shalinshah84

Hello folks. I am traveling to Italy later this summer for 13 days. Airfare is already booked to go into Venice and home from Naples.

Roughly I am thinking of the following -

Venice - 2 nights
Florence - 2 nights
Rome - 2 nights

From Naples go to Amalfi, Positano, Sorrento, Capri (total 5 days or so)
Fly home from Naples

Does this make sense to do? I know we may lose close to 2 days total in travel time. Can this be reduced by moving around via air instead of train?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

PalenQ

Can this be reduced by moving around via air instead of train?>

Air would take longer -Venice - Florence 2hrs about on train - Florence to Rome 1.5 hrs - Rome to Naples 1.5 hrs. For lots about trains check www.trenitalia.com; www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Knock a couple of days off Amalfi and add to Venice and Rome - the day you arrive in Venice you may be jet-lagged.

dwdvagamundo

Concur with PalenQ on distribution of nites. Two nites gives you only one full day. I might add a nite to Florence rather than Venice if you're into the Renaissance, and plan to spend at least one nite in Naples as there is a lot to see.

Keep in mind that in the summer, the Amalfi coast and Capri are going to be absolutely jam packed, hot and sunny.

So you might want to drop the Amalfi coast and add a couple of nites in Tuscany--which will also be crowded but not as much as the Amalfi.

yorkshire

I would eliminate one of those destinations.

Sassafrass

Good for you, doing multi-city booking. Not having to backtrack saves time and money.

What time are you arriving in Venice and what time are you departing from Naples? Where are you coming from? From the US, most flights depart in the evening and arrive in the morning. It may not apply to you, but you can see how to lay things out.

Usually, you cannot get more days than you have nights. As a matter of fact, with travel, 2 nights in a place usually nets 1 whole day there. With 12 nights, you will probably have only 11 days on the ground and some of that will be travel. You can't possibly have 5 days on the Amalfi Coast.

When you figure travel times, be sure to include getting from your hotel to the train station and to your next hotel after the train trip.

Depending on where you stay and departure time, you may have to travel back to Naples for your last night before your flight.

PalenQ is 100% right. Trains are the way to go in Italy, certainly for your itinerary.

Will you have a child or children with you? That might affect the advice you get.

Do you have 12 nights on the ground, or are you counting departure from home night? Fix itinerary to suit your interests.
Day 1, depart from home
Day 2, arrive Venice, get to hotel, etc. 1/2 jet lagged day for walking around
Day 3, Venice,
Day 4, travel to Florence,1/2 day travel, 1/2 day sightseeing
Day 5, Florence
Day 6, Florence day trip to, hill town ******
Day 7, travel to Rome, 1/3 to 1/2 day travel, 1/2 to 2/3 day sightseeing
Day 8, Rome
Day 9, Rome
Day 10, travel to Amalfi Coast, 2/3 day travel, probably stay in Sorrento (not actually on the AC, but a good base for touring), evening for walk and dinner
Day 11, Capri
Day 12, Positano, Amalfi, etc.
Day 13, travel to Naples, 1/4 day, 3/4 day of sightseeing, could see Pompeii on the way
Day 14, depart for home

7 whole days of sightseeing
5 partial days of sightseeing, total of about 3 days, some jet lagged

*****You could add that day to Rome or the AC instead of Florence.

PalenQ

Sassafrass has an outstanding itinerary!

ekc

If you are mainly interested in seeing the Amalfi Coast, then stay somewhere actually on the Amalfi Coast (Sorrento is not). Your issue at this late date will be finding accommodations on the Amalfi Coast, so start booking ASAP.

shalinshah84

Thank you all. Will stick to trains.

@Sassafrass thanks for the itinerary.

I arrive at 9 AM to Venice (from the US)... Departing Naples at 7 AM in the morning.

Will actually have 12 nights on the ground.

Sassafrass

You also need to book a hotel in Venice asap.

With a 7:00 am departure, it would be best to spend the last night in Naples.

If you use a driver, then anywhere on the AC works. Roads can be really busy in Summer though.
You could also take the train to Salerno and ferry back up to where you stay on the AC.

Your trip is a bit rushed for my taste, and the ratio of travel time to being in a place is higher than I like, but if that suits you, your trip will still be wonderful and you get a good taste of many places in Italy.

suze

I think trying to visit the 8 places you name in only 12 nights is way to many stops.

I agree moving about by train makes more sense and is more efficient than air travel for what you are trying to do.

suze

Maybe this sounds crazy but with your focus on the Amalfi Coast, what about skipping Rome entirely? It's huge and I'm not sure what value only 2 days there would have. That would smooth things out quite a bit.

StCirq

I agree with suze. I understand the mentality that forces you to think you have to see Rome, but in reality you don't have to.