Two weeks lets you go beyond Italy's classic triangle and add the drama of the south — the Amalfi Coast and Pompeii — plus the cliffside villages of Cinque Terre, alongside Rome, Florence, Tuscany, and Venice. This itinerary flows south to north, linking the cities by Italy's fast high-speed trains and keeping the coastal stretches at a relaxed pace.
It assumes you fly into Rome and out of Venice (an open-jaw ticket that avoids backtracking). If two weeks is more than you have, see our shorter 10-day Italy itinerary. For where to base yourself, see where to stay in Rome and the best areas to stay in Rome, plan with how to plan an Italy trip, and check timing in best time to visit Italy.
April to June and September to October are ideal, with pleasant weather and the Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre in full swing but not overwhelmed. July and August are hot and crowded, especially on the coast; spring and autumn bring the best balance.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Arrival in Rome
Arrive in Rome and transfer into the city — the Leonardo Express from Fiumicino reaches Termini in about 32 minutes. Settle in and ease into Italy with an evening passeggiata through the floodlit historic centre and a coin tossed into the Trevi Fountain.
- ✓ Trevi Fountain at night
- ✓ Piazza Navona
- ✓ First Roman dinner in the Centro Storico
🛏 Where to stay: Centro Storico or Monti — walkable to the sights; see our where to stay in Rome guide.
💡 Tip: Much of the historic centre is a limited-traffic zone, so confirm how close a taxi can drop you with luggage.
Ancient Rome
Dedicate the day to ancient Rome — the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill in the morning (book timed tickets ahead), then the Pantheon in the afternoon. See things to do in Rome for more ideas.
- ✓ Colosseum & Roman Forum
- ✓ Palatine Hill
- ✓ The Pantheon
🛏 Where to stay: Rome (second night).
💡 Tip: Buy a combined Colosseum/Forum/Palatine ticket online to skip the long queues.
Vatican City
Spend the morning in Vatican City — St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel (reserve timed entry). Spend the afternoon in charming Trastevere or revisiting a favourite piazza before heading south tomorrow.
- ✓ St. Peter's Basilica
- ✓ Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
- ✓ Trastevere in the evening
🛏 Where to stay: Rome (third night).
💡 Tip: Book the first morning Vatican Museums slot or a skip-the-line tour — the queues are among Europe's worst.
South to the Amalfi Coast
Take the high-speed train south to Naples (about 70 minutes), then continue to your coastal base in Sorrento or on the Amalfi Coast itself. Spend the afternoon settling into the cliffside scenery, lemon groves, and sea views that define Italy's most romantic coastline.
- ✓ High-speed train to Naples
- ✓ Transfer to Sorrento or Amalfi
- ✓ First Amalfi Coast sunset
🛏 Where to stay: Sorrento (easier transport base) or Positano/Amalfi (more scenic, pricier).
💡 Tip: Sorrento makes the most practical base — it has the best transport links to Pompeii, Capri, and the coast.
Pompeii & Vesuvius
Visit the hauntingly preserved Roman ruins of Pompeii, frozen by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD — one of the world's great archaeological sites. Energetic travelers can add a hike up Vesuvius itself for views over the Bay of Naples.
- ✓ Pompeii archaeological site
- ✓ Optional Mount Vesuvius hike
- ✓ Bay of Naples views
🛏 Where to stay: Sorrento / Amalfi (second night).
💡 Tip: Hire a guide or rent an audio guide at Pompeii — the vast site means much more with context.
Amalfi Coast or Capri
Spend the day soaking up the coast. Take the scenic drive or ferry between the cliffside towns of Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello, or catch a boat to the glamorous island of Capri for its Blue Grotto and clifftop gardens.
- ✓ Positano & Ravello
- ✓ Ferry along the coast
- ✓ Optional Capri day trip
🛏 Where to stay: Sorrento / Amalfi (third night).
💡 Tip: Travel the coast by ferry where you can — it avoids the famously slow, winding coastal road traffic.
North to Florence
Return to Naples and take the high-speed train north to Florence (around 3 hours total). Arrive in the Renaissance capital and ease in with the Duomo and its piazza, the Ponte Vecchio over the Arno, and your first Florentine gelato.
- ✓ High-speed train to Florence
- ✓ Florence Duomo
- ✓ Ponte Vecchio at dusk
🛏 Where to stay: Florence — central, near the Duomo or the Oltrarno.
💡 Tip: Florence's centre is compact and walkable; you rarely need transport between the main sights.
Florence's Masterpieces
A full day among Florence's art. See Michelangelo's David at the Accademia and the Uffizi Gallery (both need advance tickets), then climb the Duomo's dome for rooftop views and finish at Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset over the city.
- ✓ Michelangelo's David
- ✓ Uffizi Gallery
- ✓ Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo
🛏 Where to stay: Florence (second night).
💡 Tip: Reserve the Uffizi and Accademia online with timed entry — same-day tickets often sell out.
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Tuscan Countryside
Escape into the Tuscan countryside for cypress-lined hills, hilltop towns, and vineyards. A guided tour or drive takes in Siena's shell-shaped piazza, the towers of San Gimignano, and a Chianti wine tasting amid the rolling golden hills.
