A single-Week “Intro to Italy” Travel Itinerary
12 min read
Bella Italia. A Mediterranean desire whose reputation has endured among visitors for centuries, Italy really should be entrance and center on any discerning tourist’s bucket list.
The boot-shaped European nation is the dwelling of legendary cities, globe-well known art, enriching society, and of study course, some of the greatest food stuff and drink in the globe. That is why every 12 months, almost 100 million guests touch down in Italy looking for their future major adventure – and come across it!
And if you’ve only bought 7 days to see the best of the country, I’m below to display you how to do it, with my a person-week “Intro to Italy” itinerary that will have you discover three of the country’s most iconic locations!
But initially, let’s split down a couple of the most often requested concerns about traveling in Italy!
How to Get All over Italy
Italy, being a person of the world’s most preferred tourist destinations for such a extended time, has experienced quite a few decades to streamline techniques that readers to the place get all around, and as a consequence, touring Italy is a breeze.
You can lease a auto and see Italy for your self (although Italy is renowned for its crazy drivers!), bounce on a community bus (or a vacationer-centered hop-on hop-off bus), see Italy from the back again of a Vespa, or even just take ferries and cruises around its numerous coastal hotspots.
Nonetheless, in my impression, there is no superior way to get about Italy than by teach. Touring in Italy by prepare eliminates the anxiety of airports and of flying from town to city, the Italian prepare procedure is effortless to navigate (numerous Italians talk English or are multilingual), Italy’s trains are exceptionally relaxed, and you can snag some severely low-cost fares.
But most effective of all, you will be dealt with to the stunning scenery that would make Italy so beloved. I use Omio for booking my train journeys as it is super user-pleasant and will present you all of your possibilities!
Professional Vacation Idea: If you book your tickets in advance (ideally 2-3 weeks before your ticket) for Italian train tickets, selling prices will be a ton much less expensive!
What Is The Most effective Italy SIM Card For Travellers?
There is a massive assortment of Italy SIM cards for international guests to order that will lower information use or roaming charges whilst abroad.
While Iliad is a charge-helpful Italy SIM with inexpensive costs, but most guests to the country go for the carriers TIM or Vodafone, which equally give fantastic protection. It is super uncomplicated to get your vacationer SIM card at the airport and will make your life a whole lot less difficult when traveling around Europe.
If you are on an extended Europe family vacation, I’d advocate purchasing a European SIM card that provides you coverage all over the place.
Is 7 Times Ample in Italy?
If you’re pressed for time and only have a week to see some of Italy’s planet-renowned highlights, it’s superior than nothing at all! The next itinerary that I’ve set alongside one another aspects how to see the most effective of Italy in just 7 times (when restricting time in transit to make the most of your week), which include stunning entire world cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice – and some of the outstanding landscapes in involving!
A 7 days in Italy will give you a style of what this wonderful region has to supply and will be sure to inspire you to return once again and all over again.
Is Italy Extremely High-priced?
Western Europe, where Italy is situated, is usually extra pricey than Japanese Europe or other more spending budget-friendly regions of the globe. However, that doesn’t mean that there are not ways to vacation all around this legendary region on a shoestring, while however taking pleasure in a large-good quality family vacation.
Many guesthouses and hostels supply very cozy lodgings for a portion of the value of additional substantial-close accommodations, specially in town centers. Traveling via teach all over Italy is one more wonderful way to retain your journey price range in test – preserving extra Euros for pasta carbonara and late-evening Negronis.
Also, traveling in the course of the shoulder seasons (keeping away from peak-time summer) can be a massive money-saving idea!
A single Week Intro To Italy Itinerary
Now that I’ve answered some of your most burning concerns about traveling in Italy, let us dive into my one particular-7 days Italy itinerary! This is best for very first-time people who want to get a little taste of what tends to make this place so superb!
Rome (3 Times)
Florence (2 Days)
Venice (2 Days)
Starting your week in the nation’s cash, Rome, is a fantastic way to kickstart your Italian odyssey – and definitely lives up to the hoopla! I employed to live in Rome, and it’ll usually keep a special place in my heart.
3 Times in Rome
The “Eternal City”, renowned for currently being the heart of the Roman Empire and the birthplace of numerous conveniences we acquire for granted right now, has it all. Your senses will be heightened about every single corner of this charming globe city. Rome has managed to keep much of its historic charm, while even now getting entirely present day in its tourist industry and the comfort readers can anticipate.
If you’ve in no way been to Rome, you’ll have oodles of earth-famous landmarks to tick off your itinerary. And the greatest matter about Rome is that so substantially of your exploration can be performed on foot! The town is a pleasure to wander close to, and if your ft get tired, the city has an quick-to-navigate metro procedure that has stops in close proximity to all main points of interest.
I previously have a thorough three-day Rome itinerary & Weekend in Rome information on my blog site, which goes into excellent depth on how to expend every single moment of your time in the town!
Even so, to recap the highlights…
Working day 1: Roman Landmarks With A Tale To Tell
Wake up! You are in Rome and I hope you have packed some comfortable strolling footwear!
On your initially day, you will want to see for by yourself the city’s a lot of historic fountains, like tourist magnet The Trevi Fountain. Throw a coin in about your shoulder and make a desire!
Next, check out the magnificent Pantheon, climb the Spanish Ways and get pleasure from a piping hot Italian espresso in one particular of the city’s sprawling general public squares, these as the Piazza Navona or the Piazza Del Popolo. Rome is a big treasure trove of discoveries, and everywhere you go you glance, you’ll see a thing grand that has a long and storied tale to inform.
Rome is bustling with vacationers in summer season so expect queues if you want to get close to most attractions. The cooler months in Rome have milder weather conditions than in several European metropolitan areas, and with much less crowds an off-year vacation is also truly worth contemplating.
Of system, every single day in Italy really should permit for quite a few cease-offs to sample the delicacies the country is recognized throughout the globe for. Rome has some of the most historic “gelaterias” in the place, and its gelato – and the sheer vary of lip-smacking flavors out there – is impossible to say no to.
Working day 2: A “Colossal” Adventure
Your next day in Rome must be reserved for checking out the landmark to beat all landmarks – The Colosseum!
This virtually two-thousand-yr-outdated Roman amphitheater is a marvel of historic architecture and is notorious for currently being the web page of the deaths of half a million gladiators and slaves. This is an significant nevertheless-standing monument, and having a tour of the Colosseum is a intriguing, yet sobering, expertise.
The Roman Forum is proper upcoming to the Colosseum, and numerous tickets to possibly encompass entry to both equally landmarks. This Ancient Roman market is a sprawling open-air museum of relics and archaeological fascinations, and many pivotal times in background happened correct here.
Just after you have loaded up on history at these epic web sites, why not expend the afternoon indulging in some first-class Italian browsing? Rome has one thing for all people, from iconic searching streets like the By way of Del Corso to little laneway flea markets, to 1-off Italian boutiques dripping in fashion.
Working day 3: Art And Architecture At Its Finest
Your closing working day in Rome saves arguably the best for final – a pay a visit to to the Vatican! This metropolis-condition – technically its possess state – is in the heart of Rome, and in which you will head to see St Peter’s Basilica, St Peter’s Square, and The Vatican Museums, which encompass some of the world’s most priceless creative performs. Most famously, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling masterpiece. It is actually awe-inspiring, and you will commit several hours exploring every thing The Vatican has to present.
Positioned close to The Vatican is the formidable Castel Sant’Angelo, a Roman castle that dates again to 139Ad and that visitors now can, luckily for us, continue to tour.
You have now witnessed the most effective of Rome and it’s time to board the prepare to your future destination… Florence!
2 Times in Florence
Rome delivers seamless, direct connections to Florence, which acquire just 90 minutes. Your prepare from Rome to Florence will consider you by some of the most picturesque countryside, and the most charming towns, of Tuscany.
After you arrive in Florence, the capital of the area, you are going to be walking in the footsteps of giants from during record. This creative city is the beating heart of the Italian art environment, and was as soon as residence to masters this kind of as Da Vinci and Michelangelo.
I have a in depth two-working day Florence itinerary on my blog site, so for much more information and suggestions, verify it out! There is so a lot to see and do in Florence, so get a fantastic night’s snooze in just one of the city’s numerous lodging offerings!
I lived in Florence for 1.5 decades and it is an additional location that I’ll usually cherish – and 48 several hours in the city is essentially loads of time to investigate it’s charming streets, markets, and iconic landmarks
Day 4: Discover The Endless Beauty Of Florence
Your to start with day in Florence should really be used only wandering. There is number of towns in the entire world that are as fulfilling to examine on foot, or that are as simple to get all over. It’s a good deal extra compact than Rome!
The Florence town heart is brimming with wonderful sights just a hop, skip, and bounce away from each and every other. This includes the amazing Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (“The Duomo”), the Basilica of Santa Croce, and the quite a few historic bridges that cross the Arno River, including the Ponte Vecchio. Florence was the moment a foundation for the Italian upper crust, like the effective Medici Relatives, and the metropolis is home to numerous regal structures and palaces that you can continue to stop by these days, like the Pitti Palace and the Palazzo Vecchio.
