Discover Italy in 21 Days: Must-See Destinations and Tips

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This itinerary is meant to be an example of a first trip in Italy. It includes more classic and popular destinations that are, in my opinion, some must-sees like Venise, Rome or Florence. There are several airports in Italy, so to maximize your time, you can arrive at one airport and leave at another. I chose to start in the north and slowly go south. I’ve put the activities in the order I recommend each day, but of course, depending on where you’re staying some modifications can but necessary.

My itinerary includes 19 visit days, because usually your first and last vacation day is spent at the airport.

When to go: For this itinerary, I would recommend planning your trip from the end of May to the end of September because I included Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast, which are on the waterfront. You’ll want to spend some time on the beach and enjoy the sun. My personal favorite time to travel in Italy is in September because it’s still pretty hot but more comfortable for the long days spent walking.

There’s some applications I highly recommend:
– Radical Storage: If you use trains and Airbnb, chance is you’re going to need some place to leave your luggage. This application allows you to leave it in one local business. It’s used worldwide, trustworthy, and comes with guarantees.
– maps.me: This app allows you to download maps in advance; you can use it for itineraries for your next visit and, my favorite use, to find clean water!

Venice: 3 days

Venice is absolutly a must, it’s so charming with all the little bridges and canals. Of course there’s a lot of tourists, but if you plan well your stay and buy timed-ticket you’re gonna make the must of your time. Explore, discover the rich history, but also keep some time to get lost in the streets and admire this unique destination.

How to get there:

By plane: Aeroporto di Venezia Marco Polo is not far outside of the main touristic area.
By train: Trenitalia connects Venice with many cities, so you can easily come by train. I always reserve in advance via the internet just to be sure I get exactly the departure time I want.

Once you get there, go to the Tourism Office to buy some items:
– Rolling Pass Venice: This pass is 6 euros and is for people aged 6 to 29. It allows you to buy a 72h vaporetto pass at a lower tariff, 27 euros rather than 45 euros. It also gives you access to lower costs for museums. Don’t bother reserving it online; you’ll still need to collect it at the counter.
– 72h vaporetto pass
– ACTV bus ticket: This is the direct line from the airport to Venezia Piazzale Roma. Take a one-way ticket unless you’re going back to the airport at the end of your time in Venice. If you have the Rolling Pass Venice, you can buy this ticket at a lower cost.

Day One/first day in Venice

Once you arrive in Venice, if you reserved an Airbnb and it’s not yet available, you can leave your baggages at one of the many storage offices. I used Radical Storage to reserve a storage in advance. I planned a very light and calm first day to compensate for the hours of transport, but if you come from a close location you can always add some things.

Ponte degli Scalzi: Take a pause at the top of the bridge to admire the view filled with boats and gondolas. Take the time to take some pictures. This bridge is located between Santa Croce and Cannaregio.

Scuola Grande de San Rocco: This museum is beautiful and a must-see. It’s covered with carved wood artwork, gold ornaments, and paintings all over the walls and ceilings. The main room is absolutely breathtaking. No need for reservation.

Take a walk in the Canneregio district: Take the rest of your day to admire the canals, the little bridges and Venice architecture. Walk all along Strada Nuova, stroll through the streets of the Jewish district and visit Santa Maria Assunta of Jesuits. Than, walk all along Fondamenta Ormesini or Fondamenta della Miscericordia and enjoy your evening.

Day Two: second day in Venice

When it’s possible, I like to start the day with the more serious activity or the one that need the most concentration if possible and then have a more relaxing vibe for the afternoon. So for this second day in Venise, i’d start with the museum visit in the morning and have the afternoon exploring the surrounding islands. You could also do the opposite if you want to be sure there’s minimal people in your pictures in Burano.

Ponte dell’Accademia: This bridge offer a great view and picture point for the Canal Grande.

Gallerie dell’Accademia de Venise: You’ll find incredible Venetian Renaissance art by Caliari, Bellini, Bassano, Tintoretto and others. A must for Renaissance art and history lovers. If if not your type, you can skip this one and enjoy a slow day in Venise islands. It’s 15 euros per person (2 euros if you’re a student).

Santa Maria Della Salute Church: This church is beautiful inside and out, with marble details and its dome visible from many locations in Venice. If you don’t really like churches, at least go see the very detail exterior and admire the amazing view of the Canal Grande and the Lagoon. You can go up the dome for a great viewpoint, but there are a lot of stairs, and it’s not for claustrophobic people. For this experience, you’ll need to go in person to reserve your spot. If you don’t want to go up because of the stairs, you can still get an amazing view tomorrow up the campanile so don’t worry.

Burano: Walk to the vaporetto station Fondamenta Nove and take line 12 in the direction of Burano. This vaporetto passes every 30 minutes and takes 45 minutes to reach Burano. Reserve 2 to 3 hours in Burano.
Burano is one of Venice’s islands and is known as one of the most colorful cities in the world, with its colorful houses bordering the canals, going from yellow to fuchsia and sky blue. You’ll also see a leaning tower and some tombolo, a type of lacework. It’s really charming, perfect for a nice walk and beautiful pictures. You’ve probably already seen pictures all over Instagram, and yes, it’s as cute as it seems!

Stroll the streets and the little shops; you’ll find some lace and beautiful glasswork made with the lume glassworking technique. This practice is from Murano, another island between San Marco and Burano, that is recognized for its glasswork.

To leave, go to vaporetto station Burano ”B” and take line 12.

Murano: If you want and have time, you can also visit Murano and tour a workshop. You can go to Murano with the same vaporetto.

