How Much Does a Trip to Italy Cost?

Italy is a wonderful destination for American travelers who want to get the most out of a trip to Europe. It’s also a great place for families —  my kids ages 11 and 8 loved it! But a lot of people put off such a trip because they’re worried about how much for a trip to Italy. I was surprised how affordable it was on our recent trip to Italy and Portugal (see our Italy itinerary for a family). Exactly how much does a trip to Italy cost?

Of course, it depends on where you go, how long you stay, and how many people will be with you. Italy is not a budget destination by any means, but it’s not as expensive as many people assume, especially if you’re willing to sacrifice a little luxury to get the most out of your travel budget. My tips will help you see how to have a fantastic trip to Italy without breaking the bank.

How much for a trip to Italy: What kind of trip?

This cost breakdown assumes that a family of four visit the three biggies in Italy (Rome, Florence and Venice) over 10 days/11 nights (not including travel days on airplanes). This also assumes first-time visitors like my husband who want to see the big sights like the Vatican Museums and the Uffizi.

Have more time? You could add more days in each of those cities as well as a few days in the countryside of Tuscany, a few days in Naples and the Amalfi Coast, or a couple of days in the Cinque Terre. Of course, with all that Italy has to offer, you could easily add this Amalfi Coast itinerary or more affordable cities/regions like Genoa, Bologna, Ravenna, Puglia or Umbria.

This budget is based on our winter Italy itinerary from Dec. 25 to January 5. Even though it’s winter, this is considered high season because it’s Christmas vacation, so please note that traveling in the low season would be less.

There were four of us (me, my husband, and two sons). Prices have been adjusted to account for recent rising costs.

How much for a trip to Italy: Cost of flights

We booked cheap flights using Google Flights about four months in advance. While there are many inexpensive flights from San Francisco and other major cities (except in the summer), we found the cheapest flights in late December to be on Christmas Day. That’s typically true because fewer people are willing to fly on a holiday.

To get the cheapest airfares, book early and try to go out of the high season (i.e. in January-March or October-early December). We paid $440 per person, but as flights have gone up, expect to pay at least $500, maybe even $1000 per person depending on where you fly from and when.

Total round-trip airfare to Rome from the U.S.: about $600 per person = $2400 total

Train tickets

In Italy, the main transportation we used was train. If you go to the three main cities of Rome, Florence and Venice, you can easily get from one to the other via train. The trains in Italy are clean, comfortable and super fast. 

The only thing you need to remember is that you should buy tickets and reserve seats ahead of time. Not only are they cheaper the farther in advance you buy, but you will also have more options for travel times. Can you get train tickets if you try to buy them at the last minute? Maybe. But we found that in high season, the trains were full, so we bought tickets from home before leaving on our trip. It was easy to book them on the Italia Rail website.

The cost of train tickets can vary depending on the time of day, day of the week, speed of the train and low vs. high season. The more direct trains are the most convenient but also cost more. Based on our experience, here are the approximate costs of train travel when visiting the three main cities of Italy for a family of four:

Train from Rome airport to Rome: $74

Train tickets from Rome to Florence: $167 (you can save by going straight from the Rome airport to Florence)

Train tickets from Florence to Venice: $140

Train tickets from Venice to Rome: $190

Train from Rome to the airport: $84

Approximate total train tickets for a Rome-Florence-Venice trip: $655

Accommodations

How much does a trip to Italy cost? Accommodations are a big factor! To save money and have more convenience, look for small Airbnbs that are in the center of town.

We had two transit days that required accommodations. Keep in mind that most cities have a city tax per person per night. Here is what we paid for accommodations on our Italy trip:

Private room in a hostel in Rome:

We chose to stay at the Beehive on our first night because we needed comfortable, family-friendly accommodations near Rome’s Termini train station. I recommend it for its welcoming atmosphere, organic breakfast and convenient location near the station.

A bonus is that they bring their support of environmental and social justice issues to their business; for example, they use eco-friendly cleaning products, serve vegetarian food, and help the local refugee center.