You’ll be entire up on background and culture soon after your initially working day in Florence, so make confident to delight in an al fresco area food for dinner, capped off with a bottle of area Tuscan wine. Right up until tomorrow!
Day 5: A City Of Masterpieces
An early start is a should today, not only to beat the crowds but to cram in what your second working day in Florence is all about – artwork! Your 2nd day in Florence is very best used having in some of the most renowned art from all over historical past at two of the city’s well-known websites.
To start with up, head to the Uffizi Gallery, Italy’s solution to The Louvre. This gallery is residence to Italy’s most significant collections of artwork at the rear of The Vatican Museums. The Uffizi Gallery properties over 2000 functions of artwork more than 100 rooms, and you can assume to see operates by masters like Botticelli (his “Birth of Venus” calls the Uffizi home), Da Vinci, Rembrandt and Caravaggio. To title but a couple of.
I hope you’re not way too whole up on artwork but, as the best is still to occur!
Immediately after your stop by to the Uffizi, wander over to the Accademia, a museum that exists typically to property the most famed sculpture in history… Michelangelo’s David! This Florence museum is also house to other sculptures by Michelangelo, and a pay a visit to below is a have to.
I hope your time in Florence has been inspiring and educational, and now it’s time to bounce on the train, loosen up and zoom toward your ultimate desired destination – Venice!
2 Days in Venice
Trains from Florence to Venice depart during the day and night time, and the journey is just 2-3 several hours, dependent on the company you pick out. You’ll journey up by way of Bologna and other well-known locations, into the Veneto region of northeastern Italy. Your teach will pull up proper into Venice’s Santa Lucia Station, which is situated suitable on the Grand Canal in the coronary heart of town!
Venice is a unique city, one particular floating on a lagoon, and there’s nowhere in the globe rather like it. Art, historical past, lifestyle, and wonderful food await you, so test into your lodging and permit the sounds of Venice’s canal currents ship you to sleep!
Professional-Idea: If you are traveling with a large amount of baggage/ major suitcases, be confident to ebook accommodation close to the coach station to retain items straightforward. Going for walks around and acquiring misplaced in the canals is 50 % the enjoyment, so you really do not want to invest too substantially time location your lodging.
Day 6: A Formidable Sinking City
Fantastic Morning! It is your 2nd-final day in Italy, and you have woken up in a town that has motivated artists, writers, and leaders for hundreds of years. Now, shell out the working day on the major island wherever most of Venice’s most closely trafficked landmarks are. Did you know that Venice is really comprised of 126 islands?!
Your working day will be loaded with visits to some of Venice’s most renowned spots, such as St Mark’s Sq., The Doge’s Palace, The Bridge of Sighs, The Grand Canal, The Rialto Bridge and the a lot of cathedrals and museums that dot the Venetian landscape.
Of class, no take a look at to Venice is total with no a gondola journey along its many canals, remaining serenaded by a gondolier. These rides can be expensive, and it’s much more fulfilling in the hotter months than in winter season, when Florence can flood, but a gondola experience is still nicely worthwhile and a bit of enjoyable!
Working day 7: Practical experience The Hues Of Venice
Your final working day in Italy, and your 2nd day in Venice, must include paying out time on the other islands that phone Venezia house, specially the colourful locales of Murano and Burano. Famous for its brightly-painted buildings and abundant traditions in glass generating, this is exactly where to pick up a one-off Italian memento that you will treasure endlessly. Venice has a fantastic network of drinking water taxis and ferries to get you around the many neighborhood islands.
Afterwards, uncover a cozy, authentic trattoria, absent from the vacationer traps, and indulge in a remaining Italian meal to compose house about. If you are lucky, you’ll also get to take in a renowned Venetian sunset, which illuminates the city’s colorful buildings and has been the inspiration for numerous artists all over historical past. There is nothing at all like it. Get pleasure from!
I hope that your week in Italy is almost everything you predicted and a lot more! Even though it will be a person jam-packed week of sightseeing – it’ll be nicely worthy of it and will have you Tumble IN Like with Italy just as a great deal as I have!
Preparing a trip to Europe?
My vacation blog site is loaded with tons of handy spot guides, things to do, and helpful itineraries that I assurance will be beneficial for your approaching Europe journey. I’d like for you to consider a search, and truly feel cost-free to achieve out with any inquiries.
Thanks so a great deal for looking at my Intro-to-Italy itinerary!
