One Week in Italy: Rome, Florence, and Venice

The most searched Italy route is seven days across Rome, Florence, and Venice. Ten days adds Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast without rushing the cities. This guide explains train timing, what to pre-book, and how to cut the route if you only have five days.

The classic 7-day Italy itinerary

| Days | City | Focus | |------|------|--------| | 1–2 | Rome | Colosseum, Forum, Vatican or Capitoline, Trastevere dinners | | 3–4 | Florence | Duomo, Uffizi, Oltrarno, optional Tuscany day trip | | 5–6 | Venice | St. Mark’s, Doge’s Palace, island hop or gondola district walk | | 7 | Cinque Terre or buffer | One coastal village or a slow Rome morning before departure |

Our full 7-day Italy itinerary includes day-by-day cards through day 10 for Cinque Terre and Amalfi.

Tickets to book early

• Colosseum timed entry (often sells out 2–4 weeks ahead in summer)
• Uffizi and Accademia (David) in Florence
• Doge’s Palace in Venice peak season
• High-speed trains (Frecciarossa, Italo) between Rome–Florence–Venice

Last-minute regional trains exist but high-speed seats disappear on Fridays and Sundays.

Rome pacing tips

Group sights by neighborhood: Colosseum + Forum + Palatine one day; Vatican or centro storico another. Trastevere dinners are worth the tram ride—book weekend tables.

Watch for pickpockets on Metro A to the Vatican and at Termini.

Florence in two days

Day 1: Duomo complex (dome climb if fit), Piazza della Signoria, sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo.

Day 2: Uffizi morning, Oltrarno artisans, optional Pitti Palace.

Food: bistecca, ribollita, wine bars in Sant’Ambrogio—not only San Lorenzo market.

Venice without overwhelm

Stay near Cannaregio or Santa Croce for quieter evenings; San Marco is magical but noisy.

St. Mark’s Basilica: free entry with dress code; book bell tower separately.

Island day: Murano + Burano half-day if weather is good; skip if you need a slow city day.

Gondola rides are optional—vaporetto Line 1 is the budget scenic route.

Cinque Terre and Amalfi (days 8–10)

Only if you have ten days. Cinque Terre needs an overnight in Riomaggiore or Monterosso—day-tripping from Florence is exhausting.

Amalfi Coast requires Positano/Amalfi time; do not add it to a 7-day city-only plan.

Budget

Mid-range €140–200 per person daily; Venice and Rome hotels spike in spring and autumn.

City tourist taxes are paid at hotels—factor €3–7 per person per night.

Rail vs car

Trains beat driving between Rome, Florence, and Venice. Do not rent a car for cities—ZTL zones and parking are painful.

Language

English works at major museums. Italian greetings help at trattorias. No dedicated Italian cheat sheet yet—phrase apps plus our Spain guide neighbor tips if you're combining Iberia later.

Customize

Use our AI trip planner to swap Tuscany wine country for Cinque Terre or add a Bologna food day.