If you want a tour: You can visit Murano and Burano with a tour if you prefer. It’s always a great way to have a relaxing day while learning a little bit of history. Here are some great options that all include transport, glass, and lace demonstrations: Those are the tours I want to try:

Murano & Burano Guided Tour by Private Boat with Glassmaking

From Venice: Murano and Burano Half-Day Island Tour by Boat

Day Three: third day in Venice

Start your day early if you want some beautiful pictures, because San Marco district is very popular and crowded.

Ponte di Rialto and Merkato di Rialto: This is the oldest bridge across the Canal Grande. It connects the San Polo district and the San Marco district, where we are going next. This pedestrian stone bridge has shops on both sides, primarily selling jewelry and souvenirs, which makes it quite unique. If you want, on the San Polo side, you can go see the Merkato di Rialto, where you’ll find fresh products including fish, fruits, and vegetables. Go early in the morning to have a more peaceful and authentic experience.

Piazza San Marco: This piazza is always full of life, because it’s boarded by Palazzo Ducale, Basilica San Marco and the Campanile di San Marco.

Campanile di San Marco: You can go up the campanile via elevator to admire the incredible view of Venice. You can buy your ticket in advance online which I recommend. The tour is around 45 minutes and open at 9h30.

Ponte dei Sospiri: This Baroque-style bridge is made of white limestone. Its name comes from the fact that prisoners crossed it when they went from the courthouse in the palace to the prison without being heard by citizens and without any chance of escaping. It was their last sight before their imprisonment. See it from outside from an other bridge, either Ponte della Paglia or Ponte della Canonica. Then see it from inside during your visit to Palazzo Ducale.

If you are a romantic, the tradition is to kiss under the bridge to have eternal love, so you can take a gondola tour if you’re with your significant other and hope its true!

Palazzo Ducale: This Renaissance palace is an absolute must. The gothic architecture is impressive inside and out. The main room with the painting and gold ornements on the ceiling is breathtaking. Buy your ticket in advance and go soon in the morning to avoid crowds. You can also go through the Ponte dei Sospiri to reach the jails, which I recommend.

Basilica San Marco: You cannot go to Venice and miss the Basilica San Marco; it’s the oldest basilica in Venice and one of its landmarks. The exterior is absolutely stunning with the domes, carvings, gold ornaments, and mosaics. The Byzantine and Gothic style interior is also a must, filled with marble columns and gold mosaics. The color palette, more on the darker side, gives it a very unique ambiance. You can also buy a combined ticket for the Basilica, Pala d’Oro and the Museo di San Marco.

If you really love history, you can book a tour or take an audiobook for Palazzo Ducale and Basilica San Marco because they are full of history.

You can also book a tour if you want as much informations as possible on these historic landmarks. These are great options:

Venice: St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Tour with Ticket

SKIP THE LINE: Doge’s Palace & St. Mark’s Basilica Tour

More option around Piazza San Marco:
– Pala D’Oro
– Museo Correr
– Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Venezia

Florence: 3 days

It’s well known that Florence is a fascinating city and a prime destination for art adepts. The city is stunning with its Renaissance architecture, charming red roofs, beautiful churches and art everywhere. It’s definitely a must see. You need to stay at least two days but I would recommend three days if you love art.  

How to go to Florence:

Train: You can easily come to Florence by train and it’s definitely what I recommend to skip the traffic, which can become really heavy. It’s only 1h30 from Rome, 2h from Milan, about 2h30 from Venice or La Spezia. 
Plane:  You can come by plane to Florence, then take a 30 minute tramway to Florence historic center. Of course don’t take the plane from Venice to Florence, but if you skip Venice and start your itinerary from Florence you can arrive by plane.
Car: I don’t recommend visiting Florence by car. However, if you want to do a roadtrip in Tuscany from Florence, you’ll easily find a car to rent from Florence.

Day 4/first day in Florence: 

If you follow this itinerary, you’ll arrive from Venice. So, the morning is dedicated to your arrival in Florence and the afternoon to your exploration of the city.

1) The Uffizi Gallery : If you love art, don’t skip this one! The Uffizi Gallery is a national monument well known for its legendary art collection primarily from the renaissance period. You’ll find artwork from Michelangelo, from Botticelli like The birth of Venus and from Da Vinci. If you really love art, you’ll need at least 2h to appreciate everything. It’s the most visited museum in Italy, so I strongly recommend buying your ticket in advance. You can buy a combo ticket to also see the Accademia Gallery. 

2) Ponte Vecchio: Ponte Vecchio is the oldest Bridge in Florence. Its unicity comes from all the shops along it which are mostly jewelry shops. 

3) Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens: This Renaissance palace is now a beautiful museum regrouping paintings, sculptures, costumes, and others. Next to it, you’ll find a large garden of 45,000 sq ft where you’ll find lovely fountains, marble sculptures, caves, a lake, and pergolas.

4) Piazzale Michelangelo: This beautiful Piazzale give you a amazing view of Florence, you’ll be able to admire The Duomo, the Palazzo Vecchio and Santa Croce Basilica. 

Day 5/Second day in Florence:  

1) Duomo (Cathedral de Santa Maria del Fiore)

I recommend starting the day with the Duomo because it takes more energy and is better to do when the heat is not at its peak.  

Florence Duomo is known all around the world as one of Italy’s landmarks and is in my opinion a must see. It has outstanding gothic architecture and a beautiful panoramic view of the city from the dome! It is known for its impressive brick dome, which is in fact the world’s largest. Its marble facade is also breathtaking with the green, pink and white embellishments and sculptures. It is definitely one of a kind.

