Some locations seize you the second you arrive—and Italy is unquestionably one among them. It’s not simply the historical past, meals, or beautiful views; it’s one thing you’re feeling. Think about sitting in a comfy little wine bar in Florence, strolling alongside quiet canals in Venice at evening, or having a meal in Rome that tantalizes your tastebuds lengthy after you permit. These are the moments that make touring right here unforgettable, and here’s a 7-day Italy itinerary to make all of it occur!
We simply spent seven days touring by way of Italy, and each a part of it felt alive. One second, we have been standing on a clifftop in Positano, watching the waves roll in; the subsequent, we have been in a tiny family-run trattoria, sipping wine whereas an previous Italian couple danced to a dwell accordion participant. Some locations look lovely in footage, however Italy is totally different—you need to be there to grasp it.
What made this journey even higher? The small surprises. The boutique resort in Rome had extra attraction than any five-star resort. A tiny café in Florence the place a neighborhood chef served up the perfect plant-based pasta we’ve ever had. A distant seashore in Capri the place the one sound was the water going towards the cliffs.
For vacationers trying to expertise Italy the correct manner, we’ve put collectively an in depth itinerary with the perfect locations to remain, divine eating places, and experiences you received’t need to miss. In case you’re planning your individual journey, Reliabletraveler is a superb place to seek out skilled suggestions, first-hand journey tales, and insider tricks to make your go to even higher. Italy is romantic, easy, and utterly unforgettable. On this seven-day journey, we’ll present you tips on how to expertise it to the fullest.
The second we step off the airplane in Rome, we felt the cit has its personal vitality. One minute you’re strolling previous ruins which were right here for 1000’s of years, the subsequent, you’re squeezing right into a tiny café the place locals are casually sipping espresso like they’ve obtained on a regular basis on the planet. Rome strikes at its personal tempo—quick, sluggish, chaotic, relaxed—all on the identical time, and one way or the other, it simply works.
Day 1: Arrival, Trevi Fountain & Rome’s Buzzing Piazzas
I begin my first afternoon in Rome on the Trevi Fountain. Positive, it’s a vacationer magnet, however there’s a motive for that. The white stone sculptures, the frenzy of cascading water—it’s the sort of place that makes you cease for a second and simply take it in. We toss a coin over our shoulder (as a result of, hey, custom) and watch it disappear into the turquoise water earlier than heading off.
From there, we wander towards Piazza Navona, one of many liveliest squares in Rome. Artists arrange their canvases, distributors promote work of the Colosseum, and the air is thick with dialog and the occasional clatter of plates from the eating places lining the sq.. We seize a fast espresso at Caffè Sant’Eustachio, a tiny café that’s been perfecting its roast for the reason that Thirties. It’s robust, clean, and precisely what we’d like earlier than diving into the subsequent cease.
Day 2: Strolling Via Historical past – The Colosseum & Roman Discussion board
On my second day in Rome, we begin with one of many metropolis’s most well-known landmarks—the Colosseum. Seeing it up shut, the sheer scale is overwhelming. We e-book a small group tour (extremely advocate) and step inside, strolling by way of the underground tunnels the place gladiators as soon as stood, ready for his or her flip within the area. The information shares tales about how this place as soon as held over 50,000 roaring spectators, and for a second, you possibly can virtually hear the echoes of the previous.
From there, we head towards the Roman Discussion board, the previous coronary heart of historic Rome. It’s a mixture of towering columns, half-standing temples, and worn cobblestone paths resulting in tales of emperors, gods, and day by day life from centuries in the past. In contrast to a museum, the place historical past is stored behind glass, this can be a place you stroll by way of, contact, and expertise firsthand.
For lunch, we discovered a comfy spot at Ginger Sapori e Salute, a sustainable restaurant that focuses on natural Italian dishes. Contemporary salads, home made pasta, and cold-pressed juices—gentle however filled with taste, good for a mid-day break.
The afternoon is spent exploring Trastevere, one among Rome’s most charming neighborhoods. With its cobblestone streets, colourful homes, and energetic piazzas, it’s simple to see why this space is a favourite amongst each locals and guests. We cease by Giselda, a café that serves a few of the finest vegan pastries we’ve ever had, earlier than ending the day at a rooftop bar, watching the sundown over the town.
Day 3: Vatican Metropolis & Sundown Views
On my ultimate day in Rome, we crossed the Tiber River to go to Vatican Metropolis—dwelling to St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums. The sheer scale and sweetness of those websites are breathtaking. Standing inside St. Peter’s Basilica, staring up at Michelangelo’s dome, it’s unattainable to not be impressed.
