10 Day Italy Itinerary for First-Time Travellers

Last Updated on 18th July 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

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Ah! Italia! The land of delicious food and good wine. Rich with historical intrigue, artistic inspiration and buckets of sunshine, every pocket of the boot-shaped country has different experiences and flavours to offer. There’s no shortage of places to visit, from a wealth of beautiful countryside that encompasses both beaches and snow-capped mountains.

So, you may find yourself asking (and rightly so), where on earth do I start?! Here’s your guide to how to spend 10 days in Italy itinerary for your first taste of this quintessential European bucket list destination!

What to know before visiting Italy

As someone who’s been fortunate to explore Italy’s many landscapes and pockets of beauty, I’ve also come to learn a few tips and tricks on what to know before you go!

To make things simpler I have compiled a list of 20+ Italy Travel Tips You Need to Know Before You Visit! Although this covers parts of Italy which aren’t included in the itinerary, you’ll likely find them helpful for when you return, as you’re guaranteed to want to return.

Suggested 10 days in Italy itinerary

Italy is of course a huge country, so we’ve decided to take you through three of its major cities, as well as along the coastline where you can soak up the sun and enjoy the leisurely pace of Italian living.

Day 1 & 2 Rome:

There’s no better introduction to Italy than starting at its heart, ‘The Eternal City’ and the capital city. Roma is chaotic, noisy and plain stunning and is easily one of the most fascinating cities in the world!

Visit incredible landmarks! Rome is a labyrinth of ancient treasures like the iconic Colosseum,  and the Roman Forum, it’s also home to different historic squares, such as Piazza Navona or Piazza di Spagna, buzzing with a hive of day-to-day Italian living.

Explore the city’s abundance of museums and art galleries, filled with the most regarded masterpieces of the world. From The Sistine Chapel ceiling which Michelangelo painted with his soul, to the 18th-century Trevi Fountain designed by Nicola Salvi, every corner of Rome exudes art and charm that is unmatched.

Of course, one of the best things to do while in Italia is to sample local cuisine! (Yes, I will be mentioning this at every destination along the itinerary). It’s no secret that Italy’s beloved cuisine is amongst some of the best in the world. A delectable foodie haven, here are some of the Best of Mouthwateringly Tasty Rome Food Tours to check out.

Where to stay:

(Budget) Rome Historic Center: Hotel Paba is a small hotel set in a period building less than 5 minutes from the Colosseum. Rooms feature air-conditioning and some of them come also with a balcony. Check prices and availability here.

(Mid-range) Rome Historic Center: Relais De La Poste is a gorgeous 3-star accommodation near the Spanish Steps, only meters from the Trevi Fountain and Via Condotti, one of the best shopping stops in the city. Check prices and availability here.

Days 3 – 5 Naples (Naples, day trip to The Amalfi Coast, day trip to Herculaneum) 

Naples

There’s a saying that goes “Rome may be the heart of Italy, but Naples is its soul” and there has perhaps never been a phrase about Italy that rings so true. A gritty city with a lot of character and heaps of charm, Napoli is one Italian destination that you’ll remember for years to come. 

Perhaps best known as the third largest city in the country, and the birthplace of Neapolitan-style pizza! Naples is rich with layers of history that overlap one another to create this modern metropolis of steep hills and wonky cobble streets, full of hidden gems and secret spots to explore.

Naples is situated along the coastline in the south, it’s often referred to as “The City of the Sun”, and also boasts of some of the best day trips as the ‘gateway to the Amalfi Coast’. Read our How To Spend One Day in Naples Itinerary here.

Where to stay –

(Budget) Hostel of the Sun: This popular hostel is set in an enviable location close to attractions such as Castel Nuovo and the 17th-century Royal Palace. The amenities of the hostel itself include Wi-Fi and air conditioning. Check prices and availability here.

(Mid-range) B&B Sweet Sleep: This cosy B&B is nestled in a penthouse-style building just under a 15-minute walk from the Napoli Cathedral. Highlights include a pool and a restaurant onsite. Check prices and availability here.

Amalfi Coast

After exploring Italy’s soul, escape to one of the most enchanting corners of the world, The Amalfi Coast. Famed for its sparkling blue sea, beautiful beaches and picture-perfect towns that belong on a postcard. Each town and city of the Amalfi Coast is vibrant and unique, making all of them worth visiting.

