stbmom

My family (2 adults, 4 teenagers) arrives in the AM in Rome on a Sunday and we are hoping to see Rome and possibly Florence or the Amafli Coast and Capri. I had intended to stay in an apartment in Rome for the whole time and do side-trips. Recently I was advised that most places to visit in Rome are closed on Sunday and Monday, so that we should probably try to start elsewhere and then just stay in Rome for the rest of the trip. Is this good advice? Any recommendations on an itinerary where we would not need to rent a car?

DRJ

Will you be in Italy a week or a month?

bobthenavigator

With only 9 days, I would try to see only 2 destinations and I would start south. Bite the bullet on day one and train/bus to Sorrento--not easy but the best plan. You decide if you split it 5-4 or 4-5 , but day one will be a loss except for transport.

msteacher

I wasnt sure if this is what you meant in your original post, but just as a clarification, you would not visit the AC area as a day-trip from Rome... you should plan to spend a few nights there. I also wouldn't do Florence as a day trip from Rome (although some people do); with four teenagers I think this would be an especially long day.

dwdvagamundo

Most things in Rome--possibly excepting churches during Mass times-- are open on Sunday, and a lot of what you should do is just wander around and look at things anyway.

However, many things are closed on Monday. Exception is the Vatican Museums, so plan on seeing them on Monday.

If you plan to split, bobthenavigator has a good plan. Both Florence and the Amalfi Coast are a little too far for a day trip, IMO. You can easily day trip to Pompeii, however, and should do so if you don't go to the Amalfi Coast.

stbmom

msteacher, I originally intended to stay in Rome the whole time, and do a side trip to Florence (possibly an overnight, but keeping an apartment the whole time). If things in Rome will be closed, I might go right to Florence or Capri/Amalfi for a couple of days and spend less time in Rome.

tedgale

stbmom: I have just returned from Rome - it is something of an annual pilgrimage for us.

Everything is open on Sundays. If you are a North American, you will be surprised and delighted at the long hours that museums keep, especially those with special exhibitions. Closing at 7 PM or 8 PM is the norm, with some special exhibitions staying open to 11 PM one night a week.

Monday IS the closing day for most museums but there is so much to do and see in Rome (eg Vatican, Forum, Colosseum, Palatine, ALL churches) that you will not lack for things to do on a Monday.

Central Florence is 90 minutes by train from Roma Termini station. A day trip is feasible but Florence, frankly, deserves more time than that.

The fascination that North Americans feel for the Amalfi Coast is something I do not share but would not argue with.

OTOH, I'll say boldly that an initial visit to Italy that excluded that destination would not, IMO, be incomplete or lacking in any way. There is so much else to see, esp in the great cities.

Your original plan sounds just perfect to me. Change it if you will - but there is nothing wrong with what you propose. In particular, it minimizes on travel time, which can take a lot of hours and a lot of psychic and physical energy.