Hi everyone,

We are planning on visiting Italy during 8/21-9/5. Flying into Venice from Paris on 8/21.

Any suggestions on what would be a sensible itinerary?

Roughly, we are thinking of two options:
1) Venice, Florence, Siena, Rome, Napoli, Sorrento, Sicily?
2) Venice, Rome, Napoli/Sorrento, back up to Siena, Lucca, Cinque Terra?

Which option would better? Any other options? We are open to cutting things out.

Thanks.
Sandy

Sandy, in my opinion one should not spend less than 4 days in any one place in italy. Otherwise, your most prominent memory will be of travel from one place to another and not the rhythm of the town. Consider flying into Venice, taking the train to Florence, then taking the train to Rome and flying out of Rome. From each city there are multiple one day trips by bus or train.

Sandy,
according to the details given, I'd recommend the following:

day 1: arrival at Venice
day 2: Venice
day 3: driving to Florence (car/train)
day 4: Florence
day 5: driving to Siena (or surrounding). Get a car.
days 6-7: Siena, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni
days 8-9: Pienza, Montepulciano, Southern Tuscany
day 10: driving to Rome. Returning car
days 11-12: Rome
day 13: Tivoli or Colli Albani or Ostia
day 14: leaving for home

I'd skip Naples, Sorrento and Sicily. More precise: I'd save it for your next trip.

Just my 0.02$
patta

Hi Sandy, Welcome to Slow Trav!

I am sure you will be receiving many opinions here. Since this is Slow Travel, most of the opinions will be along the lines of slowing down. Most of us will probably say 2 destinations, 3 tops, including me.

Since a number of places on your wish list are in Tuscany, I would say fly into Venice (which you are, good for you!) Stay 3 to 4 nights, train to Florence, pick up a car and choose a countryside stay in an area of Tuscany which most interests you taking day trips, drop your car off in Florence and spend the remainder of your days there. Fly out of Florence.

Or divide your time between Venice, Florence and Rome, flying out of Rome.

Naples/Amalfi and Sicily will have you spending an entire day just getting there, only having to leave.

We spent a week in Sicily and only scratched at the surface. We knew a week was a stretch, so we flew into and out of Palermo, maximizing our time by not taking the train and/or ferry.

Thanks everyone for your suggestion.

I think it would be a good idea to make those 3 places (venice/florence/rome) a base and do day trips from them as well.

Patta - I really like your suggestion too but we are trying to avoid renting a car if possible. Although I heard that the best way to experience Tuscany would be to drive. But I don't know if we want to try it on this trip. It seem so much pricier than train/flight.

Sandy

Hi Sandy, I think we were posting at the same time.

I just saw your thread on wondering where to go in Tuscany and read that you do not want to have a car, sorry.

I am with SK then. Venice, Florence, Rome, flying out of Rome. You may very well find that you do not want to take a day trip from any of these cities as there is so much to see and do.

Sandy, it might be difficult to get the 'magic of Southern Tuscany' without a car. Please read appropriate postings here at ST.
Of course, you won't need a car in Florence or Siena, but the beauty of the landscape would be mostly out of reach, I guess.

Sandy
I understand your reservations about hiring a car. If this is a first trip and you don't speak much Italian, then I could see it potentially adding to the stress.

Rural Italy is generally a joy to drive in, interspersed with the odd crisis as you reach a small town, or even just pass through it. Big cities present a much more scary experience when driving.

I'l agree with others that your original plan is too busy. I'll also suggest trimming it down to 2-3 base locations.

Thus the question comes down to what you want
- Variety of scenery?
- Famous sights/sites?
- Less travelling, more time to see, relax and enjoy? (beware !! loaded question alert!! )

Is Venice is fixed on the way in? If so, do you know your departure airport?

If not, try to peg the original list down to 2 MUST SEES (not the must sees others would advise you on, but the two places that you're longing to visit). Once you've decided these 2, look at the logistics of it and if you're to slot a 3rd location in, try to choose one that fits naturally (logistically, but also in giving balalnce) around the others. E.g. If you choose Rome and Amalfi Coast, then don't look to add in Cinque Terre or Venice. If you choose Rome & Florence, then look to add something more relaxing and rural/coastal to give balance.

regards

Ian

You seem to have 2 good options above---IF YOU STOP AFTER THE FIRST 3 DESTINATIONS. I always tell my clients to plan 3 trips in advance since you will return.

My "rule of thumb" is no more than 4 destinations in 2 weeks (and that would be crazy fast for some on this board! and 3 would be ideal. There was a very recent post on the board expressing the opinions of some who feel that first timers are trying to accomplish too much in too little time. It's a common first reaction (and mistake) when planning a trip here. You want to enjoy your destinations rather than spending most of your time trying to get to them. With that said, here are 2 options:

8/21-25: Rome
8/25-30: Cinque Terre area (consider some of the outlying villages instead as a base and believe me there is much more to do than just hike the trails!)
8/30-9/5: Florence

8/21-25: Rome
8/25-29: CT area
8/29-9/2: Florence
9/2-5: Venice

Keep in mind, Florence will just be coming back alive after the dead of August, but will most likely be pretty hot and humid. Same could be said for Venice, but at least you are on water!

