11-Day Italy Itinerary: Rome, Florence, Venice and the North

By Urvish Shah•

An 11-day Italy itinerary covering Rome, Vatican City, Florence, Cinque Terre, Siena, Milan, Lake Como, Bologna and Venice — the classic route, day by day.

ItalyItineraryRomeFlorenceVenice
11-Day Italy Itinerary: Rome, Florence, Venice and the North

I want to compile my 11-day itinerary from my recent trip through northern and central Italy in this post. It covers Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan, with day trips out to Cinque Terre, Siena, Pisa and Lake Como.

If you're heading south instead, I've written a separate 7-day southern Italy itinerary covering the Amalfi Coast, Puglia and Naples — and if you want mountains, there's a 7-day Dolomites itinerary too.

Day 1: Rome

I arrived in Rome the evening before, so I had the whole day for exploration. For a fuller breakdown of these two days, see my 2-day Rome itinerary.

Colosseum

  • Tip: Book tickets at least 1.5 months in advance — this one genuinely sells out.
  • Entry: Standard entry without a guided tour.
  • Recommendation: Use Rick Steves’ audio guide app.
  • Caution: Be very cautious of pickpockets. Out of six people from my hostel, three lost their wallets, and one lost her phone.
  • Duration: ~2 hours.

Colosseum in Rome

Roman Forum

  • Location: Just across the street from the Colosseum.
  • Ticket: Combined ticket for Colosseum and Roman Forum.
  • Highlights: Arch of Constantine, Temple of Venus.
  • Recommendation: Use an audio guide.
  • Duration: ~3 hours. Roman Forum

Spanish Steps

  • Location: City center of Rome, in the Spanish Plaza.
  • Note: Not much to do here, but the surrounding area has luxury brand stores.
  • Entertainment: Talented artists perform in nearby alleys.

Trevi Fountain

  • Description: Stunning Baroque architecture with vibrant blue water.
  • Best Time to Visit: Early morning or late at night to avoid crowds.
  • Caution: Be mindful of pickpockets due to large crowds. Trevi Fountain

Pantheon

  • Description: Originally a Roman temple, now a Catholic church.
  • Recommendation: Learn about its rich history beforehand.
  • Tickets: Buy on the spot; the cash line is typically shorter.

Day 2: Vatican City

St. Peter’s Basilica

  • Description: One of the largest churches in the world.
  • Entry: Free, but expect long queues.
  • Dome Climb: Requires a separate ticket for stunning views. St. Peter's Basilica

Vatican Museums

  • Highlights: Extensive collection of remarkable history and rare artifacts.
  • Recommendation: Use an audio guide.
  • Duration: 3–4 hours.
  • Tickets: Purchase online at least 1.5 months in advance.

Sistine Chapel

  • Highlights: Breathtaking frescoes and paintings.
  • Note: Photos are not allowed inside.
  • Tickets: Purchase well in advance—at least a month ahead.

Borghese Gallery

  • Artists Featured: Bernini, Caravaggio, Raphael, and others.
  • Location: A bit away from the main landmarks of Rome.
  • Duration: ~2 hours.

Day 3: Florence

Ahh, I love Florence. There's something about this city that's indescribable—the vibe here is phenomenal. I think it's one of my favorite cities in the world. I'd go here just for roaming around the city center and eating the amazing food. I've written a full Florence travel guide covering the Duomo climb, the Uffizi, and the best pasta in the city.

Santa Maria del Fiore Church

  • Description: In my opinion, the most beautiful church in the world.
  • Architecture: Designed by Brunelleschi; features the largest brick dome in the world.
  • Entry: Free, but the exterior is more impressive than the interior.
  • Additional Sites: Giotto’s Campanile and the Baptistery (require tickets).
  • Dome Climb: Requires a separate ticket; book a few days ahead. Santa Maria del Fiore Church

Piazza della Repubblica

  • Description: A large plaza in the heart of Florence.
  • Nearby: Market with Florence-made leather goods.

Ponte Vecchio and Palazzo Vecchio

  • Palazzo Vecchio: Town hall of Florence, situated in Piazza della Signoria.
  • Ponte Vecchio: Medieval pedestrian bridge over the Arno River, famous for its charming local shops. Ponte Vecchio

Piazza Michelangelo

  • Description: Best sunset view in the city.
  • Access: Involves a bit of a climb; bus available.
  • Atmosphere: Often live music performances; nearby stands for drinks. Piazza Michelangelo

Day 4: Florence

Uffizi Gallery

  • Artists Featured: Leonardo da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli.
  • Recommendation: Use an audio guide.
  • Duration: Minimum 3 hours.

Galleria dell’Accademia

  • Highlights: Michelangelo’s statue of David.
  • Duration: ~1 hour.

Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens

  • Description: Renaissance residence of the Medici family.
  • Duration: ~2 hours.

Leaning Tower of Pisa

  • Travel: Just an hour away from Florence by train.
  • Visit Duration: ~1 hour. Leaning Tower of Pisa

Day 5: Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre, a stunning cluster of five picturesque villages, is located about 2.5 hours from Florence. While it's a bit of a stretch for a day trip, with careful planning, you can make the most of it — I got to all five villages in a single day. The hiking is far easier than people make it sound, and the coastal path passes through lemon groves.

Full write-up: Cinque Terre day trip from Florence.

Suggested Itinerary:

  • Start: Early train from Florence to La Spezia.
  • Transportation: Purchase day passes for regional trains connecting the villages.
  • Hiking: Start at Monterosso and hike to Vernazza and Corniglia.
  • Train: Take the train for Manarola and Riomaggiore.
  • Highlights: Riomaggiore is known for its picturesque views.
  • Return: Back to Florence by 8 PM. Cinque Terre

Day 6: Siena

Siena is a fantastic day trip from Florence, offering a glimpse into the heart of Tuscany. The town is just an hour away by train.

Piazza del Campo

  • Description: The old town of Siena is charming and picturesque.
  • Highlights: Monte de Paschi bank (oldest bank in the world), Palazzo Pubblico, Torre del Mangia. Piazza del Campo

Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta

  • Description: A masterpiece of Gothic architecture.
  • Interior Highlights: Black and white striped marble columns, mosaic floor, stained glass windows, works by Donatello, Bernini, and Michelangelo.
  • Piccolomini Library: Decorated with vivid frescoes.

Day 7: Milan

Milan is a vibrant city known for its fashion, design, and rich history.

Duomo di Milano

  • Description: One of the largest and most intricate Gothic cathedrals in the world.
  • Rooftop: Offers panoramic views of the city. Duomo di Milano

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

  • Description: Elegant 19th-century arcade with luxury shops and cafes.

Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco)

  • Description: Historic fortress housing several museums and art collections.

The Last Supper

  • Location: Santa Maria delle Grazie.
  • Note: Tickets need to be booked well in advance.

Navigli District

  • Description: Known for its charming canals, lively bars, and restaurants. Navigli District

Day 8: Lake Como

Lake Como is an easy day trip from Milan — under an hour by train — and the one day of this trip where I'd change my own plan.

Como

  • Highlights: Como Cathedral (Duomo di Como), lakeside promenade, vibrant piazzas. Como

Boat Ride

  • Time: About an hour and a half on the water in total.
  • Towns Visited: Bellagio, known as the "Pearl of Lake Como", and Varenna.
  • Honest verdict: They looked much the same to me. I'd skip the town-hopping.

What I'd do instead

Pick one town, find the highest viewpoint above it, and then spend the rest of the day slowly by the water with a good meal. The view of the lake from above is what makes Como special — at lake level you're just in a nice town.

Full write-up: Lake Como day trip from Milan.

Day 9: Bologna

Bologna is often referred to as the gastronomic heart of Italy.

Culinary Highlights

  • Dishes: Tagliatelle al ragù (Bolognese sauce), tortellini, mortadella.
  • Markets: Mercato di Mezzo, Mercato delle Erbe.

Historic Old Town

  • Architecture: Medieval, including the iconic Two Towers (Due Torri).
  • Porticoes: Extensive, stretching for miles. Bologna

Piazza Maggiore

  • Surroundings: Basilica di San Petronio, Palazzo d’Accursio.

Quadrilatero

  • Description: Medieval market district with vibrant local culture.

Day 10: Venice

Venice, just two hours away from Bologna by train, offers a one-of-a-kind experience. Basing yourself in Bologna and coming in for the day is the move I'd defend here — everything in Venice is expensive, accommodation most of all.

Full write-up, including how to get a gondola down to €16 a head: One day in Venice.

St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco)

  • Surroundings: St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Campanile (bell tower).

The Grand Canal

  • Activities: Vaporetto (water bus) ride or gondola trip.
  • Highlight: Rialto Bridge. The Grand Canal

Bridge of Sighs

  • Description: Enclosed bridge with picturesque views.

Exploring Venice

  • Activities: Wander through narrow alleyways and hidden squares.

Rialto Market

  • Description: Experience local life with fresh produce, seafood, and Venetian specialties.

Day 11: Bologna

For me, the last day was basically half a day of exploring Bologna again and then catching a flight back home in the afternoon. If in your case you have a full day available, you can include doing a day trip to Verona.

Where to Go Next

If you've got more time in Italy, the two natural extensions to this route are the Dolomites — easily reached from Venice or Bologna, and a complete change of scenery — or heading south for the Amalfi Coast, Puglia and Naples.