Private double rooms here run about $120/night. Because there were 4 of us, we got two rooms, though the owners can be flexible in helping your family find the best room situation for your needs. One-night stay at the Beehive: $270 ($240 plus $18 for breakfast plus $12 in city tax, which is 4 euro per adult & kid over 10)

Apartment rental in Florence:

While in Florence, we opted for a small apartment on a quiet street near the Ponte Vecchio. Because we had only three nights there, we knew that we’d have very busy days and wanted to have a place where the kids could relax in the evenings. For us, the convenience of a kitchen was especially important. Note that it can be rented for just $100/night during low season. 3-night apartment stay in Florence: $521 plus $30 in city tax ($10/night)

Apartment stay in Rome:

When we got back to Rome, we met my mother-in-law and sister-in-law for 4 nights. Because we wanted to stay in one place together, we again opted for an apartment rental. We chose this modern apartment near the Vatican. The apartment was extremely quiet and comfortable and had enough sleeping spaces for the 6 of us.

Like in Florence, the convenience of a full kitchen was nice for us with the kids. Note that this goes as low as $121 per night, but we were there in high season. 4-night apartment stay in Rome: $1163 plus $52 in city tax (4 euro per night per adult & kid over 10)

Hotel stay in Venice:

With just two nights in Venice, we chose a 4-star hotel with a fantastic location near Piazza San Marco. Hotel All’Angelo was just right: centrally located, quiet, comfortable rooms with modern bathrooms, and character. The breakfast buffet was included in the price of the room but was not very good. 2-night hotel stay in Venice: $780 plus $16 in city tax ($8/night)

Hotel stay at the Rome Airport:

It’s unlikely you will need to add this additional expense. Because we continued to Portugal after Italy and then had to fly back to Rome, we finished our trip with one night at the Hilton Rome Airport hotel. It was perfect for that purpose — quiet, comfortable, and very conveniently located next to the airport. A very nice buffet breakfast was included in our room rate. 1-night stay at the Rome Airport: $240 plus $12 in city tax

Total for accommodations for 10 days/11 nights in Italy: $3096

Meals

Like anywhere, the cost of food in Italy varies widely by the type of restaurants you go to and the amount of food you order. There are many inexpensive options like pizza and panini. Meals may be more expensive if you go during high season and if you choose to eat at places that cater to tourists. To give you an idea of how much it cost us to eat out, here are some example meal expenses:

• Cappuccino and pastry at a table at Ditta Artigianale (one of Florence’s trendiest cafes near the Ponte Vecchio): $5
• Lunch for 4 at Eataly in Florence: $58
• Lunch for 4 at Pizzeria Ristorante I Tarocchi near the Arno in Florence: $47
• Gelato for 3 people at Grom in Rome: $12
• Wine, beer, cheese board and panino at La Salumeria, Rome: $36
• A bottle of local wine purchased at a small wine shop: $14

We’re not big eaters and don’t go out for luxurious meals, but we ate very well for about half the price of what we pay in California! A typical lunch included a salad, pizza, main dish (like eggplant parmesan), a pasta, and drinks.

We saved money and gained convenience by buying food to make a simple lunch or dinner most days. Eating in one meal a day is especially important with kids! 

So here’s what we spent on food in Italy for 4 people:

Breakfast (coffee, pastry); lunch at a pizzeria or trattoria; dinner of pasta or panini in the apartment; gelato; snacks & local wine and beer: Approximately $200 per day 

Total meals for 10 days: $2000 

How much for a trip to Italy: Attractions

Florence: the Firenze Card

In Florence, the Firenze Card covers entry to approximately 90 sights including the Uffizi Galleries, Accademia, the city’s major churches, and many lesser-known places. It also allows you to skip the main line and enter through a line reserved for Firenze Card holders. This is a huge convenience at crowded sights like the Uffizi and Accademia!

Note that it’s good for 72 hours after its first use, making it the perfect addition to our 3-day trip. The Firenze Card costs €85, about $97 per person, and is free for kids in the family. Total for Florence sights: $200

Read more: 30 things to do in Florence

Rome:

There is so much to see in Rome that’s free; you can spend days just walking the streets, popping into churches and admiring the fountains. The Pantheon is one of the city’s grandest sights and just €5 per adult, €2 for EU citizens aged 18 to 25, and free for kids under 18. Total: $11.50

The Colosseum:

You should plan to spend half a day in the Colosseum and the Forum. Note that the entry ticket is good for the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill.

