Two weeks in Italy will give you a great taste of the country. Here is a 14-day itinerary that covers many major cities in a short period of time. Each day is intentionally outlined briefly to give you an overview. This “2 Weeks in Italy” travel guide has additional helpful information including:

• Recommendations on where to stay in Rome, where to stay in Sorrento, and where to stay in Florence.
• Suggestions on how to modify your itinerary.
• A word on safety in Italy.
• Activities you may enjoy (especially as a solo traveler).
• Helpful resources on planning your trip.
• Items you may wish to add to your packing list.
• Answers to top 5 FAQs.

You’ll likely begin your Italy adventure by flying into Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport and therefore your first two days will be filled with tourist hot spots. Here’s how to spend your time:

• Day 1: Colosseum & Roman Forum (they are right next to each other). (I recommend purchasing tickets in advance for the Colosseum to save time or you can pre-book a guided tour that includes the Forum and Palatine Hill). From the Forum, about a 15-minute walk will lead you to Trevi Fountain. Within 15 minutes walking distance of the fountain are many other attractions such as Piazza Navona, Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps), and the Pantheon.
• Day 2: Visit the Vatican including St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel. Again, I recommend buying tickets in advance for the museum. Alternatively you can book a skip-the-line tour for all three places. (This specific one has over 24,ooo reviews).

If you’re looking for something unique, you can book a golf cart tour or segway tour.

The above is the obvious Rome tourist itinerary which leaves plenty of time for you to get lost in its old streets, sip espresso at its many cafes, and indulge in authentic pasta.

Top Hotel in Rome City Centre: The Liberty Boutique Hotel
Best Apartment Rental in Rome: Exclusive Suite in Historic Centre of Rome
Recommended Hostel in Rome: Yellow Square Rome

From Rome there are numerous directions you can head, such as north to Florence or Cinque Terre. While those spots were on my list, the Amalfi Coast was a must-see during my trip to Italy so I did a “detour” south for a few days. I began by taking the Italo Train from Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale. This high speed train takes just over an hour and at the time cost close to 18€.

You have the option to certainly spend the night (or longer) in Naples as are many things do to such as a pizza making class or a guided bike tour. Plus if you are staying in the bustling city, I suggest adding in an extra day for hiking Mount Vesuvius.

As for me… well, in complete honesty, I hopped off the train, walked 15 minutes to L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele for the best pizza in the world, and then simply walked back to the train station. It was a worthwhile pit spot to say the least. If you intend to do as I did, be sure to plan accordingly.

From Naples to Sorrento, you can take the Alilauro ferry which is about 35 minutes. However, if you wish to visit Pompeii (an ancient city which was buried by the 79 A.D. eruption of Mount Vesuvius), then this is the perfect time! Pompeii falls between Naples and Sorrento via train. Take the Circumvesuviana TRAIN from Napoli Garibaldi to Pompei Scavi. The train cost 3.20€, runs every half hour, and is a 36minute journey. In addition, you can store your luggage at the train station for 8€ and walk to the Pompeii ruins (13€ to enter). You can do a guided tour in Pompeii or download an audio guide. Alternatively, you can book a guided tour from Naples to Pompeii.

In the evening, simply catch the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento. This time from Pompei Scavi to Sorrento which is approximately 30 minutes).While this may sound like a long day, it is actually very do-able. You should get to Sorrento in time for a late dinner.

There are many places you can stay when it comes to the Amalfi Coast. I chose Sorrento as my base and simply did day trips via ferry to Positano and Capri. It was a great way to get a taste of the stunning region. However, I do highly recommend staying on one of the islands instead and even extending your time here if you can. (For my next trip, I’d base myself in Positano and spend a week just basking in the beauty of the coast). Stay tuned: I will write a second blog post specifically on the Amalfi Coast to share more information about what to do and how to get around.

Top Hotel in Sorrento: Grand Riviera Hotel
Best Apartment Rental in Sorrento: Great Apartment in the Center of Sorrento
Recommended Hostel in Sorrento: Florida Hostel

From the Amalfi Coast, it is a 4-hour journey up to Florence. This begins with a 1-hour train via the Circumvesuviana: Sorrento to Napoli Garibaldi station. After you will spend 3 hours on the high speed Italdo train: Napoli Centrale to Firenze SMN. Depending on your interests, 4 nights in Florence may seem too long, but it is also a good base for day trips. Here are some suggestions on how to spend your time in one of my favorite Italian cities.