You can just take a walk around this beautiful church if you don’t want to visit the interior. However, I recommend you climb up the dome to admire the view of Florence’s beautiful red rooftops. I personally loved it! Have some good shoes and a bottle of water, and be prepared to do some cardio! But don’t worry too much, the pace is not too fast and gives you the time to take some pauses. If you want, you can even reserve a guided tour to learn more about the cathedral’s history.

If you want to go inside the Duomo, you absolutely have to reserve it online beforehand because the waiting line can be more than an hour long and there’s a limited number of people allowed inside at the same time. You’ll need at least an hour. 

Those are the official tickets:  official tickets for Florence Duomo complex 

If you love history and want to know more, you could reserve a tour.

Florence: Duomo Skip-Any-Line Tour

Florence: Duomo Area Tour and Brunelleschi Dome Climb Ticket

Florence: Duomo Complex with Tickets & City Walk Guided Tour

Florence: Brunelleschi’s Dome Reserved Entry Ticket & Duomo

2) Mercato Centrale Firenze: Go eat at the mercato for lunch and maybe buy a few delicious things for later.

3) Accademia Gallery

This one is for the art lovers. That’s where you’ll find Michelangelo’s David and a beautiful plaster gallery by Bartolini and Pampaloni. It’s full of stunnings paintings and sculptures. I strongly recommend you also book this one in advance, otherwise you’ll need to wait in line a long time. The visit is around 1 to 2 hours long. However, if you only want to see the David, know that you can find a replica in the Piazza della Signoria. 

4) Piazza della Signoria 

It’s located in front of Palazzo Vecchio. If you’re not going to the Accademia Gallery, it is worth a visit to see the beautiful replica of Michelangelo’s David. You’ll also find other statues like Fontana del Nettuno. 

5) Palazzo Vecchio

We visited the palace at the end of our day when it was already dark so we didn’t get to see the view from the Torre d’Arnolfo. Also, we also had limited access to the Salone dei Cinquecento which is the biggest and most impressive room in the palace. We saw it from afar and it truly looked amazing. Maybe we were too tired for this visit but from what we saw of the whole palace we found it kind of empty. It was not a must for either of us, but if you’re a true fan of architecture and history maybe do this one sooner in the day. 
From there you can also go see Basilica Santa Croce. 

Day 6/third day in Florence: 

Chianti Region and wine tour : Just south of Florence you’ll find the Chianti region, which is famous for its wines and beautiful landscapes. So it’s no surprise that I strongly recommend doing a wine tour. Choose one that includes exploring some of the Chianti area.

Before choosing which tour to go to, I did a lot of research and found the perfect one for us! I was in Italy with my husband and a couple of good friends and it just fit with our personality. It’s a fun and upbeat tour, with a lot of great wines. We had a blast and it is to this day one of our favorite Italian memories! I’ve done a couple of wine tours in Italy in the last few years and this one is by far my favorite! You’ll have more than enough wine and things to nibble on. You’ll also visit the beautiful San Gimignano where you’ll find the best Gelato in Italy, Gelateria Dondoli. Don’t miss out on this one, it’s amazing. This is a 7h tour from 9h45 to 17h so you have to reserve a full day for this tour, but it is absolutely worth it! 

So this is the tour that I HIGHLY recommend:  

Tuscany Wine Tour : 2 Wineries & San Gimignano from Florence

Cinque Terre 3 days (Day 7 to 9)

Cinque Terre is made up of 5 fishing villages on the Ligurian coast: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare. The villages are charming and picturesque with cute, colorful houses, small cafes, a blue sea, beaches and stunning views from the footpaths along the cliff edges. I recommend two days here, and the sooner you arrive, the more you’ll have time to relax and enjoy all the beautiful scenery the region has to offer.

How to go to Cinque-Terre:

Train: You can easily come by train and it’s definitely what I recommend to skip the traffic departing from Florence, which can become really heavy. It’s around only 2h30 from Florence. (5h from Venice and about 4h from Rome) From Florence, take a train with Trenitalia from Firenze Rifredi station to La Spezia Centrale.
Car: You can come by car if you stay in La Spezia or an other cities around Cinque-Terre. I don’t recommend visiting Cinque-Terre by car because the train between the cities is very practical, there’s not a lot of parking and the villages are along the coast on a cliff.

Between the villages: Take the train from La Spezia Centrale; it’s easy and fast, just 8 minutes to Riomaggiore and 23 minutes to Monterosso al Mare. Once you arrive in La Spezia or one of the villages, go to the tourism office at the train station and buy the Cinque Terre Train Card for the number of days that you’re going to take the train between the villages. The trains pass around 2 to 3 times per hour.
You can also take a ferry. It’s a bit longer, but you’ll have nice views of the coast. I took it to come back from Monterosso to have a longer stretch of the coast to admire. You can buy a ticket at the boat office on the same day. You’ll find the timetables here.

Where to stay:

If you want the more practical option, I recommand you stay in La Spezia, which is not one of the five villages. It’s near Cinque-Terre, easily accessible by train and full of good restaurants.
The villages are smaller so they have less options but you still can find beautiful appartments and some hotels principally in Monterosso. The prices are generally higher in the villages. Just don’t stay in Corniglia because there’s a lot of steps between the station and the village which is higher on the cliff then the others.
If you want to have a complete beach day, I would recommend you stay in Monterosso for the easy access.

What to do:

While there are some historic elements, visiting the villages is more about the landscapes; the sea, the vineyards along the cliffs, the colors, and the villages themselves. Don’t come to visit with a checklist mindset; come to appreciate the calm and charming vibe, to enjoy the incredible views. This is a perfect destination for outdoor lovers.

You’ll be coming from Florence in the morning of your first day. In the afternoon, if you stay in La Spezia you can have a relaxing afternoon if you need a little bit of break. Otherwise you can start visiting the villages. (I’ll give you itinerary options little further.)

