buy your tickets from!

To book tickets, guided tours and activities in Rome, you should always book on one of these 2 websites (the ones I always use):

• Getyourguide

They are reliable and safe, selling only official tickets. You should bookmark them!

If you already know your travel dates (or as soon as you will have them!) , you should really book your accommodation.

As Rome is one of the most touristic cities in the world , the hotels offering the best value for money are often fully booked months in advance.

As a seasoned traveler, I can assure you that it’s always by planning as far in advance as possible that I’ve found the best hotels or apartments deals.

You agree that it would be a shame to somewhat ruin your stay in Rome by ending up in a not-so-great hotel that costed you a fortune, right? 😅

So your best bet is to take 5 minutes now to have a look at  traveler’s favorite hotels in Rome.

And if you like one of the hotels you find, book it!

It’s fast, it’s easy and most accommodation offer free cancellation. That’s the best way to protect yourself from the inconvenience of finding nothing but mediocre rooms at exorbitant prices.

To check the best hotels deals in Rome, simply click on the green button below:

After securing your dream stay, it’s time to continue reading this guide!

Visiting Rome in 1 week: the best itinerary

Let’s now start your 7-day itinerary in Rome!

For each day, I will give you all the details you need to plan your visits + a map that will allow you to visualize your itinerary a bit better.

I’m assuming you will be staying in Rome for 7 full days and that you will be using the Rome Tourist Card / Omnia Card or have purchased skip-the-line tickets . It’s the best way to save time and money during your one week stay!

If you still have questions after reading this guide (or need help organizing your holiday), don’t hesitate to ask me in the comments section located at the very end of this article.

So, what are the best places to visit in Rome in 7 days?

Day 1 – Ancient Rome

Day 1 visits:

A. The Colosseum B. The Roman Forum C. Palatine Hill D. Piazza del Campidoglio / The Capitoline Museums E. Piazza Venezia / The monument to Victor Emmanuel II

Let’s start your one week itinerary in Rome with one of the most famous monument of the city: the Colosseum.

This impressive arena was the largest amphitheater of the ancient Rome. Despite a few missing pieces, the Colosseum is still standing and as impressive as ever!

It was able to host more than 50 000 spectators, who came to the Colosseum to watch the famous gladiatorial combats, animals fights and Roman games.

In addition to these rather bloody shows, the Colosseum also hosted theatrical performances or reconstructions of famous battles.

During your visit, you will be able to discover the first two floors, the central arena and the underground tunnels where the animals were kept.

As there is always a huge waiting line at the entrance, you should buy your skip the line ticket in advance.  All tickets to the Colosseum also includes access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

If you have bought the Rome Tourist Card or the Omnia Card, the entrance to the Colosseum is included.

In order to help you find your way around all the different tickets, I have prepared a list of all tickets for the Colosseum (click here) .

As all tickets for the Colosseum are not always available (for a given date, there is a limited number of tickets of each type , and they are sold out very quickly!), the orange links take you directly to the page with all Colosseum tickets.

Simply choose the one that suits you best on that page.

Of course, if you already know your travel dates, book quickly to ensure you can visit the monument.

To sum it up, the best ticket in my opinion is the “ Colosseum + Arena + Roman Forum + Palatine Hill”:

If you want to learn everything about the fascinating history of the Colosseum, you should o pt for the following guided visit:

Guided tour: Colosseum + Roman Forum + Palatine Hill

And if you have no budget restrictions, I highly recommend you to take the VIP guided tour : VIP Guided Tour: Colosseum (+ Underground + Arena) + Roman Forum + Palatine Hill.

It will allow you to access exclusive places like the arena or the underground of the Colosseum!

You won’t visit Rome every day, and that’s the best guided tour to the Colosseum and my personal choice:

After leaving the Colosseum, you can head to Palatine Hill to continue your visit (with the same entrance ticket as the Colosseum).

Legend has it that Romulus and Remus, the founders of the city, once lived on this hill.

Wander freely among the ruins without missing the superb view from the top of the hill . You will also have the opportunity to admire what remains of the residence of Augustus , the first Roman emperor.

The 3rd archaeological site included in your Colosseum ticket is the Roman Forum.

The Roman forum was the heart of the ancient Rome . There, you will be able to admire ruins of administrative buildings, the ancient market and several temples.

A guided visit is recommended, as it makes the visit a lot more interesting. You need to book your guided visit by clicking here!

Let’s continue your day in the historic centre of Rome by visiting the Piazza del Campidoglio, located only a 15 minute walk from the Roman Forum.

This beautiful square , designed by Michelangelo , is surrounded by 3 palaces: the Palazzo dei Senatori , the Palazzo dei Conservatori and the Palazzo Nuovo .

They are commonly called the “Capitoline Museums”. They house famous works , including paintings by Tintoretto and Caravaggio , as well as the famous statue of the She-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus

To visit the Capitoline Museums, you need to buy your tickets by clicking here.

End the first day of your 1 week trip to Rome by going to Piazza Venezia, only 5 minutes away from the Piazza del Campidoglio.

You will immediately recognize this square thanks to the huge Victor Emmanuel II Monument , made of white marble. On Piazza Venezia, you can also admire the famous Trajan column , featuring engraved scenes of military exploits.

Spend your first night in Rome

Where to stay in Rome

In order to help you out, here are my 5 favorite hotels of the city, each in a different price category.

And as always, if you already know your travel dates, book your hotel right now! In Rome, the best hotels are fully booked very quickly.

