Italy rewards curiosity. In Rome, layers of empire, papal power, and daily life stack like lasagna; you’ll walk from the Pantheon’s Roman dome to medieval lanes and modern espresso bars in minutes.

For this 7-day itinerary, we balance famous sights with an adventurous streak: windsurfing on Lake Bracciano, a limestone rock-climbing taster by the sea, and a cliffside hike across Cinque Terre with time to swim its coves. You’ll taste your way through Trastevere and Florence’s wine windows, then unwind in authentic trattorie beloved by locals.

Practical notes: intercity travel is easiest by high-speed train (book with Omio trains). Expect a modest city tax at hotels. Most museums close one day weekly (often Monday); reserve major sites in advance. Italy uses 230V Type L/F outlets; carry a universal adapter.

Rome

Founded (legend says) by twin castaways, Rome wears history openly—forums and fountains, baroque piazzas, and street shrines. Beyond the icons are living neighborhoods like Monti and Trastevere with craft cocktail bars, natural wine shops, and carbonara that could make you weep.

• Top sights: Colosseum and Forum, Capitoline Hill viewpoints, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica.
• Adventure nearby: Windsurfing on Lake Bracciano; limestone rock climbing and beaches around Sperlonga; hikes on the Appian Way and Aqueduct Park.
• Foodie hits: Espresso at Sant’Eustachio; pizza al taglio at Pizzarium Bonci; trattoria classics at Da Enzo al 29; modern pies at Seu Pizza Illuminati; cocktails at Drink Kong; craft beer at Ma Che Siete Venuti a Fà.
• Fun fact: The Pantheon’s unreinforced concrete dome has stood since ~125 CE—and still outspans many modern domes.

Stay in Rome: Browse centrally located stays on VRBO Rome or compare hotels on Hotels.com Rome. Tried-and-true picks: Hotel Santa Maria (Trastevere, leafy courtyard, mid-range), The Beehive (budget-friendly, social vibe), and Hotel de Russie (splurge, secret garden near Piazza del Popolo).

Getting to Rome: Book flights to FCO or CIA with Omio flights (to/from Europe). From FCO, the Leonardo Express to Termini (~32 min, ~€14) or regional train to Trastevere/Tiburtina (~45 min, ~€8). City transport: metro/bus day pass (~€7.50).

Florence

Florence compresses masterpieces into a walkable maze: Brunelleschi’s terracotta dome, Ghiberti’s golden doors, and the Accademia’s David. Yet it’s the small moments—an artisan shaping leather in Oltrarno, a glass of Chianti poured through a tiny “wine window”—that linger.

• Top sights: Duomo and Brunelleschi’s Dome (or Giotto’s Bell Tower), Uffizi, Accademia, Ponte Vecchio, Oltrarno workshops, Piazzale Michelangelo at golden hour.
• Day adventures: Cinque Terre hike-and-swim, Tuscan hilltowns (Siena, San Gimignano) and Pisa; quick hikes to Fiesole or Settignano for city views.
• Foodie hits: Cappuccino at Ditta Artigianale; schiacciata at All’Antico Vinaio (go early); fresh pasta at Trattoria Sostanza or Trattoria Sabatino; gelato at Gelateria dei Neri or La Carraia.
• Fun fact: “Wine windows” (buchette del vino) were used during past plagues to pass wine safely—some reopened recently for a charming pour.

Stay in Florence: See apartments on VRBO Florence and hotels on Hotels.com Florence. Favorites: Hotel Dali (budget, steps from the Duomo), Hotel Davanzati (welcoming, central, mid-range), and Grand Hotel Minerva (stylish rooftop pool on Piazza Santa Maria Novella).

Getting to Florence: High-speed trains from Rome’s Termini to Firenze SMN in ~1h30–1h40 for ~€25–60 with Omio trains. In-town, walk or use ATAF buses/trams; most sights are within 15 minutes on foot.

Day 1 – Rome Arrival, Historic Heart, and Trastevere Evening

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Start at the Piazza Navona fountains, then duck into the Pantheon to admire the oculus. Espresso at Sant’Eustachio Il Caffè, then stroll to the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. This short loop orients you fast.

Evening: Cross the Tiber to Trastevere for dinner at Da Enzo al 29 (book or go early; cacio e pepe and amatriciana are standouts) or try rustic plates at Taverna Trilussa. Nightcap at Ma Che Siete Venuti a Fà (world-class craft beer) or Jerry Thomas Speakeasy (reservations required).

Day 2 – Gladiators, Forums, and Monti Nightlife

Morning: Step onto the arena through the Gladiator’s Gate with a guided Colosseum tour. You’ll cover the Colosseum, then the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill with context that makes ruins come alive.

Colosseum Arena Floor, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Guided Tour

Afternoon: Climb the Capitoline Hill for the Michelangelo-designed piazza and that postcard Forum view. Lunch in Monti: try al taglio slices at Trieste Pizza or fresh Roman-Jewish fare at Su Ghetto. Browse indie boutiques along Via del Boschetto.

Evening: Aperitivo at Drink Kong (award-winning cocktails) then dinner at Trattoria al Moro (near the Trevi; Roman classics) or La Carbonara on Via Panisperna (old-school Monti). Gelato at Fatamorgana.

