Italy’s capital and its Renaissance queen make a perfect pairing: Rome dazzles with ancient ruins and trattoria warmth; Florence answers with Medici art and Tuscan soul. Across seven days you’ll taste regional classics, master a pasta dough, and walk through millennia of history—without rushing.

Rome’s story is etched into every stone, from the Colosseum to cobbled lanes perfumed with espresso and fried supplì. Florence, cradle of the Renaissance, whispers in frescoes and sculpture, then serves rib-sticking bistecca and Chianti beneath terracotta roofs.

Practicalities are friendly here: high-speed trains link city centers in under two hours; pre-booked entries make big sights easy. Spring and fall bring mild weather; always carry a reusable water bottle (Roman nasoni fountains are drinkable), and book popular restaurants ahead.

Rome

Rome is a living museum layered with lively neighborhoods—Monti’s indie boutiques, Testaccio’s market spirit, and Trastevere’s amber-lit lanes. Eat like a local with cacio e pepe, amatriciana, and Jewish-Roman artichokes, then toast with a sunset spritz on a piazza.

• Top sights: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain.
• Food favorites: Roscioli Salumeria, Felice a Testaccio, Supplizio (supplì), Pizzarium Bonci (pizza al taglio), Gelateria del Teatro.
• Fun fact: The Pantheon’s 2,000-year-old concrete dome is still the world’s largest unreinforced dome.

Where to stay: For easy sightseeing, base near the Pantheon/Navona or in Monti for character. Browse stays on VRBO Rome or compare hotels on Hotels.com Rome.

Getting in: Fly into FCO or CIA. For flights within Europe, search Omio Flights; for long-haul, compare on Kiwi.com or Trip.com Flights. From FCO, the Leonardo Express to Termini takes ~32 minutes (~€14); official taxis to central Rome have a fixed fare (~€50).

Day 1: Arrival, Centro Storico Stroll, and Roman Comforts

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake off jet lag with an espresso at Sant’Eustachio Il Caffè, then wander Piazza Navona’s Bernini fountains and the perfectly proportioned Pantheon. Duck into Church of San Luigi dei Francesi to see Caravaggio’s St. Matthew cycle—free and unforgettable.

Evening: Reserve dinner at Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina for carbonara with single-origin pepper and a killer wine list, or arm yourself with patience for Da Enzo al 29 in Trastevere for guanciale-rich amatriciana. Gelato at Gelateria del Teatro (try sage–raspberry) and a nightcap at Salotto 42 facing the Temple of Hadrian.

Day 2: Ancient Rome + Monti Bites

Morning: Dive into the empire with a guided visit to the amphitheater and its political heart.

Rome: Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill Guided Tour — enter with timed access, hear stories of gladiators, then climb Palatine Hill for Caesar’s view.

Afternoon: Lunch at Taverna dei Fori Imperiali for tonnarelli cacio e pepe, then browse Monti’s Via del Boschetto boutiques and vintage shops. Espresso at La Casetta a Monti, a vine-draped hideaway.

Evening: Head to Testaccio, the old slaughterhouse district turned food haven. Try Felice a Testaccio (cacio e pepe theatrically tossed at the table) or Flavio al Velavevodetto, whose cellar digs into Monte dei Cocci’s pottery shard hill. Finish with craft cocktails at Drink Kong near Largo Argentina.

Day 3: Vatican Masterpieces + Trastevere Food Tour

Morning: Beat the crowds with a skip-the-line Vatican immersion—Raphael Rooms, Laocoön, and Michelangelo’s ceiling crescendoing in the Sistine Chapel.

Skip-the-Line Group Tour of the Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica for expert context and direct basilica access.

Afternoon: Snack your way along Borgo Pio (try Pizzarium Bonci’s Roman-style slices near Cipro) and cross the Tiber to Trastevere’s mosaicked Santa Maria. Peek at Raphael’s mythic frescoes in Villa Farnesina if time allows.

Evening: Join a guided feast through one of Rome’s most atmospheric quarters.

Winner 2025 Rome Twilight Trastevere Food Tour by Eating Europe — taste Roman-Jewish classics, street food, and gelato while hearing neighborhood lore.

Day 4: Market Morning + Hands-On Pasta

Morning: Start with cappuccino at Roscioli Caffè Pasticceria and a maritozzo cream bun. Browse Campo de’ Fiori’s produce and spices; pick up pecorino and sun-dried tomatoes as edible souvenirs.

Afternoon: Learn to cook like a Roman a few blocks from Piazza Navona.

