Olegis

Hi all.

We are (relatively) young couple and we are less than one month before our first trip to Italy. The trip will be 15-days long, we will arrive to Rome and (unfortunately) departure from Rome also. The initial plan is as follows :
4 nights in Rome, then rent a car and drive to Firenze through Assisi and Sienna (2 nights trip). 3 nights in Firenze - and that's it, we don't know how to spend another 5 nights in Italy. One possibility is to go to Venezia (by train or car) and maybe to Verona from there - but I'm afraid this will take us very far from Rome, we still have to get back there at the end of the whole trip.

What would be your suggestions ?

mamc

By all means, take the train to Venice. It is an easy ride from Florence and an unforgettable and unique place.

travelphile

Perfect itin so far... then head to Venice for 4 nights, spend the last near the airport in Rome.

ira

Hi O,

One more voice for Venice.

How about if you go through Tuscany to Venice - Leave the car there - Train to Florence - Train to Rome and arrive the night before you leave?

suze

add Venice!!! train back to Rome the day before your flight home.

DiG

Hi Olegis:

I'd add 1N to Siena, allowing you to see more of Tuscany. Then train to Venice for 3N.

Day before flight, train from Venice to
Rome. In Rome night before your flight.


Di

Olegis

Hi all and thank you for your replies, you are great !

The train possibility to Venezia sounds wonderful, but I think that traveling by car is more convenient because of the luggage, and it's only ~250km between Firenze and Venezia - about 3 hours drive.

We don't need to spend the last night in Rome because our flight back is very late (almost at night), so I guess we can travel back to Rome on that very day. I prefer it because it's quite hard to find a decent (and not too expensive) hotel in Rome.

So this is the updated plan -
4 nights in Rome, car travel to Assisi and spend 1 night there, car travel to Siena and spend 1 night there, car travel to Firenze (this pretty much covers Tuscany). 3 nights in Firenze, then train to Venezia, spend 3 nights there.

Now this leaves us 3 more nights in Italy - one possibility is to increase the number of nights in Firenze and Venezia, and another possibility is to see other places. What would you recommend ?

Olegis

Anyone please ?

cjacob

I really like Milan. I would recommend that for 2 nights. Go from Florence to Milan, Milan to Venice, and add an extra night onto Florence so you can then visit more towns in Tuscany.

A lot of people don't like Milan, but the Duomo there is well worth the trip. It is truly remarkable, although when I was there in March the entire front of the Cathedral was having work done so it was a picture instead, but still amazing. Milan is a big city and might not have that charming Italian feel that you are looking for, but if you have the time I would go!

jabez

Since you arrive and leave from Rome, I'd change your schedule to something like this:
Day 1-2pick up car at airport and drive to southern Tuscany or Orvieto
Day 3-4 Assisi
Day 5-6 Siena (leave off car)
Day 7-9 Florence
Day 10-15 Rome

I don't recommend one night stays except in smaller towns (Siena with a car doesn't fit). Too many hastles.

If you really want Venezia (I'm a dissenting vote-just too far to travel back and forth), I'd get there as soon as possible and work my way back.
Why not 5 days in Rome, 3 in Florence, 3 in Umbria and 4 in Tuscany small towns ? You could split the Tuscany to Chianti and southern Tuscany.

tower

Olegis....for a reasonable hotel in Rome The Hotel Modigliani is perfect..small, unpretentious and less than 200$ (for Rome this is good). In Siena, contact the charming Santa Caterina hotel, just outside the Porto Romana..excellent and reasonable..in Venice, the Bucintoro on the Grand Canal is the best bargain..perfect location and very moderatey priced. The additional three nights..I would suggest NOT going out of your way to Assisi en route to Florence(it's not direct!!).but instead go direct on Autostrada
A-1(stopping in Siena on your way).
Now, on your way back to the south, why not spend three nights in Orvieto (on the A-1) and use these days to day-trip to Assisi, Perugia, Todi and other parts of lovely Umbria. Assissi is only a half day visit to the magnificent St. Francis Cathedral, nothing much else, and certainly doesn't warrant the overnight you wanted. Orvieto is a truly magnficent hilltop city...I'll give you more info if you wish. Write.
Leaving Orvieto at noon will get you to the airport at no later than 2-2:30.
bypassing Rome on the circumferential highway signed as GRA, following all signs to the Leonardo da Vinci Aeroporto.
Stu Tower

Rome Hotel - Hotel Modigliani Rome - Hotel for business or holiday
Hotel Siena, hotels accommodation palio holiday vacanze - HOTEL SANTA CATERINA
Hotel Pensione Bucintoro - Venice - Italy
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g1...ia-Hotels.html

suze

For the 3 "extra" nights, I'd put them all in Venice, or 2 in Venice plus 1 in Milan. You might leave the car at Florence and do Venice/Milan/Rome by train. Just ideas... I'm no expert on Italy (but I do *really* do like Venice).

Olegis

Thank you all, you've been really helpful. I have to get back to that schedule planning

isabel

OK here's my input. I agree with the suggestion to rent the car at the Rome airport and put your sightseeing of Rome at the end. This will allow you to avoid driving in Rome (very important IMO, and I drive in large cities but Rome driving looked like hell).

So I would pick up car at airport and drive to Orvieo or Assisi. Both wonderful towns, and not to far from Rome in case you are jet lagged that first day.

Day 2 - Orvieto or Assisi
Days 3,4,5 - Siena with day trips to some of the smaller Tuscan towns
Days 6,7,8 - Florence (Drop off car when you get there)
Days 9,10,11 - train to Venice
Days 12,13,14, 15 - train to Rome

That itineray doesn't have you moving too often, doesn't have you keeping a car in the cities where you don't want it and lets you see some of the smaller towns in addition to the large cities. However, your posts seem to indicate you only want a couple of days in Tuscany/Umbria. Many people spend weeks there, but if you really aren't that interested, and want something else then I would suggest you substitue either the Cinque Terre or Lake Como, and I would do them while you still have the car, before the cities.

TobieT

You already have lots of suggestions and all have their merits, but I agree with isabel's plan.

You'll no doubt be tired after the flight and probably dealing with renting a car and driving in Italy might seem a little much on the first day....but it does make sense. Check autoeurope.com for rates and availability.

I'd suggest basically the same itinerary but if you already have a car you might as well stay outside Siena, in a town near there or in Chianti. Have a look at tuscany.net for some charming properties.

With flying in and out of Rome it will mean you will be visiting 3 cities consecutively but Venice is small, relatively quiet at night and very romantic.

If you are worried about luggage, stay near the train station in Venice. It is the only city that will present a problem if you have heavy or large suitcases (travel light if at all possible!) The neighbourhood near the train station is perfectly safe and you can still access the entire city by walking or vaporetto. We really liked the Hotel Gardena. See veniceby.com for other accomodations, but check expedia etc for all your hotels.

Ending your trip in Rome with no worries of
car rentals or making it to the airport in time, will allow you to relax and enjoy all the splendor of the city. It is unforgettable!

This is a wonderful time of year to see Italy....enjoy!

Olegis

Thanks a lot guys !