2 Weeks Italy France itinerary

If somebody asked me what is my favorite country in southern Europe, I wouldn’t be certain how to answer. Somehow, I love them all! Each country is different and has its own charm. Spain has a lot of character, Italy is romantic, and France is all about tasty food. I have visited all of them on separate occasions, but would love to take a combined trip someday.

In this post, I will propose a sample 2-week Italy-France itinerary, in case you haven’t been to either or would like to revisit them. Spending just two weeks in these two amazing countries is hardly enough to explore all the hidden gems. However, it will give you a good base and an understanding of what you really like to see, so you can come again next time. Alternatively, you may consider 1 week Italy itinerary as a nice option for a shorter route or focus on Amalfi coast instead.

2 Weeks Italy France itinerary

Day 1 – Arriving in Rome

Day 2 – Sightseeing in Rome

Day 3 – Day trip to Pompeii

Day 4 – Florence

Day 5 – Day trip to Cinque Terre from Florence

Day 6 – Day trip to San Marino from Florence

Day 7 – Florence-Milan-Lake Como

Day 8 – Lake Como

Day 9 – Nice

Day 10 – Day trip to Eze Village and Monaco from Nice

Day 11 – Train to Paris

Day 12 – Paris

Day 13 – Day trip to Versaille or Mont St. Michel

Day 14 – Paris – fly home

2 Weeks Italy France itinerary starts in Rome – day 1

Pack your bags, it’s time to fly to Rome – the Eternal City! Did you know that Rome was founded in 753 BC? Modern Rome has 280 fountains and a total of 3000 Euros is collected from Trevi Fountain every night. The city never sleeps, so even if you arrive late, urge yourself for a walk! Rome is surprisingly easy to navigate. The first thing I personally like to do is have a nice fresh espresso and Gelato (Italian ice cream). Take your time and relax in one of the numerous outdoor cafes. If you have the strength, consider checking out Trevi Fountain – it’s spectacular at night time! For even more Rome tips, have a look at this wonderful (#ad) Rick Steves Rome guide!

Day 2 – Sightseeing in Rome

Today your adventure begins at its fullest – it’s time to explore Rome! Metro is a great way to move around, in case your hotel is away from the city center. I recommend staying in the city center near the Termini train station (Hotel California is a good option) and walking everywhere – you don’t want to miss all the beauty Rome has to offer. Good walking shoes are a must, I recommend wearing (#ad) New Balance Women’s Fresh Foam Arishi V4 – they are nice and lightweight with good cushion – perfect for cobbled Rome streets.

Starting from the Main railway station (Roma Termini), take a 10-minute walk down the street to the famous Colosseum. Make sure to be there early, or else you’ll have to queue for the tickets and waste precious time.


To be honest, it looks a lot more impressive from the outside. If you don’t have much time, consider skipping it and moving on to Roman Forum/Palatine Hill. Not as crowded and quite impressive as well (perhaps just spread out across a huge territory). To fully enjoy your visit, grab an audio guide, as there aren’t too many signs explaining what is in front of you.

Next stop – Piazza Venezia with its iconic building also known as “The typewriter”. Keep walking until you reach the Pantheon – a beautiful church (former Roman temple). This place is a lifesaver when the heat strikes. You can rest your tired feet and just sit down for a moment.

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Moving on – just a few blocks away you can find another piece of art – Piazza Navona with the famous Bernini’s Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi. This masterpiece just cannot be described in words – you need to see it for yourself.

Our last suggestion for this short one-day tour is to have a quick look at the Vatican City and send home some postcards from their post office. If you have time, you may want to try and visit the Vatican Museum. Just be prepared to get approached by numerous tour guides.

When the sun goes down, the city will change its face and truly wake up. Take your time and walk the tiny streets of the old town, enjoy the outside cafes and bars, and soak up the atmosphere. I guarantee you will remember this evening for a long time!

Day 3 – Day trip to Pompeii

As you may know from the history lessons, Pompeii was buried under meters of ash after the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Today, it is a vast archaeological site and a huge open-air museum.

Start your morning early – there is a long train ride ahead! The best idea is to pre-book the train tickets from Rome to Naples, securing a cheap deal. As soon as you arrive, take a local Circumvesuviana train to Pompei Scavi station. That’s where the most people will get off.


Make your way to the entrance gates and buy the tickets directly from the counter – it’s much cheaper this way. You may consider getting the map of the ancient city – we didn’t and ended up using Google Maps which wasn’t ideal.

The site is huge and there is little shade, so make sure to cover your head and have a water bottle with you. Organized tours are also an option if you have little time and like this sort of thing.

On your way back, have a quick look around Naples if you have time. It’s not as gorgeous as Rome, but may be interesting, especially if you walk to the seaside.

