10 Days in Italy & Greece: 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Highlights of Italy and Greece: Rome, Florence, Venice, Athens, Mykonos, & Santorini

Ten days in the Mediterranean is enough time to see the capitals of Italy and Greece, as well as spend a few days each in Florence and Venice for some Renaissance art and regional fare. Add in a few sunny beach and sightseeing days on Mykonos and Santorini, and this trip plan truly hits it all. 

Start this 10-day itinerary in Rome, ancient center of the Roman Empire. You'll tour the city center to see main landmarks, like the Piazza Navona, and explore Centro Storico — one of Rome's most historic districts — to see classical Roman and baroque architecture. Dive into ancient history with a visit to the Colosseum and a walk down the Via Sacra in the Roman Forum, and pass by the Temples of Vesta, Antonino, and Faustina. 

Catch a train to Florence in the heart of Tuscany for two days to see numerous Renaissance-era landmarks: the Uffizi Gallery, the Piazza della Signoria, and the one-of-a-kind Ponte Vecchio bridge. Complete your stay here with a culinary exploration of the city, which includes tours of both the Piazza Mattei and the 16th-century Jewish Quarter. You'll enjoy a traditional Italian aperitif while learning about the history of the city. 

Keep exploring Italy as you transfer to Venice, the "Floating City". Although it's quite different from Florence, you'll still see plenty of art and architecture that tell the story of the city's past. A visit inside the Basilica San Marco (once the Doge's personal chapel) is a must when spending the day in the city.

Catch a flight to Athens to continue your trip. You'll only have one day in the capital of Greece, but it's enough time to learn about Greek history on a guided tour of the Acropolis and wind down with lunch at a quiet cafe in the nearby historic Plaka neighborhood. Then, island hop to Mykonos for some of the world's best beaches — with options ranging from quiet and calm family gatherings to clubs humming with energy — before continuing to Santorini for your remaining two days. Spend your time here sipping wine as you enjoy views of the water, visiting medieval towns, and dining al fresco. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Family Adventure in Italy & Greece: Rome, Athens, & More

Explore the best of the capital cities on this 10-day urban getaway trip plan. With family-friendly activities to engage the whole family, you'll explore history, food, and art — and even make some of your own to bring home. 

Start this family-friendly trip in Rome, the ancient capital of the Roman Empire. Kick things off on your first day with a mythical animal scavenger hunt as you hunt for statues and sleuth for clues in the city's historic center. You'll see top historic sites — like the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain — and round things out with sweet gelato. Continue your historic exploration on your second day with a kid-friendly tour of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. In the afternoon, feast on homemade pizza and pasta. Your next two days contain even more kid-friendly adventure: an age-appropriate tour of the Vatican and an art class, as well as a day trip to the nearby Villa d’Este estate to see how the Romans liked to spend their summers throughout the millenia. 

Catch a flight to Athens for the second half of the trip. Spend your first day exploring, with plenty of pedestrian streets and quiet cafes to duck into for much-needed snacks and dinner. After getting a feel for the Greek capital, travel back in time with an interactive history presentation at the Acropolis and Parthenon. The younger family members will love watching performers act out events from history and mythology. The following day, learn about Greek culture on a kid-friendly food tour of Varvakios Market, the city's largest, and an afternoon visit where the little ones can run in the footsteps of Olympians in the Zappeion, the first building erected specifically for the modern Olympic games.

Spend your last two days of the trip exploring the areas surrounding the city. Take a day trip to Nafplio, the first capital of Greece, and see Mycenae — kingdom of Agamemnon, where the Trojan War began. Round out your visit with a sunset visit to the 5th-century Temple of Poseidon, which perches on the edge of Cape Sounion. The cliffs here overlook the Saronic Gulf, with some of the best sunset views around. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Mediterranean Coast Getaway: Amalfi Coast, Sorrento, Santorini, & Crete

This 10-day coastal trip plan is all about sunshine, beaches, and small fishing villages that dot the rocky Mediterranean coasts. You'll enjoy a food tour on the Amalfi Coast, spend the day cruising the waters around Santorini, and visit some of Crete's best beaches. 

Start this relaxing getaway on the shores of the Mediterranean in the Amalfi Coast for a sunset boat tour of the dramatic shoreline. From this vantage point, you'll get great views of the small fishing villages that spill down the mountainsides towards the water. In many ways, parts of this coastline haven't changed in centuries — and you'll get a feel for that old-world charm over the next few days. Enjoy a walking tour of the villages of Amalfi, Ravello, and Positano, a colorful and bohemian seaside town. From here continue to Sorrento, a popular getaway for Italians and foreigners alike. You'll explore the city's historic center — including the 11th-century Duomo — then join a food tour of the city's markets in the afternoon as you browse stalls offering fresh seafood, cheeses, bread, and cured meats. The following day, take a day trip to the nearby island of Capri — a longtime favorite destination for Italians and celebrities — before catching a flight to Santorini. 

