12 Days in Italy: Why This Trip is Perfect for Midlife Travelers
The Perfect 12-Day Italy Train Itinerary: Rome, Venice, Florence & the Amalfi Coast
Italy is one of the easiest countries in Europe to explore by train. With excellent rail connections, you can experience ancient history, charming canals, rolling Tuscan hills, and breathtaking coastal villages—all without renting a car.
Here's the itinerary I recommend after experiencing it myself. I’ll also be adding in a few items that I recommend and I personally use for all my travels.
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Days 1–3: Rome
After your overnight flight, keep things simple. Take an Uber from the airport directly to your hotel and spend your first day easing into Italy. I recommend staying at The Hoxton Rome, where an early check-in can make all the difference after a red-eye flight.
Enjoy lunch at the hotel's restaurant, wander the surrounding neighborhood, or take an evening trip to see the Colosseum beautifully illuminated after dark. Don't try to do too much on your first day—Rome is best enjoyed at a slower pace.
Over the next two days, focus on Rome's iconic highlights:
Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica
The underground Colosseum tour
Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum
Book these tickets several months in advance, and always choose skip-the-line entry if available.
My favorite memories of Rome weren't scheduled at all—they were getting lost in the narrow streets, eating fresh pasta from small neighborhood restaurants, and watching the city come alive after sunset. Stay out into the evening if you can. Once the lights come on and the locals fill the piazzas, Rome feels truly magical.
Days 4–5: Venice
From Rome's Termini Station, board a high-speed Trenitalia train to Venice. Download the Trenitalia app before your trip and purchase tickets in advance for the best prices. If your budget allows, First Class is well worth the small extra cost on longer journeys.
The moment you step out of Venice's train station, you're greeted by the Grand Canal—a view that's unforgettable.
I recommend staying at H10 Palazzo Canova, just steps from the Rialto Bridge with a rooftop terrace overlooking the canal.
Spend your time wandering Venice's maze of streets, crossing countless bridges, and exploring hidden squares.
If you have extra time, take a vaporetto (water bus) to:
Murano for its famous glass-blowing demonstrations
Burano for colorful homes, lace shops, and fantastic gelato
Don't miss:
St. Mark's Square
St. Mark's Bell Tower (reserve skip-the-line tickets)
A sunset stroll along the canals
If I only had one day in Venice, I'd skip the organized tours and simply wander. It's one of those cities that's best discovered without an itinerary.
Days 6–8: Florence
The train from Venice to Florence takes about two hours and is another easy ride.
Florence is one of my favorite cities in Italy. Stay near the historic center so you can easily walk to the Duomo, Accademia Gallery, and many of the city's beautiful piazzas.
Be sure to visit:
Piazza del Duomo
Michelangelo's David
Piazzale Michelangelo for the best panoramic views of Florence
Florence also makes an excellent base for day trips to Pisa or the Tuscan countryside.
The shopping is fantastic, especially the locally made leather goods, and we found some of our favorite meals of the entire trip here. Like Rome, Florence rewards travelers who leave time to simply wander.
Days 9–12: Naples, Pompeii & the Amalfi Coast
Continue south by train to Naples, the birthplace of pizza.
If time allows, stop for lunch before continuing to Sorrento. One of my favorite discoveries was Insolito La Pizzeria Gourmet, tucked away on a quiet side street. It was easily the best pizza we had in Italy.
On the way south, stop to visit Pompeii. I highly recommend booking a guided tour rather than relying on the audio guides—it makes the ancient city much easier to understand.
Use Sorrento as your home base for exploring the Amalfi Coast. From there you can easily take buses or ferries to Positano and Amalfi.
Expect winding coastal roads, lemon groves, dramatic cliffs, and some of the most beautiful scenery in Italy. Three days is the perfect amount of time to enjoy the area without feeling rushed.
What I Actually Packed for Italy
These are the travel essentials I never visit Italy without:
