Expert on Italy · 1 contributions
Mediterranean Desk — Mowando·Editor- · First time in Italy
- · Couples or friend groups
- · Walkers who don't skip museums
April, May, June, September, October
The right call at 10 days: 3 nights in Rome, 2 in Florence, 2 in Liguria, 2 in Venice. One rule: let the Frecciarossa absorb the distance, and keep your days for walking.
Day by day
- 1Day 1
Arrival in Rome — first night in Trastevere
Land at Fiumicino, ride the Leonardo Express to Termini (32 min, €14), then metro or taxi to the neighbourhood. Drop the bags and start walking: Campo de' Fiori, Piazza Navona, then cross the Tiber to dine in Trastevere — cobblestone alleys, ivy, terraces packed by 8pm.
Don't try to see a monument tonight: jet lag ruins everything. The first rule of a 10-day Italy trip starts here — sync with the Italian rhythm first, do the tourist thing tomorrow.
Tips- · Booking the Leonardo Express in advance saves 10-15 % vs the counter fare.
- · Best Rome neighbourhoods to stay: Monti or Trastevere (away from the tourist throngs around Termini).
- 2Day 2
Ancient Rome: Colosseum, Forum, Palatine
The non-negotiable day. Colosseum reservation is mandatory — waits are 2-3h without one, more in shoulder season. The combo "Colosseo + Foro Romano + Palatino" at €18 is valid 24h and opens all three sites.
Recommended order: Colosseum early (9-9:30am), coffee break on Piazza del Colosseo, then Palatine and Forum back to back. At noon, walk up Vicolo del Buco for a panino at Pizzarium or a Monti trattoria. Afternoon: Capitoline Hill and the Basilica of San Clemente.
Tips- · 9am slot recommended — crowds double after 11am.
- · The Roma Pass at €56 pays off only if you hit 3+ paid sites in 3 days.
- 3Day 3
Vatican, St. Peter's and Trastevere
Vatican Museums at 8am sharp (skip-the-line booking, €28): blast through the antiquities to reach the Sistine Chapel before the group tsunami arrives. Allow 3h, don't linger. St. Peter's straight after: the basilica closes at 7pm, but the dome queue can top 90 min by mid-afternoon.
Light lunch on Borgo Pio, optional nap, then Castel Sant'Angelo at sunset. Dinner in Trastevere — classic, but it works for a reason.
Tips- · Shoulders and knees must be covered to enter St. Peter's.
- · Book the Vatican Museums at least 5 days ahead in high season.
- 4Day 4
Rome → Florence train, Duomo afternoon
Frecciarossa Roma Termini → Firenze SMN, 1h35, €35-60 booked 2 weeks ahead. Arrive in Florence around noon, drop bags at the hotel (most accept before 2pm).
Afternoon: Duomo + Baptistery + Campanile — combined Brunelleschi ticket €30. The cupola needs a separate reservation and 463 steps — spectacular view. Dinner at Mercato Centrale (upstairs food court, affordable) or Trattoria Cibrèo for the upmarket version.
Tips- · Buy Frecciarossa tickets via Trenitalia or Italo — usually cheaper than at the station.
- · Bag drop in Florence: KiPoint at SMN (€6/day) or Radical Storage.
- 5Day 5
Florence: Uffizi and Accademia
Uffizi opens at 8:15am, booking €20 + €4 fee. Allow 3h to see Botticelli, Leonardo, Caravaggio and Titian without rushing. Exit onto Piazza della Signoria, lunch at All'Antico Vinaio (the sandwich that justifies a 20-min queue).
Afternoon: Accademia for the David (€16, 2-3pm slot recommended), then Ponte Vecchio and sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo — walk up (25 min) or bus n°12. Aperitivo at Volume or Caffè Rivoire.
Tips- · Tuesdays: Italian state museums closed (Uffizi, Accademia). Adjust order if needed.
- · Florence is a walking city. No need for public transport except for Michelangelo.
- 6Day 6
Florence → Cinque Terre
Route: Firenze SMN → La Spezia (3h, regional train + change at Pisa, ~€25) → Cinque Terre village. Pick Monterosso (the largest, beach, parking) or Vernazza (the most photogenic).
Arrive around noon, lunch on a cone of fried seafood (€10-12) facing the sea, afternoon hike Vernazza → Monterosso (1h30, €7.50 Cinque Terre Card covers inter-village trains and the trail).
