8 days in Italy - 1-week itinerary

One question I frequently get asked by readers is ‘how many days should I visit Italy’? 

And to this, I typically have the same response: it depends on the M.O. of your Italy trip. 

For many first-time visitors to the country, I’d say that 8 days in Italy is a good timeframe.  

Eight days factors in sufficient time to deal with issues relating to jetlag and travel time to other destinations. Spending 8 days in Italy also means that you can comfortably see several places in Italy and really enjoy it. 

Based on this, I’ll be outlining a 1-week Italy itinerary presented in two ways. The first will detail an Italy 1-week itinerary starting from Rome, while the second Italy itinerary will start from Milan.

All the places included in this one week in Italy itinerary will be destinations that are within easy reach of each other. 

Customize this 8-day Italy itinerary to fit an Italy itinerary for 7 days if it better suits your travel plans. Both these itineraries can also be extended to fit a ‘10 days in Italy’ itinerary if preferred. 

My hope is that both day-by-day itineraries will help you plan your own trip to Italy. 

How to spend 8 days in Italy

Starting point: Rome 

Suggested number of days: 3  

The Italian capital makes an excellent starting point for any southern Italy itinerary, more so for first-time visitors. It's also one of the best places in Italy to visit.

The Eternal City is home to historical landmarks, striking architecture and is also the gateway to visiting Vatican City.  

Day 1 

Arrive at your Rome hotel (see where to stay in Rome) from Rome Fiumicino ‘Leonardo Da Vinci’ international Airport (FCO).  

The journey by car from Rome’s international airport takes around 35 minutes (not including traffic). By train, the ride time from Fiumicino Airport to Roma Termini station is around 32 minutes. 

Should you arrive in Rome late at night, suffice it to say that major attractions will already be closed. If arriving in the morning, aim to visit 2 or 3 landmarks in Rome.  

With 8 days in Italy, you can easily allocate day 1 as a rest day if needed. 

Day 2 

Begin your 7-day Italy itinerary by visiting some of Rome’s best attractions. In a popular city like Rome, arrive as early as possible and be sure to book tickets in advance. 

Lines are typically long and by booking ahead, you get to skip the lines and jump to the attraction. 
Some of my favorite things to do in Rome include: 

• Booking a skip-the-line tour of the Colosseum   
• Visiting the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel   
• Getting tickets to enter St. Peter’s Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro)  
• Booking tickets to see the Pantheon  
• Visiting the Roman Forum   
• Touring the Catacombs of St. Callixtus  
• Taking a guided tour of the Borghese Gallery (Galleria Borghese) 
• Seeing the Trevi Fountain   
• Walking up the Spanish Steps  
• Booking a guided tour of the Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant'Angelo   
• Visiting the Capuchin Crypt   

It's not expected that you’ll manage to see all these sites in 1 day. However, choose which activities you most want to do and save the rest for day 3.  

In the evening, explore the charming neighborhood of Trastevere. Stroll through its streets and stop at a local pizzeria to indulge in a traditional Roman pinsa. 

Day 3  

Visit the remaining sights in Rome that you didn’t see on day 2.  

Time permitting, consider booking a fun Rome street food tour or a Roman pizza cooking class. Both are fun, and educational, activities not only for adults but also if visiting Rome with kids. 

Day 4 and 5 

There are several options for your remaining 8 days in Italy that make easy and realistic day trips from Rome.  

Rome to the Amalfi Coast 

Suggested number of days: 1-2 

Rome to the Amalfi Coast is one of the most popular trips to book from the capital. There’s a distance of 279km (173mi) between the two, which if you rent a car, translates to approximately 3hr 40mins.  

Traveling by train from Rome to the Amalfi Coast requires a bit more effort. This is because the route usually involves at least two modes of transport like train and bus/ferry. The overall journey time using public transport depends on which town on the Amalfi Coast you plan to visit. 

1-week Italy itinerary with the Amalfi Coast 

At this point, you may prefer to spend the remainder of your 8 days in Italy exploring the Amalfi Coast. 

