The classic 2-week Italy itinerary covers the "Big 5" destinations (Rome, Florence, Venice, Cinque Terre, Amalfi Coast) in a logical geographic sequence that minimizes backtracking. The key insight: spend 3 days in the big cities (enough to see the essentials + have a slow meal), 2 days in the smaller destinations (enough to absorb the atmosphere), and build in 1-2 "buffer" days for spontaneity, weather, or the inevitable discovery that you want to stay longer somewhere. This itinerary moves south to north (Rome → Amalfi → Florence → Cinque Terre → Venice), which avoids the common mistake of ending in Naples/Amalfi and having to backtrack to a northern airport.
Plan my Italy trip →Days 1-3: Rome. Day 1: Colosseum + Forum + Palatine (morning), Trastevere (evening). Day 2: Vatican Museums + St. Peter's (morning — book 7am entry), Pantheon + Piazza Navona (afternoon). Day 3: Ostia Antica day trip (morning), Campo de' Fiori market (afternoon), dinner in Testaccio. Days 4-5: Amalfi Coast (train Rome→Naples 1h10, then ferry to Positano/Amalfi). Day 4: Positano (beach + walk). Day 5: Amalfi + Ravello (morning), return to Naples (evening ferry). Days 6-8: Florence. Train Naples→Florence 3h. Day 6: Uffizi (book ahead) + Ponte Vecchio + Oltrarno. Day 7: Accademia (David) + San Lorenzo market + Duomo climb. Day 8: Siena or San Gimignano day trip. Days 9-10: Cinque Terre. Train Florence→La Spezia 2.5h. Day 9: Hike Monterosso→Vernazza→Corniglia (the Blue Trail). Day 10: Riomaggiore + Manarola (morning), return to La Spezia. Days 11-13: Venice. Train La Spezia→Venice 4h. Day 11: San Marco + Doge's Palace + Grand Canal vaporetto. Day 12: Burano + Murano (island day). Day 13: Rialto Market (morning), get lost in Dorsoduro/Cannaregio (afternoon). Day 14: Departure from Venice Marco Polo airport (or train to Milan Malpensa 2.5h).
Accommodation: €70-120/night (3-star hotels/quality B&Bs, double room). 13 nights = €910-1,560. Trains: Rome→Naples €20-45, Naples→Florence €40-65, Florence→La Spezia €15-25, La Spezia→Venice €30-50. Total trains: ~€150-250. Food: €40-60/day (breakfast at hotel, lunch €15-20, dinner €25-40). 14 days = €560-840. Museums/sites: €150-250 total (Colosseum €18, Vatican €17, Uffizi €20, Accademia €12, etc.). Total estimate: €1,770-2,900 per person for 14 days (excluding flights). Money-saving tip: Eat lunch at bars (panini, pizza al taglio — €5-8) and spend on dinner.
Book AHEAD (weeks/months): Vatican Museums (vaticanotickets.com), Uffizi (uffizi.it), Colosseum (coopculture.it), Scrovegni Chapel Padova (if adding). Book 1-2 days ahead: Frecce trains (trenitalia.com — prices rise closer to departure), Amalfi Coast ferries (seasonal, check travelmar.it). No booking needed: Cinque Terre card (buy at station), Venice vaporetto (buy at landing stages), most churches and piazzas (free).