3 in 1 Cooking Class near Navona: Fettuccine, Ravioli & Tiramisu — roll dough, cut ribbons, fill ravioli, then savor your handiwork with wine.

Evening: Sunset from Pincio Terrace above Piazza del Popolo. Dinner at Armando al Pantheon for seasonal Roman dishes or Cesare al Casaletto for cult-favorite fried starters. Gelato at Fatamorgana (creative yet balanced flavors).

Florence

Florence is intimate and walkable, its skyline punctuated by Brunelleschi’s dome and its streets alive with artisan workshops. Meals are hearty: ribollita soup, wild boar pappardelle, and bistecca alla fiorentina cooked over coals.

• Top sights: Duomo complex, Uffizi Gallery, Accademia (Michelangelo’s David), Ponte Vecchio, Boboli Gardens, Oltrarno artisans.
• Food favorites: Mercato Centrale, Trattoria Sostanza, Trattoria Mario, All’Antico Vinaio, Le Volpi e l’Uva wine bar.
• Fun fact: The modern Italian language is largely based on the Tuscan dialect of Dante and Petrarch.

Where to stay: For first-time visitors, stay near the Duomo or Santa Maria Novella for easy station access; Oltrarno offers calmer nights and artisan charm. Compare options on VRBO Florence and Hotels.com Florence.

Getting there from Rome: Morning high-speed trains (Frecciarossa/Italo) from Roma Termini to Firenze S. M. Novella take ~1h30–1h40 and often cost ~€25–€60 if booked early. Check times and fares on Omio Trains (Europe).

Day 5: Train to Florence, Duomo and Riverfront

Morning: Depart Rome after breakfast; aim for a 9:00 train, arriving in Florence around 10:40. Drop bags and grab a macchiato at Ditta Artigianale (Via dei Neri) with a flaky sfoglia.

Afternoon: Walk the Duomo complex; climb the dome or Giotto’s bell tower for tiled-roof views (reserve ahead). Lunch at Mercato Centrale upstairs: sample lampredotto at Da Nerbone, fresh pasta at Pastificio Toscania, and a glass of Chianti Classico.

Evening: Golden hour on the Arno from Ponte Santa Trinita. Dinner options: Trattoria Sostanza (butter chicken and artichoke omelet), or Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco for wild boar pappardelle. End with gelato at Gelateria dei Neri.

Day 6: Uffizi, Oltrarno Artisans, Wine Bar Night

Morning: Reserve the Uffizi first slot to stand before Botticelli’s Birth of Venus without the crush. Coffee at Caffè Gilli on Piazza della Repubblica for old-world glam.

Afternoon: Cross to Oltrarno for artisan studios on Via Maggio and Via Santo Spirito—leather, marbled paper, and goldsmiths at work. Picnic in Boboli Gardens or lunch at Panini Toscani by the Duomo for salumi flights.

Evening: Aperitivo at Le Volpi e l’Uva (thoughtful by-the-glass list with crostini). For dinner, Trattoria Cammillo serves elegant Tuscan classics; Trattoria Mario offers no-frills bistecca and convivial communal tables.

Day 7: David, Sant’Ambrogio Market, Departure

Morning: Visit the Accademia to meet Michelangelo’s David up close (book timed entry). Wander Sant’Ambrogio Market for seasonal produce, fresh pecorino, and cantucci to take home.

Afternoon: Early lunch at All’Antico Vinaio (yes, it’s famous—order the La Favolosa with pecorino crema) or a sit-down bowl of ribollita at Trattoria da Rocco inside the market. Depart in the afternoon: for European flights, check Omio Flights; for long-haul connections via Rome or Milan, compare on Kiwi.com or Trip.com. For trains back to Rome or onward to Venice/Milan, see Omio Trains.

Optional Rome Day Trip (swap into Day 4 if desired): If you prefer a coastal-and-ruins adventure, consider this full-day small-group excursion from Rome:

Pompeii, Amalfi Coast and Positano Day Trip from Rome — tread Roman streets frozen in time, then chase cliffside views along the Amalfi Coast.

Booking tips and logistics: Reserve the Vatican and Colosseum several weeks out; consider early or late entries for thinner crowds. For trains, book in advance for the best fares on Omio. Pack modest attire for churches (shoulders/knees covered), and carry small bills for market treats.

In one week, you’ll taste Rome’s pastas at their source, witness history from the Forum to the Vatican, and toast the Renaissance in Florence with a glass of Chianti. It’s a flavorful, art-filled itinerary that balances iconic sights with neighborhood discoveries, leaving room to linger where Italy shines brightest—at the table.