If you are planning your first trip to Italy, this Italy itinerary is a great place to start. With two weeks in Italy, you can visit the highlights…Rome, Florence, Venice, the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany, and the Cinque Terre. Visit ancient historical sites, cruise the canals in Venice, dine on Italian food, go wine tasting in Tuscany, relax on the beach, walk through the heart of Rome, and watch the sunset from the Cinque Terre. It’s the trip of a lifetime.
14 days may sound like a long time, but if you want to see Italy’s three big cities (Rome, Florence, and Venice), plus visit both the Amalfi Coast and the Cinque Terre, you will need 14 days to do it.
If you have two weeks in Italy, this itinerary is perfect for your first visit.
Two Weeks in Italy Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrive in Rome
- Day 2: Rome
- Day 3: Rome
- Day 4: Sorrento
- Day 5: Capri
- Day 6: Amalfi Coast
- Day 7: Florence
- Day 8: Florence
- Day 9: Day trip to Tuscany
- Day 10: Travel to Cinque Terre
- Day 11: Cinque Terre
- Day 12: Travel to Venice
- Day 13: Venice
- Day 14: Venice
Two Weeks in Italy Map
Two weeks in Italy map | Map adapted from Google
14 Day Italy Itinerary: Day 1
Arrive in Rome
If you arrive in Rome on a red-eye flight, this first day can be challenging. Get settled into your hotel and do your best to adjust to the time change. I do not recommend making big plans today simply because you may be exhausted.
Spend the afternoon walking through the heart of Rome. This short, easy walk is a great introduction to Rome. On this walk, see some of Rome’s most famous sites, such as the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon.
Here is a walking map of the route. It’s about 2 miles long, starting at the Spanish Steps and ending at Campo de’Fiori. With stops along the way, this walk takes about two hours.
How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. Click the star next to the title of the map to add this map to your Google Maps account. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to “Your Places,” click Maps, and you will see this map on your list.
Start at the Spanish Steps and then walk to the Trevi Fountain. This can be a very crowded spot, so be prepared for tour groups and lots of other tourists. Continue on to the Pantheon, a building that has been standing in Rome since 120 AD. It is free to visit and one of Rome’s amazing, ancient historical sites. The walk ends at Piazza Navona and Campo de’Fiori, two of Rome’s famous piazzas.
Piazza Navona | 14 Day Italy Itinerary
Trevi Fountain | 14 Day Italy Itinerary
Where to Stay in Rome
For hotel recommendations in Rome, take a look at our Rome Hotel Guide. This covers the best hotels and apartments in Rome, organized by location and budget. On this Italy itinerary, you will stay in Rome for 3 nights.
14 Day Italy Itinerary: Day 2
The Colosseum, Roman Forum, Altar of the Fatherland, Trastevere
The Colosseum
The Colosseum is one of New 7 Wonders of the World and the largest amphitheater that was ever built. It was constructed almost 2000 years ago, completed in 80 AD. In its heyday, between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators would watch gladiator contests, executions, animal hunts, and the reenactments of famous battles.
The Colosseum | 14 Day Italy Itinerary
We have a detailed guide about how to visit the Colosseum, but here are a few tips.
On your visit to the Colosseum, you can either wander through it on your own, take the audio guide tour, or join a guided tour. Most visits last 1 to 3 hours.
You must purchase your entrance ticket in advance (you cannot just show up and get in line for a ticket). It costs an extra €2 per ticket for the online reservation fee, but this is worth it to avoid standing in long lines.
If online tickets are sold out for your dates of travel, I recommend joining a guided tour of the Colosseum. You will spend a little more money than purchasing your tickets directly from the Colosseum website, but at least you will get to visit the Colosseum.
Hours: Hours vary by season. Click here to get hours for your dates of visit.
Cost: €16 (+ €2 online reservation fee) for the standard ticket that gets you in to the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and the Colosseum; there is also a Full Experience ticket that also includes a visit to the Colosseum arena and underground area for €24
Website: Get updated hours and pricing and purchase your ticket here.
Roma Pass: If you have the Roma Pass, you must make your reservation to visit the Colosseum in advance. There is a €2 reservation fee. Click here for more information.
Getting Here: The closest metro stop is Colosseo. When you exit the metro station, the Colosseum will be right in front of you.
The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill
The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill are a short walk from the Colosseum. They are both included on your entrance ticket into the Colosseum. If you are on a guided tour of the Colosseum, most tours will continue to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
The Roman Forum is the historical center of Rome. This is ancient Rome, a complex of government buildings, temples, and marketplaces from 2000 years ago.
Palatine Hill sits next to the Roman Forum. It is a complex of archaeological excavations, the remains of temples and palaces, and a museum. During the time of the Roman Republic, many imperial palaces were built here, including palaces for Augustus, Tiberius, and Domitian.
