10 Days in Italy Itinerary: 5 Amazing Ideas for Your Trip to Italy

Italy is a country that is on many travelers’ wish list. And why not? Italy has it all: fabulous cuisine, gorgeous cities, towering mountains and beautiful beaches, and ancient historical sites. Throw in some gelato and wine and you have the perfect ingredients for a memorable 10-day holiday in Europe. If you have 10 days in Italy, we have five great ideas for how you can spend your time.

For first timers to Italy, Rome, Florence, and Venice usually make the “must-see” list. With 10 days in Italy, you have just enough time to visit these three cities and add in a quick visit to a nearby destination. How to do this is spelled out in our “Classic” Italy itinerary.

But for those who want different ideas of how to spend your time in Italy, we have four more recommendations for you.

With 10 days in Italy, you have just enough time to get a taste of this country. Don’t try to see it all at once. Italy is better visited at a slower pace, so you can sample the food, wander the streets, and get the full experience.

With these itineraries, we tried to strike a balance between visiting a handful of cities and moving slowly enough to have the best experience.

10 Days in Italy: 5 Itineraries

Italy Itinerary #1: The Classic

Our classic Italy itinerary includes Rome, Florence, and Venice, and the Cinque Terre. It’s a great option if this is your first visit to Italy, since you get to visit three of Italy’s most popular cities along with a visit to a spectacular coastal destination.

Below is an overview of this itinerary.

Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre & Venice | 10 Days in Italy Itinerary (map adapted from Google)

IMPORTANT!! We get a lot of comments and emails about how to add one or two more destinations to this itinerary. We know that it is tempting to squeeze as much in as possible, but we do not recommend adding more to this itinerary. This is already a very busy schedule. If you add on another city, you will get to “see” a lot, but you will end up spending most of your time in Italy on the train. If anything, consider adding more time to Rome before adding on another destination.

Day 1 & 2: Rome

Sunset in Rome

The first day in Rome can be challenging if you arrive on a red-eye flight. Do your best to get adjusted to the time change, visit a few sites in the afternoon, and consider going to bed a little early.

With less than two full days in Rome, you will not be able to see everything, but some of the must-see sites include the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Borghese art gallery, and a tour of the Vatican. Stroll through Piazza Navona and consider having dinner in the Trastevere neighborhood.

LEARN MORE: 2 Days in Rome: The Perfect Itinerary

Day 3, 4 & 5: Florence and Tuscany

Travel by train to Florence. This journey takes just 1.5 hours, so if you leave early in the morning you will have most of the day in Florence.

Siena, Italy

On this itinerary, you have three days in Florence and Tuscany. Florence needs at least one full day to see the main sites. You should also spend one full day in Tuscany. There are numerous hill towns to visit as well as Siena, one of our favorite spots in Italy. You have to decide how to spend the third day: more time in gorgeous Florence or another day in Tuscany, visiting the small towns and vineyards.

We recommend spending two days in Florence with one day for day tripping into Tuscany. Learn how to plan your time in Florence with our 2 Day Florence Itinerary and get ideas on places to visit in Tuscany in our article Best Day Trips from Florence.

One of the best ways to get around Tuscany is to hire a driver. This allows you to sit back and enjoy the views and the wine without the hassles of parking and navigating between the towns. If you are more independent, you can rent a car (this is what we did after our terrible experience with the public bus system in Italy). We do not recommend the bus. On more than one occasion, the bus failed to show up, leaving us stranded on the side of the road. This not only happened in Tuscany but also Sorrento and Amalfi.

You can also join one of these tours to Tuscany from Florence.

Day 6 & 7: Cinque Terre

On the morning of day 6, take the train from Florence to the Cinque Terre. It takes between 1.5 to 3 hours to get to the Cinque Terre. Direct trains take less time but there are many more options that have a transfer in Pisa. You can take a few hours to visit Pisa on the way to the Cinque Terre, but you would be missing out on some valuable time in the Cinque Terre.

If you are booking a train to the Cinque Terre, you will arrive in La Spezia and then take the local train to one the five towns of the Cinque Terre. It takes just 9 minutes to travel from La Spezia to the first town, Riomaggiore, and trains run very frequently.

The Cinque Terre is magical. Five picture perfect towns perched along the Mediterranean coastline just waiting to be explored. You can spend a full day hiking between them or use the train to hop between towns.

LEARN MORE:  Hiking the Cinque Terre and The Cinque Terre for Budget Travelers

Day 8 & 9: Venice

Take the train from the Cinque Terre (La Spezia) to Venice. There are no direct trains. Most trains transfer in either Milan or Florence. The quickest journey takes 4 hours but some can take over 6 hours. For your day of travel, book the shortest, most convenient train in the morning, so you have the afternoon to spend in Venice.

