5-Day Italy Itinerary: Rome → Florence → Venice

Byvvwrite

Five days, three of Italy’s iconic cities. The classic first-time Italy trip — works beautifully if you plan around the trains, book attractions weeks ahead, and resist adding Pisa.

The Route

  • Days 1–2: Rome
  • Day 3: Train Rome → Florence (1h 30min)
  • Day 4: Florence + day trip to Tuscany OR full Florence
  • Day 5: Train Florence → Venice (2h)

Book Frecciarossa trains 2–4 weeks ahead via Omio or Trenitalia/Italo direct.

Days 1–2: Rome

Day 1: Colosseum + Forum + Palatine (8:30 entry) → lunch in Monti → Trevi Fountain → dinner in Trastevere (Da Enzo al 29).

Day 2: Vatican Museums + Sistine + St. Peter’s (allow 4 hours) → Castel Sant’Angelo → Piazza Navona → Pantheon evening.

→ Colosseum tickets · Vatican tickets · Rome hotels

Day 3: Rome → Florence

9:00 or 10:00 train → arrive 11:30 → Lunch at Mercato Centrale (All’Antico Vinaio) → Duomo complex with Brunelleschi dome climb → Ponte Vecchio at sunset → dinner at Trattoria Cammillo.

Day 4: Florence Art Day

Morning: Uffizi Gallery (book ahead!) → lunch at Trattoria Sostanza.

Afternoon (pick one): (A) Galleria dell’Accademia for David + Boboli Gardens + Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset. (B) Tuscany Chianti vineyard tour. (C) Pisa half-day (honest verdict: skip).

→ Chianti wine tours from Florence

Day 5: Florence → Venice

Train 2h. Stay in Cannaregio (more authentic than San Marco). Vaporetto pass €25/24h.

→ St. Mark’s Basilica + Square → Doge’s Palace → sunset gondola OR Aperol spritz at Caffè Florian → dinner: Antiche Carampane (book) or Vini da Gigio.

Budget Estimate (per person)

Hotels €350 + Trains €100 + Food €350 + Tickets €120 + Misc €100 = ~€1,020 excluding flights. Backpacker: ~€600. Luxury: €2,500+.

What This Skips

Pisa (photo-only, costs half a day), Cinque Terre (separate trip), Naples/Pompeii (deserves its own 2 days).

Plan your trip: Trains via Omio · Italy eSIM

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