Roman Forum (view from Palatine Hill) | 14 Day Italy Itinerary
You can visit the Roman Forum on your own, take an audio guide tour (2 hours, €5), or take a guided tour of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill (these are usually combined with the Colosseum).
Lunch
Just a short walk from the Roman Forum is La Prezzemolina. This highly rated restaurant serves Italian street food and pizza at budget-friendly prices.
Afternoon: Views of Rome
From La Prezzemolina, take a stroll along Via dei Fori Imperiali. This street runs between the Roman Forum and the Forum of Augustus and the Trajan Forum. Keep an eye out for Trajan’s Column, which was erected in 113 AD.
Via Fori dei Imperiali ends at Piazza Venezia. From here, you can climb the steps on the Altar of the Fatherland for one of the best views of Rome.
Altar of the Fatherland | 14 Day Italy Itinerary
For free, you can climb the series of staircases to the upper terrace and café. For the best view, ride the elevator (€12 in 2022) to the top of the monument for panoramic views of Rome. From here, you can see all of Rome’s major landmarks, including the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum.
The view from Altar of the Fatherland | 14 Day Italy Itinerary
After your visit to the Altar of the Fatherland, it is a short walk to Capitoline Hill and Campidoglio Square. To get here from the Altar of the Fatherland, it is a 3-minute walk along Via del Teatro di Marcello. You will walk up a series of steps to get to Campidoglio, which is the square on Capitoline Hill. This square was designed by Michelangelo.
The Capitoline Museums are located inside of Palazzo dei Conservatori and Palazzo Nuovo. These museums contain works of art by Caravaggio, Rubens, and Tiziano. Be sure to see the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius (a copy of this statue sits in Campodoglio Square) and the original statue of the she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus, called the Capitoline Wolf (a replica of this statue sits next to the Senatorial Palace).
For the best viewpoint of the Roman Forum from Capitoline Hill, walk between Palazzo dei Conservatori and the Senatorial Palace along Via del Campidoglio to Terrazza sul Foro for another great view of the Roman Forum.
Roman Forum from Terrazza sul Foro | 14 Day Italy Itinerary
Evening: Aperitifi at Oro Bistrot
Oro Bistrot is a rooftop bar that has a spectacular view of the Altar of the Fatherland and the Trajan Forum. They open mid-afternoon and you can have a drink here and then move on or stay for dinner (dinner does not start until 7 pm). Make a reservation in advance for drinks and dinner.
The view from Oro Bistrot | 14 Day Italy Itinerary
Dinner
You have the option to spend all evening at Oro Bistrot, or you can go to Trastevere. This neighborhood is filled with some of the best restaurants in Rome and it is a lovely area to explore. We recommend Nannarella, Enoteca Trastevere, and Trapizzino (make your reservations in advance, we have links to these restaurants on our Rome Restaurant Guide).
14 Day Italy Itinerary: Day 3
Vatican City & the Borghese Art Gallery
This day exactly follows Day 2 of our 2 Day in Rome itinerary. I recommend referring to this itinerary for more details, lunch recommendations, and the walking route from Vatican City to the Borghese Gallery.
Morning: Vatican City
Vatican City is the smallest country in the world. In Vatican City, there are three big sites to visit: the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica.
For more information about Vatican City, check out our detailed guide to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica, where we cover what you need to know to plan your visit, including if a tour is worth it, how to avoid the lines, plus information about the “secret rooms” in the Vatican.
Inside St. Peter’s Basilica
The view from the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica
Pinecone Courtyard in the Vatican Museums | 14 Day Italy Itinerary
There are several ways to visit Vatican City. You can take a guided tour or visit it independently. We have visited Vatican City independently and on a tour. Taking a tour is more expensive but has several advantages.
Taking a tour is much more educational, as a knowledgeable guide will teach you about important sights within the museums and concentrate on the most important things to see. Some tours take you right from the Sistine Chapel into St. Peter’s Basilica, which can save you a lot of time (you get to skip the line into St. Peter’s Basilica). Yes, a tour is more expensive, but skipping that line is well worth the extra money.
Here are three different ways to plan your visit to Vatican City:
BEST OPTION: Early morning guided tour of Vatican City. The Vatican Museums open at 9 am. On an early morning tour, you enter at 8 am, which allows you to see part of the museums with very low crowds. Some tours will take you directly into St. Peter’s Basilica via the tunnel from the Sistine Chapel, which bypasses the enormous line to enter the cathedral. An early morning tour is pricier (on average you will spend about €80 to €135 per person), but it is an all-around better experience. We recommend this early morning tour (it is with the same tour company we used).
CHEAPEST OPTION: At 8 am, go first to St. Peter’s Basilica. This early in the day, there should be little to no line to enter the cathedral. Once inside, do the dome climb first, then visit the rest of the cathedral (learn more about what to see and do in our Guide to Vatican City). After the basilica, visit the Vatican Museums (book tickets for a 10 am entry, and do this several weeks before your visit). You will tour the museums and Sistine Chapel on your own, without a guide. The museums will be busy so be prepared for some crowds.