• Biancaluna: B&B located near Termini Station, 1.5 km from the Colosseum. Modern, comfortable and very clean room from 70€. Strong points: the warm welcome and the advice to visit Rome, the location. An excellent choice for a cheap stay in Rome!
• Hotel Balilla: Located 1.6 km from the Colosseum and close to a metro station. Well-equipped and quiet double room, impeccably clean, from 99€, breakfast at 5€. Strong points: the friendly staff, the comfort of the beds, the location at 10 min walk from the Colosseum. This is our favorite for its excellent value for money!
• Alice Vatican House : Located 450 meters from St. Peter’s Square. Contemporary room with neat decoration from 95 € per night, breakfast included. Strong points: ideal location, terrace overlooking the Vatican, warm welcome. This is the best choice for your stay in Rome under 120 euros!
• MZ Hotel: Located near the Campo di Fiori and not far from the Pantheon. Modern double room from 150€, breakfast at 12€. Strong points: the location near the historical center, the warm welcome, good bedding, new hotel.
• Roma Luxus Hôtel : High end hotel located at only 400 meters from Piazza Venezia. Beautiful double room starting at 200€ per night, breakfast at 20€. Strong points: The room design, the 5 stars service, the superb breakfast, the spa, the amazing staff. It’s the best hotel for a high end stay in Rome!
• NH Collection Roma Fori Imperiali: This 5* hotel located right next to the Roman Forum offers sublime rooms from 580€, breakfast included. Strong points: the exceptional location, the attentive staff, the view, the comfort. This is my recommendation for a luxury stay in Rome!

if you want to save a bit of money, you can find an accommodation around Rome. I recommend you he bungalows of Camping Village Rome , located at only 15 minutes by car from the Vatican city.

The price starts at only 30€ per night! It’s the best “budget” solution if you don’t mind not being in the city center. It’s also a great choice for families, with the swimming pool!

Day 2 – Discovering the Vatican

Day 2 visits:

A. The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel B. St. Peter’s Basilica C. Castel Sant’Angelo

During your 7-day trip to Rome , you should devote a whole day to visiting the Vatican, the smallest country in the world.

You should start by visiting the Vatican museums , a huge museum regrouping more than 13 museums. You will have to opt for one of the predefined itineraries for your visit (from 1h30 to 5h) depending on the time you wish to spend in the museums.

No matter which itinerary you will choose, they all end with the highlight of the show: the famous Sistine Chapel!

You should really buy your skip the line ticket before going to the Vatican Museums to avoid wasting hours queuing!

You can get the tickets by clicking on the button below or you can enter the museums directly if you have the Omnia Card or the Rome Tourist Card .

After the museums, have lunch in one of the many restaurants around the Vatican and continue your visit with St Peter’s Basilica .

Located on St. Peter’s Square, St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the most visited monuments in the world.

Even if the entrance to the basilica is free of charge , you should really purchase a priority entrance as there is always at least 2 hours of waiting line before being able to get inside.

During your visit, you will for sure be amazed by the interior of the basilica. There, You can admire the baroque decorations , Michelangelo’s huge dome , the papal vaults and the statue of Saint Peter.

You can also go to the top of the dome (for a fee) to enjoy a superb view of the surrounding area .

St. Peter’s Basilica ticket + Audio guide

Guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica (cut line) + dome + crypt (the most complete!)

At the end of your day at the Vatican, walk down Via della Conciliazione, back to Rome.

In about 10 minutes, you will arrive at Castel Sant’Angelo .

This castle was built under the orders of the Emperor Hadrian and was used as a refuge for the popes during attacks.

While visiting the castle, you will discover the former apartments of the popes, ancient tombs, as well as some of the ancient weaponry used to defend the castle. Don’t forget to go for a walk on the ramparts, they offer really beautiful views over the city.

The castle visit will take you 1 to 2h.

When leaving the castle, you will pass by St. Angelo bridge located just in front. It passes over the Tiber and offers a beautiful view of the river and the city at sunset.

You need to book your ticket to visit the castle by clicking on the button below:

Day 3 – Rome’s historic centre

Day 3 visits:

A. Piazza Navona B. The Pantheon C. The Trevi Fountain D. Via del Corso / Via Condotti E. The Piazza di Spagna F. Villa Borghese

Your one week trip to Rome continues!

On this third day, you will visit the historic centre .

You can for example start at the superb Piazza Navona . This square, for sure one of the most beautiful squares of the Italian capital seems to be coming straight out of romantic film!

Fountains, cobbled floor, picturesque cafés and street artists, everything is here.

Enjoy a good breakfast on one of the terraces surrounding the square, take a bit of time to walk around and take a few pictures. It will then be time to head to your next stop: The Pantheon.

The Pantheon is located just a few metres away from Piazza Navona .

Built during ancient Rome, it houses the tombs of Emperor Victor Emmanuel II , the painter Rafael and many other historical figures that you can discover inside.

Since July 2023, access to the Pantheon has been subject to a charge and requires an admission ticket (cost: €5) . To visit, you should book your ticket on the official website .

And if you want to get more historical information , it’s better to get the fast track ticket + audioguide by clicking here:

And for more detailed explanations, you can also choose a guided tour of the Pantheon by clicking here!

The Trevi fountain is an absolute must-see during a 7-day itinerary in Rome!

Considered one of the most beautiful fountains in Europe, it attracts millions of tourists every year and is only a 10 minute walk from the Pantheon .

It’s indeed a highly touristy place, so be prepared to see a rather large crowd gathered around the fountain. Visitors like to take pictures and throw coins, but the Trevi Fountain is above all a beautiful work of art .

The fountain’s basin is dominated by a statue of the God Neptune , enhanced by the baroque monument just behind it .

A week in Rome will for sure give you time for a bit of shopping in the historic centre.

Starting from the Trevi fountain, take Via del Corso, one of the main shopping street in Rome. It’s the place to go if you’re looking for the big brands like H&M and Zara.

If Italian luxury brands like Prada or Gucci are more your thing (or you want to do some window shopping!), you should rather go to Via Condotti, a little further on.

And if you don’t feel like shopping, simply pass by these streets quickly, as they will lead you to your next stop.

Rome’s Piazza di Spagna (not to be confused with the square of the same name in Seville !) is a beautiful and picturesque cobbled square .

Also called “the Spanish Steps” in English, it’s located at the foot of a large staircase that leads to the church of Trinità dei Monti.

In this square you can experience the authentic atmosphere of the Italian ‘dolce vita ‘. Simply relax and enjoy a good snack or drink!

Located just a few steps away from the Piazza di Spagna, Villa Borghese and its gardens are the perfect place to end this day of visits.

Here, you can:

• Take a stroll and enjoy the greenery of the most beautiful public gardens in Rome.
• Admire the many fountains and statues
• Take a boat ride on the lake
• Visit the botanical garden
• Visit the Biopark , a zoo with more than 1000 animals
• The Borghese Gallery
• The National Etruscan Museum
• The National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art.

Day 4 – What to do and see in Rome?

