This is the Perfect 10-day Italy Itinerary

If you’re trying to plan your next trip to Italy but don’t know where to start, then look no further. We’ve crafted the perfect 10 day Italy itinerary, filled with historic sights, best-in-class food, and unparalleled hotels. On Insight Vacation’s Easy Pace Italy tour, you can see the sights of Rome, Venice, Florence, and more, all at a relaxed pace. Get all the sights and insights from Local Experts along the way, taking you to experiences you wouldn’t find on your own, from ancient crafts to local food. Make your next trip to Italy one to remember, and let us do the hard work of planning it for you. 

Days 1-3: Rome and the Vatican 

Land in beautiful Rome, the Eternal City, with time to settle in before you meet your wonderful Travel Director and fellow guests over a delicious Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant before you prepare for your first day in this historic city. Dive headfirst into your first day, meeting one of our Local Experts who will take you around ancient Rome, from the iconic Colosseum to fast-track entry to the Vatican, where you’ll see the Sistine Chapel with an expert. Finish your first full day with a traditional Roman dinner, where you’ll try local specialties. 

Day 3 sees you take Rome at your own pace, either strolling with local gelato, discovering the city’s boutique shopping scene, or taking part in an optional experience to visit the archaeological site of Pompeii with your Local Expert, where you’ll step back in time to 2,000 years ago. On this experience, you’ll gain incredible insight into the preserved Roman city of Pompeii, buried in 79 AD by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. 

What to do in Rome

With iconic attractions like the Colosseum and Vatican included in the itinerary, make sure you leave time to toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain, people-watch as you take a seat in Piazza Navona, and stroll through the Villa Borghese Gardens. Wander up (or down) the famous Spanish Steps, and browse the many designer stores in this area. For smaller boutique shops, visit Monti, a hip, cobbled neighborhood filled with independent brands and interior design stores. 

Head to the gastronomic neighborhood of Trastevere to find some of the finest examples of traditional Roman dishes, its streets lined with osterias, trattorias and traditional restaurants. The four Roman pastas are Cacio e Pepe, Carbonara, Amatriciana, and alla Gricia, so look out for those on the menu. Beyond pasta, give Roman pizza a try – the base is super thin, and you’ll often find artichoke as a topping.  

Days 4-5: Florence

Nearly halfway into your 10 day Italy itinerary, it’s time to say goodbye to Rome and head for Florence, travelling through the rolling hills of Umbria, regarded as Italy’s green heart. As you arrive in Florence, you can explore the city with Insight Choice: will youvisit the Accademia Museum, laying eyes on Michelangelo’s David before continuing on–foot to admire the multi-colored marble cathedral, and finally visiting the iconic statues along the front of the Palazzo Vecchio; or will you take a leisurely stroll with your Travel Director to Piazza Santa Croce, and enjoy a local Italian treat with a view of the basilica?  

Day 5 brings a full day in Florence, as you explore Florentine luxury goods, learning about local leatherwork during a demonstration. You also have the choice to admire the green hills of Tuscany and the impressive medieval towers of San Gimignano on an Optional Experience in the afternoon.  

What to do in Florence

While simply wandering through Florence’s streets and admiring the city’s Gothic architecture is a feast enough for the eyes, art lovers must make a visit to the Uffizi Gallery (also a UNESCO World Heritage Site), brimming with Renaissance art.  

Head to the historic Mercato Centrale food market to discover local produce as well as small restaurants, wine bars and tasting rooms. Florentine steak is a must-try when in Florence, often accompanied with another traditional Florentine dish: white beans cooked in a fiasco (flask). While wandering the city’s streets, look out for buchette del vino, or wine windows – there are around 200 throughout Florence, and they have been used for hundreds of years to sell bottles of wine, though now you can order a glass. You can find most of them in the Santo Spirito neighborhood or throughout the city’s old town.