GUIDED TOUR: The early morning tours of Vatican City are expensive, since you are paying for early access. You can save some money and still take a guided tour by choosing a tour that starts at 9 am, which is opening time of the museums. This tour gets nothing but stellar reviews and includes the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica.
GUIDE TO VATICAN CITY: In our Guide to Vatican City, we cover hours, pricing, and helpful tips for your visit. You also have the option to add on the “secret rooms” of the Vatican, such as the Cabinet of Masks, and we cover these as well.
Afternoon: Borghese Gallery
In the afternoon, visit the Borghese Gallery, one of the best art museums in the world.
To get here, you can ride the metro, take a taxi, or go on a scenic walk along the Tiber River and through the Villa Borghese Gardens. On this walk, you will pass Castel Sant’Angelo, several outstanding viewpoints of Castel Sant’Angelo and Vatican City, and of Piazza del Popolo. This walk from St. Peter’s Square to the Borhgese Gallery is 4 km/2.5 miles. Get the full details in our 2 Days in Rome Itinerary.
Castel Sant’Angelo and Ponte Sant’Angelo
Piazza del Popolo
The Borghese Gallery contains one of the best collections of art in the world. See works of art by Raphael, Caravaggio, Titian, and Bernini. Even the building is a sight to see.
Borghese Gallery | 14 Day Italy Itinerary
How to Visit the Borghese Gallery
You can only visit the Borghese Art Gallery with a reservation. Reservations can be made up to 3 months in advance. Reservations are made for two-hour time slots, starting at 9 am, and the last time slot is at 5 pm.
You can make your reservation online or call +39 06 32810. There is a €2 fee for making online reservations. Tickets can also be purchased through GetYourGuide, which includes a guided tour of Borghese Gardens. This is a great option if you want to visit the museum with a guide or where unable to purchase tickets on the official website.
Collect your tickets a half an hour before your time slot. For a 3 pm reservation, plan on arriving no later than 2:30 pm. If you arrive late, even 5 minutes late, they may turn you away. We saw this happen to other people who arrived late for their reservation.
Hours: 9 am – 7 pm
Closed Mondays
Cost: €13, prices can increase during special exhibits, +€2 reservation fee
Website: www.galleriaborghese.it
Nearest Metro Station: Barberini
Late Afternoon/Evening
After your visit to the Borghese Gallery, you can visit the Crypt of the Capuchin Friars (in several small chapels underneath the church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappucchini are the skeletal remains of almost 4,000 Capuchin friars), visit another rooftop bar for pre-dinner drinks with a view, or visit Trastevere, if you did not do that yesterday.
14 Day Italy Itinerary: Day 4
Pompeii and Sorrento
Today, you will visit Pompeii while traveling between Rome and Sorrento. This is relatively easy to do.
From Rome, take the train to Naples (70 minutes) and transfer to the Campania Express train or the Circumvesuviana train. It takes 36 minutes to travel from Naples to Pompeii (get off at the Pompeii Scavi station).
While touring Pompeii, you can store your luggage in the luggage storage facility on the lower level of the Pompeii Scavi station. You can purchase an entrance ticket and visit Pompeii on your own, or you can visit Pompeii with a guide. When we visited Pompeii, we wandered around on our own, and I regret that now. We would have gotten a lot more out of our visit if we had hired an experienced guide. On this small group tour, you visit Pompeii with an archaeological guide and get skip-the-line-access.
After touring Pompeii, pick up your luggage and then take the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento. Most likely you will arrive 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!
Sorrento | 14 Day Italy Itinerary
For more information on how to visit Pompeii and travel to Sorrento, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast, read these articles:
How to Travel from Rome to Sorrento, Capri & the Amalfi Coast
Where to Stay
The best place to stay is Sorrento. This town has many hotels and restaurants to choose from. Plus, it has easy access to the ferry to Capri, the Campania Express and Circumvesuviana train, and to the buses the travel to the Amalfi Coast. Alternatively, you can also stay in a town like Positano or Amalfi. These smaller towns are beautiful but it will be more challenging to get here and arrange your day trip to Capri. You will stay in this area for 3 nights. For hotel recommendations, take a look at our Amalfi Coast Hotel Guide.
14 Day Italy Itinerary: Day 5
Day Trip to 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, visit the Blue Grotto, and go shopping in Capri town. For more information on how to plan your visit, read our article Best Things to Do in Capri.
Blue Grotto | 14 Day Italy Itinerary
Via Krupp, Capri | 14 Day Italy Itinerary
14 Day Italy Itinerary: Day 6
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.
Kayaking in Positano | Two Weeks in Italy Itinerary
The best way to get around the Amalfi Coast is by ferry or private driver. 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). You can also take this highly-rated group tour from Sorrento. Alternatively, you can also tour the Amalfi Coast by boat.
