This post is my 7 day itinerary for Italy.
Welcome to your next destination, Italy! This was my second time visiting the beautiful country. My last trip was over 5 years ago (time flies!) and it felt like my first time. An amazing return! I took a flight from Orlando to New York City, spent the night there to rest up before my 8 hours flight to Milan.
I flew with with Neos Airlines for the first time. Everything went smoothly in the flight. We landed in Milan around 7 AM, before the city was really awake and took a really expensive Uber from Milan Airport to our hotel in the city center. We dropped off our luggage at the hotel’s concierge, got dressed in the lobby bathroom (and yes, I had my suitcase wide open in the lobby to pull out my stuff) and headed out for some breakfast.
HOW TO PLAN A 7 DAY TRIP FOR ITALY ITINERARY?
What are the visa requirements for US citizens?
US citizens do not need a visa to visit Italy for a stay less than 90 days. There are some other requirements to enter the country such as a valid passport for at least 3 months after the planned departure date. Check out the travel state gov. site for the most up to date information, click here.
How to get around in Italy?
Public transportation is really easy to use in most of the country. While Uber is available in the major cities, I recommend you take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with their transportation system because it can save you a ton of $$$$. To give you a better understanding of the prices, my Uber ride from Milan airport to my hotel in the city center was $140 one way. Had I taken the convenient train, it would have been under $15. Yikes! In my defense, it was 2 girls with really heavy luggage getting off a red-eye with no sleep on the flight.
Would you rather overpay for a taxi for the convenience or are you more financially responsible? Share in the comments below!
For travel between cities, I had the Omio app on my phone which was pretty awesome! You can book your trains literally minutes before departure, as long as they are available. Another thing I liked about train travel in Italy was how efficient the entire system is. Trains are mostly on time, you do not have to arrive hours ahead of your train like airport travel (I dread!), and the trains itself are neat & clean. The main stations like Milan Centrale and Roma Termini were pretty much a shopping mall. Had a ton of restaurants, cafes, and so many stores to shop from!
*Image from Omio website
As mentioned above, Uber is available within the major cities, I did use it for a few short rides within Milan and Rome, it can get pricey. You can also rent a car to drive around the country, I personally am not the best driver outside the US so I’d rather overpay for transportation that trust my driving skills. You will also do a lot of walking so make sure you pack some trusted, comfortable shoes like these.
When is the best time to visit Italy?
I went to Italy in early June. I want to say I beat the crowds but wrong, cities like Rome were packed with tourists! I feel like Italy has become an extremely popular destination among Americans since the restart of travel post covid. The country is stunning and is easily accessible from most of the major US cities.
May to September are considered peak season in Italy with the summer months of June, July, and August being the busiest. I suggest booking your flights and hotels well in advance so that you can get the best deals. If you want to avoid the steep prices and large crowds, consider visiting in spring or fall seasons.
During my visit, the temperatures were pretty decent at my first stop in Milan. Rome on the other hand was hot! I can’t recall the exact temperatures but I remember trying to grab opportunity I had to drink some cold water and stand under a shaded area to catch a break from the blazing sun. I have had this handheld fan for at least a couple of years, it always comes in handy during my trips. This foldable beach hat is another one of my summer vacation essential.
What to pack for a 7 day itinerary to Italy?
Generally speaking, I suggest packing light for Italy because trying to lug around heavy suitcases on the cobblestone streets or up and down the stairs is no joke! Plus you can find so many stores with cute and inexpensive clothing there. Having said that, there are some essentials that I like to travel with, regardless of the destination. Check them out below.
- You can also checkout my Amazon storefront for some inspiration. Click here.
- A travel plug adapter for your electronics. Click here.
- Portable phone battery charger. Click here.
- Portable fan to keep cook in the blazing heat. Click here.
- Makeup- mostly my essentials and whatever fits in this bag. I have it in brown. Click here.
- Skin care- travel size only, the Origins travel skincare set was perfect, I use most of their products at home too. Click here.
