Recommended Route
Spend three nights in Rome, three in Florence, two in Bologna, and two in Venice. This gives Rome enough time for ancient sites and neighborhoods, Florence enough time for art and a day trip, Bologna a food-focused pause, and Venice a memorable finish.
The order can flip depending on flights, but Venice is often a strong final stop because it feels distinct and rewards slower wandering after the big museum days.
What This Plan Skips
This route does not try to do the Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre, Lake Como, and rural Tuscany in the same 10 days. Those are good trips, but adding them here creates transfer friction that works against the no-car goal.
- Use Florence as the base for one Tuscan day trip if needed.
- Choose Bologna over another famous city if food is a priority.
- Book high-speed trains once the route is set.
- Keep Venice lodging convenient enough that luggage does not become the hardest part of the trip.
Booking Notes
Book timed museums and major sights before filling every meal slot. Hotels should be close enough to train stations or transit that arrival days remain easy, but not so station-focused that the neighborhood feels like a hallway.