Travel Guide: 11 Days in Italy (Venice, Florence, the Amalfi Coast & Rome)
Planning an unforgettable trip to Italy? Whether you're dreaming of a honeymoon, an anniversary getaway, or just an amazing European vacation, our 11-day Italy itinerary offers the perfect balance of iconic sights, romantic moments, and tourist attractions mixed with local finds. Four cities, 11 days, more pasta and wine than we should probably admit to, and an itinerary we'd repeat in a heartbeat. We started in Venice, wandered through Florence and the Tuscan countryside, relaxed along the Amalfi Coast, and wrapped it all up in the heart of Rome.
This was Brooke’s long-awaited quasi-honeymoon, a trip she had to postpone when the world shut down in 2020 – and it was worth the wait because it was one of the best trips ever! This Italy travel guide covers our exact itinerary: what to do, where to stay, how to get around & the standout spots worth bookmarking. We've also broken each city into its own deep-dive guide linked throughout (more coming soon!), so if you're only heading to one stop, there's a whole post just for you.
Why This Route Works
Venice → Florence → Amalfi Coast → Rome is the ideal flow throughout your Italian adventure, and here's why: you're moving south the entire time, but you end up venturing back up to Rome for easy international flights home. Every connection along the way is on Italy's high-speed rail network, making the logistics surprisingly smooth. Two days of canals & aperitivo culture, three days of Renaissance art & Chianti countryside, four days of Mediterranean coastline, and then Rome as the grand finale before heading home... We wouldn't change the order if we did it again!
Italy Trip Planning Tips
A few things worth knowing before you book anything:
Book your trains early. Italy's high-speed trains are affordable and efficient, but prices go up the closer you get to your travel date. Book 60–90 days out when possible — we used ItaliaRail for easy booking.
Hire a car for the Naples-to-Amalfi-Coast leg. Do not try to navigate those winding clifftop roads with luggage after a 3-hour train ride. A hired car service from Naples directly to your hotel on the coast is worth every euro, removes an enormous amount of stress, and frees up your eyes to take in the beautiful sites instead of the road. Your hotel can almost always recommend a trusted local driver, but we used Good Heart Limos.
Reserve the big must-dos before you leave home. Michelangelo's David in Florence and the Colosseum in Rome both sell out weeks ahead in peak season. Book timed entry online before you go for best results – we had great luck with booking via Viator.
Carry some cash. Most restaurants and shops accept credit cards, but smaller trattorias, gelato stands & street vendors often prefer cash, especially on the Amalfi Coast.
Don’t book roundtrip tickets for the busses to Positano. We took the Siva Sid big busses on the way to Positano & the smaller Mobility Amalfi Coast busses on the way back since they run later.
The cappuccino rule is real. Cappuccinos are a morning drink in Italy. Ordering one after 11am is a cultural no-no. Espresso is what you drink after lunch and dinner. “When in Rome” as they say — and Florence and everywhere else too, of course!
Don’t ask for the check until you’re done eating. If you ask for the check, whether you’re at a restaurant or drinking espresso at the bar, they will think you are done with whatever you’re eating or drinking & take it away. Don’t make the same mistakes we’ve accidentally made in the past if you want to finish your meal!
The Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1, Venice: Fly in, water taxi to hotel, dinner at Muro Frari
Day 2, Venice → Florence: Landmarks, cicchetti & Bellini at Harry's Bar, train to Florence, dinner at Osteria Santo Spirito, wine window at Babae
Day 3, Florence: Morning cappuccino, Michelangelo's David, rooftop drinks at the Westin Excelsior, gelato & sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo, dinner at Ristorante Beccafico
Day 4, Florence: Chianti wine tour (Casa Emma!), Ponte Vecchio & Duomo, dinner at Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco, gelato at La Carraia
Day 5, Florence → Amalfi Coast: Morning pastry, train to Naples, hired car to Praiano, check into Locanda Costa Diva, dinner at Kasai
Day 6, Amalfi Coast: Lunch at Il Pirata, bus to Positano, cocktails at Franco's Bar
Day 7, Amalfi Coast: Private boat tour, swim in the Mediterranean, lunch at La Tonnarella (boat only!), Amalfi town spritz
Day 8, Amalfi Coast: Beach club at Hotel Pupetto, sunset drinks at Hotel Poseidon, dinner at Il Tridente
Day 9, Amalfi Coast → Rome: Private car to Naples, train to Rome, Trastevere Airbnb, Dar Poeta pizza, aperitivo wander1
Day 10, Rome: Colosseum tour, square pizza near the Colosseum, dinner at Da Enzo al 29
Day 11, Rome: "No Regrets" day — no agenda, just the city
Day 12, Travel day: Early morning flight home
The Full Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Venice
There's no place like Venice to begin an Italy trip. It’s one of those places you definitely need to see once in your life, but it’s not necessarily our favorite Italian city. That being said, we think a little over 24 hours is perfect here! Built on more than 100 small islands and connected by a maze of canals, it's one of the most unique cities in the world, and arriving by water taxi is one of those travel moments you’ll remember forever. Watching the Grand Canal open up in front of you as you pull up to your hotel is something we still think about.