Day 4 visits:

A. Campo di Fiori market B. Trastevere district C. The Aventine hill D. The catacombs of Rome

For your 4th day in Rome, let’s get off the beaten track a bit.

First, you can head to Campo di Fiori market to immerse yourself in the local culture and do a bit of food shopping.

It’s located in the historical centre and is open every morning (except Sunday). This very authentic market is one of the cheapest in Rome.

To make the most of your visit to the market, you should really opt for a guided food tour!

You will get the opportunity to taste the best local products with your guide, while he tells you more about italian gastronomy.

This tour is actually so good that a full refund is offered if you are not satisfied!

To book the best food tour in Rome, you just have to click on the button below :

Located on the right bank of the Tiber , this small, quiet and popular district is still relatively little known by tourists (that probably won’t last as it’s becoming more and more crowded lately).

Here you will not find imposing historical monuments, but you will be able to enjoy the local life: small cobbled streets, flowery gardens , typical Italian squares , cafés and craft shops . A beautiful walk in perspective.

You should climb the Janiculum hill, on the the north of the district, to admire a magnificent panoramic view of Rome.

Let’s continue our visit and head to the Aventine hill , about 20 minutes walk from Trastevere (or 10 minutes by bus).

This peaceful district also features many gardens and pretty alleys to take a stroll in the sun. Located on the hillside, it offers a breathtaking view of Rome .

On the Aventine Hill, you can also:

• Visit the Basilica of Santa Sabina
• Unravel the mystery of the Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta : people queue up to look through the keyhole of this door… Why do they do this? I’ll let you find the answer by going there!

To end your fourth day on an original note, you can visit the catacombs of Rome.

The largest are the catacombs of Saint Calixtus (15 hectares!), that were once used as a cemetery for Jews and Christians . You can see several tombs as well as scenes of life engraved on the walls.

For safety reasons, you can only visit the catacombs with a guide. The guided visit lasts about 30 minutes and needs to be booked by clicking here!

You can also visit other catacombs:

• The catacombs of San Sebastian
• Domitilla’s catacombs
• The catacombs of Priscilla
• The crypt of the Capuchins (the easiest to reach, right next to the Trevi Fountain).

To visit them, you need to buy your tickets directly here.

During your 4 full days in Rome, you’ve had the time to get an excellent overview of the city.

So for the 3 remaining days, you should explore the surroundings of Rome. There is a lot to discover!

Your first excursion will take you to Tivoli , about 30 kilometres from Rome.

This town is home to 2 of the most beautiful Italian villas : the Villa d’Este and the Villa of the Emperor Hadrian (the largest architectural complex in Imperial Rome).

To get there, you should opt for a guided day trip. It’s for sure the most convenient way to visit these palaces and gardens!

The tour includes the transport from Rome, the lunch, and the guide. To book it, simply click on the button below:

Day 6 – Visit Pompeii or a day at the beach

For your sixth day in Rome, I offer you 3 options to choose from:

Visiting Rome in 1 week will give you the opportunity to visit Pompeii, the famous ancient city located close to Naples.

Pompeii, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the best places to visit around Rome. As you probably know, this ancient Roman city was suddenly engulfed by lava in 79 AD during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius . It was then rediscovered only in the 17th century!

Because of the volcanic sediments, the entire city was “frozen” and preserved. Thus, the ruins of Pompeii still bear witness to the ancient Roman civilization and allow you to take an incredible journey back in time.

You can see the streets, almost intact buildings and even well preserved bodies .

To get there, you can book a round trip shuttle bus from Rome . The departure is at 7.15 am and the return at 7 pm. This shuttle will allow you to reach Pompeii easily and then you will visit the site on your own.

A skip the line ticket for Pompeii archaeological site is included in the price.

You need to book your day trip to Pompeii by clicking on the button below:

And if you prefer to opt for an all included day trip to Pompeii (shuttle bus + lunch + guided visit to Pompeii), it’s there:

Option 2. V isit Pompeii and Vesuvius

Your second option is to book a day trip that includes a visit to Mount Vesuvius, in addition to the visit to Pompeii.

After exploring Pompeii, you will be guided to the crater of the volcano and will be able to enjoy a great view over Naples.

This tour also includes the lunch: an authentic Neapolitan pizza!

You need to book your guided tour to Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius here:

If you prefer to opt for a relax day at the beach , then your third option is to spend your 6th day in Ostia

This small coastal town is only 15 km south of Rome and offers a few beaches such as the Lido di Ostia.

You can get there by car, taxi or train to avoid the heavy traffic in Rome. A great way to spend a relaxing day away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

To end your 7-day trip to Rome in style, you can spend a day in Castel Gandolfo .

This small town located on the outskirts of Rome (40 minutes drive) is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy . It has also been the place of retreat of the popes for several centuries!

The village is built on the top of a hill, overlooking Lake Albano, a volcanic crater lake.

Things to see in Castel Gandolfo:

• The Papal Palace and Papal Residences
• The church of St. Thomas of Villanova
• Villa Barberini and its antiquities
• Lake Albano
• The archaeological site of Ninfeo Dorico.

You’re now almost ready for your 1 week itinerary in Rome.

Let’s now see another important point: Where to stay during your trip!

To discover the best places to visit in 7 days in Rome, you will need to book a hotel.

In order to help you out, I have prepared a selection of my 7 favorite hotels depending on your budget.

You should really book your hotel as soon as possible , the best deals usually don’t last long!

So, where to stay in Rome?

• NH Collection Roma Fori Imperiali: This 5* hotel located right next to the Roman Forum offers sublime rooms from 580€, breakfast included. Strong points: the exceptional location, the attentive staff, the view, the comfort. This is our recommendation for a luxury stay in Rome!

If you’re going to visit Rome in 7 days with your family , here are a few ideas of activities your kids will for sure enjoy:

• The impressive Colosseum is a must see for adult and children alike. Tell them a bit about the gladiators for instant fascination!
• Villa Borghese gardens are a great place to spend time with your family thanks to the picnic and play areas, the bike paths, the boat rides and the visit to the Biopark ( tickets for sale here ).
• The gladiator school will offer your kids the opportunity to dress up in traditional gladiatorial clothing and get a sword fighting training! A truly original activity for your 7-day family trip to Rome. Click here to book this activity!
• The Explora Museum is a very well done fun museum with many activities for the youngest. This activity can be included in the third day of this itinerary.
• Pompeii and its unique history are also sure to please the whole family.

