12-Day Italy Itinerary for Couples: Rome, Florence and Venice From Melbourne

Italy suits a couples’ holiday particularly well because every stop brings a different mood. Rome is bold, historic and full of energy. Florence feels smaller, artistic and easy to explore on foot. Venice provides a wonderfully atmospheric ending, especially once the daytime crowds begin to leave.

This 12-day itinerary travels north from Rome to Florence and Venice, avoiding unnecessary backtracking. It combines Italy’s essential landmarks with neighbourhood walks, regional food, a Tuscany day trip and enough free time to enjoy each city properly.

Getting to Italy From Melbourne

The most practical option is an open-jaw or multi-city ticket, flying from Melbourne into Rome and returning from Venice to Melbourne. This saves the time and expense of travelling back to Rome at the end.

There are generally no direct flights on either route, so expect at least one connection. Emirates via Dubai, Qatar Airways via Doha and Singapore Airlines or its European partners via Singapore are common options, subject to current schedules. Keep the entire trip on one ticket so checked luggage is transferred and the airline remains responsible for missed connections.

The total journey usually takes approximately 22–28 hours in each direction. Economy fares commonly range from around A$1,700–2,800 per person, depending on season, airline and booking time.

Where to Stay

Rome: Via Nazionale or Repubblica

Our recommended Rome base is Hotel Artemide, a polished boutique hotel on Via Nazionale. It sits close to Termini Station, which makes the arrival and onward train to Florence easier, while the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and historic centre remain within walking distance or a short taxi ride. The rooftop restaurant and spa also give the hotel a more romantic character than a purely functional city stay. Hotel Artemide

Florence: Historic Centre

For Florence, stay at Hotel Calimala, close to Piazza della Repubblica. Its location is exceptionally convenient: Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi Gallery and the Duomo are all only a few minutes away on foot. It allows you to explore Florence without relying on taxis or buses and makes it easy to return to the hotel between activities. Hotel Calimala

Venice: Cannaregio

In Venice, we recommend Radisson Collection Hotel, Palazzo Nani Venice in Cannaregio. The hotel occupies a restored canal-side palazzo and is conveniently located for Venezia Santa Lucia Station, vaporetto services and the boats to Murano and Burano. Cannaregio is also calmer in the evenings than San Marco and has an excellent selection of wine bars and local restaurants. Radisson Collection Hotel

Day 1: Depart Melbourne

Depart Melbourne on an overnight flight to Rome, connecting through the airline’s international hub. A connection of around two to four hours is usually ideal—long enough to manage a moderate delay without spending most of the day in transit.

Keep medication, travel documents, basic toiletries and one change of clothing in your cabin bag. Checked luggage should be tagged through to Rome when both flights are booked on the same ticket.

Day 2: Arrive in Rome and Explore the Historic Centre

After arriving at Rome Fiumicino Airport, take an official taxi directly to Hotel Artemide. The fixed fare to central Rome is approximately €55/US$64 per vehicle. The Leonardo Express train to Termini costs around €14/US$16 per person, but a taxi is easier after the long flight from Melbourne.

Once you have checked in and rested, begin with an easy walk through central Rome. Visit the Spanish Steps, toss a coin into Trevi Fountain and continue to the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. These landmarks are close enough to explore without turning the first day into a demanding sightseeing schedule. The Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain are free, while Pantheon admission is approximately €5/US$6 per adult.

For dinner, choose a traditional trattoria near the Pantheon or Piazza Navona. Order carbonara, cacio e pepe, amatriciana, fried artichokes and tiramisu. A comfortable dinner for four should cost approximately €130–180/US$151–209.

Day 3: Ancient Rome and Trastevere

Begin with the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Together, these sites provide the clearest introduction to imperial Rome, covering gladiatorial contests, public life, temples and former imperial palaces. Book a timed ticket well in advance; standard admission begins at approximately €18/US$21 per adult, while guided tours and arena-floor access cost more.

Walk into nearby Monti for lunch. This compact neighbourhood has a good mix of cafés, pizzerias and traditional restaurants without requiring additional transport. Order supplì, Roman-style pizza, fresh pasta and gelato, allowing approximately €90–130/US$104–151 for four.

Continue through Piazza Venezia, Capitoline Hill and the Jewish Ghetto before heading to the Orange Garden on Aventine Hill for sunset. The garden is free and provides a peaceful view over the city and St Peter’s dome.

Finish in Trastevere, where cobbled streets and small piazzas create one of Rome’s liveliest evening settings. Order tonnarelli cacio e pepe, saltimbocca, seasonal vegetables and tiramisu. Dinner should cost approximately €150–220/US$174–255 for four.

