Do an open jaw, arrive in Venice, leave from Rome. I would drop Positano, but you obviously see that as a major stop, giving it more time than two major, in terms of tourism, Italian cities.

Michael is right, fly into Venice and out of Rome. Otherwise you'll be back tracking across the country and wasting a lot of time. As is often pointed out on here, each time you change location you'll lose at least half a day in travelling.

With only ten days, Positano is too far South to visit without detracting from the other places. UI'd do 3 nights in Venice, two in Florence and 5 in Rome--give or take a night+ or - with Venice and Rome.

Agree with Michael and Rubicund.

I agree that, with 10 days, limit your trip to Venice, Florence and Rome. And fly into Venice and out of Rome. Our first trip was 14 days and we didn't have enough time to properly see and experience the three wonderful cities. We didn't get to Positano until our 8th trip to Italy. And, while it is a beautiful location, IMHO it doesn't hold a candle to Venice, Florence and Rome (I expect that I am in the minority here).

Pick 3 max !

OK... thank you for all of your input... Let me give you additional details... I was in Positano 18 years ago and my husband has previously been to Florence/Venice. We are travelling with our 14 yo and 10 yo (lucky kids have travelled abroad before...) I miss Positano, Capri, etc. and ALSO would really like to get my family to Pompeii; hence the trip to the South.

We have very good airfare into and out of Rome... so I don't think open-jaw will be an option... With the time we have... I know we won't be able to do anything "in depth"... but just have a "look see"... now with these additional facts... what do you think?

Thanks.

It won't cost much more (and may be cheaper) to fly into Naples instead of Rome and fly home from Venice. When you factor in cost of training from Rome's airport (14€ per person) and train from Rome to Naples (43€ per person). 57€ = about $75. Use the multi-city selection on the airfare websites.

With only 10 nights, you need a maximum of 3 locations.

If you're stuck with the Rome flights, then yes, do go immediately to Venice on your day of arrival. If you're coming from North America, most flights arrive in the morning, giving you plenty of time to get to Venice. And taking the train to your most distant point is a good use of that first sleepy, jet-lagged day.

It's not so easy to get to Positano. That's another reason for omitting it. But if you've been there before, you know that. If the Amalfi Coast is a priority, consider dropping Florence or just spending a day in passage there. Unless you're all great fans of Renaissance art and architecture.

Be sure to be back in Rome the day before your flight home.

Well I think what all the others think - pick 3 locations max and fly open jaw into Venice and out of Rome or Naples depending on your location decisions.

Sure you can visit all these places in ten days, but it will be a whirlwind and you wont have much time to actually see or experience any of them much. It will take much longer to organise people and get everyone out every day with 4 people as well...

Just to give you an idea, here is the schedule you are currently proposing:
Day 1: arrive Rome 12: 30, baggage, immigration, get to train station, 4 hour train to Venice, get to hotel, check-in, have dinner, sleep
Day 2: Venice
Day 3: pack, check out of hotel, get to train station, 2 hr train to Florence, get to hotel, check-in, lunch, afternoon in Florence
Day 4: Florence
Day 5: pack, check out of hotel, get to train station, 3 hr train to Naples, train to Pompeii, leave luggage at Pompeii and tour sight (lunch somewhere), get to Positano (bus or driver), check into hotel, dinner, sleep
Day 6: Positano
Day 7: Positano
Day 8: pack, check out of hotel, ferry/bus/driver to Salerno or Naples, train to Rome, get to hotel, check in, lunch, afternoon in Rome
Day 9: Rome
Day 10: Rome
Day 11: fly home

Too much moving around for me, but this trip is yours, not mine.

I appreciate all of your responses... One thought I have is sadly dropping Positano, but then taking a day trip from Rome to Pompeii.. is that a doable option?

That is a very doable option. It will be a long day, but much less tiring than your itinerary proposed above. If you drop Positano (which I think is a good idea for this trip, even tho it is my favorite spot in Italy) you could add a day each to Venice and Rome. You need a minimum of 3 days (4 nights) in Rome, not including your Pompeii day trip.