If you’re looking for an original and fun activity to do with your family, I also recommend you this Italian cooking class organized near the Trevi Fountain.

Under the guidance of a real Italian chef, you will learn how to prepare an authentic Italian pizza . Of course, you will be able to taste your work at the end of the course!

This pizza making course + dinner must be booked by clicking here.

This suggested itinerary allows you to see the best attractions Rome and its surroundings has to offer in a week .

And as it’s perfectly optimized, you won’t waste time going back and forth in the city.

However, if you want to change or add activities , you should read my other article about the 25 best places to visit in Rome . It will for sure help you to finalize your itinerary!

You can read it here: The 25 best things to do in Rome.

To help you visualize your daily itineraries during your 7 days in Rome, I have created this map with all the places to visit day by day . You can view the map’s legend by clicking on the top left button, the one with a little arrow.

You can thus see the suggested itineraries for each day.

As always, you should book your plane tickets as early as possible to get the best prices.

To check the rates and schedules for flights to Dubai , you can use our flight comparator, in partnership with Skyscanner:

Now, you know how to visit Rome in a week!

You need help to plan your 7 days itinerary in Rome? Don’t hesitate to ask me your questions in the comments section below!

Italy travel Guides

• Buy the Lonely Planet Italy guide on Amazon.com or on Amazon.co.uk
• Buy the Rick Steves Italy guide on Amazon.com or on Amazon.co.uk

Discover all my articles about Italy : All my articles to help you plan your trip to Italy are listed there.

Where to stay in Rome? – The definitive guide of the best areas!

• Colosseum: The 7 best skip the line tickets
• Milan: The Top 15 things to do in the city and around
• Rome: The 25 Best Places to visit
• Turin: The 20 must-see attractions

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Creator of the Voyage Tips blog, travel and photography lover. I give you all my best tips to plan your next trip.

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Travel Contests: June 26th, 2024 - Italy, Australia, Disney World, & more

H ere are this week’s travel contests. You can win trips to Scotland; Canada; Costa Rica; Australia; Italy; Jamaica; Disney World in Orlando, Florida; California; New Zealand; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; and more.

Good luck! Be sure to subscribe to my weekly newsletter so you don’t miss any sweepstakes, and please share this post with friends who might take you along if they win!

Win a trip to Scotland

• win the Grand Prize, including a trip to Scotland , 2 rounds of golf for you and a guest at the famed St Andrews Links, hotel accommodations at Rusacks St Andrews, a $500 shopping spree at the St Andrews Links by TravisMathew store, a $700 Callaway gift card and an OGIO Shadow Golf Bag + Alpha Mid Travel Cover + Terminal Bag
• must be a legal resident of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec) at age of majority and at least 18 years of age in your jurisdiction
• Read about the best craft beer in Glasgow, Scotland
• Read about a day trip to Bothwell Castle from Glasgow
• Read about the Clydeside Distillery
• Read about the Museum of Edinburgh
• Read about the People’s Story Museum
• Read about the Museum on the Mound
• Read about craft beer in Edinburgh
• Enter by June 27, 2024

Win a trip to Canada

• Be our guest! The ATP & WTA will bring a grand prize winner and guest to Canada this August for the 2024 National Bank Open presented by Rogers.
• The Grand Prize winner will be able to choose between the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Montreal or the WTA 1000 in Toronto.

The Grand Prize includes:

A trip for two to the National Bank Open presented by Rogers

Roundtrip travel to the tournament city (Toronto or Montreal)

Three nights hotel accommodation

Tickets for two tournament sessions

• Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & D.C., Canada and the United Kingdom who are 18+ at time of entry
• Enter by June 26, 2024

Win a trip to Costa Rica

• One Grand Prize Package
• 7 Nights at Surf Synergy Costa Rica for two people including five surf lessons, five-star meals, yoga and breathwork training and more redeemable during the summer 2024 season (based on availability)
• Airfare up to $1000 USD from Mountain Gazette
• Split Roller and Split Adventure Bags for two from Dakine
• Blanket Shirt, Jeans, Hooded Sun Shirt, and Trunks from Outerknown
• $300 Gift Card for travel belts from Arcade Belts
• Westslope Sunglasses and Flagship Hats from Glade Optics
• Towels, Changing Poncho, and Fanny Packs for Two from Nomadix
• $200 USD in merchandise from Mountain Gazette
• Entrant and potential guest must be at least 21 years of age or older by date of entry and a permanent legal resident of the 48 contiguous United States and District of Columbia
• Enter by June 28, 2024

Win a trip to Australia

• Four return international/domestic economy class flights with Qantas to Brisbane, Queensland Australia, from the winner’s nearest capital city
• One-night stay at Peppers Broadbeach, Gold Coast
• Four day passes to Dreamworld
• Three-night stay at Mantra Southbank, Brisbane
• An exclusive money-can’t-buy experience at Bluey’s World Brisbane
• Two-night stay at The Crocodile Hunter Lodge
• A Native Animal Encounter experience at Australia Zoo
• One-night stay at Mantra French Quarter Noosa, Sunshine Coast
• Two-night stay at Habitat Noosa Everglades Eco Camp
• Four tickets to an Everglades Eco Tour;
• Four return domestic economy flights with Qantas to Cairns from Brisbane;
• 3-night stay at Novotel Oasis, Cairns
• Day trip for four to the Frankland Islands, Great Barrier Reef
• 4 tickets to Kuranda Scenic Railway, Skyrail and Rainforestation day tour;
• $1000 AUD spending money.
• Enter by June 30, 2024

Win a trip to Italy

• There will be one (1) Prize awarded. The prize winner (“Winner”) will receive the following prize package (“Prize”): six (6) nights’ trip for the Winner plus one (1) guest to Tuscany, Italy (“Trip”). Trip will include:
• Six (6) Nights Hotel accommodations;
• Roundtrip airline transportation for two (2) to Prize destination in Italy; and
• One elaborate cooking class for the Winner and his/her guest.
• open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, Canada (excluding Quebec), and Puerto Rico, twenty-one (21) years of age or older

Win a trip to Jamaica

• One (1) grand prize will be awarded. The grand prize consists of: a trip for two (2) people (winner and one guest, age 21 or older) to Jamaica to attend Reggae Sumfest with scheduled travel dates of Friday, 7/19/2024 – Monday, 7/22/2024.
• Grand Prize award includes: round trip coach class airfare for two (2) people (winner and one guest age 21 or older) from the Sponsor designated airport servicing winner’s residential home metro area to the Sponsor designated airport servicing Montego Bay, Jamaica; hotel accommodations for two (2) people—one room, double occupancy—for three (3) nights at the Sponsor designated hotel in the Montego Bay, Jamaica (Friday, 7/19/2024 – Monday, 7/22/2024); two (2) tickets to Reggae Sumfest for Friday, 7/19/2024 and Saturday, 7/20/2024; and one (1) $500 gift card towards a travel stipend from the sponsor designated gift card provider.

