Post Contents
- 5 Ways to Spend 5 Days in Italy
- Itinerary #1 The Classic Trio – Rome, Florence Venice in 5 Days
- Itinerary #2 Island Escape – 5 Days in Capri, Italy
- Itinerary #3 The Eternal City – 5-Day Trip to Italy
- Itinerary #4 The Mighty North – 5-Day Northern Italy Tour
- Itinerary #5 Art, Fashion & Romance – Milan & Venice Itinerary of 5 Days
- Bonus Itinerary Inspiration – 5-Day Cinque Terre Tours!
- How to Design Your Own Trip to Italy
- Create Your Own Tour of Italy
When planning to visit Italy, you will have to accept that it’s near impossible to see everything you want to in one trip, unless you are planning to spend months and months exploring (one can dream). For most of us, we have a limited amount of time to explore this wonderful country and all its incredible sights. If you have just 5 days in Italy, you can choose a region and take in a perfect mix of historic sites, delicious cuisine and beautiful landscapes.
It can be tempting to try to squeeze in as many places as possible into your trip but this is a foolproof recipe for stress. You’ll be moving so often that you won’t have time to appreciate Italy’s beauty, plus you’ll be losing a lot of your time travelling from one place to the next.
Luckily, you can avoid this unnecessary stress by pinning down a focus and planning a 5-day Italy itinerary which is the perfect mix of everything for you. We’ve gathered together 5 different ways to do a 5-day tour of Italy so that you can see which suits you best and start planning your perfect trip!
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5 Ways to Spend 5 Days in Italy
Itinerary #1 The Classic Trio – Rome, Florence Venice in 5 Days
Experiencing three of Europe’s most loved cities in one amazing tour, this 5-day trip to Italy sees you navigating the rich history of the Roman Empire, the ‘Cradle of the Renaissance’, and the colourful city built over 100 islands – Rome, Florence and Venice!
Day 1 – Discover the Eternal City of Rome
You’ll begin your 5 day itinerary in Rome, Italy’s capital. After settling in, your first day will be free for you to explore, which gives you the perfect opportunity to soak up the cultural, artistic and ancient atmosphere of this beautiful city. After visiting the Spanish Steps and the Travi Fountain, we recommend you find a little café at the edge of Piazza Navona to enjoy some typical Italian gelato or a glass Aperol Spritz as you watch the world go by.
The afternoon could be spent exploring more of Rome’s many highlight like the Piazza Navona or the Pantheon. Dinner is surely Italy’s most famous culinary creation, Pizza. We recommend the Pizzeria Da Baffetto. There are usually queues, which mover pretty quick, but the pizza is well worth the wait.
Day 2 – Explore Vatican City
Today, you’ll embark on a tour with an expert local guide that will lead you through one of the largest art collections in the world. The Vatican Museums are a labyrinth of artworks, where masterpieces form your yellow brick road all the way to the famous Sistine Chapel and the incredible Raphael Rooms. After admiring the famous ceiling painted by none other than Michelangelo, you’ll spend the afternoon on a guided tour of the iconic symbol of Rome, the Colosseum, including a guaranteed entry and a ‘skip the queue’ pass.
Rome is the birthplace of Carbonara, and is the ‘must try’ pasta dish. When in Rome, we recommend Roscioli Salumeria for one of the best Carbonaras you’ll ever have.
Day 3 – Rome to Florence or Day Trip to Cinque Terre
Today, you’ll catch the high-speed train from Rome to Italy’s ‘Cradle of Renaissance’, Florence. With its abundance of historic treasures and artistic abundances, you could spend 5 days in Florence, the capital of the region of Tuscany, without visiting any other destinations and still come away having had a fantastic trip. Once settled today, you’ll head out with a local guide to tour some of Florence’s key landmarks including the Ponte Vecchio, a long-standing landmark of the city.
