Quick answer
Spend three nights in Rome for the Colosseum and Vatican, two in Florence with a day trip to Pisa and Lucca or Tuscany, and two in Venice. Fast trains link all three: Rome to Florence takes about 1h30 and Florence to Venice about 2h15. Fly into Rome and out of Venice. Mid-range land cost starts at about ₹95,000 per person.
The route
- Rome
- Florence
- Pisa or Tuscany
- Florence
- Venice
Day-by-day plan
- 1
Day 1
Arrive in Rome, evening walk
Morning: Land at Fiumicino; Leonardo Express to Termini (about 32 minutes) or a fixed-fare taxi to the centre.
Afternoon: Rest, then the Pantheon and Piazza Navona.
Evening: Trevi Fountain late in the evening, when the crowds thin, and your first gelato.
Stay: Rome — Monti or Centro Storico
- 2
Day 2
Colosseum and ancient Rome
Morning: Colosseum on the first slot, then the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
Afternoon: Rest through the heat, then the Capitoline Hill terrace for the view over the Forum.
Evening: Dinner in Monti or Trastevere.
Stay: Rome
Wear proper walking shoes. The Forum's stones are uneven and there's almost no shade.
- 3
Day 3
Vatican City
Morning: Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel at opening, with shoulders and knees covered.
Afternoon: St Peter's Basilica and the dome climb.
Evening: Castel Sant'Angelo at dusk and a walk across Ponte Sant'Angelo.
Stay: Rome
The museums close on Sundays except the last Sunday of the month, which is free and very crowded.
- 4
Day 4
Train to Florence, Uffizi and sunset
Morning: Frecciarossa or Italo high-speed train to Florence (about 1h30).
Afternoon: Uffizi Gallery on a pre-booked slot, then the Ponte Vecchio.
Evening: Sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo over the whole city.
Stay: Florence — near the Duomo or Santa Maria Novella
- 5
Day 5
Day trip: Pisa and Lucca, or Tuscany
Morning: Train to Pisa (about 1 hour) for the Leaning Tower and the Field of Miracles.
Afternoon: On to Lucca to cycle the old city walls, or swap the day for a Siena, San Gimignano and Chianti tour.
Evening: Back in Florence for dinner.
Stay: Florence
Children under eight can't climb the Leaning Tower.
- 6
Day 6
Duomo, David and on to Venice
Morning: Brunelleschi's dome climb at opening, then Michelangelo's David at the Accademia.
Afternoon: Train to Venice Santa Lucia (about 2h15).
Evening: Vaporetto line 1 down the Grand Canal at sunset to St Mark's Square.
Stay: Venice — San Marco or Cannaregio
- 7
Day 7
St Mark's, Murano and Burano
Morning: St Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace.
Afternoon: Vaporetto to Murano's glass furnaces and Burano's coloured houses.
Evening: Gondola ride at dusk through the quieter back canals.
Stay: Venice
- 8
Day 8
Rialto and departure
Morning: Rialto market and a last walk through the lanes.
Afternoon: Water bus or Alilaguna boat to Marco Polo airport.
Evening: Fly home.
Book an open-jaw ticket into Rome and out of Venice. It usually costs about the same as a return.
Why Rome, Florence and Venice
This is Italy's classic first-trip triangle, and for good reason: ancient Rome, Renaissance Florence and the canals of Venice are three very different experiences linked by fast, frequent trains. Eight days gives you three nights in Rome, two in Florence with a day trip, and two in Venice — staying overnight there means you see it after the day-trippers leave.
Book these before you fly
- Colosseum: official slots open about 30 days ahead.
- Vatican Museums: about €25 online.
- Uffizi, Accademia and the Florence dome: timed slots only.
- Trains: Frecciarossa and Italo fares rise closer to the date; booking 4–6 weeks out saves the most.
How to adapt it
- With parents: drop the dome climb and Pisa, and add a slow afternoon in Florence's Boboli Gardens.
- Honeymooners: replace Pisa with two nights on the Amalfi Coast from Rome, or add Lake Como from Venice via Milan.
- In summer: start every day by 8 am and stay inside museums during the 1–4 pm heat.
One Schengen visa covers Italy plus France and Switzerland if you want to extend.
For budgets see Italy trip cost; for Rome neighbourhoods see where to stay in Rome; and for more sights see things to do in Italy. Check the Italy visa guide before applying.
Frequently asked questions
Is 8 days enough for Italy?
Should I travel between Italian cities by train or flight?
Do I need to stay overnight in Venice?
How we checked this page
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Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