Win a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida

• The package features:

Round-trip coach airfare for four people to Orlando, Florida

Ground Transportation in Orlando, Florida

Accommodations for four nights

Four Five-Day Theme Park Tickets with Park Hopper® Option

One Disney Gift Card with a value of $300

One Welcome Treats Basket

• You must be 18 or older and a legal U.S. resident to be entered. Tennessee residents are not eligible. 

Win a trip to California

• A total of one (1) Grand-prize will be offered in the Sweepstakes. Grand-prize winner and a guest will receive a trip for two to Northern California to include three nights (3) accommodations, roundtrip economy-class airfare, credit for rental car for duration of stay, (1) $300 AMEX pre-paid gift card for spending money, a tour of the Redwood Empire Distillery and a commemorative gift bag.

Win a trip to New Zealand

• The winner will receive a trip to New Zealand :
• Roundtrip Premium Economy class air transportation for two (2) from any of Air New Zealand’s gateways in the United States to Auckland , New Zealand on Air New Zealand. Three (3) night’s hotel accommodations at Sudima Auckland City.
• open to any individual who is: A legal resident of the 48 contiguous United States, excluding Rhode Island and New York and Florida; twenty-one (21) years of age and older
• Read about craft beer in Auckland, New Zealand
• Read about New Year’s Eve in Auckland, New Zealand
• Read about visiting museums in Auckland, New Zealand
• Read about a wine tour in Nelson, New Zealand
• Read about craft beer in Nelson, New Zealand
• Read about craft beer in Queenstown, New Zealand
• Read about taking a Lord of the Rings tour in Queenstown, New Zealand
• Read about eating at Fergburger in Queenstown, New Zealand
• Read about taking a day trip to Milford Sound from Queenstown, New Zealand
• Read about craft beer in Wellington, New Zealand
• Read about Weta Workshop in Wellington, New Zealand
• Read about museums and parks in Wellington, New Zealand
• Read about the ferry from the South Island to the North Island in New Zealand
• Enter by July 4, 2024

Win a trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

• You could win a 3-night stay for two at Hard Rock Hotel in Punta Cana with roundtrip airline tickets courtesy of Apple Vacations.
• open to anyone who is at least eighteen (18) years of age and has reached the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence at the time of opt-in (19 in Alabama and Nebraska; 21 in Mississippi) and a resident of the United States of America and the District of Columbia (excluding residents of Alaska, Hawaii, Rhode Island, overseas military installations, Puerto Rico, and other U.S. Territories)
• Enter by July 5, 2024

Go on an adventure at home or when you’re away with a tour or activity via Get Your Guide .

Which travel giveaway are you most excited about winning this week?

Why not share this post with your friends? If they win, maybe they’ll take you!

Want to see the newest travel contests? Go here !

The post Travel Contests: June 26th, 2024 – Italy, Australia, Disney World, & more appeared first on Everybody Hates A Tourist .

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Explore Italy, Spain, Czech Republic, Morocco for less than £200 with easyJet

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Looking to whizz off on a city break but don’t want to break the bank?

EasyJet , everyone’s favourite budget airline, has reduced the prices of a load of last-minute getaways, with prices starting as low as £125pp for a two night trip.

Whether you’re a fan of quite, cobbled Italian streets or the hubbub of a Marrakech souk, there’s plenty of stunning destinations close enough to London to warrant a quick trip full of culture.

From a sleek stay in Milan to a Prague break bustling with beer, and even a sun-soaked stint in Barcelona , we’ve found the best city-breaks to snap up now for under £200pp .

And yes, that includes flights from a London airport, 23kg hold luggage and your hotel. Bargain? We think that’s an understatement.

Explore our affordable easyJet top picks below . You’re welcome.

SB Plaza Europa – Barcelona, Spain

Fly from London Gatwick and enjoy a stunning two night stay in Barcelona for under £200pp. The SB Plaza Europa, less than 10 minutes from metro stations, offers a sleek blend of style, comfort and convenience, boasting a stunning rooftop pool with poolside bar and city views.

Grandior Hotel Prague – Prague, Czech Republic

Fly from London Gatwick for a two night Prague stay from just £175pp. You'll stay at the Grandior Hotel Prague – an elegant, five-star hotel perfectly placed about a 10-minute walk from the Old Town, equip with a tasty bistro buffet and sleek lobby bar.

Diwane Marrakech – Marrakech, Morocco

Fly from London Gatwick to Marraceck for a Moroccan holiday you'll never forget. Located in the city centre, the Diwane Marrakech hotel is ideally situated to explore Marrakech and visit its cultural sites, with a refreshing outdoor pool to cool off after a day exploring.

Mariano Cubi – Barcelona, Spain

Fly from London Gatwick for a Barcelona break that's perfect for the self-catering holiday-goers. Located a short walk from the iconic Avenida Diagonal – which is a whopping 10km long and cuts the city in two – this family friendly hotel offers a number of rooms with kitchenettes, featuring everything you need to rustle up a meal whenever you like.

B&B Hotel Milano Sesto – Milan, Italy

Fly from London Gatwick and stay in the heart of Italy for less. Situated just 200 metres from a Metro Station that takes you directly to Cathedral Square, the hotel offers a cosy room with a memory mattress and unlimited Wi-Fi, the perfect base for exploring the beautiful city.

