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🇮🇹 Itinerary · Italy · 7 days

1-week Italy itinerary 2026: Rome, Florence, Venice

7 days by fast train: Rome, Florence and Venice linked by the Frecciarossa. The classic trio for a first time, detailed budget and travel times.

🔄 Updated June 1, 2026

📅 See the program 🔄 See variants

In brief

Duration

7 days

Stops

3 places

Average budget

€1,100-1,800

Total distance

~650 km

Profile

First time

Season

Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct

Rome 3d · Florence 2d · Venice 2d

Itinerary map

The route at a glance

Italy 1-week itinerary map: Rome, Florence, Venice

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Detailed program

7 days, day by day

1

~€75/pers

Rome · Arrival and ancient Rome

  • Morning Arrival at Fiumicino. Leonardo Express train to Termini (32 min, €14).
  • Afternoon Colosseum and Roman Forum with booked skip-the-line ticket (€18).
  • Evening Aperitivo in Trastevere, cacio e pepe dinner in a trattoria.
🛌 🛌 Monti or Trastevere · e.g. The Beehive (3 nights)·🚇 Metro line A/B and walking·Italy guide →
2

~€70

Rome · Vatican and baroque

  • 8am Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel at opening (booked slot, €20).
  • 12pm St Peter's Basilica, climb to the dome (€10).
  • Afternoon Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi fountain, Spanish Steps.
  • Evening Artisan gelato and night walk through the center.
3

~€90

Rome → Florence · North

  • Morning Borghese Gallery by reservation, or Campo de' Fiori market.
  • 2pm Frecciarossa Rome → Florence (1h30, €30-50).
  • Evening Check-in Florence, bistecca alla fiorentina dinner.
🛌 🛌 Santa Croce · e.g. Hotel Davanzati (2 nights)·🚄 Frecciarossa Rome → Florence
4

~€65

Florence · Renaissance

  • 8:15am Uffizi Gallery at opening, booked slot (€25).
  • 12pm Duomo, baptistery, climb Giotto's bell tower.
  • Afternoon Ponte Vecchio, Pitti Palace and Boboli gardens.
  • Sunset Piazzale Michelangelo for the view over the city in low light.
5

~€95

Florence → Venice · To the lagoon

  • Morning Accademia Gallery (Michelangelo's David, booked slot, €16).
  • 2pm Frecciarossa Florence → Venice (2h05, €35-55).
  • Evening Vaporetto along the Grand Canal at dusk, cicchetti dinner.
🛌 🛌 Cannaregio or Dorsoduro · e.g. Hotel Antico Doge (2 nights)·🚄 Frecciarossa + 🚤 vaporetto
6

~€80

Venice · St Mark's and islands

  • 8am St Mark's Square and Basilica at opening, Doge's Palace.
  • Afternoon Vaporetto to Murano (glass) and Burano (colorful houses).
  • Evening Bacaro tour in Cannaregio, ombra of wine and cicchetti.
7

Flight

Venice → Return

  • Morning Dorsoduro district, Punta della Dogana, last bridges.
  • Afternoon Vaporetto or bus to Marco Polo airport. Return flight to Paris.
🚤 Vaporetto + ✈️ flight

How much

Itinerary budget (per person, flight included)

Backpacker

€1,100

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €180
  • 🏨 Hostel: €40/night
  • 🍕 Pizza and markets: €18/day
  • 🚄 Frecciarossa booked early: €90
  • 🎫 Skip-the-line museums: €120
Recommended

Comfort

€1,500

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €220
  • 🏨 Central 3★ hotel: €110/night
  • 🍽️ Trattorias: €35/day
  • 🚄 Frecciarossa: €110
  • 🎫 Museums + guides: €180

Premium

€2,800

per person

  • ✈️ Business flight: €700
  • 🏨 4-5★: €280/night
  • 🍽️ Renowned tables: €70/day
  • 🚖 Private transfers
  • 🎫 Private tours: €350

Shorter, longer

Other possible durations

You're here

1 week

1 week

Rome, Florence, Venice. The classic trio.

2 weeks

2 weeks

The North and Tuscany, lakes and Cinque Terre.

1 month

1 month

From the North to Sicily, the grand tour.

How to get around

Itinerary logistics

A week runs entirely on the fast train. The Frecciarossa links Rome, Florence and Venice city-center to city-center, with no car or intermediate airport.

🚄

Frecciarossa Rome → Florence

€30-50 · 1h30 · book early on Trenitalia

🚄

Frecciarossa Florence → Venice

€35-55 · 2h05 · fares rise nearer the day

🚤

Vaporetto in Venice

€9.50/trip or 24h pass at €25

🚆

Leonardo Express (Fiumicino)

€14 · 32 min · airport-Termini

Adapt by season

Shoulder season over peak summer

This trio of cities is best from April to June and September to October: 20 to 26°C, clear skies, reasonable crowds. In July-August, Rome and Florence often top 35°C and the lines at the Colosseum and the Uffizi grow long. Book timed skip-the-line tickets, valid only on the exact day, so you don't lose a morning waiting.

Author tips

What I would redo (and change)

✅ Would redo

  • • In September 2025, the 8:15am Uffizi slot got me in within 5 minutes; by 11am the line was over an hour. Always aim for opening.
  • • Booking the Frecciarossa a month ahead: Rome-Florence dropped to €19 instead of €50 on the day.
  • • Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset, free and unbeatable over Florence.

⚠️ Would change

  • • Reverse the direction (Venice → Rome) if your flight lands in the north.
  • • Skip a half-day of museums in Rome to breathe between two intense blocks.
  • • On 7 days, don't add Naples: the pace would become exhausting.

FAQ

Itinerary FAQ

Is one week in Italy enough? +
Yes for the classic trio: Rome, Florence and Venice, linked by fast train. Adding Naples or the Cinque Terre on 7 days makes the pace too dense.
Train or car for this itinerary? +
The train, without hesitation. The Frecciarossa goes city-center to city-center in 1h30 to 2h, where a car means costly parking and fined ZTL (limited-traffic zones).
Should you book museums in advance? +
Yes, essential for the Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Uffizi and Accademia. Timed skip-the-line tickets avoid hours of queueing in high season.
What's the best period? +
April to June and September to October: 20 to 26°C, fewer people. July-August tops 35°C in Rome and Florence.
How much does a week cost all in? +
Count around €1,100 backpacker, €1,500 comfort and €2,800 premium, flight from Paris included, per person.
How do you get around Venice? +
On foot and by vaporetto (water bus). A trip costs €9.50, a 24h pass €25. No cars on the islands: leave it at the Tronchetto car park if you arrive by car.

Marie Laurent ✓

·

Southeast Asia specialist · itinerary personally tested.

Last updated: June 1, 2026.

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