2 weeks in Italy: the perfect itinerary
With this Italy itinerary, you’ll be able to visit Italy’s essential landmarks.
My road trip combines the timeless beauty of cities like Rome and Florence with Italy’s ever-changing landscapes, taking you on a journey from north to south.
The itinerary is 2 weeks long (14 days) starting with 2 days in Venice and then moving towards the south.
You will stop for: 1, 2 or 3 days in Bologna, Florence, Rome, and Naples.
Then, to top it all off, your Italian escape will end with a couple of days of beach and sun, sipping homemade limoncello on the Amalfi Coast.
You can either rent a car or rely on trains and occasional buses to get around. All of the stops mentioned are well connected by public transport, which I’ll cover in more detail below.
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2 Week Italy itinerary
Italy has a fascinating Mediterranean vibe that neighbouring countries in Europe (and not only in Europe) simply don’t have.
This could be related to the happy geographical position of the peninsula, which made Italy a meeting point of tens of old civilisations.
For this reason, we as travellers get to see:
- Magnificent architecture
- Palaces and churches all around the country
- A diverse urban and natural landscape
- The most authentic Italian dishes
- Rome
- Naples
- Florence
- Venice (my favourite)
- European Travel adaptor – These are essential to charge your phone and camera if you’re arriving from another European country or from elsewhere.
- Euros – I recommend exchanging some money before leaving; they can be quite handy in a country like Italy, where the use of cash is still widespread.
- Italian phrase book – This can be quite handy to carry with you all the time if you need to ask for directions or help in Italian.
- International driving permit – If you’re planning to rent a car in Italy, and you come from outside Europe, you need to get an international driving permit before leaving your country.
- Eco water bottle – A refillable water bottle that can keep your water fresh is a great item to put in your bag. There are many cities where you can find fountains with drinking water, such as Rome or Venice.
- Aim to book your stay in Italy at least 2 months before leaving to get better deals on your accommodations and trains. I advise booking train tickets that allow changes and cancellations.
- Check the attractions’ websites included in this 2 week in Italy itinerary. Not only to be certain they are open the days you’re planning to visit them but also for museum pass deals that allow you to access more monuments and sites and save some money.
- You can get around Italy by train as there are good train connections from major cities like Rome, Florence, Naples, Venice, and Milan.
- You’ll find renting a car in Italy is effective for getting to secluded towns and villages, but you can always consult the Trenitalia website for timetables and connections between cities before you leave.
- One insider tip is to not stop for a meal on the main tourist streets of these cities. The quality of food is always not the best, and by exploring a few metres away from the main landmarks, you can have a more authentic gastronomic experience.
- A 24-hour ticket for Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine can cost 16.00 euro in Rome, or the Museum Pass in Venice to get access to the Doge’s Palace and 10 more museums scattered around the lagoon city with 6 months’ validity costs 36.00 euro.
- If you feel comfortable asking locals for suggestions, go for it. If not, you can read TripAdvisor reviews before making your decision.
- Alternatively, you can join a small group tour like this Naples: Street Food Tour with Local Guide, where you can combine a walking tour of the city with a food tasting experience led by a local expert.
- Unless you really want to be in Italy for a festivity or big event, avoid the weeks when these are happening because the flight costs will be higher (as well as the accommodation).
- I recommend carrying a Pacsafe (or an equivalent backpack) when exploring Italy to help conceal any valuables you may want to carry.
- Accademia Galleries and Bridge
- St. Mark’s Square + Basilica + Campanile
- Doge’s Palace + Bridge of Sighs
- Grand Canal sunset view from Rialto Bridge
- Acqua Alta Book Shop
- Basilica Santa Maria della Salute
- Campo San Polo
- Cannaregio District
- Jewish Ghetto
- Bologna towers: Asinelli and Garisenda
- Piazza Maggiore
- Bologna porticoes
- Quadrilatero neighbourhood
- The Neptune’s Fountain
- Window in Via Piella
- Florence Cathedral
- Uffizi Museum
- Duomo and Signoria Square
- Ponte Vecchio
- Pitti Palace
- The Boboli Gardens
- Church of Santa Maria Novella
- Church of Santa Croce
- Plebiscito Square
- Umberto I Gallery
- National Archeological Museum
- Via Caracciolo and Naples Lungomare
- Castel dell’Ovo
- Spaccanapoli
- Cappella San Severo
- Santa Chiara complex and Majolica Cloister
- Underground Naples
- Castel Sant’Elmo
- All the cities and towns I have suggested above are designed for you to be able to see some of Italy’s most popular landmarks.
- Remember to get your FREE travel insurance quote from SafetyWing to receive fully comprehensive support when it comes to unforeseen travel complications.
- If you are travelling alone, be sure to ‘always’ carry your cell phone along with you, if you have one, that is. Even if you are just popping out of your hotel to go to the main square.
- Check out the Trenitalia website to see how all the train stations are connected if you’ll be using public transport.
- Check out all the amazing tours in Italy that you can do whilst exploring the stops suggested in this 2 week itinerary.
