Some locations seize you the second you arrive—and Italy is unquestionably certainly one of them. It’s not simply the historical past, meals, or beautiful views; it’s one thing you are 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 allow. 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 via Italy, and each a part of it felt alive. One second, we had been standing on a clifftop in Positano, watching the waves roll in; the following, we had been in a tiny family-run trattoria, sipping wine whereas an previous Italian couple danced to a reside accordion participant. Some locations look stunning in photos, however Italy is totally different—you must be there to grasp it.
What made this journey even higher? The small surprises. The boutique lodge in Rome had extra appeal than any five-star resort. A tiny café in Florence the place an area chef served up the most effective 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 seeking to expertise Italy the fitting means, we’ve put collectively an in depth itinerary with the most effective locations to remain, divine eating places, and experiences you received’t wish to miss. Should you’re planning your personal journey, Reliabletraveler is a good 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 fully unforgettable. On this seven-day journey, we’ll present you expertise it to the fullest.
The second we step off the aircraft in Rome, we felt the cit has its personal vitality. One minute you’re strolling previous ruins which were right here for hundreds of years, the following, you’re squeezing right into a tiny café the place locals are casually sipping espresso like they’ve bought on a regular basis on this planet. Rome strikes at its personal tempo—quick, gradual, chaotic, relaxed—all on the similar time, and by some means, it simply works.
Day 1: Arrival, Trevi Fountain & Rome’s Buzzing Piazzas
I begin my first afternoon in Rome on the Trevi Fountain. Certain, it’s a vacationer magnet, however there’s a purpose for that. The white stone sculptures, the push of cascading water—it’s the type 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 Nineteen Thirties. It’s sturdy, clean, and precisely what we want earlier than diving into the following cease.
Day 2: Strolling By way of 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 ebook a small group tour (extremely suggest) and step inside, strolling via 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’ll be able to virtually hear the echoes of the previous.
From there, we head towards the Roman Discussion board, the previous coronary heart of historical Rome. It’s a mixture of towering columns, half-standing temples, and worn cobblestone paths resulting in tales of emperors, gods, and every 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 via, 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, do-it-yourself pasta, and cold-pressed juices—mild however stuffed with taste, good for a mid-day break.
The afternoon is spent exploring Trastevere, certainly one of Rome’s most charming neighborhoods. With its cobblestone streets, colourful homes, and vigorous 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 among 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 closing 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 not possible to not be impressed.
After a couple 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, artistic, and surprisingly good for plant-based quick meals.
Because the solar begins to set, we make our option to Pincian Hill Terrace in Villa Borghese. If there’s one place to look at Rome bathe in golden mild, 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 excellent for honeymooners and {couples} in search of that unforgettable eating expertise. Additionally they supply a full vegan menu and give attention to sustainable substances, making it a guilt-free indulgence.
Strolling again via the softly lit streets, we notice one thing—Rome isn’t only a metropolis you go to, it’s a metropolis you are feeling.
(🏨 Our beneficial lodging in Rome 🏨)
After three packed days in Rome, we hop on a high-speed prepare to Venice. The experience itself is clean, passing via rolling hills and sleepy Italian cities. However the second we step out of Santa Lucia Station, it’s like getting 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 slim canals, and previous buildings with their foundations dipping proper into the lagoon. It’s chaotic, historic, and just a little surreal—however in one of the best ways.
Day 4: Exploring the Grand Canal, St. Mark’s, and Venice’s Hidden Corners
I verify into Ca’ Sagredo, a lodge that’s half museum, half palace, and totally 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 guts of the town, all the time buzzing with vitality—vacationers snapping photographs, pigeons fluttering round, and cafés stuffed with individuals sipping espresso at tiny tables. St. Mark’s Basilica, with its domes and gold mosaics, is much more spectacular in individual, whereas Doge’s Palace subsequent door provides a glimpse into the town’s former rulers and their lavish life.
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 experience. Some say it’s a vacationer entice, however actually? Gliding via the smaller, quieter canals is the place Venice actually feels magical. Away from the crowds, you go centuries-old homes, wood shutters barely holding on, and balconies overflowing with flowers. The gondolier, who’s clearly finished this a thousand occasions, nonetheless manages to crack jokes whereas expertly steering beneath 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 do-it-yourself pasta are so good, we don’t even take into consideration lacking a conventional meat dish.
(🏨 Our beneficial lodging in Venice 🏨)
Day 5: Murano & Burano – The Islands Past the Canals
Whereas most guests follow Venice’s most important sights, the true gems are only a quick boat experience away.
First up is Murano, the island well-known for its handmade glasswork, a craft that dates again over 700 years. Venice’s glassmakers had been moved right here within the thirteenth century to stop fires from breaking out within the metropolis (and, let’s be trustworthy, to maintain their commerce secrets and techniques secure). As we speak, the custom continues 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 stunning, 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 unique shade—vibrant yellows, deep blues, and fiery reds—initially painted that means so fishermen may spot their properties 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 among the freshest seafood within the lagoon. The proprietor tells me that Burano is among the final locations the place fishermen nonetheless use conventional strategies 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 via 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 based mostly 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 your complete city smells like recent lemons and sea breezes.
We verify into Le Sirenuse, one of many Amalfi Coast’s most well-known accommodations. It’s elegant however laid-back, with a robust give attention to sustainability—from plastic-free initiatives to a menu constructed round regionally sourced substances. The balcony view? Straight out of a dream.
Climbing 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 probably the most well-known climbing trails in Italy, working 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 go 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 your complete 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 the whole lot they serve comes from their very own farm. The proprietor, an older Italian girl, insists we strive her do-it-yourself pasta. We don’t argue. It’s hands-down the most effective meal of the journey.
After climbing, we head again right down to Spiaggia Grande, Positano’s most 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 title. It’s smaller and fewer dramatic than Positano however stuffed 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 recognized for its gardens and jaw-dropping views. The spotlight? Villa Cimbrone, a historic villa with the well-known Terrace of Infinity—a protracted 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 recent pasta, grilled seasonal greens, and a lemon sorbet comprised of Amalfi’s well-known citrus.
With the twinkling lights of the shoreline under, we will’t consider a greater option to finish this journey.
(🏨 Our beneficial lodging in Amalfi Coast 🏨)
Remaining Ideas on this 7-day Italy Itinerary
Seven days, three unbelievable locations, and sufficient reminiscences 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 most effective of Italy wrapped into one journey. Would we do it another time? In a heartbeat. For extra data and planning instruments for Italy, take a look at our buddies at ReliableTraveler.
