Rome, Bologna & Florence: Best Itinerary Ideas

How many days do you need?

• Most travelers spend 7-10 days in Rome, Bologna, and Florence combined
• Visiting Rome, Bologna, and Florence in 6 days is possible, but will feel rushed
• With 11 or more days, most travelers choose to add more stops to their trip
• Popular extensions include Venice and the Amalfi Coast

How Many Days to Spend in Rome
How Many Days to Spend in Tuscany
How Many Days to Spend in Florence

Recommended Itineraries for Rome, Bologna & Florence

Recommended Itinerary for 1 Week

Eat and drink your way through Italy's famous culinary regions—Bologna, Tuscany, and Rome—on this packed weeklong tour. Start in Bologna, Italy's food capital, to try the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and see the University of Bologna. Continue to Florence to see works by Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, then sample local Chianti in a Tuscan winery. End your trip in Rome to experience Vatican City, Roman ruins, and the perfect Italian pizza. Read more

Recommended Itinerary for 8 Days

This 8-day trip is perfect for travelers who want a packed itinerary but don't have tons of time. Explore Bologna's culinary delights, from traditional Parmeggiano Reggiano cheese to local prosciutto, then head to Florence to see pieces by top Renaissance artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Machiavelli. In Tuscany, visit medieval villages, sip on full-bodied Chianti, and relax in sun-filled plazas overlooking rolling hills. End the trip in Rome to see the Sistine Chapel and Colosseum, and try your hand at making the perfect pizza. Read more

Recommended Itinerary for 9 Days

If sitting on a Tuscan hillside winery with a glass of Chianti, kneading fresh pizza dough, and seeing the Sistine Chapel sounds like a good way to spend nine days—look no further because this packed itinerary is for you. Start in Bologna to see the 11th-century university and stuff yourself full of Parmeggiano cheese, prosciutto, and Ragu alla Bolognese. Continue to Florence to see Michelangelo's 'David' in the Uffizi Gallery, then spend a day drinking Chianti as the Romans do in Tuscany. Finish in Rome to see the Galleria Borghese and Colosseum before becoming best friends with your perfectly handmade Italian pizza. Read more

Recommended Itinerary for 10 Days

Ten days may not be enough time to see all of Italy, but you should try anyway! Fuel your Colosseum-sized appetite with regional cheese & prosciutto specialties in Bologna, then head to Florence to see art by Michelangelo, Donatello, and Leonardo da Vinci. Take our word and sample the fresh-pressed olive oil and handmade chocolate focaccia, then spend a full day drinking Chinati in Tuscan vineyards and medieval courtyards. End your trip in Rome, where the Vatican City, Roman Forum, and the perfect cup of gelato await. Read more

Extended Itineraries

12-Day Itinerary Including Maiori & Amalfi

Is twelve days enough time to try every single gelato flavor? Likely not—but you can try your best with this food-centric tour of Italy. Start in Bologna, where artisanal cheese, cured ham, and medieval architecture dominate the scene. Then, head to Florence and visit a perfect Tuscan winery before soaking in the sunshine of the Amalfi Coast. End your trip in Rome with nightlife, the iconic city highlights, and plenty of pizza. Read more

2-Week Itinerary Including Venice, Maiori & Amalfi

Rome wasn't built in a day, but you can spend fourteen days eating and drinking your way through Italy's top culinary destinations! Go for a gondola ride in Venice, try the decadent tiramisu, and sample the local Cicchetti. Head to Bologna to see 11th-century architecture and try the Parmeggiano, then head to Florence to see Michelangelo's David and Leonardo's top works. Pair a bottle of Tuscan Chianti with a farm-to-table charcuterie board, then head west for four days on the sunny Amalfi Coast.

Explore medieval fishing villages and learn to make the perfect Neopolitan pizza before capping your trip off with visits to the Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, and local gelateria in Rome. Read more

How to travel between Rome, Bologna & Florence

How to Get from Florence to Rome
If you've taken in the Renaissance charms of Florence and are ready to visit Rome or catch your flight home, there are a few ways to make the roughly 175-mile journey. Italy's two train companies offer a full schedule of daily departures between the two cities, with trains running every 15-30 minutes. Driving between Florence and Rome takes about 3.5 hours if you stay on the autostrada, the Italian equivalent of an interstate highway. There are also several flights a day connecting the two cities. Read more

How to Get from Florence to Bologna
It can take a mere 35 minutes to get from Florence to Bologna, making the 66-mile (106 km) trip between the two cities a popular itinerary item. For cities like these, with restricted driving access for non-residents (ZTL zones) in the center and expensive tolls, especially those across Northern and Central Italy, the train is the best mode of transport; Bologna and Florence are no exception. Trenitalia's high-speed Frecciarossa gets you to Bologna in under 40 minutes, an impressive feat considering the 67 miles covered. Read more