Smart Hotel Holiday – Venice, Italy

Fly from London Gatwick and enjoy an unmissable break in the stunning city of Venice from just £161pp. Just a 20-minute bus ride to the centre of Venice, this sleek hotel is the perfect base for exploring the gorgeous city, while the Canareggio District (where this hotel is situated) offers historical museums, art galleries, and restaurants that specialise in Jewish cuisine.

Latest London news

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To get the latest news from the capital visit Metro.co.uk's London news hub .

Tiempo Hotel – Naples, Italy

Fly from London Gatwick to gorgeously sunny Naples for a break filled with Italian bliss from just £169pp. Situated just 600 metres from the metro station and 5 minutes’ away from the train line, this hotel provides an ideal base to explore the city, also boasting a stunning tranquil roof terrace perfect for sipping Aperol with a view.

Domus Sessoriana – Rome, Italy

Fly from London Gatwick to Italian's capital in this utterly affordable city break. Situated just 0.3km from Rome's city centre, this hotel is the perfect location for travelers eager for curiosity and adventure. Enjoy a drink on the rooftop terrace with inmissable views of everything from the Cistercian orchards and gardens to the stunning city and its inhabitants.

Elite Hotel & Spa – Venice, Italy

Fly from London Gatwick to the unique paradise of Venice from less than £170. The hotel is in the Mestre neighbourhood, across the Liberty Bridge in a more modern part of the city that's easy to get to Venice’s top sights from by public transport. The hotel itself boasts a stunning indoor pool, Finnish sauna, Turkish bath, and relaxation area, perfect for relaxing post-exploration.

B&B HOTEL Prague City – Prague, Czech Rebublic

Fly from London Luton for an unmissable stay in Prague, currently from an unbeatable price of £125pp. B&B Hotel Prague-City is the prime place to rest in a quiet neighbourhood after busy days exploring Prague. Before you head out for the day, be sure to fill up on the hotel's delicious buffet breakfast spread, which is included in the price.

Riad Shaden – Marrakech, Morocco

Fly from London Gatwick to this stunning riad in Marrakech from just £128pp. Set in a traditional, residential area of the medina, yet only a 15 minutes' walk from the famous Place Djemaa al Fna, this stunning and authentic riad welcomes you to stay in its charming accommodation. With secluded and sunny rooftop terrace, traditional Moroccan dishes prepared on-site (with breakfast included in the price) and individually designed rooms, you'll feel right at home.

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Why Is Biden Going to Europe Twice in a Week?

President Biden made two back-to-back round trips to Europe, separated by about 60 hours on the ground at home.

By David E. Sanger

David E. Sanger has covered five presidencies.

Air Force One is plenty comfortable if you are its most privileged frequent flier, with a comfortable bedroom and a spacious office.

Still, most American presidents will try to avoid making two back-to-back round trips to Europe, separated by about 60 hours on the ground at home. Yet that is what President Biden is pulling off this week.

“The president’s schedule is jam-packed. It is,” said Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary. “There is a lot to be done on behalf of the American people.”

Mr. Biden left the United States for D-Day celebrations in France last Wednesday, June 5; stayed the weekend for a state dinner in Paris; and returned to his home in Delaware late Sunday. He left Washington again early Wednesday, June 12, to fly to the southeast coast of Italy for the annual gathering the Group of 7, the traditional summit of leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.

When Mr. Biden looks back at those two round trips — roughly a day and a half of flying, all told — he may remember only what happened in between: the conviction of his only living son, Hunter Biden, on charges of lying to obtain a gun permit.

But the two round trips raise the question: Why didn’t he just stay in Europe for a couple days, play a round of golf, visit some American troops, maybe huddle with a foreign leader or two? He is, after all, 81, and some of his aides who are half his age were complaining about lost sleep cycles.

The White House’s explanation for four trans-Atlantic crossings in nine days was simply that Mr. Biden had commitments in Washington. But by presidential standards, his public schedule looked light: a lunch with Vice President Kamala Harris, a Juneteenth concert and a speech to a gun-safety group.

Hunter Biden’s trial also loomed over the planning, though it was impossible to know when these trips were planned that the case would go to the jury and a verdict would be rendered in the three days between the D-Day trip and the G7 meeting. As it turned out, Mr. Biden shuttled back to Delaware on Tuesday afternoon to be with his son before taking off again in the morning.

But privately, some aides said there were election-year optics to be considered. There was no urgent reason to stay in Europe, and a few down days “might not look right,” one of Mr. Biden’s advisers conceded, though the aide quickly added that Mr. Biden never really took a down day. In any case, no one wanted images of the president on what his political opponents might cast as a European holiday, at least while he is running for re-election. A long weekend in Rehoboth, the Delaware town where he and his wife, Jill, have a beach house, might be one thing; a few days in France or Italy have an entirely different look.

The presidency, of course, is the ultimate work-from-anywhere job. There are instant communications (a White House van, bristling with antennas, travels in every motorcade) and a staff of hundreds ready to cater to every contingency, whether that involves sending off a thank-you note or launching a retaliatory nuclear strike.

The intolerance for seeing presidents abroad, save for work, has a long history. Franklin D. Roosevelt loved to camp at Campobello Island, in Canada, though as president he kept the visits brief. When Harry S. Truman went to Potsdam, Germany, to negotiate with Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill about what post-World War II Europe would look like, he stayed for more than two weeks. There were days off from the negotiations, but not for long, and the nearest big city, Berlin, was a bombed wreck. And there was a reminder of the risks of being out of town: Churchill’s party lost to Labour during the conference, and he got booted out of office while it was still going on.

David E. Sanger covers the Biden administration and national security. He has been a Times journalist for more than four decades and has written several books on challenges to American national security. More about David E. Sanger

Inside the Biden Administration

Here’s the latest news and analysis from washington..

Student Loans: Two federal judges in Kansas and Missouri temporarily blocked pieces of the Biden administration’s new student loan repayment plan  in rulings that will have implications for millions of federal borrowers.

Immigration: President Biden announced sweeping new protections  for undocumented immigrants who are married to U.S. citizens. The new policy  will give some 500,000 people a pathway to citizenship.

Russia-Ukraine War: The Biden administration will rush advanced air defense missiles to Ukraine  by delaying certain weapons shipments to other countries, a move that a White House spokesman described as “difficult but necessary.”

