Italy is one of the best destinations in Europe. With everything from rugged mountains to romantic cities, from pristine beaches to ancient ruins, and coastal villages to hilltop towns. In this 3 week Italy itinerary you will get the change to travel from Venice to Rome through the Tuscan countryside. Spend a few days exploring the Amalfi coast before heading north to Pisa and the five villages of the Cinque Terre. End your trip in the fashion capital Milan or continue on to Lake Como.
In this guide I will take you through everything we did on our trip to Italy with all the tips we learnt along the way. This 3 weeks in Italy itinerary does not include the 8 days we spent hiking in the Dolomites beforehand. If you want to include that in your Italy trip, then you can read my full one-week Dolomites itinerary.
So, let’s get started!
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3 Weeks in Italy Itinerary
- Days 1-3: Venice
- Days 4-7 Tuscan Countryside
- Days 8-9 Rome
- Days 10-13 Amalfi Coast
- Days 14- Pisa
- Days 15-19 Cinque Terre
- Days 20-21 Milan
The Itinerary: 3 Weeks in Italy
Days 1 – 3: Venice
This 3 week Italy Itinerary begins in Venice – one of the most romantic cities in the country. The city of Venice is known for its beautiful canal system and ornate buildings which create a labyrinth of waterside alleyways. Venice is one of the top tourist destinations in Italy and for good reason. No three-week trip to Italy is complete without a visit to this beautiful island city – especially if it is your first time in the country.
How to get to Venice
Flying into Italy, Venice Marco Polo (VCE) is a relatively big airport with international flights from over 70 destinations. So, if you are looking to fly into Italy directly from your home country then this could be a good place to start looking. You can find all the flight options on this page.
Alternatively, if you are travelling from somewhere in Europe it can be just as easy to catch the bus or train to Venice. You can find the best route from your destination on this page. We began our time in Italy slightly before reaching Venice, flying into Verona and spending 8 days in the Dolomites.
Where to stay in Venice
There are a lot of great options for places to stay in Venice depending on how many people you are and your budget. We stayed in the beautiful UNAHOTELS Ale Venezia located very centrally just a few minutes’ walk from Piazza San Marco. The best part was definitely the roof top terrace where we sat watching over the rooftops and drinking Aperol sprits listening to the sounds of the gondolas passing below.
A few other options to check out are:
- Baglioni Hotel Luna: If you are celebrating and want to add a little luxury to your three weeks in Italy this is the place to go. The rooftop terrace has an amazing view, and all the rooms are decorated with antique furnishings and Murano glass chandeliers.
- Casa Accademia: A cheaper more simple option that’s still very centrally located – just a few streets away from the Grand Canal.
Things to see and do in Venice
There are so many things to see and do in Venice that two to three days here will not feel like nearly enough. Spend day one exploring the city, getting lost in the alleyways, crossing as many bridges as you can, and getting to know the sights. Make sure to visit Piazza San Marco, St Mark’s Basilica, the Ponte di Rialto, Doges Palace, and the Bridge of Sighs. In the afternoon hire a gondola and spend an hour floating around the canals. It is expensive but if you are tossing up whether to do it or not – I can tell you that it is definitely worth it.
For all my tips make sure to read my 2 Days in Venice itinerary for more detailed tips.
On day 2, take a day trip to the other islands of Venice; Murano and Burano. You can either do this by taking the ferry or taking a guided day trip. The island of Murano is known for its glassblowing so make sure to stop in at a demonstration while you’re there. Burano is known for its brightly coloured harbour, the legend stating that it was painted this way as to be a beacon for fisherman coming back to land.
Day trip from Venice
A day trip to the Dolomites: As I mentioned before, Venice is very close to the Dolomites, so if you wanted to make the most of your time in this part of Italy there is no better way than to take a full day trip north to Cortina, Lake Misurina, and the mountain landscape nearby. Find out more on this page.
Find more tours and day trips with GetYourGuide here.
Tours and activities
Days 4 – 7: Road Trip Through the Tuscan Countryside
Following Venice, hire a car and head out on a road trip from Venice to Rome. I won’t include too many details in this 3 week italy itinerary as you can read my detailed Tuscan road trip guide.
This trip is possible without hiring a car, however we found that you miss out on some of the magic of the Tuscan countryside if you take public transport. Though you can make up for this by taking guided tours along the way, or just being happy to visit the beautiful towns in this guide. You can find all the routes between the destinations outlined in this itinerary on this page.
