Traveling to Italy should be on everyone’s bucket list, and you can do it without selling the farm. This 7-day Italy itinerary is designed for people who want to see the best places to visit in Italy but don’t have 2+ weeks and an unlimited budget to do so. Trains in Italy will get you everywhere you need to go, so the expense of renting a car is basically off the table.
Before we dive in, if you’re wondering when to plan your trip, check out my best month to visit Italy post to help you weigh the different pros and cons. This itinerary works for any non-winter month.
This is an itinerary so a tl;dr is a little tough, but your 7 day Italy itinerary should combine the best places to visit in Italy: Rome, Florence, and Cinque Terre.
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Rome is one of the most culturally significant cities in the world. It is magnificent to walk through and home to some of the world’s most important pieces of history. It is stuffed full of ancient Roman history, and you could spend weeks there and barely scratch the surface of all that lies within. It is also very crowded most times of the year and isn’t where I would spend more than 3 days (2 nights) in your Italy itinerary.
Florence is a city unlike any other; the birthplace of The Renaissance and the gateway into Tuscany. Yes, it is also full of crowds (Italy is a very popular destination, team. Crowds are going to be the norm here more than other places if you’re going during peak season or even parts of shoulder season), but it is definitely still one of the best places to visit in Italy.
Cinque Terre has been the star of the Italian coastline long before Positano became the sexy honeymoon destination that it is today (and my sister would tell you that it is the perfect honeymoon destination). With its five coastal villages towering along cliffs next to the sparkling sea, it is one of the best places to see in Italy.
Think of this post as your Italy trip planner, it’s meant to be a great place to start but can (and should!) be customized to your budget and interests. Admittedly it skews a little bit more towards drinking wine, as that is a favorite pastime of mine, but there’s room to customize based on your interest in religion, history, food, and art.
Day 1 – Rome
- Land in Rome in the morning.
- Contact your hotel ahead of time and request a pickup for an extra fee. The bus to and from the Rome airport is fine but not cheap enough to make it worth your while to save a few dollars.
- When choosing a hotel, keep in mind that your time in Rome is limited in this Italy itinerary. If you’re game to get 25,000+ steps in during your stay, you can stay a little further out of the action and save some money.
- In this instance, I would recommend staying in an area close to Rome’s best tourist attractions.
- Hotel options (all with airport transport options):
- 9Hotel – great location, rooftop bar, within 1,000 feet of Trevi Fountain and Pantheon. 15-20 minute walk to most major sites.
- Albergo del Senato – similarly amazing location and swoon worthy rooftop terrace.
- Hotel Smeraldo – slightly cheaper/simpler option. Closer to Piazza Navona than Trevi Fountain, attractions are 20-30 minutes by foot. This area has better restaurants than the area next to the Trevi Fountain.
- Once you’ve dropped your bags at your hotel, grab a quick shot of espresso from your terrible jet lag and head to the Colosseum. You can purchase tickets 2-3 weeks in advance here and keep digital tickets on your phone. You must select a time slot in advance, so give yourself a little bit of wiggle room for flight delays or traffic from the airport.
- Looking to not spend hours waiting in line of your week in Italy? Book this express, skip the line option instead. Make sure to book in advance though as it does fill up as well.
- From there, you can head to the Roman Forum. Entry is granted with the same ticket from the Colosseum (valid for 24 hours). Operating hours: 8:30 am–7:15 pm. The last entry is at 6:15 pm, so keep that in mind if your flight is arriving in the afternoon.
- Palatine Hill access is also granted if you’re up for more Roman ruins. If your jet lag is losing out to pure adrenaline, I say go for it. If your jet lag is making you a grumpy terrible person who is rapidly growing grumpier at the site of dusty ruins, then go ahead and skip it.
- After you’ve gotten some food in your system, head on foot to the nearby Trevi Fountain and Pantheon to explore and make it closer to a 9pm bedtime, because while going to bed at 6pm might feel good at the time, it won’t feel good when you’re up at 3am every day of your vacation. Trust me.
Day 2 – Rome
- Grab a quick snack at a nearby cafe or even a quick breakfast at your hotel (the key word here is quick). You’re headed to a new country: Vatican City!
