Driving from Rome to Milan – 7 day Itinerary
The drive from Rome to Milan is one of the most popular road trips and the best way to see the best of both South and North Italy in one go. Though the drive from Rome to Milan can be completed in approximately 6 hours, if you want to stop and explore all the major cities that fall along the road to Milan, you need at least 7 days to complete the road trip.
In this 7 day Itinerary from Rome to Milan we are covering cities of Florence, Bologna and the very popular Cinque Terre region. If you have less than 7 days time, you can still do the drive by removing the stops as per your preferences. We advise you to book a rental car and make the long drive easy and comfortable. In Rome, most of the tourists pick their rental cars at Rome Airport or Rome Termini Station. One way rentals are quite popular as they allow you to pick the car in Rome and return in Milan after the trip.
Day 1 & 2 Rome
Spend 2 to 3 days exploring Rome – one of the most visited cities in Italy & loved world-wide for its historical sightseeing, food, and art scene. Try to reach a day before you plan to start your 7 days trip in Italy. Check into your hotel and rest. Next day, have breakfast and go visit the Vatican. You will need half a day to check out the Vatican. Some people don’t feel like using the rental car in Rome, if you feel the same, pick the rental car on the 3rd day when leaving for Florence. However, if you would rather have the rental car (as a 7 days rental will be probably cheaper than 5 days car rental), make sure you pick it at the airport.
Colosseum
After the Vatican, it is time to visit the Colosseum, the ultimate symbol of the Eternal City. It is an oval shaped amphitheater, the largest such ancient structure ever built; it dates back to AD 80. Walk around and take pictures before moving on to Roman Forum. At Colosseum, you might have to wait in the queue, so most people buy skip-the-line tickets that include the entry to Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
Designed by Vespasian, Colosseum is 48 m high and is the finest example of Ancient Roman architecture.
Roman Forum
Next stop is Roman Forum, which once used to be the heart of ancient Rome. It sits right next to the Colosseum and is home to ancient temples, buzzing with crowd marketplaces and some really impressive buildings.
Do visit the Lapis Niger, grave of a man named Romulus; he is believed to have found Rome after killing his twin Remus. House of Vestal Virgins, the three still-intact columns of the Temple of Vespasian and the ruins of the Temple of Saturn are some other places in Roman Forum that you should visit.
Palatine Hill
Next is Palatine Hill – another ancient site which is more or less considered a really peaceful place compared to others. It is a perfect place to end the first day.
It is said that Palatine Hill was ancient Rome’s most preferred living spot among the Romans who enjoyed higher ranks.
Do visit the House of the Augustus and the House of Livia, the places where the Emperor Augustus and his wife Livia lived; they are the most well preserved buildings in Palatine Hill. Other highlights include Domus Augustana, Domus Flavia, and the Temple of Cybele.
Day 2 Piazza Navona
Start your second day in Rome with Piazza Navona, which is Rome’s one of the most loved Baroque Squares. Built in the 17th Century, this impressive structure has 3 fountains, with Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi at the center. Its english translation is ‘Four Rivers’; this fountain has four giants that represent the Ganges, Nile, the Danube and the River Plate.
Other monuments nearby:
- Stabilimenti Spagnoli
- Palazzo de Cupis
- Palazzo Torres Massimo Lancellotti
Pantheon
After Piazza Navona, visit Pantheon – the most well-preserved temple in Rome. Built in 126 BC for emperor Hadrian, Pantheon’s literal meaning is the Temple of all Gods.It witnessed a lot of changes over the centuries and in the 15th Century it was converted to a church.
This is historically very important as it is the standing example of Rome’s ancient engineering; it is said that its vast dome was created by pouring concrete mixed with tufa and pumice over a wooden framework. It is also the place where the tomb of Raphael is located, he was a famous Italian painter.
Trevi Fountain
Visit Trevi Fountain and throw a coin – there is a legend that whosoever throws a coin over their shoulder, they always return to Rome one day. Built in 1762, this is Rome’s largest fountain, so big that it fills the whole Piazza di Trevi.
