This 11 day Italy itinerary is similar to the trip my family and I took years and years ago. It has the highlights of Italy from Rome to Venice, taking advantage of Rome and Venice’s somewhat cheap flights. Of course you can also do this trip in reverse and see Venice first.
I wrote this 11 day Italy itinerary with the intent that it’s open and flexible. Though I have recommendations for each day, you can pick and choose what you would like to do and what times you’d like to move onto the next place. My 11 day Italy itinerary is written for people who will use public transit rather than a car.
| Days | 11 (9 full days) |
| Start | Rome |
| End | Venice |
| Destinations | Italy – Rome, Florence, and Venice with Siena and San Gimignano Vatican City |
| Transport | Train |
11 Day Italy Itinerary: Overview
| Day 1: | Arrive in Rome |
| Days 2-3: | Rome |
| Day 4: | The Vatican |
| Day 5: | Transfer to Florence |
| Days 6-7: | Florence |
| Day 8: | Day Trip to Siena & San Gimignano |
| Day 9: | Transfer to Venice |
| Day 10: | Venice |
| Day 11: | Depart |
Map of this 11 day Italy itinerary.
Day 1: Arrive in Rome
Your trip starts when you arrive in Rome. You can arrive at any time and check into your accommodation. If you have the energy, go out and get something to eat and explore the city a bit. But if not, don’t stress; you can rest before starting your adventure on Day 2.
Book your stay in Rome
Day 2: Rome
It’s time to explore Rome! There is SO much to see. For your first day, I recommend going back in time thousands of years to explore the ancient parts of Rome. Of course you will need to see the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, included in the same ticket which should be bought in advance. This will take several hours and I advise an early start.
After lunch I advise going to Casa Romane del Cielo (a much less popular but great place to see in Rome) and perhaps meander over to Circus Maximus and then up to Largo di Torre Argentina. If you’re not to tired and it’s not too late, you can head up to the Pantheon. This will be a very rewarding but packed day on your 11 day Italy itinerary.
Some things to do in Rome:
- The Roman Forum & Colosseum
- Theatre of Marcus Aurelius
- Baths of Diocletian
- Circus Maximus
- Largo di Torre Argentina
- Pantheon
- Spanish Steps
- Trevi Fountain
- Monument of Vittorio Emanuele II
- Musei Capitolini
- Villa Borghese
- Doria Pamphilij Gallery
- Castel Sant’Angelo
- Casa Romane del Cielo
- National Roman Museum
- National Etruscan Museum
- Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere
- Basilica di Santa Prassede
- Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
- Capuchin Crypt
- Callixto Catacombs
Day 3: Rome
Another day, another way to explore Rome. Today you can perhaps go to some of the city’s most revered art museums; Musei Capitolini and Villa Borghese cannot be missed. Depending on how much time you have, you might also be able to get a trip into the Doria Pamphilij Gallery. (note for logistics that the Doria Pamphilij is actually between the two)
Next to the Musei Capitolini you can see the iconic Monument of Vittorio Emanuele II, and see the beautiful (albeit crowded) Trevi Fountain. Near(ish) the Villa Borghese are the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo, other iconic areas of Rome to stop by and see.
Book an Organised Tour in Rome
Day 4: The Vatican
Today you’re going to visit a new country! (technically) At the Vatican you can visit the famous Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica and the museums of art held within the Vatican walls. Advanced tickets are highly recommended.
The Vatican is actually somewhat small and you can see it within a few hours, so if you have the energy, you can head down the street to Castel Sant’Angelo. At the top are some beautiful views of the city!
Of course, if you don’t want to visit the Vatican, there’s still tons to see and do in Rome like the National Etruscan Museum, the many basilicas with beautiful mosaic tiles, catacombs, etc. Rome is your oyster. About 2 hours from Rome by train is Assisi, which is another beautiful place to visit.
Book an Organised Tour at the Vatican
Day 5: Transfer to Florence
Today you’re headed to Tuscany. You can leave for Florence at any time but if you’re on a budget, you should book train tickets ahead of time because they’re much cheaper. If you arrive in the morning, you can start exploring. I recommend starting at the city’s most iconic building: the Duomo. Advanced tickets are recommended. There are many parts of the Duomo to explore from the main cathedral to the bell tower which you can climb to the baptistery (I highly recommend seeing the baptistery!).
