Florence and Rome Italy Itinerary with Tuscan Excursions

Arrival and Late Afternoon

After landing at Florence Airport, take the Florence Airport Tramvia T2 toward Santa Maria Novella. The ride takes about 25 minutes and is the easiest option unless you have bulky luggage; buy your ticket before boarding and validate it as required. From Santa Maria Novella, your hotel may be walkable, though a short taxi ride is worthwhile with bags. Allow roughly 45–60 minutes from the airport to your accommodation, depending on baggage and check-in.

Once settled, head to Piazza del Duomo for an easy first look at Florence. Spend about an hour circling the cathedral, Baptistery of San Giovanni, and Giotto’s Campanile from outside—the square is especially atmospheric in the late afternoon light. The monuments are usually visible from the piazza even if you arrive after interior visiting hours, but access times and ticket rules vary, so save a full climb or museum visit for another day. Walk south toward San Lorenzo afterward, about 10 minutes.

Early Evening and Dinner

Browse Mercato Centrale in the San Lorenzo neighborhood for an informal first meal, allowing about an hour. The ground-floor market generally closes in the early evening, while the upstairs food hall typically stays open later—hours can vary by stall and season. It is a good place to sample cured meats, cheeses, fresh pasta, and Tuscan wine without committing to a long dinner; expect approximately €15–30 per person. From the market, walk 10 minutes through the historic center to Piazza della Signoria, where Palazzo Vecchio and the outdoor Renaissance sculpture display are beautifully lit after dark. Finish with dinner at Trattoria Zà Zà, back near San Lorenzo, a popular, longstanding spot for Tuscan pasta and bistecca. Reserve ahead if possible and budget about €30–50 per person; the portions are generous, so order lightly if you plan to try the Florentine steak.

Morning

Start at Galleria dell’Accademia when it opens, ideally with a timed ticket for around 8:15–8:30. Allow about 90 minutes for Michelangelo’s David, the unfinished Prisoners, and the smaller collection of Florentine paintings. Tickets are generally around €16–20 before any booking fee; the museum is usually open Tuesday–Sunday, but confirm the October 2026 hours when booking. Afterward, walk a few minutes through the quiet San Marco quarter to Basilica di San Marco, where the former Dominican convent preserves Fra Angelico’s luminous frescoes. Plan roughly 45 minutes and dress with shoulders and knees covered; entry is often only a few euros.

Afternoon

Walk south toward Museo Nazionale del Bargello, passing through the lanes around Via dei Servi and Piazza della Signoria if you feel like a small detour. Reserve about 90 minutes for the Bargello’s exceptional sculpture rooms, especially Donatello’s David and St. George; typical admission is around €10–12, and opening hours can vary by day, so check the official schedule. Continue on foot across the historic center to Basilica di Santa Croce, roughly 10–15 minutes away. Give the church an hour for its frescoed chapels, cloister, and monumental tombs, including those of Galileo and Michelangelo. Entry is usually about €8–10; a late-afternoon visit is often calmer than midday. Between stops, take a proper coffee break rather than eating heavily—the small bars around Via dell’Acqua are good for an espresso and pastry.

Evening

Have dinner at Osteria dei Pazzi in Santa Croce, an easy walk from the basilica. This is a good night for ribollita, pappardelle, or a Tuscan meat dish, with roughly €35–55 per person depending on wine. Book ahead, especially for a Friday, and allow about 90 minutes. After dinner, wander around Piazza Santa Croce and the quieter streets toward Sant’Ambrogio; Florence is particularly pleasant here after the day-trippers have left, and you can finish with gelato or a final glass of wine without adding another scheduled stop.

Morning

Begin at Sant’Ambrogio Market around 8:30–9:00, when the neighborhood is lively and the stalls are at their best. Allow about 90 minutes to browse produce, pecorino, fresh bread, salumi, and ready-to-eat food; the indoor market generally operates Monday–Saturday and is closed Sundays. It is a good place to pick up a small snack for later, and the surrounding streets feel more residential than the heavily visited center. From Sant’Ambrogio, walk roughly 15 minutes toward San Lorenzo for lunch.

Lunch and Afternoon

Have lunch at La Ménagère, a stylish café-restaurant near San Lorenzo, where the floral-filled interiors are more memorable than a traditional trattoria but the menu still works well for a relaxed midday meal. Budget approximately €20–40 per person, and reserve if you want a table around 12:30–1:00. Afterward, leave 3–4 hours for your reserved cooking class through a highly rated Cookly-listed Florentine culinary school. Classes typically cover fresh pasta and regional sauces, sometimes with a shared meal and wine; confirm the exact meeting point, included drinks, dietary options, and whether the class is hands-on before booking. Most central venues are easily reached on foot from La Ménagère, though a short taxi ride is worthwhile if the school is across the river.