- Try to carry cash and items of value with you at all time in a front or inside pocket, you’ll find Pacsafe makes some great bags/backpacks for travelling around with valuables.
With this 2 week Italy itinerary, I want you to see and experience all of it and get the chance to breathe the ‘dolce vita’ Italian vibe whilst visiting some of the most beautiful cities in the world.
But first, you may be asking yourself…
Is 2 weeks enough for Italy?
In reality, spending 2 weeks in Italy is an ideal length of time to be able to enjoy the best of some popular and iconic spots.
You can easily spend a couple of days in cities such as:
Then, if you’re feeling adventurous, you could even add some more off-the-beaten-path stops like Bologna or Verona to your itinerary.
You can easily move around the country by train or even hire a car (for ultimate freedom), as all these cities are well-connected to one another.
What to pack for Italy
If you’re wondering what to pack before leaving for your 2 weeks in Italy, have a look at this list of items to add to your bag/luggage:
Is Italy safe?
Italy is a safe country to visit, and there’s no reason why you should be concerned by this aspect during your time in the Bel Paese.
According to the Global Peace Index, Italy is the 32nd safest country in the world.
In fact, the crime levels are generally low, with moderate rates in some big cities like Naples, Reggio Calabria, Palermo and Catania in Sicily, where the crime episodes happen in confined areas or neighbourhoods.
Are you ready to experience the best of Italy?
2 weeks in Italy Itinerary Map
Below I’ll share a map of Italy to use as part of your trip planning:
Planning your trip to Italy
Also, read some of my travel tips below to help you with planning your trip.
Got travel insurance for your trip?
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Italy itinerary (14 days)
Now, without further ado, let’s get into this 2 weeks Italy itinerary.
2 days in Venice
Is there a better place to start your 2 weeks in Italy than Venice?
Venice is known for its unique position on the Venetian lagoon, in the Adriatic Sea, and for being built on hundreds of small islands, connected by fascinating bridges.
It’s common to get around by foot, but you can’t miss a gondola ride or take a ferry to the other islands of the lagoon, such as Murano and Burano.
Among the most beautiful landmarks, do not forget to pay a visit to the S. Marco Basilica, Doge’s Palace, and S. Mark’s Square.
If you have the chance, get to the top of the Campanile too, to get breathtaking bird’s-eye views of Venice and the lagoon, and to Rialto Bridge for an unforgettable sunset on the Grand Canal.
Since there are many spots to visit in Venice, one of the popular highlight tours are a great activity to take on – you can see the city’s major highlights with pre-reserved tickets to avoid any hassle.
Venice is much more than these popular places, though, and I invite you to literally get lost in its narrow streets and ‘piazzas’ (you will find that your GPS won’t work properly on these streets anyway).
It’s here that you’ll find the best ‘bacaro’ or ‘trattoria’ and experience proper Italian style aperitivo and a meal with fresh and local ingredients.
See all the stops in our Venice itinerary which you can read here:
Stay at Duodo Palace, an elegant historical palace near St Mark’s Square and La Fenice theatre, to enjoy the best of the San Marco neighbourhood.
How to get from other destinations to Venice
Venice Marco Polo Airport is an international airport that offers 76 flight connections within Europe and with the rest of the world.
There are daily flights from London, Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin, and Frankfurt, just to mention a few cities in Europe.
There are weekly international flights from and to Dubai, Marrakesh, Istanbul and New York City.
Then, providing you don’t want to stay in Mestre (which is also a valid option), there are different options to get from the airport to Venice.
By bus with the ATVO express bus that leaves the airport every 30 minutes or the ACTV bus that leaves the airport every 15 minutes (line n.5).
Both of them land in Piazzale Roma. More expensive options include the water bus called Alilaguna and the water taxi.
1 day in Bologna
Bologna is the regional capital of Emilia-Romagna and the first stop of your 2 weeks in Italy itinerary.
It’s known for its towers that you can spot all around the historic centre.
The incredible porticoes were recently added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, and it’s the motherland of tortellini and bolognese sauce.
Bologna can be explored on foot, and there are some attractions I advise not missing.
First, the Asinelli and Garisenda towers – the first one is the tallest mediaeval tower in the world and you can actually walk to the top.
The Maggiore Square, the heart of the city for the Bolognese people and the 38-kilometre-long porticoes.
For a look at the authentic side of Bologna, walk around the market and small shops of the Quadrilatero neighbourhood.
Stop by Neptune’s fountain and enjoy a Venetian canal-style view from the small window in Via Piella.
See all the stops in our Bologna itinerary, which you can read here:
If you’re going to stay more than a day in Bologna, why not stay at the Albergo Rossini 1936, in the heart of Bologna? Near the famous towers.
How to get from Venice to Bologna
From S. Lucia railway station in Venice, there are daily trains leaving for Bologna Centrale.
Cheaper options include one change, whilst for a direct train, just select the Frecciarossa ticket when buying the online ticket, or ask to book a Frecciarossa train when you’re at the counter.
2 days in Florence
Florence is the Italian destination offering the perfect mix of art, culture, and food to the visitors.
