Plan a sightseeing trip to Italy

Sightseeing in Italy is built around its landscapes and landmarks: Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of Mary, Florence Baptistery. Choose laid-back for two things a day, or packed for four.

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Price bands are thirds of what Italy itself charges, not a fixed dollar figure - the cheapest third in Vietnam and in Norway are nowhere near the same number. Flights and accommodation are not included.

Your 5-day sightseeing plan for Italy

Where you stayFlorence 3 nightsSiena 2 nightsabout 70 km between them

5 days · packed · 10 of 19 bookable now · activities from about $6,081

  1. Day 1 Florence

    1. Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of Mary in Pisa, Italy

      morning

      Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of Mary

      Pisa

      Church building in Volterra, Italy.

      Just turn up
    2. Florence Baptistery in Florence, Italy

      afternoon

      Florence Baptistery

      Florence · 52.2 km from Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of Mary

      Baptistery in Florence, Italy. Dates from 1059. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    3. Nonna's Lasagna Cooking Class & Florence Local Market Tour in Florence, Italy

      evening

      Nonna's Lasagna Cooking Class & Florence Local Market Tour

      Florence · from $115

    4. Hot air balloon experience over Tuscany from Florence in Toscana, Italy

      evening

      Hot air balloon experience over Tuscany from Florence

      Toscana · from $435

    Where to eat

    • Breakfast

      Loggia del Mercato Nuovo

      So called to distinguish it from the Mercato vecchio (pronounced [merˈkaːto ˈvɛkkjo]; "Old Market") that used to be located in the area of today's Piazza della Repubblica.

      Florence · 0.3 km away

    • Lunch

      Mercato Centrale

      The Mercato Centrale (Central Market in English) in Florence is located between via dell'Ariento, via Sant'Antonino, via Panicale and Piazza del Mercato Centrale.

      Florence · 0.4 km away

    • Dinner

      Enoteca Pinchiorri

      Has been awarded three stars by the Michelin Guide in 1993 and 1994 and perennially since 2004.

      Florence · 0.7 km away

  2. Day 2 Florence

    1. Colle di Val d'Elsa Cathedral in Toscana, Italy

      morning

      Colle di Val d'Elsa Cathedral

      Toscana

      Co-cathedral in Colle di Val d'Elsa, Italy. Dates from 1603.

      Just turn up
    2. Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence, Italy

      afternoon

      Basilica of Santa Croce

      Florence · 40.1 km from Colle di Val d'Elsa Cathedral

      Franciscan church in Florence, Italy. Dates from 1294. Italian national heritage.

    3. Hot air balloon experience with breakfast from Siena in Toscana, Italy

      evening

      Hot air balloon experience with breakfast from Siena

      Toscana · from $564

    4. Pisa and Lucca Private One-Day Tour from Florence in Pisa, Italy

      evening

      Pisa and Lucca Private One-Day Tour from Florence

      Pisa · from $1,273

  3. Day 3 Florence

    1. Baptistery of San Giovanni in Pisa, Italy

      morning

      Baptistery of San Giovanni

      Pisa

      Baptistery near Pisa.

      Just turn up
    2. Florence Cathedral in Florence, Italy

      afternoon

      Florence Cathedral

      Florence · 52.3 km from Baptistery of San Giovanni

      13th-century cathedral in Florence, Italy. Dates from 1296. Italian national heritage.

    3. Private hot air balloon flight experience in Tuscany in Toscana, Italy

      evening

      Private hot air balloon flight experience in Tuscany

      Toscana · from $2,819 · 0.5 km from Florence Cathedral

    4. Chianti Wine Tour from Florence with Tastings in Florence, Italy

      evening

      Chianti Wine Tour from Florence with Tastings

      Florence · from $72

  4. Day 4 Siena

    1. Travel day

      Florence to Siena

      About 70 km by train · allow around 1h 30m

      Journey time is an estimate rather than a timetable - check the operator before you book anything tight on either side of it.