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Instead of exploring the city, you could also customise this itinerary to include a Cinque Terre day trip from Florence. The bus from Florence to Cinque Terre takes 2.5 hours so you’d want to make sure to arrive in La Spezia early to get the most out of your day trip.
Day 4 – Spend the Last of Your 5 Days in Venice
You could cover more of Rome and Florence in 5 days but in order to maximise your trip, you’ll head to Venice this afternoon. After a speedy train ride, you’ll begin your Venice experience in true style as you glide along the waterways to your hotel. The afternoon will be spent with a local guide discovering the history, architectural beauty and charm of one of the most famous cities in the world.
Like all of Italy, Venice is known for it’s cuisine. We recommend trying Risotto al nero di seppia, or Squid Ink and seafood risotto. Ristorante ai Barbacani is our pick.
Day 5 – Departure from Venice
All too soon, your 5-day Italy tour will come to an end.
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Itinerary #2 Island Escape – 5 Days in Capri, Italy
Sitting at the end of the Sorrento Peninsula, the island of Capri oozes a subtle air of magnificence, elegance and beauty; it is a wonderful place to spend a 5-day Italy break. As well as cruising around the island’s shore by boat, you’ll also be zipping around the island’s charming villages, elegant villas and sublime coves on a Vespa!
Day 1 – Journey to Capri
Upon arrival at the airport, your luxury car and private driver will collect you to take you to the pier where you’ll catch your ferry to Capri. As you approach the island with its beautiful villages stacked up from its harbour and dazzling waters lapping up against its coast, you’ll be full of anticipation ahead of the next 5 days of Italy.
Day 2 – Explore Capri by Boat or Vespa
Today you’ll have the entire day to explore the beautiful island of Capri where steep cliffs are fringed by azure waters, elegant villas line the streets of pretty towns and gardens are perfectly manicured. Choose to explore the island by Vespa and spend the day with the wind in your hair and the sun on your back!
Day 3 – Capri Island Tour
Today’s the day you’ll head off to encounter the famous ‘Blue Grotto’ where the waters glow a luminous blue. After the Blue Grotto, you can visit the pretty, mountaintop town of Anacapri. Whilst the town is not as well-known as the island’s main town, Capri, Anacapri offers the same amount of beauty with half the crowds.
Day 4 – Back to Naples
You’ll return to the city of Naples today ahead of your departing flight tomorrow. You’ll wave off the island of Capri in the morning and then have the rest of the afternoon to explore Naples. There’s lots to see and do in Naples: watch the world go by in the Piazza del Gesù, admire the astonishing Church of Santa Chiara and taste Naples’ typical pastry, the sfogliatella.
Naples is the birthplace of Pizza, and we cannot go past Pizzeria Gorizia for one of the best, and most authentic pizzas you will ever eat!
Day 5 – Goodbye Italy!
Today, your wonderful island trip comes to an end as you make your way to the airport after a leisurely breakfast. If you’d prefer, you could head back to Naples earlier to add the Amalfi Coast to your 5-day itinerary.
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Itinerary #3 The Eternal City – 5-Day Trip to Italy
Ancient heritage sites, astonishing architecture and hidden gems await you in the capital of Italy. It’s true, you could spend a year in Rome and still not see all it has to offer, but five days will show you the very best of this beautiful city. This sprawling city is home to an amalgamation of delights and on this trip, you’ll see its very best highlights.
Day 1 – Arrive in Rome
After settling into your hotel just walking distance from the Vatican, the heart of the Catholic world, you’ll head out on a tour of St Peter’s Basilica with your local guide. Facing St Peter’s Square, this huge basilica is one of the most renowned pieces of Renaissance architecture in the world and inside, you’ll find beautiful creations by none other than Michaelangelo.
Day 2 – Iconic Sights of Rome
Today is a bucket-list-ticking kind of day. You’ll make your way around Rome’s most famous landmarks such as Piazza Navona and the famed Trevi Fountain where, if you throw a coin into the fountain, you’ll be granted your wish to return to Rome. The Pantheon, the Colosseum and more will also be on your list of buildings you must see in Italy in 5 days.