Social Media Warning Labels: Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. surgeon general, said he would urge Congress to require a warning label on social media platforms  advising parents that using the platforms might damage adolescents’ mental health.

Questionable Titanium: The F.A.A. is investigating how titanium that was sold using fake documentation  got into recently manufactured Boeing and Airbus jets.

Money blog: Big supermarket wants to rival Aldi and Lidl with 400 new convenience stores

Welcome to the Money blog, your place for personal finance and consumer news and advice. Let us know your thoughts on any of the topics we're covering using the comments box below.

Wednesday 26 June 2024 18:19, UK

• Morrisons to open hundreds more convenience stores
• Qatar Airways voted world's best airline this year - see where the others ranked
• Quorn to start blending meat into some products
• Popular energy supplier ranked worst for customer service - in big reversal from last year

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Ask a question or make a comment

The supermarket has announced plans to open about 400 more of its Morrisons Daily convenience shops.

It is part of plans to take on discount retailers Aldi and Lidl, according to Retail Gazette . 

Morrisons said it wanted to increase its total number of smaller shops to 2,000 in 2025, although it has not yet given a list of locations. 

The supermarket has seen its like-for-like sales, excluding fuel and VAT, rise by 4.1% over the three months to 28 April. 

Chief executive Rami Baitieh said he was "pleased with the overall performance" of the business in the second quarter. 

Drivers are being warned this week's heatwave brings risks of an unexpected £180 bill. 

Car mechanics from Prestone said the hot weather could cause significant damage to windscreens - meaning you'll have to shell out for a replacement. 

"Slightly counterintuitively, it isn't the heat directly that causes damage, it is the fluctuation in temperature that could cause damage," they said. 

"When this happens to brittle materials such as glass, it can cause them to explode or crack; this is called thermal shock. To stop your windscreen from accumulating a lot of heat, avoid parking in direct sunlight. Consider parking under a tree, in a garage or other forms of shade."

Deliveroo shares have risen following reports US rival Doordash held takeover talks with the business. 

Doordash flagged an interest in taking over the UK's Deliveroo last month, but talks ended as the two sides couldn't agree on the value of the deal, according to Reuters news agency. 

The London-listed company's share price jumped by 6% to 136p this morning, although later eased to 3.7% higher. 

Deliveroo has seen its value fall by more than 50% since debuting on the stock market in March 2021. 

New details have been unveiled for Universal's first UK theme park - including plans for the attraction to be open 365 days a year.

Universal Destinations & Experiences - which is owned by Sky's parent company Comcast - has bought land near Bedford as it  plans to build  Europe's largest  theme park  with millions of visitors per year, as well as a 500-room hotel and dining area.

Read the full story here ...

The building society is the latest to slash rates, after HSBC yesterday and Barclays on Monday. 

It will be lowering two, three and five-year rates by up to 0.21% tomorrow. 

It follows a reduction in swap rates - which dictate how much it costs lenders to lend.

So what does this mean for the market more broadly? 

Here's what the experts told Newspage... 

Emma Jones, managing director at Whenthebanksaysno.co.uk: "They're falling like dominoes now. Things are suddenly looking considerably brighter for the property market as we enter the second half of the year. Enquiries are up sharply this week, which suggests the improved weather may also have lifted spirits and confidence."

David Stirling, independent financial advisor at Mint Mortgages and Protection: "We've not exactly hit the bargain basement for borrowers just yet but the competition for new business from the banks has definitely heated up this week. For some the Bank of England decision in August is very hotly anticipated and could hopefully lead to an incredibly busy autumn."

Dariusz Karpowicz, director at Albion Financial Advice: "While these minor decreases are certainly a step in the right direction, the average rate for a two or five-year fix remains high. It's good to see rates moving down, but let's not get carried away. There are still too many unknowns on the horizon. The upcoming election, fluctuating house prices and geopolitical uncertainties all add layers of complexity to the market."

No one could have failed to notice the rocketing price of olive oil over the last couple of years - and it's been just as bad in Spain, where it is an integral part of the Mediterranean diet. 

The Spanish government has now said it will temporarily ditch the sales tax on olive oil to help consumers cope. 

Spain is the world's leading producer and exporter of olive oil, and last year Spanish households consumed an average of six litres per person. 

However, the country's agriculture ministry says prices have surged by 272% since September 2020. 

The Money team wrote this piece in March about why that's happening... 

The Spanish government had already cut the sales tax on olive oil from 10% to 5% as part of an anti-inflation package.

Now they've said no sales tax will be applied from July until September, when it will be taxed at 2% until the end of the year. 

From then on, it will be taxed at 4%. 

Spanish treasury minister Maria Jesus Montero said the decision reflects "the importance of olive oil in the Mediterranean diet and a healthy lifestyle". 

The "Oscars of the aviation industry" has taken place and Qatar Airways has come out on top. 

Qatar Airways was named the overall winner, as well as first in the business class, business class lounge and Middle East categories, at Skytrax's World Airline Awards last night. 

It's the eighth time it has been awarded the best in class. 

Last year's winner, Singapore Airlines, came second, followed by Emirates, ANA All Nippon Airways and Cathay Pacific. 

British Airways was the highest-ranking UK airline in 13th place.

Europe's best airline was named as Turkish Airlines, while the continent's top low-cost airline was Spanish company Volotea. 

The rankings are based on airline passenger satisfaction surveys across more than 100 countries between September 2023 and May 2024. 

Other notable names to make the top 100 were: Ryanair (63), easyJet (66), Jet2.com (68) and Tui Airways (83).

These are the airlines that made the top 20: 

1. Qatar Airways 2. Singapore Airlines 3. Emirates 4. ANA All Nippon Airways 5. Cathay Pacific Airways 6. Japan Airlines 7. Turkish Airlines 8. EVA Air 9. Air France 10. Swiss International Air Lines 11. Korean Air 12. Hainan Airlines 13. British Airways 14. Fiji Airways 15. Iberia 16. Vistara 17. Virgin Atlantic 18. Lufthansa 19. Etihad Airways 20. Saudi Arabian Airlines. 

By James Sillars , business reporter

Two issues are dominating the behaviour of investors at the moment: US inflation and the snap parliamentary election in France.

Uncertainty over the two has been driving a topsy-turvy performance on stock markets as any scrap of evidence over the potential timing of a US interest rate cut is seized upon.

