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One thing I’ve noticed every time I travel to Italy is that the locals never try too hard with tourists. This always leads me to one conclusion: why would they when they don’t have to; people will continue to flock to Italia no matter what. It’s one of the most famous and sought-after travel destinations anywhere in the world!
After my second trip to Italy, I came up with two conclusions:
1. I will one day call Florence my permanent home.
2. I really want to learn to speak Italian, and so off I went, taking up an Italian course.
The reason I’m telling you this is so you can understand how much I love Italy, and I feel like you will too after exploring these iconic cities mapped during this 8-day Rome Tuscany Florence Venice itinerary!
This itinerary is especially fantastic for any first-time visitors, ticking off iconic cities, monumental landmarks, and activities within and around each city/region.
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How to get around Italy?
Train
Catching the train, whether the speed train or regular, is by far the easiest, most convenient, and most affordable way to travel around. I utilize the trains wherever possible. Book online or at the stations. There are attendants who help you book at the train station at the ticket booth machines.
Read more: The ultimate 2-week Europe by train itinerary.
Car
Hire a car to get from one city to the next. I rent a car for specific stretches of my journeys around Italy, and it’s really convenient at the best of times, for example, cruising around Tuscany. If you budget correctly, this route is pretty affordable.
Taxi
Use taxi apps or hail down local ones. At many train and bus stations and airports, there are dedicated taxi queues where you wait in line for a taxi one at a time.
Day 1 + 2: Rome
Day 1
“Benvenuta a Roma!” (That’s welcome to Rome for all my non-Italian readers.)
I recommend staying in Trastevere; a bustling area across the Tiber River (closer to the Vatican side), dripping with authentic restaurants (always full), bars, flea markets, and a mixed crowd (think couples, not backpackers).
Explore the alleys and cobbled streets, popping into pizzerias for a slice or pizza al taglio, and coffee bars for an espresso. Hire a red Vespa in Trastevere for exploring Rome. Or, stick with regular transport like taxis, buses, etc., whilst exploring the city during your Rome Tuscany Florence Venice expedition.
Zoot off to the Colosseum, where you can marvel over it from the exterior, or choose a more in-depth tour within its ancient battleground walls. History nerds (me), Colosseo tours with a tour guide at the helm are available, or just regular ones. Right behind this mammoth landmark is another: the 8th-century Roman Forum. Once a meeting point for all matters of Roman law, there are still some archaeological ruins, including the gigantic temple pillars. Tickets are required to enter.
Enjoy a typical Roman-style lunch in the area. Great options include Li Rioni a Santiquattro, AL42, Aurora Bistrot & Bar, and Alle Carrette. Next, spend an hour or so at the Pantheon (don’t forget to look up), check in to your stay if you haven’t already, chill for a bit, and then pick a bar in Trastevere for Spritz hour before dinner.
Dinner plans? Choose from our list of the best restaurants in Trastevere!
Day 2
Did you know that the Vatican is considered its own country?! Not city, country! Once you’ve picked up your Nutella-filled pastry and breakfast cappuccino to-go, it’s Vatican time!
Travel tip: Get there as early as you can. Pre-booking tickets for one of the world’s most famous sights is essential if you have any hopes of seeing the Vatican. You don’t want to miss out on this attraction as part of this 8-day Rome Tuscany Florence Venice itinerary.
You’ll need at least three hours to sightsee everything, including the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Museums. So technically, the entire morning.
With only a light breakfast, and a full-on morning playing tourist, grab lunch straight afterwards, street-food style! Try iconic Roman street foods like suppli and panino con porchetta.
Catch a taxi (23-minute journey) — or choose the more affordable, yet a little longer travel time option via the metro (about 45 minutes one-way) — to Villa Borghese. Dating to the start of the 1600s, these grand grounds are completely FREE to visit! Certain parts, like museums, etc., require tickets to enter. One could easily spend an entire day here, so you’ll be here all afternoon before heading back into the city center to freshen up for the night.
Foodies: Carbonara was invented in Rome! You HAVE to try it whilst you’re here. For tonight’s dinner plans, choose a restaurant from our list of the best carbonara spots in Rome!
Or, if you’re on a strict budget, here are some divine but also affordable Roma restaurants!
End day 2 of your Rome Tuscany Florence Venice itinerary making a wish at the iconic Trevi Fountain. I’ve purposefully savored it for the evening as I think it’s more magical when lit up at night. Afterward, head to the Spanish Steps and pose for a photo.
Day 3 + 4: Tuscany
I recommend staying in Greve in Chianti for the duration of your two days in Tuscany as part of this Rome Tuscany Florence Venice adventure!
Travel tip: Out of everywhere in Italy, Tuscany is my absolute best! Want to extend your time in the countryside? Here’s my dreamy 5-day Tuscany itinerary!
Day 3
Leave early for the Tuscan countryside. You will be staying in Florence at a later stage as part of this Rome Tuscany Florence Venice itinerary, but it’s easier to reach Venice from Florence, so you’re first heading into the hills.
