Italy 7 days covers Italy's iconic trio. Days 1-2: Venice (St Mark's + Doge's Palace + Murano/Burano). Days 3-5: Florence (Duomo + Uffizi + David). Days 6-7: Rome (Colosseum + Vatican). Frecciarossa high-speed trains connect cities in 2-3.5h.
A full week is enough to actually understand Venice. Three days for the major districts, three days for nearby regions, and one day for the offbeat neighborhoods most tourists miss. The back half of the trip is more about texture than checking landmarks — your photos get more diverse and you walk away with a three-dimensional sense of the city.
7-Day Total Budget at a Glance
Budget
$1,670
Per person, flights excl.
Mid-Range
$3,360
Per person, flights excl.
Luxury
$8,100
Per person, flights excl.
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Day-by-Day Detailed Schedule
Venice — St Mark's + Doge's Palace + Gondola
Venice iconic coreActivities
- 08:30 St Mark's Basilica + Pala d'Oro + Campanile 2 hours
11th-century Byzantine basilica with 4,200 sq m gold mosaic ceiling. Pala d'Oro altarpiece. Campanile bell tower for canonical Piazza San Marco panorama.
Cost: Basilica free; Pala d'Oro €6; Campanile €11 TIP: Sunrise (8 AM) is empty. Pre-book Pala d'Oro slot. Shoulders + knees covered. - 11:00 Doge's Palace + Bridge of Sighs (Secret Itineraries tour) 3 hours
1340 Venetian government seat for 500 years. Secret Itineraries guided tour ($30 add-on) covers hidden chambers + Casanova's prison cell.
Cost: $35 + $30 Secret tour ($65 total) TIP: Pre-book mandatory. Secret Itineraries tour is the upgrade — better than standard. - 14:00 Lunch — Cantina do Mori (1462, world's oldest bacaro) 1 hour
560+ year heritage bacaro — Casanova mentioned it. Francobolli + tramezzini + ombra wine ($15-30/person).
Cost: €12-25 ($15-30) TIP: Cash + card. Stand-up only. Closed Sundays. The canonical Venice cicchetti experience. - 15:30 Rialto Bridge + Rialto Market afternoon 1.5 hours
1591 stone bridge over Grand Canal. Rialto Market afternoon walk (morning is best for produce, but afternoon for the architecture).
Cost: Free TIP: Photo from Riva del Vin steps. Combine with Bacareto Da Lele or All'Arco cicchetti. - 17:00 Gondola at sunset (30 min) 30 min
Standardized 30-min ride from gondola station near St. Mark's. Sunset over canals + bridges + serenade option ($90 + $50 serenade).
Cost: €80-110 ($90-120) TIP: Share with strangers (legal + normal) to split cost. Sunset slot most popular — pre-book. Standardized prices at official stations. - 20:00 Dinner — Trattoria alla Madonna (1954, Bourdain's spot) 2 hours
Iconic Venetian seafood — Risotto al nero di seppia + Sarde in Saor + Fritto Misto. Anthony Bourdain's Venice spot.
Cost: €40-80 ($45-90) TIP: Reservations for 6+. Walk-in for smaller. Closed Wednesdays. Cash + card.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
Pasticceria Tonolo (1886) or hotel
Dorsoduro / hotel · €4-12 ($5-15)
1886 heritage pastry breakfast + espresso.
Lunch
Cantina do Mori (1462, world's oldest bacaro)
San Polo · €12-25 ($15-30)
Canonical Venice cicchetti experience.
Dinner
Trattoria alla Madonna (1954)
San Polo · €40-80 ($45-90)
Bourdain's iconic Venetian seafood.
Walking + Vaporetto. Single $9; day pass $25 recommended.
DAY 1 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
Venice — Murano + Burano + Michelin
Lagoon islands + Venetian MichelinActivities
- 09:00 Vaporetto Fondamente Nove → Murano (15 min) 2.5 hours
Vaporetto 4.1 + 4.2. Free glass-blowing demonstrations at Murano factories + Murano Glass Museum (€10).
