The classic 7 day Italy itinerary is classic for a reason. Rome, Florence and Venice sit on one fast train line, each is completely different from the others, and a week is exactly enough to do all three without rushing. This guide adds the part most itineraries leave out, which is what the week actually costs.
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Quick facts before you book
Best time to go: April to early June, or late September to October. Warm without the August heat, and the queues are shorter. August is hot, crowded and the month many Italian businesses close for holidays.
Daily budget: around 125 US dollars a day for a comfortable mid range trip, or roughly 75 US dollars a day in guesthouses eating at trattorias and pizzerias.
Visa: Italy is in the Schengen Area. Many nationalities enter visa free for short stays. Check your passport rule in the GlobeDude Explorer.
The route at a glance
Rome for three nights, Florence for two, Venice for two. High speed trains link all three in under two hours each leg, so fly into Rome and out of Venice.
Day by day
Day 1: Arrive in Rome
Ease in with the centre on foot. The Pantheon is free and still the most impressive room in the city two thousand years on. Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, then dinner in Trastevere across the river where the lanes are narrow and the crowds thin out.
Day 2: Ancient Rome
Colosseum first thing with a timed ticket, then the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill on the same pass. Take water and a hat, because there is almost no shade. Afternoon at Capitoline Museums or a long lunch, then sunset from the Orange Garden on the Aventine.
Day 3: Vatican
St Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums, ending at the Sistine Chapel. Book the earliest entry you can, because by mid morning the corridors are shoulder to shoulder. Climb the dome for the view along the avenue to the river. Afternoon free for Villa Borghese.
Day 4: Train to Florence
Ninety minutes north. Florence is small enough to cross on foot in twenty minutes. Duomo and the baptistery doors, then simply walk. Sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo across the river, looking back over the terracotta dome, is the view everyone remembers.
Day 5: Renaissance Florence
The Uffizi for Botticelli and the Accademia for the David, both pre booked. Cross the Ponte Vecchio to the Oltrarno for artisan workshops and better value food. If galleries are not your thing, take a half day into the Chianti hills for wine instead.
Day 6: Train to Venice
Two hours to a city with no cars. Take the vaporetto down the Grand Canal rather than a taxi, because it costs a fraction and shows you the whole thing. St Mark’s Square, the basilica, and then deliberately get lost in Cannaregio or Dorsoduro after dark when the day visitors have left.
Day 7: Islands or palaces, then fly out
Either the Doge’s Palace and its prison bridge, or the boat out to Murano and Burano for glass furnaces and painted fishermen’s houses. Venice airport is reachable by boat, which is a good last look at the lagoon.
What this week actually costs
Per person for a mid range trip. Pick your home country above and the flight row updates with live return fares from your nearest hub:
| Expense | Per person |
|---|---|
| Accommodation, six nights | 530 US dollars |
| Food | 285 US dollars |
| Trains and transport | 190 US dollars |
| Entries | 165 US dollars |
| Est. flights from your country | Pick your country above |
| Total for the week, with flights | 1,170 US dollars |
See what that means for your income in the Salary Goes Furthest tool.
Where to stay
In Rome, Monti or Trastevere for character, Prati for calm. In Florence, anywhere in the centre or across the river in the Oltrarno. In Venice, staying overnight in the old city is worth the premium once the crowds leave. Find hotels in Rome.
Getting around
Book high speed trains in advance for the cheap fares and validate nothing, because e-tickets on your phone are fine. Skip taxis in Venice, which are extremely expensive, and use the vaporetto water buses instead.
Book ahead
The Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Uffizi and Accademia all use timed entry and sell out weeks ahead in season. This is the single biggest mistake first timers make in Italy. Browse skip the line tickets and tours in Italy on GetYourGuide.
Stay connected
Train tickets, museum bookings and navigating Venice all depend on your phone.
Pay at the real rate: decline the card machine offer to charge you in your home currency, and use a Wise account to pay in euros at the true rate.
Cover the trip: SafetyWing is a low cost monthly plan built for travelers.
Find the fare: Compare flights to Italy, flying into Rome and out of Venice.
Frequently asked questions
Is 7 days enough for Italy?
Seven days is right for Rome, Florence and Venice at a steady pace. Adding the Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre or Tuscany’s hill towns to the same week means long transfers and very little time in each place.
How much does a week in Italy cost?
Around 1,170 US dollars per person for a mid range week excluding international flights, covering hotels, food, fast trains and the major timed entry tickets. A budget version runs closer to 700.
What is the best month to visit Italy?
April to early June and late September to October offer warm weather with thinner crowds. August is hot and busy, and many family run restaurants close for the summer holidays.
In what order should I visit Rome, Florence and Venice?
South to north is easiest, starting in Rome and finishing in Venice, because it follows the main high speed line and lets you fly home from a different airport than you arrived at without paying more.
Do I need to book Italian museums in advance?
Yes. The Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Uffizi and Accademia all require timed entry and regularly sell out in peak season. Book these before anything else in your trip.
Is Italy expensive to travel in?
Moderately. Accommodation in Venice and Florence is the main cost, while food can be very reasonable if you eat where locals do rather than beside the major sights. Standing at the bar for coffee costs a fraction of sitting down.
This itinerary is AI assisted and reviewed before publishing. Costs, opening hours and transport schedules change, so confirm current details before you book. Some links above are affiliate links that support GlobeDude at no extra cost to you.
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