(If you stay in La Spezia) Stroll the streets of La Spezia: Take a walk near Centro Storico at the edge of the port including these points:
– Ponte Thaon di Revel 
– Parco Giardini Publici 
– Passeggiata Costantino Morin
You can also visit Castello San Giorgio : You can get a nice viewpoint from the castle. If you want history there’s also a museum that you can visit.

Sentiero Azzurro: There are hiking trails connecting the villages. Some parts of the trails are harder or longer than others; sometimes, some parts can be closed and some cost money, so I recommend you check in advance the different trails so you don’t have a bad surprise.
I did the trail from Vernazza to Monterosso; it was not too hard and absolutely beautiful.
You’ll find all the details on the different trails, inlcuding where to find the beginning of the trail in this site:
https://www.cinqueterre.eu.com/fr/situation-sentiers-cinque-terre

Visit all the villages: They all have their own uniqueness and deserve to be explored.

Riomaggiore: It’s the southernmost village. It is built in a very vertical fashion, with the colorful houses very close together. Don’t miss the beautiful viewpoints at Castello di Riomaggiore and Santuario della Madonna di Montenero, the end of the Cinque Terre. Walk the Via dell’Amore trail connecting Riomaggiore to Manarola, which opened back in 2024. It’s one km long and a popular trail for the beautiful views.

Manarola: It’s often considered the prettiest village, with all the colorful houses surrounded by grapevines and the blue water. While there’s not a true beach, you can find some places to go take a swim. You’ll find a great viewpoint at Manarola Punto panoramico.

Corniglia: It’s the only village not directly at the water’s edge. You have to climb 365 stairs, which makes it less touristy, more sereine. Once you arrive, take a delicious gelato at Alberto Gelateria to treat yourself and admire the views.

Vernazza: It’s absolutely beautiful. It’s a small village with only one large street and other narrow streets. Take some time for a delicious cappuccino and breathe the fresh air from the breathtaking piazza facing the water. You can visit the ruins of Castello di Vernazza for a nice viewpoint, but my favorite view is at the begging of the trail between Vernazza and Monterosso. There’s also a very small beach so it can get pretty crowded, you better go to the one at Monterosso.

Monterosso al Mare: It’s the biggest village and the least steep. It’s also the village with the most beautiful beaches, the ones in the other villages being more rocky. If you want a beach day, go here.

Eat: You absolutly HAVE to taste their pesto, focacia and seafood. We ate a pesto and salmon foccacia in La Spezia and it was memorable. Also, take advantage of the more relaxed days here to enjoy the aperitivo.

Day trip to Portofino or Genova: If you want to stay a third day, you can take a day trip to one of the beautiful towns around, Portofino and Genova being some other popular ones. You can take the train from La Spezia Centrale or can chose a tour.

My itinerary propositions (but there’s a lot more trails so check them out and pick want you want to create your perfect days in this beautiful destination):
– If you stay in La Spezia:
Day One : afternoon at La Spezia / Day two: Hiking trail in the morning Vernazza to Monterosso, afternoon at the beach of Monterosso/ Day three: Hiking Trail Corniglia to Manarola, Via dell’Amore to Riomaggiore
– If you stay in Monterosso:
Day One : Afternoon at the beach of Monterosso/ Day two: Hiking Trail Corniglia to Manorola, Via dell’Amore to Riomaggiore / Day three: Visit Vernazza, Hiking trail Vernazza to Monterosso.
– If you want a day trip: Stay in La Spezia
Day One : Visit Manarola, Via dell’Amore to Riomaggiore, visit La Spezia / Day two: Visit Corniglia, Hiking trail Vernazza to Monterosso, afternoon at the beach of Monterosso/ Day three: Day trip

Rome 4 days

Rome is, of course, an absolute must-see. Founded in 753 BC, the capital of Italy has experienced monarchy and republic. It has then witnessed a succession of emperors until the collapse of the Eastern Roman Empire in 1453. Rome’s history is punctuated by crises, power struggles, territorial expansion, and wars. It is an emblematic city of Italy, where history intertwines with the present. You just can’t miss it.

*Look up Rome City pass, Roma Pass and the different pass the city has to offer. It can be a good fit for you depending on what you plan de to during your stay in Rome.

How to go to Rome:

Train: This is what I recommend. You can easily get to Rome by train, and it’s the best way to skip the heavy traffic of the city. It takes 3 to 4 hours from La Spezia.
Plane: You can fly to Rome if you change the order of this itinerary and then take the train from the airport.
Car: I don’t recommend visiting Rome by car; there’s a lot of traffic, and parking can be really hard.

Day 10/first day in Rome:

You’ll be coming from Cinque-Terre on your first day which you’ll take you the morning. So keep it light for the first day.

Trastevere: 

Stroll through the narrow cobbled streets of Tratevere, one of the most charming Roman neighbourhoods. Admire the views and enjoy delicious food. Trastevere was once a working-class neighbourhood and has since gone through gentrification so you’ll find a mix of imperial and modern buildings. 

It’s a charming and calm neighbourhood during the day, and it comes alive in the evening for the aperitivo. Stroll through Trastevere for the rest of the day or come for dinner to soak up the evening vibe.

What to do in Trastevere:

Food tour: I always love a great food tour and as I said Trastevere is known for its good street food. If you want to just relax and eat while someone talks about history, you’ll find many good options with GetyourGuide, like these:

Street food and apperitivo: if you don’t want to do a food tour, at least taste some street food including pizza al taglio, Roman sandwiches, trapezzino and suppli.  If you choose to come in the evening, please take a seat in a terrasse and enjoy an aperitivo. 

