Discover Italy in a Week - the Ultimate First-Time Travel Guide to Milan, Florence, and Rome
Frecciarossa trains in Milano Centrale
Who doesn’t dream of exploring Italy with all the gorgeous cities, the delicious food and the incredible landscapes. On the other side, who of us has the time to do it? I am lucky enough to had to chance to visit and explore Italy’s cities on different trips. But those of us that don’t live in Europe that can’t just hop on a plane to visit Venice for a weekend or don’t have the money are less fortunate. Nevertheless, visiting Italy and getting a feel for it is still possible. I compiled this multi-city travel plan for first-time travellers to Italy that gives you some ideas about a week-long trip to Milan, Florence, and Rome.
If you look for more detailed travel ideas for Milan, Florence or Rome, please read the respective blog posts on my website.
Trip Overview
The trip can start either in Milan or Rome, but for this outline, I'll start in Milan and end in Rome. This itinerary assumes 7-8 days for the trip. You can always extend it by taking a detour for a few days to Turin after Milan, to Genova, Venice, Bologna or Turin before heading to Florence or to Naples after Rome. If you have only one week I would recommend sticking to Milan, Florence and Rome.
To make the most out of the short time you have I would spend two days in Milan before heading for two or three days to Florence and then spend your last three days in Rome.
Even tough Italy is beautiful any time of the year, the best time to visit to avoid either the heat or the crowds is between April to June or September to October.
The most convenient and easiest way to travel between the cities is by train. It also provides the most scenic views of the landscape while travelling. Today there are two train operators with very good service and reasonable prices. The companies are the state-owned Trenitalia (with it’s Frecciarossa trains) and Italo which is privately owned. Check their websites for the best deals and prices. If your budget allows for it go for the business class (Trenitalia and Italo) or premium (Trenitalia). Economy on both is very competitive as well, but it will be more crowded and noisier.
Duomo di Milano
First stop Milan – Day 1 to 2
After arriving in Milan make you way to the hotel or AirBnB you’re going to stay and check-in. The best area to stay for first-time travellers is close to the main train station Milano Centrale, which is well connected to the airports and will make the onward travel much easier, or the Duomo area, which is great for exploring the city and its sights.
As you will have limited time, after refreshing start with a visit to the Duomo di Milano. This cathedral hands down, is the main attraction in the city. After exploring the interior with the many sculptures and paintings, head up to the rooftop. Not just for the panoramic views, but also for the pillars with the many sculptures. After the Duomo make your way over the square to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, for the awe-inspiring glass roof and some luxury shopping.
In the evening stroll around the Sforza Castle and relax in the surrounding Parco Sempione with the magnificent Arco della Pace. Afterwards enjoy an aperitivo and/or dinner in Brera District. If you have some more energy and you want to party check the bars and clubs in this district.
After some rest and a good night sleep it’s time to explore more of the art and culture on your second day. Milan has a great number of museums and art galleries that are all worth a visit. Due to the time you have I would stick to the main ones: Santa Maria delle Grazie and Pinacoteca di Brera. Santa Maria delle Grazie is a church and Dominican Convent that houses the Last Supper mural painted by the infamous Leonardo da Vinci during his time in Milan. Besides the painting dive into the history and enjoy the magnificent Renaissance architecture of the building. After Santa Maria delle Grazie head over to the Pinacoteca di Brera and make sure to stop for an espresso in one of the many bars on the way. The Pinacoteca is the main Art Gallery of Milan and has some of the most impressive masterpieces of artists (especially Italian) between the 13th and 20th centuries. As both museums can get quite crowded, make sure to book you tickets well in advance.
Milan is the capital of fashion in Italy, so make sure to visit the Quadrilatero della Moda after you indulged the museums. Quadrilatero della Moda is the main district for high-end fashion shopping. Via Monte Napoleone, has some of the most exquisite established and up-and-coming designer fashion boutiques, antiques shops and posh cafes in neoclassical villas.
Finish off your stay in Milan with a leisurely walk along the Navigli District and stop by one of the many restaurants for dinner by the canals.
For travelling to Florence you can either take the train after dinner (there are frequent trains between 7pm and 9pm) or early in the morning (there are plenty of options between 6am and 8am). The train ride itself will take between 1.5 and 2 hours with the highspeed train, longer with the Intercity trains.
View over Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo
Next stop Florence – Day 3 to 5
After staying in the more modern and industrial city of Milan, it’s now time to explore the cradle of Renaissance: Florence.
The most convenient area to stay in Florence is near the historic centre around Piazza della Signoria or Santa Maria Novella. Both offer easy access to all the attractions and are close to the train station.
