Italy in 10 Days

Complete Itinerary: Rome, Florence, Tuscany & Venice

📸 Best Photography Spots in Rome

Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Vatican + crowd-free hours

Day 1-3: Rome (3 days)

Day 1: Colosseum (€18, book ahead!), Roman Forum, Palatine Hill (included). Afternoon: Trevi Fountain (FREE, go 6am for photos!), Spanish Steps.

Day 2: Vatican: Museums + Sistine Chapel (€20, reserve 1 month ahead), St. Peter's Basilica (FREE, climb dome €10). Afternoon: Castel Sant'Angelo (€15).

Day 3: Pantheon (€5), Piazza Navona (FREE), Trastevere neighborhood (best restaurants!). Evening: gelato crawl - try 3+ gelaterias.

Day 4-6: Florence + Tuscany (3 days)

Train Rome-Florence (1.5h, €30-60). Florence: Uffizi Gallery (€20), Duomo climb (€18, amazing views), Ponte Vecchio (FREE).

Day 5: Day trip Tuscany: Rent car (€40-60/day) OR join tour (€50-80). Visit Siena + San Gimignano medieval towns, wine tasting in Chianti (€20-40).

Day 6: Pisa day trip (1h train €9). Leaning Tower (€20 to climb, €5 just square access). Lucca nearby (beautiful walled town).

Day 7-8: Cinque Terre or Amalfi Coast

Option A - Cinque Terre: 5 colorful villages on cliffs. Base in La Spezia. Cinque Terre Card €18/day (trains + trails). Hike village to village (stunning!).

Option B - Amalfi Coast: Train to Naples, bus/ferry to Positano (€10-15). Expensive region but breathtaking. Base Sorrento cheaper than Positano.

Day 9-10: Venice (2 days)

Train Florence-Venice (2h, €30-50). Venice: St. Mark's Square (FREE), Basilica (FREE, museum €7), Doge's Palace (€30).

Day 9 evening: Gondola ride (€90/30min shared, €120 private) OR traghetto ferry (€2, same experience standing!).

Day 10: Rialto Bridge, Rialto Market (morning best), get lost in narrow streets. Evening: Aperol Spritz watching sunset on canal.

💰 How Much Does Italy Cost? More Affordable Than You Think!

Varies by region - Rome/Venice expensive, smaller towns budget-friendly

See Costs →

Transportation

Trains between cities: Book Trenitalia or Italo in advance
Rome Metro: €1.50/ride, 24h pass €7
Venice vaporetto (water bus): €9.50/ride, 24h pass €25
Car rental Tuscany: €40-60/day (worth it for countryside!)

Food

Pizza slice: €3-5 (lunch on the go)
Pasta restaurant: €12-18 per dish
Aperitivo (5pm-8pm): €8-12 drink + free buffet!
Gelato: €2.50-4 (eat DAILY!)
Wine: €5-10 bottle at stores, €15-30 restaurants
Cover charge (coperto): €1.50-3 per person at restaurants (normal)

Language and Culture

Language: Italian. English widely spoken in tourist areas. Learn basics: "Ciao," "Grazie," "Per favore."

Tipping: Not expected, but round up or leave €1-2 appreciated.

Siesta: Many shops close 1pm-4pm for lunch/rest. Plan accordingly.

Best Time to Visit

Spring (Apr-May): Perfect weather, fewer crowds, reasonable prices
Summer (Jun-Aug): Hot, very crowded, expensive - but beach season!
Fall (Sep-Oct): Excellent weather, harvest season, manageable crowds
Winter (Nov-Mar): Cold north, mild south, cheap, empty museums