13 Days in Italy - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Discover Venice, Florence & Rome

This tour of Italy's highlights features the best of Venice, the Renaissance gem of Florence, and the Eternal City—better known as Rome.

Start in Rome, where you'll catch a quick train to Venice — you'll be back in the capital city later in the itinerary. Take a walking tour of La Serenissima, passing through Piazza San Marco and taking a gondola ride along the Grand Canal, then go on a boat tour around the islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello. On day five, you'll ride down to Florence on the train, arriving just in time for a gourmet food tour where you'll try local specialties like chocolate focaccia and truffle panini. The following day, head out into the Chianti wine region to try local wines, stopping in Siena and San Gimignano along the way for sightseeing and coffee breaks.

Midway through the trip, side-trip to Pisa and visit the iconic Leaning Tower. The next day, you'll take the high-speed train to Rome for classic tours of the Colosseum and the Forum. Finish up the trip with a guided tour of the Vatican, including a visit to the famed Sistine Chapel, and a trip outside the city to the hill towns of the Castelli Romani. Enjoy some hours in the countryside sipping locally produced wines before returning to the Eternal City for one last day of strolling, sightseeing, and sitting in outdoor cafés. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Relaxed Amalfi Coast and Rome

Chill out on the Amalfi Coast and explore the busy streets of Rome on this 13-day trip plan that offers lots of time for both active sightseeing and relaxation.

Welcome to Italy! After touching down in Rome, you'll make the transfer to the Amalfi Coast, where you'll get a beautiful introduction to the region on a sunset cruise around Positano. The next day, you'll visit Capri and Anacapri on a boat tour, then enjoy a wine tasting at Mariso Cuomo Vineyard on day three. After some free time in Amalfi, you'll travel to Sorrento and learn how to prepare handmade pasta during a cooking class.

A major highlight of the itinerary awaits on day six, when you'll spend the day touring Pompeii and Herculaneum with a knowledgeable local guide. After relaxing for a day in Sorrento, you'll head up to Rome for an afternoon tour of the Colosseum and the Forum. Continue sightseeing for the next few days with guided tours of the Vatican and Galleria Borghese. Then get off the beaten path on a food tour of the eclectic neighborhood of Monti, stopping to try wood-fired pizzas and Aperol spritzes while observing the Roman day-to-day lifestyle. Relax in Rome for one more day, enjoying the city at your own pace. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Explore Tuscany 

Go to Florence, Siena, Pisa, and Lucca—plus a number of medieval villages and wineries in between—on this Tuscan itinerary.

Kick off the tour in Florence, where you'll tour the world-famous Uffizi Gallery and see Michelangelo's 'David', then see the sunset from the Ponte Vecchio bridge. Side-trip to Pisa for the photo op at the Leaning Tower, then take a free day in Florence for shopping, sightseeing, and leisurely meals. You'll move onto Siena the next day to see the UNESCO-honored historic center with its massive Piazza del Campo and fascinating Duomo cathedral. On day six, visit the twin towns of Montepulciano and Pienza, then take a tour of Brunello di Montalcino Winery to sample local varietals.

The Tuscan adventure continues with a trip to the town of Lucca, where you'll attend a pasta-making class after taking a tour of the historic center. You'll venture out of the region and into Liguria the following day, going to the Cinque Terre to hike between the five coastal villages of the national park. Return to Lucca for a well-deserved dinner, then take the last day to rent a bike and cycle through the city — or go horseback riding along the river, stopping for a classic Italian lunch afterward. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Milan and the Italian Lakes

Explore Italy's beautiful north, including the fashion capital of Milan, the Dolomite Mountains, and the Lakes Region, with this 13-day trip plan.

The trip starts in Milan, where you'll tour the Gothic Duomo, La Scala Opera House, and the medieval Castello Sforzesco. Stop to see one of the world's most famous paintings—Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Last Supper'—located inside the Santa Maria della Grazie monastery. On day three, continue onto Lake Como. Highlights on the agenda include a guided walking tour of Bellagio and a pasta-making class in Como. Travel to Lake Maggiore on day eight, where you'll ride from Stresa on a hop-on-hop-off ferry to Isola Bella and the Borromean Islands.

Next, check into your lakeside accommodations on Lake Garda, where you'll wrap up the trip with several days of sightseeing and adventures on the water and in the mountains. Day-trip into the Dolomite Mountains and spend a day touring Verona, thought to be the inspiration for Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet.' You'll have a free day on the lake to rent a kayak, take another boat tour, or relax over lunch in a picturesque village before the trip is over. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Family Adventure in Italy 

On this 13-day itinerary that's fun for the whole family, you'll see Venice, Florence, and Rome from a kid-friendly perspective.

After arriving in Rome, take the train to Venice, where the whole family will start the trip with a kid-oriented tour around the Floating City. The next day, kids will participate in a scavenger hunt and a Carnevale-style mask-making class. Explore the Lido on bicycles and spend the afternoon playing in the outdoor mazes of the Villa Pasani gardens.

On day five, catch the train to Florence and take a walking food tour with kid-friendly specialties to try along the way, including pizza, gelato, and chocolate focaccia. The following day's agenda includes children's craft classes and a pizza-making course for all ages.

The second part of the trip takes families to Rome for kid-oriented tours of the Colosseum, the Forum, and the Vatican, followed by Gladiator School where kids learn about historic battles and compete in a tournament. On a golf cart tour the next day, you'll zoom around the historic center, stopping at palaces, monuments, churches, and fountains, including Aventine Hill, Piazza Colonna, and the Trevi Fountain. Enjoy a free day in Rome to explore parks, gardens, and gelato shops, then finish with a pizza and pasta dinner before leaving Italy. Learn more

More Great 13-Day Italy Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your Italy trip? Check out these other 13-day Italy itineraries, ranging from active, to cultural, to luxury, or family-friendly trips.

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