However, If you only have one day to spend on the Amalfi Coast then I recommend focusing on the major sites that the area has to offer: Amalfi, Ravello, and Positano. Here is a brief overview of what you can expect to see in each town:

• Amalfi – Beautiful and historic, this town is where the coastline takes its name from. A winding maze of narrow lanes and captivating views, Amalfi Town is home to the magnificent Duomo di Amalfi and a small museum detailing the history and production of paper!
• Ravello – Pretty as a postcard Ravello is situated on the hills high above. Home to immaculate gardens, Italianate architecture, and romantic scenery, it’s also famed for its music festival throughout July and August., hailed as the ‘City of Music’. You can also visit a famous cheese factory and learn how to make your own mozzarella!
• Positano – A splash of colourful pastel-hued houses painted across the jagged coastline, this is undoubtedly the most famous town on the coastline. Boasting of breathtaking views, beaches with crystal clear waters, it’s a dreamy destination where you can shop for the famous ‘Positano Fashion’ (moda positano), or feast at a local restaurant and dine with a view! Positano is also situated along the most popular hiking route of the Amalfi Coast, the Path of Gods.

Read our suggested Amalfi Coast Itinerary here. (Although be warned, it has options for how to spend 5-7 days on the coastline too, so you may find yourself already booking more plane tickets…)

Getting from Naples to the Amalfi Coast is best done via your own transport, this can easily be reached within 1.5 hours one-way. When hiring a car consider buying something small to zip around the narrow lanes. There’s no direct transport as such, but some companies have started doing bus shuttles between the towns.

Herculaneum

Step back in time and visit the remains of  a once thriving Roman city, often overlooked in favour of the more popular site Pompeii, this forgotten city is just a short train ride away from Naples.

Back in 79 CE when Mount Vesuvius (the last active volcano in Europe) erupted, the volcanic blast covered both Herculaneum and Pompeii in tonnes of ash and sulfuric acid, tragically killing thousands of people in the process.

Though only a fraction of the site has been excavated so far, its evidence shows of a much smaller (also much wealthier) town than that of Pompeii. This makes seeing it all in one day much easier!

Visitors can spend time taking in the rich history of the ancient ruins, with its intricate mosaic floors and well preserved architectural structures. There are also a few great vantage points so you can get a better view of the city as a whole, with Mount Vesuvius looming over in the background.

Day 6 & 7 Florence

A city so beautiful it’s nicknamed “La Bella“, Florence is known as Firenze in Italian. This dreamy destination boasts Brunelleschi’s dome, a sea of terracotta rooftops and is often touted to be one of the most important cities regarding Renaissance culture and art!

At times, strolling around Florence can feel like wandering around an open-air museum thanks to its illustrious piazzas and tantalising architecture. After all, it’s one of the most mesmerising Gothic cities in Europe.

One of the more unique activities (though not so much a secret anymore) to do while visiting is to tour the Florence wine windows, this, amongst other hidden gems and treasures of the city, makes it a destination full of surprises to uncover! Read our 3 Days in Florence Itinerary here and adapt as you wish to suit your preferences.

Where to stay:

(Budget) YellowSquare Florence: If you want to stay in Florence and are on a budget, then the good news is that there are plenty of wonderful hostels dotted across the historic city. The bad news is that they are still pretty expensive when compared with less touristic cities. This hostel boasts amenities such as a pool and bar. Check prices and availability here.

(Mid-range) B&B San Remigio: This cosy B&B is in a central Florence prime spot for sightseeing and has air-conditioned rooms. Check prices and availability here.

Day 8 & 9 Cinque Terre

Easily accessible by train from Florence, head out to another pocket of Italian coastline which yet again offers a completely different vibe from that of the Amalfi Coast.

Situated along the Italian Riviera, the five lands (as it translates) are made up of enchanting pastel-coloured towns which overlook the crashing waves, nestled in the shadow of the Ligurian wine region.

Luckily, you don’t need more than two days to see all five of the coastal villages. The five villages are famously traffic-free and are instead connected via hiking paths, the Cinque Terre train, and boat rides.

Cinque Terre is also one of the most romantic destinations in Europe and as such it is now a National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some of the best things to do while visiting include:

• Uncover local history – Once upon a time, Cinque Terre was described as the five castles. Today, ruins of the castles of each town remain, some of which can be visited by the public. 
• Drink wine! – Sun-kissed vineyards splay across the hillside. The two wines that are exclusively produced in the area are Cinque Terre DOC (dry white wine) and Sciacchetrà DOC (a sweet dessert wine), simply delicious!
• Sample local food – As with every part of Italy, the food is divine! Especially with Cinque Terre’s close proximity to the sea, the seafood and locally caught fish are two of the most popular elements of any menu here.

Read our 2 Days in Cinque Terre Itinerary here, for more inspiration on how to structure your trip.

Day 10 Rome (again!)

For your tenth day of tasting Italy, head back to where your adventures began and enjoy one final night in Italy’s heart. Not only will the city most likely have the best transport links for you to head back from, but it also offers you the opportunity to experience and fall in love with Rome all over again!

Read our How to Spend One Day in Rome Itinerary, and you may find that you’ve done the activities on your first visit, so you can always adapt our three-day itinerary mentioned earlier.

Alternatively, why not check out our 10+ Best Things to Do in Trastevere Guide or our How to Spend the Perfect Sunday in Rome for some different suggestions.

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