10-Day Italy Itinerary: The Dolomites, Cinque Terre, Florence, Rome

So you’re ready to plan your trip to Italy.  This 10-day Italy itinerary will allow you to spend time in the Dolomites, Cinque Terre, Florence, and Rome.  Before you start planning your trip, be sure to check out our post on everything you need to know before traveling to Italy for the first time.

Read More: Italy Travel Tips-Everything You Need to Know Before Your Trip

How to Get There

For this itinerary, your trip will begin in the Dolomites, a beautiful mountain range in northeastern Italy.  To get here, we recommend flying into Venice (Venice Marco Polo Airport), renting a car, and driving to the Dolomites from there.

If you want to add Venice on to your itinerary, you can get to the city center a few different ways.

ATVO Blue Buses

These buses run every 30 minutes and only have two stops, making the journey to Venice about 20 minutes or so.  A ticket is €10 one way or €18 for a round trip ticket.  Tickets can be purchased from the automated machines in baggage claim or the ATVO ticket offices in the arrivals hall.

ACTV Bus No. 5

This bus is a slightly cheaper option at €8 each way, but it does make more stops causing the trip to take about 30-45 minutes.  Tickets can be bought online at the Venezia Utica website, at the ticket machines in baggage claim, at the ticket office in the arrivals hall, or the automatic ticket machine at the bus lane outside the airport.

Alilaguna

This water bus is the way to travel if you want to enjoy views of the city.  It is €15 per trip or €27 round trip.

After your time in Venice, you would return to the airport to pick up your rental car.

Renting a Car

A car is only necessary for the first part of your Italy trip. While it is possible to get to the Dolomites via bus or train, we enjoyed the flexibility of having a car to get around the Dolomites once we were there. However, you should determine if this makes sense for you.  If you don’t mind heading back towards Venice to return your rental car before heading off to your next destination or paying extra to return your car in La Spezia near the second stop of the itinerary in Cinque Terre, then renting a car might be a great choice.

Otherwise, we would recommend using public transport, as the Dolomites have buses that run frequently and make stops at major points of interest.  Keep in mind that these buses are seasonal.  They run during the summer (mid/late June to mid/late September) and winter (late December to late March) peak seasons. After your time in the Dolomites, you would then take a bus to the nearest train station, Calalzo di Cadore, and take a train to Cinque Terre.

When to Visit

For this specific 10-day Italy itinerary, we would recommend traveling in June before it gets too hot.  While the summer in Italy is considered  peak season, you’re going to encounter crowds at various times throughout the year.  Try to avoid traveling around local holidays and expect crowds at major sights.

Italy Travel Tips to Know Before Your Trip

While we do have a full blog post on Italy travel tips (to help you not make the mistakes we did), here are some important tips to know.

• If you plan on driving, you must have an international driving permit.  This can be acquired before your trip at your local AAA office.
• Make sure you know the different road signs and know the general speed limits.  Speed limits are not always posted, and speed cameras are everywhere.  If using Google Maps or Apple Maps, the speed limit posted in the app is not always correct.
• Italy has color coded parking spaces.
• Take your passport with you everywhere.  You can be stopped by police and asked to show it.
• Download the Trenitalia and Italo apps and book your train tickets in advance.  For more information on traveling via train in Italy, click here.
• While most places accept credit and debit cards, we would recommend having some cash.

Read More: The Best Travel Credit Cards 

10-Day Italy Itinerary

Now for the full itinerary you’ve been waiting for.  Here is a 10-day Italy itinerary that includes time exploring the Dolomites, Cinque Terre, Florence, and Rome.

The Dolomites

Day 1-3

Where to Stay

When visiting the Dolomites, you might want to split your time and stay in two different areas to save a lot of driving time.  We would recommend booking a 1-night stay in Dobbiaco or Cortina d’Ampezzo and a 2-night stay in Ortisei.  We stayed at Hotel Lago di Braies, and while it was beautiful, we regret not spending time elsewhere.

Day 1

Lago di Braies

Now that you’ve made it to the Dolomites, take it easy on the first day.   There is plenty of time for adventuring later. Lago di Braies is the perfect first stop.  This stunning lake is about a 20-minute drive from Dobbiaco.  While visiting this lake is free, you will have to pay for parking unless you are staying at Hotel Lago di Braies.  There are three lots, P4, P3, and P2.  P4 is the closest parking lot but fills up quickly.  The parking fees for each lot are different.