14 Day Italy Itinerary: Day 7
Florence
This morning, travel from Sorrento to Florence. You can take the Campania Express train (1 hour, cheap) or take a private driver (1 hour, expensive) 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.
Get settled into your hotel in Florence and then spend the remainder of the afternoon exploring the city.
A great thing to do on your first day in Florence is to visit the Duomo and climb the 463 steps to the top of the dome for one of the best views in Florence. This was one of our favorite experiences in Florence.
View from the Duomo | Two Weeks in Italy Itinerary
PRO TRAVEL TIP: Reservations are now mandatory to climb the dome. Without a time slot you will be unable to climb the dome. These time slots tend to sell out days in advance. As soon as you know your dates of travel, I recommend booking your time slot to climb the dome. You can also purchase a ticket online an advance here.
Spend the rest of the day visiting more sights in the Duomo complex (the Baptistery, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the museum, or Santa Reparata) and strolling through Florence.
Make sure you read our article 10 Things to do on Your First Visit to Florence. Get recommendations on where to stay, opening hours and prices of attractions, tips on how to avoid the crowds, and whether or not the Firenze Card is worth it.
Where to Stay
You will stay in Florence for 3 nights. Take a look at our Florence Hotel Guide for recommendations.
14 Day Italy Itinerary: Day 8
Florence
Today will be a busy day as you visit more of Florence’s long list of amazing sites. Art museums, scenic walks, tower climbs and shopping all make the list of things to do today. Florence is compact, so you won’t have to do a lot of walking, but it is amazing how much there is to do here.
For a full list of things to do in Florence, take a look at our detailed article about things to do in Florence. You can also get detailed recommendations on how to plan your time in our One Day Florence Itinerary and 2 Day Florence Itinerary.
If you toured the Duomo yesterday, you have just enough time to get to the rest of Florence’s main highlights, if you don’t mind a busy day. Make sure you book your tickets to the Uffizi and to Academia in advance so you don’t waste precious time waiting in line.
Florence | 14 Day Italy Itinerary
I recommend starting at the Accademia Gallery and then working your way to the Uffizi Gallery, visiting the San Lorenzo Market, Mercato Centrale, and Palazzo Vecchio on the way. Piazzale Michelangelo is the best place to watch the sunset in Florence and this is not to be missed. You also have the option to watch the sunset from one of many rooftop bars in Florence.
14 Day Italy Itinerary: Day 9
Tuscany Day Trip
Today, day trip from Florence into beautiful Tuscany.
Overlooking Tuscany from San Gimignano | 14 Day Italy Itinerary
There are several ways to do this. You can book a tour, hire a driver, rent a car and set out on your own, or visit one or two towns by bus. For ideas on where to go and how to get around, read our article Best Day Trips from Florence.
We toured Tuscany by bus and by rental car. The bus was a nightmare, at least when we did it in 2014. At several locations, the buses failed to show up, leaving us (and many other travelers) stranded at the bus stations for hours. Renting a car for the day was more expensive, but we had a lot more freedom and we could visit towns that buses do not travel to.
Traveling by a small group tour is a nice way to go. For a little more money, hiring a driver is a great way to tour Tuscany.
14 Day Italy Itinerary: Day 10
Cinque Terre
In the morning, 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.
If you want to see Pisa, it’s easy to add on to today’s schedule. Take the train from Florence to Pisa and deposit your luggage in the luggage storage center in the train station. It takes about 2 hours to visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Retrieve your luggage and take a second train to the Cinque Terre.
Leaning Tower of Pisa | Two Weeks in Italy Itinerary
Get all of the details about how to do this in our article Day Trip to the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
When traveling by train from Florence and Pisa to the Cinque Terre, you will first arrive in La Spezia. From La Spezia, 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.
End the day with dinner and sunset views from one of the five towns.
Cinque Terre | Two Weeks in Italy Itinerary
Where to Stay in the Cinque Terre
Take your pick from the five towns of the Cinque Terre. All make great places to stay and since they are all connected by train, it doesn’t take much time to travel between them.
If you are traveling on a budget, consider staying in La Spezia. Hotels tend to be much cheaper here. You will spend a little more time on the trains but it can be worth the money you will save. We stayed in La Spezia and did not think it the extra time on the trains was a big deal.
You will stay in the Cinque Terre for 2 nights.
14 Day Italy Itinerary: Day 11
Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best places to visit in Italy. Five colorful, gorgeous towns are perched on the dramatic coastline of Italy. Each town offers something a little bit different than the others, and part of the fun of visiting the Cinque Terre is picking your favorite one.
Vernazza | Two Weeks in Italy Itinerary
You can tour the Cinque Terre by train, bus, boat, or by foot. Hiking from town to town is one of the best ways to experience the Cinque Terre. Exploring each of the towns is wonderful, but some of the best views of the Cinque Terre come from the hiking trails. And since the train also connects all five towns, you don’t need to hike the entire distance.