After settling in and freshening up, we walked towards dinner at Muro Frari, a cozy local restaurant tucked away from the tourist-heavy spots near Piazza San Marco. We didn’t end up making it there in time for our reservation because of a major water bus fail, but we won’t make that same mistake next time. Not sure if it was the jet lag, but we watched multiple water taxis pass by and didn’t think ours had arrived yet because what we were looking at was the floating waiting area that is always there, not a boat ferry.
Wherever you dine, don't underestimate the value of just wandering after dinner because the city at night is something else entirely. They say you should get lost in Venice, and it’s easy to do, so why not enjoy it? And if you want to feel like George Clooney, book a table ahead of time at Ristorante Da Ivo.
→ [Full Venice guide with all tips, restaurant details & what to skip coming soon]
Day 2: Explore Venice & Travel to Florence
We started with a relaxed hotel breakfast and headed out to see Venice's most famous landmarks: the Bridge of Sighs, the Rialto Bridge & the Rialto Market at its base. We stopped at Harry's Bar — the historic institution that invented the Bellini in 1948 — for a drink that felt equal parts touristy and completely worth it. We also found a restaurant with a beautiful view of a piazza (why don’t these exist in the same way in the states?!) for cicchetti & an Aperol Spritz. It was a true Venetian happy hour experience: small bites, local wine or a spritz, and no rush. In fact, the server even picked up on our city energy and reminded us to tranquilo. Something we continued to remind ourselves for the rest of our Italian adventure.
In the afternoon, we walked to the waterside Santa Lucia train station rather than taking the vaporetto, and although longer than we thought, it was a beautiful way to see the city, even with a rolling suitcase. We caught the 3:45pm high-speed train to Florence, arriving in the early evening.
After checking into our perfectly positioned Airbnb apartment (with amazing AC!) steps from the Duomo, we headed to dinner at Osteria Santo Spirito (get the truffle gnocchi!) and ended the night with a glass of wine from Babae, one of Florence's most famous wine windows. You ring a little bell, a hand appears through a hole in an ancient wall & you receive a glass of Tuscan wine on the cobblestones. Exactly as magical as it sounds. This is also the bar where Brooke acquired the taste for a negroni!
Day 3: Florence's Art & Views
Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance and home to some of the most iconic art in the world. We started with cappuccinos at a neighborhood café before heading to the Galleria dell'Accademia for our 10:30am timed entry to see Michelangelo's David. Seeing it in person is genuinely awe-inspiring in a way that photos simply don't prepare you for. We’re still wondering how he did it.
In the afternoon, we had rooftop drinks at The Westin Excelsior, which offers sweeping panoramic views over the Arno and the Florentine skyline. As the sun started to set, we grabbed gelato from a little spot at the base of the hill and walked up to Piazzale Michelangelo for one of the most beautiful sunsets we've ever seen. It was well worth the hike up!
We ended the day with dinner at Ristorante Beccafico, a warm, romantic restaurant on Borgo San Iacopo that we discovered by happenstance when we couldn’t get into Stanley Tucci’s favorite spot and it was definitely a blessing in disguise.
Day 4: Wine Tasting in the Tuscan Countryside
A Chianti wine tasting tour is genuinely a must if you're spending any time in Florence, and this turned out to be one of the best days of the entire trip. We met our group tour at 11:45am and headed into the Tuscan countryside to a few wineries. Our favorite was Casa Emma, a beautiful estate in the heart of the Chianti Classico region. Rolling hills, olive groves & bold reds. It was everything you imagine when you picture Tuscany.
After returning to Florence, we spent the rest of the afternoon walking aimlessly: crossing the Ponte Vecchio and window shopping for gold jewelry, walking past the Duomo, wandering toward the Uffizi Gallery & stopping into whatever shop looked good. Like Venice, Florence rewards free time as much as it rewards a planned itinerary.
