First time in Italy, only 8-9 days, where to go
Dec 21st, 2016, 06:11 AM
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First time in Italy, only 8-9 days, where to go
Thank you so much for reading! My husband and I are planning a trip end of March beginning of April 2017 and are looking toward Italy, as neither of us has ever been. It is so hard to decide where to go with such a short trip. If you could only hit one major region, where would you go? My husband is leaning toward Rome, but I am wondering if it will be too hectic for my tastes. (example: I loved Paris but hated NYC) Maybe Florence and Tuscany? Could we see the major sights in Rome in just a couple days and then move on to a quieter region?
About ourselves: We really like the outdoors and would love to do at least some biking and/or hiking, and would also see some lovely older cities or towns. Wine country would be lovely. We are about 50 and live in Colorado. We aren't overly concerned about weather and hope to miss a few crowds by arriving in Spring.
Thanks for any insights!!!
About ourselves: We really like the outdoors and would love to do at least some biking and/or hiking, and would also see some lovely older cities or towns. Wine country would be lovely. We are about 50 and live in Colorado. We aren't overly concerned about weather and hope to miss a few crowds by arriving in Spring.
Thanks for any insights!!!
Dec 21st, 2016, 06:28 AM
#3
as you say you prefer less hectic places, neither Florence nor Rome really fit your bill, specially in the run up to Easter.
Why not look at one of the companies that organises walking or cycling tours of Italy? not necessarily in order to go with them but to see the sorts of routes they take to see what is feasible. Headwater is a well know UK firm that has lots of ideas that might fit your bill:
http://www.headwater.com/list/by-country/italy/all.htm
I'm sure that you can find others with a bit of research.
You don't have to go to one of the big cities to enjoy Italy.
Why not look at one of the companies that organises walking or cycling tours of Italy? not necessarily in order to go with them but to see the sorts of routes they take to see what is feasible. Headwater is a well know UK firm that has lots of ideas that might fit your bill:
http://www.headwater.com/list/by-country/italy/all.htm
I'm sure that you can find others with a bit of research.
You don't have to go to one of the big cities to enjoy Italy.
Dec 21st, 2016, 06:35 AM
#4
as you say you prefer less hectic places, neither Florence nor Rome really fit your bill, specially in the run up to Easter.
Why not look at one of the companies that organises walking or cycling tours of Italy? not necessarily in order to go with them but to see the sorts of routes they take to see what is feasible. Headwater is a well know UK firm that has lots of ideas that might fit your bill:
http://www.headwater.com/list/by-country/italy/all.htm
I'm sure that you can find others with a bit of research.
You don't have to go to one of the big cities to enjoy Italy.
Why not look at one of the companies that organises walking or cycling tours of Italy? not necessarily in order to go with them but to see the sorts of routes they take to see what is feasible. Headwater is a well know UK firm that has lots of ideas that might fit your bill:
http://www.headwater.com/list/by-country/italy/all.htm
I'm sure that you can find others with a bit of research.
You don't have to go to one of the big cities to enjoy Italy.
Dec 21st, 2016, 06:47 AM
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Many people come here about being "hectic" as if it is a singular unambiguous entity. What does it mean to you?
In terms of car traffic? In terms of number of people? Number of places to go?
You will NOT miss crowd in April neither and Rome nor in Florence. It is already very crowded by April. I felt more crowd in Florence as all the crowds are concentrated within a small part of the city.
Additionally, many people talk about "going from places to places." This is not a characteristics of the city. It is a personal trait. It has directly to do with how many places you decide to visit in a given time.
Regarding sequence. You seem to be indicating Rome first. Look at the trip as a whole as opposed to looking at flights separate from the ground part. Many first timers do this and come up with inefficiently integrated itinerary.
Look at flying into several airports: FCO, FLR, PSA, MXP, VCE, etc. Pay attention to layover and arrival times. Look at flying home from these cities. Returning home from a city with far away airport requiring a layover in Europe means super early departure from Italy.
Also avoid staying in same city twice. Costs more and inefficient. Many people automatically assume if fly into Rome they need to stay in Rome, travel around, and again stay in Rome to fly home.
You are adding check-in/out cycle to your trip without much in return, but less time for visit. If you have to do round trip to FCO, travel straight to somewhere else on landing.
In terms of car traffic? In terms of number of people? Number of places to go?
You will NOT miss crowd in April neither and Rome nor in Florence. It is already very crowded by April. I felt more crowd in Florence as all the crowds are concentrated within a small part of the city.
Additionally, many people talk about "going from places to places." This is not a characteristics of the city. It is a personal trait. It has directly to do with how many places you decide to visit in a given time.
Regarding sequence. You seem to be indicating Rome first. Look at the trip as a whole as opposed to looking at flights separate from the ground part. Many first timers do this and come up with inefficiently integrated itinerary.
Look at flying into several airports: FCO, FLR, PSA, MXP, VCE, etc. Pay attention to layover and arrival times. Look at flying home from these cities. Returning home from a city with far away airport requiring a layover in Europe means super early departure from Italy.
Also avoid staying in same city twice. Costs more and inefficient. Many people automatically assume if fly into Rome they need to stay in Rome, travel around, and again stay in Rome to fly home.
You are adding check-in/out cycle to your trip without much in return, but less time for visit. If you have to do round trip to FCO, travel straight to somewhere else on landing.
Dec 21st, 2016, 07:17 AM
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Second what greg said about avoiding staying in the same city twice. You have a whole country to explore, why go back to where you started. Completely changed my traveling experience when I realized there are MANY airports in any given decently sized country, why limit myself to one?
Anyways, even if you hate crowds, I'd say a quick pass by both Rome and Florence are definitely a must. Maybe have some flexible scheduling so you can stay if you happen to like it or go more into the countryside if you don't?
You're going all the way there, might as well give it a try!
Anyways, even if you hate crowds, I'd say a quick pass by both Rome and Florence are definitely a must. Maybe have some flexible scheduling so you can stay if you happen to like it or go more into the countryside if you don't?
You're going all the way there, might as well give it a try!
Dec 21st, 2016, 07:41 AM
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>> wondering if it will be too hectic for my tastes. (example: I loved Paris but hated NYC)
IMO if you loved Paris then Rome is a fine choice. It is nothing like NYC. I was in Rome at the end of June but I didn't find it hectic. It's a lively city which has been there for thousands of years. There are always tourists but it has enough place for everyone. If you go to Italy for the 1st time, it would be a pity to miss Rome. I think Rome 3 days, Florence 5 days would be fun (included some countryside day trips from Florence, it is possible, I've done it when I had 4 days in Florence).
IMO if you loved Paris then Rome is a fine choice. It is nothing like NYC. I was in Rome at the end of June but I didn't find it hectic. It's a lively city which has been there for thousands of years. There are always tourists but it has enough place for everyone. If you go to Italy for the 1st time, it would be a pity to miss Rome. I think Rome 3 days, Florence 5 days would be fun (included some countryside day trips from Florence, it is possible, I've done it when I had 4 days in Florence).
Dec 21st, 2016, 07:44 AM
#10
oh dear Mimar - looks as if you're not an Italy fan! what happened to your idea??
Marie - I'm going to disagree with those suggesting that you try to fit in both Florence and Rome and some of the rest of Italy - that really would be a hectic trip. if you only spend a day or two in each of those places, your head will be in a whirl, what with arriving, finding your accommodation, getting your heads around the transport options, hitting the biggest and most popular sights, and then going onto the next place within 48 hours.
If you do decide to try one of the big cities for part of your trip, I suggest ending there, and spending the rest of the time in the countryside. if your best option is to fly into and out of Rome, then straight after you arrive, travel to your chosen countryside destination, enjoy your time there, then at the end of that part of the trip, go back to Rome. That means that you're not chopping up your time there, and puts you in the right place for going home so it's the most efficient plan.
A very nice place within 150 kms of Rome where you can walk and cycle but still be in a town with bars and restaurants is Orbetello. it's easily accessible by train too. lots of places to explore nearby too.
Marie - I'm going to disagree with those suggesting that you try to fit in both Florence and Rome and some of the rest of Italy - that really would be a hectic trip. if you only spend a day or two in each of those places, your head will be in a whirl, what with arriving, finding your accommodation, getting your heads around the transport options, hitting the biggest and most popular sights, and then going onto the next place within 48 hours.
If you do decide to try one of the big cities for part of your trip, I suggest ending there, and spending the rest of the time in the countryside. if your best option is to fly into and out of Rome, then straight after you arrive, travel to your chosen countryside destination, enjoy your time there, then at the end of that part of the trip, go back to Rome. That means that you're not chopping up your time there, and puts you in the right place for going home so it's the most efficient plan.
A very nice place within 150 kms of Rome where you can walk and cycle but still be in a town with bars and restaurants is Orbetello. it's easily accessible by train too. lots of places to explore nearby too.
Dec 21st, 2016, 07:46 AM
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My idea of a first trip to Italy:
Fly into Venice, spend a couple days wandering the back streets of this beautiful city while you get over jetlag. There will be lots of other tourists so maybe avoid them by taking a vaporetto (water bus) to the other islands in the lagoon. Burano is particularly picturesque. Because Venice has no cars, trucks, vespas, etc. it is more relaxing than other Italian cities.
Skip Florence if you're not big fans of Renaissance art and architecture. Instead
Take a train directly from Venice to Rome and finish your trip there, flying home out of Rome.
OR take a train from Venice to Florence and take a bus or a cab to the Florence airport to pick up a rental car. Spend the rest of your time in Tuscany enjoying the Tuscan countryside (and the wines), either in the Val d'Orcia in southern Tuscany or in Chianti. Drop the car at the Pisa airport, spend one night in Pisa and fly home from there.
Your plane tickets in this case or in any case, should be open jaw or multi-city, into one city out of another. These should cost about the same as round trip.
Fly into Venice, spend a couple days wandering the back streets of this beautiful city while you get over jetlag. There will be lots of other tourists so maybe avoid them by taking a vaporetto (water bus) to the other islands in the lagoon. Burano is particularly picturesque. Because Venice has no cars, trucks, vespas, etc. it is more relaxing than other Italian cities.
Skip Florence if you're not big fans of Renaissance art and architecture. Instead
Take a train directly from Venice to Rome and finish your trip there, flying home out of Rome.
OR take a train from Venice to Florence and take a bus or a cab to the Florence airport to pick up a rental car. Spend the rest of your time in Tuscany enjoying the Tuscan countryside (and the wines), either in the Val d'Orcia in southern Tuscany or in Chianti. Drop the car at the Pisa airport, spend one night in Pisa and fly home from there.
Your plane tickets in this case or in any case, should be open jaw or multi-city, into one city out of another. These should cost about the same as round trip.
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