Milan's impressive Duomo with Gothic architecture Coastal road on Capri island with clear blue sea and terraced cliffs below Florence skyline with historic towers and architecture Tuscany rolling hills with cypress trees and vineyards

Best 10 Days in Italy — Photography

Rome → Florence → Venice → Sorrento → Capri → Positano → Milan → Cinque Terre → Tuscany

10 days · 9 cities · 16 activities · route optimized by distance

This photography itinerary reshuffles the schedule around photography activities — golden-hour viewpoints, iconic landmarks, and photogenic landscapes. A moderate mix of walking and active experiences, mostly at your own pace. Includes 9 must-see landmarks.

Highlights: Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill, Rome, The Last Supper — Cenacolo Vinciano, Milan, Florence Cathedral & Brunelleschi's Dome Climb, Trastevere Neighborhood Evening Walk, Rome, Anacapri and the Blue Grotto, Capri

Arriving Wed, Jul 1 Change

This 10-day Italy photography itinerary features 15 themed activities across Rome, Florence, Venice, Sorrento, Capri, Positano, Milan, Cinque Terre, and Tuscany.

Your Route — ordered to minimize backtracking

16+ activities scored and ranked · route optimized across 9 cities

Where you'll stay
Hotel in Rome · From €110/night +3 more
See lodging →
Trip cost
~$1,333 total · $133/day
See budget →
Top picks
Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill, Rome, Trastevere Neighborhood Evening Walk, Rome, Florence Cathedral & Brunelleschi's Dome Climb
See itinerary →

Day-by-Day Schedule — heavy and light days alternate so you don’t burn out

Rome

Rome 3 stops · Open in Google Maps ↗
Day 1 Wed, Jul 1 Full Rome View on map
Morning
Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill, Rome$$~4 hrs ★★★★★ 4.8 (192,047)

Book a timed entry to Rome's iconic Colosseum — free for EU youth under 18 — and walk the ancient Roman Forum

$20 Verified Mar 2026 Best March–May and Oct–Nov; summer very hot and crowded; open daily except 1 Jan and 25 Dec Book this experience → 📍 Map
Afternoon Authentic Italian pasta dish with traditional Roman cuisine
Trastevere Neighborhood Evening Walk, Rome$~3 hrs

Wander Trastevere's cobblestone lanes at sunset and eat supplì, cacio e pepe, and Roman pizza al taglio

Best April–June and Sept–Oct for outdoor dining; lively year-round; most restaurants close one day/week (varies by establishment) 📍 Map
🏨 Hotel in Rome

Trastevere / Monti / Termini

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Travelers book: Hotel Raphael €200-350/nightHotel Artemide €120-200/nightGenerator Rome €40-80/nightCapo Le Case Home 9 $100-200/nightMaddalena 6 - Pantheon $100-200/nightLa Porta Rossa di Borgo - Vatican Luxury Suite $100-200/nightVilla Spalletti Trivelli $100-200/nightArpinelli Relais $60-120/night
Book Hotel in Rome from €110/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Rome → Florence
2h ~€45 Frecciarossa from Roma Termini to Firenze SMN (1h30m)

Florence

Florence 3 stops · Open in Google Maps ↗
Day 2 Thu, Jul 2 Full Florence View on map
Morning Florence Cathedral dome and rooftops viewed from Brunelleschi's lantern
Florence Cathedral & Brunelleschi's Dome Climb$$~3 hrs

Climb 463 steps to the top of Brunelleschi's revolutionary dome for 360° views over Florence's terracotta rooftops

$33 Verified Mar 2026 Book dome slots weeks ahead April–Oct; less crowded Nov–Mar; cathedral and monuments open daily (hours vary by component) 📍 Map
Afternoon Florence cityscape panorama with the Duomo and distant mountains at sunset
Piazzale Michelangelo Sunset Experience$~2 hrs

Watch the sunset over Florence's rooftops and Arno River from the panoramic Piazzale Michelangelo

Year-round free viewpoint; sunset time ranges from 5pm (Dec) to 9pm (Jun) — plan accordingly; most atmospheric in spring and early autumn 📍 Map
🏨 Hotel in Florence

Duomo / Santa Croce / Oltrarno

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Travelers book: Hotel Davanzati €100-170/nightHotel Lungarno €180-300/nightPlus Florence Hostel €30-60/nightAppartamento Signoria $100-200/nightPenthouse Le Terrazze Duomo view $100-200/nightCritone Apartment in Palazzo Tempi $100-200/nightGarbo charm, Case Galante Apartments $100-200/nightB&B Emozioni Charme $60-120/night
Book Hotel in Florence from €95/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Florence → Venice
2h ~€25 Frecciarossa or Italo from Firenze SMN to Venezia Santa Lucia (~2h)

