12-Day Italian City Experience Itinerary

  • Day 1: Rome
    0 miles, explore city center by foot

    Start your trip in the Italian capital of Rome. Visit the Colosseum and be transported back in time to the Roman Empire. Take a walk to the Pantheon, a former Roman temple, now converted into a church. End your day at the picturesque Trevi Fountain and toss a coin in for good luck.

  • Day 2: Florence
    174 miles, approx. 3 hours by train or car

    Make your way to the beautiful city of Florence. Visit the Uffizi Gallery and see many famous works of art, such as Botticelli's Birth of Venus. Walk across the Ponte Vecchio and take in the stunning views of the Arno River. Stop to see Michelangelo's David at the Accademia Gallery.

  • Day 3: Cinque Terre
    103 miles, approx. 2 hours by train or car from Florence

    Explore the stunning Cinque Terre coastline, made up of five colorful fishing villages on the cliffs above the Mediterranean Sea. Take a boat ride, hike between the villages or relax on the beach. Make sure to try the local seafood!

  • Day 4-5: Lake Como
    162 miles, approx. 3 hours by train or car from Cinque Terre

    Head north to the beautiful Lake Como. Take a ferry ride on the lake, visit the villas, and see the beautiful gardens. Take a scenic drive around the lake or hike up the hills for stunning views. From Lake Como, head to Milan to continue your Italian adventure.

  • Day 6-7: Milan
    36 miles, approx. 1 hour by train or car from Lake Como

    Visit Milan, Italy's fashion capital. Take a stroll through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, one of the world's oldest shopping malls. Visit the Duomo di Milano, a beautiful cathedral and marvel at the stunning architecture. In the evening, catch an opera show at La Scala.

Time and Costs Estimates

  • Colosseum (2-3 hours, €12)
  • Pantheon (1-2 hours, free entry)
  • Trevi Fountain (0.5 hours, free entry)
  • Uffizi Gallery (2-3 hours, €20)
  • Ponte Vecchio (0.5 hours, free entry)
  • Accademia Gallery (1-2 hours, €16)
  • Cinque Terre boat ride (2 hours, €35)
  • Lake Como ferry ride (1-2 hours, €15)
  • Duomo di Milano (1-2 hours, €4)
  • La Scala opera show (2-3 hours, €50-€200)
  • Total Estimated Costs: €152-€467 per person

Transportation

Travel between cities by train and travel within cities by public transportation, taxi or walking. Train tickets can be purchased online or at the station. Travel times and costs vary depending on season and how far in advance you book.

Useful tips

If you have more time, consider visiting the Vatican City in Rome or exploring the Renaissance city of Siena near Florence. If you have less time, skip Lake Como and head straight to Milan or take a day trip from Florence to the nearby city of Pisa to see the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Airports

Rome has two airports: Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO), which is located 19 miles southwest of the city and the smaller Ciampino Airport (CIA), which is located 7.5 miles southeast of the city. Milan has two airports: Milano Malpensa Airport (MXP), which is located 30 miles northwest of the city and Linate Airport (LIN), which is located 4 miles east of the city. Florence does not have an airport, but the nearest airport is Pisa International Airport (PSA), which is located 50 miles west of Florence.

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