However, to reach Tuscany, you first need to arrive in its capital city: Firenze. The train ride on the fast-speed trains from Rome to Florence is 1.5 hours. From here, rent a car, catch a taxi (expensive), or take a local bus to Greve.
All in all, travel time will take you about 3 to 4 hours, depending on your timings, so you’ll get to Tuscany around midday.
Visit the important city of Siena (nothing is cooler than entering the city via a set of escalators), and have a classic Tuscan lunch here. Then hop over to medieval San Gimignano. This small but mighty town has a lot to offer in terms of sightseeing. UNESCO-listed for a reason, it seriously feels as if you’ve traveled back to the 15th century! When you’re here, you CANNOT pass up the chance to gelato-it-up at the World Gelato Champions: Gelateria Dondoli.
By now, it’s check-in time. I noticed that for many stays, check-in is typically 3 PM. Get unpacked and dressed before heading out to dinner. Greve is small, but there are wonderful restaurant options around you!
Day 4
Enjoy a lazy sleep-in — you deserve it. Then slowly make your way into Greve town for breakfast. There are a handful of cafes around the main town square/piazza: Piazza Matteotti. And if you’re here on a Saturday, a sweet little morning market sets up around the square, too.
I personally feel like some of Italy’s finest produce hails from Tuscany, and so a cooking class when you’re in this region is kind of a must in my books! An abundance of cooking classes awaits you; it all depends on your preferences. Master the art of homemade pasta, learn how to make classic Tuscan foods, and there are even vegan cooking classes available. This will usually extend from morning/midday into the afternoon.
Today’s agenda is centered around food and wine; the pukka Italian way of life, no? Next up, as part of your 8-day in Rome Tuscany Florence Venice expedition, is a wine tasting and vineyard tour! Chianti is a world-renowned wine-producing region and home to incredible wineries, including the ridiculously fancy Antinori nel Chianti Classico. (We came here for lunch, but were put off by the extremely pretentious vibes.)
Sip on Chianti Classico and Chianti DOCG during a wine tasting, vineyard tour, or pairings at any one of the countryside’s vineyards! It all depends, really, on how long you want to spend wine-drinking.
Compare and book your experience here!
Today comprises a lot of food and drinking. If you’re anything like me, especially if day-drinking is involved, for dinner tonight, buy a bunch of farm-fresh produce from the winery/farms/local delis, and enjoy a picnic-style dinner at your stay. Think prosciutto, fresh breads, olive oil, balsamic vinegars, cheese, cheese (and more cheese), olives, and the likes.
Day 5 + 6: Florence
Pro Travel Tip: Book your train tickets for your trip from Florence to Venice a few days in advance. You can easily book your tickets online or at the actual train station in Florence. This saves you time and gives you a few options for departure times, meaning you can make the most of your last few days of this Rome Tuscany Florence Venice itinerary.
Day 5
Greve to Florence is just an hour away, so you don’t have to depart at the crack of dawn!
Once you’re back in the city of the Renaissance, the busy sightseeing commences. Just like the city itself, these are centred on all sorts of romantic, artistic, and cultural pursuits.
With stunning views over the city, Boboli Gardens are just dreamy! Such a gorgeous example of Italian-garden architecture! Right behind the gardens is Palazzo Pitti (the former Medici residence for two centuries), so it makes sense to tick off both at once.
Travel Insighter Tip: Buy a two-in-one ticket for the gardens and palace, or you can also purchase a ticket for entrance into these two attractions and the Uffizi Gallery, which you’ll be visiting tomorrow!
As lunch rolls around, it’s a total Florentine street food affair. Does anyone else agree that trying street food in any new city is kind of a requisite? One of the yummiest (and most memorable) street foods I ate in all of Italy was a schiacciata from All’Antico Vinaio! The wait in line is TOTALLY worth it! Trust me on this one.
This Renaissance-rich playground offers a plethora of gem-like shopping haunts, from vintage to designer to high street fashion, like Zara. After you’re done shopping for a couple of hours (the best way to uncover the shops is to walk through the city), check in.
How good does an Aperol spritz at Firenze’s most iconic viewpoint sound? Head to Piazzale Michelangelo around 5.30 before dinner plans this evening.
In the mood for pasta? Do yourself a favor: here’s where to find the best pasta in Florence. My favourite is the vodka penne from Alla Vecchia Bettola.
Still have some energy left? Enjoy Florence’s sweet nightlife, whether it’s a speakeasy bar or a hidden bakery!
Day 6
Botticelli, Michelangelo, da Vinci, Raphael, and the list goes on. Are you ready to dive straight into a world of historical art, from paintings to sculptures, at the Uffizi Gallery? Apart from the Vatican, it’s the longest entrance line I’ve waited in, so you want to get there early-bells.
Travel Insighter tip: Pre-book your Uffizi Gallery tickets, and try to opt for skip-the-line tickets!
From the Uffizi, enjoy a leisurely stroll over the 14th-century Ponte Vecchio bridge, built circa 1345. Want to spoil your partner this holiday? The bridge is where you’ll find Florence’s top gold, jewelry, and watch shops. The Uffizi is right next to the bridge.