Day 4 – Florence

Florence is by far my favorite city in all of Italy! I fell in love with it the moment I saw Piazza Signoria and spent the evening sitting on the steps of Palazzo Vecchio, soaking up street art, music, and evening lights. This square has fantastic pieces of art on display and you shouldn’t be surprised to see art students by day and night sketching them from every possible angle.

The town is rather small, and you will hardly need more than one full day to see most of it. We went to Palazzo Vecchio to see the famous Hall of 500 and enjoyed the visit very much. However, fantastic museums are just a fraction of what Florence has to offer. The real attractions are its streets, artists, little galleries, shops and of course the food!

One of the highlights for me was visiting the indoor market. The second floor is a huge street food court! Delicious snacks and wine are served here – a unique experience!

Where to stay in Florence? Of course in one of the cute homestay hotels. We stayed at Hotel Bellavista right next to the train station and loved it!

By the way, Florence can also be replaced by Venice in this Itinerary. Read here Florence vs Venice ideas and feel free to decide for yourself.

Day 5 – Day trip to Cinque Terre from Florence

Today is a special day and one of the most physically challenging ones. Catch the early morning train to Pisa and then change for another one heading to La Spezia. Once you arrive, head to the ticket counter and get yourself the Cinque Terre Pass. This pass allows you to use all local transport modes (train, bus) and is an entrance ticket to hiking trails.

You can now decide how you’d like to visit the villages – there are 5 of them. I recommend taking the train to Monterosso and hiking to Vernazza. Beautiful scenic views of the way are guaranteed! The hike will take you around 3 hours but take your time, and bring lots of water and sunscreen.

Once you reach Vernazza, you can go for a swim or just relax on the beach, have lunch at one of the numerous outdoor cafes or enjoy an ice cream. It’s a very relaxing and peaceful place. On the way back, take a quick walk in La Spezia – this town is often forgotten but it is also very nice and easily accessible. You will see many locals, unlike Cinque Terre which is mostly crowded by tourists.

Day 6 – Day trip to San Marino from Florence

If you enjoyed your Vatican City visit, you might want to see another tiny country – San Marino. The good news is it’s located on your route and you can make a return trip from Florence. Just prepare yourself for a long day, as the trip will take around 3 hours one way.

Once you arrive, take a walk through the narrow streets, enjoy the tasty ice cream, explore defensive towers, and buy some souvenirs. San Marino is tax free country and many brands have outlets here with great prices.

Today, it is a bit touristy, but nonetheless charming, especially off-season. After your visit, you can proudly say you have been to the world’s oldest surviving republic!

Day 7 – Florence-Milan-Lake Como

Pack your bags, today you are going to travel again. Visiting Lake Como is one of the highlights of this trip! However, before we can fully enjoy this beautiful lake, let’s stop for a few hours in Milan and have a quick look around the city. You can store your luggage at the train station.

Once you step outside Milano Centrale, this bustling city will be greeting you in all its glory. The traffic is crazy here and everyone seems to be in a hurry. It’s a business city, not like Florence or even Rome. Milan is the fashion capital! The best place to stay is near the train station, so you would have easier access to the metro and trains. We enjoyed our stay at 43 Station Hotel – a very modern and comfortable place.

Take the metro to the Milan Cathedral and enjoy this beautiful masterpiece. For adventure-minded – climb the stairs to the top for an even better view! Right next to the Cathedral, you will see an impressive shopping mall called Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Window shopping is a must!

Finally, make your way to the Castello Sforzesco. Today, the castle houses museums and exhibitions. There is one more good reason to visit Milan – a famous painting called “The Last Supper” by Leonardo Da Vinci. To see it, however, you would need to make a reservation well in advance.

Day 8 – Lake Como

Lake Como is famous for its scenic landscapes, villages, and beautiful mountains. The best way to explore it is from the water, by taking a local ferry boat. Wake up early to catch the first one leaving for Bellagio and enjoy your day in this tiny piece of paradise.

For breathtaking views of the lake and Como village, take the scenic funicular railway or hike it up yourself.

When the evening comes, have dinner at the waterfront restaurant, take a long walk along the shore, or just relax and do nothing. It’s all up to you!

Como has lots of great accommodation options for any budget. Alternatively, if you have a bit more time, consider visiting Lake Garda and its beautiful castles!

Day 9 – Como (IT) – Nice(FR)

Start the day a bit earlier, as today a long railway journey is awaiting you! The trip from Como to Nice (France) will take approximately 6 hours. First, you would need to travel back to Milan, then catch the speed train to Nice. There is no doubt the views are gorgeous, and the time will fly by!

When you arrive in France, waste no more time and set out exploring! Nice is an easily walkable and touristy town. Have a look at the city square with chess board pattern pavement, sit down for a tasty plate of escargot or mussels, take a walk along the promenade, or simply enjoy the evening at the beach. My best memories of Nice were from the time we just sat on the beach, watching airplanes take off and land over the bay and sipping local wine.