• Day 1: Assuming you get here in the late afternoon/early evening, this is a great night to catch sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo. This is a park with a massive viewing area overlooking Florence.
• Day 2: Get mesmerized by the Florence Cathedral (Duomo). You will have a full day to wander through the area which includes sites such as Palazzo Vecchio, Basilica di San Lorenzo, Ponte Vecchio. And you can include a visit to see the infamous Michelangelo’s David at Accademia Gallery. You have the option to purchase tickets online or book a guided tour (which allows you to skip the line).
• Day 3: Visit Uffizi Gallery during the AM to see great paintings and sculptures. Similar to Accademia Gallery, you can book a guided tour that allows you to skip the line. And in the afternoon, check out Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens. 
• Day 4: Book a Tuscany wine tour. (I’ve linked to the one I booked and enjoyed. It was great for solo travelers! Stay tuned for a blog post sharing more details). This specific one ends in San Gimignano, which is a small medieval town.
• If you are planning to spend more time in the city, there are many more things to do in Florence.

Top Hotel in Florence: Laurus Al Duomo
Best Apartment Rental in Florence: Ground Floor Apartment in the Heart of Florence
Top Hostel in Florence: PLUS Florence

The journey to Cinque Terre from Florence is about two hours. You take the train to La Spezia and then switch to another train that connects all five villages of Cinque Terre. This is the 5 Terre Express train. You can base yourself at any of these villages, but Vernazza is definitely the most popular.

The alternative if you are limited on time is a day trip from Florence to Cinque Terre. (I opted for a day trip personally). Cinque Terre is a worthwhile visit. While I would have loved to spend more time, a day trip still allowed me to explore the area for a few hours. Majority of these day trips take you to 2-3 of the villages (via train and/or boat once you arrive to Cinque Terre).  Another benefit is you have the ease of getting around with a guide.

From Cinque Terre to Milan, you’ll need to get back to La Spezia station. From here, take the three-hour train to Milan Centrale. I chose to end my trip in Milan as my flight back to Toronto was from Milan Malpensa Airport. Milan is a vibrant city with an expat feel. In two days some must-sees are:

• Duomo di Milano which is the famous church in the city
• The Last Supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie
• Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II which is an old shopping area with many high end boutiques. It is known for its beautiful architecture.
• And simply roam around the city!

While you can cover a lot of ground in 14 days, you also will not be able to “see it all”. Here are some suggestions on how you can modify the above itinerary.

• Spend 2-3 days in Venice following Florence. If you opt to do this, you skip Cinque Terre and instead take a 3.5 hour train to Venice.
• Omit the Amalfi Coast and focus on northern Italy. In this case, I suggest heading to Cinque Terre from Rome, then Florence, followed by Venice or Milan. (For myself personally, the Amalfi Coast was a must-see and one of my highlights in Italy, but it does cause a detour south in your itinerary. If you can save it for another trip, then skip it this time around).
• Add in Pisa: You can do a day trip here from Florence or Cinque Terre. Alternatively, you may chose to spend at least one night trip while on your way to Cinque Terre. And there is more to see in Pisa than just the Leaning Tower.
• Add in Lake Como: You can do a day or weekend trip from Milan either via driving or bus.
• Add in Verona: It is approximately 1.5 hours from Venice or Milan.
• While this itinerary touches upon popular cities, there are tons of hidden gems in Italy you can add in.

If you only have a week to spend, then stay tuned for a 7-day Italy itinerary.

Are you planning two weeks in Italy? Which cities will you be visiting? Share in the comments!
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Italy is a relatively safe country. As a female traveling solo throughout parts of it, I did not encounter any danger (and met plenty of other solo travelers). That being said, I do suggest reading about the common scams in Italy . (Fun fact: I read about scams in any country before I go simply to keep myself aware). And without sounding like a concerned parent, I do advocate for travel insurance in case something goes wrong. If applicable to you, check with your employee benefits to see if you are covered. Otherwise, I like World Nomads as it’s quite reputable and provides 24-hour assistance.

[sc_fs_multi_faq headline-0=”h4″ question-0=”Is 2 weeks enough in Italy?” answer-0=”Two weeks is enough to get a taste of the country, but you won’t see it all. Pick the top cities you’d like to visit and divide your 14 days between them.” image-0=”” headline-1=”h4″ question-1=”How can I spend 15 days in Italy?” answer-1=”Day 1-3:Rome. Day 4-7: Sorrento. Day 8-11: Florence. Day 12-13: Cinque Terre or Venice. Day 14-15: Milan. ” image-1=”” headline-2=”h4″ question-2=”What is the best month to visit Italy?” answer-2=”September or October once the summer tourist months have passed. Or April to June before school lets out.” image-2=”” headline-3=”h4″ question-3=”What is the cheapest city to fly into Italy?” answer-3=”This depends where you are flying from and the airline. From my research flying into Rome or Milan was proven to be the cheapest.” image-3=”” headline-4=”h4″ question-4=”How many days do you need to visit Italy?” answer-4=”I recommend two weeks in the country, but if you must shorten it, a week is suffice but limit yourself to 2-3 cities in that case.” image-4=”” count=”5″ html=”true” css_class=””]

Thanks for reading. I hope this Two Weeks in Italy Itinerary was helpful in planning your trip!