Cost: Vaporetto day pass $25 + Museum $10 TIP: Vaporetto 24h day pass covers all islands. Free workshop demonstrations. - 12:00 Lunch — Trattoria al Gatto Nero (Burano, 1965) 2 hours
Bourdain's Venice lunch spot. 1965-founded. Risotto di Gò (canonical Venetian rice dish with go fish — impossible to find elsewhere) + crab pasta.
Cost: €50-100 ($55-110) TIP: Book 1+ week ahead — Bourdain effect. Closed Mondays. Cash + card. - 14:30 Burano colorful island walking 2.5 hours
Rainbow-painted fishermen's houses + lace-making heritage. Italy's most-photographed village. 12-16 best photography window.
Cost: Free TIP: Iconic photo location. Bring extra battery. Lace museum (€5) is the heritage option. - 17:00 Torcello (Venice's oldest island, 5th century) 1.5 hours
Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (639 AD) with canonical Byzantine mosaics. Venice's oldest island, abandoned by 1500s.
Cost: Cathedral €5 ($6) TIP: Combine with Burano (vaporetto 5 min apart). Locanda Cipriani (Hemingway's haunt) for dinner if 5+ day trip. - 19:30 Dinner — Quadri (★) or Da Fiore (★) — Venice finale 3 hours
Quadri (★ Piazza San Marco direct view, $165-330) or Da Fiore (★ seafood, $130-250).
Cost: €120-300 ($130-330) TIP: Book 1-2 months ahead.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
Hotel buffet or Caffè Florian (1720)
Venice · €8-25 ($9-30)
Caffè Florian is the world's oldest café — stand at counter to save music charge.
Lunch
Trattoria al Gatto Nero (Burano, 1965)
Burano · €50-100 ($55-110)
Bourdain's Venetian lunch — Risotto di Gò pilgrimage.
Dinner
Cantina Do Spade (1488)
San Polo · €20-40 ($22-45)
Casanova's bacaro — heritage cicchetti dinner.
Vaporetto 24h day pass $25 — Murano + Burano + Torcello. Lines 4.1/4.2/12.
DAY 2 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
Venice → Florence + Duomo + Uffizi
Frecciarossa to Florence + Renaissance iconsActivities
- 08:00 Venice → Florence Frecciarossa (2h 5min) 2 hours
Venezia Santa Lucia → Firenze Santa Maria Novella. €30-80 ($32-86).
Cost: €30-80 TIP: Pre-book 2-3 weeks ahead. - 11:00 Florence arrival + hotel + Trattoria Mario lunch (1953) 2 hours
Heritage trattoria — Bistecca alla Fiorentina value champion ($20-30 vs $50-100 elsewhere). Cash only, no reservations.
Cost: €20-30 ($22-32) TIP: Cash only. Queue 11:30-14:30. Closed Sundays. - 14:00 Uffizi Gallery (Botticelli + Da Vinci) 3 hours
Birth of Venus + Primavera + Caravaggio + Da Vinci. Pre-book at uffizi.it 2-4 weeks ahead.
Cost: €37 ($40) skip-the-line TIP: Closed Mondays. Audio guide €5. - 17:30 Duomo Square + Ponte Vecchio + sunset 2 hours
Brunelleschi's Dome + Bell Tower + Baptistery + Ponte Vecchio (1345). Iconic Florence sunset.
Cost: Combined Duomo €28 (next-day tour) TIP: Ponte Vecchio sunset is canonical photo. - 20:00 Dinner — Trattoria Sostanza (1869) 2 hours
155+ year heritage. Petti di Pollo al Burro signature + Bistecca.
Cost: €30-50 ($32-55) TIP: Book 1+ week ahead. Cash only.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
Venice hotel buffet
Venice · €15-30 ($16-33)
Pre-train start.
Lunch
Trattoria Mario (Florence 1953)
Florence San Lorenzo · €20-30 ($22-32)
Florence Bistecca value champion.
Dinner
Trattoria Sostanza (Florence 1869)
Florence · €30-50 ($32-55)
155-year heritage.
Venice → Florence Frecciarossa 2h 5min.