- The Vatican Museum is one of the best things to see in Italy and needs to be on any Italy itinerary – tickets for either a single entry OR a guided tour can be purchased here. (Tickets are released 60 days prior to entrance).
- This is one of the few things we forked out money for when we were broke college students; the Sistine Chapel is 100% worth it. I’m not always much of an art person, but I was stunned into silence craning my neck to look up there. The rest of the museum honestly felt like a queue at Disneyland where there’s interesting things to look at while you wait for the main attraction.
- If you want to save time and see the Sistine Chapel without crowds, definitely pay a few extra dollars to book this experience, which includes a guided audiobook.
- You can either go to Saint Peter’s Basilica before or after the Vatican Museum – it is free to enter but the line can get really long really quickly so wear some comfy shoes. Knees and shoulders have to be covered to enter so plan accordingly (especially if it’s a hot day in Rome; you’re going for practicality over fashion on this sightseeing day, good luck).
- I’ve never really seen anything like Saint Peter’s Basilica. You might think, “It’s just a really big church” but this is THE really big church. If religion isn’t your jam but you can appreciate some amazing architecture, Saint Peter’s Basilica is one of the best things to see in Italy.
- Avoid seeing on a Wednesday or Sunday, as that is when the Pope performs mass, and the crowds of devotees swell. Alternatively, if you’re a devotee, plan accordingly.
- This scarf is my favorite lightweight accessory that doubles as a shoulder cover up if needed. (Get my full Italy packing list here.)
- Rome, and Vatican City in general, is one of the most notorious places for pickpockets. I strongly recommend having your phone and credit cards in a money belt or cross body bag (my faves are linked). At minimum, do not have them in your back pocket in places with big crowds like the Vatican.
- Spend the afternoon in Via del Coronari – this is a really cool area to shop or simply just stroll. You’ll find less crowds than other places in this Italy itinerary. Enjoy a glass of wine and the delight of not being on your feet after all the lines you waited in.
- Read my full list of tips for traveling in Italy to know all of the scams to look out for throughout Rome.
Day 3 – Florence
- Have breakfast at any local cafe and take a morning stroll. My recommendation would be to not plan ahead and instead just wander within a couple blocks of your accommodation and find some Italian coffee.
- Uber to Termini Train Station (you could also take a bus, depending on how thrifty you are trying to get).
- Train tickets purchased here 30-60 days prior and sent to your email.
- The Rome to Florence train is a 90 minute ride to Firenze Santa Maria Novella train station in Florence. Enjoy both the luxury of watching the Italy countryside pass you by as well the luxury of high speed rail. Someday America, someday.
- Many great hotels are located very close to the train station. Again, you might be paying a little bit of a premium to be in the action here, but Italy is the place to do it. Uber, metro, or walk to nearby hotel:
- Globus Urban Hotel – this upscale yet surprisingly affordable hotel is very conveniently located for public transit options and is within walking distance of everything you’d want to see.
- Hotel Garibaldi Blu – similar location in the heart of Florence within 5 minutes walking of great food, wine, and shops. Also close to public transportation.
- Once you’ve checked in and dropped your bags, head to The Accademia to see The David and other premier art exhibits. Tickets can be purchased here 30-60 days prior and can be sent to your email. There is an option to upgrade to a guided tour. Or you can pay a little extra to skip the line and get a guide audiobook here.
- Depending on how big of an art head you are, you can also just see The David replica that is outside of the Accademia and save a few dollars if the other art will put you to sleep. No shame, know yourself. And your budget.
- Wander the streets! Find a local grocery store, grab a few things, and go up to Piazza Michelangelo and drink a bottle of wine while watching the sunset over the city. No Italy itinerary is complete without at least one sunset and bottle of wine combination.
- By now, you may have repeatedly heard a few Italian words or phrases that you’d like to know what they mean or even be able to use yourself. Mastering a few Italian phrases can transform your experience from tourist to local. I have a free instant download of essential Italian phrases that will enhance your journey and immerse you in the culture. Screenshot it to have it handy!
Day 4 – Tuscany Day Trip
- If you’re near Florence and at all enjoy food and wine, you should definitely plan to spend at least one day in Tuscany. You can easily do that with Florence as your home base, and that saves you from having to haul your bags around.
