Travel guide
Rome, Florence and Bologna: an Italy route that leaves room for lunch
A practical northbound week for people who like museums but do not want every meal eaten standing up.
By Mara Ellis, Travel Expert · · 7 min read
Rome first, before the appetite for queues runs out
Land in Rome and give it three full days. Pick one major sight per day. Vatican Museums and the Colosseum each deserve a morning, and both require advance booking in busy months. The rest of Rome fits better around a walk, a long lunch and the fact that someone in your group will need a break.
Stay near Monti, Testaccio or Prati rather than treating the Trevi Fountain as the centre of the city. You will get better mornings and a quieter route home.
Florence and Bologna are a good pairing
The fast train from Rome to Florence takes around 90 minutes. Spend two nights there, pre-book the Uffizi if it matters to you, and cross the Arno for dinner instead of circling the crowded centre. Bologna is just over half an hour farther north and makes a fine final base for two nights.
Bologna has porticoes, good markets and a more lived-in pace. That is enough. Do not turn the final two days into a frantic hunt for every famous pasta dish on the internet.
A workable train plan
Book the longer Rome to Florence leg ahead if your group needs a particular departure. For Florence to Bologna, you have more freedom. Keep the tickets and hotel addresses in one shared place, because the person who booked them is rarely the person who needs them when the platform changes.
Rail stations are central enough that you do not need a car. In fact, a car will mostly give you parking headaches and a new reason to debate who is navigating. Walk, take a taxi when bags are involved, and save your energy for the parts you came to see.
What I would leave out
I would not bolt Venice onto this route unless you have at least nine days. It deserves more than a late arrival and one crowded morning. Pisa is easy from Florence, but only go if somebody genuinely wants it. You do not need permission to skip a famous thing.
Bologna is the useful counterweight. Spend an afternoon under the porticoes, order whatever looks good, and accept that the best meal may be the one you did not research very hard.
Questions travellers ask
Before you book
Can I travel from Rome to Florence and Bologna by train?
Yes. High-speed trains connect Rome, Florence and Bologna directly, and a car is unnecessary for this city route.
How many days do I need for Rome, Florence and Bologna?
Seven nights is a comfortable minimum: three in Rome, two in Florence and two in Bologna.