- The artist behind the classic was Nicola Salvi
- It is known for its amazing Baroque architecture
- The architects behind the structure were Nicola Salvi,& Giuseppe Pannini
Piazza di Spagna
Next stop is Piazza di Spagna and its Spanish Steps. Surrounded by white and ocre buildings, Piazza di Spagna is really popular with tourists and the Spanish Steps remains one of the most crowded areas throughout the day.
Other notable monuments nearby:
- Trinità dei Monti
- Keats-Shelley Memorial House
- Giorgio De Chirico House
End your day with Castel Sant’ Angelo, where you can enjoy the lovely sunset and panoramic views of Rome from its top.
Where to stay in Rome?
- Napoleon Hotel Roma
- Residenza Mia Suites
- La Vite Vaticana
Day 3 Head towards Florence
The drive from Rome to Florence is approximately 3 hours long, so start as early as 7 or 8 AM.
Start your city tour at Galleria dell’Accademia, good alternative to Uffizi gallery for which you need at least 4 hours. By visiting Galleria dell’Accademia, you will be able to save time. After that visit Mercato di San Lorenzo, a great place to grab something to eat
If you want to eat from a local market instead, head towards Mercato Centrale which is the most popular market in the city. In addition to pasta stands and souvenir shops, the market is also a great place to buy cantucci cookies and parmigiano-reggiano.
Next head towards Piazza Del Duomo, which is located at the heart of Florence’s historic center. It is home to some of the best architectural marvels found in Florence like Cupola del Brunelleschi, the Florence Baptistery, and the Opera del Duomo Museum.
Visit Piazza della Repubblica, which used to be the center of the city during Roman Empire. Visit Fontana del Porcellino and Piazza della Signoria, followed by a leather market called Mercato Nuovo. End your day with beautiful sunset views of the city at Piazzale Michelangelo.
Where to stay in Florence?
- Novella Italy
- Art Hotel Villa Agape
- Hotel Pitti Palace al Ponte Vecchio
Day 4 & 5 Florence to Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre is 183.3 km from Florence and the drive takes 2 hr 27 min via A11 and A12/E80. Here is a small list of attractions you can explore while driving through the Cinque Terre region:
Riomaggiore
Start exploring Cinque Terre at Riomaggiore. It is a beautiful village in the Cinque Terre region, which is divided into 3 parts by the tunnels (railway station, old town qand the wharf). People usually spend 1 hour here. Its main attractions are:
- Church of St. John the Baptist
- Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta
- Castle of Riomaggiore
- Sanctuary of Montenero
The Way of Love- the hike to Manarola
This beautiful path is just 1 km/0.6 miles long, so even if you are not a hiker, you will enjoy the walking trail. It connects Riomaggiore and Manarola & is the most popular way to visit Manarola. Though it is believed that there is not much to see in Manarola, you can spend an hour or two exploring its local gems:
- Oratory of the Disciplinati of Manarola
- Church of San Lorenzo
- The Bastion or the Castle
Azure trail from Manarola to Corniglia
Another beautiful trail that takes you from Manarola to Corniglia. It is 1.5 km/1 mile long, and gives beautiful views of the rocky coastal relief. Corniglia is the smallest village in the cinque terre region and at the highest elevation among the rest; it sits 100-meters/300 ft. above sea level. Here are a few attractions in Corniglia that you would fall in love with:
- Lardarina
- Church of St. Peter
- Saint Mary’s Terrace
- Oratorio dei Disciplinati di Santa Caterina
- Beaches like Guavo & Spiaggione
Vernazza
It is considered to be the most beautiful village in the Cinque Terre. Its main street is filled with restaurants and loaded with attraction. You can easily spend 2 to 3 hours here. Some of the worth-visiting attractions in Vernazza are:
- Church of Santa Margherita d’Antiochia
- Castello
- The Sanctuary of our Lady of Regio
- City Walls and Convent
Monterosso
Monterosso is the biggest town in the Cinque Terre region, longest seafront, a bevvy of beaches and lots of attractions to keep you occupied. Here is a list of Monterosso’s popular attractions:
- Church of St. John the Baptist
- The “Giant” Statue
- Aurora Tower
- Sanctuary Soviore
- Convent of Capuchin Monks
- Antico Castrum – Cemetery
Day 6 Cinque Terre to Bologna
Bologna is located 248.3 km from Cinque Terre via A15/E31 and A1/E35 and to complete the drive you will need at least 3 hr 4 min. Start early so that you can spend more than half a day in Bologna.
