Seven days moving north through Rome, Florence and Venice.
The classic triangle, efficiently connected.
High-speed rail between cities Classic first-visit sights Compact city-center bases Realistic pacing without burnout First-timers to Italy Classic triangle travelers Those with limited vacation time
Key Facts
Ancient Rome
Rome, Lazio
Timed entry; the arena floor walkway shows the hypogeum where gladiators waited.
Rome, Lazio
Climb past the Farnese Gardens for the best view over the ruins.
Rome, Lazio
Cross the river to Piazza Santa Maria for carbonara and late-night gelato.
The Vatican
Vatican City
Take the first-morning slot; the one-way route ends in the Sistine Chapel.
Vatican City
Climb the 551 steps of the dome for a panorama of Rome.
Rome, Lazio
The Trevi Fountain at evening, its illuminated baroque sculptures and water glowing under warm lights, crowds tossing coins, soft dusk sky, historic Rome evening scene
On to Florence
Rome, Lazio
A final Roman stroll past Piazza Navona and the Pantheon before you leave.
Florence, Tuscany
Depart Termini around midday and arrive at Santa Maria Novella in 1.5 hours.
Florence, Tuscany
Walk the cathedral exterior, baptistery and Giotto's tower as the light fades.
Museum Day
Florence, Tuscany
Book an early slot for Botticelli's Primavera and the Medici collection.
Florence, Tuscany
See Michelangelo's David, then shop the jewellers' bridge on the way to Oltrarno.
Florence, Tuscany
The 25-minute climb from the Arno rewards you with the signature skyline view.
Lagoon Arrival
Florence, Tuscany
Browse the stalls and grab a lampredotto panino before your train.
Venice, Veneto
Two hours from Santa Maria Novella delivers you onto the Grand Canal.
Venice, Veneto
Join locals at bacari bars for bite-size cicchetti near the Rialto Bridge.
St. Mark's Core
Venice, Veneto
Book a slot for the golden mosaics and climb to the terrace for the square.
Venice, Veneto
Cross the covered bridge and tour the gilded chambers of the Venetian Republic.
Venice, Veneto
Ride Line 1 down the Grand Canal past the palazzos as the lights come on.
Lagoon Islands
Murano, Veneto
Take the vaporetto to Murano and watch glassblowing in the island's furnaces.
Burano, Veneto
Brightly painted houses line the canals; a perfect, flat last afternoon.
Venice, Veneto
One last bacaro crawl or a canal-side table near the Accademia Bridge.
Transport Between Stops
High-Speed Train
Frecciarossa or Italo, about 1.5 to 2 hours per leg
Vaporetto
ACTV water buses serve all of Venice and the lagoon islands
Metro
Rome's Lines A and B cover Colosseo, Barberini and Ottaviano
Where to Stay
Choose hotels close to each city's train station.
$ Budget
$$ Mid-Range
$$$ Luxury
Typical cost per person
Accommodation
€110–€320 per night
Food
€45–€90 / day
Entry Fees
€120–€170
Transport
€80–€150
Total Estimated
€1,300–€2,900
What This Itinerary Skips
Three cities, zero filler
A week cannot comfortably hold four cities, so this route leaves out Milan, the Cinque Terre and all of southern Italy. Adding another stop would turn the trains into the trip itself. Three cities keep every leg under two hours and every night in a different landmark city.
Customize This Itinerary
- Add 1 Day: Tuscany countryside from Florence
- Add 2 Days: Verona and Lake Garda from Venice
- Reverse Route: Venice to Rome to match flights
Seasonal Adjustments
- Summer: Book trains and museums; take early departures.
- Spring / Fall: Mild weather; reserve Vatican and Uffizi slots.