So now your trip would look more like this:

Day 1: arrive Rome 12: 30, baggage, immigration, get to train station, 4 hour train to Venice, get to hotel, check-in, have dinner, sleep
Day 2: Venice
Day 3: Venice
Day 4: pack, check out of hotel, get to train station, 2 hr train to Florence, get to hotel, check-in, lunch, afternoon in Florence
Day 5: Florence
Day 6: pack, check out of hotel, get to train station, 31.5 hr train to Rome, get to hotel, check into hotel, afternoon i Rome.
Day 7: Rome
Day 8: Pompeii day trip
Day 9: Rome
Day 10: Rome
Day 11: fly home

>>>>Day 1: arrive Rome 12: 30, baggage, immigration, get to train station, 4 hour train to Venice, get to hotel, check-in, have dinner, sleep<<<<

I would not do this. It's too much travel/time after overnight flights. If you arrive Rome at 12:30, take an hour or so to get your luggage/immigration (perhaps longer), walk to the train station, take the train into Rome (30 minutes to 1 hour depending on whether you just missed a train), walk from where the airport train drops you (this is a trek) to buy tickets, 4 hour train ride to Venice, find transport to hotel, etc.

I think it would be a bit easier to go to Florence on arrival day. It's still a lot of travel, but Florence is only 90 minutes from Rome and much easier to navigate on arrival at the train station. Visit Florence a few days and then train to Venice with Rome last.

One small benefit to having a long stretch of transportation after an overnight flight (i.e. the 4-hour train ride or, in my case, a 3 hour car ride) is that it is an excellent opportunity to have a little nap, which will help get you through the rest of the day and help you get to sleep later, which is good for the jetlag.

If your time in Positano is also to include daytrips to Pompeii and Capri, I wouldn't even go for 3 locations - I'd stick to Rome & Positano (given that that area is important to you).

I know you specify Pompeii but have you considered Ostia Antica http://www.ostia-antica.org/, just outside Rome, as an alternative?

There is loads on info about Ostia Antica on this site including exactly how to get there and a detailed guide. Just type in Ostia Antica in the Search the Forum box at the top of this post.

Still toying with our itinerary...

Day 1: fly into Rome around 12:30 and go to Positano via Naples and either Sorrento or Salerno
Day 2: Positano - Capri
Day 3: Pompeii in the morning and then train to Florence
Day 4: Florence
Day 5: Florence w/ day trip to Pisa
Day 6: Train from Florence to Venice
Day 7: Venice
Day 8: Rome
Day 9: Rome
Day 10: Rome
Day 11: Airport

Sounds busy... but we will have to keep our kids moving! and we want to cover as much ground as we can! Thanks.

There is a bus that departs FCO for Salerno at 3:20 which would be easy after a long flight, but you would have a bit of a wait after arrival.

http://www.buonocore-group.it/tratte/collegamenti-aeroporti/142-battipaglia-pontecagnano-salerno-caserta-roma-aeroporto-fiumicino

I am not a kid but I would think kids would rather be kept moving seeing something interesting, like sights of Rome rather than the inside of trains.

The train ride will be fun the first time, but you will be spending the better part of day 1, day 3, day 6 and day 8 in transit.

Day 2 and day 5 will be have travelling involved and day 11 you fly home.

So that leaves day 4, day 5, day 7 and day 9 and 10 as the only whole days of seeing these places without spending/wasting an awful lot of time in transit.

What you are proposing is possible, but I wouldnt want to spend that much time moving a family of 4 around. With 10 days I still recommend selecting 3 places max and dropping Positano.

Interestingly, the consensus here on Fodors is that kids like staying in one place longer, getting to know the neighborhood, the bakery, the gelatoria, etc. It's those kinds of trips they remember fondly when they get older.

Are you sure it's the kids who are driving this itinerary?

You made a good decision when you dropped Positano. Your latest itinerary is more frantic than your first. Please think again about 3 destinations. If you want to include Positano, drop either Venice or Florence. Florence is my favorite city in Italy but I'm not sure how much it would appeal to kids.

This will be long, but hope it helps.
Perhaps I just missed it, but when is your trip? That would affect my decisions.

On one of your itineraries, you have:
Day 7 - Venice
Day 8 - Rome
You didn't allow any travel time between.

