Five days is enough time to enjoy any number of activities in any region of Italy. If culture and history are your interests, then you can explore the ancient streets of Rome. If you want more of an active adventure, cycling through the famous wine-producing region of Tuscany is an option. You could even make an excursion from the fashion-and-nightlife haven of Milan to the gorgeous lakes and snow-capped Alps of Italy’s far north.
See our itineraries below or read our guide to the best 5-day trips in Italy.
This packed 5-day itinerary is perfect for travelers with a thirst for adventure who are on a time crunch. Explore the glass-roofed Galleria Umberto shopping center, enjoy coffee on the medieval Piazza del Plebiscito, and try the seafood cuoppo in Naples. Visit the Pompeii ruins, hike around Mt. Vesuvius, and visit colorful bohemian Positano on the Amalfi Coast. Make sure you try the Naples pizza—the Amalfi Coast's real highlight.
Explore Northern Italy's cities and landscapes in this packed five-day trip. Start in Milan, the fashion, culture, and business capital of Italy, to see the 16th-century Royal Palace-turned-art museum and enjoy the buzzing nightlife at the Navigli canals. Continue to Lake Como to enjoy a day on the lake and a trip on the funicular to see views of the snow-capped Alps. End in Bologna and Turin to explore medieval churches, the National Cinema Museum, and endless cafés and aperitivo bars.
Explore Puglia, the "heel of Italy," one of the country's southernmost regions, which welcomes visitors with olive trees, a sparkling turquoise sea, and whimsical towns and villages. Take a walking tour through Lecce, snap photos of the iconic trulli homes in Alberobello, and enjoy the beaches and cuisine this region is famous for.
Explore Northern Italy's natural charm starting with Lake Como, where you'll take a boat tour of its extravagant shore lined with mansions. Ride the funicular to the scenic vista in Brunate where you'll catch a panoramic view of Como and the stunning surrounding nature. Transfer to colorful Cinque Terre, where you'll hike from one seaside village to another while enjoying breathtaking sunsets and views of the Ligurian Sea.
Spend five days exploring the art and cuisine of Italy's Tuscany region. Discover Rennaissance art in Florence, browse bustling markets for fresh produce and cured meats and stroll through narrow medieval streets to see the 1,000-year-old Ponte Vecchio bridge. Head to the Tuscan countryside to visit Siena, tour a typical Chianti winery, and see the medieval Monteriggioni fortress. End your visit with a trip to see the famous leaning tower of Pisa and Lucca's historic city walls.
Explore three beautiful villages of Lake Como on a quick 5-day trip to Northern Italy. Learn about the history of Como during a guided tour of Villa Olmo and the Basilica of San Fedele. Take a scenic ferry ride to travel to the traditional village of Varenna. Learn about the significance of iconic villas including Villa Monastero in Varenna, then hop across to Bellagio by boat to visit the botanical gardens of Villa Serbelloni and the neoclassical Villa Melzi.
Enjoy northwestern Sicily's top city with this 5-day tour of Palermo and its surroundings. Go on a street food tour of the regional capital after admiring the city's intricate baroque architecture before making a day trip to the stunning Doric temple of Segesta. End your quick trip with a day spent in the popular seaside town of Cefalù where you'll climb the Rocca for striking views, swim in the inviting Tyrrhenian Sea, and sip an afternoon apertivo while taking in the setting sun.
Explore the best of Northern Italy on this 5-day trip to Milan and Lake Como. Milan is a city full of Rennaissance art and historic architecture, as you'll experience as you visit its famous Gothic Duomo and other highlights. Learn how to make fresh pasta and Italian cocktails during a cooking class, and take a day trip to Lake Como and visit the beautiful villages of Bellagio, Varenna, and Como.
Discover historic and modern highlights of the Eternal City in this 5-day tour. Hear stories of gladiators in Rome's ancient Colosseum, tour the iconic Pantheon and visit the Vatican Museum to see the world-famous Sistine Chapel. Explore the Galleria Borghese to see works by Rafaello and Caravaggio, then stroll around the peaceful gardens of Villa Borghese. Enjoy a quiet cup of coffee in the Piazza Navona and unwind at night with a homemade Italian pizza and a glass of wine.
This 5-day adventure fits it all in, from the highlights of Rome to the sunny beaches of the Amalfi Coast. Start your trip exploring the historical sites and monuments of the Eternal City before heading down south to discover the ruins of Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius. Finish things off with the blue waters of Capri and the dramatic landscapes of the Amalfi Coast.
Explore western Sicily on this 5-day trip, from cultural Palermo to sunny Cefalu. You'll see medieval churches, tour the macabre Caphucin Catacombs, and soak in the sunshine on Cefalu's beaches. From the hustle and bustle of the street markets to the quiet of the Palermo Cathedral, this trip is the perfect way to explore the region's diverse culture.
Take a quick spin through the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance with this five-day Tuscan cycling tour. This challenging bike route will take you through the medieval villages and cypress-spotted hills of the Tuscan wine region . Go from Florence to Siena as you take in the region's food, historic castles, and sun-kissed landscapes, accompanied, of course, by a good glass or two.
Enjoy some of Italy's finest food and wine with this 5-day trip to the Piedmont region. Explore Turin's city center and learn about its food scene from a local guide on a street food tour. Try local specialties including bicerin and grissini. Discover the medieval town of Alba and the surrounding Langhe Hills wine region with a full-day tour to several small wineries and villages where Barolo and Barbaresco wines are produced.