      Book direct
    2. Tempio di Santo Stefano della Vittoria in Rapolano Terme, Italy

      afternoon

      Tempio di Santo Stefano della Vittoria

      Rapolano Terme

      Temple in Foiano della Chiana. Dates from 1569.

      Just turn up
    3. San Gimignano, Chianti and Montalcino Day Tour from Siena in Siena, Italy

      evening

      San Gimignano, Chianti and Montalcino Day Tour from Siena

      Siena · from $226

    4. From Siena: Best of Tuscany Wines & Lunch in Montepulciano in Siena, Italy

      evening

      From Siena: Best of Tuscany Wines & Lunch in Montepulciano

      Siena · from $178

  5. Day 5 Siena

    1. Tuscany Chianti Castles & Wine Tour - Small Group Experience in Siena, Italy

      morning

      Tuscany Chianti Castles & Wine Tour - Small Group Experience

      Siena · from $137

    2. Synagogue of Monte San Savino in Rapolano Terme, Italy

      afternoon

      Synagogue of Monte San Savino

      Rapolano Terme · 32.6 km from Tuscany Chianti Castles & Wine Tour - Small Group Experience

      Synagogue in Monte San Savino. Dates from 1732.

      Just turn up
    3. Sinagoga di Pitigliano in Saturnia, Italy

      evening

      Sinagoga di Pitigliano

      Saturnia · 77.9 km from Synagogue of Monte San Savino

      Synagogue in Pitigliano, Italy. Dates from 1598.

      Just turn up
    4. Pisa, Siena and San Gimignano Tuscany tour from Florence with Traditional Lunch in Siena, Italy

      evening

      Pisa, Siena and San Gimignano Tuscany tour from Florence with Traditional Lunch

      Siena · from $263

Prices are indicative and in Australian dollars. Flights and accommodation are not included. Distances between stops are straight-line, so a walking or driving route will be longer, and they are shown only where both stops have a known location. Items marked also worth doing sit outside the sightseeing theme and are there because they are among the best things to do in Italy.

Before you fly to Italy

The part an itinerary app leaves out. These are Italy's rules for Australian passport holders, re-read from the official source and dated below.

Entry

No - Australian passport holders can enter Italy without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Italy visa and entry rules

Passport

Italy wants 3 months of validity beyond the day you leave. A fare is non-refundable long before a passport renewal is.

Check your passport against this rule

Your checklist

22 things to sort for Italy, built from these same rules, 3 of them essential.

Italy travel checklist

  • Passport valid - valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from the schengen area, and issued within the last 10 years
  • Take out travel insurance
  • Get an International Driving Permit

Last reviewed 2026-10-24. Entry requirements change without notice. Always confirm with the official sources below before you book or fly.

Sort these before you go

The two things worth having arranged before a sightseeing trip to Italy, compared on price.

Italy airport transfers

FL1 regional train Cheapest

Cheaper but doesn't go to Termini - good for Trastevere and Ostiense.

45-55 minEvery 15 minDirect
$14 AUD

Leonardo Express Fastest

Non-stop to Roma Termini. Validate your ticket before boarding.

32 minEvery 15 minDirect
$25 AUD

Fixed-fare official taxi

A regulated flat fare of €55 applies to anywhere inside the Aurelian walls. Only use the official white taxi rank.

45-70 min24/7Door-to-door
$90 AUD

Driving in Italy

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Sightseeing trip questions

Are the big landmarks worth the queue?

Some are, some are not, and the difference is usually timing rather than the place. Where a timed ticket exists the plan flags it, because the same sight at nine in the morning and at midday are different experiences.

How much sightseeing needs a car?

It depends on the destination, and the plan tells you which items sit outside the main city. If you are driving, check the International Driving Permit rules for the country first - several require one alongside your Australian licence.

Other ways to do Italy

Sightseeing trips in other countries

Still deciding where to go? These are built the same way - real activities, in an order that works, with the entry rules for Australians attached.

All sightseeing itineraries

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