italy 10 Day Itinerary
For First Time Visitors
This Italy 10 day itinerary is a great tour of Italy for first time visitors. It hits the most important things to see in Italy while still being efficient with time. I could make a hundred itineraries for Italy because even though its small in size, its a country full of diverse landscapes, food, and activities. There’s hiking, beaches, mountains, wineries, ancient cities, castles, and so much more!
Where to Stay in Rome
When we visited Italy we kept our hotel in Rome as home base and took day trips to other cities. This way we could see a lot without lugging our bags all over the country. Italy has a fantastic train system so it was really fast and cost-efficient. I highly recommend staying in a Rome hotel located between Roma Termini station and the Roman Forum so that you are within walking distance to everything. I’m also assuming in this itinerary that you are eating breakfast at your hotel every morning (like we did). I know there are A LOT of churches in this itinerary but I promise they’re worth it. The extravagant basilicas of Rome are full of history, have amazing art, and they’re (mostly) free to visit!
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Italy DAY 1 - Rome
Church of San Luigi dei Francesi
Chiesa di Sant' Ignazio di Loyola
Piazza Venezia
Piazza del Campidoglio
Where to Eat:
Coffee at Tazza D’Oro- right outside the Pantheon
I Vicini Bistrot for lunch
Dinner at La Taverna dei Fori Imperiali
Italy Day 2 - Vatican City
Tour of the Tomb of Saint Peter and the Necropolis under the Vatican Basilica- book well in advance.
The Vatican Museums and The Sistine Chapel
Also book early - tickets sell out
Tour Castel Sant’Angelo
Eat:
Lunch at Panino Divino
Gelato at L’Arena del Gelato
Dinner at La Fraschetta di Castel Sant’Angelo
Italy dAY 3 - fLORENCE
Take an early train to Florence
Skip the Line tours of the Academia Gallery and Uffizi Gallery
Explore the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Ponte Vecchio shops and restaurants
Late train back to Rome
Eat:
Lunch at Trattoria Ponte Vecchio
Osteria Pastella (in Florence) for dinner
Italy Day 4 - Castelli Romani
Take train from Roma Termini to Castel Gandolfo and tour the Pope’s summer residence
Take train to Frascati and meet your tour guide for the Old Frascati Pizza Making and Wine Tasting Tour
Take the train back to Rome
Eat:
Lunch at Lo Spuntino (near Castel Gandolfo)
Dinner courtesy of the Pizza and Wine tour
Italy Day 5 - Rome
Piazza Navona
Trevi Fountain
Piazza de Spagna (the spanish steps)
Basilica di Santa Maria in Ara coeli
Eat:
Lunch at Hostaria Costanza
Gelato at La Gelateria Frigidarium (near the Piazza)
Iari The Vino for dinner
Italy Day 6 - Pompeii
Meet tour group in Rome
Eat:
Lunch provided on tour- pizza from Naples
Il Gabriello for late dinner (Rome)
Italy Day 7 - Rome
Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano
Basilica di San Clemente al Laterano
San Pietro in Vincoli
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
Diocletian Bath and the Octagonal Hall
Basilica S. Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri
Eat:
Lunch at Pizzeria Boccaccia
Gelato at Gelateria dell’Angeletto
Ristorante Alessio for dinner
Italy Day 8 - Venice
Take early train to Venice
Ride down the Grand Canal
Basilica di San Marco
Gondola ride
Scuola Grande di San Rocco
Basilica Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
Late train back to Rome
Eat:
Lunch at Dal Moros Pasta To Go
Gelateria Il Doge Venezia
Early dinner at Colpo de Mato (in Venice)
Italy Day 9 - Rome
Mercato di Campo de Fiori
Skip the Line Tour:
Where to Eat:
Lunch at Contrario Vineria con Cucina
Gelateria da Costanza
Dinner at Cuoco & Camicia
Italy Day 10 - Bracciano
Take metro to Valle Aurelia then train to Bracciano
Walk to Orsini-Odescalchi Castle (tour)
Piazza Saminiati
Chiesa Parrocchiale di Santo Stefano Protomartire
Belvedere Lago Bracciano (viewpoint)
Train back to Rome
Eat:
Lunch at Trattoria del Castello
Gelato at Picchio Gelateria Naturale
Dinner at Ristorante Percorsi al Vecchio Ponte