P4: €15 for 3 hours and €1 for each additional half hour up to €20

P3: €10 for the day

P2: €6 for the day

Once you make it to the lake, you can take in the views, rent a boat, or walk around the lake.  If you plan on renting a boat, arrive and get in line before 9 am or plan on waiting for awhile.  Reservations cannot be made online, and the rental price is 50 for 45 minutes.  The 2.3 mile trail around the lake is a pretty easy hike.  Hiking the loop counter clockwise (starting towards the chapel) is less crowded than starting near the dock, but be prepared for some stairs near the end of the hike.

Day 2

Cadini di Misurina Hike

Start the day early to hike to the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint, one of the most scenic views in the Dolomites.  To access this trail, you will have to drive along a toll road. It is €30 per car which includes parking.  Be prepared to wait in line at the toll booth. Once you park, walk to Rifugio Auronzo and head to the right.  Look for a sign that marks trail #117; this is where the trail begins.  When you arrive at the viewpoint, there is a very narrow path that juts out for a clear view of the mountains.  If other hikers are already there, wait for them to walk back to the main trail.  Most hikers respect this and take their photos quickly, so others are not waiting too long.

We arrived at the trailhead right at 7:15 am and saw two other people on the trail.  As we were walking back to our car, the trail was getting crowded and the line at the toll booth was so long.  If you plan on doing this hike, we would recommend arriving around sunrise or sunset for the best experience.

After your hike, head towards Ortisei for the remainder of your time in the Dolomites.

Day 3

Seceda

From Ortisei, you can take a cable car to Seceda.  This is the fastest and easiest way to see the beauty of the Seceda Ridgeline, especially after hiking the day before.  There is a parking lot right next to the cable car station.  It is €1.90 per hour up to €13 per day.  From here, you will take a cable car from Ortisei to Furnes, then from Furnes to Seceda.  Tickets can be purchased online or on site; the cost is €35-45 per person for a roundtrip ticket.

Alpe di Siusi

Sunset at Alpe di Siusi is the perfect way to end your time in the Dolomites.  This gorgeous alpine meadow is the largest high-altitude meadow in Europe and shouldn’t be missed.  From 9 am to 5 pm, cars are not allowed on the road to Alpe di Siusi.  After 5 pm, you can park at the P2 car park in Compatsch for €28.50.  From here, you will have to walk about 2.5 miles to the viewpoint.

Cinque Terre

Day 4-6

Cinque Terre is a group of five seaside towns each of which is colorful and unique.  The region is now a national park.

To get around Cinque Terre and see all 5 towns, you will need to purchase one of these cards.

Cinque Terre Trekking Card

This card allows you to hike between the villages or use the buses.

Cinque Terre Treno MS Card

This card allows you to travel to the 5 towns via train or bus and allows you to hike along the trails.

Prices vary depending on when you visit.  For more information, access the park website here.  We purchased the Cinque Terre Treno MS Card, and it was so convenient being able to take the train as many times as we wanted to the other towns.

Where to Stay

We chose Riomaggiore as our base when visiting Cinque Terre.  It is one of the towns that feels less touristy, and the price per night is more affordable than the other towns.  We stayed in this spacious Airbnb that was very close to the train station, and the host was lovely.

Day 4

After a long day of traveling, check into your hotel or Airbnb and head to Riomaggiore Beach for sunset.  To get here, walk towards the train station and follow the tunnel towards the marina.  While sunset is a popular time, it isn’t difficult to find a spot somewhere on the rocks to sit.  If you’re wanting to take pictures, come back for sunrise.

Day 5

Take the train to Monterosso and spend the day at the beach.  Spiaggia Fegina is one of the prettiest sandy beaches; you’ve probably seen a picture of the orange and green umbrellas lining the shore.  You can pay to rent a chair and umbrella from the surrounding beach clubs or, if you don’t want to pay €40 or more, there is a small public section where you can lay out a towel.  However, it gets very crowded during the summer.  We would recommend walking to “old Monterosso” and visiting Spiaggia Triagia which has a larger free beach area and is less crowded during the day.

After your time at the beach, stop by the other towns of Vernazza, Corniglia, and Manarola. Catch another sunset in Manarola.  One of the best sunset spots in Manarola is along the pathway towards the restaurant, Nessun Dorma.  There are several benches lining the pathway, and you’ll be able to see all the vibrant homes in the distance.

Day 6

The Blue Trail (Monterosso to Vernazza)

Before you travel to Florence, you have to hike part of the Blue Trail.  Start early in the morning and take the train all the way to Monterosso.  This 2.2 mile hike is moderate with amazing views.  You will need the one of the Cinque Terre cards to hike this trail and you must have closed-toe shoes with an anti-slip sole.