Day 3 – Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
The incredible collection of art in the Vatican Museums and the splendid Sistine Chapel with its Michaelangelo-painted ceiling await you today. With your local guide, you’ll be taken on a tour through 16th-century masterpieces of High Renaissance art. For lunch, you’ll make your own pizza and devour it afterwards!
Day 4 – Day Trip to Ostia Antica
Ostia Antica is the largest archaeological site in Ancient Rome where Roman streets have been preserved, you can visit an old Roman theatre and even shop in Roman boutiques! To refresh in the afternoon, you can head to Lido di Ostia, a small town by the sea where locals go for a swim in the ocean. If you’ve had enough history by day four, you could use these days to change your trip to a 5-day tour from Rome to the Amalfi Coast instead.
Day 5 – Goodbye Italy!
Today, you’ll be taken to the airport in Rome as your trip comes to an end.
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Itinerary #4 The Mighty North – 5-Day Northern Italy Tour
Nestled between the Alps and the Ligurian Riviera, you’ll spend these 5 days in the region of Piedmont where incredible food, memorable villages and iconic landmarks will punctuate your trip. These 5 days in Northern Italy will be spent focusing on the history and gastronomy of this region which are both enticing and full of surprises!
Day 1 – Arrive in Turin
For most Northern Italy itineraries, it is typical to begin your trip from Milan, however, this trip begins in the culturally-rich city of Turin. You’ll spend your first day exploring the Royal Palace of Turin which has been the centre of the House of Savoy for three centuries.
Day 2 – Guided Tour of Turin
Today is all about seeing the highlights of Turin, from its grand Parco del Valentino to its 17th-century Castello del Valentino and more. Exploring with a local guide will mean you’ll not only see these wonderful landmarks of Italy but you’ll also learn of their history through local anecdotes and expertise.
Day 3 – Drive Yourself into the Countryside
After picking up your rental car, you’ll travel to the region known for its sprawling vineyards, castle and delicious food, the Langhe e Roero area. After exploring, you’ll continue to the charming city of Asti for lunch and a tasting of the sparkling wine that takes the same name as the town. The day will end in Alba with a view of the cathedral and a delicious dinner.
Day 4 – Barolo Wine, Truffles & More
Today is all about tasting the product of this region as you go on a self-drive tour around the Barolo vineyard followed by a tasting overlooking the beautiful landscape. After lunch, during which, you’ll taste samples of Alba’s coveted ‘white gold’ (truffles), you’ll go for a stroll around Barolo followed by yet another wine tasting.
Day 5 – Goodbye Italy!
Today, your northern Italy trip comes to an end as you drive yourself to the airport, drop off your rental car and board your onward flight.
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Itinerary #5 Art, Fashion & Romance – Milan & Venice Itinerary of 5 Days
Where better to spend your 5 days than in two of the country’s most iconic cities?
From the fashion and art powerhouse of Milan, you’ll move onto the romantic floating city of Venice, built over 100 islands laced with canals and connected by bridges. You’ll discover the hidden corners, local haunts and of course, the two city’s most iconic sights.
Day 1 – Begin Your 5 Days in Milan, Italy
After settling into your charming city centre B&B, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the city on your own. In the evening, you’ll take a stroll through one of the most vibrant parts of the city, Navigli, with a local guide. You’ll stop for an aperitif and a sip of wine in one of the many atmospheric bars.
Day 2 – Take a Ride Through Milan on a Historical Tram
Today you’ll discover Milan in a unique way – on the historical tram No1. You’ll trundle through the city passing by the Sforza Castle, the Brera district, the imposing cathedral of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, and La Scala Opera House. The tour will end on Corso Buenos Aires, one of Milan’s main shopping avenues, where you can finish the day shopping!