The Renaissance city is a must-see in your 2 weeks Italy itinerary, and one or two days are never enough to find out all the best of Florence.
The heart of Florence is the architectural complex of the Florence Cathedral, one of the largest in the world.
Explore the inside and outside parts of this cathedral before moving to the Uffizi Museum. A real museum institution attracting visitors from all around the world for its collections.
You can also visit this museum with a skip-the-line small group tour for a convenient and informative visit that will save your precious time.
Proceed by walking around the beautiful Duomo and Signoria Squares, and cross the Ponte Vecchio, the mediaeval bridge on the Arno River.
Just to mention a few more landmarks you can include in your Florence stop, I suggest the Pitti Palace, the Boboli Gardens, the Church of Santa Maria Novella, and the Church of Santa Croce.
Stay at the B&B La Terrazza Sul Duomo, (a few steps from the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral) for fabulous city views from the terrace.
How to get from Bologna to Florence
Bologna Centrale station and Florence S. Maria Novella are well-connected too, with tens of train options all day long.
For faster connections, choose Frecciarossa trains. If you want to save some money and you’re not bothered about changing trains, then select any other regional train option.
2 days in Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and must be a stop on your 2 weeks in Italy itinerary. Rome is called the Eternal City, and the reason is its unique blend of ancient and modern architecture.
From the Colosseum and Roman Forum archaeological sites to St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City and the lively atmosphere of the Trastevere neighbourhood.
These architectures will make you fall in love with Rome, and even more when you try a street food tour with a guide: a perfect way to cap a day filled with visits to tourist spots.
Try to spend at least 3 days in Rome to have enough time to visit both the most important attractions and lesser-known but worth-a-visit places.
Apart from the above-mentioned landmarks, you can also visit Navona Square and the Square of Spain with the Spanish steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and People’s Square.
Dreaming of a stay close to the world’s most famous fountain? Stay at Trevi Chic House to stay seconds away from the top attractions in Rome.
How to get from Florence to Rome
Most of the trains leaving Florence S. Maria Novella station are arriving at Roma Termini station.
So that’s the station to look for when checking your train choices. You can select Frecciarossa and Frecciargento train routes for direct trains.
2 days in Naples
It is no secret that Naples is the ultimate pizza lover’s destination.
But is that all? I don’t think so…
In Naples, there’s much more than pizza, rum babà, and sfogliatelle, all delicious food to taste at least once in life.
Spend at least 2 days in the city to admire the beauty of Plebiscito Square and the nearby Neoclassical-style S. Carlo Theatre.
You can also walk down the fabulous architecture of the Umberto I Gallery and visit the National Archaeological Museum to get an idea of how life was in the Vesuvius area around 79 AD.
There are some fascinating corners and places in the city to not miss, first: Spaccanapoli, the street which divides Naples into two and where you’ll find the best street food.
Be sure to check out Underground Naples with this guided tour, the S. Chiara monastery and cloister plus the San Severo chapel.
Finish one of your days with a romantic walk along the Caracciolo promenade to enjoy a stunning view of the Gulf of Naples.
See all the stops in our Naples itinerary which you can read here:
Book a stay at Le Mummarelle, to admire the Gulf of Naples from your room (only) 400 metres away from Piazza Plebiscito and Castel dell’Ovo.
How to get from Rome to Naples
From Roma Termini there are tens of different train routes you can choose from.
Always check the Trenitalia.it website to get the most convenient one.
The station you’ll arrive at is called Napoli Centrale. Again, the Frecciarossa trains are always the best option but also the most expensive one.
You can find direct trains by selecting some Intercity train (IC) routes too, although the ride might be one hour long.
3 days in Sorrento and Amalfi Coast
This 2 week Italy itinerary includes stunning beach destinations like Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. This is where your Italian escape will end.
A full-day tour of Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi is the perfect package to cap off your Italian escapade with comfort and convenience.
Sorrento is a historic coastal town facing the Tyrrhenian Sea and the place where the popular limoncello liquor comes from too.
Stroll around Piazza Tasso (it’s packed with restaurants), visit the Church of San Francesco and admire a sunset over the Gulf of Naples from the Villa Comunale Park.
Sorrento is also well-connected by ferry to Capri if you are already thinking of doing a day trip.
The last stop is the Amalfi Coast. Don’t miss a visit to Positano and Amalfi. Both wedged between high coastal cliffs, they offer a dramatic view over the Mediterranean Sea.
The quaint town is dotted with independent shops, cafés, seafood restaurants, and churches. The best panoramic spot in Positano is near Le Sirenuse Hotel and in Amalfi, the Belvedere Cimitero Monumentale.
How to get from Naples to Sorrento
From Napoli Centrale station, take the Circumvesuviana train to get to Sorrento station. It’s a direct train that takes 50 minutes (express) or an hour and 10 minutes to get to Sorrento.
There are some interesting stops along the way, such as Pompeii and Ercolano, archaeological sites as well as Meta and Vico Equense if you want to spend a day at the beach.
Italy travel tips
See this list of travel tips to take with you:
