1-Week Travel Itineraries from Rome: 4 Unique Options

Rome Travel Tips

Before I dive into the good stuff, there are some things you’ll want to know if you’re arriving to/departing from Leonardo da Vinci International Airport.

• The airport is not located in the city center but it is connected by train. There’s a direct train that runs from the airport to the main train station in Rome, Roma Termini. If on a tighter budget, you can skip the direct train and save some money by taking the regional train instead.
• From Roma Termini, it’ll really depend on where your hotel is if you want to transfer to a city line or walk from there.
• You can of course take a taxi from the airport direct to your hotel but it’ll be far more expensive. Plus, with traffic, it might be longer than the train. You can also take the bus when you get into the city but with luggage, trains are often more comfortable.
• The city is really big and where you stay will matter. This guide on the neighborhoods of Rome will help you decide the best area based on what you’re hoping to do while here. If you can afford it, don’t stay outside of the city center. You’ll lose a lot of time commuting each day given that the city is likely bigger than you think.

Another elephant in the room I’d like to address before going into more detail is to plan your time in Rome wisely. There’s so much to see here that you’ll likely feel like you “have” to see it all. Rome isn’t just it’s major attractions, it’s the layers in between that’ll leave you in love.

Try to avoid the urge to see all the major attractions in just a day or 2. Pick 1-2 attractions a day that really mean something to you and give yourself the rest of the time to slowly get between destinations. The city is full of incredible history, beautiful architecture, impressive churches, and an endless assortment of bars and restaurants that you really don’t need to attraction hop to get a feel for Rome.

Alright, alright, the itineraries.

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Itinerary #1: The Art Fanatic

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Main Stops: Florence + Rome

• Day 1-4: Florence
• Day 3: Tuscany
• Day 4-7: Rome

*Give it or take night #3 in Florence or Rome based on flight times & where the extra night would really matter.

This easy itinerary is for the person who wants to fully embrace the art scene in Italy. While other cities have their fair share of museums, no one quite does it like Rome and Florence.

Florence

1.5 hour commute

From Roma Termini to Firenze Santa Maria Novella, the train ride is direct. Firenze is Florence in Italian and will be a helpful thing to know when travel planning as even Google Maps doesn’t use “Florence” for places like the train station.

While Rome and Naples have won me over, Florence has not. That said, Raf and I went with 3 of his older family members and our cat and dog so I think it’s fair to say our hands were a little full.

Even when me not totally loving our time there, it’s undeniable Florence is stunning and especially worth a visit for those interested in art. I’d love to be able to go back with just Raf and wander aimlessly and not think about a thing more than where my next meal or glass of wine will come from. While I likely won’t frequent the museums the art majors will, we’ll both enjoy the beauty.

For those traveling for art, you’ll likely know the museums you want to visit. For anyone else, allow yourself to wander the historic center of Florence without much of a plan. While I haven’t yet written any guides on Florence, a few of my favorite things from our trip there were:

• Panini Toscani: This panini shop is located right in the heart of the city and while usually places in these locations aren’t great, this is still the best panino I’ve ever eaten (and I eat a lot of panini). They’ll let you taste the meat and cheese they have for the day before ordering, which is key, especially when dealing with options you’ve never heard of before.
• Piazzale Michelangelo: This is also no secret but the views of the city from up here were really fantastic. It’s a popular sunset spot but if you choose to go at that hour, I’d pick a spot on the pathway up to plop down as the very top gets incredibly crowded. Head there early, bring your panino and a bottle of wine and settle in.
• There’s this very specific caffe that I really loved while there tucked into a little neighborhood just outside of the center and I for the life of me cannot find it again. I’m bringing it up here because the best caffe in the city for you can also be the one that just happens to be near your accommodation and that you just stumble upon. Just be sure to save yours for future visits unlike me!

Tuscany

Commute time depends on destination

I’m going vague here because this one is A. optional and the B. the amount of time you stay out should be dependent on you.

I’m giving you a night but if you’re more interested in history than scenery, cross this off your list and give yourself the extra day in either Florence or Rome instead. For those that like the idea of lazily driving around the wine region, rent a car and hit the road.

From experience, these have been my 2 favorite stops in Tuscany but still close to Florence:

1. I’Desìo Ristorante in Montefioralle: Drive time 50 minutes from Florence’s train station. This restaurant is so so good and offers rolling Tuscan views that won’t disappoint. You’ll need a reservation and know that it’s a set menu that keeps on giving. Prices are incredibly fair for the quantity and quality of food.
2. L’asi di Cice in Rufina: Drive time 50 minutes from Florence’s train station (also accessible by train but will take you only to Rufina, where then you’ll need to walk up a hill). This is the agriturismo we stayed in that made us fall in love with the entire concept of these bed and breakfasts. On the weekends you can go for dinner even if you’re not staying here, where they set up tables in the vineyards, but if you’re a guest, a great meal always awaits.

I’m not suggesting you do both of these in one day, rather you choose, or use them as ideas to find your own dream restaurant. You can make a full day trip using either as an anchor or take a quick trip out of the city for just a meal. The choice is yours!

