7 days. 2 cities. 1 day trip. The PERFECT first trip to Italy. Days 1-4: Rome (Colosseum, Vatican, Trastevere, Borghese, Tivoli). Days 5-7: Florence (David, Uffizi, Duomo dome, Oltrarno sunset, Siena). Every museum pre-booked. Every train timed. Every dinner in a neighborhood locals eat in. Only 5 days? → · Have 10 days? →
Day 1: Arrive Fiumicino → Leonardo Express (€14, 32 min) → Termini → hotel. Colosseum + Forum (pre-booked 2pm, 2.5h). Trastevere dinner (Da Enzo or Tonnarello). Day 2: Vatican 8am (pre-booked early entry on GYG) → Sistine → St. Peter's. Lunch near Castel Sant'Angelo. Borghese 3pm (pre-booked). Pincio sunset.
Day 3: Pantheon (free, morning) → San Clemente 3 layers → Caravaggio churches (San Luigi dei Francesi, free) → aperitivo Monti. Dinner Testaccio (Flavio al Velavevodetto — carbonara). Day 4: Tivoli day trip (bus 45 min — Villa Adriana + Villa d'Este). Return → pack → evening passeggiata + gelato.
Frecciarossa 9:30am Roma Termini→Firenze SMN (1h30, €25-35 on Trainline). Check in. David 1pm (pre-booked). Duomo exterior + Baptistery. Oltrarno walk + aperitivo Santo Spirito. Dinner: Trattoria Mario (communal tables, no reservations, arrive 12:30 or 7pm).
Day 6: Dome climb 8:30am (pre-booked Brunelleschi Pass). Mercato Centrale lunch. Uffizi 2pm (pre-booked). Ponte Vecchio. Piazzale Michelangelo sunset (bus 12 or walk 25 min). Dinner Oltrarno. Day 7: Siena day trip (bus 1h15, €8 — Piazza del Campo + Duomo + lunch) → return Florence → farewell gelato. Fly from Florence Peretola or Pisa (train 1h, €9).
Mid-range: Flights €400-700. Hotels €110-150/night × 7 (€770-1,050). Trains €35-50. Museums €100-140. Food €45-55/day (€315-385). Total: ~€1,600-2,300. Calculator →