Sample itinerary · 10 days
10-Day Italy Itinerary for First-Timers
Three cities in ten days without spending half of them on trains.
- Going to
- Italy — Rome, Florence and Venice
- Length
- 10 days
- Travelers
- Couples
The total covers flights from Atlanta, Georgia, lodging, getting around and tickets and tours for the whole party, plus food, gas and parking estimated in the breakdown below.
Things to do
- Trastevere neighborhood walk (Day 2)
- Colosseum Underground and Arena guided tour (Day 3)
- Roman Forum and Palatine Hill (Day 3)
- Basilica of San Clemente excavations (Day 3)
- Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel (Day 4)
- St. Peter’s Basilica (Day 4)
- Oltrarno and Santo Spirito evening walk (Day 4)
- Uffizi Gallery (Day 5)
- Coffee break at Caffè Gilli (Day 5)
- Palazzo Vecchio (Day 5)
- Scuola del Cuoio leather workshop (Day 5)
- Walkabout Florence market tour and cooking class (Day 6)
- San Lorenzo neighborhood wandering (Day 6)
- Accademia Gallery (Day 6)
- Cannaregio and the Jewish Ghetto walk (Day 7)
- St. Mark’s Basilica (Day 8)
- Doge’s Palace Secret Itineraries tour (Day 8)
- Scuola Grande di San Rocco (Day 8)
- Peggy Guggenheim Collection (Day 9)
- Dorsoduro neighborhood walk (Day 9)
- Burano lagoon excursion (Day 9)
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Why this plan works
The first day is deliberately limited to the transatlantic flight, with all meals handled at home, in the terminal or onboard rather than adding incidental sightseeing.
- 8:00 AM
Breakfast · C'est La Vie Cafe
8:00 AM
Starting near the airport offers a calm, neighborhood breakfast before wrapping up final preparations for your overnight flight to Rome.
A French-inspired cafe along historic Main Street in College Park serving espresso drinks, croissants, and made-to-order crepes. Order a cappuccino alongside a savory crepe or fresh pastry to kick off travel day.
- 2:30 PM
Early lunch at One Flew South
2:30 PM
It is a substantial airside meal before the overnight flight.
After security in ATL Concourse E, allow about 60 minutes for sushi, salads or Southern plates before boarding.
- 6:30 PM
Typical nonstop flight · ATL → FCO
6:30 PM
A nonstop overnight itinerary avoids a connection and reaches Rome early enough for an easy arrival day.
Book ahead · Fares typically open ~11 months out and are usually cheapest 2–4 months ahead
Operating airline typically Delta Air Lines; depart ATL around 6:30 PM and arrive FCO around 9:15 AM the following day; nonstop routing, about 9 hours 45 minutes; arrive at ATL 3 hours before departure. Grab breakfast on the aircraft before landing and confirm the operating concourse and schedule for your dates.
- 8:00 PM
Dinner onboard the overnight flight
8:00 PM
Dining onboard protects sleep time and avoids unnecessary airport rushing.
Use the included airline meal service; bring a small backup snack in case the service timing is late.
If you fall behind
- What to cut if you fall behind: Skip the airport sit-down lunch and buy something portable near the gate.
Bookings & costs
Total unavailable
Total unavailable: prices in this plan are in more than one currency, so we won't add them up.
No stay price yet for 1 night (after day 1), so they aren't in this figure.
0 of 30 bookable items booked
Food not included: about $2,240, listed below
Locked in
$0
paid or reserved
Still to book
$6,390
est. $5,165–$7,620 · 30 items
Gas & parking
$240
est. $135–$343
Know before you go
Practical notes for this trip — the things worth sorting before you leave.
Booking windows & timing
Reserve the Colosseum underground tour, Vatican Museums, Uffizi Gallery, Accademia Gallery, Doge’s Palace and Florence cooking class as soon as their date-specific inventory opens. Use only the official museum or operator sites listed in the itinerary.
Time-sensitiveColosseum Underground and Arena guided tourAsk each hotel to reserve the memorable dinner in its city if online inventory is unavailable. These are small dining rooms, and prime evening tables can disappear several weeks ahead.
Time-sensitiveMemorable Rome dinner at Per Me Giulio Terrinoni
Set up before you go
Install Trenitalia and Italo, save both travelers’ tickets offline and verify the train number on the station board. High-speed tickets are train-specific; arrive about 20 minutes early, but do not validate an electronic ticket unless its instructions explicitly require it.
Frecciarossa · Roma Termini → Firenze S. M. Novella
Getting around & driving
Rome’s buses can be slow, so this plan uses walking and the Metro for longer hops. In Venice, buy vaporetto rides through the official Venezia Unica system and keep luggage compact enough for bridges and crowded boats.
Weather & packing
October often brings mild afternoons, cool evenings and intermittent rain. Bring a compact umbrella and a light waterproof layer; Venice’s stone paving and Florence’s smooth flagstones become slick when wet.
Crowds & timing
Be at the Vatican, Uffizi and Accademia entrances 15–20 minutes before the printed time. Security lines still apply to timed tickets, and late-arrival policies can be strict.
Time-sensitiveVatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
Money
Cards work almost everywhere, but keep €40–€60 for small bars, markets and public restrooms. Decline dynamic currency conversion and choose charges in euros at terminals and ATMs.
Local etiquette & language
Churches require covered shoulders and knees, including St. Peter’s Basilica and Santa Croce. Carry a light scarf, and remember that ordering coffee while standing at the bar usually costs less than table service.
Health & safety
Rome’s public drinking fountains are useful for refilling bottles unless marked non-potable. Watch phones and wallets around Termini, crowded Metro cars, the Rialto area and busy vaporetto platforms.
Entry requirements
Travel on a passport valid for the required period beyond your stay and confirm current Italian and Schengen entry requirements through the U.S. Department of State before departure.
Embassy & emergency
Embassy of the United States of America in RomeItaly
Via Vittorio Veneto 121, 00187 Rome, Italy
+39 06 46741
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Questions about this plan
- Which specific sites require advance booking?
- You'll need to book the Colosseum Underground tour, Vatican Museums, Uffizi Gallery, Accademia Gallery, and Doge’s Palace Secret Itineraries tour well in advance. We also recommend reserving the Florence cooking class and memorable dinners as soon as their booking windows open.
- How do we travel between Rome, Florence, and Venice?
- This itinerary uses high-speed Frecciarossa trains for inter-city travel, connecting Roma Termini to Firenze S. M. Novella, and then Firenze S. M. Novella to Venezia S. Lucia. Tickets should be purchased ahead of time.
- What kind of hotels are suggested?
- The plan includes stays at central boutique hotels: Chapter Roma in Rome, Hotel Spadai in Florence, and Hotel Ai Reali di Venezia in Venice. These locations are chosen for their walkability to major attractions.
- What's the plan for dining in each city?
- Each city includes neighborhood trattorias for authentic local meals, plus one memorable, higher-end dinner: Per Me Giulio Terrinoni in Rome, Santa Elisabetta in Florence, and Venissa on Mazzorbo (Venice).
- How do we get around within each city?
- In Rome, you'll rely on walking and the Metro. Florence is mostly walkable. In Venice, you'll navigate by walking, public vaporetto boats, and a private water taxi to the airport on departure day.
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Browse every sample itinerary or see all Italy — Rome, Florence and Venice itineraries. Last validated 10/20/2026.
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