Day 4: Vatican City and the Tiber

Take Metro Line A or a taxi from Hotel Artemide to Vatican City. Start with the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, followed by St Peter’s Basilica. An early reservation is strongly recommended, particularly from April to October. Allow around €30–40/US$35–46 per person for standard admission and booking charges; guided visits cost more but can make the enormous complex easier to understand.

Walk into Prati for lunch rather than eating beside the main Vatican entrances. Order fresh pasta, Roman pizza, salads or grilled fish, with a family meal costing approximately €100–145/US$116–168.

After lunch, visit Castel Sant’Angelo, a former imperial mausoleum that later became a fortress and papal residence. The upper terraces provide excellent views across the Tiber towards St Peter’s Basilica. Admission is around €16–20/US$19–23 per adult.

Cross Ponte Sant’Angelo and follow the river back towards Piazza Navona. Stop for coffee or gelato before enjoying aperitivo and dinner in the historic centre. Allow approximately €170–240/US$197–278 for four for drinks, antipasti, pasta and a main course.

Day 5: Borghese Gallery and a Slower Side of Rome

Reserve a morning visit to the Borghese Gallery, one of Rome’s most rewarding smaller museums. Its collection includes Bernini sculptures and important works by Caravaggio, Raphael and Titian. Tickets generally cost around €16–20/US$19–23 per adult, and timed reservations are essential.

After the gallery, walk through Villa Borghese to Piazza del Popolo and continue towards Via del Corso. Stop for lunch before exploring Rome’s principal shopping streets. Order pasta, pizza, salads and gelato, budgeting approximately €110–160/US$128–186 for four.

Keep the later afternoon open for shopping, coffee or a rest at Hotel Artemide. This break works well before the evening and prevents the Rome portion of the trip from feeling overloaded.

For the final Rome dinner, book Hotel Artemide’s Ambrosia Rooftop Restaurant or choose a neighbourhood trattoria around Via Nazionale. A more refined meal with wine will cost around €200–320/US$232–371 for four.

Day 6: Travel From Rome to Florence

Check out of Hotel Artemide and walk or take a short taxi to Roma Termini. Travel to Florence aboard a direct Frecciarossa or Italo high-speed train, which takes approximately 90 minutes. Advance fares can begin at around €15/US$17 per person, although flexible or last-minute tickets commonly cost €30–70/US$35–81. Tickets can be booked through Trenitalia or Italo.

From Firenze Santa Maria Novella Station, take a short taxi to Hotel Calimala for approximately €12–18/US$14–21, or walk for about 15 minutes if travelling light.

After lunch, explore the Duomo, Baptistery, Piazza della Signoria and Ponte Vecchio. Florence’s historic centre is compact, and all these places are within walking distance of the hotel. Lunch at a nearby trattoria should include ribollita, pappa al pomodoro, fresh pasta or a schiacciata sandwich and cost around €90–130/US$104–151 for four.

In the evening, travel to Piazzale Michelangelo for Florence’s classic skyline view. Return through the Oltrarno district and have dinner at a Tuscan trattoria. Order bistecca alla Fiorentina to share, pappardelle with wild boar ragù, grilled vegetables and cantucci. Expect approximately €180–260/US$209–302 for four.

Day 7: Renaissance Art and Oltrarno

Walk from Hotel Calimala to the Uffizi Gallery for a pre-booked morning visit. The collection includes masterpieces by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael. Tickets are generally around €25–30/US$29–35 per adult, depending on season and reservation charges.

Continue through Piazza della Signoria and see Palazzo Vecchio before heading to Mercato Centrale or Sant’Ambrogio for lunch. Try fresh pasta, Tuscan cheeses, cured meats, pizza and gelato. A casual market lunch costs approximately €80–120/US$93–139 for four.

Spend the afternoon across the river in Oltrarno, exploring artisan studios, leather shops and the streets around Santo Spirito. This side of Florence has a more residential character and is particularly enjoyable in the late afternoon.

Stay in Santo Spirito for aperitivo and dinner. Order crostini, handmade pasta, steak or grilled vegetables, allowing approximately €170–240/US$197–278 for four.

Day 8: Siena, San Gimignano and Chianti

Join a small-group Tuscany day tour from Florence, visiting Siena, San Gimignano and a Chianti winery. A guided excursion is more convenient than hiring a car because it removes the need to manage rural roads, restricted parking zones and wine tasting.

Small-group tours generally cost around €160–230/US$186–267 per person, often including coach transport and a winery tasting. Check whether lunch is included before booking.

At the winery or in one of the medieval towns, try pici pasta, pecorino cheese, bruschetta, local olive oil, grilled meat and cantucci. If lunch is not included, allow approximately €140–220/US$162–255 for four.

Return to Florence in the early evening and keep dinner simple near Hotel Calimala. Pizza, pasta or a wine-bar meal should cost around €100–145/US$116–168 for four.

