2 Weeks in Italy Itinerary: Venice to Naples by Train in 14 Days

Last updated: September 25, 2026

Two weeks is the length at which Italy stops being a checklist. This 14-day Italy itinerary keeps four bases only, so each city gets at least one free day, and it runs north to south so that the trip ends in the warmer, slower south. Each section lists what to book and what to leave open.

The route at a glance

Times are the typical journey times published by Italo on its route pages, checked September 25, 2026; the fastest trains can be a few minutes quicker, and Trenitalia runs its own Frecciarossa trains on the same lines. Book long legs a few weeks ahead for the best fares.

Days 1 to 3: Venice

Day 1 is for the Grand Canal and a cicchetti tour in the evening (our cicchetti guide explains the bar-hopping ritual). Day 2: St. Mark’s, the Doge’s Palace and the islands of Murano and Burano, which the St. Mark’s and lagoon tours combine. Day 3 is a day out: the Dolomites if the weather is clear, or the Prosecco hills for wine. Keep a gondola ride for sunset. The day-tripper access fee trial ended on July 27, 2026; no 2027 dates had been announced when we checked.

Days 4 to 7: Florence, Tuscany and the coast

With four nights, Florence gets two city days and two days out. In the city: the Uffizi (€25 on the day, €29 booked ahead (checked September 2026); compare the Uffizi tours), the Duomo and David with a walking tour, and a food tour or truffle hunt. Days out: the Siena, San Gimignano and Pisa day trip, the Chianti wine tour or the Cinque Terre day trip.

Going to the Cinque Terre on your own? The Cinque Terre Express runs between Levanto and La Spezia until November 1, 2026, with single tickets from €5 to €10 by distance, valid 75 minutes (checked September 2026). Florence adds a tourist tax of €7 per person per night in 4-star hotels, for up to 7 nights.

Days 8 to 11: Rome

Four days in Rome allow a slower pace. Day 8: arrive (1 hour 25 minutes by train) and walk the center. Day 9: the Colosseum (€16 plus a €2 booking fee (checked September 2026)). Day 10: the Vatican Museums (€20, plus €5 online). Day 11: the Borghese Gallery (€13 plus a mandatory €2 reservation) and the Appian Way and catacombs. Evenings: Trastevere food tour or a pasta class. Our 3-day Rome plan has the details.

Days 12 to 14: Naples, Pompeii and the coast

The train from Rome to Naples takes about 55 minutes. Naples works as a base because the organized day trips start there, so you do not need to move hotels again.

• Day 12, Naples: the historic center, a Naples underground tour and a pizza making class for dinner.
• Day 13, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast: the Pompeii and Amalfi Coast day trip covers both in one day. Read Pompeii from Rome or Naples for the trade-offs.
• Day 14, Capri or home: the Pompeii and Capri day trip is the alternative for day 13; if you have a spare day, the Capri boat tours leave from Sorrento.

Getting to Sorrento by train? The EAV tourist train Campania Express is suspended from October 1, 2026 until further notice, so fall visitors should plan on the regular Circumvesuviana line or a day tour with transport. More ideas: the best day trips from Naples.

What to book before you fly

Official prices (checked September 2026). Guided tours cost more but include the ticket and a guide; each tour page linked below compares two options with their ratings and conditions.

How to change the plan

• Prefer the lakes to the south? Replace Naples with Milan and Lake Como, as in the 10-day itinerary.
• Flying round-trip from Rome? Start in Rome, go south to Naples (55 minutes), come back and continue north to Florence and Venice, then take the train back to Rome on the last day.
• Want Sicily? It needs its own week: see our Sicily tour page and the Palermo street food tour.

Prefer a route of your own? See the southern Italy itinerary for Naples, Sorrento and Puglia, the northern Italy itinerary for the lakes, and things to do in Sicily.

Planning the Venice and Milan legs? Our guides to the best tours in Venice and the best tours in Milan list what to book first in each city, day by day.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best 2-week Italy itinerary?

Venice for three nights, Florence for four, Rome for four and Naples for three, traveling north to south by high-speed train. It adds Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast to the classic first trip without extra hotel changes.

Is 2 weeks enough for Italy?

Two weeks is enough for Venice, Florence, Rome and Naples at a comfortable pace, with day trips to Tuscany, the Cinque Terre, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. It is not enough to add Sicily as well.

How do I get from Rome to Naples?

By high-speed train: about 55 minutes from Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale on Italo’s typical schedule, with 31 Italo trains a day, checked September 2026.

Should I base myself in Naples or Sorrento for the Amalfi Coast?

For a short stay without a car, Naples is easier because organized day trips to Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast and Capri start there. Sorrento is closer to the coast but adds another hotel change.

Which direction should I travel in Italy?

Either works if the route is one-way. North to south ends the trip in the warmer south, which helps in the fall; south to north ends with the lakes or Venice.