Spend the second half of your trip enjoying the laid-back culture of Greece, with leisurely mornings and plenty of wine to extend the afternoons into evenings. You'll visit a small family-owned winery to learn about farming methods that take advantage of the island's volcanic soil and enjoy a full-day cruise of the coast aboard a catamaran (complete with barbecue dinner and a dip in the Nea Kameni volcanic hot springs). End your trip with two days on Crete, where a variety of beaches — from upscale to remote — and the historic town of Chania await. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Discover Greek and Italian History: Athens, Crete, Venice, Rome, & Naples

If you can't get enough of Greek and Italian history, consider this 10-day trip plan to make the most of your trip and see top cultural and historic sites. Highlights include the 3,500-year-old Minoan Palace of Knossos, the city of Delphi, and a tour of Pompeii. 

Kick things off in Athens, where you can spend your first day taking in the local scene and visiting the pedestrian Aiolou Street and Monastiraki flea market to get a sense of the city's rhythm. Dive into history on your second day with a day trip to nearby Delphi, once home to priestesses of Apollo, to see the ruins of the Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo, and more. Return to Athens for a guided tour of the Acropolis to see the Parthenon, Temple of Athena Nike, and the Erechtheion with a 3D augmented reality experience. From here, catch a flight to Heraklion — capital of Crete — for a visit to the sprawling Bronze Age Palace of Knossos, believed to be Europe's oldest city. You'll also explore the city's other influences, including its Venetian architecture and the Archaeological Museum, home to one of the largest collections of Minoan artifacts in the world.

Catch a flight to Venice — the City of Water — for a day of medieval art, history, and architecture. You'll explore the city's ornate buildings, such as the Palazzo Ducale and Basilica San Marco, take a gondola ride through the winding canals, and visit the Cannaregio District, formerly the Jewish Ghetto. Continue the trip to Rome where you'll visit the Roman Forum and walk down the Via Sacra past the Temples of Vesta, Antonino, and Faustina, as well as the Basilica Julia and Aemilia (commissioned by Julius Caesar). End the day on top of Palatine Hill, according to legend the capital's original founding site. End your trip with a visit to Naples and nearby Pompeii, whose ruins offer a window into life nearly 2,000 years ago at the time of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, which buried the city. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Best of Mediterranean Food & Wine: Rome, Florence, Bologna, Crete, & Santorini 

Food and wine are an indelible feature of the Mediterranean culture, from the salty prosciutto of Bologna to the spice fresh-pressed olive oils of Crete. Try these and more on this 10-day trip plan which features stops in the culinary hotspots of both Italy and Greece. 

Start this gastronomic adventure in Rome, the "City of Seven Hills". Enter the tangle of narrow streets in Centro Storico, one of Rome's most historic districts, to see classical Roman and baroque architecture. Highlights of the tour include the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, and the Trevi Fountain (legend has it that if you toss in a coin, you'll be guaranteed a return to Rome). The following day, explore the city's Testaccio and Trastevere neighborhoods for local pizza, quiet coffee shops, and a gustatory experience at a gelateria featuring flavors from all over Italy. Continue the trip in Florence for a visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia to see Michelangelo’s David, as well as the Ponte Vecchio and terracotta-tiled Duomo. End your stay in Tuscany with a day trip to the Chianti wine region to sample the full-bodied red and meet the best butcher in Italy. 

From here, head north to the Emilia-Romagna region for a day in Bologna. Visit the 14th-century Basilica di San Petronio, the medieval Asinelli and Garisenda Towers, and the 11th-century University of Bologna, and of course sample the regional delicacies that have made this region the foodie capital of Italy.

Catch a flight to the Greek island of Crete for a two-day stay in Heraklion, your home base for exploring the area. Check out the Venetian gates, elegant arches of the Loggia, and the Koules Venetian fortress in the city, then head into the picturesque countryside for a day tour of the region's olive oil cultivation and a farm-to-table meal. End your trip with two days on the island of Santorini, where you'll enjoy a sunset wine tasting to sample centuries-old varietals, visit a family-owned winery to learn about anhydrous farming methods, and explore the cobblestone streets in Oia to find the perfect cafes for lingering late into the evening. Learn more

More Great 10-Day Italy & Greece Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Italy or Greece? Check out these other 10-day Greece itineraries or 10-day Italy itineraries, with history-focused trips, food & wine getaways, and best-of trips to hit the highlights. 

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