One Week in Italy: Rome, Florence and Venice

One week gives you enough time for Italy’s three essential cities — Rome, Florence, and Venice — connected by high-speed train. This is the most popular Italy itinerary for a reason: these three cities contain an extraordinary concentration of art, architecture, and history, and the train connections between them are fast and reliable.

The route at a glance

Days	City	Nights
1–3	Rome	2.5
3–5	Florence	2
5–7	Venice	2

Fly into Rome Fiumicino (FCO), fly out of Venice Marco Polo (VCE). This open-jaw routing avoids backtracking and is often the same price as a return flight.

Train connections

• Rome → Florence: Frecciarossa high-speed train, 1 hour 30 minutes. From approximately EUR 19 booked early, EUR 45–55 walk-up. Trains every 30 minutes from Roma Termini.
• Florence → Venice: Frecciarossa, 2 hours 5 minutes. From approximately EUR 19 booked early. Trains from Firenze Santa Maria Novella to Venezia Santa Lucia.

Book on trenitalia.com or italotreno.it. Italo trains are often marginally cheaper. Both operators run frequently.

Where to stay

Rome (2 nights)

Budget: Hotel Lancelot — Via Capo d’Africa 47, near the Colosseum. Doubles from approximately EUR 90/night as of 2026. Family-run, clean, good breakfast included.

Mid-range: Hotel Adriano — Via di Pallacorda, steps from the Pantheon. From approximately EUR 150/night. Central location, modern rooms in a historic building.

Luxury: Hotel de Russie — Via del Babuino, between Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps. From approximately EUR 450/night. Courtyard garden, spa, Michelin-adjacent restaurant.

Florence (2 nights)

Budget: Hotel Perseo — Via de’ Cerretani 1, 2 minutes from the Duomo. Doubles from approximately EUR 85/night as of 2026. Basic but excellent location.

Mid-range: Hotel Davanzati — Via Porta Rossa 5, near Palazzo Strozzi. From approximately EUR 160/night. Period furnishings, rooftop terrace with Duomo views.

Luxury: Hotel Lungarno — Borgo San Jacopo, on the Arno. Ferragamo-owned. From approximately EUR 380/night. River views, private art collection.

Venice (2 nights)

Budget: Generator Venice — Fondamenta Zitelle, Giudecca island. Private doubles from approximately EUR 110/night as of 2026. Modern, water-bus ride to San Marco.

Mid-range: Hotel Al Ponte Antico — Cannaregio, near the Rialto Bridge. From approximately EUR 200/night. Grand Canal views from the terrace.

Luxury: The Gritti Palace — Campo Santa Maria del Giglio. From approximately EUR 700/night. One of Venice’s most famous hotels, directly on the Grand Canal.

Days 1–3: Rome

Day 1 — Ancient Rome

Arrive at Fiumicino. Take the Leonardo Express train to Termini (EUR 14, 32 minutes, every 15 minutes). Check into your hotel.

Afternoon: Walk to the Colosseum (approximately EUR 18 combined ticket with Forum and Palatine, open 9:00–19:15 in summer). If you have a late afternoon slot, start with the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill — enter via Via di San Gregorio and work your way to the Colosseum for golden-hour photos.

Dinner: Roscioli (Via dei Giubbonari 21) — exceptional carbonara, curated wine list. Reserve ahead. Mains from approximately EUR 16–22.

Day 2 — Vatican City

Morning: Vatican Museums + Sistine Chapel (approximately EUR 17 entry, open 8:00–19:00, last entry 17:00). Book the earliest slot and allow 3 hours. Exit into St Peter’s Basilica (free entry). Climb the dome for EUR 8 (lift + stairs).

Lunch: Bonci Pizzarium (Via della Meloria 43) — Rome’s best pizza al taglio. Slices by weight, approximately EUR 3–5.

Afternoon: Walk to Castel Sant’Angelo (approximately EUR 15, open 9:00–19:30). Cross the Tiber to Piazza Navona and the Pantheon (approximately EUR 5 entry).

Dinner: Da Enzo al 29 in Trastevere (Via dei Vascellari 29). No reservations, arrive by 19:00. Mains from approximately EUR 10–14.

Day 3 — Borghese and departure to Florence

Morning: Borghese Gallery — 9:00am slot (approximately EUR 15, strictly 2-hour visits). Bernini’s sculptures and Caravaggio paintings. Book weeks ahead.

Walk to the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. Pick up luggage and take the midday Frecciarossa to Florence (depart Roma Termini around 12:00, arrive Firenze SMN 13:30).

Lunch in Florence: Trattoria Mario (Via Rosina 2, near San Lorenzo market). Communal tables, no reservations. Florentine classics from approximately EUR 8–12.