One day in Venice is really all you need to see the main highlights. Spend the extra time by cruising out to Murano and Burano or simply wandering the canals some more.

Day 10

Begin your travels home. Or, for those with more time, continue onto your next destination.

See the full itinerary, with recommendations on how to spend your time in each place, where to stay, and how to get around: 10 Day Itinerary: Rome, Florence, the Cinque Terre, & Venice

Italy Itinerary#2: Rome, the Amalfi Coast & Florence

Venice and the Cinque Terre did not make this itinerary, but what you are getting is a visit to the stunning Amalfi Coast, a day trip out the beautiful island of Capri, Pompeii, and an extra day in Rome.

Rome, Amalfi Coast, Florence & Tuscany | 10 Days in Italy Itinerary (map adapted from Google)

Day 1, 2 & 3: Rome

On this itinerary you have one extra day in Rome. This gives you plenty of time to explore this city. Even so, it will be a very busy three days.

Rome

Day 4: Pompeii and Sorrento

Today, you will visit Pompeii in transit between Rome and Sorrento. This is relatively easy to do. From Rome, take the train to Naples (70 minutes). Once in Naples you will transfer to the Campania Express train and take this to Pompeii (get off at the Pompeii Scavi station).

While touring Pompeii, you can store your luggage in the luggage storage facility in the Pompeii Scavi station.

Pompeii

After touring Pompeii, pick up your luggage and then take the Campania Express train to Sorrento. Most likely you are arriving in the mid to late afternoon. After checking into your hotel (your home base for 3 nights), stroll along the marina, have dinner, and try the limoncello…it’s delicious! For hotel recommendations in Sorrento and along the Amalfi Coast, check out our Amalfi Coast Hotel Guide.

Sorrento

Day 5: Capri

Capri is just 20 minutes away from Sorrento by boat. Once in Capri, take a boat tour around the island, enjoy the breathtaking view from Mount Solaro, and explore the towns of Capri and Anacapri. You can even go hiking if you like. For more information, read our article Best Things to Do in Capri. 

Via Krupp, Capri 

LEARN MORE: 10 Epic Things to Do in Capri & Is a Visit to the Blue Grotto Worth It?

Day 6: Amalfi Coast

Amalfi Coast

From Sorrento, take a day trip to the Amalfi Coast. This is described as one of the most scenic drives in the world. Along the way, visit the towns of Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello.

Positano

The best way to get around is by private driver, ferry, or by boat, whether it is a small group tour or private boat. Parking can be a huge hassle (avoid self-driving the Amalfi Coast during peak season) and using the public bus system can be a nightmare (been there, done that, and we had a miserable experience).

LEARN MORE: 17 Beautiful Towns to Visit on the Amalfi Coast

Day 7, 8 & 9: Florence and Tuscany

The morning of day 7 is spent traveling from Sorrento to Florence. You can take the Campania Express train or hire a private driver to the Naples train station (Napoli Centrale). From Naples it is a 3-hour train ride to Florence. It is a gorgeous journey, especially the final hour, as you travel through Tuscany.

Divide your time between Florence and the hill towns in Tuscany. Spend two days in Florence and one day for a day trip into Tuscany.

San Gimignano, Tuscany

Day 10

Begin your travels home. Ideally, fly home from the Florence airport. While researching flights, if you find that you don’t have great options from this airport, you might have to return to Rome and fly home from here.

Northern Italy itinerary map (map adapted from Google)

Day 1 & 2: Venice

Spend two days visiting the highlights of Venice. This gives you just enough time to visit St. Mark’s Basilica, tour the Doge’s Palace, take some photos of the Grand Canal from the Rialto Bridge, and wander the canals.

Venice

LEARN MORE: The Perfect 2 Day Venice Itinerary

Days 3, 4, 5 & 6: The Dolomites

With four days in the Dolomites, you have plenty of time to hike the best trails, visit the lovely lakes, ride the cable cars high into the mountains for extraordinary food, and go on scenic drives over the mountain passes.

The best way to get around the Dolomites is by car. In our Northern Italy Itinerary, we let you know how to do this. You can also learn more in our article Things to Know Before Traveling to the Dolomites.

Seceda, Dolomites

Tre Cime di Lavaredo

Val di Funes

Some of our favorite experiences in the Dolomites are hiking the Tre Cime di Lavaredo Loop, having lunch with a view from Rifugio Nuvolau, hiking the Puez-Odle Altopiano, and hiking the Croda da Lago Circuit. But if hiking isn’t your thing, not to worry. You can still see and do a lot in the Dolomites, and you can learn more in our article Best Things to Do in the Dolomites with little to no hiking.

In our Dolomites Travel Guide, we have links to all of our articles about the Dolomites, including the best hikes and how to plan your time.

Day 7: Verona

On this itinerary, spend one day and one night in lovely Verona. On the drive from the Dolomites to Verona, you also have the option to add on a visit to Santuario Madonna della Corona, a beautiful church that literally clings to a rocky cliff.

