My 1 Week Italy Itinerary (Florence, Rome & Sorrento) + What I’d Do Again

I shared a lot of this trip in real time over on Instagram—so if you want to see more of the day-to-day moments, food spots, and behind-the-scenes of this itinerary, you can check it out there too [@nina.infrance].

Travel

If you didn’t already know, I’m currently living in Laval, France—so getting to Italy took a little bit of planning.

My route looked like this:

• Train from Laval → Le Mans

• Direct train from Le Mans → Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport

I booked all my trains through [Omio] and [SNCF Connect] (both super easy to use and reliable).

From there, I flew into Florence.

Once I landed, I took the tram right outside the airport to the closest stop near my hostel, then walked about 8 minutes—very easy and straightforward.

Days 1–4: Florence

I stayed at YellowSquare Hostel (booked through [Hostelworld]), and I honestly can’t recommend it enough. Great atmosphere, super social, and always something going on.

Day 1: Arrival + First Night Out

After arriving, I checked in, relaxed a bit, and connected with people through the Hostelworld group chat (highly recommend doing this if you’re solo traveling).

We joined some hostel activities and eventually went out—ending up at a club.

On the way, we passed the Duomo at night, which is 100% worth seeing lit up. Such a moment.

Day 2: Wandering, Cooking Class + Sunset Views

I started my first full day with a sandwich and iced coffee from Wildbuns—so good, and the walk there took me through some of the prettiest parts of the city.

From there, I just wandered. Honestly, one of the best things you can do in Florence.

Later, I did a pasta cooking class (booked through [GetYourGuide]) where we made ravioli and pappardelle—with unlimited wine. It was about 3 hours and easily one of my favorite experiences of the trip. A must-do in Italy.

For sunset, I walked up to Piazzale Michelangelo—another must.
Free views over the entire city + an Aperol spritz in hand… not much better than that.

Day 3: Slow Day + Exploring

I purposely kept this day completely open, and I highly recommend building at least one “nothing planned” day into your trip.

I started the day meeting up with a friend for coffee at Ditta Artigianale, then wandered through nearby markets.

From there:

• Walked through Boboli Gardens (beautiful + peaceful)

• Stopped at a wine window (you’ll find these all over Florence—so fun)

• Watched sunset at Ponte Vecchio with street musicians playing

Dinner was at NIMA Sushi—random for Italy, but actually so good.

On my walk back, I passed the Duomo again and stumbled on a group of strangers dancing together in the street… and that just felt like Italy.

Day 4: Museum Day + Final Night

I started with a guided tour of the Accademia Gallery (booked through [GetYourGuide])—home of Michelangelo’s David.

I didn’t plan on doing a tour, but it ended up being such a good decision:

• Skip-the-line access

• Way less stressful entry

• Quick but informative (about 45 minutes)

Next stop: brunch at Brunch Republic—slightly off the main tourist path, which was a nice break from the crowds.

Then I visited the Uffizi Gallery. It’s huge—you could easily spend hours here. If you’re into art, it’s definitely worth it.

After:

• Mandatory gelato stop (obviously)

• Wander through Giardino Bardini for more views

I ended my last night with dinner in the city center and one more sunset at Ponte Vecchio.

Days 5–7: Rome (+ Sorrento Day Trip)

Day 5: Travel to Rome + Ancient Sites

I took a train from Florence (Santa Maria Novella) to Rome (Roma Termini)—about 2 hours.

I stayed at another YellowSquare Hostel location, dropped my bags, and headed straight out.

First stop: the Colosseum (ticket booked through [GetYourGuide]).
It also included access to:

• Palatine Hill

• Roman Forum

All three are right next to each other and absolutely worth exploring.

After that:

• Walked through the Monti neighborhood (great for small shops)

• Saw the Trevi Fountain

• Dinner nearby

Ended the night at the hostel bar (Yellow Bar), which made it super easy to meet people.

Day 6: Day Trip to Sorrento

This was one of my favorite days.

Route:

• Train: Rome → Naples (Napoli Centrale)

• Then local train (Circumvesuviana) → Sorrento

The ride is a bit long, but the views toward the end are so worth it.

In Sorrento:

• Brunch at Radical (10/10 if you love brunch)

• Wandered through the main street + side streets

• Found incredible coastal viewpoints

• Walked down to the marina area for coffee + views

I also had lemon sorbet served in an actual lemon, which is kind of a must since this region is known for it.

Sorrento is honestly stunning. Even just for a day, I’d recommend it.

Day 7: Rome Highlights + Final Night

Last day, I kept things flexible again.

Started at the Pantheon (didn’t go inside, but still worth seeing).
Then wandered through the city, passing fountains and ending up at the Trevi Fountain early—almost empty, which is rare.

👉 Tip: go early morning if you want to avoid crowds.

Had breakfast in Piazza Navona, then headed to:

• St. Peter’s Basilica

• Vatican Museums (timed entry booked in advance)

Quick note on dress code:
I had read that you need to have your shoulders and knees covered. I didn’t fully follow that—and no one stopped me—but I’d still recommend dressing somewhat modestly just to be safe.

The Vatican was crowded, but definitely a must-see.

After:

• Sandwich from All’Antico Vinaio (worth the hype)

• Walked to the Spanish Steps

For my last night:

• Dinner near Trevi at Boccano (slightly tucked away, better vibe)

• One final gelato

• Ended with a bar crawl (booked through Hostelworld group chat)

Such a fun way to end the trip.

✨ Final Thoughts

This trip was the perfect mix of:

• Planned activities

• Slow wandering

• Social moments

• Solo time

And honestly, that balance is what made it so memorable.