Italy: Rome, Dolomites & Amalfi
By Kyle Braithwaite • Apr 25, 2026Want an itinerary built around your preferences?
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Free to useDay 1
FCO • Sep 21
- Depart Calgary on your Air Canada itinerary.
- Keep this as a pure travel day.
- Aim for carry-on friendly packing for easy train transfers in Italy.
Day 2
FCO • Sep 22
- Sep 22: arrive at Rome Fiumicino.
- Transfer into Rome by Leonardo Express to Roma Termini or by taxi/private transfer.
- Spend this first night in Rome and keep the day light after the flight.
- Plan your Rome stay around Centro Storico or Monti for the easiest sightseeing flow.
- Good arrival flow: check in, easy walk in the historic center, early dinner, and rest.
Day 3
Sep 23
App. Les Viles
- Sep 23: leave Rome for the Dolomites.
- Take your high-speed train from Roma Termini at 07:25 to Bolzano Bozen.
- Plan on arriving in Bolzano around 12:45-13:15 depending on the exact service and any connection timing.
- Pick up your rental car in Bolzano and drive to La Villa for your stay at App. Les Viles; the drive is usually about 1 hr 45 min to 2 hr 15 min depending on traffic and pickup timing.
- That should put you in La Villa around 15:30-17:00, so keep the rest of the day easy: check in, take a short village walk, and have an early dinner so you're ready for early starts.
Day 4
Sep 24
App. Les Viles
- Full Dolomites day based in La Villa.
- Pre-dawn drive to Ortisei and take the first lift up for a Seceda sunrise morning.
- After the ridge walk and hut stop, keep the afternoon flexible for viewpoints or a relaxed return through Val Gardena.
- Make this your best-weather mountain day.
Day 5
Sep 25
App. Les Viles
- Eastern Dolomites Cadini-focused day from La Villa.
- Leave early for the Rifugio Auronzo area, but skip Tre Cime and save your energy for a lighter day.
- Use the daytime hours for a relaxed arrival, scenic stops, lunch, and a long recovery break around the trailhead area.
- In the late afternoon, do the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint hike and aim to reach the viewpoint about 1 hour before sunset.
- Keep dinner simple on the drive back after golden hour.
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Day 6
Sep 26
App. Les Viles
- Alta Badia + recovery day based in La Villa.
- Use the lifts for a village-hopping scenic day across the Alta Badia area rather than a hard hiking day.
- Ride lifts and explore the Badia villages at an easy pace with lunch in one of the mountain huts.
- In the afternoon, drive to Ortisei for a spa / wellness session and an easy evening.
Day 7
Sep 27
App. Les Viles
- Sep 27: drive from La Villa back to Bolzano and return the rental car there.
- Aim to leave La Villa around 10:30-11:00 so you have enough buffer for the drive, fuel, and rental return.
- Take Italo train 8963 from Bolzano at 14:42.
- Arrive in Lucca at 19:29 and head straight to your Airbnb on Via Cavalletti.
- Keep the evening easy after arrival.
- Use Lucca as your base for Tuscany and Ligurian-edge day trips.
Day 8
Sep 28
air bnb
- Sep 28: Florence day trip from your Lucca base.
- You will have the rental car for this whole Lucca stretch, so drive in and use a strategic parking garage or lot on the edge of the center.
- Focus on the historic center, major art sights, and a relaxed dinner before driving back to Lucca.
- Start early and expect city driving / parking to be the main hassle rather than the route itself.
Day 9
Sep 29
air bnb
- Sep 29: Carrara day trip from your Lucca base.
- Use the rental car for full flexibility and marble-focused stops.
- Keep the day centered on Carrara rather than trying to combine too much.
- Return to Lucca for the night at your Airbnb on Via Cavalletti.
Day 10
Sep 30
air bnb
- Sep 30: Portovenere day trip from your Lucca base.
- Use the rental car for the simplest routing and keep the day flexible for harbor views, a boat option, and a relaxed seafood lunch.
- Start early since this is one of your longer Lucca-base outings.
- Return to Lucca for the night rather than changing hotels.
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Day 11
Oct 1
air bnb
- Oct 1: easy Lucca day.
- Keep this as your buffer day to enjoy Lucca itself with walks on the walls, the historic center, and a relaxed lunch.
- You will still have the rental car, but leave it parked unless you want a short local outing.
- Use this as a lower-effort reset before the transfer back toward Rome.
Day 12
Oct 2
air bnb
- Oct 2: check out of your Lucca Airbnb and drive to Florence.
- Return the Tuscany rental car in Florence after having it for the full Lucca stay.
- Continue by train from Florence to Roma Termini.
- Check in in Rome and use the rest of the day as an arrival/reset day.
- Centro Storico or Monti are the best-fit areas for your final Rome stay.
- Good night for an easy dinner close to your hotel.
Day 13
Oct 3
- Ancient Rome highlights day.
- Morning: start at Colosseum and continue through Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
- If you stay in Monti, this is your easiest walkable Rome day.
- Afternoon: walk through the historic center toward Pantheon, then keep time for Piazza Navona or Campo de' Fiori.
- Evening: dinner in Monti or Trastevere.
Day 14
Oct 4
- Vatican City day.
- Morning: visit Vatican Museums and Saint Peter’s Basilica.
- Afternoon: Castel Sant'Angelo area, then a relaxed walk along the Tiber.
- Centro Storico makes this day especially easy for an evening walk back through the center.
- Keep dinner close to your Rome base.
Day 15
Oct 5
- Rome historic center + classic landmarks day.
- Early morning: see Trevi Fountain before crowds, then walk to the Spanish Steps.
- Late morning / afternoon: continue through the center for the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and a long lunch.
- This is the strongest day to base yourselves in Centro Storico.
- Evening: keep your final Roman night relaxed with dinner near the center.
Day 16
YYC • Oct 6
- Oct 6: departure day from Rome.
- Travel from your Rome base to Fiumicino Airport by taxi or Leonardo Express from Roma Termini.
- Monti can be especially convenient for Leonardo Express access via Termini; Centro Storico is better for classic evening walks.
- Leave extra time for the airport transfer and your Air Canada flights home.
- Keep this day unplanned beyond breakfast and heading to the airport.
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