Next, brunch is on the table. Here’s a list of wonderful cafes for brunch time in Florence.
Making the most of this culture-rich city, pick another museum to visit. For example, the Leonardo Interactive Museum, Stibbert Museum, Cappelle Medicee, Museo Nazionale del Bargello, and the Museo del Giocattolo e di Pinocchio (Museum of toys and Pinocchio).
Afterward, it’s Duomo time! The Cathedral of Florence dates back to 1296, and its iconic dome was brought to life by the renowned architect Filippo Brunelleschi. I preferred visiting the Duomo in the late afternoon. Mornings are crazy busy — it’s always swarming around this plaza, but it doesn’t feel as hectic in the late afternoon. Take a tour inside, see the Duomo, or admire it from an exterior vantage point.
Revel in an early dinner tonight as you’re off to discover a new city tomorrow as part of the last stretch of your Rome Tuscany Florence Venice Italian adventure.
Check out my list of the best restaurants in Florence and choose one that tickles your fancy. Any vegan eaters? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with vegan restaurant options too!
P.S. If you’re ever planning a one-day trip to Florence, check out my itinerary for one day in Florence, jam-packed with quintessential Florentine musts!
Day 7 + 8: Venice
The train from Florence to Venice is three hours.
Day 7
It’s kind of amazing that Venice is a car-free city! Connected by a series of historical canals, everything operates around the waterways. There are water taxis/buses to move around. How insanely cool?
Travel tip: BRING MOSQUITO REPELLENT — especially in summer.
Cry out buongiorno to Venice city in the late morning, where the last two days of this Rome Tuscany Florence Venice venture are spent. Grab a coffee for an energy boost, and then head off on a food walking tour to learn about iconic Venetian foods. Other walking tour options are available, from free ones to those highlighting the city’s history.
If you went the foodie route, chances are, you’ve filled up on so much street food, like cicchetti, you’re stuffed. But for those searching for a lunchtime spot, great options are Cantina Do Spade, Venissa, Ostaria Antico Dolo, and Nevodi.
Foodie tip: Iconic Venetian dishes include sarde in saor (fried sardines), scampi alla veneziana, bigoli in salsa, and risi e bisi.
Post lunch, visit the jaw-dropping Libreria Acqua Alta (I’m a serious bookworm, so go figure!). Sweep up your art fix at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, with the likes of Kandinsky, Dali, and Max Ernst on display!!!
Set sail along the Venice Lagoon during a quintessential late afternoon gondola ride! Book your gondola ride here! As the sun begins its descent, drink in the skyline vistas from the iconic Rialto Bridge!
This next activity of our Rome Tuscany Florence Venice itinerary is optional, as it might not be up everyone’s alley. Kicking off at 7 PM, witness a goosebump-inducing ode to Vivaldi’s masterpiece with a Vivaldi Four Seasons Concert at Vivaldi Church. Venice is the composer’s birthplace, so it couldn’t be more fitting.
Dinner tonight? Choose from this list, and DON’T forget to order a sgroppino; a Venetian vodka-induced lemon sorbet made with prosecco!
- Cantina Do Mori has been around since…1462!
- La Vacaria is for our carnivores
- Corte Sconta does traditional and inventive plates
- Local owns one Michelin star!
Day 8
It’s hard to believe this eight-day adventure through Rome Tuscany Florence Venice shores is coming to an end (insert crying face emoji).
Grab breakfast from Brunch Cafe (opens at 7.30 AM), and get a prompt start to your day. You’ve noticed by now that the best times for sightseeing any of Italy’s icons are first thing, so you’re not stuck in queues all day long! After breakfast, hit up the famous St. Mark’s Square with its Doge’s Palace, Basilica, and the Campanile. Spend about three hours here.
Do you love visiting the world’s oldest institutes? Grab an espresso from the super famous Caffè Florian, but beware, it is crazy expensive! But as the world’s oldest cafe, the hefty price tags make sense. Plus, it feels like a museum inside. Dreamy… They also serve light bites here for lunch.
For travelers not in a rush during the final day of this Rome Tuscany Florence Venice itinerary, I would highly recommend taking a short but magical little water trip across to Murano island — famous for its glassblowing/works. Catch a waterbus/ferry (a 15-minute ride), and spend a couple of hours exploring. Another option is to grab lunch here instead of Venice.
Lastly, back in Venice, don’t leave the Floating City without buying a traditional Venetian mask; you know, the kind you see in pictures during carnival time! It’s a lovely little keepsake.
Did Rome win your heart? If you would like to spend a bit more time in the Eternal City, here’s our handy 3-day Rome itinerary. Or, why not spread your wings and adventure around other parts of Italy, like Puglia, Bologna, or Milan?
Mapping out another week-long vacation in Italy? Why not consider the iconic Amalfi Coast! For those dying to do an extensive adventure through Europe, use this 3-week European guide for all of your planning, including destinations like Paris, Belgium, and Italy!
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