14 Day Italy Itinerary: Day 12
Travel to Venice
There are no direct trains from the Cinque Terre to Venice. You will either transfer trains in Florence or Milan. The quickest journey is 4 hours but it can take up to 6 hours to get to Venice.
To maximize your time in Venice, take the earliest train with the shortest travel time.
However, if you don’t mind giving up some time in Venice, you can visit Milan on a day trip to Venice. We did this and it was a great experience. We took an early morning train to Milan, spent the mid-part of the day in Milan, and in the afternoon took a second train to Venice.
The two main places to visit in Milan are the Duomo and Da Vinci’s Last Supper. If you take an early train to Milan, visit the Duomo and see Da Vinci’s Last Supper, you can take an afternoon train and get to Venice in time for dinner. If this interests you, read our post How to Day Trip to Milan for the details on how to do this.
The Duomo in Milan | 14 Day Italy Itinerary
Spend the late afternoon and early evening wandering the streets and canals of Venice.
Where to Stay in Venice
For hotel recommendations in Venice, take a look at our Venice Hotel Guide. This covers the best hotels and apartments in Venice, organized by location and budget. On this Italy itinerary, you will stay in Venice for 2 nights.
14 Day Italy Itinerary: Day 13 & 14
Venice
Spend the next two days exploring Venice. Tour the Doges Palace, climb the Campanile, visit St. Mark’s Basilica, and cruise the canals. A gondola ride is expensive and touristy, but it’s something we can’t resist when we visit Venice. A ride on the Vaporetto, the water taxi, is the best cheap way to cruise the Grand Canal in Venice.
Venice | Two Weeks in Italy Itinerary
View from Ponte dell’Accademia | Two Weeks in Italy Itinerary
How to Modify this Italy Itinerary
Doing this Itinerary in the Opposite Direction
If you want to do this itinerary but start in Venice and end in Rome, here’s how to do it.
Day 1: Arrive in Venice
Day 2: Venice
Day 3: Travel to the Cinque Terre
Day 4: Cinque Terre
Day 5: Morning train to Florence, afternoon in Florence
Day 6: Florence
Day 7: Tuscany day trip from Florence
Day 8: Travel to the Amalfi Coast
Day 9: Capri day trip
Day 10: Sorrento
Day 11: Amalfi Coast
Day 12: Morning train to Rome, afternoon in Rome
Day 13: Rome
Day 14: Rome
Alternative Route
We often get questions about flying into Naples rather than Rome. We picked Rome as the starting point because it is generally easier to get flights into Rome rather than Naples. However, if you are able to find a flight to Naples, you can start here, rather than starting in Rome. By starting in Naples, you do save a train ride from Rome to Sorrento, which takes about 2 to 3 hours.
Here is a 14-day Italy itinerary that starts in Naples and ends in Venice:
Day 1: Arrive in Naples, travel to Sorrento, explore Sorrento
Day 2: Amalfi Coast
Day 3: Capri day trip
Day 4: Visit Pompeii on the way to Rome, afternoon in Rome
Day 5: Rome: Colosseum and the Borghese
Day 6: Rome: The Vatican
Day 7: Florence
Day 8: Florence
Day 9: Tuscany day trip
Day 10: Train to Cinque Terre, optional visit to Pisa
Day 11: Cinque Terre
Day 12: Travel to Venice, optional visit to Milan
Day 13: Venice
Day 14: Fly home
With Less Time
If you only have 12 to 13 days, you can still do this Italy itinerary, but of course you will have to give up some time in one or two cities. I recommend taking a day from Rome or Florence or completely eliminating the Amalfi Coast.
On this itinerary, you spend three days in Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. Getting here, and then moving on to Florence, takes some time (roughly 3 to 4 hours each way by high-speed train) and can be a minor hassle. So, it’s only worth it if you give it at least three full days. I wouldn’t recommend trying to shorten it to just 2 days. However, if you eliminate this part of the trip, this becomes an 11-day itinerary.
You can also visit the Amalfi Coast on a day trip from Rome, which will save you a lot of time (2 full days to be exact). On this Amalfi Day Trip Tour, you will visit Pompeii, Positano, and Amalfi. What you will be missing is Capri and Sorrento, but that might be worth saving those 2 days.
Can you do this Italy itinerary in 10 days?
Yes, it’s possible, but that doesn’t mean that it is a good idea. You will get to “see” a lot but you will feel like you are in a race and you will spend most of your time on the train and checking in and out of hotels. It can be done but we don’t recommend it.
If you only have 10 days, there are many ways to put together a great Italy itinerary. We have a post with five different 10-day Italy itineraries…5 wonderful trips to choose from. This article is so popular, and we get so many questions about how to visit both the Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast in one trip, that we published this 14 day Italy itinerary.