DAY 3 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
Florence — Accademia + Pitti + Piazzale Michelangelo
David + Medici palace + sunset viewpointActivities
- 09:00 Accademia Gallery (Michelangelo's David) 1.5 hours
5.17m David (1504). Pre-book at galleria-accademia.it.
Cost: €19 ($20) skip-the-line TIP: Closed Mondays. Photography allowed (no flash). - 11:00 Mercato Centrale (1874) lunch + Nerbone Lampredotto 2 hours
1874 covered market. Nerbone (1872) Lampredotto $5 — Bourdain's favorite Florentine food.
Cost: €10-25 ($11-28) TIP: Cash + card. Closed Sundays for Nerbone. - 13:30 Pitti Palace + Boboli Gardens (Oltrarno) 3 hours
Medici palace + 45-hectare Renaissance garden. 5 museums + baroque garden.
Cost: €20 ($22) combined TIP: Palatine Gallery's Raphael collection is highlight. - 17:30 Piazzale Michelangelo (sunset) 1.5 hours
Florence's iconic sunset viewpoint. Duomo + Ponte Vecchio + Arno 360° view.
Cost: Free TIP: 25-min walk uphill or bus 12/13. Sunset is canonical. - 19:30 Dinner — Buca dell'Orafo (1945) or Cibreo (1979) 2.5 hours
Buca dell'Orafo (Ponte Vecchio nearby, $45-90) or Cibreo (Sant'Ambrogio, Michelin-recommended, $70-180).
Cost: €40-150 ($45-165) TIP: Book 1+ week ahead.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
Hotel buffet or Caffè Gilli (1733)
Florence Centro · €8-25 ($9-30)
1733 heritage Florence café.
Lunch
Mercato Centrale (Nerbone Lampredotto)
San Lorenzo · €10-25 ($11-28)
Nerbone Lampredotto $5.
Dinner
Buca dell'Orafo or Cibreo
Centro / Sant'Ambrogio · €40-150 ($45-165)
Heritage trattoria or Michelin-recommended modern Tuscan.
Walking + bus 12/13 (Piazzale).
DAY 4 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
Florence Oltrarno + Vivoli + Pinchiorri Michelin
Bohemian quarter + heritage gelato + grand finaleActivities
- 10:00 Santa Croce + Leather School 2.5 hours
1294 basilica — Galileo, Michelangelo buried here. Leather School (1950) free demonstrations.
Cost: €8 ($9) basilica TIP: Leather School is canonical Florentine leather shopping. - 12:30 Lunch — All'Antico Vinaio (1991) + Vivoli Gelato (1930) 1.5 hours
Italy's iconic Schiacciata sandwich ($7-10) + Florence's heritage gelato ($5-10).
Cost: €10-20 ($11-22) TIP: All'Antico Vinaio 4 locations on Via dei Neri — shortest queue. - 14:30 Oltrarno + Santo Spirito artisan walk 2.5 hours
Bohemian quarter across the Arno. Brunelleschi's Santo Spirito Basilica (1428, free) + leather workshops.
Cost: Free TIP: Santo Spirito Square's evening atmosphere is canonical. - 19:30 Farewell Florence — Enoteca Pinchiorri (★★★) 3 hours
Florence's only 3-Michelin — €250-500 9-12 course tasting. 4,000+ wine cellar.
Cost: €250-500 ($275-550) TIP: Book 1-2 months ahead. Jacket required.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
Hotel buffet
Florence · €8-25 ($9-30)
Solid breakfast.
Lunch
All'Antico Vinaio + Vivoli
Florence Centro · €10-20 ($11-22)
Italy's iconic sandwich + heritage gelato.
Dinner
Enoteca Pinchiorri (★★★)
Florence Centro · €250-500 ($275-550)
Florence's grand Michelin finale.
Walking — Florence Old Town is 2km × 1km.
DAY 5 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
Florence → Rome + Colosseum + Vatican
Frecciarossa to Rome + ancient + VaticanActivities
- 08:00 Florence → Rome Frecciarossa (1h 30min) 1.5 hours
Firenze Santa Maria Novella → Roma Termini. €30-80.