Tips- · Official Sentiero Azzurro sometimes closed for landslides — check parconazionale5terre.it.
- · No cars allowed in the villages — parking at La Spezia is the only sensible option.
- 7Day 7
Cinque Terre — hikes, sea and sunset aperitivo
Free day. Three options to choose from: (1) full 5-village hike in 6h, demanding but magical; (2) train + swim, swim-hop between Manarola, Riomaggiore and Corniglia; (3) boat from Monterosso to Portofino (4h trip, €35).
Evening: aperitivo at Nessun Dorma in Manarola, terrace with a view over the village and gulf. Reservation recommended, but the queue moves fast after 7pm in shoulder season.
Tips- · Closed shoes essential — trails are rocky, sometimes slippery.
- · Inter-village trains every 15-30 min, but stops are brief: get off quickly.
- 8Day 8
Cinque Terre → Venice — settle in and aperitivo
La Spezia → Venezia Santa Lucia, 5h via Frecciabianca + Frecciarossa (~€45-70) or via Milan. The ride is long but scenic — sandwich on board, bring a book.
Arrive at Santa Lucia, vaporetto n°1 or n°2 to your neighbourhood (San Polo or Dorsoduro recommended). No rolling bags on bridge steps: backpack or porter only. Cicchetti aperitivo at a bacaro in Cannaregio — authentic Venice for the price of a spritz (€3-4) and 3 cicchetti (€5-7).
Tips- · Vaporetto 48h pass (€33) or 72h (€42) — pays off after 4-5 rides.
- · Avoid staying near San Marco: prices doubled, crowds everywhere.
- 9Day 9
Venice — San Marco, Doge and lagoon islands
Morning at San Marco when it opens (9:30am) to dodge the cruise-ship surge, basilica (free entry, no bags), Doge's Palace (booking €30).
Lunch at Trattoria al Gatto Nero in Burano (book 7-10 days ahead) after a 40-min vaporetto: coloured houses, lace, far quieter than the centre. Burano then Murano in the afternoon (glass island), back to Venice for dinner near Rialto.
Tips- · Murano + Burano + Torcello combo — 3 islands in a day, doable but tight.
- · Best Venice photos: Accademia bridge at sunrise — empty at 7am, crowded by 10am.
- 10Day 10
Venice at dawn, departure from Marco Polo
Precious last morning: wake at 6am, walk from San Polo to the Rialto bridge alone, do an empty St. Mark's Square. The true Venice memory is built there — not in the midday crowds.
Breakfast at Pasticceria Tonolo (cream croissant, €1.50 coffee), Alilaguna (€15 in 1h) or Aerobus + taxi to Marco Polo. Last-day rule: arrive 2h before flight and DO NOT rely on the vaporetto — 20-min delays in high season are common.
Tips- · Late-evening low-cost flights from Marco Polo → use the day for Padua (45 min by train) if departing late.
- · Excess luggage: drop at San Marco or Santa Lucia left luggage (€8).
Other durations
Frequently asked questions
Est-ce qu'il est possible de faire ce 10 jours sans voiture ?+
Quel budget total prévoir pour 10 jours en Italie ?+
Quel est le meilleur mois pour faire cet itinéraire ?+
10 jours, c'est suffisant ou faut-il étirer à 14 jours ?+
Est-ce adapté aux familles avec enfants ?+
Our verdict
This 10-day Italy itinerary is the obvious line for a first trip: Rome for antiquity, Florence for the Renaissance, the Cinque Terre to breathe, Venice for the surreal. The Frecciarossa turns transfers into non-events, which is critical for such a packed schedule. Our advice: don't give in to the urge to add Naples or Milan — the 10-day Italy works because it says no to a fifth stop.
Two pitfalls to avoid: under-booking museum tickets (Vatican, Uffizi) and choosing a poorly located hotel (near Termini in Rome, in Mestre for Venice). Properly prepared, this is a fully-rewarding trip — and the ideal springboard to come back in 5 years for Sicily, Puglia or the Dolomites.
Read also
- When to visit Italy — Climate and best seasons by region.
- Italy budget — How much to plan per day depending on cities and comfort.
- When to visit Rome — Month-by-month climate and best windows.
Written by La rédaction · Updated 5/29/2026
Italy