Collage of three Italy travel scenes: a quiet canal in Venice at night with diners at a trattoria in Dorsoduro; ancient Roman ruins under dramatic skies; and a close-up view of the Florence Duomo against a bright blue sky.

A Real 10-Day Italy Itinerary (Rome, Florence, Venice—No Fluff, All Flow)

Byacalvane

You’re going to Italy. You’ve got 10 days. And now you’re staring at 37 tabs, each with a slightly different list of “must-sees,” “bucket list stops,” and gelato spots that “only the locals know about.”
Cool.

Here’s the thing:
Most “10 day Italy itineraries” online are either written by someone who went once and filled in the blanks with Google… or they try to cram a semester abroad into a week and a half. You end up exhausted and wondering if you even saw Italy, or just shuffled through a checklist with your phone out.

This post won’t do that.
I’m going to give you the basics: where to land, where to go, how to move, and how to keep your days intentional without being rigid.

If you want the full day-by-day breakdown, the restaurants I actually go back to, my hotel picks, transport tips, and everything I’d send to a friend—you can grab the full mobile-friendly itinerary here:

👉 10-Day Italy Itinerary: Rome, Florence & Venice

First, the Structure

This 10-day itinerary covers the golden trio: Rome, Florence, Venice.
There’s a reason these three cities are classics—they give you ancient ruins, Renaissance art, and canals that still feel like a dream, even the fifth time you see them.

Here’s the high-level flow:

  • Day 1–3: Rome – Land, shake off jet lag, eat carbonara, see the classics, and skip the lines at the Vatican.
  • Day 4–7: Florence – Train up, breathe in the Duomo, get lost in the Oltrarno, maybe squeeze in a Tuscany wine day.
  • Day 8–10: Venice – Take it slow, eat cicchetti, dodge the crowds, and see why this city still floors me.

And then… you fly home full, happy, and slightly mad at your past self for almost not going.

What Makes This Work

This isn’t a “wake up at 7, sprint to the Trevi, grab a gelato, hop on a train” kind of itinerary.

It’s structured, but breathable. Here’s how I built it:

Train Info That Doesn’t Suck: How to buy tickets, when to book, and what not to stress about.

Daily Anchors: Each day has a central focus (Vatican, wine tasting, street food crawl) so you’re not zigzagging all over.

Real Recs: No vague “try some pasta” lines. I give you restaurant names, gelato shops, and bars where I’ve actually sat and eaten.

Stay in the Right Places: Monti in Rome. Oltrarno in Florence. Cannaregio in Venice. If you know, you know. If you don’t—you will.

Why Not Just DIY It?

You absolutely can.

But if you want to save time, skip the trial-and-error, and feel confident that your trip is grounded in experience—not copied content—you’ll want the full guide.

I made it mobile-first, so it’s easy to use on the go. It’s also got my “Anthony’s Tips” section that covers the kind of stuff guidebooks don’t—like why WhatsApp matters, how dinner actually works in Italy, and why train stations are where pickpockets thrive.

👉 Grab the 10-Day Italy Itinerary here
Built for travelers who want their trip to flow.

Who It’s For

This guide is for people who:

  • Are planning their first trip to Italy and want a smart, realistic plan
  • Don’t have time to become an expert, but still want a trip that feels intentional
  • Want a local-ish experience, even if it’s just for a few days
  • Hate wasting time on logistics and bad meals

TL;DR

If you’ve got 10 days and want someone who’s lived it to show you what actually works—I’ve done the hard part.

You book the flights. I’ll handle the rest.
👉 Get the Italy itinerary here

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