Don’t forget to stop by the famous Ponte Vecchio for a photo!
Some things to do in Florence:
- The Duomo
- Ponte Vecchio
- Piazza Michelangelo
- Uffizi Gallery
- Accademia Gallery
- Palazzo Vecchio
- Palazzo Medici Riccardi
- Palazzo Pitti
- Palazzo Davanzati
- Santa Croce Church (grave of Michelangelo)
Book Your Stay in Florence
Day 6: Florence
It’s time to spend a full day in Florence! For today you can check out some of the city’s iconic art museums. Michelangelo’s famous David sculpture is at the Accademia Gallery, and you can spend all day seeing the art at the Uffizi Gallery. I’m usually a quick person but the Uffizi took hours. I recommend advanced tickets to both since the lines can be very long.
In the evening you can head up to Piazza Michelangelo for some beautiful views over the city!
Book an Organised Tour in Florence
Day 7: Florence
Today’s another day to spend in Florence if you wish. Some things to see still include the Palazzo Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti, and if you like medieval architecture I highly recommend the Palazzo Davanzati. There are tons of things left to do in Flornece.
Alternatively you can head to another city. There’s Lucca which is a nice Tuscan city and of course Pisa, where you can see the iconic leaning tower. Both are less than 2 hours away from Florence.
Day 8: Day Trip to San Gimignano & Siena
It’s time to take a day trip to see more of beautiful Tuscany! I recommend first heading to Siena to see the beautiful architecture. Head to the campolo and be absolutely sure you don’t miss the Duomo and the library inside because it is absolutely stunning.
Siena’s surprisingly small so provided you get an early start, you can head out by the late afternoon. I recommend making a stop at San Gimignano (via Poggibonsi), a stunning Tuscan town dominated by its towers. It’s a bit touristy but absolutely beautiful.
All the train and bus rides on your list today are not expensive to buy the day of, so you can explore Tuscany at your leisure without having to book ahead.
Day 9: Transfer to Venice
Time to head to northern Italy to one of the world’s most famous cities! You can leave from Florence any time to arrive in Venice, but again, I recommend booking tickets beforehand to save money. If you get there in the morning or afternoon, you can head to Piazza San Marco and see the beautiful St Mark’s Basilica. If you have a few hours you can also see the Doge’s Palace next door, which is super beautiful.
I bought a Museum Pass for Venice which helped save some money and also I got to skip some lines.
Some things to do in Venice:
- Piazza San Marco
- St Mark’s Basilica
- Doge’s Palace
- Rialto Bridge
- Palazzo Fortuny
- Ca d’oro
- Ca’Rezzonico
- Peggy Guggenheim Collection
- Burano & Murano areas
Book Your Stay in Venice
Day 10: Venice
Today you can take the time to explore Venice. Once you’ve seen the Basilica and Palace, perhaps you can take a gondola or boat tour and see the city by water. If not, it’s just as lovely by foot. Venice is actually quite large and it can take a while to see the main section of the city, but if you have time, you can head over to Burano and Murano to see those areas of Venice.
Book an Organised Tour in Venice
Day 11: Depart
Unfortunately it’s time to leave. Depart Venice at any time.
If you booked a round-trip ticket from Rome then I recommend getting back to Rome the night before to catch your flight the next day. Trains in Italy are often delayed.
11 Day Italy Itinerary Checklist
If you’re going to follow this 11 day Italy itinerary, here’s a checklist of what you’ll need to buy:
◻ Flight to Rome, and home from Venice (may be booked together or separately)
◻ 4 nights in Rome
◻ 4 nights in Florence
◻ 2 nights in Venice
◻ Tickets to the Roman Forum and Colosseum (best booked in advance)
◻ Tickets to the Vatican
◻ Tickets to the Florence Duomo
◻ Tickets to the Accademia and Uffizi Galleries (separate)
◻ Venice Museum Pass
Trains tend to be much cheaper if you book them a few months in advance rather than the day of. For Italy I like to book via Omio. You will need:
◻ Train from Rome to Florence
◻ Train from Florence to Venice
I recommend trains in Italy since they are faster and not that much more expensive than buses.
Italy is a beautiful country and while there’s so much to do there, this 11 day Italy itinerary should help you see the highlights. I hope it was helpful to make the most of your trip planning to Italy and that when you go, you have a great time!