You can do it physically, but a day trip from Rome to Pompeii ends up taking more time traveling RT, than the time you have once you are there. IMHO, whenever you spend more time on the road (unless the road is really what you want to see) than you do in the places you want to see, that is not the best return for your travel dollars.

My kids liked seeing a lot of things also, but more things in one place: walking and seeing, climbing towers, etc., not driving long distances to see one thing and driving back. There is so much to see in Venice and Rome. I bet your kids could be busy in either place for days and have great memories of what they see and do.

The only way I would include Positano (or Pompeii) would be if I could increase sightseeing time by flying into Venice and out of Naples (or Rome). If you absolutely must land in Rome, then the suggestion of going to Florence as soon as you land is a good one. I've created a couple of itineraries that might interest you. There are many options, but with ten days, you can do only so many things.

First: Two nts Florence, 3 nts Venice, 4nts Rome
Day 1 - Land in Rome, head to Florence, walk around bridge and markets, peek into a church or two - sleep Florence.

Day 2 - Florence: Duomo, Museums, etc, Afternoon train to Pisa - if you must see it. Sleep Florence.

Day 3 - Sleep Venice: Florence - in the morning, Academia or anything you missed on day 2. Mid afternoon train to Venice.

The only disadvantage of this is finding your way to your hotel if it is already dark, so gage your timing carefully. You could also spend all of day 2 in Florence, stash your luggage at the train station on day 3 and go to Pisa that morning before heading for Venice, but I broke it up this way so the kids would not be maxed out on museums and churches on day 2, and not have as much train time on day 3.


Day 4 - Venice: Major sightseeing in the morning, gondola ride, etc.

Day 5 - Venice: more sightseeing, walking, trip to Burano and/or Murano Kids might enjoy the boats, etc. There are several towers kids could go up in and look out for great views.

Day 6 - Venice to Rome - Afternoon in Rome walking around tour - sleep Rome

Day 7 - Rome - Ancient Rome, Palatine Hill, Colosseum, etc.

Day 8 - Rome - Sistine Chapel, Vatican, etc. Kids can go to the roof top

Day 9 - Rome - Ostia Antica

Day 10 - Fly home

The next one could work for you, but it is terribly rushed. Would I do it? No! However, I'm much older, and a slow traveler. It cuts out Pisa and gives only one day in Florence, 1&1/2 days in Venice, 2&1/2 days Rome. It does give you Pompeii and Positano and no one night stays (unless you do the overnight train). If you are not totally exhausted, you could also see only a couple of things in Florence in the morning and Pisa (by train) in the afternoon.

Two nts Florence, 2 nts Venice (or one nt, one train nt), 2 nts Sorrento, 3 nts Rome.

Day 1 - Land Rome. Head to Florence, etc. - sleep in Florence

Day 2 - Florence - day of major sightseeing - sleep in Florence.

Day 3 - Early train to Venice, sight see Venice - sleep in Venice

Day 4 - Venice - sleep in Venice

Day 5 - early if you can get a flight - fly to Naples - train to Pompeii - afternoon tour Pompeii - train to Sorrento - sleep Sorrento

Day 6 - Positano or Capri by boat - sleep Sorrento (kids should really love this) - sleep in Sorrento

Day 7 - train to Rome - sleep in Rome

Day 8 & 9 - Rome - sleep in Rome

DAy 10 - Fly home

Both are rushed, but doable. You might also be able to get a night train from Venice to Naples on 4. I know nothing about it and have not done it. Kids might enjoy it, but you would also have a one nighter in Venice.

Interestingly, the consensus here on Fodors is that kids like staying in one place longer, getting to know the neighborhood, the bakery, the gelatoria, etc. It's those kinds of trips they remember fondly when they get older.>>

that is definitely my experience travelling with our now 20 something kids - and I'm convinced that one of the reasons they carried on accompanying us for so long was that we were willing to adopt this style of travel. [though if you wanted to dissuade them, the opposite might apply!].

personally, I feel that the outlyers in this trip are Venice and Florence. I would fly into Rome [or Naples if you can] stay in Positano for the first half of the trip, then go to Rome for the 2nd half. if you really can't live without seeing 3 places, add in Florence and do Positano, Florence, Rome.

but [and I don't think I've ever said this before] forget Venice. It just doesn't fit with the rest of your itinerary.

