Italy Itinerary
Photo by Ali Nuredini on Unsplash
How long do you have? Pick a plan below for 3, 5, 7 or 10 days in Italy. Each one is built so you can follow it as it is or mix days from different plans.
Best time to go: April to June, or September to October. Summer is hot and crowded.
Getting around: Walk in each city. High-speed trains connect Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan.
Book ahead: Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Uffizi, the Accademia and The Last Supper.
3-Day Italy Itinerary
Day 1 — Ancient Rome
Start early at the Colosseum, then walk through the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill on the same combined ticket. Have dinner in Trastevere.
Day 2 — Vatican City
Book the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel for the morning, visit St. Peter’s Basilica, and spend a slow afternoon in the nearby Prati neighborhood.
Day 3 — Piazzas & Fountains
Walk from the Pantheon to Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. Relax in the Villa Borghese gardens before dinner.
5-Day Italy Itinerary
Day 1 — Ancient Rome
Start early at the Colosseum, then walk through the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill on the same combined ticket. Have dinner in Trastevere.
Day 2 — Vatican City
Book the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel for the morning, visit St. Peter’s Basilica, and spend a slow afternoon in the nearby Prati neighborhood.
Day 3 — Piazzas & Fountains
Walk from the Pantheon to Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. Relax in the Villa Borghese gardens before dinner.
Day 4 — Train to Florence
Take a morning high-speed train (about 1.5 hours). Visit the Duomo, cross the Ponte Vecchio, and spend the afternoon at the Uffizi Gallery.
Day 5 — Florence Art & Views
See Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia, have lunch in the Oltrarno, and watch the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo.
7-Day Italy Itinerary
Day 1 — Ancient Rome
Start early at the Colosseum, then walk through the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill on the same combined ticket. Have dinner in Trastevere.
Day 2 — Vatican City
Book the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel for the morning, visit St. Peter’s Basilica, and spend a slow afternoon in the nearby Prati neighborhood.
Day 3 — Piazzas & Fountains
Walk from the Pantheon to Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. Relax in the Villa Borghese gardens before dinner.
Day 4 — Train to Florence
Take a morning high-speed train (about 1.5 hours). Visit the Duomo, cross the Ponte Vecchio, and spend the afternoon at the Uffizi Gallery.
Day 5 — Florence Art & Views
See Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia, have lunch in the Oltrarno, and watch the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo.
Day 6 — Train to Venice
Ride the train to Venice (about 2 hours) and get lost in the canals and Rialto area.
Day 7 — Venice Islands
Visit St. Mark’s Square and the Doge’s Palace, then take a boat to Murano and Burano.
10-Day Italy Itinerary
Download the 10-day plan (PDF)
Day 1 — Ancient Rome
Start early at the Colosseum, then walk through the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill on the same combined ticket. Have dinner in Trastevere.
Day 2 — Vatican City
Book the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel for the morning, visit St. Peter’s Basilica, and spend a slow afternoon in the nearby Prati neighborhood.
Day 3 — Piazzas & Fountains
Walk from the Pantheon to Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. Relax in the Villa Borghese gardens before dinner.
Day 4 — Train to Florence
Take a morning high-speed train (about 1.5 hours). Visit the Duomo, cross the Ponte Vecchio, and spend the afternoon at the Uffizi Gallery.
Day 5 — Florence Art & Views
See Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia, have lunch in the Oltrarno, and watch the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo.
Day 6 — Tuscany Day Trip
Visit Siena and San Gimignano on a day trip from Florence, with a countryside lunch.
Day 7 — Train to Venice
Ride the train to Venice (about 2 hours) and get lost in the canals and Rialto area.
Day 8 — Venice Islands
Visit St. Mark’s Square and the Doge’s Palace, then take a boat to Murano and Burano.
Day 9 — Train to Milan
Take the train to Milan (about 2.5 hours) and visit the Duomo and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
Day 10 — The Last Supper & Navigli
See Leonardo’s Last Supper (book far ahead), then spend the evening along the Navigli canals.
Opening times, ticket rules, travel times and prices change, so check each detail before you book.
See the full trip breakdown in our Italy travel guide.