While I added a suggested timeframe of 1-2 days, it’s a short amount of time to fully appreciate the region. We were lucky to spend 4 days visiting the Amalfi Coast and its pretty small coastal towns like Sorrento (discover the best things to do in 1 day in Sorrento).

But, in order to see the best of Italy in one week, a day trip will work out much better. 

The following are some top tour options for 1-day day trips from Rome to the Amalfi Coast to consider booking: 

• From Rome: Amalfi Coast group day trip 
• From Rome: Pompeii, Amalfi Coast and Positano day trip 
• Rome to Amalfi Coast tour with limoncello tasting and cruise 
• Transfer from Rome to the Amalfi Coast with private tour in Herculaneum  
• 3-day tour from Rome to Naples, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast 

Day 6 

Rome to Naples 

Suggested number of days: 1 

Around 1hr 13mins by high-speed train from Rome is the Goliath city of Naples.  
 
A city known for being a little rough around the edges, we had the best time on our one day in Naples.

And with regular Frecciarossa (fast train) services between Rome and Naples, it makes an ideal Rome day trip. 

From Naples, there’s also the option to extend your stay to tour Pompeii or to see the Amalfi Coast.  

The journey time via car and public transport is much shorter from Naples to the Amalfi Coast than from Rome. 

Day 7 

Rome to Florence 

Suggested number of days: 1-2 

A trip from Rome to Florence nicely rounds up the remainder of your 8 days in Italy itinerary.  

While it’s possible to see many top attractions in 1 day, aim for 2 days in Florence if possible. This allows enough time to comfortably visit the city’s must-see sights and to explore a few of Florence’s best museums.  

Some of the best things to do in Florence include: 

• Booking a guided tour of Florence’s Cathedral and heading to the top of Brunelleschi's Dome  
• Touring the cathedral’s museum (Museo dell’Opera del Duomo di Firenze)  
• Booking a timed tour of the Uffizi Gallery   
• Taking a guided tour of the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo's David   
• Touring Pitti Palace (Palazzo Pitti)   
• Visiting Palazzo Vecchio 

Day 8 

Departure day. Make the journey back to Rome Fiumicino Airport. 

Depending on your flight time you may prefer to spend the last night at a hotel near Rome’s airport. 

Northern Italy 1-week itinerary: starting point: Milan 

Suggested number of days: 2 

The city of fashion, design, art and architecture, Milan is a good starting point for any northern Italy itinerary. 

Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) caters for plenty of international flights and has good transport links heading to the center. 

The journey time by car from Milan Malpensa Airport to Milan city center is approximately 52 minutes. This doesn’t factor in traffic, of which Milan typically has a lot of. A train from Aeroporto di Milano Malpensa to Milano Cadorna station will take around 38 minutes. 
 
I’ve suggested 2 days in Milan as I think it’s enough time to see the city’s main sights. Naturally, feel free to extend this to 3 days if you prefer to spend longer exploring the city. 

Day 1 

Arrive at your Milan hotel (see Milan hotels near the Duomo) after arriving at Malpensa Airport

Like Rome, the itinerary for your first day in Milan will depend on several factors. What time your flight arrives and whether you’re too jetlagged/tired to do any activities will also play a role. 

Saying that, day 1 of your north Italy travel itinerary may be an allocated rest day.  

However, if none of the above applies to you, start exploring Milan and its top attractions listed under day 2. 

Day 2 

Like the other big Italian cities, I also advise booking ahead for major attractions in Milan.  

From personal experience, we didn’t find the lines in Milan as long compared to Rome and Florence. But booking skip-the-lines tickets are still super helpful especially if you’ve only 8 days in Italy to spend.

Some activities you might like to add to your Milan itinerary include: 

• A guided tour to see Milan’s Cathedral (Duomo di Milano) 
• Exploring the shops, eateries and architecture at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II  
• Visiting Sforzesco Castle (Castello Sforzesco) 
• Taking a guided tour of the Pinacoteca di Brera 
• Watching a performance at the Teatro alla Scala  
• Booking tickets to see Da Vinci's Last Supper painting (read the detailed guide) 

Days 3 and 4 

Take a trip to Lake Como 

Suggested number of days: 2 

A trip from Milan to Lake Como is unmissable when visiting the city.  