- Sunscreen- again travel size only, I like the Neutrogena stick version which works for face & body. Click here.
- Camera- I have the Canon EOS T7i, there is a great bundle deal on Amazon. Click here.
- Waterproof camera- under $50, loved it! The quality is pretty good for the price. Click here. I also purchased a wide angle lens. Click here.
- Tripod- solo traveler problems. Get something sturdy and lightweight, especially if you plan on taking pics when it is windy. Click here.
- Shoes- 2-3 sandals, a reliable pair of sneakers and some comfortable heels.
- Packing cubes- to keep things organized especially when you have limited space. Click here.
- Blister bandages because you never know how painful walking all day can be. Click here.
- Portable luggage scale because shopping is unavoidable in Italy. Click here.
Where to stay?
For the week long trip, we didn’t want to carry our luggage all over the country so we decided to stay in Milan and Rome and then take day trips from there. There are a lot of stairs to climb up and down in cities like Venice, while it is a beautiful city and would love to stay there at some point, I can’t imagine having to lug around my suitcases without help. So when deciding on where to stay in Italy, ask yourself if you are willing to go through the hassle of transporting your luggage around. Now this is not a issue if you are a light-packer or bring backpacks.
Milan
For the first couple of nights, we stayed at Auriga Hotel, Milan. I picked it because of the central location, decent ratings, and availability for our dates. I’d give it a 2.5/5. The hotel was decent, front desk staff was very unwelcoming, the bedroom and bathroom can use some updating and better cleaning service. It was okay for the 2 nights, however, I’d pick something else for the next trip.
For the last night in Milan, we decided to splurge on our stay and spent it at the gorgeous Chateau Monfort, Milan. I am working on a full review of my stay but overall I’d give it a 4.5/5 rating. Below are some other options that I narrowed down for my stay but were unavailable for our travel dates.
- Grand Visconti Palace– upscale spa, resort vibes
- Montenapoleone Suites– centrally located, walking distance to main attractions, save $$ on transportation
- Hotel Glam Milano– excellent location
- Hotel Villa Malpensa– beautiful property, close to the airport but far from the attractions.
Rome
I love staying at one of the neighborhoods near the Vatican City. I previously stayed at a gorgeous apartment via Airbnb and loved my stay! Therefore, I was looking to recreate that memory. Unfortunately, I could not find the same listing on Airbnb but I did end up with another stunning find. We stayed at this property hosted by Simone, click here.
Located in a quiet neighborhood, on the ground floor made our lives easy especially when we had to bring in our suitcases. It was also a neat and clean unit with all the essentials I needed. There were local restaurants/cafes and small grocery stores within walking distance from the apartment. One of my most cherished memory from the trip was going to the local neighborhood cafe early in the morning to grab some coffee and a breakfast sandwich, sat outside, watching the older Italian men meet each other for a weekend coffee and chat. I can totally see myself spending a few months living in Rome just to fully immerse myself in the culture and city! Maybe one day!
Here are some of the other options I narrowed down during my research but didn’t book for one reason or the other.
- Suite Dreams Roma– excellent location
- Domus Liberius– the aesthetics caught my eye
- Tullia e Prisca Relais– 7 mins walk to the Colosseum
What to do in Italy?
There is literally so much to do and see in Italy that a week’s trip is nowhere near enough. However, if a week is all you can go for like me, then I suggest focusing on 2-3 cities max. and adding some of these bucket list items to your list.
As mentioned above, I went to Milan, Rome, and Venice during this trip. I had a day trip planned to Lake Como, however, upon arriving at the train station we found out that there was a train strike going on and all the trains were cancelled! I was utterly disappointed as I was really looking forward to visiting Lake Como. Travel has taught me that things can happen which you have no control over so I find it best to just accept it and come up with a plan B. Mine ended up being getting a much needed Thai massage, dressing up for a fine dinning experience at one of Milan’s best restaurant and grabbing some more gelato to end the trip!
