Italy has been shaping Western art, politics, and cuisine for millennia, and you’ll feel that legacy in every cobblestone underfoot. In Rome, emperors carved a city of arches and aqueducts; in Florence, the Medici bankrolled geniuses who changed how the world sees beauty. This 7-day itinerary distills the best of both cities into a delicious, walkable, train-connected week.

Expect days that start with foamy cappuccinos and end under church domes glowing at dusk. You’ll stand inside the Colosseum, gaze up at Michelangelo’s David, and wander markets where locals argue (joyfully) over tomatoes. Along the way: trattorie with recipes older than you, artisan workshops, and gelato worth detouring for.

Practical notes: Reserve timed tickets for the Vatican, Colosseum, Uffizi, and Accademia—slots sell out in peak months. Dress modestly for churches (shoulders/knees covered). Carry a refillable water bottle; Rome’s nasoni fountains run with drinkable water. Tipping is light (round up or leave 5–10% for great service). Trains between cities are fast, frequent, and usually the smartest move.

Rome

Rome is a living palimpsest: emperors, popes, and film directors left layered stories in stone. Wander from ancient forums to baroque fountains in minutes, refuel with suppli (fried rice balls) and carbonara, then cross the Tiber to Trastevere for a golden-hour stroll.

• Top sights: Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill; Pantheon; Trevi Fountain; Spanish Steps; Vatican Museums & St. Peter’s Basilica; Borghese Gallery (prebook); Appian Way.
• Neighborhoods to linger: Monti for wine bars and vintage; Trastevere for trattorie and ivy-clad lanes; Prati for calmer cafe culture near the Vatican; Centro Storico for postcard Rome.
• Where to stay: Search stays near Monti, Pantheon, or Trastevere on VRBO Rome and Hotels.com Rome. Consider boutique stays around Monti or near Campo de’ Fiori for walkability.
• Getting there: Fly into FCO or CIA; compare routes on Omio (Flights). FCO–Termini Leonardo Express train takes ~32 minutes; taxis have a fixed city-center fare. If arriving by rail, search options on Omio (Trains).

Day 1: Arrival, Golden Rome Stroll

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake off jet lag with an easy loop: Pantheon (best-preserved Roman temple), Piazza Navona (Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers), and a first gelato at Gelateria del Teatro or Giolitti—classic, creamy, and worth the line.

Evening: Toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain at twilight, then climb the Spanish Steps for the view. Dinner nearby: Armando al Pantheon (book for Roman classics), or Ristorante La Carbonara in Monti (since 1906, great amatriciana). For a casual bite, grab a trapizzino (pizza-pocket) stuffed with cacio e pepe.

Day 2: Ancient Rome and the Heart of the City

Morning: Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Reserve a timed Colosseum entry; the combined ticket covers all three. Imagine the imperial palaces from Palatine’s terraces—one of Rome’s quietest, grandest viewpoints.

Afternoon: Lunch at Taverna dei Fori Imperiali (family-run, near the forums) or Alle Carrette for thin-crust Roman pizza. Walk Via dei Fori Imperiali to the Capitoline Hill lookout, then continue to the Jewish Ghetto for a slice of torta ricotta e visciole and a lesson in Rome’s layered past.

Evening: Aperitivo in Monti at Ai Tre Scalini (local wine and small plates). Dinner in Trastevere at Da Enzo al 29 (tiny, beloved—arrive early or reserve) or Taverna Trilussa for generous Roman portions. Post-dinner amble through Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere, buskers and all.

Day 3: Vatican Masterpieces and Trastevere Lanes

Morning: Early entry to the Vatican Museums to reach the Raphael Rooms and Sistine Chapel before crowds; continue to St. Peter’s Basilica (consider the dome climb for sweeping city views). Cappuccino and cornetto at Sciascia Caffè 1919 or Panificio Bonci (nearby).

Afternoon: Walk the bridge to Castel Sant’Angelo’s ramparts for Tiber views, then cross into Trastevere. Lunch at Pizzarium Bonci (gourmet pizza al taglio) or Cesare al Casaletto (for a sit-down feast, a short tram ride away).

Evening: Explore Trastevere’s artisan alleys. Dine at Glass Hostaria (modern tasting menus) or Osteria der Belli (Sardinian touches). Gelato at Otaleg or Fatamorgana. If you’ve got energy, an evening passeggiata along the Tiber is pure Rome.

Florence

Florence is the Renaissance set to cobblestones: Brunelleschi’s dome, Botticelli’s Venus, and streets that hum with leather workshops and scent-makers. Compact and walkable, it rewards slow mornings at cafes and long evenings by the Arno.