Happy planning!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,

OK. Here are your parameters as I understand them. Flying into Venice, no jet lag, two weeks, no car.

I am in the small minority that does not like Venice, but since you're landing there, I presume that's where you would like to spend some time (say 4-7 days). Train to Florence and spend the remaining time there with perhaps a day trip or two to Sienna (bus), or to Greve/Panzano (bus), or to Lucca (train), or to Bologna (train). Alternately, add Rome and fly out of there, but spend at least a week in one of those places and split the second week (this forces you to focus on a couple of "must-dos" in two of the cities and not kid yourself that you can "see" three major cities in two weeks).

---Marlene

Sandy,

Welcome to Slow Travel - and congratulations on planning this wonderful trip. We all started out with one, and the first one is the hardest. So little time, so much to do and see.

My best advice is to take Bob's and Meghan's advice, which is essentially to pick no more than 3-4 places for a two week trip. You will not be sorry.

Once you have done that (yes, you will return), you are going to find your planning a)becomes easier and b)makes so much more sense.

Take a deep breath, narrow the field and start enjoying the ride. And come back often for advice. I have read some of your other thread, and realize that you already have started to narrow your options - it's hard to do at first, and I think you are on your way to planning an excellent adventure.

Enjoy the journey of planning,

Thanks for all the replies. I do like Megan's suggestion. I think we are set in terms going to Venice, Rome, Florence. The part that we are debating right now is whether to go to Cinque Terra (which my husband has not been to) or check out Sorrento (which my husband has been too and really liked). And if we do decide to go with cinque terra then the question is whether we should have that at the middle of our trip rather than at the end.

So far the only part that is set is flying into Venice. After that there is 3 options.

Option one:
8/23-8/26 - Venice
8/26-8/30 - Florence (w/day trips to Lucca/San Gimignano)
8/29-9/6 - Rome/Sorrento (Fly out from Rome)

Option 2:
8/23-8/26 - Venice
8/26-8/30 - Rome
8/30 - 9/1 - Florence/Siena
9/1-9/6 - Cinque Terra (Fly out from Pisa)

Option 3:
8/23-8/26 - Venice
8/26 - 8/31 - Cinque Terra
8/31-9/2 - Florence
9/2-9/6 - Rome (Fly out from Rome)

Which options do you think is better?

The problem also is that my husband was in Rome for 6 weeks 10 years ago so he got to travel through Italy versus I have never been to Italy before. But I don't think its too big of a problem since I am not a big fan of going to museums and doing "touristy sightseeing".

Megan: which village would be a good place to stay in CT? what else is there to do there beside hike and enjoy the scenery? is it really touristy in CT? It looks really nice and relaxing but we are afraid we may be bore once we are there. =P

Ian:
I want to see the different regions of italy, EAT LOTS, and also have a portion of the trip where we just chill and relax (vacation from our vacation). Too much to ask? =P

Thanks everyone for you opinions. I know we can be "slower" in our travel plans but I think we definitely want to see 4 places.

My personal favorite is Portovenere which is actually just below the CT (which is reachable by boat from there). Of the CT, Monterosso has the most to offer in terms of accommodations, restaurants, "life", etc.

Getting bored should not be a thought when you have Portofino, Camogli, Genova (underrated and a fantastic city), Pisa and more just a train ride away. And don't forget wine tasting, boating excursions, cooking lessons, and a very nice flea and outdoor market in La Spezia on Fridays.

Patta - I may have to experience the magic of Tuscany on the next trip. Feel like that in itself is the whole trip.

=)

[Sandy, I cannot disagree
Enjoy your next trip to Italy, it will infect you with the virus to return soon, I am sure.

Option 3 is the one that makes sense geographically. Why go from Venice past Florence to Rome and back to Florence. There is a fast train now but why make the travel days so long.

Venice to Rome is more than half the length of Italy. Although I like other seaside places better Ct makes more sense as well compared to Amalfi which is quite far south of Rome. RR

quote:

Originally posted by SandyTC:

Ian:
I want to see the different regions of italy, EAT LOTS, and also have a portion of the trip where we just chill and relax (vacation from our vacation). Too much to ask? =P

Thanks everyone for you opinions. I know we can be "slower" in our travel plans but I think we definitely want to see 4 places.

Definitely not too much to ask, though sometimes you can see 'regions within a region'. The same diversity, but less travelling with more time for and

An example of this might be spending 3 days in Florence and 4 days in the Tuscan countryside. Two widely divergent experiences, but very easy travel connections.

I definitely shouldn't press the point further though - it's your holiday, not mine after all! What appeals to you is absolutely what you must do

regards

Ian

quote:

Originally posted by Robert Rainey:
Option 3 is the one that makes sense geographically. Why go from Venice past Florence to Rome and back to Florence. There is a fast train now but why make the travel days so long.

Robert - I think the only difference with option 2 and 3 is whether we want to "relax" in the middle or at the end. With option 2, we get to check out all the sites in Venice and Rome, which is probably more hectic, then slowly go back up by train to Florence, check out Lucca on our way to Cinque Terra then relax there before heading home. If we do this, we are flying down to Rome. With Option 3, its makes more sense geographically but then it means we will be taking our "vacation from the vacation" in the middle, then tackling Rome before heading back to the states.

So still debating which one will be better. We were thinking of option 2 because it may not be a bad idea to take it easy toward the end so that we are not tired from our vacation and can easily transition back to work mode (which will be hard after a 3 week vacation) easier without having to recover from our vacation. =P

Any opinions on "relaxing" in the middle vs the end?

Sandy

quote:

I am not a big fan of going to museums and doing "touristy sightseeing".

In that case, minimize Venice as you have done in your options and cut out Florence altogether unless there is some really important reason you have for wanting to go there (in any case you have allocated only one full day - plus part of two travel days, which don't count in my book) I't VERY touristy, and it's primary attraction is the art (though I happily spent three weeks there and only scratched the surface).

---Marlene

well considering that you will be here for a quit good long term for a vacation, I wish just to mention places to visit, then feel free to spend there 2 - 3 nights each place;

Venice 2 full days.
Florence, just for Florence 2 full days
as Florence should be you base for Tuscany I would add 1 day for Siena and San Gimignano
1 day to Pisa and Lucca, and why not a day for the wine Chianti region (only is you are a wine lover.
Then Rome 3 days-
then other 3 days for the Amalfi costs and Napoli.
day 14th. is time to go back.
I find your idea of touring also in Sicily it would take you away from the major things in Italy and really doing bags almost every day.
what above is considered the Classic Italy. You plan a next visit to enjoy the other things.
good luck, Franco

quote:

I am in the small minority that does not like Venice

Marlene,I too have never been that drawn to Venice. Our trip there this year is made after a 30 year absence. After my 3 stays there I didn't want to return. however, My wife's never been there and I thought she should make her own decision. I'm hoping that I'll appreciate it more at this stage in life.

I'm in total agreement in keeping the time spent traveling to the minimum. Many good suggestions here,cut the far southern area off and rethink it all.

I go by geography as the level of stress is largly how you make it in cities. Even Rome, which to me is the most intense and hectic place I've ever been,can be relaxing if you do something like take a walk on the Appian Way.

Option two has you going from Venice past Tuscany way South to Rome then back up to Tuscany, then to Northern Tuscany. All that traveling to me makes that way more stressful than which of the locations is first or last.

Italy is not as small as many planners try to make it, venice to rome is a very long distance.

If you have traveled like that before and find it relaxing go for it!
I may be strange I think I'm the only one here who has run from Tuscany to ER
(62 mile Passatore 2004) That's a vacation? RR

Yeah I think we are going with option 3 especially since we will be flying out from Rome.

Sandy

Just to give you something else to think about, did you consider Bologna as a base to see both Venice & Florence? I have not been there, but have been thinking about a trip to Northern Italy with Bologna as a base as it is a rail hub. Have heard good things about it, but especially liked the good train connections. I believe you could do a day trip to Venice and a very easy day trip to Florence along with Ferrara, Padua, Ravenna, Verona, Milan if inclined. Supposed to have VERY good food and prices for a couple cute apartments were very reasonable. I don't think it is quite as touristy as Florence, which aside from the Art, I was not crazy about as it was VERY crowded with tour groups. Just a thought.

Jean

quote:

Originally posted by Jean R:
Just to give you something else to think about, did you consider Bologna as a base to see both Venice & Florence? Jean

Yes, it is a quick train trip to Florence from Bologna, but not to Venice!
Venice will likely end up short changed and it's likely not to be nearly as enjoyable, it deserves several full days, 4 full days minimum.

In fact I would not do a daytrip into Florence at all it also deserves several full days. RR

Don't do the mistake of not sleeping in Venice. Those who stay in another city or Mestre misses the beauty of walking after dinner. At one point there is nobody and you feel like the city is abandoned. It's a magical experience

What is there to do in Bologna?

So far our plan is 2 nights in Venice, 4 nights in Florence (with day trips to lucca/Siena), 4 nights in cinque terre, and 4 nights in Rome.

Thanks everyone for your inputs. I'll start other posts to ask for the specifics.

Sandy

Hi there, all the itinerary seems perfect
2 nts Venice Ok
4 nts Florence Ok
4 nts Rome great. the only think I would choose 2 nts in 5 terre and addint the 2 others in towns like Lucca or Pisa, this my personal opinion of course, but in this way you really may say that you have seen a good large portion of our Country.
ciao for now, Franco

quote:

Originally posted by SandyTC:
What is there to do in Bologna?

So far our plan is 2 nights in Venice, 4 nights in Florence (with day trips to lucca/Siena), 4 nights in cinque terre, and 4 nights in Rome.

Thanks everyone for your inputs. I'll start other posts to ask for the specifics.

Sandy

As to two nights in Venice. I seems a little odd that you are landing there on purpose then spending the least time there. I would skip CT or at least drop two nights and add them to Venice. Many people who do a quick trip there end up not liking Venice. RR