We also have a detailed 10 day itinerary that includes Rome, Florence, Venice and the Cinque Terre. It is very similar to this 14 day itinerary, with the exception of the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento.
With More Time
If you have more than two weeks in Italy, you have two options. You can either extend your time in one of the cities on this Italy itinerary or add an additional destination. If you choose to extend your time, I recommend adding another day or two to Tuscany, the Cinque Terre, or Venice.
If you want to add another destination to this Italy itinerary, here are our recommendations.
San Marino
San Marino | 14 Day Italy Itinerary
San Marino is one of Europe’s most underrated destinations. This tiny country is completely surrounded by Italy and to get here it is a relatively short drive from Tuscany.
Verona
Verona | 14 Day Italy Itinerary
Verona is another underrated destination in Italy. One day and one night is all you need to experience the best of Verona. Add it before Venice…from the Cinque Terre, take the train to Verona (skipping Milan), spend the rest of the day exploring the town, spend the night, and the following morning continue to Venice.
Lake Como
Lake Como is a slice of Italian paradise, and for many people, and a visit to Bellagio is the highlight.
Bellagio | 14 Day Italy Itinerary
Lake Como makes a great day trip destination from Milan. To add Lake Como to this Italy itinerary, you need 2 extra days. From the Cinque Terre, travel to Milan and spend the afternoon exploring Milan. On day 2, day trip to Lake Como. The following day, take the train from Milan to Venice.
Go Hiking in the Dolomites
Dolomites | 14 Day Italy Itinerary
The Dolomites are one of our favorite regions in the world to go hiking. Adding one day to this Italy itinerary gives you enough time to hike one trail and take a scenic car ride through the mountains. If you have two or three extra days, base yourself in a small, alpine town, go hiking, and enjoy this beautiful place.
How to Get Around Italy
To get from city to city, we recommend taking the train. Trains in Italy are fast, cheap, and very convenient. The train stations are located right in the city centers, so you can quickly and conveniently travel from city center to city center. Trains are faster, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly than planes.
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.
In our experience, we have found it to be cheaper to book our tickets individually rather than purchasing a Eurail Pass.
Designing Your Own Italy Itinerary?
This Italy itinerary is 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
More Information for Your Trip to Italy
ROME: For a list of the top experiences in Rome, read our article Best Things to Do in Rome. Learn how to put these together in our 2 Day Rome Itinerary and 3 day Rome Itinerary. And don’t miss our guides to the Best Views of Rome, best Rooftop Bars in Rome, and our Rome Restaurant Guide.
ROME: Don’t miss our detailed guides about How to Visit the Colosseum and How to Visit the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica.
TUSCAN HILL TOWNS: Check out our detailed guides to Siena, Montepulciano, Pienza, Montalcino, San Gimignano, Lucca, Volterra, Arezzo, and Cortona.
VENICE: Learn more about Venice in our article Best Things to Do in Venice. We also have guides about How to Visit St. Mark’s Basilica, where to get the Best Views of Venice, and how to spend Two Days in Venice.
AMALFI COAST: Pick out which towns you want to visit in our article about the best towns to visit on the Amalfi Coast. If you are active and adventurous, one of the best things to do on the Amalfi Coast is hike the Path of the Gods. We also have a 3-day Sorrento Itinerary, best things to do in Capri, and where to stay on the Amalfi Coast.
If you need more information about traveling to Italy, check out our Italy Travel Guide which has links to all of our articles about Italy and advice to help you plan the perfect trip.
For more great itineraries in Europe and around the world, check out our Travel Itinerary page.
Comment below if you have any questions about this 14 Day Italy itinerary or how to spend two weeks in Italy.
Header photo credit: shutterstock.com/Vladimir Sazonov
Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you.
All rights reserved © Earth Trekkers. Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, etc.), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited.
Comments 262
This will be our first trip from California to Italy.
This is a girls trip and there will be 4 of us traveling together.
I had in mind the same itinerary you posted going from Venice to Rome. But with one change. We would like to visit lake Como after Venice.
We only have the 14 days, so what would you recommend leaving out?
We definitely do not want to exclude Tuscany,
Florence, cinque Terre, Amalfi Coast, positano .
Author
If you don’t want to take out Venice, Florence, Tuscany, 5Terre, Amalfi Coast and Positano, then you will need to take out time in Rome or add more time onto your trip. Doing this itinerary in advance, travel to Milan from Venice. On the next day, day trip to Lake Como. And then on the following day, pick up this itinerary in reverse, going to the Cinque Terre next. Your itinerary will look something like this: (1 & 2) Venice (3) travel to Milan (4) Lake Como day trip (5) travel to Cinque Terre (6) Cinque Terre (7 & 8) Florence (9) Day trip to Tuscany (10) travel to Sorrento (11) Amalfi Coast (12) Capri (13) travel to Rome (14) fly home. That gives you about half a day in Rome. Alternatively, you can also fly home from Naples if you find a convenient flight from there. Cheers, Julie
Hello Julie,
We are planning to travel to Italy and follow this exact itinerary however during the Christmas NY holidays. 24th December arriving in Rome and leaving Rome on 8th Jan. Would you suggest any changes to this itinerary to account for the cold or rainy weather ?
