7-day Italy itinerary

Some locations seize you the second you arrive—and Italy is certainly one among them. It’s not simply the historical past, meals, or gorgeous views; it’s one thing you are feeling. Think about sitting in a comfy little wine bar in Florence, strolling alongside quiet canals in Venice at night time, or having a meal in Rome that tantalizes your tastebuds lengthy after you permit. These are the moments that make touring right here unforgettable, and here’s a 7-day Italy itinerary to make all of it occur!

We simply spent seven days touring by way of Italy, and each a part of it felt alive. One second, we had been standing on a clifftop in Positano, watching the waves roll in; the following, we had been in a tiny family-run trattoria, sipping wine whereas an previous Italian couple danced to a dwell accordion participant. Some locations look lovely in photos, however Italy is completely different—it’s a must to be there to grasp it.

What made this journey even higher? The small surprises. The boutique lodge in Rome had extra allure than any five-star resort. A tiny café in Florence the place an area chef served up the very best plant-based pasta we’ve ever had. A distant seashore in Capri the place the one sound was the water going towards the cliffs.

For vacationers seeking to expertise Italy the fitting approach, we’ve put collectively an in depth itinerary with the very best locations to remain, divine eating places, and experiences you gained’t wish to miss. Should you’re planning your personal journey, Reliabletraveler is a good place to seek out knowledgeable suggestions, first-hand journey tales, and insider tricks to make your go to even higher.

Italy is romantic, easy, and fully unforgettable. On this seven-day journey, we’ll present you tips on how to expertise it to the fullest.

The second we step off the airplane in Rome, we felt the cit has its personal power. One minute you’re strolling previous ruins which were right here for 1000’s of years, the following, you’re squeezing right into a tiny café the place locals are casually sipping espresso like they’ve received on a regular basis on the earth. Rome strikes at its personal tempo—quick, gradual, chaotic, relaxed—all on the similar time, and someway, it simply works.

Day 1: Arrival, Trevi Fountain & Rome’s Buzzing Piazzas

I begin my first afternoon in Rome on the Trevi Fountain. Positive, it’s a vacationer magnet, however there’s a cause for that. The white stone sculptures, the frenzy of cascading water—it’s the sort of place that makes you cease for a second and simply take it in. We toss a coin over our shoulder (as a result of, hey, custom) and watch it disappear into the turquoise water earlier than heading off.

From there, we wander towards Piazza Navona, one of many liveliest squares in Rome. Artists arrange their canvases, distributors promote work of the Colosseum, and the air is thick with dialog and the occasional clatter of plates from the eating places lining the sq.. We seize a fast espresso at Caffè Sant’Eustachio, a tiny café that’s been perfecting its roast for the reason that Nineteen Thirties. It’s robust, easy, and precisely what we’d like earlier than diving into the following cease.

Day 2: Strolling By means of Historical past – The Colosseum & Roman Discussion board

On my second day in Rome, we begin with one of many metropolis’s most well-known landmarks—the Colosseum. Seeing it up shut, the sheer scale is overwhelming. We e-book a small group tour (extremely advocate) and step inside, strolling by way of the underground tunnels the place gladiators as soon as stood, ready for his or her flip within the area. The information shares tales about how this place as soon as held over 50,000 roaring spectators, and for a second, you may virtually hear the echoes of the previous.

From there, we head towards the Roman Discussion board, the previous coronary heart of historical Rome. It’s a mixture of towering columns, half-standing temples, and worn cobblestone paths resulting in tales of emperors, gods, and each day life from centuries in the past. Not like a museum, the place historical past is saved behind glass, this can be a place you stroll by way of, contact, and expertise firsthand.

For lunch, we discovered a comfy spot at Ginger Sapori e Salute, a sustainable restaurant that focuses on natural Italian dishes. Recent salads, selfmade pasta, and cold-pressed juices—gentle however stuffed with taste, good for a mid-day break.

The afternoon is spent exploring Trastevere, one among Rome’s most charming neighborhoods. With its cobblestone streets, colourful homes, and energetic piazzas, it’s straightforward to see why this space is a favourite amongst each locals and guests. We cease by Giselda, a café that serves a number of the finest vegan pastries we’ve ever had, earlier than ending the day at a rooftop bar, watching the sundown over town.

Day 3: Vatican Metropolis & Sundown Views

On my closing day in Rome, we cross the Tiber River to go to Vatican Metropolis—dwelling to St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums. The sheer scale and sweetness of those websites are breathtaking. Standing inside St. Peter’s Basilica, staring up at Michelangelo’s dome, it’s inconceivable to not be impressed.