After a number of hours of exploring, we take a break at Flower Burger, a totally vegan burger spot that’s been making waves in Rome’s meals scene. It’s colourful, inventive, and surprisingly good for plant-based quick meals.
Because the solar begins to set, we make our technique to Pincian Hill Terrace in Villa Borghese. If there’s one place to look at Rome bathe in golden gentle, that is it. The rooftops stretch so far as the attention can see, and {couples} collect alongside the railing, soaking within the view earlier than the town lights flicker on.
Dinner is at Aroma, a Michelin-starred restaurant with an insane view of the Colosseum. The ambiance is intimate and ideal for honeymooners and {couples} on the lookout for that unforgettable eating expertise. In addition they provide a full vegan menu and deal with sustainable substances, making it a guilt-free indulgence.
Strolling again by way of the softly lit streets, we understand one thing—Rome isn’t only a metropolis you go to, it’s a metropolis you’re feeling.
(🏨 Our recommended lodging in Rome 🏨)
After three packed days in Rome, we hop on a high-speed practice to Venice. The trip itself is clean, passing by way of rolling hills and sleepy Italian cities. However the second we step out of Santa Lucia Station, it’s like coming into one other world. As a substitute of honking automobiles and busy streets, there’s water all over the place—boats changing taxis, gondoliers navigating slender canals, and previous buildings with their foundations dipping proper into the lagoon. It’s chaotic, historic, and a bit surreal—however in the easiest way.
Day 4: Exploring the Grand Canal, St. Mark’s, and Venice’s Hidden Corners
I test into Ca’ Sagredo, a resort that’s half museum, half palace, and absolutely Venetian. It’s a restored Fifteenth-century constructing proper on the Grand Canal, with ceilings so intricately painted it appears like a Renaissance masterpiece. Extra importantly, it’s a part of Venice’s sustainability efforts, serving to to protect the delicate steadiness between tourism and conservation.
First cease? St. Mark’s Sq.. It’s the center of the town, all the time buzzing with vitality—vacationers snapping images, pigeons fluttering round, and cafés crammed with individuals sipping espresso at tiny tables. St. Mark’s Basilica, with its domes and gold mosaics, is much more spectacular in particular person, whereas Doge’s Palace subsequent door offers a glimpse into the town’s former rulers and their lavish existence.
As a substitute of climbing St. Mark’s Campanile for the traditional Venice skyline view, we take the locals’ tip and head to San Giorgio Maggiore. Fewer crowds, the identical panoramic view, and a a lot quieter second to soak all of it in.
By afternoon, we lastly collapse and take a gondola trip. Some say it’s a vacationer entice, however truthfully? Gliding by way of the smaller, quieter canals is the place Venice actually feels magical. Away from the crowds, you move centuries-old homes, wood shutters barely holding on, and balconies overflowing with flowers. The gondolier, who’s clearly executed this a thousand occasions, nonetheless manages to crack jokes whereas expertly steering underneath low bridges.
Dinner is at Osteria La Zucca, a comfy, vegetarian-friendly spot that proves Italian meals isn’t all about meat. Their pumpkin flan and home made pasta are so good, we don’t even take into consideration lacking a conventional meat dish.
(🏨 Our recommended lodging in Venice 🏨)
Day 5: Murano & Burano – The Islands Past the Canals
Whereas most guests persist with Venice’s important points of interest, the actual gems are only a brief boat trip away.
First up is Murano, the island well-known for its handmade glasswork, a craft that dates again over 700 years. Venice’s glassmakers have been moved right here within the thirteenth century to forestall fires from breaking out within the metropolis (and, let’s be sincere, to maintain their commerce secrets and techniques secure). As we speak, the custom remains to be alive, with small studios and family-run workshops lining the canals.
I go to Vetreria Artistica Colleoni, the place glassblowers work in entrance of open flames, shaping delicate vases, intricate chandeliers, and impossibly skinny glass collectible figurines. Watching them work is mesmerizing—it takes simply minutes to remodel molten glass into one thing lovely, however years of coaching to grasp the craft.
After Murano, we take the vaporetto to Burano, a small fishing island that appears prefer it was painted with a field of crayons. Each home is a special shade—brilliant yellows, deep blues, and fiery reds—initially painted that manner so fishermen may spot their houses even in thick fog. The island can also be well-known for its handmade lace, a craft that dates again to the 1500s.
I cease for lunch at Trattoria al Gatto Nero, a family-run spot that serves up a few of the freshest seafood within the lagoon. The proprietor tells me that Burano is likely one of the final locations the place fishermen nonetheless use conventional methods handed down for generations. It’s a reminder that, past the vacationer crowds, Venice’s islands nonetheless maintain onto their previous methods of life.