Venice

Venice 2 stops · Open in Google Maps ↗
Day 3 Fri, Jul 3 Full Venice
Full Day Colorful Burano island with vibrant houses reflected in canal waters
Murano Glass & Burano Lace Island Day Trip, Venice$~6 hrs

Take the vaporetto to the Murano glass museum and glassblowing demos — kids love the fire — then ride to Burano's candy-colored houses

$27 Verified Mar 2026 Best April–June and September–October; avoid summer peak crowds on Burano 📍 Map
🏨 Hotel in Venice

San Marco / Dorsoduro / Cannaregio

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Travelers book: Hotel Danieli €350-600/nightHotel Al Ponte Antico €130-220/nightGenerator Venice €40-80/nightLa Corte Segreta $60-120/nightIn the heart of Venice $100-200/nightCasa ai Greci $100-200/nightThree Terraces $100-200/nightPalazzo San Severo Suite Apartments $60-120/night
Book Hotel in Venice from €120/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Venice → Sorrento
5h ~$65 Train Venice to Naples, then Circumvesuviana to Sorrento (~5h total, ~€55-70)

Sorrento

Sorrento Sorrento · Open in Google Maps ↗
Day 4 Sat, Jul 4 Full Sorrento
Morning
Positano Day Trip from Sorrento — Amalfi Coast Cliff Town$~6 hrs

Bus 30 minutes along the Amalfi Coast to Positano and walk its cascading streets from the SS163 down to the beach

$3 Verified Mar 2026 Very crowded July-August; best April-June for manageable crowds
Afternoon
Private Sorrento Coastal Boat Tour at Sunset$$$~2 hrs

Charter a private boat from Sorrento marina for a 2-hour sunset cruise past hidden coves, sea caves, and the Bay of Leranto

$283 Verified Mar 2026 Best May-September for swimming; sunset tours April-October Book this tour →
Sorrento → Capri
30m ~$24 Ferry from Sorrento to Capri (~25min, ~€22)

Capri

Capri Capri · Open in Google Maps ↗
Day 5 Sun, Jul 5 Full Capri
Morning Coastal road on Capri island with clear blue sea and terraced cliffs below
Capri Electric Scooter or Golf Cart Rental$$~3 hrs

Rent an electric scooter or golf cart and zip between Capri Town, Anacapri, and the island's coastal viewpoints

$33 Verified Mar 2026 Rental shops open April through October; roads busiest midday in summer
Afternoon Blue glowing water inside the Blue Grotto sea cave on Capri island
Anacapri and the Blue Grotto, Capri$$~4 hrs

Take the bus to Anacapri and descend by rowboat into the Blue Grotto's eerily glowing sea cave

$33 Verified Mar 2026 Blue Grotto closes in rough seas; summer mornings offer best light and calmer water
Capri → Positano
51m ~$27 Seasonal hydrofoil Capri to Positano, ~50min, approx €22-28.

Positano

Positano Positano · Open in Google Maps ↗
Day 6 Mon, Jul 6 Full Positano
Morning Positano's colourful cliffside houses cascading down to Spiaggia Grande on the Amalfi Coast
Positano Town Walk — Spiaggia Grande, Church of Santa Maria, and Boutiques$~3 hrs

Walk Positano's steep narrow lanes, photograph its pastel dome from the beach, and swim at Spiaggia Grande

July-August is packed; arrive at beach before 9am for a free spot
Afternoon Fresh pasta and lemon zest being prepared in a Southern Italian kitchen
Private Amalfi Coast Cooking Class in Positano$$$~3 hrs

Cook a three-course Campanian meal in a Positano resident's home — pasta, seafood, and limoncello dessert

$131 Verified Mar 2026 Host availability April-October; summer classes book out weeks in advance Book this tour →
Positano → Milan
9h 30m ~$84 Bus + Circumvesuviana to Naples, Frecciarossa to Milan, ~9.5h, approx €70-85.

Milan

Milan 2 stops · Open in Google Maps ↗
Day 7 Tue, Jul 7 Full Milan View on map
Morning Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper painting in the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan
The Last Supper — Cenacolo Vinciano, Milan$$~1 hr

Book months ahead to see Leonardo's Last Supper mural — only 40 visitors admitted every 15 minutes

$16 Verified Mar 2026 Year-round indoor; closed Mondays; tickets released quarterly — check cenacolovinciano.org for next release date 📍 Map
Afternoon
Brera Design District and Bosco Verticale, Milan$~3 hrs

Walk through Milan's creative Brera quarter and photograph the iconic vertical forest skyscraper