Day 6: Pisa & the Tuscan countryside

After a leisurely morning in Florence, explore the nearby town of Pisa with a Local Expert. Start at the famous Leaning Tower and then move on to Il Poggio, an organic farm where you can sample olive oil and wine against a backdrop of the rolling Tuscan hills, rounded off with an authentic Italian meal prepared with locally sourced ingredients. 

What to do in Pisa 

Aside from the obvious Leaning Tower, Pisa has so much more to see. With piazzas and palazzos around every corner, and the magnificent Pisa Cathedral, a wander through Pisa’s streets will open your eyes to the city’s unique Romanesque architectural style. For more modern art lovers, visit the colorful Tuttomondo wall mural by Keith Haring. 

Pisa’s food scene is strongly connected to the sea, so if you have a chance to try traditional dishes like spaghetti con le arselle (with clams), take it. Don’t overlook Pisan pizzerias, where you can enjoy two local specialties: the Cecina, which is like a salty chickpea flatbread; and the Pizza Pisana, made with tomato sauce, anchovies, capers and parmesan cheese. Who could forget the classic Tuscan ribollita, a hearty vegetable soup made with beans, bread, cabbage and whatever vegetables are in season. 

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Day 7: Bologna & Venice

As you head towards Venice you’ll travel through the Emilia-Romagna region, stopping to sample the flavors of the region and learn about Italian food culture over a delicious lunch with wine; gastronomic exploration is a crucial part of your 10 day Italy itinerary.

Travel east until you arrive in at our luxurious hotel in Venice, Queen of the Adriatic. Take in the views over this romantic city from your Venetian hotel room in the evening. 

What to do in Emilia-Romagna 

Widely considered to be the gastronomic heart of Italy, Emilia-Romagna is a region known for its rich food scene, home to some of the culinary specialities that put Italy on the map – Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, Parma ham, balsamic vinegar from Modena, renowned salumi, and tagliatelle and tortellini pasta, to name a few. It’s also the home of Lambrusco, the iconic sparkling red wine. 

Days 8-10: Venice 

Swap roads for canals as you wake up in Venice and board your private boat, taking you down Grand Canal past historic churches and 13th century palaces to St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco). Next, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and witness the ancient skill of glassblowing, learning about the rich history of this craft which dates back to the 15th century – a skill now practised by precious few masters. In the afternoon you’ll have plenty of time to explore the museums, galleries and churches, or cruise out to some of the other islands in the lagoon to experience the age-old lifestyle of Venetian fishermen and lace-makers. 

Day 9, your final full day, gives you time to explore Venice at leisure, whether you choose to lose yourself off the beaten path in the back lanes and quiet squares, explore the modern artworks in the Guggenheim, or sample some of Venice’s exceptional food. In the evening, board a traditional gondola for a serenade through the romantic canals before your final dinner, indulging in traditional Venetian dishes as you toast to the end of your trip with your fellow travelers. 

Here your 10 day Italy itinerary comes to an end, and it’s time to say ‘arrivederci’ to Italy after breakfast in the morning. 

What to do in Venice 

Getting lost among Venice’s 150 canals is just one way to spend your time in this romantic city. Of course a gondola ride is an excellent way to see Venice, but wandering its cobbled streets will lead you to countless piazzas, galleries, bars and restaurants. Gallerie dell’Accademia houses one of the best collections of Renaissance art, while shoppers can visit the Rialto market where you can buy fresh produce just a stone’s throw from the famous Rialto Bridge.  

If you find yourself pining for a bowl of pasta in Venice, give the local specialty a go: bigoli in sala. Bigoli is a thick, long pasta (akin to Tuscan pici), and this dish is tossed in a sauce of anchovies, onions and white wine. When it comes to grabbing a quick bite, look no further than cicchetti. These Venetian bar snacks started as on-the-go snacks for gondoliers and workers on the move, but are now served at bácari (wine bars) throughout the city. It goes without saying to try the local seafood!

The diversity of Italy has to be seen to be believed, with its stunning architecture, world-famous food, and the quirks and charms of each particular region.  

If you’re already pining for the delights of Italy, discover our Easy Pace Italy guided tour now.