Rome

1.5 hour commute

You’ll come back to Rome the exact same way you left it.

The last few days of your trip are all about soaking up Rome. This city has more to offer than any one person can uncover in just a few days, even a few months, so don’t try. Pick and choose the attractions most important to you and take the rest easy.

Same with the guided tours - while you can get a tour to anywhere in Rome, some places you simply might not care enough about to get one, and that’s OK. In all the times I’ve been to Rome, I’ve never gotten a tour of the inside of the Colosseum and I feel fine about that. Maybe I’ll go for it one day but it has never taken priority over all the other things to do.

I’ve written a lot about Rome already so I won’t repeat myself too much here. Instead, dig into these guides to help you plan your time here:

• Your Ultimate Guide to Rome on a Budget
• 10 Must-Try Foods to Try in Rome
• Where to Stay in Rome: Best Areas of the City
• Solitano Doesn’t Exist but These 5 Towns Near Rome Do

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Itinerary #2: The Cool Off

Main Stops: Lake Bracciano OR Lake Trasimeno + Rome

• Day 1-3: Lake Bracciano/Lake Trasimeno
• Day 3-7: Rome

For the person that’s visiting in the summer and really wants a break from the relentless heat of Rome. While close to the coast, the lakes will be better respite than the beaches.

Lake Bracciano OR Lake Trasimeno

1-2 hour commute

Both of these lakes are accessible by train from Roma Termini. If you choose Lake Bracciano, your destination will be Bracciano and if you choose Lake Trasimeno, your destination will be Castiglione del Lago.

Both offer historic towns and lakes ready for you dip into it. Trasimeno is bigger and offers more along the lake itself, which might be more entertaining for those that don’t just want to lounge all day. Bracciano, however is closer, and offers a more laidback space with cleaner water since motorized boats are banned.

I haven’t been to either and really couldn’t decide on a clear winner, hence the options.

Both lakes offer opportunities to make a pit spot at Orvieto, a small yet historically packed town that seems well worth the day trip. That stop is more convenient going to Castiglione del Lago since it’s directly on the route.

Rome

See note under Itinerary #1 for more information about how to spend your time in Rome.

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Itinerary #3: The Foodie

Main Stops: Naples + Rome

Rome

• Day 1-3: Naples
• Day 3-7: Rome

*Give it or take night #3 in Naples or Rome if you decide you’d rather pop over to Ischia, Capri, or Procida for a day trip. More info on those in the Naples’ itineraries.

This itinerary is for those that are food-driven. With the exception of Bologna, Naples and Rome have the best food in the country. While Florence might also compete for the title, I’m taking you south in this one.

Naples

1.5 hour commute

Just like going to Florence, from train station to train station, the commute to Naples is just an hour and a half. This makes it an easy commute for another big, yet wildly different city.

I spoke a lot about Naples last week but in short, it’s important you realize that the neighborhood makes all the difference here. Similar to Rome, it’s a big city with a lot of diversity, but instead of getting suburban vibes, Naples gets grungy. This may or may not appeal to you, based on your likes.

I suggest reading this guide on the areas of Naples to find out where you’ll want to stay and spend your time.

The true reason you’re here though is to eat. While most Italian cuisine is about wholesome, fresh ingredients, Naples tends to take that and fry it. You won’t want a diet while here but instead to indulge, indulge, and indulge again.

More than anything, let this food guide be your leader during your time in Naples. For more info on the city, check out:

• Your Naples Travel Guide: 3-Day Itinerary
• 7 Best Day Trips from Naples, Italy
• Car Rental in Naples, Italy: What to Know (2026)

Rome

1.5 hour commute

See note under Itinerary #1 for more information about how to spend your time in Rome, just with special attention to the Roman food guide.

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Itinerary #4: The Roman

Main Stops: Rome

• Day 1-7: Rome
• With potential day trips to Ostia Antica and Tivoli

With so much to see and do in Rome, I truly believe you can spend the entirety of your trip here and not get bored.

Whether you’re into history, art, religion, shopping, or food, there’s a lot for everyone here. This isn’t some small city where you have a handful of options based on your like - here you’ll be inundated with options.

You really won’t have a hard time filling a full week in Rome, especially if you skip the tour buses or golf carts and see the city on your own schedule. This way you can still do 1-2 big attraction a day and not get overwhelmed with information, tight schedules, and crowds everywhere you look. If you take the scenic route, you’ll wander down alleys with no one else around.

For those that like this idea but still want a day trip or two to squeeze in, I’d suggest:

• Ostia Antica: 50 minutes by train: Ostia Antica was the Roman Empire’s most important port and to this day is filled with well-preserved artifacts, temples, and other ruins.
• Tivoli: 1 hour by train: Tivoli is home to a number of lush gardens and villas to explore. Full of Roman ruins and great views, it’s a nice respite from the city center.

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Which Rome Itinerary Will You Choose?

By either grabbing one these or using it as a starting point, I’m hoping you got some good ideas on how to build your Italian trip starting and ending from Rome, without feeling the need to fly or train it to the other end of the country.