After just a few hours of exploring, we take a break at Flower Burger, a completely vegan burger spot that’s been making waves in Rome’s meals scene. It’s colourful, inventive, and surprisingly good for plant-based quick meals.

Because the solar begins to set, we make our strategy to Pincian Hill Terrace in Villa Borghese. If there’s one place to observe Rome bathe in golden gentle, that is it. The rooftops stretch so far as the attention can see, and {couples} collect alongside the railing, soaking within the view earlier than town lights flicker on.

Dinner is at Aroma, a Michelin-starred restaurant with an insane view of the Colosseum. The ambiance is intimate and excellent for honeymooners and {couples} in search of that unforgettable eating expertise. In addition they supply a full vegan menu and deal with sustainable components, making it a guilt-free indulgence.

Strolling again by way of the softly lit streets, we understand one thing—Rome isn’t only a metropolis you go to, it’s a metropolis you are feeling.

After three packed days in Rome, we hop on a high-speed prepare to Venice. The experience itself is easy, passing by way of rolling hills and sleepy Italian cities. However the second we step out of Santa Lucia Station, it’s like getting into one other world. As a substitute of honking automobiles and busy streets, there’s water in every single place—boats changing taxis, gondoliers navigating slim canals, and previous buildings with their foundations dipping proper into the lagoon. It’s chaotic, historic, and slightly surreal—however in one of the best ways.

Day 4: Exploring the Grand Canal, St. Mark’s, and Venice’s Hidden Corners

I examine into Ca’ Sagredo, a lodge that’s half museum, half palace, and absolutely Venetian. It’s a restored Fifteenth-century constructing proper on the Grand Canal, with ceilings so intricately painted it seems like a Renaissance masterpiece. Extra importantly, it’s a part of Venice’s sustainability efforts, serving to to protect the delicate steadiness between tourism and conservation.

First cease? St. Mark’s Sq.. It’s the guts of town, at all times buzzing with power—vacationers snapping photographs, pigeons fluttering round, and cafés stuffed with individuals sipping espresso at tiny tables. St. Mark’s Basilica, with its domes and gold mosaics, is much more spectacular in individual, whereas Doge’s Palace subsequent door provides a glimpse into town’s former rulers and their lavish existence.

As a substitute of climbing St. Mark’s Campanile for the traditional Venice skyline view, we take the locals’ tip and head to San Giorgio Maggiore. Fewer crowds, the identical panoramic view, and a a lot quieter second to soak all of it in.

By afternoon, we lastly collapse and take a gondola experience. Some say it’s a vacationer lure, however truthfully? Gliding by way of the smaller, quieter canals is the place Venice actually feels magical. Away from the crowds, you go centuries-old homes, wood shutters barely holding on, and balconies overflowing with flowers. The gondolier, who’s clearly accomplished this a thousand instances, nonetheless manages to crack jokes whereas expertly steering underneath low bridges.

Dinner is at Osteria La Zucca, a comfy, vegetarian-friendly spot that proves Italian meals isn’t all about meat. Their pumpkin flan and selfmade pasta are so good we don’t even take into consideration lacking a standard meat dish.

Day 5: Murano & Burano – The Islands Past the Canals

Whereas most guests keep on with Venice’s essential points of interest, the actual gems are only a brief boat experience away.

First up is Murano, the island well-known for its handmade glasswork, a craft that dates again over 700 years. Venice’s glassmakers had been moved right here within the thirteenth century to forestall fires from breaking out within the metropolis (and, let’s be trustworthy, to maintain their commerce secrets and techniques protected). At the moment, the custom continues to be alive, with small studios and family-run workshops lining the canals.

I go to Vetreria Artistica Colleoni, the place glassblowers work in entrance of open flames, shaping delicate vases, intricate chandeliers, and impossibly skinny glass collectible figurines. Watching them work is mesmerizing—it takes simply minutes to remodel molten glass into one thing lovely, however years of coaching to grasp the craft.

After Murano, we take the vaporetto to Burano, a small fishing island that appears prefer it was painted with a field of crayons. Each home is a special shade—brilliant yellows, deep blues, and fiery reds—initially painted that approach so fishermen may spot their properties even in thick fog. The island can be well-known for its handmade lace, a craft that dates again to the 1500s.

I cease for lunch at Trattoria al Gatto Nero, a family-run spot that serves up a number of the freshest seafood within the lagoon. The proprietor tells me that Burano is without doubt one of the final locations the place fishermen nonetheless use conventional strategies handed down for generations. It’s a reminder that past the vacationer crowds, Venice’s islands nonetheless maintain onto their previous methods of life.

