Italy rewards the curious traveler. Empires rose and fell along the Tiber, and the Renaissance blossomed on the banks of the Arno—leaving a living museum of basilicas, piazzas, and world-class galleries. This 7-day Italy itinerary focuses on Rome and Florence, balancing headline sights with neighborhood strolls and meals you’ll talk about for years.

Expect cobblestones, cappuccinos, and a culture that lingers over lunch. Rome brings the Colosseum, the Forum, the Vatican, and shapeshifting neighborhoods like Trastevere and Monti. Florence counters with Brunelleschi’s dome, the Uffizi’s Botticellis, Brunelleschi’s geometry, and trattorias where bistecca is a civic ritual.

Practical notes: Reserve the Vatican Museums, Colosseum/Forum, Uffizi, and Accademia in advance to skip lines. Shoulders and knees must be covered in major churches. Pickpocketing can occur in crowded areas—keep zippers closed and valuables front-facing. Plan to walk a lot; trains make inter-city travel swift and scenic.

Rome

Rome is a palimpsest—layers of Republic, Empire, Papal power, and modern Italian verve. One minute you’re dodging Vespas, the next you’re face to face with a 2,000-year-old arch. The joy is in the contrasts: espresso at the bar, then Bernini’s angels; carbonara for lunch, then a Caravaggio in a side chapel.

Top sights include the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and the Vatican Museums with the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. Neighborhoods to savor: Monti’s vintage shops and wine bars, Trastevere’s cobbled lanes, and the stately streets around Piazza Navona.

• Where to stay: Browse well-located apartments and hotels near the historic center via VRBO Rome or compare top-rated stays on Hotels.com Rome.
• How to arrive: Fly into FCO (Rome Fiumicino). Compare flight options with Omio (flights). Trains from the airport to Termini or Trastevere are frequent.
• Food to try: Roman pastas—cacio e pepe, carbonara, amatriciana—plus supplì (fried risotto), artichokes in season, and gelato from artisanal makers.

Day 1: Arrival and the Centro Storico

Afternoon: Arrive and settle into your hotel. Shake off the flight with a gentle loop: the Pantheon’s perfect dome, Piazza Navona’s fountains, and the Trevi Fountain—baroque drama in marble. Grab a first espresso at Sant’Eustachio Il Caffè, famed for its crema, or Tazza d’Oro across from the Pantheon.

Evening: Dinner at Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina—a deli-turned-restaurant with legendary carbonara and an encyclopedic wine list; book ahead. If full, Armando al Pantheon serves soulful Roman classics steps from the Pantheon. Cap the night with gelato at Gelateria del Teatro (try sage–raspberry or pistachio) and a stroll to the softly lit bridges on the Tiber.

Day 2: Ancient Rome and Monti

Morning: Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Prebook a timed entry. Hire a licensed guide or follow a self-guided route: enter via the arena floor if available, then trace the Via Sacra through the Forum and climb Palatine for city views.

Afternoon: Lunch in Monti: Taverna dei Fori Imperiali (family-run, Roman-leaning menu) or La Taverna Romana (tonnarelli cacio e pepe). Explore Monti’s boutiques along Via del Boschetto and vintage racks at Pifebo. Espresso pick-me-up at La Casetta’s ivy-clad corner.

Evening: Aperitivo at Drink Kong—award-winning cocktails with Japanese notes and moody neon, then dinner at Trattoria al Moro near Trevi (rigatoni alla gricia, seasonal specials). For a view, try a nightcap at Terrazza Borromini overlooking Piazza Navona—reserve for terrace seating.

Day 3: Vatican and Trastevere

Morning: Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel; early-entry tickets reduce crowds. After Michelangelo’s ceiling, head into St. Peter’s Basilica and climb the dome for panoramas of Rome and Bernini’s square below.

Afternoon: Quick lunch at Bonci Pizzarium near the Vatican—creative pizza al taglio, cut with scissors; or Panificio Bonci for Roman-style bakery treats. Cross the river to Trastevere for Santa Maria in Trastevere’s mosaics and lanes lined with ivy and laundry lines.

Evening: Dinner at Da Enzo al 29 (small, beloved; book well ahead) or Pianostrada (seasonal plates, house-baked breads, excellent fritti). For gelato, Fatamorgana offers inventive, all-natural flavors. End at Freni e Frizioni for a classic Roman aperitivo beside the Tiber.

Florence

Florence is the Renaissance in three dimensions—stone, light, and geometry. Brunelleschi’s dome dominates, but the city’s beauty hides in details: a Ghiberti relief, a quiet cloister, a leather craftsman’s bench in Oltrarno. Compact and walkable, it’s a feast for art lovers and food people alike.

Must-sees include the Duomo complex (Cathedral, Baptistery, Giotto’s Campanile), Uffizi Gallery’s Botticelli and Leonardo rooms, and the Accademia’s David. Neighborhoods span elegant streets near Santa Maria Novella to the artisans’ quarter across the river around Santo Spirito.

