Rome, Florence, Venice, Italy 🇮🇹

🇮🇹 Our Mother–Daughter Trip Through Italy

By Emily Sanchez

There’s something really special about traveling with your mom and sister — it hits different. For two weeks, we explored Italy together, hopping from Rome to Florence to Venice, eating way too much pasta, walking for miles, and soaking in all the beauty that this country has to offer.

I booked all of our flights and hotels through Expedia, which made it super easy to keep everything organized in one place. Check our my Travel Shop to see where we stayed during out visits. And every tour and experience was booked through Viator, which honestly made planning so much less stressful — they have tons of options, and everything we did was seamless from start to finish.

If you’re planning your own Italy trip (especially with family), here’s exactly how ours went — from what we did each day to a few tips I wish I’d known before.

Day 1 – Travel Day

We kicked things off at LAX, flying Air Canada with a quick layover in Toronto before heading to Rome. Definitely save your boarding passes to your Apple Wallet and check in online before getting to the airport — it saves time and stress when you’re juggling luggage and family.

Day 2 – Arriving in Rome

We landed in Rome (FCO Airport) late morning and had a driver from our hotel pick us up — 10/10 recommend that after a long flight. We stayed at Hotel Fontana, which is literally right across from the Trevi Fountain. You can hear the fountain from your window — it’s unreal.

After freshening up, we spent the afternoon walking around Centro Storico, seeing the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, and grabbing our first (of many) gelatos. Rome in the evening is pure magic — music in the streets, golden light bouncing off the buildings, and that energy that just makes you fall in love with Italy instantly.

Day 3 – Ancient Rome

We started early to beat the crowds and hit Terrazza del Pincio for the best city view. Then we made our way to the Colosseum for our Viator Arena Floor, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill tour. Having a guide made it so much more interesting — there’s so much history packed into every corner.

Dinner tip: Try Osteria Al Vicolo 9 or Rifugio Romano if you want great food and vegan options.

Day 4 – City Strolls & Cocktails

We spent the day around the Spanish Steps, grabbed coffee at Gran Caffè Marcell, and did a little shopping (of course). In the evening, we headed to Trastevere — one of my favorite neighborhoods. The cobblestone streets, cute piazzas, and laid-back vibe are everything.

We ended the night with drinks at The Court, a cocktail bar that overlooks the Colosseum. If you’re looking for a “wow” moment, that’s the one.

Day 5 – The Vatican & Gelato

Another Viator favorite — we did the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel tour and it was incredible. Afterward, we had dinner at Hostería De Corado and walked for gelato at Bar San Calistro. A simple night but one of those that feels like a movie.

Day 6 – Train to Florence

We checked out of our Rome hotel and took the high-speed train from Roma Termini to Florence (Firenze S.M. Novella) — about 1.5 hours.
Taking the train in Italy is so easy and such a good experience. Here’s what to know:

  • You can book your tickets online (we used Trenitalia).

  • For high-speed trains, seats are reserved — you just hop on, find your spot, and go.

  • Arrive 15–20 minutes early to find your platform — stations can be busy.

  • Trains are super clean, comfortable, and have outlets and Wi-Fi.

  • You’ll see the prettiest countryside views along the way.

We checked into Palazzo Montebello (such a pretty boutique hotel) and that night did a Pasta Cooking Class with Unlimited Wine — so fun and a total highlight.

Day 7 – Exploring Florence

We started the morning at the Uffizi Gallery, then explored Santa Croce, Piazza della Signoria, and the Mercato Centrale.
Florence is best seen on foot — everywhere you turn looks like a postcard.

Our route was: Basilica → Piazzale Michelangelo → Giardino Bardini → Le Volpi e l’Uva (for wine) → Gelateria Della Passera (for gelato) → Piazza Santo Spirito for dinner.
If you’re into cocktails, check out Locale or Giardino Gucci Bar. Both are worth the hype.

Day 8 – Tuscany Wine Tour

We did a full-day Viator tour through Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa, and a Chianti winery lunch. It was around 12 hours long, and totally worth it. You get the best mix of sightseeing, wine tasting, and countryside vibes without having to figure out transportation or plan every stop yourself.

Day 9 – Free Day in Florence

This day we really took the day to do any last minute shopping and try cafe's we wanted to try and didn't get a chance to, like a wine window and I had multiple of my favorite drinks, the Hugo Sprits.  

Day 10 – Hello, Venice

We took another easy train ride — Florence to Venice (about 2 hours) — and checked into Hotel La Fenice et Des Artistes, just a few minutes from St. Mark’s Square.
Venice feels like a dream — no cars, just canals, bridges, and boats. We spent the afternoon wandering, eating cicchetti (Venetian tapas), and drinking wine at Vino Vero.

Day 11 – Venice in a Day

We booked the “Venice in a Day” tour on Viator, which included St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, and a gondola ride. It’s a long tour, but worth every minute. Riding through the canals while the city glows at sunset was one of those moments I’ll never forget.

Day 12 – Free day in Venice

This free relaxing day was much needed. After all of the traveling, we really needed this last day to take it easy, get last minute shopping done, and start planning for our trip home. We had to even purchase a small suitcase because of all of everything we purchased to take back with us but no worries, Venice is full of shops!

Day 13 – Back Home

After breakfast, we took a 30-minute ride to the airport and flew home with Turkish Airlines. We had a quick layover in Istanbul and landed back in LA feeling full (literally and emotionally).

Final Thoughts

Italy truly lived up to the hype — and doing it with my mom and sister made it unforgettable. It’s one of those trips that reminds you how fun it is to slow down, laugh, and just experience life together.

If you’re planning a trip, I definitely recommend:

  • Booking your flights and hotels through Expedia (it keeps everything in one place and saves so much time)

  • Using Viator for all tours and activities (less planning = more fun)

  • Traveling light and open-minded — the best moments are usually the ones you didn’t plan for.

Can’t wait to go back someday — but until then, I’ll be scrolling through photos and dreaming about pasta in Florence.

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