- ✓ Siena's Piazza del Campo
- ✓ San Gimignano
- ✓ Chianti wine tasting
🛏 Where to stay: Florence (third night).
💡 Tip: A small-group tour from Florence handles the driving and wine logistics; book ahead in peak season.
Cinque Terre
Travel to the Cinque Terre, five jewel-like fishing villages clinging to the Ligurian coast (around 2.5 hours from Florence). Settle into a village like Monterosso or Vernazza and spend the afternoon on the colourful harbours and clifftop views.
- ✓ Arrive in the Cinque Terre
- ✓ Vernazza harbour
- ✓ Ligurian seafood dinner
🛏 Where to stay: Monterosso (most amenities) or Vernazza (most picturesque).
💡 Tip: Buy a Cinque Terre Card for unlimited train hops between the five villages and access to the coastal trails.
Hiking the Five Villages
Spend the day hopping between the five villages — Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore — on foot via the scenic coastal trails (where open) or by the frequent local train. Each village has its own character, harbour, and viewpoints.
- ✓ Village-to-village coastal trail
- ✓ Manarola viewpoint
- ✓ Swimming in the Ligurian Sea
🛏 Where to stay: Cinque Terre (second night).
💡 Tip: Check which coastal trail sections are open before you go, as some close for maintenance after landslides.
East to Venice
Travel across northern Italy to Venice (around 4–5 hours via a change in Milan or Florence). Arrive at Santa Lucia station, step straight onto the Grand Canal, and let the city of canals work its magic with a first vaporetto ride and an evening in a quiet sestiere.
- ✓ Grand Canal vaporetto ride
- ✓ St. Mark's Square at dusk
- ✓ Cicchetti and a spritz
🛏 Where to stay: Venice — Cannaregio or Dorsoduro for atmosphere away from the crowds.
💡 Tip: There are no cars in Venice — pack light, as you will wheel luggage over bridges and along canals.
Venice & the Islands
Explore Venice's icons in the morning — St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, and the Rialto Bridge — then take a vaporetto to the lagoon islands of colourful Burano and glass-blowing Murano in the afternoon.
- ✓ St. Mark's Basilica
- ✓ Burano's painted houses
- ✓ Murano glass workshops
🛏 Where to stay: Venice (second night).
💡 Tip: Visit St. Mark's Basilica early or book a skip-the-line slot; queues build quickly by mid-morning.
Departure
Enjoy a final Venetian morning — a quiet canal-side coffee and any last sights — before transferring to Venice Marco Polo airport. A water taxi or the Alilaguna boat makes for a memorable final ride across the lagoon.
- ✓ Final canal-side espresso
- ✓ Last Murano glass souvenirs
- ✓ Lagoon transfer to the airport
💡 Tip: Allow extra time for the airport transfer from the islands; the Alilaguna boat is scenic but not fast.
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Budget & Practicalities
Roughly $160–300 per person per day including hotels, meals, trains, and attractions; the Amalfi Coast and Venice run pricier than Rome or Florence.
High-speed trains between Rome, Naples, Florence, and Venice are fast and good value booked ahead; the Cinque Terre is reached by regional train.
The Amalfi Coast and Capri, skip-the-line Vatican and museum tours, a Tuscan wine tour, and a Venice water taxi.
Tips for This Trip
- → Book high-speed train tickets in advance for the best fares; trains depart from central city stations.
- → Reserve major sights — Colosseum, Vatican, Uffizi, Accademia — online with timed entry to skip queues.
- → On the Amalfi Coast, travel by ferry where possible to avoid the slow, winding coastal road.
- → Buy a Cinque Terre Card for unlimited village trains and trail access.
- → Pack light for Venice and the coast — you will carry luggage over bridges and up village steps.
- → Check entry rules in our Europe visa requirements guide before you travel.
What to Pack for Italy
Comfortable Walking Shoes
Ruins, trails, and cobbles
From Pompeii's ruins to Cinque Terre's trails and Venice's bridges, two weeks in Italy is a walking marathon. Supportive, broken-in shoes are essential.
Check Price on AmazonA Crossbody Anti-Theft Bag
Busy cities and trains
Crowded trains and sights attract pickpockets. A zippered crossbody keeps your phone, cash, and documents secure across Rome, Naples, and Venice.
Check Price on AmazonA Packable Daypack
Day trips and hikes
For Pompeii, Tuscan tours, and Cinque Terre hikes, a light packable daypack carries water, layers, and a picnic without weighing you down.
Check Price on AmazonA Refillable Water Bottle
Hot days and hikes
Rome and Florence have free public fountains, and you will want water on the coast and trails. A refillable bottle saves money through hot days.
Check Price on AmazonFrequently Asked Questions
Two weeks is an excellent amount of time for a comprehensive first trip — enough to cover Rome, the Amalfi Coast and Pompeii in the south, Florence and Tuscany in the centre, the Cinque Terre, and Venice in the north, all at a comfortable pace by high-speed train. It captures Italy's ancient, coastal, Renaissance, and lagoon highlights in one trip.