A sticky inflation picture across the pond – as we have witnessed here – has pushed back Federal Reserve and therefore market expectations for a reduction in borrowing costs.

The next big number awaited is the latest personal consumption expenditures price index, a closely watched inflation indicator at the US central bank.

A weaker than expected number could see a boost for shares globally after a volatile few weeks.

Following a 0.4% decline yesterday, the FTSE 100 opened 0.4% up at 8,285. 

Among the wider shares doing well were those of AO World, up more than 3%.

The online electricals retailer raised growth targets for its current financial year after profits over the 12 months to the end of March beat market expectations.

The pound and dollar have benefitted amid struggles for the euro over the past couple of weeks.

Much of that has been down to election speculation in France where Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN) is leading first-round polling.

The election was called by President Emmanuel Macron after RN's strong gains in the recent European elections, sparking a renewed market focus on the French economy and the potential knock-on effects for the euro area.

France has a debt to GDP ratio of 110%, meaning its debt is more than the value of its annual output.

There is a budget deficit of 5%. EU rules allow for just 3%.

The market's worry, according to analysts, is that if the far-right RN were to win big in the first round, then voters may take a tactical turn to the left in the second.

It is a concern for France and the wider euro, they said, because a left-wing alliance influence in government would seek even greater public spending commitments than RN has made.

French government borrowing costs have soared since the election announcement.

Earlier this month, the risk premium France pays for its debt on top of Germany's neared levels last seen in 2012.

Quorn has been known for decades as a producer of meat-free alternatives - but in a new venture, it will be blending actual pork sausages with fake meat. 

The company has said it wants to reach consumers who are cutting down on their meat consumption but who are not going entirely vegetarian or vegan, according to a report in The Grocer . 

The new products include burgers and sausages, and will contain Quorn's mycoprotein blended with meat. 

They will be available by the end of the year within the NHS and from some food service operators. 

Marco Bertacca, Quorn's chief executive, told the publication that appealing to meat eaters "represents the majority of people, and so it is a massive opportunity to decarbonise part of the food system and improve public health".

"Once upon a time we were effectively competing with the meat industry – only making products that were alternatives to theirs, and encouraging people to switch," he said.

"There have been attempts in the past to make products like burgers and sausages with a blend of meat and plant-based ingredients like soya and pea protein, but the products have not delivered for consumers."

It told Sky News that it is still in the development stages of its catering partnerships but it has had "fantastic" feedback on the quality of the products and impact on sustainability targets so far. 

Livestock farming accounts for about 15% of global greenhouse emissions, according to FAO data. 

Every Wednesday we ask Michelin chefs to pick their favourite Cheap Eats where they live and when they cook at home. This week we speak to the highly celebrated Shaun Rankin from Michelin-starred Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall - who won the Great British Menu dessert course in 2009.

Hi Shaun , c an you tell us your favourite places in North Yorkshire  where you can get a meal for two for less than £40?

North Yorkshire is bountiful in its selection of brilliant places to dine and we're incredibly lucky to have so many eateries on our doorstep.

My first recommendation would be the Blue Lion , a traditional country pub nestled within the picture-perfect village of East Witton in the Yorkshire Dales. Enjoy a scenic walk through the surrounding countryside before stopping off for lunch – their light lunch menu includes personal favourites such as croque madame with a rocket salad and Black Sheep-battered fish and chips.

If you're heading in to explore the characterful charm of Ripon, a trip to Oliver's Pantry is a must. They do great coffee alongside a delicious all-day brunch, an array of sweet treats and their seasonal lunch menu packed with fresh homemade dishes.

What's your go-to cheap meal at home?

Chicken pesto pasta with mushrooms and broccoli - a delicious, easy dish to prepare and packed with nutrients.

My tip for this dish is to buy a whole chicken and roast it whole – it's so much more cost-effective than buying chicken breast or thigh, and you can enjoy several meals from just the one bird. With the leftovers I'll prepare a simple soup by making a chicken stock from the carcass, or perhaps a comforting bowl of chicken egg fried rice with the meat, so nothing is wasted. 

We've spoken to lots of top chefs and bloggers - check out their cheap eats from around the country here...

Those looking to drive to polling stations can park for free this general election.

JustPark are offering drivers 30 minutes of free parking near polling stations on 4 July.

They will need to pre-book online or via the JustPark app, however. 

"We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to vote, but know that on the day it isn't always that straightforward," Mary Corrie, managing director of Just Park UK, said.

"By offering free parking on election day, we hope to make it easier for all voters, especially those with mobility issues or who are short on time, to find a place to park near their polling station. 

"This is the second time we have offered this service, following its great success in the 2019 election, and we are confident it will help to get people to the polls once again."

EDF and Utilita have been ranked the worst suppliers for customer service, as ratings across the industry reached their lowest point, according to Citizens Advice .

One of the highest-scoring suppliers this time last year, EDF fell to the very bottom of the table after its average call waiting times jumped from just under a minute to more than five minutes.

Average customer ratings between January and March for all firms fell by 10.5% compared with the same period in 2021.

"Citizens Advice has long called for Ofgem to be given stronger powers to hold suppliers to account on customer service. That must include tackling the complaints backlog before next winter," said Citizens Advice chief executive Dame Clare Moriarty.

At the bottom of the table, both Utilita and EDF scored 2.1 out of five stars, followed closely by British Gas on 2.4.

Dale Vince's Ecotricity topped the rankings with 3.8, followed by Outfox the Market and Ovo Energy, both scoring 3.3.

Among the other big suppliers, E.ON Next scored 3.0, Scottish Power 2.9 and Octopus 2.5.

An EDF spokeswoman said: "We recognise our call answer times haven't been up to the high standards we set ourselves and we're committed to doing better."

The company has recruited and trained more people at its Sunderland, Brighton and Exeter offices, she said.

She added EDF were nearing the end of a "complex transfer of our residential customers to a new IT system, resulting in more customers getting in touch as we navigate this process".

Utilita said: "We must not underestimate how savvy consumers are today. They will realise the star rating contradicts other market-wide supplier assessments – including those of Ofgem, Trustpilot and Which? – where Utilita performs consistently well.

"As such, we look forward to ongoing dialogue to close the gap between the perception the Citizens Advice star rating gives, and the reality other rankings provide."

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