Visit Piazza Maggiore – part of the city since the 13th Century, it is one of the oldest squares in Italy. Also visit Palazzo d’Accursio, Palazzo dei Banchi, and Palazzo del Podesta, they are located on Piazza Maggiore only.
Next head towards Basilica di San Petronio, an ancient marvel noted for its Gothic architecture
After Basilica di San Petronio, make your way to Neptune’s Fountain followed by a visit to Basilica of San Domenico.
Even if you are not a museum lover, do visit the Museo Civico Archeologico; this building of the museum dates back to the 1400s and houses Etruscan, Roman, and Egyptian artifacts.
Next visit Bologna’s Two Towers, though they are not as popular as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, they are Bologna’s city symbol. The names of the towers are Torre Garisenda and Torre degli Asinelli; the second one is taller (100 meters) than the former, which is almost 2 times shorter than the latter.
After visits to museums and ancient buildings and squares, it is time to have a break. Get ready for a relaxing time at one of the most popular public parks in Bologna – Al Parco Giardini
Margherita. The park with a beautiful lake, lawns and lush green cover will soothe your soul.
Visit Palazzo Albergati if you are a fan of Andy Warhol’s works. It is also a great place for architecture fanatics; this museum is housed in the building which dates back to the 1500s and has a remarkable structure – from ceilings to wall paintings, it is nothing but amazing.
Where to stay in Bologna?
- Centro Turistico Città di Bologna
- TORTE & LINI
Day 7 Bologna to Milan
Milan is located 216.0 km from Bologna via A1 and you will need 2 hr 52 min to complete the ride.
You can also try a delicious acai bowl, vegan burger, or smoothie at Almalibre, or one of the many restaurants in Mercat de Colon- a public market located in the city center of Valencia. This beautiful iron, stone, and glass market house has vegetarian and vegan-friendly spots too, including healthy food café Suc de Lluna.
Start your self-guided tour of Milan at the Duomo Complex. Milan Cathedral is an imposing structure and is definitely the place where you should kick start your day in Milan, amidst the amazing square filled with pigeons. To see the Duomo Complex you will need to buy only one ticket. Yes! One ticket to see all that is there to see in Duomo Complex.
In addition to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Duomo Complex is also home to attractions like Brunelleschi’s Dome, Giotto’s Campanile (Bell Tower), and the Crypt of Santa Reparata and the Opera Museum.
Next walk towards the ossuary at San Bernardino alle Ossa, it is just 6 minutes walk from Duomo. The ossuary dates back to the 1300s and is a bit spooky, so if you don’t want to see bones and all, skip it. Instead go visit Cimitero Monumentale.
Next on the list is Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. A great place to relax and shop. This 19th Century marketplace is loaded with all big brands from Prada to Versace, Gucci, and Armani. Its most astounding feature is its glass ceiling and lovely buildings that flank the path.
Next visit Piazza della Scala which is mainly known for the statue of Leonardo Da Vinci, and Milan’s famous opera house.
Next visit Castello Sforzesco, the home of the Dukes of Milan who used to rule the city in the past. The castle is beautiful and has a few museums that you can visit to know more about its history.
Where to stay in Milan?
- Hotel Dateo Milano
- Mio Hostel
- Hotel Lugano