Day 4: Venice to Mantua
Starting in Venice, spend day 4 exploring the town of Mantua. The drive here is quite short (1hr 45 minutes) but it’s worth leaving early to give yourself as much time as possible in Mantua. Quite a small city, Mantua is known for the beautiful Ducal Palace and The Basilica di Sant’Andrea which in medieval times was believed to have held a vial of Jesus’s blood collected during the crucifixion. These are just two of the incredible buildings to visit in Mantua.
Where to stay in Mantua
We stayed in Residenza Accademia, a simple, well-priced room right in the middle of the city. It had close proximity to all the sights, the water, and a load of great restaurants for the evening. It also had air conditioning which came in handy during the hot summer nights.
A few other options to check out are:
- B&B Casa del Teatro: In the historic centre of Mantua, this beautiful B&B is a very cosy stay – perfect for couples or solo travellers.
- Agriturismo Corte Rocca: Located outside of the city centre, this accommodation is perfect if you want to combine your visit to Mantua with an agritourism stay in the countryside of Lombardy.
Tours and activities
Day 5: San Marino
Start Day 5 early and head south to San Marino. Not actually a part of Italy, San Marino is a republic of its own. Of all the places we visited during our three weeks in Italy, this was probably the stop that surprised us most. We hadn’t planned on stopping here initially, but when we saw it was on the route decided to make a day of it and were so happy that we did.
The old town of San Marino is stunning – beautiful stone houses and narrow alleyways leading up the hill to the three towers; Guaita, Cesta and Montale. When you arrive you can grab a map of the city and spend a few hours wandering around, taking in the sights and visiting the different towers.
Parking at Piazzale Camp della Fiera (map) you can either take the table car (Funivia) to the old town of Città di San Marino, or alternatively park at Parcheggio P9 and take the elevator up. This is what we chose to do, however, I am sure we missed some amazing views from the cable car. The trip costs €5 return and runs every 15 minutes. You can find all the information on this page.
Driving time is around 3 hours so again, it’s best to leave early in the morning. Give yourself a few hours in San Marino before continuing south to Urbino for the night (1 hour drive). Alternatively, you can spend the night in San Marino and head south in the morning. We found Urbino to be such a beautiful city it was worth spending as much time there as possible.
Tours and activities:
Day 6: Urbino
Urbino is a beautiful walled city – and looking back it is the one place on this three-week Italy itinerary that I wish we could go back to for a longer period of time. Arriving in the veneing on Day 5, head out for Aperitivo and watch the sunset from the city walls. On Day 6, spend the whole day in Urbino exploring. Make sure to visit Ducal Palace (Palazzo Ducale), the 600 year old palace filled with ornate wood carving and Renaissance style rooms. If you visit on the weekend, make sure to walk by the market on Viale Bruno Buozzi selling fresh fruit and vegetables. Lastly, make sure to walk around Via della Mura- the city wall.
Where to stay in Urbino:
We stayed at Residenza Ambrogi which was a really special boutique hotel just outside the city centre. The rooms here were beautiful and the garden outside the perfect peaceful getaway from the busy city centre. Find it here.
A few other options to check out are:
- Residenza storica Volta della Morte: Perfect if you want to stay centrally and take in the ambiance of Urbino. This hotel has amazing décor, with painted ceilings and charming old rooms.
- Il Cielo di Raffaello 2: If you’re looking for somewhere with a picture perfect view then this is the place for you.
Tours and activities:
Day 7: Manciano
Heading to Manciano is quite a long trip so it’s best to make this day a road trip day filled with different stops. Start the day by driving to Gola del Furlo, the beautiful blue gorge and nature reserve that runs through steep cliffs. Here you can either stop for a short hike or just a quick look around. You can find a few short trails on AllTrails.
Following this head to Montepulciano for lunch. This is an incredible hilltop town world renowned for its wine. Make sure to visit Piazza Grande, and stroll around the streets taking in the beautiful old town and views of the surrounding vineyards. After lunch, head to the beautiful Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Biagio church. Built in the 1500s the church has an incredible interior. But… its position in the middle of the Tuscan countryside alone makes it worth vising.
The drive from Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Biagio to our next stop, Bagni di San Filippo, was my favourite part of this road trip. The views from the road are incredible; rolling hills, sunflower fields, and hilltop cities.