Annhig, even though I gave the op all those options, I have to say I agree with you completely. The AC and Rome would be a great 10 day trip.

lol sassafrass, the OP has probably gone to sit in a darkened room. i know just what it is like to have this compulsion to add in just one more place - I'm trying to plan a trip to Sicily and I want to see it all, even though at most we will only have 10 days or so. if it was for someone else, I'm sure that i could come up with a perfectly workable plan, but when it's for me, i make all the same mistakes that i see other people making.

Annhig, My mistake is kind of the other way. Unless I make absolutely firm (purchased) plans - tickets, hotels, etc., I get someplace, find I like it, chuck the rest of the trip and just hang out. I'm a super slow, traveler. Pompeii was a whole day for me - reading, walking, thinking about life there. The first time we went to the AC, it was to be only a couple of days, then on to Rome, Florence, etc. Instead, we stayed on the AC ten days. Sometimes I regret missing something, but mostly not. I fully accept that may not be the same for others though.

You will love Sicily. The Greek Temples at Agrigento were as impressive to me as the ruins in Athens. I started drawing pictures of Temple parts when I was about 12yrs old, finally saw Sicily and Athens in my late 50s, early 60s. If you like that sort of thing, the majesty and beauty of these will bring you to tears.

We had only 4 days, so not time to see much, and we want to go back. It is never enough, but 10 days should give you a wonderful trip. I will look for any threads you have started.

Oh, LOL, when I try to plan trips for friends, I want them to see everything, so it is harder for me to cut for them than for myself. I know I will be happy and fine if I don't see everything. I always fear they will not.

sassafrass - perhaps we should do each other's itineraries. i can add some stuff in for you, you can cut mine down.

So, I do appreciate all of your input... To answer Sassafrass... we are planning to go in mid-June, just after school lets out. When I was last in Italy (almost 20 years ago) I went to Rome and Positano (Pompeii, Ravello, Capri...). When my husband was in Italy more than 20 years ago, he went to Rome, Florence and Venice! He has heard me rave about Positano and of course the kids would love Pompeii... and I want to see Venice and Florence and we both think the kids would love to see Pisa. I also think that for my kids that there is more history to be seen in Rome, Florence and Venice... but we are having a hard time giving up on the South! That is why I have solicited input.

Thanks...

It is so common to want to try to do too much in planning a trip. I always do this before I start cutting things to fit my time. The OP has 10 nights but only 9 full days. The first day is only a partial day after a transatlantic flight. Without a open jaw this itinerary of four destinations will require 5 moves which on the average will lose 2 1/2 days. This leaves about 6 1/2 days to explore Rome, Florence, Venice and the AC. We once tried something similar with an extra day where we fit in Florence for one day by taking the earliest train out of Venice to Florence, hiring a guide for the day than taking a late train to Rome. We than did 2 nights in the AC with a car and driver. Our children were 8/10 at the time and a year later no one remembered anything about Florence. Rome for 6 nights and Venice for 3 nights were no problem. I also think 3 destinations for 10 days.
I would pick V/F/R and leave the AC for another time. This itinerary could look something like this: Fly to Rome, train to Venice. You are going to be tired the first day so why not just use it to travel to your furthest destination. Night 1/2/3 in Venice will give you two full days in Venice. Take an early train out to Florence and stay nights 4/5/6. Day trip to Pisa and possibly Siena. Night 7/8/9/10 in Rome. Could cut one night in Florence for one more night in Rome.
Could also do AC and Rome and possibly AC, Rome and Florence. Would not do all four destinations without more time.

lemsd,

On my first trip to Italy, I did almost exactly your itinerary - with the exception that we did have open jaw.

Our group ski trip to Cortina was a week. We finished in Venice.

2 nts Venice
2 nts Florence
3 nts Praiano (12 day to Pompeii)
2 nts Rome -fly home from Rome

I would never do this again and would not recommend it to anyone.

