Italy rewards curiosity. In Rome, ancient stones and buzzing piazzas live side by side: this is a city where you turn a corner and meet a 2,000-year-old temple, then an espresso bar bursting with locals. Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, compresses world-class art, lively markets, and artisan workshops into a walkable historic center.

Across seven days you’ll trace emperors and popes, Brunelleschi and Michelangelo—then toast with Chianti among Tuscan hills. We’ve prioritized skip-the-line access, easy high-speed trains, and eateries locals love, so you spend more time savoring and less time queueing.

Practical notes: churches require covered shoulders and knees; book the Vatican, Colosseum, Uffizi/Accademia, and Florence Dome climbs well ahead. Tap water is safe; bring a bottle to refill at Rome’s nasoni fountains. For flights to Italy and onward connections, compare on Omio; for trains within Italy use Omio Trains.

Rome

Founded (legend says) by Romulus in 753 BCE, Rome layers republic, empire, and baroque on a living modern city. Wander from the Pantheon’s oculus to Bernini’s fountains, then to trattorie rolling cacio e pepe in the pan.

Top sights include the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Vatican Museums, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and Villa Borghese. Neighborhoods to linger: Monti (indie boutiques and wine bars), Trastevere (cobbled lanes and trattorie), Testaccio (market and Roman cuisine).

• Stay (Hotels.com): Hotel de Russie (iconic gardens near Piazza del Popolo), Hotel Eden, Dorchester Collection (classic glamour above Via Veneto), Hotel Mascagni (smart mid-range by Repubblica), The Beehive (design-forward budget & community vibe).
• Stay (VRBO/Hotels search): Browse apartments and stays on VRBO Rome or compare hotels on Hotels.com Rome.
• Getting there: Fly into FCO or CIA; compare fares on Omio. Already in Europe? High-speed trains arrive at Roma Termini/Tiburtina—check Omio Trains.

Day 1: Arrival in Rome, Centro Storico Stroll

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake off jet lag with a gentle loop: Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Steps, Via Condotti window-shopping, Trevi Fountain (coins over shoulder), and the Pantheon. Coffee at Sant’Eustachio Il Caffè (famed crema) or Tazza d’Oro nearby.

Evening: Aperitivo at Salotto 42 (designy lounge facing the Hadrian temple) or Enoteca Il Goccetto (historic wine bar). Dinner options: Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina (carbonara, superb salumi; book ahead), Armando al Pantheon (old-school Roman dishes), or Taverna Trilussa (pasta served in the pan in Trastevere). Gelato at Gelateria del Teatro (sage-lemon, pistachio di Bronte) to finish.

Day 2: Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Monti

Morning: Step onto the arena through the gladiators’ gate with this guided experience: Colosseum Arena Floor, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Guided Tour.

You’ll get context for the ruins you’ll cross later in the day.

Afternoon: Explore the Forum and Palatine Hill at leisure. Pop into the Capitoline Museums for the She-Wolf and a terrace view over the Forum; quick espresso at Terrazza Caffarelli. Lunch: Taverna dei Fori Imperiali (family-run, near the Forum) or La Prezzemolina (top-notch pizza al taglio).

Evening: Browse Monti’s Via del Boschetto boutiques. Drinks at Drink Kong (award-winning cocktails) or Ai Tre Scalini (wine and small plates). Dinner at Trattoria Monti (Marchigiano specialties) or Urbana 47 (market-driven).

Day 3: Vatican Masterpieces and Trastevere by Night

Morning: See the Vatican the smart way with priority entrance: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour.

Admire Raphael Rooms and Michelangelo’s ceiling, then walk into St. Peter’s. Dress code enforced.

Afternoon: Climb St. Peter’s Dome for sweeping views. Stroll Borgo Pio for lunch—try Pastasciutta for fast, fresh pasta—or cross the Tiber via Ponte Sant’Angelo to Castel Sant’Angelo’s exterior ramparts.

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

Expect supplì, porchetta, Roman pasta, and gelato—plus local stories. If going DIY, book Da Enzo al 29 (heritage trattoria) or Pianostrada (creative seasonal plates) and end with cocktails at Freni e Frizioni.

Day 4: Baroque Rome, Borghese Art, and Testaccio

Morning: Start at Campo de’ Fiori market (mortadella in pizza bianca at Forno Campo de’ Fiori). Visit the Pantheon interior, then Piazza Navona’s Bernini fountains and Caravaggios at San Luigi dei Francesi (free, modest dress).

Afternoon: Reserve the Galleria Borghese (two-hour slot) for Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne and Canova’s Pauline. Bike or stroll the Villa Borghese gardens. Coffee at Canova on Piazza del Popolo.

Evening: Head to Testaccio, cradle of Roman cuisine. Aperitivo at L’Oasi della Birra (wine, deli platters). Dinner at Felice a Testaccio (famous cacio e pepe, tossed tableside) or Flavio al Velavevodetto (classic quinto quarto). Gelato at Otaleg’ or Fatamorgana.

Florence

Florence is compact and grand: Brunelleschi’s dome crowns a skyline of terracotta, while Medici palaces hide frescoed courtyards. The Arno divides the formal center from the artisan-rich Oltrarno.

Must-sees: the Duomo complex (Cathedral, Dome, Baptistery, Campanile), Uffizi Gallery, Accademia’s David, Ponte Vecchio, Santa Croce, San Lorenzo/Medici Chapels, and the hilltop views of Piazzale Michelangelo and San Miniato al Monte.