Santuario Madonna della Corona

Verona

Spend the afternoon strolling through the streets of Verona. For a full list of things to do, check out our Guide to Verona, but the top sights include Piazza Bra, the Verona Arena, Ponte Pietra, Torre dei Lamberti, and Juliette’s House. An afternoon is plenty of time to see these sights.

Tonight, sleep in Verona.

Day 8: Milan

On a quick visit to Milan, visit to the Duomo (walking on the rooftop is an awesome experience), seeing DaVinci’s “Last Supper,” and visiting the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

For full details of how to plan your day, plus suggestions on how to visit the Duomo and see the “Last Supper,” refer to our One Day in Milan Itinerary.

Milan

Tonight, sleep in Milan.

Day 9: Lake Como

Lake Como is a popular day trip destination from Milan. You can either day trip to Lake Como, spending a second night in Milan, or you can travel to Lake Como and spend the night in Bellagio or Varenna.

Bellagio

From Milan, travel to Lake Como by train or rental car, if you did not drop it off in Verona. Once in the area of Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio, you will get around by ferry, which runs frequently and it doesn’t take long to get from town to town.

Spend several hours in both Bellagio and Varenna and consider taking a short cruise to see the villas that dot the shoreline of Lake Como.

Tonight, sleep in Milan, Bellagio, or Varenna.

Day 10: Fly Home

Fly home from Milan or Venice.

See the full itinerary, with recommendations on how to spend your time in each place and how to get around: 10 Day Northern Italy Itinerary.

Southern Italy Itinerary Map | 10 Days in Italy Itinerary (map adapted from Google)

Days 1, 2, 3 & 4: Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, & Capri

On day one, fly into Rome or Naples and then get settled into your hotel in Sorrento or one of the Amalfi Coast towns.

Spend the next three days on the Amalfi Coast. During this time, day trip to Capri, spend a day visiting several of the Amalfi Coast towns, and visit Pompeii.

Capri, Italy

Positano

Marina Grande in Sorrento

Day 5: Paestum and Castelmezzano

Today, visit Paestum, which sits to the south of the Amalfi Coast. Home to three ancient Greek temples dating back to 450 BC, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is often an overlooked destination in Italy.

Paestum

After your visit, drive east to Castelmezzano (about a 2-hour drive) and get settled in your hotel.

Day 6: Castelmezzano & Pietrapertosa

Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa are two small villages that sit side by side in Basilicata, Italy. Both of them are beautiful to visit and fun to explore. But what makes them even more exciting is the fact that you can get from one to the other on a zipline.

We have been ziplining numerous times around the world and this is a good one! This zipline, also called Volo dell’Angelo (the Angel’s Flight), is one of southern Italy’s most thrilling experiences.

Spend the day in Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa and in the afternoon, drive to Matera. Check into your hotel (you will spend 2 nights in Matera) and have dinner.

Castelmezzano

Day 7: Matera

On this itinerary, you have one full day in Matera. Visit the Rock Church, explore Murgia Materana Park, get a history lesson in a cave house, stroll the picturesque streets, and have lunch and dinner at one of many fabulous restaurants in Matera.

Get the full list in our article Best Things to Do in Matera.

Matera

Day 8: Alberobello

In the morning, drive to Alberobello, a town that is famous for its trulli (small round buildings with conical roofs made of stone). Spend your time visiting the two sections of Alberobello, Rione Monti and Rione Aia Piccola, do a little shopping, visit several rooftop terraces for views of the town, and have a bite to eat.

Alberobello

Sleep in Alberobello.

Day 9: Puglia Day Trip

Today you will day trip to towns near Alberobello. Take your pick from Polignano a Mare, Ostuni, Locorotondo, and Cisternino. End the day with dinner in Alberolbello.

Grotta Palazzese in Polignano a Mare
 

Ostuni

Day 10: Fly Home

Fly home from Bari (the most convenient airport) or return to Naples and fly home from here.

See the full itinerary, with recommendations on how to spend your time in each place: 10 Day Southern Italy Itinerary

Italy Itinerary #5: Off-the-Beaten-Path

For those who don’t mind skipping some of the more popular cities, this Italy itinerary includes several wonderful, off-the-beaten-path destinations. We love this itinerary because it includes some of our favorite spots in Italy. You even get to explore a hidden gem of Europe, San Marino.

For this Italy itinerary you will need to rent a car. You can pick it up on day 1 at the Venice airport or on the morning of day 3 before leaving Venice.

This itinerary works best from June through early October (for hiking in the Dolomites) or from December through March (when the Dolomites become a skiing destination). It’s good to know that between mid-April and late May and mid-September through mid-December many cable cars and chair lifts close in the Dolomites for maintenance.

