HikeVermont

We are planning an anniversary trip to Italy in late September. Using suggestions from the forum, we'll fly to Rome and spend three days, we'd like to then go to Cinque Terre for 2 nights, to Florence for 3 nights and then on to Venice and fly home from there. Does anyone have thoughts about this? We are anxious to see famous sites but also to wander down neighborhoods and to do some hiking. Going at full speed for 10 days is not the trip we want.

Can you get from Rome to Cinque Terre by train or is it easier to go to Florence first, spend a night and travel to Cinque Terre, then return back through Florence on way to Venice? Is there train service between Florence and Cinque Terre?

Any and all advice is appreciated as "planning" is difficult with so much to see in this country.

minkie

Hi,

I went to Italy last year. I spent 2 full days in Rome with a tour and 3 alone. I didn't expect to find so much to see and do. Three days will be jammed pack...and I found it a city easy to walk and even nicer to grab a coffee and just people/architecture watch. If you want just a glimpse of Rome 3 days would be enough....I missed Cinque Terre and that was number one on my list - but once I got to Rome I knew I needed a few more days. That was just my experience.

Venice is glorious - enjoy!!!

ellenem

"Going at full speed for 10 days is not the trip we want."

By suggesting
Rome 3 nights
Cinque Terre 2 nights
Florence 3 nights
Venice 2 nights
you will be doing precisely that—going full speed.

Traveling from Rome to Cinque Terre takes at least 4 hours just for the train ride. By the time you travel to and from stations, check in and out of hotels, and so forth, a good part of one day will be gone.

Similarly Cinque Terre to Florence is about 2.5 hours on the train, and Florence to Venice is about 2 hours on the train, plus all the connecting, hotel business, so you'll lose at least half a day when you move between these places.

Whether you put Cinque Terre before or after Florence doesn't make much of a difference in total time on the train. (Cinque Terre to Venice is about 5 hours on the train.) You can check all the train times here:

http://www.ferroviedellostato.it/homepage_en.html

Only you can decide if losing almost two of your 10 days to train travel is worth it. For me, I'd delete one hotel change.

knickerbocker

Drop Cinque Terre. Doing Rome-Florence-Venice in a week-and-a-half's busy enough as is. What you're proposing's a marathon, not a vacation.

HappyTrvlr

Or drop Venice and keep Cinque Terre if you want to hike and stay in one non-urban locale.

nytraveler

Racing full speed for 10 days is exactly what you have with that itinerary. In 10 days (assuming you include the day you land) I would do 2 cities - Rome plus either Florence (with 1 or 2 day trips to Tuscan towns) or Venice.

Otherwise you will spend half your time getting from one place to another and checking in and out of hotels.

mamcalice

We had been to Italy 6 times before going to Cinque Terre. It is lovely but not memorable amd amazing the way Venice, Florence and Rome are. We went in mid-September and even then, it was rainy and windy and we were not able to take the boat along the coast - a wonderful way to see the towns. We did manage 3 days of hiking which we thoroughly enjoyed. If hiking is a priority, go to CT. But if you do, cut out one of the other destinations. Ten days isn't enough for all 4.

charlesg

I agree with mamcalice about CT, Being a big Rick Steves fan we went to CT on sixth trip and wondered why afterwards. Glad we went but don't need to go back. 3-4 nights in Rome, 3-4 in Flr and balance in Venice are good plan. Can easily hit high points and see enough you miss to make you want to come back. Can do day trips out of Flr to Siena, CT, Chianti.

Best trip we have had to Italy was to Rome-Flr-Venice by train. No rush. Ate and drank and toured ourselves silly. No car.

Italy is wonderful and our favorite place. The onl bad meals we have had are the expensive onte. We are planning our eighth or ninth trip for Sept. There is no bad plan for visiting it.

Enjoy planning and have a wonderful trip.

HikeVermont

Thank you all for your responses. We will change our plans and fly into Rome with 4 days there, on to Florence with possible day trips, then to Venice and fly home from there. Glad I asked before trying to do reservations.

We'll throw a coin in the fountain and come back and catch CT on the next trip to Italy. I think this will be a place we will definitely want to return to.

KGD

@HikeVermont-How did that work out? We are thinking Rome-CT-Florence, then to Paris and London.

Peter_S_Aus

I think that HikeVermont has left the building, closing the door behind him/herself in 2010.

KGD

Just realized how old these are. Thanks.

CaliGurl

KGD-We are also doing Rome, Florence and Cinque Terre, Then to Paris.

My plan is to Do Rome for 4 Days, train to Florence for 4 Days with one day being a day trip to CT, then fly Florence to Paris. Since Florence is closer to CT we are just making Florence our home base rather then spend a night in CT. Not sure if that makes sense for us, just wondering what other do.

sandralist

CaliGurl,

I don't know what time of year you are traveling, but keeping le Cinque Terre as an optional day trip from Florence is a good idea so you can adjust according to weather and your mood. If you begin to think you might like to spend a night there, check out whether there are flights to Paris from Pisa or Genova that would help you do that.

CaliGurl

sandralist-Thanks I had not thought of that.