Author
December and early January is not a great time to visit the Amalfi Coast and Capri. They get cloudy and drizzly and cool and become a ghost town. It’s still possible to go but it can be challenging finding hotels that are open during this time. Also, a lot of sites in Italy could be closed on Christmas Day and New Years Day.
Taking out the Amalfi Coast and Capri frees up 3 days. I recommend adding 2 days in Rome (since you might lose a Rome day on the 25th) and 1 day in Florence or Tuscany (since one of these will probably fall on January 1). The Cinque Terre will also be very quiet and could be chilly and rainy, but if you want to hike the Cinque Terre, if definitely won’t be hot and it shouldn’t be crowded. If you want to skip the Cinque Terre, you could add in Milan and Verona, or go skiing in Cortina d’Ampezzo for 2 days.
Let me know if you have more questions. Cheers, Julie
Great articles! Which month is best, May-September? Almost did this trip 10 years ago, and didn’t go. Now, ready to do the trains (I hope) versus organized super structured group tours. I forgot which one but almost stayed in a monetary when we were going to go, just for one city, not to save $$ but for a unique experience.
Author
I think May is a great month to visit Italy. It’s getting warm, Tuscany is green, and crowds are lower than June through September. Mid-September into October is also very nice. We were in Italy during that time last year. Rain chances go up but in general the weather is still very good and crowds are beginning to lessen. Cheers, Julie
Approximately how much does this trip cost for 2 people including food transportation and hotel accommodation not including air transportation. 14 day trip to Italy
Author
It’s hard to give an estimate because trip costs vary quite a bit by time of the year, how far in advance you make your reservations, and whether you are a budget, midrange, or luxury traveler. But in general, for 2 people on a midrange budget, expect to spend $200 to $300 per night for a hotel, $50 to $100 per person per day for food, plus $50 to $100 per person per day for transportation and entrance fees. Cheers, Julie
Julie – My wife and I had never been to Italy previously and I was looking for a two-week itinerary that combined the “must-sees” with an outdoor, active element, such as hiking, as well. I came across this page in January and knew this was the trip for us. I planned the trip basically following it exactly – day by day. When people asked where we were going in Italy, I simply sent them a link to this page.
Well, we just returned and it was awesome. For anyone wondering if this itinerary works, or is doable, or is too much, don’t worry. It is well thought out and completely doable. We are more outdoor, hiking, walking, exploring types as opposed to museum people, so we planned the trip in that way and spent our days that way. We hiked in Capri, hiked the Path of the Gods in Amalfi, and hiked in Cinque Terre. One day from Florence we did a full-day Tuscany bike tour with http://www.bikeinflorence.com which was awesome and included a visit to a winery with wine tasting and then more biking to arrive in Siena…a great day. We also rented a double kayak in Positano after our hike and that was a blast and refreshing after a long hike. In all a great trip. Thank you for being so generous with your time and expertise. I will definitely be following your pages as we plan our next adventure.
Author
Hello Michael. Thank you so much for writing in with this very kind comment and how you planned your time and the recommendations. Kayaking in Positano is so much fun!! I’m glad we could help you plan your trip and happy travels to wherever you plan to go next! Cheers, Julie
Iam looking to go to Italy in the ne t yr or so
Hi Julie,
We will arrive in Rome on 8/7, so I have the following itinerary. Can you let me know if this looks correct or would you adjust anything? I am trying to coordinate our hotels/airbnbs.
8/7-8/10: Rome (3 nights)
8/11-8/13: Sorrento (3 nights)
8/14-8/16: Florence (3 nights)
8/17-8/18: Cinque Terre (2 nights)
8/19-8/21: Venice (3 nights)
8/22: head back to Rome (1 night)
8/23: fly out of Rome
Thank you! I appreciate all your help with our trip planning.
Author
Hello Lisa. Sorry for my delayed response (we were in a national park in Alaska for a few days without internet). Yes, your itinerary looks great! Lots of time in each city plus you are visiting the highlights of Italy. We have some hotel recommendations for Rome, Sorrento, Florence, Venice, etc on our website if you need any suggestions. Cheers, Julie
Thank you, Julie! I am studying all your travel suggestions and making lots of notes. We will do our best to follow your itinerary. I really appreciate you taking the time to respond to questions. On a side note, do you recommend US travelers get international sim cards for their phones? I had a friend who just returned from traveling all over Europe and she said they had problems with google maps when they were traveling and they did not have international sim cards.