Days 3–5: Florence

Day 3 afternoon — Duomo and centre

Walk to the Duomo (cathedral free, dome climb approximately EUR 30 combined ticket including Baptistery and bell tower as of 2026). Climb Brunelleschi’s dome — 463 steps, timed entry required, book on duomo.firenze.it.

Dinner: Buca Mario (Piazza degli Ottaviani 16) — one of Florence’s oldest restaurants, operating since 1886. Bistecca alla fiorentina from approximately EUR 50 per kg (typically shared). Mains from EUR 15–20.

Day 4 — Uffizi and Oltrarno

Morning: Uffizi Gallery (approximately EUR 25 in peak season, open 8:15–18:30, closed Mondays). Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera, Leonardo’s Annunciation, Caravaggio’s Medusa. Allow 3 hours.

Lunch: All’Antico Vinaio (Via dei Neri 65) — legendary sandwiches from approximately EUR 5–7. The queue is long but moves fast.

Afternoon: Cross the Ponte Vecchio into the Oltrarno neighbourhood. Visit the Palazzo Pitti (approximately EUR 16, open 8:15–18:30) and the Boboli Gardens (approximately EUR 10). Walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo for the definitive Florence panorama — free, best at sunset.

Dinner: Il Latini (Via dei Palchetti 6) — Florentine institution, generous portions, hanging hams. Mains from approximately EUR 14–20. Reserve for dinner.

Day 5 — Accademia and departure to Venice

Morning: Galleria dell’Accademia (approximately EUR 16, open 8:15–18:50, closed Mondays). Michelangelo’s David. Book timed entry — queues exceed 90 minutes without it. Allow 1–1.5 hours.

Walk through the San Lorenzo Market for leather goods and food stalls. Pick up luggage and take the early afternoon Frecciarossa to Venice (approximately 2 hours).

Days 5–7: Venice

Day 5 afternoon — Grand Canal and Rialto

Arrive at Venezia Santa Lucia station. Buy a vaporetto pass — 24-hour (EUR 25), 48-hour (EUR 35), or 72-hour (EUR 45) as of 2026. Single rides are EUR 9.50, so the pass pays for itself quickly.

Take Vaporetto Line 1 down the Grand Canal to your hotel — this is the best introduction to Venice, passing under the Rialto Bridge and past dozens of palazzi.

Walk to the Rialto Bridge and the Rialto Fish Market (mornings only, closed Sundays and Mondays).

Dinner: Osteria alle Testiere (Calle del Mondo Novo, Castello). Tiny, exceptional seafood. Reserve weeks ahead. Tasting menus from approximately EUR 50–60.

Day 6 — San Marco and Dorsoduro

Morning: St Mark’s Basilica (free entry, skip-the-line ticket approximately EUR 6 to avoid the queue). Doge’s Palace (approximately EUR 30 combined with Museo Correr, open 9:00–18:00). The Bridge of Sighs connects the palace to the old prison.

Lunch: Cantina Do Spade (San Polo 860) — bacaro-style cicchetti (Venetian tapas) from approximately EUR 2–4 each with a glass of prosecco.

Afternoon: Walk to the Gallerie dell’Accademia (approximately EUR 12, open 8:15–19:15). Bellini, Tintoretto, Veronese. Then walk along the Zattere waterfront in Dorsoduro for views across to Giudecca.

Dinner: Trattoria Da Romano on Burano island (take the vaporetto from Fondamente Nove, 40 minutes). Famous for risotto di gò. Mains from approximately EUR 15–22. Return by evening vaporetto.

Day 7 — Islands and departure

Morning: Take the vaporetto to Murano (glass-blowing demonstrations, Museo del Vetro approximately EUR 10) and Burano (coloured houses, lace museum approximately EUR 5). Allow 2–3 hours for both.

Return to Venice, collect luggage, and take the Alilaguna water bus or ACTV bus to Marco Polo Airport (approximately EUR 15 by Alilaguna, EUR 10 by bus, 60–90 minutes total).

Budget summary for 1 week in Italy

Category	Budget	Mid-range	Luxury
Accommodation (6 nights)	EUR 500–650	EUR 900–1,200	EUR 2,800+
Meals (7 days)	EUR 210–300	EUR 350–490	EUR 700+
Trains (Rome-Florence-Venice)	EUR 40–60	EUR 60–90	EUR 90–120
Entry fees	EUR 120–150	EUR 120–150	EUR 120–150
Local transport	EUR 50–70	EUR 70–100	EUR 120–180
Total per person	EUR 920–1,230	EUR 1,500–2,030	EUR 3,830+

All prices approximate as of 2026. The largest single saving comes from booking train tickets early — advance fares can be 60% cheaper than walk-up prices.