To find the trailhead, walk from the train station back to old Monterosso.  The trail begins in the central square of the old village on Via Corone. Once you arrive in Vernazza, you can take the train back or continue hiking to the next town.

Florence

Day 6-8

Where to Stay

Especially if you are visiting in the summer, try to find a stay with AC.  We stayed at this Numa property, and the location was perfect.  Keep in mind that the city will be noisy at night, so no AC and sleeping with the windows open may be a struggle.

Day 6 (continued)

After you arrive in Florence, check into your hotel or Airbnb, then spend some time walking around the city.  Our first evening in Florence was spent walking around, eating gelato (try RivaReno), and listening to the street musicians play at Piazza della Repubblica.  Be sure to walk around the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (to see the Duomo) and see the Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in Florence.

Day 7

Accademia Gallery

Start your day bright and early at the Accademia Gallery.  Here you will find Michelangelo’s David sculpture along with other works from well known artists.  This gallery opens at 8:15 am, and tickets are €16.  You should buy your tickets in advance to not waste time in your day standing in line.  Tickets can be bought here; B-Ticket is the only official ticket site for the Accademia Gallery.  Tickets purchased elsewhere may not be valid. The Accademia Gallery is not open on Mondays, so visit the following morning if necessary.

Vivoli and Fotoautomatica

After your morning at the Accademia Gallery, head to Vivoli for an affogato.  You might have to wait in line, but we promise it’s worth it.

From Vivoli, walk a few minutes to Fotoautomatica for a cute (and cheap) souvenir.  These vintage photo booths are scattered across Florence, but this is the one closest to Vivoli: Fotoautomatica, Via del Proconsolo, 19r, 50122. Make sure you have €2 in coins.  We used cash at Vivoli and used the change for the photo booth.  We ended up using visiting this Fotoautomatica a couple times and the pictures always turned out perfect.  The only issue we had was the coin machine not taking the coins the first few (actually about 10-12) tries.  If you want to learn more about the story behind Fotoautomatica, check out this article about Matteo Sani and why he restored these vintage photo booths. 

Piazzale Michelangelo

If you’re up for a walk, get some dinner to go and head to Piazzale Michelangelo to watch the sunset.  Piazzale Michelangelo offers one of the best views of the city and is a popular sunset viewing spot.

Day 8

Uffizzi Gallery

Before heading to Rome, visit the Uffizzi Gallery as soon as it opens at 8:15 am.  Tickets are €25 and can be purchased here.  Just like the Accademia Gallery, B-Ticket is the only official ticket site, and tickets purchased from other sites may not be valid.  Plan to spend a couple of hours here viewing the paintings, architecture, and sculptures.  Some highlights for us were seeing some of Botticelli’s most well-known works.

Now it’s time to take a train to your last destination, Rome.

Rome

Day 8-10

Where to Stay

We stayed in this Airbnb and had the best night’s sleep of the whole trip.  The location was quiet, and it had AC.  The only downside was the walking distance from the city center.

Day 8 (continued)

Once you arrive in Rome, take it easy before your last couple of days in Italy.  Maybe head to the Colosseum to see it lit up in the evening.

Day 9

The Vatican

If you want to visit the Vatican, you must purchase tickets well in advance. Otherwise you will be standing in line, in the hot sun for hours waiting to get in.  We made this mistake and ended up skipping it.  Tickets can be purchased here.  You could easily spend most of your day here seeing St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, as well as the Vatican Museums.

Be sure to follow the dress code for visiting the Vatican-knees and shoulders must be covered and crop tops, shorts, hats, sleeveless, and low-cut tops/dresses are not allowed.

Day 10

Trevi Fountain

More than likely, the Trevi Fountain will be crowded regardless of when you visit, but try to visit before sunrise.  Toss a coin behind you for good luck and drink from the Fountain of Love located to the right.  There is a legend that says couples who drink from the Lover’s Fountain will stay in love forever.  Legend aside, it is one of the many drinking fountains around Rome and a great place to fill up a water bottle.

The Colosseum

As soon as it opens and before it gets too hot, take a tour of the Colosseum.  Tickets can be purchased here.

Borghese Gallery

To end your final day in Italy, visit the Borghese Gallery.  This art gallery contains well-known works by Bernini and Caravaggio among others.  While you’re there, don’t miss strolling through the Borghese Gardens. For tickets and information on getting to the gallery, click here.

That ends our 10-day Italy itinerary.  We hope you found this guide to be helpful in planning your trip.  Enjoy your time in Italy!

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