Italy rewards the curious traveler. In one week, you can trace 2,000 years of history from Rome’s ancient forums to Florence’s Renaissance workshops and Milan’s modern flair, fueled by espresso, handmade pasta, and aperitivo culture. This 7-day itinerary connects the Eternal City, the Cradle of the Renaissance, and Italy’s style capital by swift high-speed trains.

Expect icons—Colosseum, Sistine Chapel, David, the Duomo—and equally memorable in-betweens: neighborhood bakeries at dawn, frescoed courtyards, market lunches, and sunset walks along riverbanks. You’ll taste Rome’s carbonara in Trastevere, Chianti among Tuscan vineyards, and Milanese risotto in the glow of the Navigli canals.

Practical notes: reserve timed-entry tickets early (Vatican, Accademia, Uffizi, Last Supper). Dress to enter churches (covered shoulders, knees), carry photo ID for ticket checks, and budget for city tourist taxes at hotels. Trains are the easiest way to move between cities; book ahead for the best fares.

Rome

Rome is a living palimpsest: emperors, popes, and cinephiles share the stage. Ancient stone rubs shoulders with Baroque splendor, while neighborhood trattorie guard family recipes with pride. Begin in piazzas and fountains; stay for twilight in Trastevere when laundry lines and laughter criss-cross alleys.

• Top sights: Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine; Pantheon; Trevi Fountain; Piazza Navona; Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica.
• Eat & drink: Roman pizza al taglio at Pizzarium Bonci; cacio e pepe at Felice a Testaccio; supplì and trapizzini near Ponte Sisto; gelato at Gelateria del Teatro; espresso at Sant’Eustachio Il Caffè.
• Neighborhoods: Monti’s ateliers and wine bars; Testaccio’s market lunch counters; Trastevere’s cobbles and trattorie.

Where to stay (Rome):

• Hotel de Russie, a Rocco Forte Hotel — Secret garden glamour steps from Piazza del Popolo.
• Hotel Eden — Roof-terrace views of Rome’s skyline; polished service.
• Kolbe Hotel Rome — Quiet cloister garden near the Forum.
• The Beehive — Friendly, design-forward budget base by Termini.
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com Rome | VRBO Rome

Florence

Florence is the Renaissance in high relief: Brunelleschi’s dome challenging the sky, Botticelli’s Venus rising from seashells, and Michelangelo carving life from marble. Beyond the masterpieces, it’s a city of artisans—paper marblers, goldsmiths, shoemakers—still at work in tiny botteghe.

• Top sights: Duomo and Brunelleschi’s Dome; Accademia (Michelangelo’s David); Uffizi Gallery; Ponte Vecchio; Oltrarno workshops.
• Eat & drink: Lampredotto panini at the stalls near Mercato Centrale; bistecca alla fiorentina at Buca Lapi; pappa al pomodoro and ribollita at Trattoria Mario; espresso at Ditta Artigianale; gelato at La Carraia.
• Day trips: Tuscan wine country, Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa, or even Cinque Terre.

Where to stay (Florence):

• The St. Regis Florence — Riverside grandeur and standout concierge.
• Grand Hotel Minerva — Rooftop pool overlooking Santa Maria Novella.
• Hotel Davanzati — Boutique hospitality near Palazzo Vecchio.
• Hotel Dali — Value steps from the Duomo.
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com Florence | VRBO Florence

Milan

Milan is Italy’s forward-looking engine: fashion ateliers, design studios, and a Gothic icon that took six centuries to finish. It’s also a gateway to glassy lakes and the Alps, and a city that elevates aperitivo to an art form.

• Top sights: Duomo and rooftop terraces; Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II; Leonardo’s The Last Supper; Sforza Castle; Brera district; Navigli canals.
• Eat & drink: Saffron risotto and ossobuco at Trattoria Masuelli or Ratanà; panzerotti at Luini; signature cocktails at Nottingham Forest or Mag Café; breakfast pastries at Marchesi 1824; coffee at Pavé.

Where to stay (Milan):

• Hotel Principe di Savoia — Classic Milanese prestige with a stellar spa.
• Room Mate Giulia — Playful design a few steps from the Duomo.
• UNAHOTELS Cusani Milano — Between Brera and Sforza Castle.
• Ostello Bello — Award-winning hostel with a social vibe.
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com Milan | VRBO Milan

How to get here and around: Flying into Rome? Compare flights on Omio (within/to Europe). For long-haul options, check Kiwi.com or Trip.com. For trains in Italy, book high-speed Frecciarossa or Italo via Omio Trains.

Day 1: Arrive in Rome, Golden Hour Strolls and Roman Comfort Food

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake off jet lag with a gentle loop: Piazza Navona’s Bernini fountains, the Pantheon’s oculus, and Trevi Fountain. Espresso at Sant’Eustachio Il Caffè for a sugar-topped “gran caffè.”

Evening: Dinner near Campo de’ Fiori or the Ghetto. Try Armando al Pantheon (classic Roman pastas and artichokes), or Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina (cured meats, carbonara with Guanciale di Amatrice). Gelato at Gelateria del Teatro on Via dei Coronari, then a moonlit pass by the Colosseum.

Day 2: Ancient Rome—Gladiators, Emperors, and Monti Wine Bars

Morning: Step onto the arena itself with a guide on the Colosseum Arena Floor, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Guided Tour.

Walk through the Forum’s Via Sacra and climb Palatine for views over Rome’s seven hills.

Afternoon: Lunch in Monti: Taverna Romana for amatriciana or pasta alla gricia; then browse Via del Boschetto’s indie boutiques. Optional Capitoline Museums for the bronze Marcus Aurelius and the Capitoline Wolf.