Day 3 – Vatican Masterpieces and Trastevere Foodie Night

Morning: Beat the queues with a skip-the-line Vatican tour: galleries, Raphael Rooms, and the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling. Finish in St. Peter’s Basilica; if energy allows, climb the dome for views.

Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour

Afternoon: Picnic on Castel Sant’Angelo’s bridge or in Villa Farnesina’s vicinity, then wander the cobbles of Trastevere and peek into Santa Maria in Trastevere.

Evening: Eat your way through Rome on a small-group tasting—supplì, porchetta, cheeses, and gelato—with stories from local vendors.

Winner 2025 Rome Twilight Trastevere Food Tour by Eating Europe

Alternative or add-on (flexible timing): Cover a lot of ground with minimal walking on a guided golf cart circuit of big sights and hidden alleys—perfect if your feet need a break.

Rome by Golf Cart Private Tour: Beyond the Landmarks

Day 4 – Active Day: Beach + Climbing at Sperlonga (or Windsurfing on Lake Bracciano)

Morning: Option A—Rock & beach: Take a Regionale train from Roma Termini to Fondi–Sperlonga (~1h15, ~€6–9; buy on Omio trains), then bus (~15 min) to Sperlonga’s whitewashed old town. Meet a certified guide (arranged in advance) for a limestone sport-climbing taster on the sea-facing crags above town; expect grades from 4c–6a and stellar views. Gear usually included; budget ~€120–180 pp for a half-day. Not a climber? A guided scramble along easy routes is possible.

Afternoon: Seafood lunch at Il Porticciolo (ask for the catch of the day) and beach time on Spiaggia di Ponente—excellent for a swim. Return to Rome by early evening.

Evening: Casual Roman street food: supplì and trapizzino at Trapizzino Testaccio, or head to Pigneto for natural wine bars and inventive small plates at Necci dal 1924.

Option B—Windsurf day (if winds are good): Take the FL3 regional train to Bracciano or Anguillara (~45–60 min, ~€3–5), then a short bus/taxi to Trevignano Romano’s windsurf schools on Lake Bracciano. Rent gear (~€25–40/hr) or book a lesson (~€60–90). Picnic on the lakeshore, stroll medieval Bracciano, and return to Rome by sunset.

Day 5 – Train to Florence, Renaissance Essentials, and Foodie Evening

Morning: Depart Rome for Florence on a high-speed train (~1h30–1h40, ~€25–60 via Omio trains). Check into your hotel and grab a cappuccino and cornetto at Ditta Artigianale.

Afternoon: See the essentials with a small-group tour: skip-the-line entry to Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia, a Duomo exterior walk, and key squares that frame the city’s story.

Best of Florence: Small Group Tour Skip-the-Line David & Accademia with Duomo

Evening: A guided food and wine walk introduces you to Florentine staples—handmade pasta, truffle bites, Chianti pours, and the story of the city’s wine windows.

Winner 2025 Florence Sunset Food & Wine Tour by Eating Europe If you’d rather dine independently: classic butter-and-sage tortellini at Trattoria Sostanza (tiny; book), homestyle and very affordable plates at Trattoria Sabatino, and gelato at La Carraia.

Day 6 – Cinque Terre Hike-and-Swim Day (from Florence)

Early train from Firenze SMN to La Spezia (~2h–2h15, ~€14–22 via Omio trains). Buy the Cinque Terre Card for trail/park access and local trains. Hike the Vernazza–Monterosso segment of the Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail): 2–2.5 hours, moderate difficulty, steps, olive terraces, and sea views. Reward yourself with pesto trofie and stuffed mussels in Monterosso, then swim at Monterosso’s sandy beach. Hop a local train back to La Spezia and return to Florence by evening. Note: sections sometimes close after storms—check conditions day-of; if seas are calm, ferries connect villages (search routes on Omio ferries).

Day 7 – Florence Views, Artisans, and Departure

Morning: Sunrise walk along the Arno to San Niccolò and up to Piazzale Michelangelo and San Miniato al Monte for panoramic city views. Coffee at S.forno in Oltrarno (schiacciata sandwiches are excellent), then browse artisan workshops around Via Maggio and Borgo San Frediano for leather, marbled paper, and woodwork.

Afternoon: Depart Florence (train or flight via Omio flights and Omio trains). If your schedule allows, grab a final lampredotto panino from a street stand near the Mercato Centrale—Florence’s most local bite.

Optional swap (if you prefer vineyards to the coast): Trade Day 6 for a full-day Tuscan sampler—Siena’s shell-shaped piazza, San Gimignano’s towers, Pisa’s Leaning Tower, and lunch at a winery.

Tuscany Day Trip from Florence: Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa and Lunch at a Winery

Budget tips (your 50/100 target): Mix trattorie with market stalls (Mercato Centrale in Florence; Mercato Testaccio in Rome). Book trains 2–3 weeks ahead for lower fares. Choose central but simple hotels or well-rated VRBO apartments; travel primarily by foot/transit. For paid tours, pick one “big” guided experience per city and go self-guided elsewhere.

Packing & safety for adventure days: Grippy sneakers or light hikers, a compact daypack, refillable bottle (many Italian cities have potable fountains), reef-safe sunscreen, and a microfiber towel. For climbing, always use certified guides if you’re new; for windsurfing, check wind forecasts and wear a buoyancy aid. Beaches and trains are safe; keep valuables close in crowds.