This incredible Italy itinerary packs a lot into five days but doesn't skimp on the luxurious details. Explore Venice to see wide city canals and ornate palaces and feast on fresh seafood, then head to Florence for a private tour of the Accademia Gallery with an art historian and a romantic sunset cruise on the Arno River.
Explore the birthplace of the Renaissance in all its splendor. Discover Rennaissance art in Florence, browse bustling markets for fresh produce and cured meats, and stroll through narrow medieval streets to see the 1,000-year-old Ponte Vecchio bridge. Head to the Tuscan countryside to visit Siena and see the medieval Monteriggioni fortress, and learn the secrets behind a homemade Italian meal.
Start your 5-day trip by discovering the sites of Rome with a guided tour through historic cathedrals, squares, museums, and bridges, plus enjoy incredible views atop one of its seven hills. Visit Vatican City, perusing its Renaissance art through museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica, then head to Florence to discover its famous Duomo and the statue of David in the Galleria dell'Accademia. Finish the tour with a visit to Lucca and Pisa, two Tuscan cities with history that goes beyond the Leaning Tower.
Explore the best of Lake Garda with this quick 5-day itinerary. Experience the relaxed pace of life at the southern end of the lake and visit Roman villas and medieval castles on a guided tour of Sirmione and Peschiera del Garda. To the north is Riva del Garda, a town influenced by Austrian and Italian culture. Enjoy outdoor activities and take a self-guided day trip to the picturesque village of Malcesine.
Take a five-day frolic through Italy and Switzerland with this itinerary. You'll split your time between lakes and mountains, often enjoying views of both simultaneously, as you take in waterfront historic sites, luxurious villas, and more.
With this quick 5-day trip, you'll explore Venice and the Veneto region of Northern Italy. Experience the heart of the 'Floating City' as you wander along its beautiful canals and visit St. Mark's Square and the Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace). Experience Shakespearean love in Verona at Casa di Giulietta and relive Roman entertainment at the Arena. Take a day trip to Lake Garda and find tranquility in the picturesque lakeside villages of Sirmione and Desenzano del Garda.
Catch a glimpse of luxuries of Northwest Italy with this five-day itinerary. You'll spin through seaside towns of Portofino and Cinque Terre, then go inland to hunt for truffles in the Langhe region. End in the city of Turin with an insider tour of its most historic spots.
Indulge your taste buds on this Tuscan tour, visiting beautiful vineyards and medieval towns like Siena, Volterra, and San Gimignano, where you'll enjoy the flavors of the region with wine tastings and traditional, locally-sourced cuisine. Explore ancient cobblestone streets and monuments, enjoy the old Cypress trees of Bolgheri, and sleep soundly in your cozy farmhouse accommodation. End your trip on the rocky coast of Cinque Terre where you'll enjoy more wine and regional foods, plus one last stop at the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
In 990 BCE, the Archbishop of Canterbury traveled from England to Rome to meet with the Pope. He wrote a detailed diary of the 80 stages of his journey through the United Kingdom, France, and Italy, and this path is now known at the Via Francigena (the Francigena Way), a path for religious pilgrims from Canterbury to Rome. The trail travels through Tuscany, and you can experience it on this five-day itinerary that winds through the Tuscan countryside.
Tuscany is famous for its beautiful landscapes, vineyards, cypress trees, farms, and medieval hill towns. What better way to experience some of the best views in Italy than by bike. You'll explore the hills and towers of San Gimignano, have a chance to taste Brunello wines in Montalcino, and learn about the history and architecture of Siena.
Take a trip through the food and wine region of Emilia-Romagna with this 5-day itinerary. Delve deep into Bologna's historic city center, visiting the iconic university and the Quadrilatero district. Spend a day in Parma to learn about the production processes of prosciutto and Parmigiano Reggiano and, of course, taste the final products. Learn from an Italian chef in Milan as you prepare fresh pasta and mix cocktails at a guided cooking class.
With this quick 5-day trip, discover Milan and the grandeur of Lake Como. Experience elegant villas, charming cobblestone lanes, and romantic gardens in Bellagio, explore the historic center of the town of Como, and take in the views from a funicular at sunset. Delve into centuries of Italian history at Milan's Duomo, admire Da Vinci's masterpiece "The Last Supper", and get a feel for local life in the capital of Italian culture.
In 5 days, you'll enjoy great food and wine tours, sampling Italian cuisine, regional specialties and local wines. You'll also take a crack at crafting handmade pasta during a cooking class in Verona. Visit a rural olive farm and Veneto wineries close to Padua, and explore that city's medieval center, the artistic masterpieces of Giotto, and Europe's first botanical garden.
Enjoy a fast 5-day trip to Treviso and Verona, two cities with rich and interesting histories. Discovering ornate churches, interesting museums, and vintage clothing boutiques in Treviso. Travel back in time in Verona on a guided tour of ancient castles and grand piazzas. Spend a day in Venice, walking through the former Jewish Ghetto, the Rialto market towards Piazza San Marco at the center.
With 5 days to spend, discover Turin and the Italian Riviera in Northern Italy. Explore Turin's historical city center with a guide and visit grand piazzas, palaces and museums. After, journey to Santa Margherita Ligure on the Italian Riviera, the perfect picturesque beachfront village. Spend time relaxing in beautiful Portofino and enjoy a day trip to the Cinque Terre, famous for its medieval villages, dramatic sea cliffs, and world-class hiking trails.
