itineraries
First-Timer's Italy: Rome, Florence & Venice
10 days — the big three, for the traveler who's never been.
Curatorial note
The trip most first-timers should take. Three anchors, all linked by fast train, each worth two or three nights. Don't try to add a fourth city — you'll just spend the trip on platforms.
Town · Emilia-Romagna
Bologna
Bologna is worth two nights and is the best food city in Italy for travelers who want to eat seriously without the Florence prices or the Venice crowds. It is also the best rail hub in the country.
Town · Sicilia
Palermo
Palermo is worth two nights and is the best base for western Sicily. It is intense, faded, and magnificent. Pair it with Monreale and the coast, and use it to reach Erice and Segesta.
Town · Veneto
Venice
Venice is worth at least two nights. A day trip from the mainland sells it short — Venice at dawn and after the day-trippers leave is a different city. Stay overnight or don't bother.
Town · Veneto
Verona
Verona is worth one or two nights. It is a more livable, less overwhelming alternative to Venice for travelers who want a beautiful Italian city without the intensity. Pair it with Valpolicella.
Town · Toscana
Siena
Siena is worth a night, or a long day trip from Florence. It is the best Tuscan base if you want a real city rather than a village. The Piazza del Campo alone justifies the visit.
Town · Toscana
Florence
Florence is worth two full days minimum and handles three well. It is small enough to walk end to end, which means it is also small enough to feel crowded — book the Uffizi and the Accademia ahead or you will waste half a day in line.
Town · Lazio
Rome
Rome deserves at least three full days and rewards a fourth. It is the one Italian city where trying to see everything is the mistake — pick two major sites a day and leave time for wandering.
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