Florence, San Marino, Verona, Dolomites, Venice | 10 Days in Italy Itinerary (map adapted from Google)

Day 1 & 2: Venice

With one and a half to two days in Venice (depending on what time you arrive on day 1), you have just enough time to explore the best of Venice. To help you plan your time read our 1 Day in Venice Itinerary and 2 Days in Venice Itinerary.

Day 3 & 4: Dolomites

The Dolomites are one of the most gorgeous spots in Italy that we have seen. This is hiking paradise. There are numerous trails, from short easy hikes to all day affairs. The views are spectacular, and you don’t have to be a hiker to enjoy a trip here.

The Dolomites

In the Dolomites, the two most popular towns to base yourself are Selva di Val Gardena and Cortina d’Ampezzo. It takes about 2.5 hours to get to either town from Venice. Later, when you transfer to Verona, it is a 2.5-hour drive from Selva di Val Gardena and a 3.5-hour drive from Cortina d’Ampezzo. The drive from both locations is gorgeous. 

Day 5: Verona

Verona

Verona is gorgeous, similar to Venice except without the canals, the decay, and the huge numbers of tourists. This is another one of those cities that is perfect for getting lost in (and eating a lot of gelato). Enjoy this low-key day exploring this beautiful city.

Day 6: San Marino

San Marino

In the morning drive to San Marino (3 hours, mostly on the highway). You will have the rest of the day to explore this gorgeous, underrated destination in Europe.

LEARN MORE: San Marino: Europe’s Most Underrated Destination?

Day 7, 8 & 9: Florence and Tuscany

Wine tasting in Montalcino

Montepulciano

Rooftop bar in Florence

With More Time

Each of the four itineraries listed above are 10-day itineraries. With only 10 days in Italy, it’s tempting to squeeze in as many destinations as possible. But sometimes the best experience is going slower and visiting fewer cities.

If you are lucky enough to have more than ten days, consider adding more time to any of the destinations listed in this itinerary, rather than adding a quick visit to another city. I know that it is tempting to try to see as much as possible, but your holiday may be more enjoyable if you slow down a little bit.

If you have 14 days, you can visit Rome, Florence, Venice, the Amalfi Coast, and the Cinque Terre. Learn how to do it in our 14 Day Italy Itinerary.

How to Get Around Italy

For these itineraries, you will get around by rental car and/or train.

For information on renting a car, including rental car fees, drop fees, and things to know ahead of time, take a look at our article Important Things to Know Before Renting a Car in Europe.

To check train schedules and to book your trains online, Italiarail.com is the easiest website to use. Just be aware that they charge a €5 booking fee to use their website. You can avoid the €5 fee by using Trenitalia.com, but this website is more difficult to use.

Average Trip Costs for Italy

Here are some estimated costs per person for most destinations in Italy (southern Italy, such as Puglia, tends to be cheaper). All prices are in USD. These are averages, so you might see higher prices in the city center of Rome or on the Amalfi Coast at peak season or cheaper prices in Tuscany during the off season.

• Budget Hotel, double room with two people: $50 – $150
• Mid-Range Hotel, double room with two people: $150 – $350
• Luxury Hotel, double room with two people: $350+

Train Travel: To travel from city to city, train fares range from $15 to $60, depending on the distance traveled and the speed of the train. Regional trains can take twice the length of time to cover the same distance as a high-speed train, and cost half as much, but you will be sacrificing sightseeing time. I think it is best to cut costs by staying in a cheaper hotel or eating out less often, so you can take the faster train and have more time exploring the city.

Meals: Meals cost $10 to $30 per dish, depending on the restaurant. To save money, stay in a hotel that offers breakfast, put together picnic lunches, and skip the drinks at dinner.

Entrance Fees: This varies quite a bit, depending on the city and how much you plan to do. Entrance fees can range from zero to very little, for a place like the Dolomites, up to $50 to $100, for a very busy day in Rome or Florence.

Miscellaneous: Factor in approximately $50 USD per day for miscellaneous fees, such as short taxi or Uber rides, souvenirs, etc.

Ravello, Amalfi Coast | 10 Days in Italy Itinerary

Best Time to Go to Italy

Spring and fall are the best seasons to visit Italy. The weather is generally pleasant during this time.

Summer is peak season so expect huge crowds of people and more expensive accommodations. Italy can also be very busy during Easter week and around Christmas.

Designing Your Own 10 Days in Italy Itinerary?

These Italy itineraries are a great starting point for designing your own custom itinerary. For more tips and tricks to help you plan the perfect trip, consider reading this article:

7 Things to Know When Planning Your First Trip to Europe

To see all of our articles about Italy, take a look at our Italy Travel Guide. For more great itineraries in Europe and around the world, visit our Travel Itineraries page.

If you have any questions about how to plan your 10 days in Italy itinerary, let us know in the comment section below.

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