Seven, ten or fourteen days: what fits comfortably, and what to leave for next time.
Quick answerPlan at least 7 days for a first trip, enough for two bases such as Rome and Florence. With 10 to 12 days you can add Venice or the Amalfi Coast. With 14 days you can see three or four regions without rushing. As a rule, allow at least two to three nights in each place.
By the Thrill of Italy team · Updated October 2026
| Trip length | Comfortable number of bases | Example route |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days | 2 | Florence and Tuscany, then the Cinque Terre |
| 10 days | 3 | Rome, Florence and Venice |
| 12 days | 4 | Amalfi Coast, Rome, Florence and Venice |
| 14 days | 3 to 4 | Puglia, Calabria and Sicily |
Two bases are comfortable in seven days. Every move costs half a day of packing, check-out and travel, so a week split between three cities feels rushed. Our 8-day Florence, Tuscany and Cinque Terre itinerary is a good example of a relaxed first week.
Ten to twelve days is the sweet spot for the classic first visit: Rome, Florence and Venice, with the Tuscan countryside or the Amalfi Coast added. Our 12-Day Best of Italy starts on the Amalfi Coast and ends in Venice.
Two weeks lets you go deeper rather than wider: one region in depth, or a longer journey like our 14-day Southern Thrills through Puglia, Calabria and Sicily. Many travellers save the south for a second trip.
Trying to see everything. Italy rewards slower travel: a free afternoon in a piazza often becomes the best memory of the trip. We recommend at least half a day at leisure in each place.
Two bases, one transfer, and time to slow down.
Tell us your dates and what you love. A member of the team replies personally.
8 days · Florence, Pisa, Siena
Florence Highlights Tour, Wine Tasting and Cooking Class in Tuscany, Boat Tour Of Cinque Terre.
12 days · Amalfi Coast, Rome, Florence, Venice
Capri by boat, Pompeii, the Vatican, a Tuscan countryside day and a private boat in the Venice lagoon.
14 days · Puglia, Calabria, Sicily
Polignano a Mare, Alberobello, Lecce, Matera, Tropea and Mount Etna.
Something else on your mind? A member of the team replies personally.
Five days is enough for one city and a day trip, for example Rome, or Florence with a day in Tuscany. Two cities in five days is possible but busy.
An open-jaw route, arriving in one city and leaving from another, saves a return journey and is how many of our itineraries are planned.
Not if they are planned well. A private transfer can include a stop on the way, such as a hill town or a winery.
Tell us your dates and what you love. Your trip designer will reply with ideas and a first proposal.
12-Day Best of Italy