Two-Week Italy Itinerary: Rome, Florence, Venice, Amalfi

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Two-Week Italy Itinerary: Rome, Florence, Venice, Amalfi

The classic two-week Italy circuit covering Rome, Florence, Venice, and the Amalfi Coast hits the four most distinctive Italian travel experiences in one trip. Ancient Rome, Renaissance Florence, lagoon Venice, and the cliffside Mediterranean coast each represents a different Italy and the trip between them is part of the experience. This itinerary is built around a realistic pace - three nights in each of Rome and Florence, two in Venice, four on the Amalfi Coast, with travel days in between - and aims at first-time visitors who want to see the icons without burning out. Every segment uses high-speed trains so you spend your time in cities, not in airports.

Short Answer

Spend 3 nights in Rome, 3 nights in Florence, 2 nights in Venice, 4 nights on the Amalfi Coast, and 1 buffer night near Naples for the Pompeii visit and onward travel. Use Italo or Trenitalia high-speed trains between Rome, Florence, and Venice. From Venice, fly back to Naples (1 hour, ~€60) rather than retracing 6 hours by train. Drive or take ferries on the Amalfi side. Best months are May, June, late September, and early October - warm but not crushed by July-August crowds. Total budget for two travelers: €4,200-6,800 before flights, depending on accommodation tier.

Daily Itinerary at a Glance

Day	Location	Highlight
1	Rome	Arrive, evening passeggiata in Trastevere
2	Rome	Vatican City: Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's
3	Rome	Colosseum, Forum, Palatine Hill
4	Rome → Florence	Morning train, afternoon walking tour
5	Florence	Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio
6	Florence	Day trip: Siena and San Gimignano
7	Florence → Venice	Morning train, evening on the canals
8	Venice	St. Mark's, Doge's Palace, Murano
9	Venice → Naples	Fly to Naples, transfer to Sorrento
10	Pompeii / Sorrento	Pompeii morning, Sorrento afternoon
11	Amalfi Coast	Positano, Amalfi
12	Capri	Day trip from Sorrento
13	Ravello / Praiano	Slow day, sunset views
14	Naples → Home	Morning museum, afternoon flight

Day 1 - Rome: Arrival and Trastevere

Most U.S. and UK flights land at Fiumicino Airport (FCO) in the morning. Take the Leonardo Express (€14, 32 minutes) directly to Termini Station. Drop bags at your hotel, fight off the urge to nap, and get straight into the city.

Spend the late afternoon in Trastevere, the cobbled medieval neighborhood west of the Tiber. Have an aperitivo at a small wine bar in Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere. Dinner at a traditional trattoria - try Da Enzo al 29 if you can get in, or Tonnarello for hearty Roman classics.

Where to stay: Centro Storico (heart of Rome) or Monti (just east of the Forum) puts you within walking distance of most sights. Avoid Termini-area hotels; they are convenient but charmless.

Day 2 - Rome: Vatican City

Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel are the must-do of Rome. Book the earliest entry slot online at the official Vatican Museums website at least 30 days ahead - €30 for standard entry, more for early-access tours. Plan 3-4 hours minimum: the route through the museums to the Sistine Chapel is long.

After the Sistine Chapel, exit directly into St. Peter's Basilica through the side door (only open on guided tours and specific routings) or walk around to the main entrance. Climbing the dome (€10) is worth it for the panorama.

Lunch in the Borgo neighborhood near the Vatican. Afternoon: walk to Castel Sant'Angelo, then across Ponte Sant'Angelo to the city. End the day at Piazza Navona and the Pantheon (free, recently introduced timed-entry ticket €5 - book ahead).

Dinner: Armando al Pantheon (book weeks ahead) for a classic Roman experience, or Roscioli for one of the best meals in the city.

Day 3 - Rome: Colosseum and Ancient Rome

The Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill combo ticket (€18, valid 24 hours) is mandatory; book at coopculture.it well in advance. Choose the underground/arena floor add-on (€24 total) for the most memorable Colosseum experience.

Plan: Colosseum first thing in the morning (8:30 AM entry), then walk through the Roman Forum and up to the Palatine Hill for the panorama back over the Forum. By early afternoon, you have walked perhaps 6 miles on uneven stones - pace yourself.

Late afternoon: Capitoline Museums if you have art energy left, or simply Piazza Venezia and the Trevi Fountain for the renowned photos. Toss a coin over your shoulder.

Evening: Campo de' Fiori for a casual dinner, or splurge at Pierluigi. Stop for gelato at Giolitti or Fatamorgana.

