The free MayarTravels Italy guide
7 Days in Italy: Rome to Lake Como
Rome, Naples, Florence, Milan and Lake Como by train. Every day mapped, with what to book, what to eat and what it costs.
Best Plan you can do at any time of the year in Italy
The route
Five Stops, Anytime of the Year
In this guide
Everything You Need for Seven Days in Italy
A day-by-day plan for Rome, Naples, Florence, Milan and Lake Como, with the routes, tickets, trains and costs all in one place.
Day by day
7 Days in Italy: Rome to Lake Como
Ancient ruins, Neapolitan pizza, Florentine domes, Shopping paradise and a lakeside finish. Five cities, four train rides and one route that never doubles back, mapped day by day so you spend less time planning and more time eating gelato. Tap a day to jump straight to it.
Day 1 · Rome
Discover Rome
Explore the historic landmarks of Italy, all in one day. Check the plan below.
- 14 stops
- Mostly on foot
Key stops
Explore the details
- Roma Termini
- Regoli Pasticceria · maritozzo
- Parco del Colle Oppio
- Colosseum Viewpoint · end of the park, photo spot
- Colosseum · about €18, with the Roman Forum
- Arch of Constantine
- Roman Forum · included in the Colosseum ticket
- Vittoriano
- Trevi Fountain · free before 9:00, otherwise €2
- Piccolo Buco · Neapolitan pizza
- Pantheon · €7
- Alice · Roman-style pizza, try the pumpkin pizza
- Two Sizes · tiramisu
What to Do at Each Stop
- Roma Termini: your easiest arrival point, whether you come by train or from the airport. Personal tip: there is a nearby souvenir shop where everything costs €1.
- Regoli Pasticceria: try the maritozzo, a cream-filled bun. Open since 1916.
- Parco del Colle Oppio: walk through the park to the ruins.
- Colosseum Viewpoint: at the end of the park, this is the best photo spot of the day. Dusk, when the lights come on, is a favorite time to shoot it.
- Colosseum: It could hold around 50,000–80,000 spectators for gladiator fights and public spectacles.
- Arch of Constantine: Built in 315 AD, it celebrates Emperor Constantine’s victory at the Battle of Milvian Bridge.
- Roman Forum: This was the heart of ancient Rome, where politics, business, and public life all came together.
- Vittoriano: inaugurated in 1911 to honor Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of unified Italy.
- Trevi Fountain: Toss a coin over your shoulder to return to Rome.
- Piccolo Buco: Neapolitan pizza. See it on Google Maps.
- Pantheon: the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world.
- Alice: Roman-style pizza and supplì. Try the pumpkin pizza. See it on Google Maps.
- Two Sizes: tiramisu, Try the classic
- Trastevere: finish the day with dinner here. Best spot for authentic food
Getting Around
Take the bus from Ciampino to Roma Termini, about €8. After that, the route is on foot.
Where to Eat
Maritozzo at Regoli, Neapolitan pizza at Piccolo Buco, Roman-style pizza and supplì at Alice (try the pumpkin pizza), and tiramisu at Two Sizes. Trastevere is the place for dinner.
Practical Tips
Buy Colosseum, Forum and Pantheon tickets online in advance. The queues are long. Trevi is free before 9:00, otherwise €2. The Pantheon fee rose to €7 on 1 July 2026.
Route map · Walking route. The Colosseum viewpoint (end of the park) and Piccolo Buco are not pinned separately.
Tickets and entry fees
Colosseum and Roman Forum
about €18, free on the first Sunday of the month
Pantheon
€7 from 1 July 2026 (€2 for ages 18 to 25)
Trevi Fountain
free before 9:00, otherwise €2
Estimates from our trip. Check the latest price on the booking site.
Good to know
Reserve Ahead
Colosseum, Forum and Pantheon tickets are best bought online. The queues are long.
Be Early at Trevi
Entry is free before 9:00.
From the Airport
The Ciampino bus to Roma Termini is about €8.
Free Colosseum Day
Entry is free on the first Sunday of the month.
Best Hotel in Rome
We stayed at this hotel and it was great
Day 2 · Naples
Discover Naples
Pizza, glass domes and a sunset by the sea.
- 5 stops
- Train and on foot
Key stops
- Napoli Centrale · fast train from Rome
- Sorbillo · thin-crust margherita
- Galleria Umberto I
- Piazza del Plebiscito
- Castel dell’Ovo · sunset
Explore the details
What to Do at Each Stop
- Galleria Umberto I: glass roof and bronze details, a smaller version of Milan’s gallery.
- Piazza del Plebiscito: royal palace and church, a good place to rest.
- Sorbillo: thin-crust margherita at a famous pizzeria.
