One-Week Itinerary in Rome and Italy
Have a look at our itineraries for one day in Rome and the Vatican and three days in Rome and the Vatican to get ideas about how to build out the first part of your week in Rome and Italy.
Starting with day four, you could choose to take some day trips outside of Rome and move around the country either going north or south.
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Here are some ideas that you can use to help plan your travel. Buon viaggio!
Day 4: Day Trip to Naples and Pompeii
Discover Naples and Pompeii by High-Speed Train from Rome
It might seem hard to believe, but the iconic city of Naples is only an hour and 10 minutes south of Rome by high-speed train. This makes it an ideal location for a day trip from Rome.
Naples is famous as the birthplace of pizza and for its stunning landscape, given that it’s located on the blue Bay of Naples and at the foot of the imposing Mt. Vesuvius. A trip to Naples will be a memorable addition to your Italy visit for the Jubilee year.
Combine your visit to Naples with a trip to the Pompeii archeological park. Pompeii is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and famous the world over. The ancient city of Pompeii was preserved by volcanic ash after Mt. Vesuvius erupted in the year 79 AD.
Day 5: Rome off the beaten path and Frascati sunset wine tour
Spend day 5 exploring some of the parts of Rome that most tourists never get to. We recommend a visit to the Jewish Ghetto, where you can sample the city’s unique Jewish-Roman cuisine. We especially recommend the Roman artichokes when they’re in season (carciofi alla giudia or alla romana). Romanesco artichokes are in season from February to April. Another great neighborhood for traditional Roman food is Testaccio.
Other neighborhoods or areas worth a visit include the Via Appia Antica (you could rent a bike and have a picnic), the Piramide pyramid and non-Catholic cemetery (final resting place of English poets John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley), and Garbatella, a neighborhood that still retains its working-class Roman roots with lots of non-touristy restaurants serving up traditional Roman favorites.
In the evening, visit Rome’s local wine country, Frascati, for a sunset wine tour and dinner.
Day 6: Day Trip to Florence
Best of Florence and Tuscany by High-Speed Train from Rome
Another easy day trip from Rome is Florence, which is just an hour and a half away by high-speed train. Florence is known as the hub of the Italian Renaissance and its artworks are known the world over. One of the most well-known sculptures in Florence is Michelangelo’s David, which you can view on a skip-the-line Accademia Gallery Tour.
Tuscany, the region where Florence is located, is one of the world’s most famous wine regions. You could opt to stay overnight in Florence and take a day trip into wider Tuscany, such as the Tuscany Wine and Olive Trail.
Day 7: A closer look at Rome cultural heritage
Your last day in Rome can be dedicated to discovering some of the lesser-visited cultural attractions that most tourists in town for just a day or two never get to see. Head over to the Ara Pacis Museum, an altar that was dedicated to the Roman peace and commissioned by the Roman Senate in the year 9 BC. Rome’s contemporary art museum, MAXXI, hosts rotating exhibitions and the museum itself was designed by renowned architect Zaha Hadid. If you’re traveling with kids, you could visit Explora Children’s Museum. If paintings and sculpture is more your thing, check out Galleria Borghese; and if you want to get in your last looks at ancient Roman art and architecture, head over to the Capitoline Museums.
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