Day 4 - Rome to Florence: Travel and Florence Walking

The Frecciarossa or Italo high-speed train from Roma Termini to Firenze Santa Maria Novella takes 1 hour 35 minutes and costs €30-60 depending on advance booking. Book 30+ days out for cheapest fares; book directly through trenitalia.com or italotreno.it (avoid third-party resellers that add fees).

Arrive Florence around lunchtime. Drop bags, lunch at a local panino spot (try All'Antico Vinaio if you do not mind the line, or any small enoteca for a calmer meal).

Afternoon: walking tour of central Florence. Piazza del Duomo to see the cathedral, baptistery, and Giotto's bell tower from the outside. Piazza della Signoria for the open-air sculpture and Palazzo Vecchio. Cross the Ponte Vecchio, the medieval goldsmiths' bridge.

Evening: aperitivo in Santo Spirito or Sant'Ambrogio, then dinner. Try Trattoria Mario for old-school Florentine (lunch only, no reservations), or All'Antico Ristoro di Cambi in Oltrarno for hearty tradition with reservations.

Day 5 - Florence: Uffizi and the Renaissance

The Uffizi Gallery (€25, book at b-ticket.com or uffizi.it) holds Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Primavera, Caravaggio's Bacchus, da Vinci's Annunciation, Michelangelo's Holy Family, and dozens of other masterworks. Reserve a morning slot 30+ days ahead. Plan 3 hours.

Lunch at a fiaschetteria (small wine-and-snack bar) near the Uffizi. Afternoon: Galleria dell'Accademia to see Michelangelo's David (€16, also book ahead), or Bargello Museum for sculpture (less crowded, often more rewarding).

End the day climbing or driving up to Piazzale Michelangelo for the panoramic Florence sunset. Walk back down for dinner.

Florentine specialty to try: bistecca alla fiorentina (Florentine T-bone steak), best at Trattoria Sostanza or Buca Lapi. Reservations essential.

Day 6 - Florence: Tuscany Day Trip

Take a guided small-group day tour to Siena and San Gimignano, or rent a car for self-guided. Costs €60-120 per person for organized tours that include lunch at a Chianti winery.

Siena's main square, the Piazza del Campo, is one of the most beautiful in Italy. The cathedral with its zebra-stripe marble and the Duccio Maestà are unmissable. San Gimignano's medieval towers, called the "Manhattan of the Middle Ages," are worth the side trip.

Alternatively, swap this day for Pisa and Lucca (closer, easier by train) or Cinque Terre (longer day, more dramatic) - but Cinque Terre is exhausting as a day trip from Florence and is better as a separate trip.

Day 7 - Florence to Venice: Travel and Arrival

Frecciarossa or Italo Florence to Venezia Santa Lucia: 2 hours, €40-80 advance. Trains run hourly.

Venice's first impression - stepping out of the train station and seeing the Grand Canal immediately - is one of travel's great moments. Take a vaporetto (water bus) from the station to your hotel area. The Vaporetto 1 is the slow, scenic Grand Canal route and is itself an attraction. A 24-hour vaporetto pass costs €25; multi-day passes save real money.

Where to stay in Venice: San Marco for proximity to icons, Cannaregio for quieter authentic neighborhood feel, Dorsoduro for art-museum proximity. Avoid mainland Mestre - you will spend your time on transit.

Evening: walk from your hotel toward Piazza San Marco as it empties of day-trippers. Dinner at a small bacaro (Venetian wine bar) like Cantine del Vino già Schiavi for cicchetti (small plates) and ombre (small glasses of wine).

Day 8 - Venice: St. Mark's and the Lagoon

Morning: St. Mark's Basilica (skip-the-line tickets €5, book at venetoinside.com or basilicasanmarco.it). The mosaics inside are extraordinary. Climb the Campanile (€15) for the panorama over the lagoon.

Doge's Palace (€30 combined ticket with Correr Museum). The Bridge of Sighs and the Council Chambers are the highlights.

Lunch in Castello neighborhood east of San Marco, where prices drop and authenticity rises.

Afternoon: take the vaporetto to Murano (glass-making island) and possibly Burano (colorful fishermen's island, photogenic). Or, if art is your thing, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Dorsoduro and the Gallerie dell'Accademia are top-tier.

Sunset: aperitivo in the Zattere waterfront. Dinner at Osteria alle Testiere (book weeks ahead) or Bistrot de Venise.

Day 9 - Venice to Naples / Sorrento

Fly Venice (VCE) to Naples (NAP): 1 hour 15 minutes, €60-120 advance. Booking the train back through Rome adds 6+ hours and €100+ on top - not worth it.