- Castel dell’Ovo: a beautiful castle overlookig the sea with sunset views
Getting Around
Take the fast train from Rome, about 1.5 hours. From the station, take Metro Line 1 into the centre.
Where to Eat
Sorbillo for thin-crust margherita.
Practical Tips
Most sights are free to enter.
Tickets and entry fees
Galleria Umberto I, Plebiscito and the seafront
Free to enter
Pizza at Sorbillo
The only thing we paid for
Estimates from our trip. Check the latest price on the booking site.
Good to know
Fast Train
Rome to Naples takes about 1.5 hours. Book on Omio.
Mostly Free
Most sights are free to enter. Pizza was our only cost.
Metro Line 1
Use it from the station into the centre.
Best Hotel in Naples
We stayed in this hotel in a pervious stay and it was great
Day 3 · Florence
Discover Florence
Gelato, truffle and the Duomo.
- 5 stops and dinner
- Train and on foot
Key stops
- Firenze Santa Maria Novella · from Rome
- Vivoli · affogato
- Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio · cheese and truffle
- Duomo · free, dome climb over €30
- Piazza della Signoria
- Dinner near the Duomo · pizza alla Norma
Explore the details
What to Do at Each Stop
- Vivoli: Try the affogato. Skip the sugar and do not stir.
- Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio: Must buy cheese and truffle.
- Duomo: free to enter. The dome climb costs over €30 but so worth it
- Piazza della Signoria: an open-air sculpture museum, with the Medici palace on the square.
Getting Around
Take the train from Rome to Florence, about 3 hours. After that, this route is on foot.
Where to Eat
Vivoli for gelato, the market for cheese and truffle, then pizza alla Norma near the Duomo: eggplant, tomato, mozzarella and burrata.
Practical Tips
Go to Vivoli early, because it gets crowded.
Tickets and entry fees
Florence Duomo dome climb
over €30, optional
Duomo entry
Free
Estimates from our trip. Check the latest price on the booking site.
Best Hotel in Florence
This hotel was awesome in terms of comfort and budget but it was a bit far from the center right infront of Florence 2nd train station
Day 4 · Florence to Milan
A Bridge, Sandwich, and a Train
Ponte Vecchio, schiacciata, then the train north.
- 3 stops
- On foot and train
Key stops
- Ponte Vecchio
- All’Antico Vinaio won best sandwish in the world.
- Firenze S.M. Novella · train to Milan
Explore the details
What to Do at Each Stop
- Ponte Vecchio: a bridge with shops on it for over 600 years, with a history that goes back to the Medici and the goldsmiths.
- All’Antico Vinaio: Won best sandwish in the world. One sandwich can feed two.
Getting Around
Take the train from Florence to Milan, booked on Omio.
Where to Eat
The original All’Antico Vinaio has long queues. The train station branch is a faster option.
Practical Tips
Most of the menu at All’Antico Vinaio is not halal. We made our own sandwich with burrata and dried tomatoes.
Tickets and entry fees
Ponte Vecchio
Free to walk across
Estimates from our trip. Check the latest price on the booking site.
Day 5 · Milan
Discover Milan
The Duomo, the Galleria and a very cheesy pizza.
- 4 stops
- On foot
Key stops
- Duomo di Milano · about $30
- Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
- Cioccolati Italiani · tiramisu
- Spontini · pizza
Explore the details
What to Do at Each Stop
- Duomo di Milano: book skip-the-line tickets with terraces, about $30.
- Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II: a luxury shopping arcade in front of the Duomo.
- Cioccolati Italiani: Best tiramisu and gelato.
- Spontini: thick, cheesy pizza, one style only, behind the Duomo.
Getting Around
Everything on this route is close to the Duomo.
Where to Eat
Spontini for pizza, Cioccolati Italiani for tiramisu and gelato. Restaurants and cafés in the Galleria are expensive.
Practical Tips
Duomo tickets sell out months ahead. Book early.
Tickets and entry fees
Milan Duomo with terraces, skip-the-line
about $30
Estimates from our trip. Check the latest price on the booking site.
Good to know
Book Months Ahead
Duomo tickets sell out. Book skip-the-line with terraces early.
Galleria Prices
Restaurants and cafés in the Galleria are expensive.
Expect a Queue
Cioccolati Italiani has a queue.
Best Hotels in Milan
We stayed at this hotel and it was great. Very close to the a metro station
Day 6 · Milan to Lake Como
Discover Lake Como
Celebrity vacation spot and the most luxurious spot in Italy
- 3 stops
- On foot and train
Key stops
- Sforza Castle · grounds free
- Mastro Tortello · pasta
- Milano Centrale · train to Lake Como
Explore the details
What to Do at Each Stop
- Sforza Castle: free entry to the grounds. The museums, which include works by Leonardo da Vinci, are paid.
