Italy by train – Rome, Florence and Venice in a week
The classic Italian trio by high-speed train – Rome, Florence with the Uffizi and Ponte Vecchio, Tuscany, Pisa and Venice. Itinerary, tickets and tips.
- Best time to visitApril – June and September – October
- Suggested stay7–9 days
- Getting therefly into Rome, home from Venice
Italy’s high-speed Frecciarossa and Italo trains link the big cities in under two hours, which makes the classic Rome – Florence – Venice tour easy without a car. In one week you’ll see ancient Rome and the Vatican, Renaissance Florence and Tuscany, and the floating city of Venice.
Rome (3 days)
The Colosseum, the Forum, the Pantheon, the Vatican, the Trevi Fountain and the early Christian basilicas. See our detailed Rome guide.
Florence (2–3 days)
Rome to Florence by train takes about 1 h 30 min.
- Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral, with Brunelleschi’s dome, Giotto’s bell tower and the baptistery’s “Gates of Paradise”. Climbing the dome (463 steps) needs a reservation.
- The Uffizi Gallery – Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael. Booking is essential.
- The Accademia Gallery – home to Michelangelo’s original David.
- The Ponte Vecchio – the bridge of goldsmiths’ shops over the Arno.
- Palazzo Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria, with its open-air sculpture museum.
- Piazzale Michelangelo – the best view of the city at sunset.
Day trip: Pisa (about an hour) with the Leaning Tower on the Field of Miracles, or Siena and San Gimignano in the heart of Tuscany, with their towers and Chianti wine.
Venice (2 days)
Florence to Venice takes about 2 h 15 min. Santa Lucia station sits right on the Grand Canal. St Mark’s Square, the basilica, the Doge’s Palace, the Rialto Bridge and the islands of Murano and Burano. See our Venice guide.
Eight-day itinerary
1–3. Rome 4–5. Florence, with a day trip to Pisa or Tuscany 6. Tuscany (Siena, San Gimignano) or another day in Florence 7–8. Venice, then fly home
Tickets and tips
- Buy high-speed tickets early online or in the Trenitalia and Italo apps – fares rise as the date approaches.
- Regional trains have fixed fares. Paper tickets must be validated in the machines before boarding, or you risk a fine.
- Historic centres such as Florence have ZTL limited-traffic zones – one more reason to go by train.
- Most cities charge a tourist tax at hotels.
Photos
Updated: November 2026
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