10-day plan · First trip · couples · art & food lovers

10-day Italy itinerary

10-day Italy: Rome, Florence, Venice + Amalfi taste

Route

Rome → Naples/Amalfi → Florence → Venice

Estimated cost

≈ $1,900–2,700 per person incl. Frecciarossa trains and mid-range hotels

Pre-book note: Buy Frecciarossa tickets 30+ days ahead via Trainline for the €19–29 fares. Book the Vatican and Uffizi timed slots the same day you book flights.

Day 1·Rome arrival + Trastevere aperitivo

Base: Rome

Morning: Meet-and-greet from FCO, hotel near Piazza Navona or Trastevere.
Afternoon: Slow walk: Piazza Navona → Pantheon → Trevi (throw the coin).
Evening: Aperitivo + cacio e pepe in Trastevere.

Day 2·Vatican + St Peter's

Base: Rome

Morning: Vatican Museums skip-the-line at 08:00, Sistine Chapel.
Afternoon: St Peter's Basilica + dome climb.
Evening: Castel Sant'Angelo sunset walk + dinner in Prati.

Pre-book: Vatican Museums timed entry — walk-ups can be a 2h queue.

Day 3·Colosseum + Forum + Palatine

Base: Rome

Morning: Colosseum guided access to the arena floor.
Afternoon: Roman Forum + Palatine Hill loop (all covered by one ticket).
Evening: Monti neighbourhood for wine bars + supplì.

Day 4·Day trip: Pompeii + Amalfi coast taste

Base: Rome (return) or overnight Sorrento

Morning: Frecciarossa Rome → Naples (1h10m), guided Pompeii tour.
Afternoon: Sorrento sea view + lemon spritz.
Evening: Overnight Sorrento OR sleeper back to Rome (Sorrento wins for the sunset).

Day 5·Positano + Amalfi drive

Base: Sorrento/Rome

Morning: Private driver along the Amalfi coast — Positano photo stop.
Afternoon: Boat trip to Capri OR beach in Praiano.
Evening: Frecciarossa/Italo north to Florence.

Day 6·Florence: Uffizi + Duomo

Base: Florence

Morning: Uffizi Gallery timed entry — Botticelli, Caravaggio.
Afternoon: Climb Brunelleschi's dome (pre-booked slot!) + Ponte Vecchio at golden hour.
Evening: Bistecca alla fiorentina in Santa Croce.

Day 7·Tuscany day: Siena + San Gimignano

Base: Florence

Morning: Small-group Tuscany tour incl. Chianti wine tasting.
Afternoon: San Gimignano medieval towers + gelato world-champion stop.
Evening: Sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo.

Day 8·Florence → Venice via Frecciarossa

Base: Venice

Morning: 2h train Firenze SMN → Venezia Santa Lucia.
Afternoon: St Mark's Square + Doge's Palace skip-the-line.
Evening: Get lost in Dorsoduro — the tourist crowds never make it here after dark.