- Mastro Tortello: a restaurant from a Michelin-starred pasta chef.
Getting Around
Take the train from Milan to Lake Como, about 1 hour, booked on Omio.
Where to Eat
Mastro Tortello: try the classic Bolognese and the ravioli in basil sauce.
Practical Tips
Lake Como trains have no reserved seats. Arrive early.
Tickets and entry fees
Sforza Castle grounds
Free
Sforza Castle museums
Paid. Check the latest price.
Estimates from our trip. Check the latest price on the booking site.
Good to know
No Reserved Seats
Lake Como trains have no reserved seats. Arrive early.
Castle Grounds
Entry to the grounds is free. The museums are paid.
Book the Train
Milan to Lake Como takes about 1 hour. Compare options on Omio.
Day 7 · Lake Como
Discover Lake Como
Villas, ferries and a picnic on the water.
- 6 stops and a picnic
- On foot and ferry
Key stops
- Varenna-Esino
- Lovers’ Walk
- Villa Cipressi · about €13
- Bellagio · ferry about €5 each way
- Menaggio · ferry
- Villa Balbiano · €20 to €30
- Dai Viga
Explore the details
What to Do at Each Stop
- Varenna-Esino: get off the train here.
- Lovers’ Walk and Villa Cipressi: a walk along the lake and the villa gardens.
- Bellagio: take the public ferry. Queues are long, so go early.
- Menaggio and Villa Balbiano: ferry across to visit the film-location villa. The authors call it the best place in Italy.
Getting Around
The ferries are public boats. Varenna to Bellagio is about €5 each way. Hiring a private wooden boat is another option.
Where to Eat
Finish with fresh pasta from Dai Viga in Bellagio.
Practical Tips
Lake Como trains have no reserved seats. Go early for the ferries.
Route map · Walking route in Varenna. Ferries to Bellagio and Menaggio are public transport.
Tickets and entry fees
Villa Cipressi
about €13
Ferry to Bellagio
about €5 each way
Villa Balbiano
€20 to €30, estimate
Estimates from our trip. Check the latest price on the booking site.
Best Hotels in Lake Como
Explore stays on Lake Como and find the right base for Varenna, Bellagio and the villas. This opens a hotel search I usually use for Europe trips
On YouTube
Watch the Full Italy Travel Guide
See where we stayed, what we ate, how we travelled between cities and what it all cost, from Rome to Lake Como.
Book before you go
Book Before You Go
These are the booking platforms we recommend for each part of the trip. We booked everything ourselves and the below sities were the best in price comparison Prices change, so compare before you pay.
Flights
Best Sites to Book Your Flights
Skyscanner compares fares across airlines and dates, so you can find the best way into Rome or Milan.
Trains
Best Site to Book Trains Across Europe
Omio compares Italy’s private and state train operators, and other transport options where supported, in one list. We booked our trains with it.
Connectivity
Get an eSIM
You will want maps, train apps and tickets the moment you land. Use code MAYAR10 for 10% off.
Tickets and tours
Skip the Queues
Get the Colosseum, Pantheon and Duomo tickets early to avoid lines. Use code MAYARTRAVELS5 for 5% off when booking and the best site is GetyourGuide
By train
Getting Around Italy
Traveling between Italy’s main cities takes around 1.5 hours by high-speed train, depending on the route. Compare ticket prices and book in advance for better deals.
Budget
How Much Does an Italy Trip Cost?
Here is an estimated budget per person for a mid-range trip: comfortable three-star hotels, a mix of high-speed and regional trains, paid entry to the main sights and a casual restaurant meal each day. Flights are not included.
Hotels (7 nights, mid-range)
€450–€700
Intercity trains
€90–€160
Attractions and activities
€130–€200
Food and drinks
€280–€420
Local transportation
€40–€80
Estimated total for 7 days
€990–€1,560
These figures are estimates only, not fixed prices. Hotels assume a shared double room split between two people. Your total will change with the season, how early you book and what you choose to do.
Attraction Prices From Our Trip
These are the prices we paid on our trip. Ticket type, date and visitor category change the price, so check the current price on the booking site.
Ciampino bus to Termini
about €8
Colosseum
about €18, free on the first Sunday
Roman Forum
about €18
Trevi Fountain
free before 9:00, otherwise €2
Pantheon
€7 from 1 July 2026
Naples sights
free, pizza is the only cost
Florence Duomo
free, dome climb over €30
Milan Duomo with terraces, skip-the-line
about $30
Sforza Castle grounds
free, museums are paid
Villa Cipressi
about €13
Ferry Varenna to Bellagio
about €5 each way
Villa Balbiano
€20 to €30
Book your trip
Flights, Trains and Tickets
Hotels we recommend
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