• Top sights: Duomo, Baptistery, and Giotto’s Bell Tower; Uffizi Gallery; Accademia (Michelangelo’s David); Ponte Vecchio; Pitti Palace & Boboli Gardens; Santa Croce; Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset.
• Food & craft: Tuscan bistecca, ribollita, and cantucci; Oltrarno’s artisans (wood marquetry, goldsmithing, bookbinding) keep centuries-old skills alive.
• Where to stay: Base yourself near the Duomo, Santa Croce, or in the quieter Oltrarno. Browse VRBO Florence and Hotels.com Florence for apartments and boutique hotels with historic bones.
• Getting there from Rome: High-speed trains (Frecciarossa/Italo) from Roma Termini to Firenze S.M.N. take ~1h30; expect €25–60 booked ahead. Compare and book on Omio (Trains).

Day 4: Train to Florence, Duomo Quarter, and Aperitivo

Morning: Depart Rome after breakfast; catch a ~9:00 a.m. high-speed train (about 1h30). Seats and prices on Omio (Trains). Grab espresso and a maritozzo from Regoli Pasticceria beforehand if you’re near Esquilino.

Afternoon: Check in and orient around the cathedral complex. Admire the marble stripes of the Duomo and Baptistery doors. Consider climbing Giotto’s bell tower (timed tickets recommended; fewer stairs in one go than the dome). Lunch at Mercato Centrale upstairs food hall—try Lampredotto at Da Nerbone or fresh pasta at La Pasta Fresca.

Evening: Aperitivo at Procacci (truffle panini with your glass of bubbles) on Via de’ Tornabuoni. Dinner options: Trattoria Sostanza (butter chicken and bistecca; book), Ristorante del Fagioli (old-school Tuscan), or a casual pizza at Berberè. Gelato at Vivoli or Gelateria dei Neri.

Day 5: Uffizi, David, and the Oltrarno

Morning: Timed entry to the Uffizi—work your way from Giotto to Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera, then da Vinci. Coffee break at Ditta Artigianale (specialty roaster) or La Ménagère (floral, design-forward cafe).

Afternoon: Accademia Gallery to meet Michelangelo’s David—worth every minute. Lunch on the go: All’Antico Vinaio’s schiacciata sandwiches (crowded but iconic) or I’ Girone De’ Ghiotti for a shorter line. Browse the San Lorenzo market for leather (inspect stitching, ask for “pieno fiore” full-grain).

Evening: Cross to the Oltrarno for artisan workshops around Via Maggio and Santo Spirito. Dinner at Osteria Santo Spirito (cozy, baked gnocchi) or Il Guscio (seasonal Tuscan with a great wine list). Nightcap on the Arno or at Rasputin, a reservation-only speakeasy behind an unmarked door.

Day 6: Tuscan Day Trip (Siena & San Gimignano with Chianti)

Make it a countryside day. Easiest is a small-group tour (typically €75–120) that links Siena’s striped cathedral, medieval San Gimignano’s towers, and a Chianti winery tasting. Prefer DIY? Buses from Florence to Siena take ~1h30 (often faster than the train) and cost roughly €10–14 each way; check schedules and tickets on Omio (Buses). From Siena to San Gimignano, connect via Poggibonsi.

Lunch in Siena at Taverna di San Giuseppe (Sienese pici pasta, vaulted stone rooms) or Osteria La Chiacchera (views near the Duomo). In San Gimignano, grab a cone at Gelateria Dondoli, multiple-time Gelato World Champion. Return to Florence for a relaxed dinner—Gustarium for creative pizza by the slice or La Bussola for thin-crust pies and salads.

Day 7: Boboli Gardens, Last Bites, and Departure

Morning: Stroll the Pitti Palace courtyard and the terraced Boboli Gardens for Medici-era landscaping and city panoramas. Coffee at Caffè Gilli (belle époque ambiance) or a pastry at Pasticceria Nencioni if you’re near Sant’Ambrogio.

Afternoon: Early lunch at Trattoria La Casalinga (homey Tuscan plates) or Osteria All’Antico Ristoro di Cambi (hearty bistecca; shareable). Pick up gifts: biscotti from a neighborhood forno, perfumes at the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, or a bottle of Chianti Classico. For departures, the T2 tram runs from SMN station to Florence Airport (FLR) in about 20 minutes; trains back to Rome for onward flights run ~1h30—compare on Omio (Trains). For flights from FLR or Rome FCO, search Omio (Flights).

Where to Book and How to Move

• Stays: Compare apartments and hotels on VRBO Rome, Hotels.com Rome, VRBO Florence, and Hotels.com Florence.
• Trains & buses: Use Omio (Trains) for high-speed Italy routes and Omio (Buses) for regional links like Florence–Siena.
• Flights: Check fares to Rome and home from Florence (or vice versa) with Omio (Flights) to build an open-jaw itinerary and save backtracking time.

In one week you’ve traced Italy’s greatest hits—from the roar of the Colosseum to the quiet of Botticelli’s brushstrokes—while eating remarkably well between each marvel. With fast trains, smart reservations, and a little appetite, Rome and Florence become as effortless as they are unforgettable.