Passeggiata del Gianicolo: Admire the view from the Passeggiata del Gianicolo or Parco del Gianicolo just behind the botanical garden.

Santa Maria Basilica: This is the first church in Rome dedicated to Holy Mary and is considered one of the most beautiful in all of Rome. You’ll admire detailed mosaics and incredible marble and gold ornamentations. 

Santa Cecilia Basilica: You can find a stunning marble statue of Santa Cecilia here and a crypt in the Byzantine style.

Day 11/Second day in Rome

The Colosseo, the Foro Romano, and Colle Palatino: Obviously, it’s impossible to go to Rome without visiting the traces of Ancient Rome: the Colosseo, the Foro Romano, and Colle Palatino. As you can imagine, the history behind these monuments is vast and absolutely fascinating. This feat of architecture and engineering that is the Colosseum begun in 72 AC with the aim of presenting spectacles such as gladiatorial combats. Don’t ask yourself if it’s worth a visit, in my opinion it’s a no brainer. You can have acces to the arena, to the Colisseum underground where the gladiators and animals used to be and an attic where you’ll have a panoramic view of Rome with only a small group of people. There’s a lot of written informations in the Colosseo, but if you want even more, you can take a tour, or you can download Rick Steve’s free audioguides. Chose the way you want to visit depending on your interest in history, but at least go see the main part of the Colosseo, the arena.

You should buy your ticket in advance on the official site or via platform like GetYourGuide because there’s a limited number of tickets and you will be assigned an entry time to the Colosseum. Otherwise you’ll be at the ticket office as soon as it opens at 9h and hope you have nice options. You can buy your ticket at the Forum rather than at the Colosseum, the line is shorter.

There’s many ticket options and it’s a bit confusing:
– a full experience ticket for the Colosseum, which gives you access for 90 minutes to the arena of the Colosseum and 1st and 2nd floor where people used to sit, and access to the Forum and Palatine Hill for the day of the ticket and 24h after your entry hour to the Colosseum.
– a 24h ticket for the Colosseum, the Forum and the Palatine Hill which gives you access to the arena for 75 minutes.
– a full experience ticket that gives you access to the arena and the underground, the Forum and Palatine Hill.
– a full experience ticket that gives you access to the arena and the attic, the Forum and Palatine Hill.
– a 24h ticket only for the Colosseum arena (you can then buy a ticket to the Forum and Palatine Hill).

The ones to the attic and the underground seem to be the most popular and the ones that sell the fastest. There’s also a 2-day ticket. If you want to visit the attic or the underground, you’ll absolutely need to reserve in advance. Once you have your ticket, if it includes entry to the Forum and the Palatine Hill, you can visit those at any time on the day of your Colosseum entry and for 24 hours (or 48 hours for the two-day ticket) after your assigned visit hour. You will need at least 2 to 3 hours to visit the Forum and the Hill. I suggest you check the rules before going, because you’ll soon need to reserve every tickets in advance.

You can buy your tickets on the official site or on sites like GetYourGuide :

Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Guided Tour

Piazza del Campidoglio and the Capitoline Museums: At the center of the piazza, you’ll find a replica of the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius. Behind it stands the Capitoline Museums. It’s a complex of museums dating all the way back to the 15th century. The three buildings are connected by an underground gallery designed by Michelangelo. There are beautiful displays of marble and bronze sculptures, paintings, and artifacts from Ancient Rome, the Renaissance, Ancient Egypt, and more. You can buy your ticket in advance, but it’s usually not necessary. This museum nicely concludes a day dedicated to Ancient Rome.

Day 12/ Third day in Rome

1) Trevi Fountain: Obviously, you can’t miss the Trevi Fountain. There are always a lot of people, and it’s nice to see the fountain as close as possible, so I recommend you go first thing in the morning. The fountain is still free in 2025, but that could change. Be careful, on Monday and Friday mornings, Rome is picking up the coins, so you won’t have access. The tradition for tourists is to toss a coin with your right hand over your left shoulder to guarantee that you’ll come back to Rome; two coins to bring you love and three for marriage.

At the right of the Trevi fountain, you’ll find a small fountain with two small water jets facing each other. It’s the fountain of lovers. If the lovers drink from it, the legend says they will be in love and loyal forever. So if you came to Rome with your significant other don’t skip this one! It’s kind of a little secret and there’s usually few people waiting.   

2) Pantheon: Then walk to the Pantheon. It’s a beautifully well conserved Roman temple. You can admire the columns, the immense cupola and oculus at its center, marble floors and as always sculptures and paintings all around you. 

The entrance is not free anymore since 2023, it’s 5 euros. You usually don’t need a fast track ticket like you can find online. Bring cash, because there’s a faster line that is cash only. You can even find free audioguide online like the one from Rick Steves. You’ll need around 30 minutes for this visit. It’s quite small but if you like the architecture of the Antiquity period, you’d want to make this stop.  
Be careful with your clothing, it’s a church so you need to cover your shoulders and knees or your entrance will be denied. 

3) Marché Campo de’ Fiori: Campo de Fiori became popular in the 15 century for being a passage to the Papal residence. Later, being the only Roman piazza without a church, it became a perfect place for public executions. You can see traces of these for example with the statue of Giordano Bruno facing the Vatican, a philosopher feared and executed by the church in 1600. Nowadays, it’s known for its daytime market with different foods and flowers. You can find it from 7am to 2pm. You can also come at night to enjoy its great nightlife. 

4) Piazza Navona: This beautiful square with baroque architecture was once a forum as you can imagine by its shape. There’s three detailed fountains including the renowned Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi. There’s usually artists performing around the piazza, which makes it a nice piazza to slow your pace and enjoy the atmosphere. As usual with places like that, there’s a lot of coffee or restaurants around the piazza that are considered tourist traps by the locals.  