The cost of Colosseum tickets varies depending on the type of ticket you buy. You can take a tour for a more in-depth experience starting at about $75 per person. Entry to the Colosseum for a family of 4: $80-160 for skip-the-line tickets, but you could go as low as $42 ($21 per adult, free for kids) if you visit during low season and opt not to skip the line.

A Vatican tour with Livitaly

I’m normally not a big tour person but I strongly recommend taking a tour of the Vatican Museum. The museum is enormous and crowded, but visiting with a guide means you can leave the details up to them and understand the art works in a way you might not be able to on your own. If you can take a tour in only one place in Italy, this is it.

Our guide, Jade, focused on how Michelangelo was inspired by the classical works in the museum. Her guidance allowed us to come away having learned something that was easy to grasp despite the huge amount of art all around us. She also did a great job making it fun for our kids. (Disclosure: we received two complimentary tours.) 

With Livitaly Tours, you can choose a small group tour, which max 6 people, or a private tour, which the guide will tailor to your interests. Small group Vatican Tour for 2 adults and 2 kids with Livitaly: $644 plus tip

 Read more: Italy Travel Tips

Venice: the Basilica and Museum of San Marco

In my opinion, the best thing to see in Venice is the city itself. We spent most of our time walking around Venice and visited just a few places: the Basilica of San Marco, Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute and the Church of San Zaccaria. You can add visits to other main sights like the Doge’s Palace, Accademia, Scuola Grande di San Rocco and Peggy Guggenheim Collection.

We took our time in the Basilica of San Marco, paying extra to see the Pala d’Oro, visit the San Marco Museum and see the horses loggia which is located upstairs in the basilica (I highly recommend both!).

Basilica of San Marco visit: $34 per adult, free for kids under 11, half off for 12-18 and seniors. $68 total

Shopping and Miscellaneous Expenses

Vaporetto rides in Venice to and from the train station: While in Venice, you’ll probably take a vaporetto at least once. In fact, it’s a wonderful introduction to the city, so you might plan to take one from the train station to your accommodation. Be sure to get one that goes on the Grand Canal — boat is the only way to see all those palazzi that line the Grand Canal. Note that kids 6 and under ride for free. Total price of vaporetto tickets: $70 (2 rides at $35 each for 2 adults and 2 kids)

Subway in Rome: $5 each ride (1.5 euros per person, kids over 10 pay the same, kids under 10 free). We took the subway four times: to and from the train station to the apartment, and to and from the Colosseum. Note that it may be more economical to use a ride share or taxi for a family. Approximate total for subways in Rome: $23

Souvenirs: We packed carry-on only, so we had very little space for souvenirs. We bought a few small items: some biscotti, postcards, glass trinkets in Venice, a Christmas ornament, painted bookmarks, and small toys for the kids. Our total for souvenirs/gifts: approximately $120

Optional additional costs:

Airport parking $200

Travel insurance: $140 (this may be included with your credit card)

Grand total for a 10-day trip to Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice): $9358

But this trip can easily be less! Here’s how:

Travel in shoulder or low season for reduced rates on accommodations. Save about $1000.

Don’t take a tour of the Vatican Museum. Instead, go on your own if you can handle the crowds and the wait, or skip it and try the National Museum ($25) and/or the Borghese Gallery ($45) instead, a little more if your kids are older than 11. Save approx. $500.

Skip Venice. If you have only 11 nights, I recommend skipping Venice and splitting the time between Rome and Florence with a day trip to Siena, Fiesole or the Tuscan wine country. We squeezed Venice in knowing we’d be back to explore Rome and Florence again.

But with so much to see in those cities, it just makes sense to stay in each a little longer, especially if you’re trying to save money. Cut out the trains to and from Venice, the vaporetto rides, and the more expensive hotel and food in Venice and save $750 or more.

New grand total for a 10-day trip to Italy (Rome and Florence): $7118

What questions do you have about traveling to Italy? In your experience, how much does a trip to Italy cost?

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