Day 1 - Ancient Rome
Land in Rome and head to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum at opening. Walk the Palatine Hill for views over the ruins. Afternoon at the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. Evening Trastevere stroll with a gelato and a suppli from a fried-food counter. Dinner at a trattoria for carbonara and a carafe of Frascati before an early night.
Day 2 - Vatican and center
Morning at the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel; book ahead to skip lines. Stroll Saint Peter's Square and cross the river to Castel Sant'Angelo. Afternoon at the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. Evening espresso on a side street and a pizza al taglio dinner near Campo de' Fiori before the train north.
Day 3 - Florence arrival
Take the high-speed train to Florence. Drop bags near the Duomo and climb the cupola. Afternoon at the Uffizi for Botticelli and Michelangelo. Walk the Ponte Vecchio at golden hour. Evening ribollita soup and bistecca at a Tuscan osteria with a Chianti. Sleep central to walk everywhere the next two days.
Day 4 - Renaissance churches
Morning at the Accademia for David, then San Lorenzo and the Medici Chapels. Afternoon at Santa Croce and the leather market. Cross to the Oltrarno for artisan workshops. Evening at a wine window for a glass of vernaccia and a panino. Dinner of pappa al pomodoro and roasted vegetables near Santo Spirito.
Day 5 - Hills and departure
Morning at the Boboli Gardens or the Piazzale Michelangelo for the city panorama. Last shopping for leather and biscuits. A long lunch of truffle pasta before the airport or train. Keep the afternoon open for transit. Grab a panino for the journey. Evening departure lets you fit one more museum if time allows.
Daily food picks
Rome gives you carbonara, suppli, and pizza by the slice. Florence answers with bistecca, ribollita, and truffle pasta. Always start with a bakery cornetto and espresso. Lunch is a panino or street pizza; dinner is a sit-down trattoria with regional wine. Gelato in both cities finishes any walk. Markets in Campo de' Fiori and Sant'Ambrogio are cheap feasts.
Getting around & budget
High-speed trains link Rome and Florence in under two hours. Both centers are walkable; skip the car. Budget 130 to 200 euros daily with mid-range hotels and restaurant meals, more at peak season. Museum reservations save hours. A city transit pass covers buses when legs tire. Water from public fountains is free and safe.