Early Evening

After class, stroll toward Piazza della Repubblica for an easy 45-minute decompression beneath the historic arcades. Take a turn around the square, watch the carousel, and browse nearby Via Roma and Via degli Strozzi without trying to fit in another major sight. Finish at Rivoire in Piazza della Signoria for classic Florentine hot chocolate, pastries, or an aperitivo; allow about €10–20 per person, and expect premium prices for terrace seating. The square is especially atmospheric after the day-trippers begin thinning out, and it is a short walk back to most central hotels.

Morning: Arrive in Siena and Piazza del Campo

Take an early regional train from Firenze Santa Maria Novella and aim to arrive in Siena around 9:30–10:00. The station sits below the old town; use the uphill escalators through Porta Siena and allow roughly 20–25 minutes to reach the center. Trains are usually around €10–12 each way, and you should validate a paper ticket before boarding. Walk through Via dei Montanini and the atmospheric medieval lanes toward Piazza del Campo, Siena’s shell-shaped main square. Spend about an hour taking in Palazzo Pubblico, the elegant brick facades, and the famous Fonte Gaia; cafés around the square are convenient for coffee, though prices are higher than on the surrounding streets.

Midday and Afternoon: Tower, Cathedral, and Lunch

Climb Torre del Mangia while your legs are fresh—there are more than 400 steps, with narrow passages and no elevator, but the view across Siena’s rooftops and the Tuscan hills is superb. Tickets are generally about €10–12, and opening times can vary seasonally, so check the municipal website before leaving Florence; allow around an hour including the climb. Then walk five minutes through Via del Capitano to Duomo di Siena. Allow at least 90 minutes for the Gothic interior, the extraordinary inlaid marble floor, and the Piccolomini Library; the cathedral complex commonly costs about €9–10, with higher prices when the full marble floor is uncovered. For lunch, settle in at Osteria da Gano, near the cathedral, for pici, ribollita, or a hearty Sienese second course—expect roughly €25–45 per person and reserve if possible, since the dining room is small.

Evening: Return to Florence

After lunch, leave time for an unhurried wander through Via di Città or a final espresso away from the busiest part of the square. Walk back downhill to Siena station well before your intended departure; the escalators and the station-to-platform walk add time, and regional trains can be less frequent in the evening. Take a train back to Firenze Santa Maria Novella in the early evening, allowing about 1½ hours, then walk or use Florence’s local transit for dinner near your accommodation.

Morning

Take the early Autolinee Toscane bus from Florence to San Gimignano, changing at Poggibonsi; allow roughly two hours, since the October connections can be infrequent. Aim to arrive around 10:30–11:00 and get off at the bus terminal just outside the walls. Before leaving Siena or Florence, check the return departures carefully and save a screenshot—the Sunday timetable may be limited. If the connection is awkward, a private transfer via the SR429 takes about 50–60 minutes and typically costs €90–130 per car. Walk through Porta San Giovanni and continue along Via San Giovanni into the historic center, stopping for coffee at Bar Le Torri or La Cisterna before exploring Piazza della Cisterna. Give yourself about 45 minutes to admire the medieval towers, ochre façades, and old well at the square; it is especially atmospheric before the larger midday crowds.

Midday and Afternoon

From Piazza della Cisterna, walk a couple of minutes to Piazza del Duomo and climb Torre Grossa, the town’s tallest tower. The ascent is steep and mostly enclosed, but the views over the Val d’Elsa are worth it; allow about an hour and expect an entry fee of roughly €9–10, often combined with other civic museums. Afterwards, visit the Collegiate Church of San Gimignano, directly across the piazza. Its plain Romanesque exterior hides remarkably vivid fresco cycles by artists including Benozzo Gozzoli and Domenico Ghirlandaio; allow an hour and expect admission around €5–7. For lunch, choose a simple plate of local pecorino, salumi, or ribollita at Osteria delle Catene rather than committing to a long meal—the town is best enjoyed at an unhurried pace. Churches and civic sights may close briefly around lunchtime, so confirm the day’s posted hours when you arrive.

Late Afternoon

Return toward Piazza della Cisterna for Gelateria Dondoli, where a small cup or cone is usually about €5–10 depending on size. Try a seasonal fruit flavor or one of the shop’s signature cream combinations, then wander a few quieter streets such as Via della Rocca before returning to the bus stop. Leave San Gimignano around 16:00–17:00, allowing about two hours back to Florence via Poggibonsi; check which platform and connection you need before boarding, as a missed transfer can mean a long wait. Back in Florence, keep dinner easy—Trattoria Mario or Il Latini are convenient choices if you still want Tuscan food, though reservations and opening days should be checked in advance.

Morning

After arriving back in Florence from San Gimignano, begin at Basilica di Santa Maria Novella, a short walk from Firenze Santa Maria Novella station. Allow about 1½ hours for the frescoes, Masaccio’s Trinity, Giotto’s crucifix, and the serene cloisters; the complex commonly opens around 9:00, but church and museum hours vary by day, so check the official schedule before setting out. Admission is usually about €7–10. Afterwards, spend 45 minutes at the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, whose beautifully restored historic rooms make even browsing soaps, potpourri, and perfumes feel like a museum visit. It is generally open from morning into the evening and free to enter; this is a good place for a distinctive, easy-to-pack Florentine gift.

Afternoon and Evening

Walk across the river toward Oltrarno—roughly 20 minutes via Ponte alla Carraia—and have a light lunch nearby before spending about two hours in Boboli Gardens. Enter from the Pitti Palace side and take your time with the cypress-lined avenues, hillside terraces, grottoes, and views toward the city; comfortable shoes are essential, and admission is generally around €10–13. Continue downhill into Santo Spirito for Basilica di Santo Spirito, usually open in the afternoon outside religious services; its plain Brunelleschi interior is especially peaceful after the busier sights, with a small admission or donation sometimes requested for the sacristy. Reserve dinner at Il Santo Bevitore, a polished but relaxed choice on Via di Santo Spirito, budgeting roughly €45–70 per person; seasonal Tuscan dishes and a strong wine list make it worth booking ahead.

After dinner, take a taxi or walk uphill through San Niccolò to Piazzale Michelangelo—the climb takes about 25–30 minutes on foot, while a taxi is practical if your legs are tired. Arrive 30–45 minutes before sunset for room along the balustrade and the best changing light over the Arno, Duomo, and Florentine rooftops. Bring a light layer in October; the overlook is noticeably cooler and breezier than the streets below.

Morning: Florence to Rome

Take a reserved Italo or Frecciarossa train from Firenze Santa Maria Novella around 8:00–9:00; the ride to Roma Termini takes roughly 1½ hours. With an early departure, you should reach your Rome hotel around 10:30–11:00 after a taxi or Metro transfer from the station. Leave luggage at the hotel if the room is not ready, then walk or take a short taxi ride toward Trevi Fountain. Allow about 30 minutes here, arriving before the busiest afternoon period; the fountain is free, though the surrounding lanes become crowded quickly. Continue about 10 minutes on foot to the Pantheon, where timed entry is advisable. Tickets are generally around €5, and a visit takes about an hour—dress respectfully, as it remains an active church.

Lunch and Afternoon

Walk another 10 minutes through the Centro Storico to Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina near Campo de’ Fiori for a relaxed Roman lunch of carbonara, amatriciana, seasonal dishes, and carefully selected cured meats. Reserve well ahead, especially for a mid-October visit, and expect approximately €35–60 per person before extensive drinks or extras. After lunch, stroll toward Piazza Navona, passing small food shops and quieter lanes around Via dei Chiavari and Via del Governo Vecchio. Spend about an hour admiring Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers, the long Baroque piazza, and the street performers; late afternoon gives the square a warmer, more atmospheric light.

Early Evening

Finish at Campo de’ Fiori, only a few minutes away on foot. The daytime market is usually winding down by late afternoon, but the square and surrounding Parione lanes remain lively for an early-evening wander. Look for the statue of Giordano Bruno, then browse nearby wine bars or return to the hotel to check in properly and rest before dinner. Rome’s historic center is easiest on foot today; use taxis rather than the Metro for short transfers if carrying luggage, and keep an eye on belongings in the busiest streets around Trevi Fountain and Roma Termini.

Morning

For a departure-day visit, leave your luggage with the hotel or at a staffed luggage facility near Roma Termini and take Metro Line B to Colosseo; allow 20–30 minutes from central Rome. Book a timed entry to the Colosseum for about 8:30–9:00, when the arena is cooler and less crowded. Allow roughly two hours, including security and the main exhibition areas; standard tickets are usually around €18–25, with guided or arena-floor options costing more. Wear sturdy shoes—the ancient paving is uneven—and bring water, especially if the October sun is bright.

Continue directly into the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, included with most Colosseum tickets. Give yourself about two hours to wander among the temples, basilicas, and imperial viewpoints; the climb to the Palatine terraces is worthwhile for wide views over the ruins. From the exit near Via dei Fori Imperiali, walk toward the Pantheon through the historic center, allowing 25–30 minutes. Have your final Roman lunch at Armando al Pantheon, a beloved traditional trattoria known for Roman classics such as carbonara, amatriciana, and seasonal vegetables. Reserve well ahead—lunch typically takes about 1½ hours, and expect approximately €35–60 per person before drinks.

Afternoon and Departure

After lunch, return to Roma Termini by taxi or on foot if your schedule allows; walking takes around 25 minutes. Collect your bags and board the Leonardo Express to Rome Fiumicino Airport. Trains run frequently and take about 32 minutes, with tickets generally around €14; allow extra time for the transfer from the platform to check-in and security. Aim to leave Roma Termini roughly three hours before your flight, adding more time if checking luggage or traveling during a busy evening period.