5) Spanish Steps et Piazza di Spagna: These famous steps connect the Piazza di Spagna with the Trinità dei Monti church. Enjoy the vibrant atmosphere and walk up the stairs to take in a nice view of the piazza. There are a lot of tourists, so if you want a calmer atmosphere, you’ll need to come early in the morning or at night. If you don’t like very touristy places full of visitors, it may not be the right place for you.

6) Passeggiata del Pincio, Piazza del Popolo, Chiesa del Popolo, Terrazza del Pincio: The Passeggiata del Pincio is a beautiful promenade where you’ll have a great view of the ‘Pinciano’ Obelisk and Piazza del Popolo from the Terrazza del Pincio.

7) Galleria Borghese and Villa Borghese: Galleria Borghese was my favorite museum. It’s on the smaller side and is fascinating for lovers of marble statues. All the statues have so much movement and detail; I couldn’t take my eyes off some of them, especially Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne. If you’re like me and love marble statues, don’t miss this one. The museum is also full of carvings, ornamentations, and paintings on the walls. It’s truly breathtaking. The museum is surrounded by a beautiful park where you can take a nice and relaxing walk for the rest of the day. You need to reserve the museum in advance on the official web site of Galleria Borghese and can only stay for an one.

Day 13/ Fourth day in Rome

1) Vatican

We reserve one full morning to visit the Vatican. I strongly recommend you reserve a tour because there’s so much history, but take an early access! If you don’t take a tour, you’ll need to wait in an extremely long lime directly under the sun. The early skip the line access give you a less crowded visit which greatly improves the experience, like with this great tour:

Rome: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & Basilica Tour

Be careful choosing your clothes for the day, women need to cover the shoulders and knees. The same goes for the men: wear pants, no visible shoulders and no hats. Only bring small bags, no tripod or umbrella, but there’s a free luggage space if you really need.

2) Castle Sant’Angelo : After lunch, go to castle Sant’Angelo which is only about 20 minutes from the Vatican. It’s a museum inside of a fortress, it’s almost two thousand years old and includes, among others, art, prison cells and papales suites. so you’ll love it if you love art and history. You can take a beautiful picture of the castle from Ponte Sant’Angelo.

Amalfi Coast (5 to 6 days)

The Amalfi Coast is a dream destination by the Gulf of Salerno; in my opinion, it’s the luxurious cousin of the Cinque Terre. This UNESCO World Heritage Site includes beautiful villages stretching over 50 km from Sorrento to Salerno with colorful houses in pastel shades, caves, trails, and beaches. You can choose to have a very relaxing time with ferry rides, beach days, shopping, and dining on a restaurant terrace high on the cliff while enjoying a magnificent view. Or you can be more active and add some hiking trails to your itinerary. Either way, your stay here will fill you with wonderful memories.

This itinerary is an example of what you can do during your stay; it’s the type of vacation I personally love, but feel free to adapt it to your tastes and budget.

How to go to the Amalfi Coast:

By plane: If you decide to do this itinerary from south to north, you can come by plane to Naples or Rome and then take the train to the Amalfi Coast.
By Train: You can easily come to the Coast by train from Rome, just take the train from Rome-Termini to Salerno station with Trenitalia. The train take 3h. From there you can take the train to Vietri Sul Mare or the bus to one of the villages.
By car: You can come by car to the coast, especially if you stay in Salerno or one of the villages more at the ends of the Coast like Vietri Sul Mare. You can also use it to go to other villages, but be prepare, this is not for everyone. The road between the villages runs along the edge of a cliff without any real barriers, and visibility of the oncoming lane is poor in several places, to the point where it’s common to honk to warn drivers in the opposite direction of your presence. I didn’t drive, I only took the bus once, and for me it was one too many, but maybe I’m too fearful and get motion sickness easily. If you are like me but will be coming by car, stay in one of the big cities like Vietri Sul Mare or Salerno, avoid the bus and take the ferry between the villages.
By Bus: There’s many busses going around the coast between the towns, but in the touristy season, they tend to be less reliable and won’t take anymore people if full. As I said before, I found it scary and made me very motion sick.
By Ferry: You can easily travel between the coastal towns by ferry which is my favorite option. It’s feels safe compared to the car and you can enjoy all the beautiful landscape.

My recommendation is to come to Salerno via train and then move around the coast with the ferries. You can use Ferryhopper to help you find the ferry that you need. I also strongly recommend you buy your tickets at least a few days in advance if you want the best chose of departure time.

Where to stay:

Salerno or Vietri Sul Mare: You can stay in one of the bigger cities like Salerno or a less touristy village like Vietri Sul Mare, especially if you came by car. It’s not as charming and picturesque as the other villages of the coast, but it’s a little bit more practical, especially if you want to do a day trip to Napoli or Pompei. It’s also cheaper to stay in than the more classic and popular villages like Positano or Amalfi. If you don’t have a car, you’ll have a little bit longer to get to the port if you want to take the ferry between the villages, about a 30-45 min walk.
We’ve stayed in Vietri and loved it! People were nice, there were good restaurants and lots of cute little shops.

You can also stay in any village of the Amalfi Coast; it’s more picturesque, but it comes with a price. I loved Vietri, but next time I go to the Amalfi Coast, I would choose a more central town because it cuts down on all bus and ferry time every day and gives you more time to enjoy the coast. I would also choose somewhere not too far from the marina because I prefer to travel by ferry along the coast.

Positano: If you want to live the dream in one of the most beautiful and romantic towns, you can stay in Positano. It’s the perfect chose for couples on their honeymoon. It’s expensive, but if you can afford it, you should absolutely stay here.