Day 3 – Take a Cinque Terre Tour from Milan or Travel Onwards to Venice
If you’d like to extend your trip at this point, you could do a Cinque Terre day trip from Milan to visit the famous five villages. Normally, on day 3 of this trip, you would catch the train to Venice. Upon arrival, you’ll get a true taste of Venice as you glide through the canals of the city’s most historic and atmospheric neighbourhoods, the Jewish Ghetto. Your evening will consist of Cicchetti tasting in a number of local bars.
Day 4 – Walking City Tour of Venice
You’ll spend the penultimate day of your trip exploring the city which is made up of over 100 islands. You’ll visit the most famous sights in the city: Rialto Bridge, St Mark’s Basilica and St Mark’s Square. You’ll be treated to a romantic gondola ride in the late afternoon.
Day 5 – Goodbye Venice
Today your 5 days in Venice and Milan comes to an end as you are transferred by taxi boat to the airport.
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Bonus Itinerary Inspiration – 5-Day Cinque Terre Tours!
If you’d like to mix up your itinerary or create your own Italy itinerary then this is your chance to indulge in one of the most divine spots in the country by travelling to the Cinque Terre from Florence.
You can easily capture the best of the Cinque Terre in one day travelling from many different cities in Italy’s northern and central region; travelling from Florence or Pisa to Cinque Terre is one of the most popular ways to add this destination to your itinerary.
These itineraries can be customised by our Local Designers in Italy to deliver the perfect experience, whether you’re looking to conquer Cinque Terre in a day or over 5 days!
Want More Italy Itineraries?
There are so many different ways to spend 5 days in Italy so here are a few more itineraries to get you excited!
How to Design Your Own Trip to Italy
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More Information on Your 5-Day Italy Vacation
When to Go to Italy
It’s always a good time to go to Italy; it is a country full of beauty all year round. However, different seasons will bring different weather, a different vibe and of course, different activities so choosing when to go will depend on how you want to spend your trip.
For a quick breakdown, the seasons in Italy look like this:
- Summer (June to August) – hot and humid, the most visitors
- Autumn (September to November) – cooler and more comfortable, less crowded
- Winter (December to February) – cold and wet with snow in the north, many places will be shut
- Spring (March to May) – a little bit of rain but it will be warmer, far less crowded than summer
The opportune time to go to Italy would be in the shoulder seasons either side of Summer, so from March to May or September to November. These times will guarantee you’ll still be able to see everything you want to see and do the activities you want to do but with fewer crowds.
What to Pack for 5 Days
Whatever time of year you decide to travel to Italy, it is best to pack layers. If you plan to visit multiple destinations during your 5-day trip then you will want to make sure you can adjust your wardrobe to suit changing climates.
If you are going to be moving as you would on a 5-day road trip in Italy then it would be best to travel light with a small carry-on suitcase or a backpack. Lugging a big suitcase in and out of cars and on and off of trains may get tiring, especially if you plan on visiting multiple destinations.
Of course, the essentials to pack include:
- Passport / Visas
- Travel documents
- Credit cards & cash
- Travel adapter
- Camera
It is also highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance alongside your trip for any mishaps that may occur.
Trip to Italy Cost
The million-dollar question – how much will my perfect trip cost?
The answer to this question entirely depends on the following aspects of your trip:
- Type of accommodation
- Where you visit and how many places you visit
- When you visit
- How you travel
- How many tours you do
- The type of tour you do
Our Local Designers in Italy know the country like the back of their hand and are experts when it comes to planning trips that fit your budget, travel style and interests. To take the headache out of planning your trip, tell our Local Designers what you’re looking for and let them design your dream Italy trip.
Create Your Own Tour of Italy
Designer Journeys’ highly-vetted team of trusted, in-destination Local Designers in Italy can design your dream trip. No matter how you want to spend your 5 days in Italy, they can tailor the trip to make sure it is everything you are looking for whilst fitting within your budget.
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