Outdoor walking district — best in mild weather
🏨 Hotel in Milan

Duomo / Brera / Navigli

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Travelers book: Room Mate Giulia €130-220/nightHotel Berna €80-130/nightOstello Bello Grande €30-60/nightCozy Downtown Apartment $60-120/nightDesign apartment Porta Venezia $100-200/nightThe Art House $60-120/nightThe Street Milano Duomo | a Design Boutique Hotel $100-200/nightArtist Apartment $60-120/night
Book Hotel in Milan from €90/night Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
Milan → Cinque Terre
3h ~$29 Intercity train from Milan Centrale to La Spezia Centrale (~3h, ~€20-35)

Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre Cinque Terre · Open in Google Maps ↗
Day 8 Wed, Jul 8 Full Cinque Terre
Morning Coastal hiking trail above Cinque Terre with the Ligurian Sea and coloured villages below
Cinque Terre Blue Trail Hike — Monterosso to Vernazza$~3 hrs

Hike the Sentiero Azzurro coastal trail from Monterosso to Vernazza along dramatic cliffside paths above the Ligurian Sea

$9 Verified Mar 2026 Trails close after heavy rain; July-August is very crowded — book early-morning starts
Afternoon Sandy beach of Monterosso al Mare with the old town and Ligurian cliffs behind
Beach Day at Monterosso al Mare, Cinque Terre$~4 hrs

Swim and sunbathe at Monterosso al Mare's sandy beach — the only proper beach in Cinque Terre — with views of medieval towers

Beach season June-September; Monterosso is quieter on weekdays
Cinque Terre → Tuscany
2h 30m ~$22 Train La Spezia to Pisa, drive or bus into Tuscany, ~2-3h total.

Tuscany

Tuscany Tuscany · Open in Google Maps ↗
Day 9 Thu, Jul 9 Full Tuscany
Full Day Colourful pastel-painted fishing village of Vernazza in Cinque Terre clinging to coastal cliffs
Cinque Terre Day Trip from Tuscany — Five Pastel Fishing Villages$~10 hrs

Take the train to the Ligurian coast and hike the coastal Blue Trail between Monterosso, Vernazza, and Corniglia

$9 Verified Mar 2026 July-August intensely crowded; spring and early autumn ideal for hiking
Day 10 Fri, Jul 10 Tuscany
Checkout & Depart

Check out of your hotel, grab a final breakfast, and head to the airport. Safe travels from Tuscany!

Where You’ll Stay

Estimated total: €332–€498

Trip Budget Estimate

$1,333 estimated total per person
$133 per day
Lodging $415
Activities $597
Transport $321

Estimates based on listed activity prices and hotel rates. Actual costs vary by season, availability, and personal spending.

Typical range for Italy

$1,000 – $5,000 per person for 10 days

Budget: $100/day — Hostels, pizza al taglio, regional trains Mid-range: $250/day — Boutique hotels, trattorias, high-speed rail Luxury: $500/day — 5-star hotels, fine dining, private tours

Similar Destinations

Similar vibes, fewer crowds — destinations our algorithm rates as close matches to Italy.

Plan Your Trip

Practical guides to help you prepare for Italy.

🧳 Practical Info for Italy

📄 Visa
Schengen Area — visa-free for up to 90 days for US, UK, CA, AU citizens. EU/EEA nationals have freedom of movement.
💵 Tipping
Coperto (cover charge) is common at restaurants. An additional 10% tip is appreciated for good service but not required.
💱 Currency
Euro (€ EUR). Cards widely accepted in cities; carry cash for small shops and rural areas.
🔌 Power
230V, Type C/F/L plugs. US/CA travelers need a plug adapter and possibly a voltage converter for older devices.
📶 Connectivity
SIM cards available at airport shops (TIM, Vodafone, WindTre). Free WiFi common in hotels and cafés.
🚨 Emergency
112 (general emergency), 118 (ambulance)

🚄 Getting Around Italy

🚄 Rail

Trenitalia and Italo run high-speed trains between Rome, Florence, Milan, and Naples. Book 2-4 weeks ahead for 30-50% savings.

🚄 Rail

Regional trains connect smaller towns without advance booking. Validate tickets before boarding.

🚌 Bus

FlixBus covers routes between smaller cities at budget prices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 10 days enough for Italy?

10 days lets you cover Rome, Florence, Venice, and one coastal area (Amalfi or Cinque Terre) comfortably without rushing.

Should I book Italian trains in advance?

Yes — Trenitalia and Italo high-speed trains are 30-50% cheaper when booked 2-4 weeks ahead. Regional trains don't require booking.

What is the best time to visit Italy?

April-June and September-October offer warm weather without peak summer crowds. August is when many Italians vacation and some local shops close.

How much does 10 days in Italy cost?

Budget: $100-130/day. Mid-range: $200-300/day. Luxury: $500+/day. A coperto (cover charge) of €2-3 is standard at restaurants.

Do I need a visa for Italy?

Italy is in the Schengen Area. US, UK, Canadian, and Australian citizens can visit visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

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