As in Milan start of the stay with a visit to the central cathedral. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (aka Duomo) is made up of three buildings, the cathedral itself, the Baptistery and the Bell Tower. All of them are stunning and are good examples of the Renaissance architecture. After visiting the interior of the church, make your way up either the Copula or the Bell Tower. The views from up there are breathtaking and you get a closer look at the church as well. If you have some more time, make sure to visit the Baptistery.
After the Duomo, walk through the old town to the Uffizi Gallery. Spent some time in this former administrative office of the Medici family and enjoy masterpieces by Botticelli, Da Vinci and Michelangelo. The building itself is vast, so make sure you plan enough time.
For both the Cathedral and the Uffizi Gallery you need to book your tickets well in advance.
For the evening and the finish of your first day in Florence, enjoy the sunset with incredible views over the city from Piazzale Michelangelo. Then take the bus back to the centre and find a local trattoria for dinner.
You should start of the second day with an Italian breakfast (espresso and soma pastry) in one of the many bars in town. Then make your way to the Galleria dell’Accademia to see the original David by Michelangelo (there are copies close to the Uffizi Gallery and Piazziale Michelangelo you should have seen the day before). There are many more great paintings and sculptures you should not miss in the museum. Afterwards take a walk across the Ponte Veccio with its many jewellery shops. On the other side of the river is the Oltrarno district with the Palazzo Pitti, the Boboli Gardens and many artisan workshops. When heading back to the hotel make sure to stop by Piazza di Santo Spirito for dinner.
If you have time to stay one more day, you have various options to fill it. You can take a day trip to visit Pisa or the Chianti wine region. Or if you want to stay in the city, check some other sights like the Bargello Museum or the San Lorenzo Market.
Your next stop after Florence is Rome and to get there take a train either late afternoon or early evening. Again, there are frequent trains, and the travel time is around 1.5 hours.
Colosseum in Rome
Last stop Rome - the Eternal city – Day 6 to 8
Rome is one of the oldest cities in the world and it’s no surprise that you need more time here. As in Milan staying close to the main train station (Roma Termini) is the most convenient as it allows you to explore the city easily. Alternatively, you can also stay in Centro Storico, and here specifically near Piazza Navona or the Pantheon.
Start your stay in Rome with the most iconic (and probably the most famous building in Italy) the Colosseum. It’s the ruin of the elliptical amphitheatre build in 72 AD and truly mind-blowing. After the Colosseum (or before) explore the Forum Romanum and the Palatine Hill. For all three you get tickets together, but the ticket for the Colosseum is timed and you need to select a time slot. As some slots are more popular than others, make sure to book well in advance.
In the afternoon visit the Capitoline Museums close to the Monument to Vittorio Emmanuele II and the Forum Romanum. For the end of the day take a walk, while enjoying a delicious Gelato, from the Trevi Fountain via the Pantheon to Piazza Navona. Around Piazza Navona you will find plenty of great trattorias for a tranquil dinner.
Your second day in Rome will all be about the Vatican and its surrounding neighbourhoods. After your breakfast make your way to St. Peter’s Square and the Basilica. St. Peter’s Bascilica is impressive from the outside as much as from the inside. To visit the church, you don’t need a ticket but come early as there’s always a queue. Going up the roof-top of the Basilica requires a ticket and I would recommend taking the elevator. The views from the Copula are stunning. After the church make sure to visit the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. For both you need tickets and as usual you need to book well in advance.
In the afternoon walk around the Borgo district and visit the Castel Sant’Angelo. Don’t forget to cross the bridge in front of the Castel with its many angel sculptures.
For the evening and dinner time explore and indulge Trastevere neighbourhood known for its lively atmosphere and many trattorias. Hands down one of the best places in Italy to get some amazing Italian food.
On the last day in Rome (and unfortunately your trip to Italy) you should either explore more of the many churches, like Basilica of Saint Mary of Minerva or Basilica di San Giovanni. Or you can also stop by the Villa Borghese, the urban park with its landscaped gardens, lakes and villas. If your budget allows it, you can also go shopping on Via del Corso.
David statue in Florence
Final words
For sure one week in Italy is not enough to see everything, but it’s enough to give you a glimpse of the history, the culture and the life in Italy, the Dolce Vita. Even though there are many things to do in any of the three cities, make sure to enjoy as much Italian food as you can, be it Pizza, Pasta or Gelato.
With the itinerary in this blog I tried to provide a balanced mix of art, history, culture, and leisure, making it a memorable first-time trip to Italy.
I hope with all the above, I could help you planning your next trip to Italy. Feel free to leave a comment below or reach out if you need help with your travel planning.
If you have more time and want to explore the cities more, read the blogs for the individual cities. Here are the links to:
For some visual inspiration, here are the links to my Milan, Florence and Rome sites which hopefully gives you some ideas of what to expect.
