The Ultimate Florence, Cinque Terre, and Rome Itinerary
Want the most romantic trip around Italy imaginable? We’ve got you covered with an epic 8-day vacation itinerary to some of the dreamiest destinations in the country. We know PTO or vacation days are limited, so we wanted to squeeze as much as possible into one amazing, unforgettable trip to Italy that only requires one week of time off. Save some headaches and many hours planning by stealing our itinerary. Here we go!
Eight-Day Itinerary Overview:
Day 1: Rome to Florence
Day 2: Florence
Day 3: Florence
Day 4: Florence to Cinque Terre
Day 5: Cinque Terre
Day 6: Cinque Terre to Rome
Day 7: Rome
Day 8: Rome
Before You Fly:
The real day one starts the moment you hit the airport, but because everyone's travel day and home origins looks different, we'll start when the plane wheels touch down in Italy. While you're packing, we highly recommend traveling light! You don't want to lug giant bags on and off trains the whole trip. Once you head out from your home airport, buckle in for a long flight! Stay cozy and entertained for hours with a few of our favorite things that get us through those long overnight flights.
Day One: Rome to Florence
Expect some jet lag after a long flight - be kind to yourself and your travel party! Take it easy, enjoy slow strolls through Florence, plan on a nap, and an early end to the evening.
Land in Rome's FCO Airport
Arrive at Roma Termini and buy tickets for the next train
Take the 1 1/2 hour train from Roma Termini to Firenze Santa Maria Novella
Arrive in Florence & Check-in
Enjoy an easy, casual late lunch at Il Mercato Centrale
Visit the Duomo and Bell Tower
Casual dinner at Trattoria Vasari
Day Two: Florence
After a long day yesterday, take it easy as you soak up some of the most luxurious sights, views, and flavors of Florence.
Spend a half day at the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens
Walk across the Ponte Vecchio then enjoy a light lunch of panini at Pino's
Souvenir shopping at Mercato di San Lorenzo
Go out for aperitivo (similar to happy hour) at Bulli & Balene
Enjoy dinner at Pizzeria Lo Sprone followed by gelato and a walk along the Arno River
Day Three: Florence
As the heart of the Renaissance era, Florence simply has some of the best art and culture on display that can't be missed. Pack your walking shoes and plan for a day full of Italian art and culture.
Visit the Uffizi Galleria
Grab lunch in the piazza nearby at La Fiaschetteria
View the Statue of David at the Galleria Academia
Pop by one of Florence's Wine Windows for a glass of local wine like the one at Babae.
Forty minutes before sunset, walk/hike up to Piazzale Michelangelo
Walk back into town and enjoy a leisurely dinner
Day Four: Florence to Cinque Terre
Time for another scenic adventure! Cinque Terre is located on Italy's northwest coast known as the Italian Riviera. The Amalfi Coast gets all the hype, but this region is our favorite coast in the country.
Take the 2.5 hour train from Firenze Santa Maria Novella station to La Spezia Centrale
Switch trains in La Spezia, buy a ticket for Riomaggiore, then board the next 10 minute train
Check into your accommodations
Walk into the town to explore and grab lunch and snacks at Tutti Fritti
Take a boat tour of Cinque Terre like this sunset boat tour of Cinque Terre. We booked this one with Yuri and loved every minute!
Grab a casual dinner in town
Day Five: Cinque Terre
Please note - beach club and chairs are only open from mid-April until October. And in peak summer, some beach clubs require a seven-day booking.
Go to the train station, then take the train to Monterosso.
Go to Stella Marina Beach Bar to reserve a beach chair
Walk out of the train station, take a short walk to the left, and you’ll see it. Go directly out to reserve a beach lounge chair and umbrella at the Stella Marina Beach Bar stand by 9:00 a.m. There will likely already be a few people in line at this point.
We paid $35 for the front beach chairs; chairs from row two to the back were $30. They take cards or cash. Plan to be there right before it opens at 9:00 a.m., these chairs go FAST (locals get seasonal seats/chairs). The views are perfect and you'll have the beach almost to yourself for an hour in the morning.Relax and enjoy the beach day
Get snack and drink at El Dorado Wine Bar Monterosso
Take a ferry or train back to Riomaggiore
Beach Time at Riomaggiore's pebbly beach. To cool off from the journey, immediately head towards the local beach in Riomaggiore, climb the stairs and keep going until there are no more stairs and you reach the smooth rocky beach.
Eat dinner in Riomaggiore at Osteria La Torpedine. Make sure to order the pesto! It was invented in this region.
Day Six: Cinque Terre to Rome
Get ready for a half-day of traveling to Italy's most iconic city. The train ride is easy, but a little long, so pack a snack and a book and get ready for a chill day of commuting followed by amazing Roman food.
Take the 4 hour Train from Cinque Terre to La Spezia to Rome
Take a white taxi from the Termini to your stay to check in
Feast on pizza for lunch at Emma
Enjoy an aperitivo, dinner, and gelato in Trastevere at Tonnarello and Old Bridge Gelateria
Day Seven: Rome
Today's the day for checking off bucket list historical destinations! Get those walking shoes back on and be prepared to be wowed by the sights of the city.
Half Day Vatican tour - make sure to get a skip-the-line ticket through GetYourGuide before getting in line!
Walk back towards the city to enjoy an aperitivo and dinner at Osteria Da Fortunata.
Walk around to explore the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps
Late night gelato stop: Frigidarium
Day Eight: Rome
The best of Roman history continues today. Make sure to take time to take photos, relax, and savor the last full day of the trip!
Start the day with a 30-minute walk to Colosseum
Colosseum self-guided tour - purchase skip-the-line tickets purchased in Tiqets App in advance.
Tour Palatine Hill and Roman Forum after done with Colosseum
Get one last pizza lunch at Voglia di Pizza - our favorite pizza in Rome!
Rooftop drinks at the Martis Palace Hotel
Enjoy a final dinner in Italy at ‘Gusto