Day 9: Travel From Florence to Venice

Take a taxi from Hotel Calimala to Firenze Santa Maria Novella and board a direct high-speed train to Venezia Santa Lucia. The trip takes approximately two hours. Advance fares can start around €19/US$22 per person, while standard fares commonly reach €30–70/US$35–81. Timetables and tickets are available through Italo and Trenitalia.

Arriving at Venezia Santa Lucia is one of the most memorable entries into any Italian city—the station opens directly onto the Grand Canal. Walk or take a vaporetto to Radisson Collection Hotel, Palazzo Nani. A single vaporetto trip costs approximately €9.50/US$11 per person, although a multi-day pass will provide better value during the Venice stay.

Have lunch in Cannaregio, beginning with cicchetti followed by seafood pasta or risotto. Expect approximately €100–145/US$116–168 for four.

Later, take Vaporetto Line 1 along the Grand Canal and disembark near Rialto Bridge. The vaporetto acts as an affordable sightseeing cruise, passing many of Venice’s grandest canal-side palaces.

Return to Cannaregio for dinner and order spaghetti alle vongole, squid-ink pasta, seafood risotto or grilled Adriatic fish. A family dinner should cost approximately €190–280/US$220–325.

Day 10: St Mark’s Square and Classic Venice

Begin at St Mark’s Basilica before the busiest part of the day. Its gold mosaics and Byzantine architecture are unlike anything seen earlier in the trip. Basic entry and optional sections cost approximately €10–25/US$12–29 per person, depending on the areas selected.

Continue next door to Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. The palace explains how Venice was governed when it was one of Europe’s wealthiest maritime powers. Tickets cost approximately €30/US$35 per adult, and advance reservations are advisable.

Move away from St Mark’s Square for lunch in Castello, where restaurants are generally quieter and better value. Order cicchetti, seafood pasta, risotto or grilled fish, budgeting approximately €120–170/US$139–197 for four.

Spend the afternoon wandering through Castello’s residential lanes and along the lagoon waterfront. In the evening, take a private gondola through the smaller canals. Official daytime pricing generally starts at around €90/US$104 per boat for 30 minutes, with higher rates after dark.

Finish with dinner in Dorsoduro or Cannaregio. A meal of shared antipasti, seafood, pasta and tiramisu should cost approximately €220–320/US$255–371 for four.

Day 11: Murano and Burano

Use a 24-hour or multi-day vaporetto pass to visit Murano and Burano. A 24-hour pass costs approximately €25/US$29 per person and covers the island connections and return to Venice.

Start in Murano, where glassmaking has been central to local life for centuries. Visit a working studio for a demonstration and browse the island’s canals and shops. Demonstrations are often complimentary, although purchases are optional.

Continue to Burano, known for its brightly coloured houses, lace-making traditions and seafood restaurants. Order risotto di gò when available, spaghetti with clams, grilled fish or mixed fried seafood. Lunch should cost approximately €150–220/US$174–255 for four.

Return to Palazzo Nani for a short rest before spending the final evening in Cannaregio. Enjoy aperitivo followed by a farewell dinner of cicchetti, seafood pasta, fish and dessert. Allow approximately €220–320/US$255–371 for four.

Day 12: Venice to Melbourne

Enjoy a final breakfast and a short walk beside the canals before checking out. A café breakfast of coffee, pastries and fruit should cost approximately €30–50/US$35–58 for four.

Travel from Venice to Marco Polo Airport by Alilaguna water bus or private water taxi. The airport water bus costs approximately €18/US$21 per person and is the more economical option. A private water taxi is easier with several suitcases but generally costs €130–180/US$151–209 per boat.

Fly from Venice to Melbourne with one connection. Because of the flight duration and time-zone difference, arrival in Melbourne will usually be on the following calendar day.

Travey Club Insights

The strength of this itinerary is the way the three cities complement one another. Rome provides the landmarks and historical scale, Florence brings art, food and the Tuscan countryside, while Venice gives the trip a more intimate finish.

Staying centrally at Hotel Artemide, Hotel Calimala and Palazzo Nani reduces unnecessary transport and makes the evenings easier to enjoy. The high-speed trains also keep the route efficient, while the open-jaw flight ensures the final day is spent in Venice rather than returning to Rome.

Travey Club is a private travel design studio specializing in bespoke, self-guided journeys tailored to your individual tastes, lifestyle, budget, and schedule. We craft refined, highly personalized travel blueprints that combine curated experiences, seamless routing, insider knowledge, and meticulous day-by-day structure — empowering you to explore independently with confidence and ease. Rather than booking hotels or tours, we design each element of your journey with precision and intention, allowing you to reserve directly while experiencing a thoughtfully orchestrated, self-guided adventure created exclusively around you.

Look at our twelve days Italy Itinerary (14 days from Melbourne) : Travey Club