Make sure to pack your swimmers for the stop at Bagni di San Filippo. This is one of the lesser known thermal spas in the Tuscan countryside. With turquoise waters cascading down into different pools this spot is incredibly picturesque. This was a last-minute addition to our itinerary but was totally worth it. We felt so relaxed after spending an hour or so soaking in the warm waters, in the middle of the forest.
From Bagni di San Filippo head to Manciano where we will spend the night. This is another hilltop city, but much smaller than those we have already visited. I recommend spending an hour or so wandering around the streets – but the real gem of this place is the accommodation (as I will explain below).
Where to stay in Manciano:
Imagine sitting on a bench looking out onto the rolling hills of Tuscany at sunset; a hilltop city in the distance, freshly made pizza, your beautiful stone house behind you, curtains flowing in the warm breeze. This is Casale Giacomini. If you can’t already tell, this was our favourite accommodation during our whole 3 weeks in Italy (and possibly ever?).
Owned by a lovely couple, this agritourism farm was just perfect. The house itself was quite small, with private bedrooms and a shared bathroom/ kitchen. It was decorated in such a beautiful way, really adding to the Italian countryside aesthetic. Outside, the garden was filled with different seating areas, all with incredible views over the Tuscan countryside. Still today, a few years later, we dream of having a place like this of our own.
For this accommodation I am not even going to suggest alternatives because if you are visiting Manciano, this is 100% the place you should stay. No questions asked. You can book it on this page.
Tours and Activities:
Day 8: Manciano to Rome
Day 8 is the final say of our Tuscan road trip from Venice to Rome. Start the day with a stop at the famous Terme di Saturnia hot springs. I will say, it is busy here and it is probably one of Italy’s most viral destinations – but it is still worth it. This place is really special.
After a soak, get back on the road and head towards Pitigliano, the beautiful Etruscan hilltop city. This is a true hidden gem in the Tuscan countryside that is yet to rise to viral fame. The winding road leaving up to the city, the stone houses, picturesque alleyways and Etruscan ruins make this one of my favourite places in Italy. The village itself looks like it is carved out of the cliff face, with stone columns lining the edge of the city. We spent a few hours here wandering around the streets and a few different museums and stopping for lunch.
Finally, it’s time to head to Rome. This drive is around 2 hours so it’s good to try and get going in the early afternoon. Once you’re in Rome, head out for an evening walk around the coliseum, or sit down for a good meal and recharge for a bit day of sightseeing tomorrow.
Day 9-10: Rome
If this is your first time in Italy, then no doubt will you need to spend at least a day or two exploring Rome. With the famous sites such as the coliseum, the Roman Forum, the Spanish steps and the Trevi fountain, there’s more than enough site seeing to fill up one full day. If I can recommend anything it would be to buy tickets to both the Coliseum and the Roman Forum. These two places have such a rich history that you would be missing out if you didn’t take the time to explore them. You can get them in advance here.
Day 2 make sure to spend at least half a day exploring the Vatican City. You do need to buy an entry ticket to visit this incredible place – but it is worth it. Additionally, I would actually recommend booking a tour. It was really insightful to have someone show us around, give us more details about each area and guide us through parts of the Vatican museum (somewhere you could stay and look around for days). We took this tour and found it to be great.
Where to stay in Rome:
I have stayed in Rome twice and will say that finding good accommodation at a reasonable price can be hard. On our first trip we stayed at Borgo 177 which was great. It is really close to the Vatican City is a very pretty neighbourhood. However, it is also quite expensive. On our second trip we stayed at Hotel Borromeo which is again quite expensive but such an incredible space. The outdoor terrace is beautiful, and you really feel like you are in Rome when you wake up. This one is closer to the central station which was great for day 11 where we left early to see Pompeii on the way to the Amalfi Coast.
Tours and Activities:
Days 11-14 Amalfi Coast
Day 11 starts early as we head to the train station and take the train to Pompeii. If you for some reason haven’t heard of Pompeii, it is home to some of the best roman ruins in the world, preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD. The trip from Rome to Pompeii is very easy with only one connection in the city of Naples. You will want to search for the trip Rome Termini to Pompei.
After spending a few hours in Pompeii head back to the train station and take the Campania express train to the city of Sorrento. This is the gate to the Amalfi Coast. From here, you will want to take the bus or ferry to your accommodation. The ferry is more expensive but much easier if you are carrying a lot of baggage. The bus is cheap but can get incredibly busy in peak summer and being packed onto a bus with no air conditioning, driving down winding cliff roads is perhaps not the optimal way to start your coastal break.
Depending where you are staying, spend the evening exploring the local area, taking in the beaches or heading out for a nice meal.
The Amalfi Coast
If there is anywhere you need to add to your 3 week Italy Itinerary, it is the Amalfi Coast. While it is quite busy and one of the most popular destinations to visit in Italy, especially in the summer, it is definitely worth it! The Amalfi Coast runs from Sorrento to Ravello, with the towns of Positano, Praiano and Amalfi along the coastline. You will want to spend at least 3 days here exploring the different villages, and perhaps taking a boat over to the island of Capri. Below I have outlined the way we spent our 3 days in the Amalfi Coast with some tips.
Where to stay on the Amalfi Coast:
I have visited the Amalfi Coast 3 times and have to say, my favourite accommodation is definitely Villa Bellavista Hotel in Praiano. This is for a few reasons. Firstly, this area of the Amalfi coast is far less touristy than Positano or Amalfi, so the town is much quieter and more relaxed. There are great restaurants (Che Bontà is a top recommendation) and bars (Café Mirante), a nice beach club (La Gavitella) and a very pretty harbour. Secondly, the hotel is much more reasonably priced than if you were to stay in one of the bigger towns – especially for the beautiful quality you get.
You can find it on this page.
Things to see and do on the Amalfi Coast:
Day 12: Capri
While not technically on the Amalfi Coast, a day trip to the island of Capri is a must while you’re in this area of Italy. The best way to get to Capri is by boat and here there are two options. You can either take the bus or ferry to Sorrento and then catch the ferry from here to Capri, or you can take a tour from Praiano or Positano to Capri. This was my favourite of the two options as it was much more of a special day trip (and we were the only people staying in Praiano so we basically got a free private boat trip along the coastline).
On Capri there are a lot of things to see and do – including taking the chairlift to Mount Solaro, visiting Ana Capri, visiting the Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra), and exploring Capri Town.
The best thing about taking the boat tour is that you get some time on Capri, but you also get a tour of the water, a close up look at the faraglioni rocks, and a chance to swim in the most crystal-clear waters.
Day 13: Positano
Spend day 13 exploring Positano. This is the most famous of the towns along the Amalfi Coast, with colourful houses decorating the hillside and a beautiful sandy beach below. I would recommend spending a whole day here to really spend time exploring the town and the beach.
Alternatively, if you are feeling a little more adventurous and the weather isn’t too warm, you can do the Path of the Gods hike which runs along the mountain just north of Positano. Starting in Bomerano, you follow the 5.6km path towards the town of Nocelle. This takes around 2-3 hours. From Nocelle you can continue on with an extra 2km to reach Positano. If you want to do this hike I recommend doing it in the morning and spending the afternoon in Positano.
Day 14: Amalfi and Ravello
Day 14 is best spent on the south of the Amalfi Coast exploring the towns of Amalfi and Ravello. These are much smaller towns but worth visiting all the same. Ravello is a lesser known spot on the Amalfi Coast and has amazing viewpoints and beautiful gardens overlooking the rugged coast. Amalfi, the town to which gives the coastline its name, is often overlooked by visitors in favour of Positano or Capri. However, this coastal village is just as special as its counterparts. Combine a trip to Amalfi with Atrani just around the corner. Here there is a great beach and beautiful view of the village on the cliffs.
Tours and Activities:
Days 15 – Pisa
Today is a travel day, heading from the Amalfi Coast to Pisa. This is quite a long trip so expect to spend most of the day travelling. Starting in the Amalfi Coast you will need to catch the bus or ferry back to Sorrento and hop on the train to Naples. From here there are a few different connections to Pisa. It is, however, not the most well-connected trip.
If you have a bit more time and want to turn this 3 week Italy Itinerary into a 4 week Italy Itinerary you can instead take the ferry or a flight from Naples to Sardinia, travel up through the country, over to Corsica and then head to the Cinque Terre from Genoa. This is a much longer trip but was incredible to see so many different places in one go. I will upload a guide soon with information and an itinerary for these two places soon so keep a look out if this is something you are interested in.
What to do in Pisa:
After a long travel day, you probably won’t have much time to spend in Pisa on Day 15. I would instead suggest taking a quick stop at the Leaning Tower of Pisa the next morning before heading off to the Cinque Terre. Of course, you can stay longer and do more, but from my experience the time is better spent by the coast.