Cost: €30-80 TIP: Pre-book. - 10:00 Rome arrival + hotel + lunch — Roscioli (1972) 2 hours
Salumeria Roscioli — canonical Carbonara + Cacio e Pepe.
Cost: €40-70 ($45-77) TIP: Book 1+ week ahead. - 13:00 Colosseum + Roman Forum + Palatine Hill 3.5 hours
70-80 AD Colosseum + Roman Forum + Palatine Hill emperors' palaces. Combined ticket €18.
Cost: €18 ($20) TIP: Pre-book at coopculture.it 1+ week ahead. Skip-the-line $30-50. - 17:30 Trevi Fountain + Spanish Steps (evening) 1.5 hours
Trevi Fountain (1762, throw coin over shoulder) + Spanish Steps. Free.
Cost: Free TIP: 20:00+ fewer crowds. - 20:00 Dinner — La Pergola (★★★ Cavalieri Hilton) 3 hours
Rome's only 3-Michelin restaurant. Chef Heinz Beck. €300-500 tasting.
Cost: €300-500 ($330-550) TIP: Book 2+ months ahead. Jacket mandatory.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
Florence hotel
Florence · €8-25 ($9-30)
Pre-train.
Lunch
Roscioli (Rome 1972)
Rome · €40-70 ($45-77)
Heritage Roman pasta.
Dinner
La Pergola (★★★)
Rome · €300-500 ($330-550)
Rome's only 3-Michelin.
Florence → Rome Frecciarossa 1h 30min.
DAY 6 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
Rome Vatican + Pantheon + Departure
Vatican + Pantheon + flight homeActivities
- 08:00 Vatican Museums + Sistine Chapel + St. Peter's Basilica 4 hours
Vatican Museums + Sistine Chapel (Michelangelo's ceiling) + St. Peter's. Pre-book mandatory.
Cost: €17-30 ($19-33) TIP: Pre-book at museivaticani.va. Skip-the-line $40-70 strongly recommended (queue is 2-3h). - 13:00 Lunch — Da Enzo al 29 (Trastevere 1990) 1.5 hours
Iconic Trastevere trattoria — canonical Roman Cacio e Pepe + Carbonara + Amatriciana.
Cost: €30-50 ($33-55) TIP: No reservations — 1h queue. Cash + card. - 15:00 Pantheon + Piazza Navona 2 hours
Pantheon (27 BC + 126 AD reconstructed, €5) + Piazza Navona (Bernini's Fountain of Four Rivers).
Cost: €5 ($5.50) TIP: Walking only between sites. - 17:00 Roma Termini → FCO airport 2 hours
Airport Leonardo Express (€14, 30 min) or taxi (€50, 35 min).
Cost: €14 ($15) TIP: Arrive 2.5h before international flight.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
Hotel or Caffè Sant'Eustachio (1938)
Rome · €8-20 ($9-22)
Heritage Roman coffee.
Lunch
Da Enzo al 29 (Trastevere 1990)
Rome · €30-50 ($33-55)
Roman Cacio e Pepe + Carbonara canonical.
Dinner
Airport or in-flight
FCO · Included
Departure flight.
Rome → FCO Leonardo Express 30 min.
DAY 7 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
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Packing Checklist
- ✓ 7 days + 3 cities — carry-on + small duffel
- ✓ 1 dress jacket for Michelin (Quadri/Da Fiore + Pinchiorri + La Pergola — all jacket recommended)
- ✓ Comfortable waterproof walking shoes — cobblestones + 391 Venice bridges + Florence + Rome
- ✓ Cash €2,000-3,000 — heritage trattorias + gondola + 3 cities
- ✓ Power adapter Type C/F/L (all Italy)
- ✓ Pre-book Doge's Palace + Uffizi + Accademia + Duomo Dome + Colosseum + Vatican + Pinchiorri/La Pergola 1-2 months ahead
- ✓ Tax Free receipts folder for FCO refund
- ✓ Empty wine bag for souvenirs
- ✓ Travel insurance
Venice 7-Day Itinerary FAQ
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Why you can trust 7-day itinerary
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.