These were some things on my bucket list.
- Visit the Roman Colosseum
- Toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain
- Have some gelato
- Tour the smallest country in the world Vatican City
- Visit the Spanish steps
- Ride a gondola in Venice
- Tour the rooftop of the Duomo di Milano
- Shop at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele
- Take a day trip to Lake Como
- Try a pasta cooking class from a local chef
What else should I know before going to Italy?
- Italian is the official language of Italy. While I was able to get away with English and google translate, I suggest learning some key Italian phrases to be able to communicate with the locals.
- Euro is the currency of Italy. I got some cash out of the ATM at the airport upon arrival and used my credit cards for all major purchases.
- Beware of pick pockets. Crowded touristy areas are easy targets for petty thefts and a lot more common than you would think.
STEAL MY 7 DAY ITINERARY FOR ITALY
DAY 1- Overnight NYC> Milan + half day explore Milan
On day 1, caught a redeye flight from JFK and landed in Milan at 7 AM. Since it was early in the morning, our hotel room was not ready for check in. We got ready quick in the hotel lobby bathroom and dropped off our luggage with the concierge. We grabbed some much needed caffeine and breakfast from a neighborhood cafe called Piada Gallery Caffe. The coffee was good, breakfast flatbread not so much.
Next, we toured the Doumo di Milano. The tickets were about $26 per person and included the terrace access which I highly recommend. Click here for ticket. We took our time exploring and taking it all in, clicked lots of pictures at every angle possible! The Duomo is known for it’s magnificent architecture, it is one of the largest Cathedral in the world which took 579 years to build!
Next stop was Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II which is the oldest shopping center in the world! It is located right next to the Duomo so you don’t have to go too far to access it. Here you can find several high end designer brands such Prada, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and so many more!
By now our room was ready for check in so we headed back to our hotel for a much needed nap! We ended day 1 of our trip with a late dinner at a pizza place near the hotel which was delicious btw and some tiramisu!
DAY 2- Explore Milan
After a late start to day 2, we grabbed a big breakfast and headed out to explore more of Milan. We had this pasta cooking class booked but had a change of plans last minute. Instead we headed to browse through the stores on Via del Corso. I came across some really cute and unique clothing items but had to refrain from going overboard as I had intentions of shopping in Rome. Ended the day with a nice dinner and an early night as I was still jetlagged.
DAY 3- Day trip to Venice
Day 3 was a day trip from Milan to Venice. We boarded an early morning train from the Milane Centrale train station which was a 5 mins walk from the hotel. The tickets were about $50/person roundtrip for a 2ish hours train ride from Milan to Venice. Very convenient and easy to navigate.
First impressions of Venice, it is absolutely stunning! Just like the pictures. We arrived at Venice Santa Lucia train station which is located on the Grand Canal. Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s Square are a short walk from there. Venice was also noticeably very busy and crowded, full of tourists. We sat at the first restaurant we could come across to have some breakfast as we were starving! Then we spent the day exploring the iconic city of Venice.
Checked off the gondola ride in Venice off my bucket list! I highly suggest booking the ride in advance using this link because we ended up paying almost $150 per person over there! We also went to Saint Mark Basilica, Piazzo San Marco, and Doge’s Palace which are located next to each other in the square. I also shopped a little bit for some leather handbags, jewelry, and clothing items. Had gelato couple of times because why not!
We boarded an evening train back to our hotel in Milan and I am pretty sure I slept through the entire ride as I was exhausted from all the walking and sightseeing! Overall Venice is a must visit, I would love to go back and spend a couple of days there exploring more of the beautiful city.
DAY 4- Head to Rome
Day 4 of my 7 day itinerary for Italy started with an early breakfast and coffee from the Milan Centrale train station because we had a train to catch to the ancient city of Rome. A direct train ride is about 3 hours long so I wanted to ensure I had breakfast and some snacks on me for the ride.