Dinner was at Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco, a local favorite and a favorite of Stanley Tucci's from Searching for Italy, set inside a 14th-century tower with exposed stone walls. There weren’t any tables for two, but we ended up joining another couple who was waiting to make it a party of four! It ended up being one of our most favorite dinners since we made new friends we ended up having a lot in common with. We ended with gelato from La Carraia by the river. (Yes, we went back. It's that good.)
→ [Full Florence guide coming soon]
Day 5: Florence to the Amalfi Coast (Praiano)
After a morning cappuccino & pastry, we took a leisurely walk to the train station for the journey to Naples, grabbing a quick lunch along the way. The high-speed train from Florence to Naples takes about 1.5–2 hours and the views are wonderful.
From Naples Central Station, our hired private car took us along the winding coastal road to Praiano — and yes, hiring a car here is work the price tag. Those roads are beautiful and genuinely not for the faint of heart when navigating yourself. Arriving to Locanda Costa Diva, our cliffside hotel in Praiano, with its views over the Tyrrhenian Sea and its lemon trees, was one of those moments where you just stop and say: wow, we're really here.
While Positano tends to get all the spotlight, we loved the peaceful, more local vibe of Praiano, and we'd choose it again without hesitation.
Dinner that night was at Kasai, known for its locally sourced seafood and beautiful outdoor setting. We had been wanting to go since Ashley Kane first recommended it, and we’re so glad we did.
Day 6: Exploring Positano
After missing our bus to Positano because we didn’t anticipate it would already be full by the time it got to us, we decided to walk a few minutes down the road to grab lunch at Il Pirata — a stunning restaurant and beach club built right into the coastal cliff. It ended up being one of our most favorite memories of the trip! After the morning rush had settled, we caught the bus to Positano, one of the most beautiful towns on the Mediterranean: colorful buildings tumbling down to the water, boutique shops, dramatic staircases & views around every corner. It's perfect for a leisurely afternoon of just exploring.
We ended the evening with cocktails at Franco's Bar, an open-air terrace in Positano with incredible views over the water – the perfect close to an afternoon in one of the most photographed towns in Italy. We felt like VIPs after waiting in a long line & getting seated at one of the best tables on the terrace!
Be warned though, if you stay in Positano too late, the busses back to Praiano stop operating at a certain time. We were able to find an alternative (last bus back!), but it might be worth looking at the time tables ahead of departure to avoid any stress.
Day 7: Amalfi Coast Boat Day
This was one of the most unforgettable days of the entire trip and a true pinch-me moment. We booked a private boat tour along the coast, which included swimming in the clearest, warmest, most impossibly blue water, exploring the town of Amalfi, stopping for a spritz & having lunch at La Tonnarella, an idyllic beachside restaurant in Conca dei Marini that is only accessible by boat. The boat floats up, you hop off, you eat fresh pasta & seafood with the sea right there, and you feel like you're living inside a movie.
One very important piece of advice: take the iconic Positano backdrop photo before you go swimming. We did not do this. We swam first. The photo happened after, with newly wet hair in a pretty dress. Lesson very much learned.
Day 8: Beach Club & Sunset Dinner
We spent the day at Hotel Pupetto's beach club in Positano, complete with sun beds, umbrellas, prosecco & long hours swimming in the Mediterranean. Most of the beach clubs in Positano will charge you an arm & a leg for a chair, but this one was so well-priced compared to the others. And the drinks + service were excellent (the food was so-so)!
In the evening, we had sunset drinks at Hotel Poseidon for stunning views followed by a romantic dinner at Il Tridente. Both were perfect choices for our last night on the coast.
→ [Full Amalfi Coast guide including the full Praiano vs. Positano breakdown coming soon]
Day 9: Amalfi Coast to Rome
We checked out early, took a private car back to Naples and boarded the one-hour high-speed train to Rome. Our Airbnb was in Trastevere, a vibrant, historic neighborhood filled with narrow cobblestone alleys, local eateries & a nighttime energy that feels local and not touristy.
After dropping off our bags, we grabbed pizza at Dar Poeta and wandered the neighborhood for aperitivo, stopping in wherever looked lively. It was the perfect introduction to the city.
Day 10: Colosseum & Roman Highlights
We started our morning with a guided tour of the Colosseum, Rome's most iconic monument, built nearly 2,000 years ago and still extraordinary in person. Book ahead and do it with a guide. The difference between standing inside with context and without it is enormous. We were even able to sneak away to film our very own The Lizzie McGuire Movie lip sync video since we could listen to the historical context via our headsets.