• Where to stay: Search central apartments and boutique stays via VRBO Florence or compare hotels on Hotels.com Florence.
• Getting there from Rome: High-speed train (Frecciarossa/Italo) in ~1h30. Typical fares €25–€60. Compare schedules and prices on Omio (trains).
• Food to try: Ribollita (Tuscan bread soup), pappa al pomodoro, lampredotto sandwiches, bistecca alla fiorentina, and Tuscan wines (Chianti Classico, Brunello).

Day 4: Rome to Florence, Duomo District

Morning: Depart Rome after breakfast; aim for a 9–10 a.m. high-speed train to arrive before lunch. Florence Santa Maria Novella station is an easy walk or brief taxi ride to most central hotels.

Afternoon: Lunch at Trattoria Mario (lunch-only; rustic Florentine dishes, communal tables) or Mercato Centrale’s upstairs food hall—try Da Nerbone for bollito sandwiches with green sauce. Visit the Duomo, Baptistery (look for Ghiberti’s “Gates of Paradise”), and climb Giotto’s Campanile for bell-tower views with less crowding than the dome.

Evening: Gelato at Gelateria dei Neri (classic pistachio) or Vivoli (since 1930). Dinner at Trattoria Sostanza (butter chicken and bistecca; old-school, reservations essential) or Buca Lapi (historic cellar, superb steaks). Stroll the Arno to the Ponte Vecchio as musicians play under the arches.

Day 5: Uffizi, Oltrarno Artisans, and Santo Spirito

Morning: Uffizi Gallery—reserve a morning slot to linger over Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera, then the Leonardo and Michelangelo rooms. Coffee before or after at Ditta Artigianale (specialty roaster) or Caffè Gilli (belle époque elegance in Piazza della Repubblica).

Afternoon: Cross to the Oltrarno. Explore artisan workshops along Via Maggio and Via dei Serragli: wood inlay, bookbinders, goldsmiths. Visit Pitti Palace (choose Palatine Gallery) and Boboli Gardens for green respite and city views. Lunch at I’Raddi or Osteria Santo Spirito (creamy truffle gnocchi is beloved).

Evening: Aperitivo at La Terrazza (Hotel Continentale) with sunset over the Arno. Dinner at Trattoria Camillo (white tablecloths, classic Tuscan fare) or Il Santo Bevitore (seasonal, refined). Nightcap at Locale Firenze—cocktails in a Renaissance palazzo with vaulted ceilings.

Day 6: Day Trip by Train—Pisa and Lucca

Morning: Take a regional train to Pisa Centrale (~50–60 min; €9–€16; check times on Omio (trains)). Walk 20 minutes or bus to Piazza dei Miracoli for the Leaning Tower, Cathedral, and Baptistery. If you plan to climb the tower, book a timed slot; the view over the Camposanto is striking.

Afternoon: Lunch near Via Santa Maria—Osteria in Domo or quirky sandwich spots along the side streets. Continue by train to Lucca (~25–30 min; €4–€6). Rent bikes on arrival and pedal the tree-lined Renaissance walls, then wander the oval Piazza dell’Anfiteatro and San Michele in Foro.

Evening: Train back to Florence (~1h20 with a change; verify options on Omio (trains)). Dinner in Florence at Trattoria 13 Gobbi (rigatoni in a clay pot) or Ristorante del Fagioli (traditional meats and beans). If you still have energy, stroll to Piazzale Michelangelo for a glowing city panorama.

Day 7: David, Markets, and Departure

Morning: Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo’s David—reserve the first slot. Follow with a market wander: San Lorenzo’s outdoor leather stalls and the indoor Mercato Centrale for edible souvenirs (Tuscan olive oil, aged pecorino). Coffee and a pastry at La Ménagère (airy concept space) or Caffè Scudieri by the Duomo.

Afternoon: Early lunch at All’Antico Vinaio (schiacciata sandwiches loaded with Tuscan cold cuts) or Trattoria ZaZa if you prefer a sit-down meal. Transfer to the airport or station for your onward journey—compare options on Omio (flights) and Omio (trains).

Evening: If departing late, squeeze in a final gelato at La Carraia and a last walk along the Arno. Florence always rewards an unhurried goodbye.

Logistics Snapshot

• Flights (to/from Italy): Compare routes and fares on Omio (flights).
• Rome → Florence: High-speed train ~1h30, €25–€60. Book via Omio (trains).
• Florence ↔ Pisa/Lucca: Regional trains 50–80 minutes each way, €4–€16. Check schedules on Omio (trains).
• Local transit: Rome Metro and buses cover long hops; otherwise, walk. Florence’s historic center is walkable; taxis are useful late at night or with luggage.

Where to sleep: For Rome and Florence, compare neighborhoods and availability on VRBO Rome, Hotels.com Rome, VRBO Florence, and Hotels.com Florence.

In one week, you’ll trace emperors’ footsteps, gaze up at Renaissance ceilings, and learn how an espresso can taste like a small miracle. Rome stirs the soul with antiquity; Florence refines it with art and proportion. Together they make a compact, unforgettable Italy journey.