After dropping off our luggage at the Airbnb, we headed out to explore the amazing city. I forgot how much I loved Rome the last time I was here and fell in love with it again! We ended up in Campo Marzio, which has an upscale shopping district, restaurants/cafes, and attractions such as the Spanish Steps. We grabbed some food and tried dessert from a couple of different spots (don’t judge me!) and did some more shopping. I found some unique jewelry and Italian made shoes.
The Spanish Steps are the longest and widest steps in Europe and are an important landmark not to be missed. Keep in mind, you are not allowed to sit on these steps, you can definitely climb up and down as well as get your pictures taken there. Next spot was the Trevi Fountain. It was amazing to see how crowded that area was even after 7 PM! From here we decided to walk back to our Airbnb which probably wasn’t the brightest idea. I am pretty sure my GPS said it was about a 30-40 minutes walk which didn’t seem like a big deal. Welp. That 40 minutes walk took lot longer because some roads were closed and walking on the elevated cobblestone streets is no joke! But we kept on walking. We also passed through the St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City which was pretty cool to see without all the crowds.
DAY 5- Full day exploring Rome
After a good night of sleep and a filling breakfast, we made our way to sightsee all the main attractions of Rome. Started off at the extremely crowded Trevi Fountain, made my wish and tossed my coins. Then made our way to the Colosseum. We walked from the Trevi Fountain to the Colosseum which is about a mile away. It’s not too bad, however, the heat in Rome is no joke especially during summer. Make sure to wear a hat and keep yourself hydrated.
We purchased tickets for a guided tour of the Colosseum. Even though the tickets say “skip the line”, keep in mind you will still be in lines. It just means you have a timed window to enter. This applies to most of the major attractions there. We spent the remaining afternoon with a tour of the Vatican City. These tickets were a little hard to get as it was last minute. Nevertheless, we were able to get in and experience the amazing Vatican city.
Due to poor planning on my mind, I felt my experience was rushed. I suggest dedicating at least half a day to visit all the famous landmarks in the Vatican City. We then went back to our Airbnb (took a taxi this time), rested for a bit as we were planning to explore the nightlife in Rome after dinner! Another thing I loved about my trip was how relaxed and fun everyone was around.
DAY 6- Explore Rome + head back to Milan
After a slow morning and some breakfast, we made our way back to Milan. This means we are at the end of our 7 day trip itinerary for Italy. We arrived in time for check in to the gorgeous Chateau Monfort. An absolute beauty! Loved my stay here and the service. I highly recommend staying here if you are planning to visit Milan.
DAY 7- Day trip To Lake Como
Day 7 of my 7 day itinerary for Italy! We had purchased train tickets to head to Lake Como, which was less than an hour away. However, upon arrival at the Milan Centrale train station, we found out that most of the trains had been cancelled in the city due to a strike! While I was pretty bummed that I did not get to explore Lake Como, we decided to get some Thai massages at a place near the station. It turned out to be amazing! We spent the rest of afternoon reflecting back on our trip as well as catching up on our lives.
To end our trip, we decided to celebrate it with a nice dinner at one of the restaurants located in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II mall. We also caught some night views of the Duomo Cathedral, which was pretty cool.
DAY 8- Milan > NYC flight
This brings me to an end to our amazing 7 day trip itinerary for Italy. I had an amazing time and loved visiting the country, made lots of memories and experiences. After breakfast at the Chateau Monfort, we said our final goodbyes. I was heading back to the US and my friend decided to fly out to Portugal for a few days.
CONCLUSION– 7 DAY ITINERARY FOR ITALY
I had a fantastic time visiting Italy for the second time and can’t wait to go back again. I would love to explore the beautiful coastline of Italy and places such as Positano, Capri, Cinque Terre, etc. I also want to go back with a bigger budget $$$ for some more shopping in Rome. I highly recommend Italy as your next vacation destination and hope you have a wonderful time! As always feel free to leave your comments or ask your questions below, I will be happy to help you plan your trip!
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SAVE ME- 7 DAY ITINERARY FOR ITALY