Praiano: It allies charm, amazing views and a calmer atmosphere than the neighboring town of Positano. It can be a great chose for people who love Positano but want a little less tourists.

Amalfi: Its location is central which makes it a great base. It also has many activity options. You’ll find beaches, trails in addition to a charming village. If you want to walk the Path of the Gods, it could be a great option to stay here. It’s still pricy but more accessible than Positano.

Atrani: This small beautiful town is just beside Amalfi, but calmer and less touristy, which makes it a great option for those who want a cute town, picturesque views but with less tourists.

Maiori or Minori: These small towns are not the usual Amalfi Coast destination but are as charming which makes them a great option if you want to stay somewhere more serene and less expensive.

For the purpose of this itinerary, I’ll will chose Amalfi as the base because it’s of its central position. It’s easy to adjust the itinerary if you choose to stay in Maiori, Minori or Atrani, but you can also stay elsewhere you’ll just need to switch things around a little bit more.

Day 14/First day on the Amalfi Coast

You’ll be coming from Rome on your first day, and it will take all your morning, so this first day will be used to visit the town where you are staying.

If you want you can make a stop in Naples or Salerno, or go directly to Amalfi. Using the train, you’ll have a 1h40 ride from Rome to Salerno. Than I recommend you take the ferry to Amalfi (40 minutes), it will be easier with your luggage than the bus.

Amalfi: Amalfi has a lot of activity option including trails and beaches. I recommend to take your first day in Amalfi to explore the town. Don’t miss the Piazza Duomo where you’ll find the beautiful Duomo di Sant’Andrea. You can also enjoy the beach.

Complete your day with a nice tour. I always find it’s the best way to relax while discovering the region and take amazing pictures. You could also easily book a tour on book 17 of this itinerary.
Those are great options and includes exploring Conca dei Marini, Furore and Paiano:

Amalfi Coast: Sunset Boat Tour with Fruit & Drinks

Amalfi Coast: Boat Tour with Caves, Beaches & Snorkeling

Day 15/Second day on the Amalfi Coast

Wear comfortable shoes today because there will be a lot of walking, including steep stairs. Leave early to make the most of your day and enjoy the cooler morning temperatures.

Ravello:

These are your options to go from Amalfi to Ravello:
– Walk up to Ravello passing through Atrani, which has a lot of stairs, so do this if you don’t mind a little cardio and leave early so it’s not already too hot. We did this option and loved it. I don’t have good cardio, so I found it a little challenging but worth it for the amazing views.
– Take a 30 minutes bus. Know that the buses in the region are not always reliable, particularly in the more touristy seasons because the bus can be too full and not take any more persons.
– Take a private car, which is of course the simpler option if you can afford it.

I absolutely loved Ravello! It’s higher up the coast, which offers breathtaking views of the sea. There are beautiful gardens and a relaxed atmosphere. I found Ravello particularly romantic.

Villa Cimbrone gardens: This one was my favorite place in Ravello! It’s an incredibly beautiful villa surrounded by colorful gardens. It’s quite extensive with a great variety of plants and flowers. You can enter the villa for a fee even if you are not staying at the hotel. It’s so charming and absolutely romantic. Please don’t miss the Infinity Terrace for one of the most breathtaking views of the Amalfi Coast. I spent at least an hour here with my husband and enjoyed every minute.

Villa Rufolo: This villa is very cute with a some beautiful gardens. It’s more on the smaller side and is better enjoy during the flowering season. The views from here are also breathtakings.

Atrani:

I recommend you walk from Ravello to Atrani to see some incredible landscapes. Be prepared, it’s very steep so you’ll need good shoes and good knees! This UNESCO World Heritage site is the smallest municipality in Italy and is on the water’s edge between two steep cliffs. The views of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the historical houses along the narrow streets are gonna win your heart. During your descent from Ravello to Atrani, you will pass by the Church of Santa Maria Maddalena, take a break here, admire the view and take some pictures from its terrace. Then, stroll through the streets without missing Piazza Umberto I where you can sit at one of the small cafés. If you want, you can also pass some time at the beach, Spiaggia di Atrani.

From Atrani, walk back to Amalfi, which is only a few minutes away. You could also take a bus back.

Day 16/Third day on the Amalfi Coast

Positano:

You just can’t go to the Amalfi Coast without seeing Positano. It’s often considered one of the most beautiful towns on the Amalfi Coast. This idyllic village cascades dramatically down to the seaside. It mix charming and colorful houses with shops aligning charm and luxury perfectly. You’ll find a beachfront area shaded by parasols where you can relax and swim, but be aware it’s expensive.

To go to Positano, take a 10 to 30 minute ferry from Amalfi (depending on the ferry company). The first one is around 8:25 AM. The last ferry back is around 7:40 PM. While on the ferry, take your time to admire the unforgettable view from the sea and take some incredible pictures.

Positano is absolutely beautiful, but it’s also full of tourists, and everything tends to be on the expensive side. There’s one main road going in a zigzag. The main part with the majority of the shops and restaurants is at the center in the lower part of the town. To go up and down Positano, you’ll find a lot of stairs, so as usual around the coast, please have some comfortable shoes! For me, Positano is pleasant to explore at a leisurely pace, strolling through the streets, looking at what’s in the shops, perhaps even buying some souvenirs, and above all, not missing the various views from up high. If you want you can treat yourself at one of the delicious restaurant Positano has to offer like Donna Rosa, Al Palazzo or Il Tridente.

As I said, Positano has a beach, but it’s more of a rocky beach and not beautiful soft sand, so renting a transat is an option. You have the main beach, The Spiaggia Grande, which is, to no surprise, full of tourists; or you can go to Fornillo Beach not far away, where you can still rent a transat and enjoy a calmer atmosphere.

