7 days in Italy: an itinerary by city

What the route costs

19 of 37 are free; 18 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.

How the week works

The route runs south to north: Rome — Florence — Venice. Each day is a YesGo city itinerary: three days in Rome, two each in Florence and Venice.

Fly into Rome and out of Venice so you never double back. Trains between the cities are fast and frequent, so you don't need a car; you can't drive into the historic centres anyway.

The cities on the route

Rome is the capital of antiquity and the Baroque: the Colosseum, the Pantheon, fountain-filled squares and the Vatican with St Peter's. Florence is the cradle of the Renaissance: Brunelleschi's dome, Botticelli in the Uffizi and Michelangelo's David. Venice is a car-free city on the water: canals, bridges, gondolas and glassmaking Murano.

Getting around independently

Rome to Florence: about 1 h 30 min by high-speed train; Florence to Venice Santa Lucia: about 2 h 10 min. Frecciarossa and Italo fares are cheaper booked ahead. In Rome, use the metro, buses and your feet; Florence is walkable; in Venice, walk and ride the vaporetto water buses.

Where to stay

Three nights in Rome, in the historic centre or near Termini station for the Florence train. Two nights in Florence, by the Duomo or Santa Maria Novella station. Two nights in Venice, on the islands near St Mark's or the Rialto; Mestre on the mainland is cheaper, but Venice in the evening is worth it.

Italy itinerary for 5 or 10 days

Five days: Rome 2, Florence 2 and Venice 1. Ten days: add Naples and Pompeii from Rome (1 h 10 min by train), half a day in Pisa from Florence, and Milan with The Last Supper after Venice. From Venice, Verona is an easy day trip, and Bologna is on the way from Florence.

How to do it right

• Book the Vatican, the Colosseum, the Uffizi and David ahead.
• Frecciarossa and Italo fares are cheaper a few weeks out.
• Validate regional train tickets without a seat before boarding.
• Churches require covered shoulders and knees, and large backpacks are often refused.
• Italy uses the euro. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere; carry a little cash for cafés and markets. Buy museum tickets ahead on official sites, where closing days are listed too.

Questions