Land in Naples around lunchtime. Take the Curreri Viaggi bus (€10) directly from Naples airport to Sorrento (75 minutes), or hire a private transfer (€100-130). The local Circumvesuviana train is cheaper but slow, crowded, and not recommended with luggage.

Drop bags in Sorrento. Afternoon: walk Sorrento's clifftop town, evening at Marina Grande (the harbor) for sunset and dinner. Try Da Filippo or Il Buco.

Where to stay: Sorrento makes a much better Amalfi base than Positano or Amalfi for this itinerary because it has direct ferry connections, better roads, and reasonable prices. Positano stays are romantic but you pay 50%+ premium and lose mobility.

Day 10 - Pompeii and Sorrento

Pompeii is 25 minutes by Circumvesuviana train from Sorrento (€2.80) or by tour bus. Buy entry tickets at pompeiisites.org (€18). Hire a guide at the gate for €60-80 for a 2-hour tour - Pompeii without context is just stones; with a guide it comes alive.

Important: Pompeii is enormous. Plan 4 hours minimum. Wear shoes you can walk on stones in. Bring water. Summer afternoons hit 95°F+ - go early.

Afternoon back in Sorrento: lemon grove tour, or simply wander the lemon-scented streets. The famous limoncello of Sorrento can be tasted at any number of family-run shops.

Day 11 - Amalfi Coast: Positano and Amalfi

The classic Amalfi Coast day. Take the early SITA bus from Sorrento along the coast road, or - better - take the morning ferry from Sorrento to Positano (€20, 30 minutes). The ferry approach to Positano, with the cliff houses cascading into the sea, is the postcard.

Spend the morning in Positano: walk down to the Spiaggia Grande beach, swim, lunch at one of the cliffside restaurants. Chez Black or La Cambusa are the well-known spots; smaller alternatives include Da Vincenzo or La Tagliata up the hill.

Afternoon ferry to Amalfi town (€10, 25 minutes). Visit the dramatic Duomo di Sant'Andrea, walk the old paper-mill valley, and have a sgroppino (lemon sorbet with prosecco) before catching the late-afternoon ferry back to Sorrento.

Day 12 - Capri Day Trip

The fast ferry from Sorrento to Capri runs every hour, takes 25 minutes, and costs €25 each way. Buy tickets at the harbor in advance during high season.

Capri itinerary: take the funicolare up to Capri town, walk to Piazza Umberto I (the Piazzetta), then walk out to the Gardens of Augustus for the renowned Faraglioni rock view. Lunch in Capri town (expensive, expected). Afternoon boat tour around the island (€20-30, 2 hours, includes the Blue Grotto access stop if conditions allow). Late ferry back.

Capri can be done as a half-day if rushed but the boat tour around the island is genuinely worth it. Anacapri (the upper village) and the Monte Solaro chairlift are alternatives if you prefer to skip the boat.

Day 13 - Ravello / Praiano: Slow Day

The Amalfi Coast deserves one slow day. Choose Ravello for its altitude views and gardens - Villa Cimbrone with its Terrazzo dell'Infinito is one of the most photographed views in Italy, and Villa Rufolo hosts summer concerts. Bus or taxi from Amalfi town up the steep road.

Alternatively, Praiano (between Positano and Amalfi) has a quieter beach, the Path of the Gods trailhead for hikers, and far fewer tour groups than Positano.

Sunset dinner overlooking the sea. Don Alfonso 1890 if you have a special-occasion budget; Trattoria Da Lorenzo in Scala for traditional and affordable.

Day 14 - Naples and Departure

Morning ferry or bus from Sorrento to Naples (1 hour). Most international flights from Naples leave in afternoon or evening, leaving time for a few hours in Naples itself.

Quick Naples must-sees: Museo Archeologico Nazionale (best Pompeii artifacts, including the Farnese collection) and Spaccanapoli (the long ancient street through old Naples). Eat the original Neapolitan pizza at L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele or Sorbillo before flying out.

Napoli airport (NAP) is small; allow 2 hours for international departures.

Cost Breakdown for Two Travelers (USD/EUR)

Mid-range: 3-star and small boutique hotels, €120-180/night; one Michelin-bib meal per city plus mostly trattorias.

Category	Total (€)
Accommodation (13 nights)	2,000
Trains (Rome-Florence-Venice)	220
Flight Venice-Naples	220
Local transport (vaporetto, buses, ferries)	220
Museum/site entries (advance booked)	380
Food and drink (mid-range)	1,400
Day trips and activities	480
Subtotal	4,920

Budget version: hostels and 2-star, regional trains, less wine: €2,800. Luxury version: 5-star, private transfers, Michelin meals: €11,000+.