Treat your day in Positano like a well-deserved day of relaxation.

Day 17/Fourth day on the Amalfi Coast

Maiori:

Take a 20 min bus ride or 20 min ferry to Maiori (the latter is always my favorite). With Ferryhopper, the first ferry is at 9h00 with Travelmare. From the main road, go up the stairs to Castello di San Nicola de Thoro-Plano and enjoy a nice homemade limoncello in front of a beautiful view of the town. It’s about a 45 minutes walk up the stairs, but don’t miss this little gem. Then, enjoy some time in the narrow streets of Maiori and along beautiful sandy beach.

When you’re ready, go to Sentiero dei Limoni, a hiking trail leading to Minori. It takes around 45 minutes. You can do the trail by yourself no problem, but if you prefer you can also do it with a guide and tasting along the way with a tour like this one :

Maiori: Amalfi Coast Path of Lemons Day Trip with Tastings

Minori:

Not surprisingly, this comune is also a cute little town bordered by cliffs where you’ll see charming, colorful houses along the Mediterranean Sea coast. This picturesque town is not your more common destination along the Amalfi Coast, so you’ll find a more relaxed atmosphere while still enjoying the views, the delicious food and the beach.

If you haven’t have lunch yet, you can stop at Azienda Agricola Cuonc Cuonc around the end of the hike and enjoy delicious farm to table food.

As these other cute towns, strolls the streets, pass some time at the beach, take pictures, and don’t forget to taste some food! You can indulge yourself with a delicious a pastry at Pasticceria Sal De Riso. If you want to eat in Minori you can try a restaurant like Giardiniello, Alba cafè and Ristorante Garum or, as a already mention, Azienda Agricola Cuonc Cuonc.

When your ready or its your ferry departure time, go back to Amalfi. You could also take the 20 min bus ride or take a taxi.

Day 18/Fifth day on the Amalfi Coast

Capri:

Capri is an island not far from the rest of the Amalfi Coast. The island is known for its magnificent landscapes, deep blue water, and a city that combines charm and luxury. It’s very popular so be prepare to be sourronded by tourists.

How to go:

To reach Capri, you’ll either need to take the ferry or a tour.

The first ferry to Capri from Amalfi is around 8:25 and takes 1 hour and 7 minutes; you’ll also find some ferries that only take 50 minutes. The last ferry back is around 17:00. It’s also important to check the last ferry of the day because, of course, you don’t want to be stuck on the island and have to pay a very expensive hotel for the night if it’s not in your budget. Also, don’t forget to buy all your tickets for the day a few days in advance to be sure you have the best departure and return times possible. When you arrive at the marina, you can take a funicular to get to Capri easily and quickly. Buy your ticket at Marina Grande near the ferry office.

If you want to treat yourself and have a very memorable day in Capri, take a day tour that includes transport. This one also includes a tour of the surrounding grottos, time and equipment for snorkeling, and a few drinks:

Capri Island Boat Tour with Snorkeling, Drinks & Free Time

What to do:

A tour of the caves: While you’re in Capri, you can take a tour of the surrounding grottos, including, if you want, the Blue Grotto. That’s what I did and I absolutely loved it; we all had a blast! So relaxing, and the views are, as you can imagine, memorable! But I did not see the blue grotto, there was just so many people and people where waiting in line on rocking boats. It did not seem worth it for me.
These tours are some good options especially if you are a group:

Capri Boat Experience: Faraglioni, Caves, Swim, Limoncello

Capri: Private Island Boat Tour with Snorkeling and Swimming

Capri: 3-Hour Private Boat Tour with Blue Grotto Visitr

Gardens of Augustus: This is a romantic garden where you can take a nice little walk, but above all you’ll find there a breathtaking panoramic view of Tyrrhenian Sea. This is the spot for memorable pictures. I took one of my favorite couple picture there!

Taste lemon-flavored foods: Capri is known for its lemons, which explain why you’ll see lemons in every shop and restaurant. I had a delicious gelato, quite expensive but very refreshing!

Anacapri: If you have the time, you can take a bus to Anacapri from Marina Grande or Capri Centro. It’s a town higher on the island, there are fewer tourists and full of incredible viewpoints. From the Piazza Vittoria in Anacapri, you can even take the Mount Solaro Chair Lift to the highest point of the island for a complete view of the island. There are also hiking trails around Anacapri; just be sure you have the time.

This tour includes the blue grotto, the visit of Anacapri and the Gardens of Augustus:

From Capri: Blue Grotto, Capri and Anacapri Guided Tour

Day 19/Fifth day on the Amalfi Coast

Path of the Gods hike

I haven’t done it yet but it’s definitely on my bucket list! The views look absolutely breathtaking! It also looks like it can be quite a challenge depending on your physical capacity and the part of the Path that you choose. Along the way, you’ll come across little restaurants and bar where you can enjoy fresh limonade and limoncello while taking in the views, like Il Chiosco del sentiero degli dei in Nocelle.

You can book a tour to help you make the most of your experience. This is one example:

Amalfi Coast Path of the Gods Hike from Agerola

You can look at your options with the same activity provider which has amazing ratings and different options: https://www.enzomasullo.com/category/path-of-the-gods/

Day 20

Go back to Rome or the city where you’ll take your flight back home.

I always take it easy for my last vacation day. If you haven’t have time for some visit you can always do it now, or you can just stroll the streets, have a apperitivo and enjoy the amazing food and wine.

You could also use this day to pass by Naples, Pompei, or Vesuvius.

Day 21: Go back home and come back as soon as you can !