Tours and Activities:
Days 16-19 Cinque Terre
Where to stay on the Cinque Terre:
There are a lot of different places to choose for accommodation in the Cinque Terre. We chose to stay in a very sweet apartment (Affittacamere Le Terrazze) in Corniglia, one of the less popular towns along the coast. For this reason, we loved it. There is an amazing view out over the coastline and the hiking trail towards Vernazza and Monterosso begins here. Additionally, its much less busy than the other towns but still really well connected.
A few other options to look into are:
- Scorci Di Mare: A beautiful apartment in the centre of Riomaggiore. Only 50m from the coast with an amazing view, this is the perfect apartment for anyone wanting to live centrally and close to the water.
- Hotel La Colonnina: Located in Monterosso al Mare this hotel has a beautiful rooftop terrace and is really close by the beautiful sandy beach.
Day 16: Arrive and settle in
Day 17: Riomaggiore
Spend day 17 of this 3-week Italy itinerary exploring the town of Riomaggiore. Walk around the shops, swim from the harbour, and perhaps take a ferry ride to one of the other villages. Something I really recommend you doing on day 17 is taking this sunset cruise from Riomaggiore. We took this tour which we loved as there were only 5 of us on the boat, we had amazing views over the coastline, drank prosecco and swam in the beautiful waters.
Day 18: Hike from Corniglia to Vernazza and Monterosso
Day 18 starts in Corniglia, following the coastal path to the next village of Vernazza. Stop here for lunch and perhaps a swim, making sure to take in the beautiful old town while you’re there. Spend the afternoon walking to Monterosso where you will end up on a big sandy beach perfect for taking a dip to cool off.
Day 19: Manarola
Start the day early with a pesto class at Nessun Dorma in Manarola. This is a must-do experience while you are in the Cinque Terre. Led by the lovely restaurant owner, you will be guided through how to make pesto in a traditional manner, all while sat watching out over the beautiful village of Manarola. Afterwards, you get to eat your home-made pesto with a mix of fresh breads, meats and cheeses, and a glass of locally produced wine.
Spend the afternoon enjoying Manarola, swimming in the harbour and exploring the shops. There is a part of the coast walk from Manarola to Corniglia, or to Riomaggiore in the other direction, however, both are currently closed due to bad conditions. They are due to reopen in the summer of 2024 so make sure to check this page for updates. Alternatively, you can book into a wine tasting and try some of the locally produced wines.
Tours and Activities:
Days 20-21 Milan
Finally, we are down to the last 2 days of our 3 weeks in Italy. These days will take you from the Cinque Terre to Milan. There are direct trains that make this route, or alternatively you can make a stop on the way, depending what you want to do on your last 2 days. An example could be to take the train to Rapallo where you can catch a ferry to the beautiful Portofino for the day before heading to Milan. Alternatively, spend day 20 in Milan and day 21 on a day trip to somewhere like Lake Como.
Things to see and do in Milan:
Milan is a really beautiful city with so much to see and do. Don’t miss visiting Duomo di Milano, the incredible cathedral in the city centre. I really recommend climbing this – the roof top is just amazing. Opposite, you will find Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II the impressive shopping galleria. Spend some time wandering around Parco Sempione and Sforzesco Castle if you have time. This is a beautiful area of the city with a big park.
Day trips from Milan:
One of the best day trips you can do in Milan, and possibly the best last day you could imagine on your three weeks in Italy itinerary, is a day trip to Lake Como. You can either do this by catching the train from Milan to Varenna station and exploring the lake by ferry, or by taking a guided tour from Milan which will take you to the beautiful Varenna and Bellagio for the day. Both options are fine, but if you want the ease of not needing to plan too much then I recommend the tour – especially as you will only be visiting for one day.
Tours and Activities:
3 Week Italy Itinerary: An Itinerary Overview
A 3 weeks Italy Itinerary can feel daunting to fill but hopefully with this travel guide you will get a good start. From the mountains in the Dolomites to the canals of Venice, the rolling hills of Tuscany to the ruins of Rome, and finally the rugged coastlines and villages of the Amalfi Coast and The Cinque Terre. You can fit so much into a big Italian trip like this, and hopefully this itinerary cover as much ground as it can without being too rushed. Of course, there is always the option to slow it down and spend more time in each place – it really just depends what sort of trip you are after!
Italy is one of my favourite countries in Europe and somewhere we plan to come back to many times in the years to come, so look out for more detailed guides coming soon!
