Italy Classic: Rome → Florence

Italy Classic

Self-drive route · best May, June, September, October · free to read, day by day

days
7
km
969
stops
23
drive / day
1h 54m

A classic Italian journey covering the historic centers of Rome, Florence, and Venice, with stops in Orvieto, Siena, Bologna, Verona, and Milan.

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Curated by Lance · drove it, filmed it

updated Oct 2026

Highlights

tap a card to see that day

The route

Tap a day or a town

You sleep in Rome 2 nights · Florence 2 nights · Venice 2 nights — start in Rome, end in Milan.

What the in-car version adds

  • Tap-to-navigate, every stop

    Opens Google Maps or Apple Maps, in order.

  • Works with no signal

    Download the PDF once: every day, stop and drive time.

  • Your own trip to change

    Shorten it, swap stops or ask AI to adjust it.

  • Cost estimate

    Fuel, rental car and stays for this route.

  • What to book, and when

    Tours, ferries and stays that sell out.

Day by day

all free to read
DAY01

Ancient Rome, settle in slow

5 km · 20m driving · overnight in Rome

Start in Rome on foot: the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain are easiest by walking or metro, because the historic centre is a limited-traffic zone. Keep the first day light.

  1. 1Colosseum
  2. 2Trevi Fountain
DAY02

Vatican day

7 km · 27m driving · overnight in Rome

This day is dedicated to the Vatican City and its extensive art collections. Plan for significant time on foot within the museums and the basilica.

  1. 1Vatican Museums
  2. 2St. Peter's Basilica
  3. 3Castel Sant'Angelo
DAY03

Rome → Siena → Florence

316 km · 3h 46m driving · overnight in Siena

Travel north through the hills of Umbria and Tuscany toward Florence. A stop in Siena provides a break from the longer driving distance of the day.

  1. 1Orvieto
  2. 2Piazza del Campo
DAY04

Florence in full

75 km · 1h 10m driving · overnight in Florence

Florence is explored through its Renaissance art and panoramic viewpoints. Most sites are concentrated in the pedestrian-heavy city center.

  1. 1Duomo di Firenze
  2. 2Uffizi Gallery
  3. 3Piazzale Michelangelo
DAY05

Florence → Bologna → Venice

277 km · 3h 50m driving · overnight in Venice

The route moves toward the Adriatic coast with a culinary stop in Bologna. Upon reaching Venice, the car must be left at the city entrance.

  1. 1Piazza Maggiore
  2. 2Piazzale Roma
  3. 3Piazza San Marco
DAY06

Venice, deep dive

20m driving · overnight in Venice

A full day is spent navigating the canals and bridges of Venice without a vehicle. Walking is the primary mode of transport between the historic districts.

  1. 1St. Mark's Basilica
  2. 2Rialto Bridge
  3. 3Dorsoduro
DAY07

Venice → Verona → Milan

289 km · 3h 24m driving · end of trip

The final leg heads west toward Milan with a stop in the city of Verona. This day involves several hours of highway driving to reach the final destination.

  1. 1Cannaregio
  2. 2Verona Arena
  3. 3Milan

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Included

  • Tap-to-navigate for all 23 stops
  • Offline PDF for no-signal stretches
  • Your own copy: change the days or swap stops with AI
  • Cost estimate: fuel, car and stays
  • Booking timeline with deadlines

Not included

  • Rental car
  • Accommodation
  • Fuel
  • Entry tickets and paid activities

Know before you go

  • Season

    Best in May, June, September and October. July and August bring heat and crowds; in winter the days are short and some sites keep shorter hours.

  • Local rules

    Strict ZTL (Limited Traffic Zones) exist in city centers; unauthorized driving results in heavy fines. Headlights must be on at all times on highways.

  • Activity level

    Moderate physical demand. Expect extensive walking on cobblestone streets and climbing stairs in historic towers.

  • Currency

    Euro (EUR). Credit cards are widely accepted, though small shops may require cash.

  • Power plugs

    Type C, F, and L plugs are used with a standard voltage of 230V.

  • Time zone

    Central European Time (UTC+1), with daylight saving (UTC+2) from March to October.

  • Language

    Italian is the primary language. English is commonly understood in major tourist hubs.

Heads up

  • Avoid Italian ZTLs (limited traffic zones) in historic city centers; park outside and walk or take public transport.
  • Book major attractions like the Colosseum, Vatican, Uffizi, and St. Mark's at least two weeks in advance.
  • Carry €50 in cash for small bars and public restrooms, though cards are widely accepted.
  • Use public 'nasoni' fountains in Rome for free, cold drinking water.
  • Consider high-speed Frecciarossa trains for the Rome-Florence-Venice legs to avoid driving stress.

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