Critical Bookings to Make in Advance

Booking	Lead Time	Notes
Vatican Museums	30+ days	Earliest morning slot
Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine	30+ days	Coopculture only
Uffizi Gallery	30+ days	b-ticket.com
Galleria dell'Accademia (David)	14+ days	uffizi.it
Doge's Palace	7+ days	Online skip-the-line
Frecciarossa/Italo trains	60-90 days	Cheapest tier
Capri ferry	Same day OK off-peak; advance July-August
Pompeii	Day-of OK; tickets at gate
Hotels	90+ days for May-October

Comparison: This Route vs. Alternative 14-Day Italy Itineraries

Route	Pace	Best For	Tradeoff
Rome / Florence / Venice / Amalfi (this)	Moderate	Classic first-time	Skips Naples/Tuscany countryside
Rome / Tuscany agriturismo / Cinque Terre	Slower	Couples, food	Skips Venice, Amalfi
Sicily 14 days	Moderate	Repeat visitors	Misses major mainland icons
Dolomites / Northern Lakes / Venice	Active	Outdoor and culture	No southern coast
Puglia and Amalfi	Slower	Beach and food	Skips Florence, Venice

This Rome-Florence-Venice-Amalfi route remains the canonical first Italy trip because it samples the four most distinctive Italian cultural environments. Repeat visitors typically pick a region for deeper exploration.

Tips From Frequent Italy Travelers

Train tickets get dramatically more expensive on the day. The same Frecciarossa ticket booked 90 days ahead may be €30; bought day-of, €90.
Use Italo trains, not just Trenitalia. Italo competes head-to-head on the major routes and is often cheaper plus typically newer trains.
Cash for small purchases. Plenty of small Italian businesses still prefer cash for sub-€10 items, even though cards are universally accepted at restaurants.
Avoid restaurants directly on Piazza San Marco, Piazza della Signoria, or the Spanish Steps. Walk 5 minutes away and prices halve while quality doubles.
Use Google Maps for walking times, not driving times. Italian city centers are car-restricted (ZTL zones); a 10-minute drive may not be possible.
Hotel breakfasts are generally weak. Have espresso and a cornetto at a local bar instead - €3 versus €25.
Reservations for top restaurants must be made 2-8 weeks ahead. Especially in May, June, September, October.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is two weeks enough for this itinerary?
Yes, comfortably, with the right pacing. Adding cities or substituting in Cinque Terre or Sicily would push it. Skipping a city is the real cost-saver if you want a slower pace.

Can I do this in November or December?
Yes, with caveats. Crowds drop dramatically; prices fall 30-40%; weather is cool and may rain. Amalfi Coast restaurants and ferries reduce service; many close December-February. November is fine; December is iffy for the coast.

Should I rent a car?
Not for this itinerary. Cities all have ZTL zones penalizing rental cars. Trains are faster between cities. Only rent a car if you add Tuscan countryside or Puglia. The Amalfi Coast specifically is hellish to drive - narrow, single-lane, switchbacks, parking impossible.

Do I need Italian language?
No, but learning basic phrases (buongiorno, grazie, prego, scusi, vorrei) is appreciated. Restaurant menus are usually in Italian; staff at tourism-focused places speak English.

Best photo spots?
Vatican dome, Colosseum interior, Ponte Vecchio at sunrise, Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset, Rialto Bridge from a vaporetto, Faraglioni from Capri Gardens of Augustus, Positano from the ferry approach.

Can I add the Cinque Terre?
Add 2 days minimum, either between Florence and Venice (long detour back) or before/after the trip. Honestly, save it for a separate trip focused on Liguria.

Family with kids - what changes?
Reduce museum hours, add gelato breaks every 2 hours, swap a museum day for swimming day at the beach in Amalfi, book apartments instead of hotels.

Final Recommendations

This itinerary delivers what most first-time Italy travelers actually want: the architectural and artistic peaks of Rome, the Renaissance heart of Florence, the lagoon magic of Venice, and the Mediterranean drama of the Amalfi Coast - paced so you can actually enjoy each city rather than rushing through. Book the must-do tickets 30 days out, ride the high-speed trains rather than driving, and skip the trap of trying to add a fifth city. The Italy you experience deeply over two weeks is the Italy you remember; the Italy you race through is the Italy you remember as a blur.

For deeper planning by destination, see Rome 3-day itinerary, Florence weekend guide, Venice 2-day itinerary, Amalfi Coast travel guide, and Best time to visit Italy.

External references: Italian National Tourist Board, Vatican Museums official, Colosseum CoopCulture official tickets, Wikipedia: Italian high-speed rail, UNESCO World Heritage in Italy.

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