There are several ways to get to Lake Como from Milan and the journey times are short too. By car, the journey is approximately 1hr 7mins (starting from Milan’s Cathedral). The Milan to Como train on the other hand is much quicker at around 38 minutes. 

I suggest spending 2 days in Lake Como, but a day trip is also doable given the short distance. Should you prefer to extend your time here, my 3 days in Lake Como itinerary provides a helpful detailed breakdown. 

Read 'where to stay in Lake Como' for a clearer idea of which town/s best suit your travel type.

Days 4 and 5 

Visit Venice 

Suggested number of days: 2 

From the north to the north-east, no 8 days in Italy itinerary would be complete without a visit to Venice.

The high-speed Frecciarossa train from Milan to Venice takes around 2hrs 28mins. This may vary depending on the day you travel and the time of your train. By car, the journey time is slightly longer at approximately 2hrs 52mins.  

The capital of the Veneto region, Venice is like walking into a real-life fairytale. I’ve suggested 2 days for the purposes of this northern Italy itinerary, but you may prefer to extend it.  

What to see in Italy in a week 

Visiting Venice can easily take up more than 2 days given the many surrounding islands in the lagoon.

Explore the different neighborhoods in Venice, visit Murano, Burano and Torcello, and relax on the sandy beaches of Lido di Venezia.

With a few days in which to explore Venice, these attractions and activities are a must for any Venice itinerary. 

• Taking a guided tour of the Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale)  
• Skipping the line to enter the magnificent St. Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco) 
• Booking a gondola ride through the canals of Venice  
• Visiting the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello  
• Seeing the exhibits at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection   
• Taking a guided tour of the Academy Gallery (Gallerie dell'Accademia) 

Days 6 and 7 

Tour Turin 

Suggested number of days: 2 

Explore the architecture, grand streets and salivating food scene of Italy’s first capital.  
A high-speed train will get you from Milan to Turin in around 1hr 5mins. The journey time by car is approximately 2 hours, not including traffic. 

Turin has plenty to see and do and the attractions in the city will easily fill 2 days. Some of the Turin attractions I advise adding to your 8 days in Italy itinerary include: 

• Booking a guided tour of the Royal Palace of Turin (Palazzo Reale)  
• Seeing the exhibits inside the Egyptian Museum (Museo Egizio) 
• Taking a guided tour of the Mole Antonelliana 
• Exploring the National Museum of Italian Unification (Museo Nazionale del Risorgimento Italiano)  
• Admiring classic Italian cars at the National Car Museum (Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile)   

Should you manage to see all the above, you may want to consider visiting the following places just outside Turin. 

• The Royal Palace of Venaria (Reggia di Venaria). A grand estate with baroque furnishings surrounded by 50 hectares of garden. 
• The Langhe wine region. Tour the land where they produce Barolo and Barbaresco wines. 

Alternative options for days 6 and 7 

There are alternative options to Turin should you prefer to visit other destinations from Milan. They include: 

• Parma (1hr 25mins by car, 47mins by train) 
• Lake Garda (2hrs by car) 
• Cinque Terre (3hr by car, 3hr by train) 

Which destination you choose to add to your 8 days in Italy itinerary is completely up to you. I’ve suggested Turin given its rich history and the short travel times to get to and from Milan. 

Day 8 

Departure day. Make the journey back to Milan Malpensa Airport. Consider checking into a hotel near Milan’s airport if you’ve an early morning flight. 

Is one week enough in Italy? 

One week is never long enough for any vacation. But, for first-time visitors, one week in Italy is a good amount of time providing it’s properly planned out. 

What should I pack for a week in Italy? 

What to pack for a week in Italy depends on several factors. This includes when you plan to visit Italy and the type of activities you want to do.  

Understanding when is the best time to visit Italy will help you pack right. Make sure to bring all the travel essentials for Italy so you won’t need to buy anything on your trip.  

What are your thoughts on this 8 days in Italy itinerary? Which destinations would you most like to see? Let me know in the comments below. 

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that I’ve recommended. Thank you for your support.