Evening: Eat your way through Trastevere on the award-winning Winner 2025 Rome Twilight Trastevere Food Tour by Eating Europe.

Expect supplì, porchetta, local DOC wines, and biscotti at a historic forno.

Day 3: Vatican Masterpieces and Hands-On Pasta

Morning: Beat the crowds with the Early Morning Vatican, Sistine, St. Peter's Semi or Private Tour (very small group).

Gaze up at Michelangelo’s ceiling, Raphael Rooms, and descend into St. Peter’s. Dress code enforced.

Afternoon: Climb St. Peter’s Dome for Rome’s finest panorama. Lunch on Borgo Pio—try Pastasciutta for fast, fresh pasta bowls. Walk the Tiber to Castel Sant’Angelo and Ponte Sant’Angelo’s angels.

Evening: Roll tagliatelle by hand during the 3 in 1 Cooking Class near Navona: Fettuccine, Ravioli & Tiramisu.

Or opt for a twilight golf-cart tour past fountains and hidden courtyards on Rome by Golf Cart Private Tour: Beyond the Landmarks.

Day 4: Train to Florence, Duomo Quarter, David up Close

Morning: High-speed train Rome → Florence Santa Maria Novella (~1h30 on Frecciarossa; ~€25–60 2nd class). Book via Omio Trains; depart around 8–9am to arrive by mid-morning. Check in and grab a schiacciata sandwich at All’Antico Vinaio (go early) or truffle panini at Procacci.

Afternoon: Meet Michelangelo’s David with timed entry on the Best of Florence: Small Group Tour Skip-the-Line David & Accademia with Duomo.

Stroll Piazza della Signoria (note Cellini’s Perseus) and across Ponte Vecchio’s goldsmith shops.

Evening: Aperitivo on Piazza Santo Spirito (Oltrarno) with crostini and a Negroni, then dinner: bistecca alla fiorentina at Buca Lapi, or handmade pici at Trattoria Sostanza. Gelato at Gelateria La Carraia by the bridge.

Day 5: Full-Day Tuscan Countryside—Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa

Join a classic winery and hilltown circuit on the Tuscany Day Trip from Florence: Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa and Lunch at a Winery.

Expect Gothic splendor in Siena’s Campo, medieval towers in San Gimignano (grab a Vernaccia), and a photo op at Pisa’s Leaning Tower—plus a farmhouse lunch with Chianti DOCG and olive oil tastings. Back in Florence, late-night gelato at Perché no! or a sip of vin santo with cantucci.

Prefer a countryside stay? Consider a night or two at Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Borgo Pignano, or the family-run agriturismo Agriturismo Il Rigo amidst Val d’Orcia’s cypress-lined hills.

Day 6: Train to Milan, Duomo Rooftop, Galleria, and Navigli Nights

Morning: High-speed train Florence → Milan Centrale (~1h55; ~€29–60 on Frecciarossa). Book via Omio Trains. Drop bags, then head to the cathedral: take a guided visit with terrace access on Duomo di Milano: Guided Cathedral Tour & Rooftop Access Included.

Walk among flying buttresses and white marble spires.

Afternoon: Cross the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II to admire the iron-and-glass arcade and visit La Scala’s square. Espresso and pralines at Marchesi 1824. Explore Brera’s cobbled lanes and Pinacoteca courtyard.

Evening: Aperitivo along Navigli: try Mag Café for inventive cocktails and a generous snack spread, or Rita for modern classics. Dinner options include risotto alla milanese and ossobuco at Trattoria Masuelli or contemporary Lombard cooking at Ratanà. Gelato from Grom on Corso di Porta Ticinese.

Day 7: Leonardo’s Last Supper, Fashion Lanes, Departure

Morning: See one of the world’s most in-demand frescoes on the Milan Last Supper and S. Maria delle Grazie Skip the Line Tour.

Slots sell out months ahead; note many museums (including The Last Supper) close on Mondays—plan accordingly.

Afternoon: Quick fashion stroll in the Quadrilatero d’Oro (Via Monte Napoleone) or, time permitting, a light Lake Como taster in future trips. Grab a final panzerotto at Luini or a fresh pasta bowl at Miscusi before your afternoon departure.

Getting between cities (estimates):

• Rome → Florence: ~1h30, €25–60, book on Omio Trains.
• Florence → Milan: ~1h55, €29–60, book on Omio Trains.

Rome dining extras: Breakfast cornetti at Marigold (sourdough bakery-café in Ostiense). Lunch at Mercato Testaccio’s Box 30 (Mordi & Vai’s scottadito sandwiches). Pizzarium Bonci near the Vatican for potato–mozzarella pizza al taglio. Da Enzo al 29 for trattoria classics (book ahead).

Florence dining extras: Trattoria Mario (lunch-only) for ribollita; Cibrèo Trattoria for Tuscan heritage dishes; La Ménagère for a design-forward brunch. Wine windows (buchette del vino) still serve tiny pours—ask your guide to point one out.

Milan dining extras: Pavé for cappuccino and buttery “veneziana”; Panino Giusto for a high-quality quick bite; Dry Milano for pizza and cocktails post-shopping.

Optional add-ons from Milan (full-day): the Bernina Red Train to St. Moritz for glacier views—book one of these small-group experiences: Bernina Red Train, Swiss Alps & St Moritz From Milan.

With three world-class cities linked by fast trains, this itinerary balances icons with local flavor: ancient marble and modern design, farmhouse lunches and rooftop spires. Keep this guide handy—you’ll be back to Italy for the corners you missed and the favorites you’ll want to relive.