Where to stay in Nice? Once again, there is a wide array of options depending on your budget. We stayed at one of the Best Western hotel chain hotels, but I wouldn’t recommend it as it is quite far from the center.

This guide offers only limited time in Nice, but if you can extend your visit by a few days, consider this 5-day South of France Itinerary as an alternative option for your stay here.

Day 10 – Eze Village and Monaco

Two of the best day trips that you can make from Nice are Eze Village and Monaco. You can easily do them both on the same day. Start the day with a bus ride to Eze Village. This hilltop town is charming and best enjoyed early in the morning before the crowds arrive.

Narrow cobble-stoned streets are decorated with mosaics. Lose yourself in this labyrinth, forget about time – you are in the middle ages again! It looks like time stood still here. Fancy for a quick hike? Nitsche’s path will lead you all the way down to the seaside – Eze-sur-Mer, where you can catch the train to your next destination – Monaco!

Monaco is also quite small and one of the best attractions here is people watching. Make your way to the center of the city, and have a look at multimillion-dollar yachts, expensive supercars, and businessmen in suits. A good place to have a quick snack without breaking your budget is Starbucks (35 Boulevard Louis Ii Ni Box, 98000 Monaco). The place has great views and affordable coffee!

Quick Tip – On your way back to Nice, take the train rather than the bus. Even though the bus is cheaper, the road is a bit bumpy and has lots of curves, ups and downs. You might easily get motion sick.

Day 11 – Nice-Paris

Here is your chance to see lots of wineries and even some castles! Nice-Paris railway journey is pleasant and easy. You can buy snacks and coffee onboard. Sit back and relax, and enjoy the views and passing landscapes.

Paris, the city of Love! Finally, you made it to the final point of your amazing 2 Weeks Italy France itinerary! Tonight, you will get to see one of the most iconic symbols of not just Paris, but all of France. Constructed as the entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair, the Eiffel Tower today is a true tourist magnet – and for a good reason!

You will understand why it’s great when the sun sets, and the lights start to illuminate the tower with a million single lights! It’s a very powerful emotion and hard to describe – you need to see it for yourself! Visiting the Eiffel Tower is 100% a must!

Day 12 – Paris

We suggest dedicating all day to discovering magnificent Paris. Start your day with fresh coffee and croissants, take a walk along the Seine, and admire the iconic Notre Dame de Paris. If you have enough time, have a look inside the Louvre.

After lunch, take the metro north to the famous Moulin Rouge. After a short walk uphill you will see the beautiful Sacre Coeur church. Lose yourself on the streets of Montmartre – peek over the shoulder of street artists or even buy one of their works as a memory of your visit.


Finish your day in Paris with a nice healthy meal and a glass of good red wine. Paris is one of the most romantic cities for a reason. I recommend staying near the Latin Quarter, this area has lots of outdoor cafes, small shops, bakeries with pastries, and pedestrian streets.

Day 13 – Day trip to Versailles or Mont St. Michel

As a possible day trip from Paris, we recommend two options – a trip to Versailles or a trip to Mont St. Michel. Both trips are a unique and fantastic experience!

The Palace of Versailles is a museum and a very popular tourist attraction. Versailles was the seat of political power in the Kingdom of France from 1682 The palace and the park are huge, so plan all day for your visit.

Mont St. Michel used to be one of Christianity’s most important pilgrimage sites from the 8th to the 18th century. Today, this remarkable island is a designated World Heritage site by UNESCO. Prepare yourself for a long bus ride – it takes 3,5 hours one way! Make sure to climb all the way up for the best views!

Day 14 – Paris – fly home

It’s time to say goodbye to Paris and our amazing 2 Weeks Italy France itinerary. It was a crazy ride, but you managed to see so much in so little time. The advantage is this kind of itinerary is the scope of things you can do. If you only have these 2 weeks, this is by far the best option to see two fantastic countries in one go.

So, what’s next? If you have a little more time on your hands, you may consider checking out Barcelona and nearby beaches (cheap Ryan Air flights available from Paris), Greece (e.g. Crete), Prague or any other place you might be interested in.

When is the best time for such itinerary?

I would try to avoid the summer months. Summer in Southern Europe is hot as hell. I have been to Italy and France in early May and late September – both periods are fantastic in terms of weather and the number of tourists. Moreover, the prices started do drop at hotels, restaurants, and even some tourist attractions like museums.

Whenever you decide to go, don’t let anything stop you. Just Go! You will not regret it, especially if you have never been to Italy or France before. These countries will not disappoint!

What do you think is the best 2 Weeks Italy France itinerary?

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