• Stay (Hotels.com): Four Seasons Hotel Firenze (historic convent and gardens), Hotel Brunelleschi (Roman-tower boutique by the Duomo), Grand Hotel Minerva (rooftop pool on Piazza Santa Maria Novella), Hotel Davanzati (welcoming, central, great value).
• Stay (VRBO/Hotels search): Find apartments near the Duomo or Oltrarno on VRBO Florence or compare hotels on Hotels.com Florence.
• Getting there from Rome: Morning Frecciarossa/Italo high-speed trains from Roma Termini/Tiburtina to Firenze S. M. Novella take ~1h30–1h40; fares from ~€25–€60 if booked early. Compare times and prices on Omio Trains.

Day 5: Train to Florence, Duomo and Oltrarno

Morning (Travel): Depart Rome after breakfast; aim for a ~9:00 a.m. high-speed train. Grab sandwiches from Mercato Centrale or a cornetto from Roscioli Caffè to go. Arrive at Firenze S. M. Novella and check in.

Afternoon: Orient yourself around the Duomo. Walk the exterior circuit to admire green-white marble, the Baptistery doors (Ghiberti’s “Gates of Paradise”), and Giotto’s Campanile. Coffee at Ditta Artigianale (specialty roaster) or Caffè Gilli (historic pastry bar). Browse the leather stalls of San Lorenzo, then step into Santa Maria Novella’s cloistered pharmacy for scented history.

Evening: Cross the Ponte Vecchio at golden hour to the Oltrarno’s artisan lanes. Aperitivo at Il Santino (standing wine bar) or Volume in Piazza Santo Spirito. Dinner: Trattoria Sostanza (butter chicken and artichoke omelet; cash, book ahead), Trattoria Mario (lunch-only, hearty Tuscan), or Buca Lapi (oldest restaurant in Florence, famed bistecca). Gelato at La Carraia.

Day 6: Tuscany Day Trip—Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa & Winery Lunch

Spend a full day tasting and town-hopping on this curated small-group experience from Florence: Tuscany Day Trip from Florence: Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa and Lunch at a Winery.

You’ll tour Siena’s Gothic heart, taste Vernaccia/Chianti with a farm lunch, wander San Gimignano’s towered lanes, and snap the Leaning Tower. It’s a long day—wear comfy shoes and bring a hat in summer.

Day 7: Florence Art Highlights and Departure

Morning: Choose one major museum. For sculpture: Accademia (Michelangelo’s David—go early). For painting: the Uffizi (Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, Caravaggio). Reserve timed entry in advance. Quick breakfast at Pasticceria Nencioni (croissant crema) or Caffè Concerto Paszkowski.

Afternoon (Departure): Last bites: schiacciata sandwiches at All’Antico Vinaio (go early to avoid lines) or lampredotto at a street cart by Sant’Ambrogio. Walk to Piazzale Michelangelo if time allows for a final city panorama. Trains and airport buses depart from S. M. Novella; search onward trains and flights on Omio Trains and Omio Flights.

Booking Shortlist (Tours & Tickets Mentioned)

• Colosseum Arena Floor, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Guided Tour
• Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour
• Winner 2025 Rome Twilight Trastevere Food Tour by Eating Europe
• Tuscany Day Trip from Florence: Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa and Lunch at a Winery

Where to Eat & Drink (Save These)

• Rome coffee & breakfast: Sant’Eustachio Il Caffè; Panificio Bonci (cornetti, pizza bianca).
• Rome lunch: La Prezzemolina (pizza al taglio near the Forum); Pizzarium Bonci (creative slices by Vatican).
• Rome dinner: Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina; Armando al Pantheon; Felice a Testaccio; Da Enzo al 29 (book ahead).
• Florence coffee & sweets: Ditta Artigianale; Caffè Gilli; Pasticceria Nencioni.
• Florence lunch: Trattoria Mario (rustic Tuscan); Mercato Centrale stalls (fresh pasta, lampredotto); All’Antico Vinaio (famous schiacciata).
• Florence dinner: Trattoria Sostanza; Buca Lapi; Osteria Santo Spirito (cozy Oltrarno).
• Gelato: Gelateria del Teatro (Rome), La Carraia (Florence).

Getting Around & Tips

• Trains: High-speed AV services are the fastest between major cities—book on Omio Trains. Seat selection and mobile tickets included.
• Flights: For intercontinental and intra-Europe options, compare on Omio. If you’re stitching multi-country legs beyond Europe, you can also browse Kiwi.com or Trip.com.
• Museums: Mondays are light for some cities; the Uffizi/Accademia are typically closed Mondays, and many churches pause midday. Always check hours and holidays.
• Church dress codes: Shoulders and knees covered; carry a light scarf.

Where to Sleep—Quick Links

• Rome: VRBO | Hotels.com
• Florence: VRBO | Hotels.com

Transit Between Cities

Rome to Florence: 1h30–1h40 on Frecciarossa or Italo high-speed trains; early-booked fares from ~€25–€60. Morning departures maximize sightseeing time. Search and book on Omio Trains.

Seven days in Italy lets you savor the greatest hits at an unhurried pace. From the Colosseum and Vatican to Florence’s dome and Tuscan vineyards, this itinerary balances blockbuster art with memorable meals and neighborhood wanderings.

Use the train to glide between cities, lean on timed-entry tours to skip lines, and leave space to linger over espresso, wine, and sunsets—because in Italy, the in-betweens are often the best parts.