Author
Yes, we always get an international SIM card. For the past 18 months, we have been using a company called Airalo. They sell eSIM cards, so you can set it up on your phone before you go. We have used Airalo in Italy, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, and Samoa and have had a good experience. We used Airalo on our 5 week trip to Italy last fall and it worked great. However, you only have data, so you can’t call or text. We would use apps like Viber, Snapchat, etc to stay in touch with friends and family. Alternatively, you can purchase a SIM card once you get to Italy, either at the airport or the first city you will visit. This will give you data, texting, and calls. Cheers, Julie
Thank you, Julie! I appreciate your prompt responses. This is super helpful. Okay, another question for you. Do I need to buy a Roma Pass or Rome Tourist Card? It is for me and my daughter who is under 17, so based on what I could figure out, her entrance fee would be free for the colosseum, except for the online reservation fee. Can you help me figure out how reserve her a ticket? I can only see adult tickets and reduced tickets for romapass holders. Maybe I’m missing something obvious, but I didn’t see anything their checkout process for minor reservations. Any other cards we should purchase for our 14 day itinerary that isn’t listed in our blog?
Author
Hello Lisa. I am not familiar with the Rome Tourist Card so I don’t know if this is better than the Roma Pass. You may have to do a comparison of the two, taking into account the places you plan to visit in Rome. I just tried to purchase a Colosseum ticket on the official website for a minor and you’re right, the website is a loop and doesn’t link to anyplace where you can make that reservation. As I was looking around more, I did read this: every visitor who is entitled to free tickets according to the law (https://www.beniculturali.it/agevolazioni), whether individuals or part of groups with a guide, will be able to collect the free ticket at the cash desks located inside the Colosseum and at the ticket office in Largo della Salara Vecchia, where dedicated cash desks will be set up. And I read this on the same website: Free tickets for ordinary Colosseum/Roman Forum/Palatine will be available online, without reservation fee, in open mode. We have had similar experiences with other websites in Italy and it can be very frustrating, and Tim and I couldn’t figure it out, either. I don’t know what to tell you but if it were me, I’d purchase a full price ticket just so you know you get a spot. When we did this with Tyler and Kara, this reservation process wasn’t in effect so I don’t have experience with it.
In Florence, you can also get the Firenze Card, but I think it’s best to purchase your tickets individually in advance, since many sites need time slots, similar to the Colosseum, and it gets tricky doing this and trying to use the Firenze Card.
Cheers, Julie
Dear Julie,
I found your blog 2 years ago when we planned our Iceland trip. Since then your blog is the first one we read when we plan our trips! Thank you so much for sharing very helpful information, tips, photos in such detail!
We’ve booked a NCL 12 day cruise from 10/27-11/8/2023. We will board in Trieste, then cruise to Koper Slovenia, Dubrovnik Croatia, Kotor Montenegro, Corfu Greece, Taranto Italy, Valletta Malta, Sicily Italy, Naples, Livorno, Cannes France and off in Rome. We plan to visit Rome for another 2-3 days after the cruise.
We’ve been to Milan, Florence, Venice, Cinque Terre(lake como) in the past. We are thinking to visit other places where we haven’t been to. Initially we plan to rent a car driving from Florence to Tuscany. Then we checked the weather and realize November could be more rainy and many restaurants maybe close. This made us fell a little hesitated. We were thinking to leave before our cruise and go visit some northern places (Sirmione Lake Garda, Verona, Padua), then fly to Trieste to start our cruise, but frankly after looking for online photos, we’re not very impressive with those places. We feel we like Tuscany better, but hesitated about the November weather (rainy, slippery road when we drive).
May I ask you: If November is the month we should avoid go to Tuscany? If Tuscany is not a good choice, then what else you would suggest us to go?
We are thinking for total 3 weeks trip (12 days on cruise, another 10+ days in other places.
Sorry for my long email. Thank you in advance for your time!
Author
Hello Weihua. You are planning a long, wonderful trip! Yes, I have heard the same thing, that Italy is more rainy in November. You will still have some beautiful weather days, but rain chances and cloudy days will occur more frequently in November than the summer, from what I have heard. Can you visit Tuscany before the cruise? Mid to late October could still have a little bit of rainy weather but more places should be open that month, than in November. You could spend 4 to 5 days in Tuscany before the cruise, then 2 to 3 days in Rome after the cruise. That leaves you with a few more days. With that time, you could visit San Marino, Bologna, or Verona. We loved our experience in Verona, more so than Lake Garda, so I think it’s a place to still consider and one day is all you need.
With all that being said, you don’t have to skip Tuscany in November, as long as you don’t mind the threat of rain and some restaurants/hotels being closed. It may be better to visit Tuscany a few weeks earlier, if it works out with your schedule. Rome will be fine in November (a little bit of rain isn’t a big deal there, plus crowds will be low), as will the larger cities in Italy.
I hope this helps and let me know if you have any other questions. Cheers, Julie