Again in Venice, we wander by way of Dorsoduro, a quieter, artsier neighborhood that feels miles away from the chaos of St. Mark’s. Right here, small wine bars spill onto the streets, Cicchetti (Venetian tapas) is served on wood boards, and the entire place has a relaxed, lived-in really feel.
As we sip a glass of Venetian spritz, watching the solar dip behind the terracotta rooftops, we get why this metropolis leaves such an impression on individuals. It’s not simply the gondolas or the canals—it’s the best way Venice makes you decelerate, wander, and simply take all of it in.
After absorbing the magic of Venice, we board a flight to Naples and take a winding coastal drive in the direction of the Amalfi Coast. The highway itself is an journey—hairpin turns, dramatic sea cliffs, and tiny villages clinging to the sting of the mountains like they’re defying gravity. From the second we arrive, we get it—this place is pure, easy magnificence.
Day 6: Positano & The Path of the Gods
We primarily based ourselves in Positano, a postcard-perfect city that appears prefer it was constructed for honeymooners. Pastel-colored homes stack up the cliffside, tiny alleyways result in hidden cafés, and all the city smells like contemporary lemons and sea breezes.
We test into Le Sirenuse, one of many Amalfi Coast’s most well-known accommodations. It’s elegant however laid-back, with a powerful deal with sustainability—from plastic-free initiatives to a menu constructed round regionally sourced substances. The balcony view? Straight out of a dream.
Mountaineering the Path of the Gods
As a substitute of spending my first day lounging on the seashore (tempting), we determined to tackle the Sentiero degli Dei—aka the Path of the Gods. It’s one of the well-known mountain climbing trails in Italy, operating excessive above the shoreline with panoramic views that make each uphill step price it.
The path is about 7km lengthy, beginning in Bomerano and ending in Nocelle (simply above Positano). Alongside the best way, we move tiny stone cottages, lemon groves, and mountain goats standing in locations we wouldn’t dare try. At one level, we cease at a lookout the place all the Amalfi shoreline stretches out beneath me, and we’ve got to remind ourselves that that is actual.
For lunch, we cease at La Tagliata, a family-run restaurant perched on the cliffs, the place every thing they serve comes from their very own farm. The proprietor, an older Italian lady, insists we attempt her home made pasta. We don’t argue. It’s hands-down the perfect meal of the journey.
After mountain climbing, we head again right down to Spiaggia Grande, Positano’s important seashore. The pebbled shore is lined with colourful umbrellas, and the water is that good shade of Mediterranean blue. We cool off with a fast swim earlier than grabbing an aperitivo at Franco’s Bar, simply in time to look at the solar sink into the ocean.
Day 7: Amalfi, Ravello & The Most Scenic Drive of My Life
On my final full day, we explored two extra Amalfi gems: Amalfi City & Ravello.
I begin in Amalfi, the city that gave the shoreline its identify. It’s smaller and fewer dramatic than Positano however filled with historical past. The centerpiece is Duomo di Sant’Andrea, an Eleventh-century cathedral with a grand staircase main as much as its mosaic-covered façade. Amalfi can also be well-known for its paper-making custom, so we pop into the Museo della Carta to see how they’ve been making handmade paper right here for hundreds of years.
From there, we take the bus as much as Ravello, a peaceable hilltop city identified for its gardens and jaw-dropping views. The spotlight? Villa Cimbrone, a historic villa with the well-known Terrace of Infinity—an extended balcony that feels prefer it’s floating above the ocean. The view is infinite, and for a second, the world simply stops.
A Farewell Feast at a Cliffside Ristorante
For our final meal on the Amalfi Coast, we head to Il Flauto di Pan, a restaurant tucked contained in the gardens of Villa Cimbrone. It’s a slow-food expertise the place every dish appears like a murals. We go for the vegan-tasting menu, which incorporates contemporary pasta, grilled seasonal greens, and a lemon sorbet created from Amalfi’s well-known citrus.
With the twinkling lights of the shoreline beneath, we are able to’t consider a greater technique to finish this journey.
(🏨 Our recommended lodging in Amalfi Coast 🏨)
Ultimate Ideas on this 7-day Italy Itinerary
Seven days, three unimaginable locations, and sufficient recollections to final a lifetime. Rome, Venice, and the Amalfi Coast every had their very own magic, however collectively, they created a journey that felt like the perfect of Italy wrapped into one journey. Would we do it yet again? In a heartbeat. For extra info and planning instruments for Italy, take a look at our pals at ReliableTraveler.