For lunch, we stopped at our tour guide’s recommendation: Pizzeria della Madonna dei Monti near the Colosseum for square Roman-style pizza. It’s sold by the slice, priced by weight, and eaten standing up or sitting down, your choice!
Dinner that evening was at Da Enzo al 29 in Trastevere. We got there early to line up (expect to wait 60-90 minutes or more) before opening to claim our spot for their first dinner seating. Don’t be afraid to grab a spritz or two to-go from the bar around the corner while you wait, or direct from the restaurant once they start offering that service. The food & vibes are worth every single minute of the wait.
Day 11: A Slow Day in Rome
For our final full day, we kept everything completely unplanned – a tradition we have when we travel and something we call our “no regrets” day.
We wandered through piazzas, sat on some steps and did nothing in particular, visited the landmarks we wanted to see again, ordered espressos while standing up at the bar, had one last gelato, and let the city take us wherever it wanted. Sometimes the best travel moments are the ones you don't schedule, and Rome is a city that rewards exactly that kind of wandering.
Whatever you haven't done yet, whatever you want to revisit, we recommend leaving one day open to see what it becomes.
→ [Full Rome guide including everything worth doing and the Da Enzo line situation coming soon!]
Day 12: Travel Day
We traveled to the airport for a very early morning flight home with full hearts, a very full camera roll & a new appreciation for everything Italy has to offer. So much so that we went back to Rome just six months later, the two of us together with our husbands this time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 11 days enough for Venice, Florence, the Amalfi Coast & Rome?
Yes! It's an ideal amount of time for this route. Two days in Venice covers the highlights without rushing, three in Florence lets you explore and do a wine tour, four on the Amalfi Coast gives you time to actually slow down & three days in Rome is exactly right. You won't see everything, but you’ll see the right things and still have time to relax.
Is Praiano or Positano better?
We'd pick Praiano to stay and Positano to visit. Positano is stunning, but extremely crowded and expensive. Praiano is 10 minutes away by bus or boat, plus it’s quieter, has more local vibes & is significantly more affordable. All the access with a fraction of the tourist density. Coming back to Praiano after a day in Positano felt like a breath of fresh air.
Do you need to rent a car for this itinerary?
You most certainly can, but we much preferred riding the trains. The one exception: hire a car (not a self-drive rental) for the Naples-to-Amalfi-Coast leg of the trip. The roads are narrow, winding & stressful. Let someone who knows every twist & turn do the driving.
What's the best way to get from Florence to the Amalfi Coast?
High-speed train from Florence to Naples (~1.5–2 hours), then a hired car from Naples Central Station to your hotel on the coast. Easy peasy!
When is the best time to visit Italy?
We love to travel when it’s less hot and less crowded. Late April through early June, or September through October. Beautiful weather & manageable crowds. July and August are hot – not to mention extremely crowded & expensive, especially on the Amalfi Coast.
How much should we budget for 11 days in Italy?
It varies a lot by accommodation style, but broadly: Florence and Venice are mid-range Italian cities where you can eat very well without overspending. The Amalfi Coast, especially Positano, is the most expensive stretch by far. Staying in Praiano instead of Positano makes a meaningful difference price-wise. We treated this trip like a honeymoon, so we definitely spent more than we typically do when traveling, but it can absolutely be done for less!
What trains do you take for this itinerary?
All high-speed, all bookable on the ItaliaRail app or website before you go. We preferred booking ahead of time, so we could opt for the assigned seating option. If you do happen to miss your train (we missed our train to Rome from Naples… literally saw the doors close & it take off), you are able to buy a ticket at the station.
Venice Santa Lucia → Florence Santa Maria Novella (Trenitalia/Italo, ~2.5 hrs)
Florence → Napoli Centrale (~1.5–2 hrs)
Napoli Centrale → Roma Termini (~1 hr 10 min)
We are so excited for you to experience the magic of Italy! We’re already itching to go back soon. Message us if you have any questions! We’ve also added all of our favorite restaurants & spots to this Google Maps list.
What are some of your places to visit in Italy? Drop your recommendations in the comments – and if you visit any of the spots we mentioned, we want to see it! Tag us on social so we can celebrate along with you 🤍
For more travel inspiration, check out our Lake Como travel guide and a weekend in The Bahamas posts!