One Week in Italy | 5 Itinerary Ideas + Ways to Extend to 10 Days • Abroad with Ash

Discover 5 itineraries that are perfect for a week in Italy. I've also included ideas to extend your trip to 10 days. Get a jumpstart on planning your upcoming trip!

The first part of creating a travel itinerary is deciding where to go and how long to stay at each location. For many of us, this is one of the most overwhelming elements in travel planning as the options are limitless.

A week in Italy is quick, but doable. To maximize sightseeing time, you'll need to be strategic about which cities you combine. Italy is a big country and not all areas are well connected. The last thing you want is to spend hours and hours traveling between destinations when you're limited on time.

These itineraries for 1 week in Italy combine popular cities in a way that makes the most logistical sense. I also list ideas if you need to extend to a 10 day Italy itinerary for each option.

Whether it's your first trip to Italy or your fifth, I'm sure one of these itineraries will fit the ticket!

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Rome

Florence - One Week in Italy | 5 Itineraries

Italy Itinerary #1

Florence: 4 nights
Rome: 3 nights

THIS IS THE BEST ITALY ITINERARY FOR ART AND HISTORY LOVERS with MINIMAL TRAVEL TIME

Travel between Florence and Rome via train

Traveling from Florence to Rome is a breeze on the 1.5-hour direct train.

I usually book my tickets on Trainline.com. Be sure to get the app so you can store/access your train tickets on your phone.

4 nights in Florence

Florence is one of my favorite cities in the world. In my opinion, it's a must for a 1 week Italy itinerary.

Located in the heart of Tuscany, Florence offers not only ample sightseeing in the city center but multiple day trip and wine tour options in the Tuscan countryside.

Spend two days exploring the sights of Florence like the Ponte Vecchio, Uffizi Gallery, Accademia (the David), and Piazzale Michelangelo viewpoint.

Florence is the perfect city for a walking tour as it's steeped in history and compact enough to see all the main sights on foot.

See all my tour recommendations for Italy in one place

Recommended Florence walking tours:

Recommended Florence food tours:

Spend your other two days venturing outside of Florence.

If you're a wine lover you could easily spend two days exploring the Tuscany region either on your own by car or with a wine tour.

I highly recommend going to San Gimignano and Montepulciano.

If you're up for venturing a little further, Siena would make for another wonderful day trip and is 1.5 hours by direct train or bus.

Day trips from Florence:

Small-Group Wine Tasting Experience in the Tuscan Countryside - 4-hour tour visiting two wineries + olive oil tasting and snacks.
Taste of Chianti: Tuscan Cheese, Wine and Lunch from Florence - full-day wine and food tour in a 4x4 off-road vehicle with a 3-course meal.
Full Day Tuscany Wine Tour - made with 18 to 39-year-olds in mind.
Tuscany in One Day Sightseeing Tour from Florence - see it all with this tour; Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa, and lunch at a Chianti wine estate.
Siena and San Gimignano: Small-Group Tour with Lunch from Florence
Cinque Terre Day Trip from Florence with Optional Hiking - can't recommend this one enough!
Fully-Day Private Tour to Cinque Terre from Florence

3 nights in Rome

With 3 nights in Rome, you'll have just enough time to see the Vatican, Roman Ruins, Colosseum, explore the neighborhoods, and eat some of the best pasta of your life.

I would see important sights in the morning and leave the afternoon and evening open for wandering or joining walking tours.

Explore the Vatican and St. Peter's one morning and save the Colosseum and Roman Forum for another morning.

For the best experience at the Vatican, book the early morning small group tour to bypass the worst of the crowds.

Stay up late to see sights like the Trevi Fountain and Pantheon lit up and more impressive than during the day.

Rome is a convenient city to end your 7 day Italy itinerary as there are plenty of direct flights back to the US from FCO airport.

Rome is one of my favorite cities on earth for food…which is why I highly recommend joining a food tour:

EXTENSION OPTION FOR 10 DAYS IN ITALY

For each of these options, I would flip the above itinerary: start in Rome, go to Florence next, and then end at one of the cities below.

Option 1: you could easily add Venice to this Italy itinerary. Venice is a quick 2-hour direct train from Florence.

Option 2: if you’re OK adding a little more travel time, make the trek to Lake Como (about 4 hours via train from Florence). This is a great choice if you want to get out of the city and enjoy views, nature, and small lake towns.

Option 3: for those wanting to stick closer to Florence and are OK moving hotels a few times, add some smaller towns/areas. Consider 1 to 2 nights in Bologna, Siena, and/or Cinque Terre.

SEE my Florence and Rome blog posts:

BEST VIEWS IN FLORENCE + MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE PLACES

WHERE TO STAY IN FLORENCE, ITALY | TOP AREAS AND HOTELS

BEST GELATO IN FLORENCE – TOP 5 FLORENCE GELATO SPOTS

ESSENTIALS FOR YOUR VISIT TO FLORENCE – TRAVEL GUIDE

Florence

Venice

Bologna

Italy Itinerary #2

Florence: 4 nights with a stop in Bologna
Venice: 3 nights

THE BEST WAY TO SPEND one WEEK IN ITALY if you want CHARMING, romantic, and walkable CITIES

Travel between Florence and Venice

Florence to Venice is a 2-hour train. Most lines stop in Bologna on the way, making this a very convenient stopover.

4 nights in Florence

Located in the heart of Tuscany, Florence offers not only ample sightseeing in the city center but multiple day trips and wine tour options in the Tuscan countryside.

Spend 2 days exploring Florence and pick 2 day trips from Florence.

Bologna: optional stop on the way to Venice

Bologna is a charming University town conveniently located on the way to Venice. Store your luggage in the train station and spend the day exploring the town.

Bologna would make a wonderful overnight as well if you choose to cut a night off of Florence or Venice. It’s not as touristy as Florence and has a more authentic feel (especially in the evening and morning).

This is a foodie capital and would be the perfect city to do a food tour or cooking class!

3 nights in Venice

Many people spend as little time in Venice as possible because it's become so crowded and touristy. They see the main sights and leave.

Don't make the same mistake on your one week in Italy itinerary! There is so much more to Venice than a quick stop at St. Mark's Basilica and a museum or two.

2 days in Venice is the absolute minimum, and 3 days in Venice is even better.

Don't worry too much about the crowds as they really tend to stick to the major sights like St. Mark's Square and the Rialto Bridge. You can easily escape the crowds by walking a few minutes past these sights and getting lost in the never-ending canals and small alleyways.

3 days in Venice would also allow time for a trip to one or two of the neighboring islands, like colorful Burano.

Do yourself a favor and get up around sunrise each morning. The city is practically empty and offers the perfect opportunity to have the usually crowded sights all to yourself.

EXTENSION OPTION for 10 days in Italy

I would change the above itinerary to the below for 10 days in Italy:

4 nights in Florence
2 nights in Bologna (so you can add day trips like Modena, Parma, or Ravenna)
add 1 night for Verona (or do Verona as a day trip from Bologna)
3 nights in Venice

Florence - One Week in Italy | 5 Itineraries

Siena

Cinque Terre

Italy Itinerary #3

Florence: 3 nights
Siena: 2 nights
Cinque Terre: 2 nights

THE BEST way to spend 1 week in ITALY to experience renaissance cities and charming coastal towns

TRAVEL BETWEEN FLORENCE AND SIENA

Siena is 1.5 hours via direct train or 1 hour and 15 minutes via local bus (131R).

I prefer the bus because it drops you within walking distance of the Siena city center (the Siena-Via Tozzi bus stop).

AWA Tip: when buying train tickets, make sure to double-check both the departing bus stop and arrival bus stop in Google Maps. There are several bus companies, like Flix Bus, that have a Florence to Siena route, but the bus stations are not within walking distance from the Siena city center.

Be sure to buy tickets for bus 131R. R is for "rapid". The regular 131 bus will take about 20 minutes longer.

Buses leave regularly; about every hour. You don't need to buy your tickets in advance and can just purchase them at the bus station.

The Siena train station is a 30-minute walk from the city center, a 5-minute cab, or a 10-minute bus.

While I usually opt for walking, I would just get a cab in this situation. It's an uphill trek, and while Siena built a series of escalators to help, many people have complained that they are often not working.

TRAVEL BETWEEN SIENA AND CINQUE TERRE

Train is the best way to travel to Cinque Terre from Siena. It will take about 3.5 hours and will require at least two transfers.

3 nights in Florence

Located in the heart of Tuscany, Florence offers not only ample sightseeing in the city center but multiple day trips and wine tour options in the Tuscan countryside.

You could spend all three days exploring Florence or opt for a day tour to Cinque Terra. Save the wineries and Tuscany for when you’re based in Siena.

Spend two days exploring Florence and pick one day trip or tour. If you're going to do a wine tour, try to find one that combines San Gimignano and Montepulciano, my two favorite Tuscan towns.

2 nights in Siena

Historically overshadowed by its sister city, Florence, Siena is center stage once again. This city has medieval charm and fewer tourists than Florence.

UNESCO recognizes Siena as the "ideal embodiment of a medieval city" and most agree it's the best medieval city in Italy.

It’s an easy day trip, but I recommend staying at least one night if you can.

Piazza del Campo is regarded as one of Europe's greatest medieval squares and the Duomo is a true stunner.

It makes the most sense to join a wine tour while in Siena since it's closer to the heart of Tuscany and the charming medieval Tuscan towns (San Gimignano and Montepulciano are my favorites).

Tuscan wine tours from Siena:

2 nights in Cinque Terre

Known as “the poor man’s French Riviera” because it has the beauty and charm of the French Riviera at a fraction of the cost.

5 colorful towns are knitted closely together along the Ligurian coast. Spend the day hiking the Via dell’Amore trail through all 5 towns.

2 days in Cinque Terre allows just enough time to explore all 5 towns, lay by the beach or go swimming, and enjoy some fantastic coastal Italian meals.

Try the anchovies as they are typically served the same day they're caught.

The three best towns to stay in are Vernazza (postcard views with a quaint piazza), Manarola (a favorite with Europeans offering scenic views), or Monterosso (the biggest town with the most hotel and restaurant options).

EXTENSION OPTION FOR 10 DAYS IN ITALY

Change the above itinerary to:

4 nights in Florence
2 nights in Siena
2 nights in Cinque Terre
continue the coastal vibe of Cinque Terre and add 2 nights in Portofino. It’s about 2 hours by train or 1.5 hours by car from Cinque Terre.

Positano, Amalfi Coast

Spanish Steps, Rome

Trevi Fountain, Rome

Italy Itinerary #4

Rome: 2 nights
Amalfi Coast: 5 nights

THE BEST WAY TO SPEND ONE WEEK IN ITALY FOR HISTORY AND BIG CITY EXPERIENCE COMBINED WITH ROMANCE AND STUNNING VIEWS

TRAVEL FROM ROME TO THE AMALFI COAST

Trains from Rome to Naples are a little over an hour. From the Naples train station, the most convenient (and fastest) option is to take a private car straight to your hotel. It’s anywhere from 1 hour (Ravello) to 1.5 hours (Positano).

2 NIGHTS IN ROME

2 nights in Rome will be a very full schedule. Plan one day for the Roman Ruins and the Colosseum and 1 day for the Vatican and wandering the city.

5 NIGHTS ON THE AMALFI COAST

The Amalfi Coast, Positano to be specific, has blown up on social media. It's become an extremely popular destination and has won the hearts of almost everyone who visits (once you get over the crowds).

This region is stunning! My 5 day Amalfi Coast itinerary breaks down exactly how to spend your time. In short, you'll explore Positano, the island of Capri, Ravello, Amalfi, Pompeii, and Mount Vesuvius, and still have time for a full-day boat tour.

You have a few options on where to base yourself.

Positano is known for being the most romantic and atmospheric but is also the most touristy and expensive.

Praiano, just above Positano, is a fraction of the cost and still boasts gorgeous views.

Nearby Amalfi Town is a great alternative that’s less expensive than Positano, but bigger (with more to do and more restaurants) than Praino.

Sorrento offers more mid-range accommodations but lacks charm and picture-perfect views.

EXTENSION OPTION FOR 10 DAYS IN ITALY

Slow this 7 day Italy itinerary down to 4 nights in Rome and 6 nights on the Amalfi Coast. This means you could spend a night or two in Capri.

Another option would be to keep as is and spend the first 3 nights in Florence.

Italy Itinerary #5

Florence: 3 nights
Milan: 1 night (or skip and add 1 night to Lake Como)
Lake Como: 3 nights

THE BEST WAY TO SPEND A WEEK IN ITALY FOR A MIX OF ART AND NATURE

TRAVEL FROM FLORENCE TO MILAN

Florence to Milan is a 1 hour 40 minute direct train. Milan to Lake Como (Varenna) is a little over 1 hour via direct train.

If you're short on time skip spending time in Milan and go straight to Lake Como (you will still have to stop in Milan as the only trains to Lake Como depart from Milan).

Jake and I recently spent a week in Bellagio and were so glad we had that much time.

3 nights will be quick, but doable. 4 nights in Lake Como will ensure you have enough time to visit the top villages, sights, and fit in a long hike.

3 NIGHTS IN FLORENCE

Located in the heart of Tuscany, Florence offers not only ample sightseeing in the city center but multiple day trips and wine tour options in the Tuscan countryside.

Spend two days exploring Florence and pick one day trip or tour.

If you're going to do a wine tour, try to find one that combines San Gimignano and Montepulciano, my two favorite Tuscan towns.

1 NIGHT IN MILAN

Let me be completely honest and admit that Milan isn't my favorite city. It lacks the character and charm of other Italian cities and feels more industrial and like a real working/business city.

I'm including it in this itinerary because:

1. it's on the way to Lake Como and the only city offering an easy and direct train

2. many people have Milan's two bucket list sights on their list: the famed Duomo and the Last Supper (consider joining a “skip-the-line” tour that combines both sights).

This 6-hour Milan tour is perfect if you're short on time. You'll see the top sights and visit the Duomo and Last Supper.

Milan is also a fashion capital and a must-visit for any fashionista.

If none of the above appeals to you, skip Milan and add a night to Lake Como.

3 NIGHTS IN LAKE COMO

I put off visiting Como because I thought it was going to be one of those places that was overhyped and didn't live up to expectations. Let's just say it exceeded expectations and I can't wait to go back. Jake agrees.

Stay at one of the mid-lake towns. Varenna is beyond charming. It's also where the train station is, so it makes getting to and from Lake Como a breeze from Milan. If you want something a little more glitzy, head to Bellagio. Menaggio would be my third pick in the mid-lake region.

Lake Como is famed for celebrity residents like George Clooney, breathtaking scenery, and picture-perfect towns.

Spend your time exploring the towns bordering the lake, hiking and biking the mountains, and eating unlimited amounts of gelato and pasta.

EXTENSION OPTIONS FOR 10 DAYS IN ITALY

Either keep the above itinerary as is and add all your extra time to Lake Como (we spent a week in Bellagio and kept busy the entire time) OR change to the below:

4 nights in Florence
1 night in Bologna (2 if you're skipping Milan)
1 night in Milan
4 nights in Lake Como

Venice - One Week in Italy | 5 Itineraries

In Summary

I hope this post gave you some inspiration for how to spend 1 week in Italy. These are all places I've visited and would return to in a heartbeat!

I've made sure to include stunning destinations that are sure to please and leave an impression, so no matter which Italy itinerary you go with, you'll have a trip for the books!