Just a thought-Rome, Florence and Venice are all cities heavy on history, art, churches, museums. Kids can get burned out by too much of the same thing. (My friend and her brother had a sitdown strike on Beethoven's stoop after too many museums!)Positano and AC are more scenic, beachy, boat trips, walking and hiking, so it's a totally different experience than all the others. So Positano might give the kids a break from all that culture. You don't want to be trapped with 3 bored kids.

joanw makes some good points. unless you are the type of people who are real art buffs, by the time you've got to Rome you won't remember what you saw in Venice or Florence. Tintoretto, Titian, and all the rest will just be a blur. We used to keep our kids interested by playing silly games [spot the ugliest baby springs to mind] but even so, we all benefitted from doing other activities.

and you don't want a rebellion on your hands when you get to Rome, do you? There is so much to see there that the kids should like, it would be a shame if they were too fed up to enjoy it.

OK... Here is my latest idea at our itinerary... LMK what ya'll think:

Day 1: fly into Rome around 12:30 and take train to Venice
Day 2: Venice
Day 3: Venice
Day 4: Train to Florence
Day 5: Florence w/ day trip to Pisa (really a 1/2 day in Pisa)
Day 6:Florence w/ day trip to Sienna (really a 1/2 day in Sienna)
Day 7: Train to Rome
Day 8: Rome
Day 9: Rome
Day 10: Day trip to Pompeii
Day 11: Airport

Thanks for your opinions!

lemsd,is there a reason you can't fly open-jaw? Sorry if I missed it, have read all the posts and can't see it. It just seems such a shame with such a short trip to have to train to Venice from Rome when you could fly into Venice and then out of Rome.

Otherwise I think it looks do-able although you really don't have time in Florence to see much, by the time you get to Pisa, see the tower etc and get back you will have used most of that day.
(We did an Italy trip at the same time of year with our then-14 year old son. He wanted to climb the tower in Pisa but we hadn't known to pre-book and there was a giant line so if your kids want to do that I suggest booking a time online.)

And the Siena day will be much the same. Actually I'm wondering how much your kids will enjoy Siena, other people may have different ideas but when we were there they were choosing the horses for the Palio so there was a great atmosphere, lots of excitement, and it was fun watching the process. After that though I think our son was pretty bored just walking around sight seeing.
One of his favourite days was when we went to the beach at Forte dei Marmi and spent the day at a beach club, he loved that.

It will be pretty warm at that time of year so drink lots of water! ( and have frequent gelato breaks) Have a great trip!

I think you're going to regret flying into Rome then taking a train to Venice all on the first day. That's a lot to do, especially with kids in tow. By the second day, everyone's going to have irritable travel syndrome. Trust me- I've taken many family trips to Italy with our kids.

Since you already have your plane tix, I guess the only thing I can advise is splitting up your time in Rome so that you spend two nights there upon arrival BEFORE going on to Venice.

Then a last night in Rome before your flight home. Not a great way to do it, but I don't see too many options.

About Florence and Siena: My kids loved Pisa and were bored to death in Siena. So were their parents, but don't tell anybody. I think with such a short trip, you might want to consider skipping Florence all together, and head for some downtime in Sorrento.

This would solve a few of your itinerary problems. You could easily visit Pompeii, Capri, and Positano using Sorrento as a base. Book a hotel with a pool, so that when you're done touring, your kids can relax in the late afternoon.

Then you could take the fast train from Naples to Rome ( it's about a 75 min. ride).

Hope you have a fantastic time!

I should add that we flew from Venice to Naples several years ago, then arranged a private transfer to our hotel in Sorrento.

@ Raincitygirl, thanks for your input... We already have our tix in and out of Rome - which is why we can't fly open-jaw. @Weadles - my thought was that we would be jet-lagged anyway so sitting on a train for a couple of hours is doable.

Believe me, I have been wrestling with the whole Northern/Southern Italy thing since we started planning this trip. I have realized that it would be impossible with our timeline to see, Venice, Florence, Rome, Positano... We could drop Sienna, but I have seen posts that it is a pretty bus ride and beautiful city... I know that my kids would like to climb Pisa... so as soon as I figure out our dates certain, I will look into booking that on-line...

hmmmmm....