Again in Venice, we wander by way of Dorsoduro, a quieter, artsier neighborhood that feels miles away from the chaos of St. Mark’s. Right here, small wine bars spill onto the streets, Cicchetti (Venetian tapas) is served on wood boards, and the entire place has a relaxed, lived-in really feel.

As we sip a glass of Venetian spritz, watching the solar dip behind the terracotta rooftops, we get why this metropolis leaves such an impression on individuals. It’s not simply the gondolas or the canals—it’s the way in which Venice makes you decelerate, wander, and simply take all of it in.

After absorbing the magic of Venice, we board a flight to Naples and take a winding coastal drive in the direction of the Amalfi Coast. The street itself is an journey—hairpin turns, dramatic sea cliffs, and tiny villages clinging to the sting of the mountains like they’re defying gravity. From the second we arrive, we get it—this place is pure, easy magnificence.

Day 6: Positano & The Path of the Gods

We primarily based ourselves in Positano, a postcard-perfect city that appears prefer it was constructed for honeymooners. Pastel-colored homes stack up the cliffside, tiny alleyways result in hidden cafés, and the whole city smells like recent lemons and sea breezes.

We examine into Le Sirenuse, one of many Amalfi Coast’s most well-known lodges. It’s elegant however laid-back, with a robust deal with sustainability—from plastic-free initiatives to a menu constructed round domestically sourced components. The balcony view? Straight out of a dream.

Mountain climbing the Path of the Gods

As a substitute of spending my first day lounging on the seashore (tempting), we resolve to tackle the Sentiero degli Dei—aka the Path of the Gods. It’s one of the crucial well-known mountaineering trails in Italy, operating excessive above the shoreline with panoramic views that make each uphill step value it.

The path is about 7km lengthy, beginning in Bomerano and ending in Nocelle (simply above Positano). Alongside the way in which, we go tiny stone cottages, lemon groves, and mountain goats standing in locations we wouldn’t dare try. At one level, we cease at a lookout the place the whole Amalfi shoreline stretches out beneath me, and we’ve to remind myself that that is actual.

For lunch, we cease at La Tagliata, a family-run restaurant perched on the cliffs, the place the whole lot they serve comes from their very own farm. The proprietor, an older Italian lady, insists we attempt her selfmade pasta. We don’t argue. It’s hands-down the very best meal of the journey.

After mountaineering, we head again right down to Spiaggia Grande, Positano’s essential seashore. The pebbled shore is lined with colourful umbrellas, and the water is that good shade of Mediterranean blue. We cool off with a fast swim earlier than grabbing an aperitivo at Franco’s Bar, simply in time to observe the solar sink into the ocean.

Day 7: Amalfi, Ravello & The Most Scenic Drive of My Life

On my final full day, we discover two extra Amalfi gems: Amalfi City & Ravello.

I begin in Amalfi, the city that gave the shoreline its title. It’s smaller and fewer dramatic than Positano however stuffed with historical past. The centerpiece is Duomo di Sant’Andrea, an Eleventh-century cathedral with a grand staircase main as much as its mosaic-covered façade. Amalfi can be well-known for its paper-making custom, so we pop into the Museo della Carta to see how they’ve been making handmade paper right here for hundreds of years.

From there, we take the bus as much as Ravello, a peaceable hilltop city recognized for its gardens and jaw-dropping views. The spotlight? Villa Cimbrone, a historic villa with the well-known Terrace of Infinity—a protracted balcony that feels prefer it’s floating above the ocean. The view is infinite, and for a second, the world simply stops.

A Farewell Feast at a Cliffside Ristorante

For our final meal on the Amalfi Coast, we head to Il Flauto di Pan, a restaurant tucked contained in the gardens of Villa Cimbrone. It’s a slow-food expertise the place every dish seems like a murals. We go for the vegan-tasting menu, which incorporates recent pasta, grilled seasonal greens, and a lemon sorbet created from Amalfi’s well-known citrus.

With the twinkling lights of the shoreline under, we are able to’t consider a greater strategy to finish this journey.

Ultimate Ideas on this 7-day Italy Itinerary

Seven days, three unimaginable locations, and sufficient recollections to final a lifetime. Rome, Venice, and the Amalfi Coast every had their very own magic, however collectively, they created a journey that felt like the very best of Italy wrapped into one journey. Would we do it yet again? In a heartbeat. For extra data and planning instruments for Italy, take a look at our associates at ReliableTraveler.