Best Italy Itinerary for 10 Days: A Local’s Guide to Eating and Exploring Like You Live There
I lived in Milan for several years. That fact shapes everything I tell you about Italy, because it means I have been going back, year after year, to a different corner of the country — not as a tourist ticking boxes but as someone who knows what it actually feels like to stand in a Florentine market before the tour groups arrive, to eat pasta in a trattoria where the menu is handwritten and the owner has no idea what Instagram is, and to drive a rented Fiat up a hill road in Umbria with nothing but olive groves and mild terror for company.
Every year I return to a new region. I’ve been to Sicily, the Dolomites, Umbria, the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany, the lakes, Rome more times than I can count. What follows is the 10-day Italy itinerary I’d hand to someone who wants to do this right — not the highlight reel, but the actual experience.
Jump To
- The Itinerary at a Glance
- Rome (Days 1–3)
- Florence (Days 4–6)
- Cinque Terre (Day 7)
- Amalfi Coast (Days 8–10)
- Hotel vs. Villa: Which Is Right for You
- Getting Around: Car vs. Train
- Best Time to Visit Italy
- FAQs
Itinerary at a Glance
- Days 1–3: Rome
- Days 4–6: Florence
- Day 7: Cinque Terre (day trip or overnight from Florence)
- Days 8–10: Amalfi Coast
This route runs north to south and works beautifully by train, with an optional rental car for the Amalfi leg. It hits the greatest hits without punishing your body or your budget, and it leaves room for the thing Italy does best — sitting down and eating without looking at the clock.
Rome (Days 1–3)
Why Rome First
Land in Rome, shake off the jet lag with a walk, eat a plate of cacio e pepe, and immediately understand why people plan trips back before they’ve even left. Rome is overwhelming in the best possible sense. Three days is enough to stop feeling lost and start feeling at home.
On Day 1, stay close to the center and keep it simple: the Pantheon, a gelato from a place that doesn’t have a neon sign outside, and dinner in Trastevere. On Day 2, do the Vatican early (book in advance, always) and spend the afternoon at Campo de’ Fiori. Day 3 is for the Colosseum and Palatine Hill, and whatever you didn’t get to.
Eating in Rome
Rome’s food culture is unforgiving of shortcuts, which is exactly why it’s so good. You will not find better carbonara anywhere on earth than you will find in a no-frills Roman trattoria. The key is ignoring the menus with photographs.
For a proper introduction to Roman cuisine, a food tour or cooking class is the single best way to understand what Romans actually eat.
Where to Stay in Rome
The neighborhoods that put you closest to everything without the noise of the main tourist drag are Trastevere, Prati (just across the Tiber from the Vatican), and the area around Campo de’ Fiori. Boutique hotels in these neighborhoods tend to run smaller and more personal than the international chains near the train station, and the difference in the morning walk to breakfast is noticeable.
I’ve mentioned it in other posts, but my preferred hotel in Rome is the Rose Garden Palace. I’ve been staying there for over 20 years!
Luxury ($600+/night):
- Hotel de Russie — private gardens, world-class spa, between Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps
- J.K. Place Roma — chic boutique near Via Condotti, contemporary design
- St. Regis Rome — historic palazzo, butler service, near Piazza della Repubblica
Mid-range ($200–$600/night):
- Hotel Artemide — 4-star on Via Nazionale, rooftop restaurant with city views
- Palazzo Navona Hotel — steps from Piazza Navona (my favorite piazza in all of Rome), rooftop terrace
- Nerva Boutique Hotel — near the Roman Forum, intimate and central
Budget (under $200/night):
- Hotel Santa Maria — Trastevere, courtyard of orange trees, complimentary breakfast
- The Beehive — boutique hostel near Termini, eco-friendly, private + shared rooms
- Generator Rome — trendy hostel near Termini, modern dorms and private rooms
Florence (Days 4–6)
Why Florence Deserves Three Days
Florence is the Italy of your imagination made real. The Duomo. The Uffizi. The leather markets. The wine. Take the train from Rome (about 1.5 hours on the fast train) and you’ll feel the gear shift immediately — Florence is smaller, more walkable, and in some ways more manageable than Rome.
Day 4: Arrive, check in, walk to the Duomo and Piazza della Signoria. Do not rush. Day 5: Uffizi (book well in advance), Ponte Vecchio, and the Oltrarno neighborhood across the river for lunch and afternoon wandering. Day 6: Day trip to Siena or San Gimignano, or a morning at the Boboli Gardens followed by an afternoon Chianti wine tasting in the hills.
Eating in Florence
Florence is where you eat the best bistecca of your life. It is also where you understand that Tuscany is not just a wine region — it is an entire food philosophy built around simplicity and extraordinary ingredients. The central market, Mercato Centrale, is a must even if you only wander the ground floor stalls.
A Tuscan cooking class is one of the highlights of any trip to Florence — learning to make fresh pasta and ribollita (my favorite soup!) in a Florentine kitchen is the kind of afternoon that ruins cooking at home in the best possible way. If a food tour through the market and surrounding streets sounds more your speed, those are equally worthwhile.
Where to Stay in Florence
The Oltrarno neighborhood (south side of the Arno) is my preference — it’s quieter, the restaurants are less tourist-dependent, and it’s still a 10-minute walk to everything. The Santa Croce neighborhood is another solid option. Avoid anything directly adjacent to the Duomo unless you enjoy the sound of tour groups at 7 a.m.
Luxury — Hotel Lungarno
Owned by the Ferragamo family, this 5-star hotel sits on the banks of the Arno river in the Oltrarno district with direct views of Ponte Vecchio. It’s the kind of place that feels distinctly Florentine rather than generically luxurious — the Ferragamo connection runs deep, down to the bath products.
Mid-range — Soprarno Suites
Nestled in the heart of the Oltrarno, just a few minutes’ walk from Palazzo Pitti and the Ponte Vecchio, this small boutique bed and breakfast has 13 individually styled rooms and suites with original fresco ceilings, parquet or terracotta flooring, and decor inspired by vintage Florentine pieces. It’s the kind of place guests talk about for years.
Budget — Hotel Silla
A charming Oltrarno hotel with a terrace overlooking the river, an elevator, and a nice breakfast — a few minutes’ walk to the Boboli Gardens and Pitti Palace. Reliable, well-located, and a fraction of the price of the Arno-facing luxury options.
Cinque Terre (Day 7)
One Day Is Enough (Barely)
Cinque Terre, meaning “5 Lands,” is five small fishing villages clinging to the Ligurian cliffs, one of those places that defies the hype by actually being as beautiful as advertised. A day trip from Florence is absolutely doable (the train to La Spezia takes about two hours, then local trains connect the villages), but if you can swing an overnight in Vernazza or Monterosso, you’ll understand why people cancel the rest of their itinerary and just stay.
The hiking trail between the villages is legendary but sections close for maintenance — check current conditions before you commit. The villages themselves (Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore) each have a distinct character. Vernazza is the most picturesque; Monterosso has the best beach; Corniglia sits on a hill above the water and rewards the effort.
Eating in Cinque Terre
Eat focaccia in Recco if you’re passing through. In the villages, look for pesto (this is Liguria, the birthplace of the stuff) and fresh seafood. Avoid any restaurant with a laminated picture menu facing the main pedestrian path.
Where to Stay in Cinque Terre
For an overnight, Vernazza and Monterosso have the widest range of small hotels and guesthouses. Rooms fill up months in advance in summer — this is not a destination where you wing the accommodation.
Find a hotel on the Cinque Terre
Amalfi Coast (Days 8–10)
Saving the Best for Last
The Amalfi Coast is where Italy stops being a country and starts being a fever dream. Positano stacked against the cliffside, lemons the size of your fist, limoncello on a terrace in the late afternoon sun. I’ve been back three times and I would go again without a second of hesitation.
Day 8: Arrive via Naples (train from Florence to Naples, then ferry or private transfer to the coast). Positano is the anchor for most visitors. Day 9: Spend the morning in Ravello for the gardens and views, afternoon back on the coast for a boat tour. Day 10: Amalfi town, the cathedral, the paper museum if you’re curious, and a very long lunch.
Eating on the Amalfi Coast
Fresh seafood, house-made pasta, and limoncello made from those absurd local lemons are the three pillars. In Positano, walk uphill — the restaurants further from the beach tend to be half the price and twice as good. A cooking class focused on Amalfitano cuisine — learning to make pasta alle vongole or a proper sfogliatelle — is one of the better souvenirs you can bring home.
The best cooking/tasting experience I’ve ever done was in Capri! I highly recommend it.
Book a foodie experience on the Amalfi Coast
Where to Stay on the Amalfi Coast
We opted to stay on Capri at Relais Maresca Luxury Small Hotel. One of the few waterfront hotels on Capri, right on Marina Grande beach and steps from the port Capri, with rooms decorated in classic Capri style with majolica floor tiles, rooftop bar, and a terrace restaurant serving fresh seafood with views over the Bay of Naples. I stayed here and loved it — the location is unbeatable for catching early ferries without the drama of dragging luggage uphill, and waking up to that view of Vesuvius across the water never gets old.
Positano is also a convenient base with the widest range of accommodation. Ravello is quieter and slightly more elevated (literally and figuratively). Praiano is the insider pick for those who want Amalfi Coast beauty without Positano prices.
Luxury — Le Sirenuse
Quite possibly the most iconic hotel in Positano, known for its chic interiors, Michelin-starred dining, and world-famous views over the rooftops to the sea — the interiors are a love letter to the Amalfi Coast itself, with hand-painted tiles, antique furnishings, and every room feeling composed rather than decorated. Book as far in advance as humanly possible.
Mid-range — Hotel Poseidon
A family-owned hotel with a real stamp of identity — most notably a Turkish bath excavated in the rocks beside the outdoor swimming pool, beautifully paired with the warm Italian climate. Elegant rooms with Mediterranean-style decor, daily buffet breakfast, and sea-view terrace. One of the best value mid-range options in Positano.
Budget / value — Hotel Buca di Bacco
Perched right above Spiaggia Grande, Positano’s main beach — step out of your room and be on the sand within minutes. Warm staff, lovely terrace bar, and the most convenient location in town for ferries, restaurants, and boat tours. The views of the church dome from the sea-facing rooms are exactly what you came to Positano for, at a price that leaves room in the budget for a very good dinner.
Book a hotel on the Amalfi Coast
Hotel vs. Villa: Which Is Right for You
This question comes up every time I talk about Italy, and the honest answer is that it depends entirely on how you travel.
A hotel gives you flexibility — daily housekeeping, a front desk that can sort out your ferry tickets, no grocery run required, and the option to change your plans without worrying about a property sitting empty. For a 10-day itinerary that moves between multiple cities, hotels almost always make more sense. You’re not there long enough in any one place to settle into the rhythm that makes a villa rental worthwhile.
A villa, though, is a completely different kind of Italy. If you’re traveling with a group, with extended family, or if you want to spend a week doing exactly what the Tuscans and Umbrians and Puglians actually do — cooking at home, drinking wine on the terrace, driving to the market in the morning — a villa rental is transformative. It’s the version of Italy where you start to feel like a resident rather than a visitor. You split the cost among four or six people and suddenly it’s not significantly more expensive than hotels, especially once you factor in restaurants.
My rule: if you’re moving around, stay in hotels. If you’re anchoring in one region for more than four or five nights, seriously consider a villa.
Getting Around: Car vs. Train
The Train Case
Italy’s train system is genuinely excellent on the main tourist corridors. The high-speed Frecciarossa trains between Rome, Florence, and Naples are fast (Rome to Florence in 90 minutes), comfortable, and relatively affordable when booked in advance. For this particular 10-day itinerary — Rome to Florence to Cinque Terre to Amalfi — you can do almost the entire journey by train without once needing a car.
Train travel in Italy is also low-stress in a way that driving is not. You arrive in the center of the city, you don’t have to think about parking, and you can watch the Tuscan countryside scroll past the window with a coffee in hand. For first-time visitors, I generally recommend starting with the train.
The Car Case
Here’s what I want to say plainly, because the internet tends to catastrophize this: driving in Italy is not as terrifying as people suggest. Italians drive fast and with great confidence, but the roads are well-marked, the scenery is extraordinary, and a rental car opens up the parts of Italy that the train simply cannot reach — the hill towns of Umbria, the trulli of Puglia, the back roads of Tuscany, the switchbacks of the Amalfi Coast.
Speaking of which: the Amalfi Coast by car is an experience unto itself. The road is narrow and clifftop and absolutely spectacular. If you are comfortable driving in tight conditions, rent a small car (emphasis on small), drive it yourself, and do not regret it for a single minute. If parallel parking on a narrow ledge above the Tyrrhenian Sea sounds like your nightmare, take the ferry between towns or hire a driver for that leg.
For car rentals in Italy, I use and recommend Discover Cars. Book in advance, opt for full coverage, and for the love of all that is holy, get a car without a manual transmission unless you actually know how to drive one.
A few practical notes: the ZTL zones (limited traffic zones) in historic city centers are strictly enforced and the fines arrive by mail months later to haunt you. Do not drive into Florence’s historic center. Do not drive into Rome’s center. Your hotel or GPS will guide you to parking outside these zones.
Best Time to Visit Italy
The honest answer: shoulder season. May and September are the sweet spots — warm enough for the Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre, cool enough for Rome and Florence in the middle of the day, and meaningfully less crowded than July and August.
May is perhaps the single best month. The light is extraordinary, the wildflowers are out across the countryside, the summer school groups haven’t fully descended, and the restaurant terraces are open without being unbearable.
September is close behind. The summer heat has broken (usually), harvest season begins, and there’s a quality of light in September Italy that makes every photograph look like it was shot on film.
June is still lovely but noticeably busier, especially around major sites. July and August are the peak season — Italy in August is hot, crowded, and expensive, and many small family-run restaurants in cities actually close as the owners go on their own holidays. If summer is your only option, lean into it: book everything in advance, arrive at major sites right when they open, and accept that the experience will be shared with many, many people.
April is variable but often beautiful. Easter and the weeks around it bring crowds to Rome but represent one of the most atmospheric times to be there.
October through early November is underrated — harvest festivals, wine events, truffle season in Tuscany and Umbria, and a quieter, more contemplative version of the country. The Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre start to close down for the season by late October, so plan accordingly.
Winter (December through February) is low season everywhere except Christmas, which brings its own magic to Rome and Florence. Expect some tourist sites to keep limited hours.
FAQs
Do I need to speak Italian to travel in Italy? Not fluently, but a handful of phrases go an extraordinary distance. Italians respond warmly to anyone who attempts even a mangled “buongiorno” or “grazie mille.” In tourist areas, English is widely spoken. In smaller towns, it’s less reliable — which is exactly why those towns are worth visiting.
How many days do I actually need in Italy? Ten days is a solid trip that lets you genuinely experience several distinct regions without the frantic pace of trying to cover too much. If you have two weeks, add Puglia, Sicily, or a proper week in Tuscany. If you only have a week, cut Cinque Terre and spend more time in Rome and Florence.
Is Italy safe to travel? Italy is extremely safe for tourists. The concerns that exist are typical of any major European destination — petty theft in crowded areas, pickpockets near major attractions, scams targeting distracted visitors. Be normally aware of your belongings in Rome and Florence, particularly at the Colosseum and in the train stations, and you will be fine.
Is it easy to eat well in Italy on a budget? Remarkably easy. The Italian bar culture — a coffee and a cornetto at the counter for a euro or two — is one of the great culinary pleasures of Europe that costs almost nothing. A lunch at a trattoria that seats 20 people and changes the menu daily will cost you half what dinner at the same place costs. Eat your biggest meal at lunch, have aperitivo with snacks in the early evening, and keep dinner relatively light and inexpensive. Your stomach and your wallet will thank you.
When should I book a food tour or cooking class in Italy? As early as possible, particularly for peak season. Good cooking classes in Florence and Rome fill up weeks in advance. For May and September travel, book at least six to eight weeks out.
What travel insurance should I use for Italy? For a trip involving international flights, train bookings, and activity reservations, travel insurance is worth having. I use and recommend TRAVEL INSURANCE MASTER for coverage that includes trip cancellation, medical, and delay protection.
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