- There is a horseback wine tour option here for the daring equestrian lovers or a more sedentary, non-horseback, wine tour option. Both are amazing day trips that pickup in Florence.
- If horses and wine aren’t your thing as much as food is, I fully love that journey for you and this Tuscan Cooking Class is another mouthwatering and unforgettable option
- You could visit Pisa if you’d like, but in another post I detail why Pisa might not be worth visiting. Read it here.
- If you’re looking to maximize your budget, you can also take the train into Tuscany and just wander around for the day yourself.
- A little over an hour train ride away, Cortona is well worth the addition into your Italy itinerary (and here’s 7 reasons why). The walk from the station to the town is kind of long, so again, it can be tough to wear super cute shoes. There is also a bus that takes you into town.
- Wandering around the small medieval town and sampling the wine and food is a wonderful way to spend the day without spending a big chunk of your trip fund. Just be mindful of the train times to and from Florence and don’t get stranded.
Day 5 – Cinque Terre
- Say goodbye to Florence! By now, you’re an expert at train travel so this morning should be no problem. Traveling from Florence to Cinque Terre by train is so easy. The train from Florence actually goes to La Spezia, the larger city outside of the area technically considered Cinque Terre.
- Tickets can be purchased here 30-60 days in advance and can be loaded on your phone for inspection.
- If you either a) are looking to save a few dollars, b) are interested in experiencing more of a non-touristy Italian city feel, or c) didn’t book far enough in advance and all of the Cinque Terre accommodations are full (or fully out of your budget), staying in La Spezia and taking the train into Cinque Terre during the day is a great option.
- To get from La Spezia to Cinque Terre you can pre-book a car pickup with the hotel, or there is a small regional train that transfers to all of the villages (most common).
- The Cinque Terre train is also very easy to navigate, even if you’re still a public transit newbie. It goes in both directions and stops in each of the 5 villages and in and out of La Spezia. The villages are so small that you really can’t get lost to and from the train station.
- Hotel Options
- Riomaggiore Village – 5 Terre Pelagos offers a quaint and picturesque stay with easy access to the village’s stunning coastal views. Book here.
- Monterosso Village option –Locanda A Ca Du Gigante provides a charming and intimate retreat with traditional decor and close proximity to the beach. Book here.
- La Spezia (outside of Cinque Terre) option – Hotel Firenze E Continentale combines modern comfort with a central location, making it a super convenient base for exploring Cinque Terre and beyond. Book here.
- Enjoy the sea! For a full breakdown on how I’d fill my days if I were you, check out full itinerary for 2 days in Cinque Terre.
Day 6 – Cinque Terre
- Today is the day in your Italy itinerary to explore the coastal towns of Cinque Terre. Wine tasting is an option if you didn’t have enough in Tuscany, as is hiking through the villages, or sitting on the beach in Monterosso. All valid options considering this is the most relaxing day on this 7 day Italy itinerary.
- All of the villages are connected via walking trails and trains. Info here, but a card/permit can be purchased any day at any of the stations, and the line shouldn’t be too long.
- There are trails that you can hike for free that do not require the card permit. I’m not necessarily staking my reputation on recommending them, but we personally did them when we were studying abroad and broke.
- There are probably 200% less tourists on these trails than the main path. They’re also longer and a bit rockier.
- 2-3 hour excursion options (pre-booking required)
Day 7 – Rome
- Train morning. You’re headed back to Rome to give yourself plenty of time for your departure the next day. Plan for approximately 4 hours of train time. Depending on preferred departure time and cost sensitivity, the route is either direct, 1 transfer, or 2 transfers.
- Pre-book train tickets 30-60 days before and have the tickets emailed to you.
- Last dinner in Rome. You have the option to either get a hotel in the city center or airport hotel and use the metro into the city for dinner depending on the time of your departing flight and your airport proximity preference. I always like to be closer to the airport but that’s just a personal preference.
- Wander around Rome and enjoy the last of Italy’s culinary delights.
Day 8 – fly home to the US
- You have completed the ultimate 7 day Italy itinerary! Enjoy (ie. sink into post-vacation blues) your morning flight out of Rome back to the United States and start planning your next adventure as soon as the jet lag fades.
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