Blog · 2 November 2026
Italy from India: Rome, Florence, Venice and the Amalfi Coast, how many days, and what a trip costs
Italy is the trip many Indian travellers save up for: the Colosseum and the Vatican in Rome, Renaissance art in Florence, canals in Venice and cliffside villages on the Amalfi Coast. Fast trains link the big cities, so you can see a lot without long drives, and pizza, pasta and gelato make it one of the easiest places in Europe for vegetarians.
How many days do you need?
Plan on eight to ten days for a first visit. Start in Rome, where international flights land, and give it three days: one for ancient Rome, one for the Vatican and one for the fountains, piazzas and Trastevere. A high-speed train takes about an hour and a half to Florence; spend two days there, or three if you want a day trip to Pisa or the Chianti hills. Another train of just over two hours brings you to Venice for two nights. Flying home from Venice saves you a long trip back to Rome. With a week or less, keep to Rome and Florence. The Amalfi Coast needs two extra nights of its own, reached by train to Naples and then a car or ferry, so add it from Rome before heading north.
What a trip costs
For a couple flying from Delhi and staying in a midrange hotel, a 10-day Italy trip in December comes to about ₹6,07,500, or ₹3,03,750 per person. That covers return flights, hotels, food, trains and local transport, the attractions we pick for you, the Schengen visa, travel insurance and a 10% buffer. Hotels are the biggest cost after flights, and they jump in Venice and on the Amalfi Coast, so a night less there makes a real difference.
You can change the dates, travellers, hotel type, cities and attractions on our Italy trip cost page and watch every line update.
Things worth paying for
- Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill: about ₹1,818. One ticket covers all three; book a timed slot online well ahead and go early before the heat.
- Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel: about ₹2,020. It is closed on most Sundays and on several Church holidays, so check your date before you plan the day around it.
- St Peter's Basilica dome climb: about ₹1,010, for the view straight down the colonnade and across Rome.
- Accademia Gallery (Michelangelo's David): about ₹1,616, and the Uffizi Gallery: about ₹2,929. Both close on Mondays.
- Duomo, dome climb and bell tower in Florence: about ₹3,030. The climb inside Brunelleschi's dome is narrow but the city view at the top is worth it.
- Murano and Burano boat trip: about ₹2,525, for glass-blowing on Murano and the brightly painted houses of Burano.
- Gondola ride: about ₹4,040 each. It's a splurge, so share one boat between a family and go in the evening.
- Pompeii day trip: about ₹12,120, an easy add-on if you stay on the Amalfi Coast, or the Positano and Amalfi boat day: about ₹8,585.
Free and cheap things to do
Much of Italy's beauty costs nothing. In Rome, toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain, step inside the Pantheon, sit on the Spanish Steps, look over the Forum from Capitoline Hill and walk Piazza Navona in the evening. In Florence, cross the Ponte Vecchio and climb to Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset over the domes. In Venice, wander away from St Mark's Square into the quiet lanes and ride the Grand Canal on the vaporetto water bus, which is a cheap version of a canal tour. On the Amalfi Coast, the lanes of Positano and the garden views at Ravello are free.
When to go
April to June and September to October are the best months, with pleasant days and long evenings, but also the biggest crowds and highest hotel prices; Easter week is especially busy. July and August are hot, with Rome reaching about 32°C, so start early and rest in the afternoon. December brings Christmas lights and markets. January, February and November are cool and wetter, but they are the cheapest months and the museums are much quieter.
Visa for Indians
Indian passport holders need a Schengen visa for Italy. If Italy is your main destination, or the country where you spend the most nights, apply through the Italian visa centre in your region, with biometrics taken in person. Appointment slots fill fast before the summer, so book two to three months before you travel. Keep confirmed hotel bookings, return flights, travel insurance and recent bank statements ready, and make sure your passport is valid for at least three months after you leave the Schengen area.
Tips that save money
- Book high-speed train tickets between Rome, Florence and Venice a few weeks early; fares rise close to the date.
- Buy timed tickets for the Colosseum, Vatican and Florence galleries online in advance so you don't lose half a day in queues.
- Stand at the bar for coffee and snacks; sitting at a table in a tourist square costs much more.
- Fill your water bottle at Rome's free public fountains, and eat lunch at a local trattoria rather than near the big sights.
- Stay in Mestre or near the station on the mainland side of Venice if island hotels are too expensive; trains and buses reach the island in minutes.
Want the numbers for your own dates and group? Plan your Italy trip and send it to us for live flight and hotel prices.