We are planning to go sometime in late summer for 10 nights. We plan to book a hotel in Rome (next to Termini station) for all ten nights. From there, we plan to go to Pompeii, Amalfi coast for 3 days and 2 nights. It would, of course, cost extra because we will be paying two hotels for these 2 mights, but the hotels in Pompei are reasonable (You can get decent rooms for about $75 a day). This way, we leave early in the morning at 7 am and cover Pompei during that day, the next day, we can go to Amalfi Coast (via Sorrento and Positano - circumvesuviana and then Bus). Come back to Pompei for the second night. On third day, come back to Rome via Naples, or spend the day in Naples and come to Rome in the evening.
We also plan to go to Florence on a day trip. for ex: leave by early morning train. Spend whole day and take 8 pm train back to Rome.
Hope this gives you a differnet way of thinking. Of course, this is our first time to Italy, so any advise will be useful to us, too.

OK... so I think this is my final itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive in Rome and transfer to Florence
Day 2: Florence (day trip to Pisa)
Day 3: Florence (maybe a day trip to Sienna)
Day 4: Train to Venice
Day 5: Venice
Day 6: Venice
Day 7: Early train to Rome
Day 8: Rome
Day 9: Rome
Day 10: Day trip to Pompeii
Day 11: fly out of Rome

I think this way gives us less time in Rome since Venice is further from Rome... but we will just have to accept that we can't see everything and we will have to leave something for us to see on another trip!

Or... here is another tweak:
Day 1: Arrive in Rome and transfer to Florence
Day 2: Florence (day trip to Pisa)
Day 3: Florence / train to Venice
Day 4: Venice
Day 5: Venice
Day 6: Venice / train to Rome
Day 7: Rome
Day 8: Rome
Day 9: Rome
Day 10: Day trip to Pompeii
Day 11: fly out of Rome

We could drop Sienna, but I have seen posts that it is a pretty bus ride and beautiful city>>

honestly, you don't have time to go to Siena as well as Pisa, plus the bus trip, [IMHO] is really not pretty at all!

I suggest climbing the campanile and/or the dome of the Cathedral, seeing the David in the Accademia, visiting a market and showing your kids the wonderful foods there [and tasting them afterwards for lunch] exploring the little streets of Oltrarno, going to the Palazzo Vecchio, etc. etc.

if you decide to go to Pisa, book your time for climbing the tower at www.opapisa.it.

@annhig, thanks for your input... I am pretty sure I am going to drop Siena. I know climbing Pisa will be memorable for my kids so that I think I will have to keep in my itinerary. I have convinced myself to go back to my Rome-Venice, Florence, Rome... itinerary since I realize that the sun does not set in Venice until 9:00... I prefer to start my trip at the furthest point. I wish there was a way to cut out Florence, but still keep in Pisa... and head to the AC... but I think the AC will have to wait for another trip.

So, my itinerary is now:
Day 1: fly into Rome around 12:30 and take train to Venice
Day 2: Venice
Day 3: Venice
Day 4: Train to Florence
Day 5: Florence w/ day trip to Pisa (really a 1/2 day in Pisa)
Day 6: Florence
Day 7: Train to Rome
Day 8: Rome
Day 9: Day trip to Pompeii
Day 10: Rome
Day 11: Airport

The only thing I might do is slice a day off of Venice to give another day to Rome...

If Pisa is what's really important rather than Florence (and I do think Florence is a bit redundant if you're doing Venice and Rome) why don't you just do Pisa on the way from Venice to Rome? You should be able to leave your luggage at the station.

I know climbing Pisa will be memorable for my kids so that I think I will have to keep in my itinerary.>>

they have to be 8 or over to be allowed to climb the leaning tower. here's the official website:

http://boxoffice.opapisa.it/Turisti/

oops, pressed too soon.

thursdays has a good point.

IMO florence holds the least interest for kids out of Rome, venice and florence. I would consider Venice 3 nights, Pisa 1 night [it is truly magical at night all lit up with the tourists and touts gone home] and Rome. find a hotel near Pisa Centrale, leave you luggage there, enjoy a night and a morning in Pisa, then onto Rome for the grand finale.

perfect!