jcolem2

Hello all!

I am hoping the wonderful people of Fodor's can give me some advice on my itinerary. I leave next Friday (Aug 20) for 7 days in Italy. I am in my early 20s, this is my first time ever to Europe, and I will be traveling solo. This is my itinerary as laid out thus far:

<b>Fri:</b> leave BWI for amazingly long flight....such is the life of a bargain fare hunter - I have a 5 hr layover in Detroit

<b>Sat:</b> arrive 830am, meet driver from limoservicerome, check into Albergo Cesari, afternoon/evening exploring the area

<b>Sun:</b> 915 tour with Scala Reale of Roma Antica (4/5 hours), other suggestions here?

<b>Mon:</b> 215 Scavi tour, explore rest of Vatican area before and after? Castel St. Angelo?

<b>Tues:</b>

<b>Wed:</b>

<b>Thurs:</b> early train to Venice (I'm going to try for the 630am ES), check into La Calcina

<b>Fri:</b>

<b>Sat:</b> Fly back to good ol' Baltimore...

I'm thinking I would like to do the Galleria Borghese one Tuesday or Wednesday, and I'd like to see some other churches, and find time for some shopping. I am fascinated by architecture and ancient cultures (trying to give as much info as possible here...I know some people never elaborate enough!). Other than that, I have no plans, and am really open to suggestions. I tried to leave lots of free to wander, get lost and just explore - but I would love some help filling in the gaps! Pompeii? Ostia Antica? And what to do in Venice...although I planned to go to Venice someday, it was added to this trip at the behest of my ex-travel partner. As I'm now going it alone, I have no clue on what to do here other than wander and get lost in a fabulous city!

Thanks in advance for any help!!!

Jamie

Eloise

I would suggest a change from 5 nights Rome and 2 nights Venice to 4 nights Rome and 3 nights Venice. (I assume you are flying back from Venice.)

Check out the Destination guides to Rome and Venice here at fodors.com; they will give you many ideas about things to do and see in Rome and in Venice. You can always come back to the forum here for opinions on individual points of interest.

SuzieC

WOW...that must be some fare savings....a flight about 3 hours west to wait 5 hours and then go what...9 10 hours East?

Lots of my friends use BWI from Delaware... interesting this...

Aaaah, but you're going to absolutely LOVE the solo trip! You'll have time to really absorb the journey!

passport1

Hi,
I had a great trip to Italy last summer. I saw Rome, Florence, Sienna, and Tuscany. The Vatican was extremely crowded....long lines and strict dress codes. I was advised to skip Venice. Florence and Sienna were amazing if you are into buildings, etc.. My advice is to take it slow and enjoy. There is so much to see! I'm planning to go back soon.

jcolem2

Thanks for all the replies thus far! Unforunately, all the hotel accommodations are booked, and the nights in each city aren't changable. I was initially going to just do Rome, but I was influenced by the person who was supposed to take the trip with me to add Venice for two nights. So goes life - the open jaw ticket is already booked! I'm sure I'll enjoy both

I look forward to seeing more suggestions on what to add to this itinerary!! Thanks again! Only 7 days to go!

Leely

They are both breathtaking cities and you will love them.

Rome: Borghese Gallery, Trastevere (maybe for snack shopping or dinner or the church or drinks or...), Capitoline Museum, tons and tons of churches, just hanging out. The choices are endless. It will be hot, so lots and lots of gelato.

Venice: Doge's Palace and Saint Mark's. Plus whatever else you have time for. Piazza Santa Margerita (I hope that's the name) is fun for people your age in the evenings, and it's in Dorsoduro, not too far from where you'll be staying. (FYI, the area around La Calcina is quiet--I've stayed there--but venture out in the evening! Venice is so magical at night). Of course there's too much to list. Do what you want, though I wouldn't miss Saint Mark's.

travelbunny

..a lovely wander from pantheon to plaza navone then again wander toward the tiber..some lovely antique shops..the travestevere is great fun for a few hrs? dinner...The borgese gallerie is a must..maybe a picnic lunch in the park in front of the gallery before or after...wonderful window shopping on the via condini..i notice you had a tour of rome day 1 . you will probaly glance at things on your overview tour that you want to go back and see in detail..dont over plan, rlax and enjoy your first of i hope many visits to italy.

Lorac1127

Rome is such a great city...we enjoyed everything we did there, especially our Scala Reale tour. Here are my suggestions which I tried to group by area of the city:

The Pantheon
Piazza Navona (Tre Scaline Restaurant is famous for their tartufo...yummy!)
Church of San Luigi dei Francesi (3 amazing Caravaggio's)
Trevi Fountain
The Spanish Steps--I hear Friday and Saturday nights there are throngs of young people mulling around doing what young people do...

Vatican Museums
St. Peter's

The Borghese Gallery
Piazza Del Popolo

Church of San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains) for Michaelangelo's magnificent Moses, just north of the Colosseum.

...be sure to get a good map. We used the National Geographic map of Rome and it was very easy to read. And be sure to have gelato at Gelateria Giolitti in the Pantheon area.

If you should have time to venture out of Rome and want a change of scenery: Ostia Antica, Pompeii, Hadrian's Villa and the Villa d'Este in Tivoli are possibilities. Your hotel might be helpful and have information for a tour to these sights.

As for Venice, yes, take the early train. If you go to San Marco's Piazza early in the morning, you will be there before the throng of tourists...and just enjoy its amazing beauty. Tour the Basilica and also pay the 1.50 Euro to see the Pala d'Oro...I've never seen anything like it. When you get to the main altar, you enter on the right side.

The Secret Itinerary tour in the Palazzo Ducale was very good and the Palazzo is extraordinary. After the tour is over, you go through a door and are smack in the middle of the palace. Your hotel could probably make the reservation for you for the English-speaking tour.

We enjoyed the Frari Church, Maria Salute Church, Sts. Giovanni and Paolo Church, the Rialto market can be fun, the #1 vaparetto ride around Venice.

We had lunch on the dock outside La Calcina. The location is quiet and faces the Guidecca. Also, near your hotel is Nico's gelateria which was excellent.

Also have a good map, wander, get lost and take lots of photos, and you will have the best time.

rex

While it's true that a 5 hour layover is unfortunate, it's a bit of a myth that connecting through means flying the &quot;wrong&quot; direction because it is further west. Detroit is not closer to Rome than Washington, but it's not really any further away either (well, maybe about 100 miles). Remember that routes from the US to Europe head towards Greenland (get out a globe and a string - - it's the shortest path between two points).

So, Detroit is a better gateway than you might imagine. It's 700 miles closer to Rome than Miami, for example.

Best wishes,

Rex

whoknew

Everyone above has very good suggestions so no need for me to reiterate. Rome is large enough you will find your days filled the entire time. You need to have a reservation for Borghese Gallery, I'm sure you know that already. Have fun rummaging around in local stores....whatever kind they are...go into local hardware stores, houseware shops, etc. They have some great stuff you don't see at home, and you might find something totally cool to buy.

In Venice, get up really early (daybreak) and watch the city wake up. Beautiful sky that time of the day, and almost all the tourists are still asleep. And you may even sit at a chair in St. Mark's without having to pay and you can marvel at the magnificenct history. Take the vaporetto down the entire Grand Canal for a good view of all the palazzos. And take a traghetti and try to stand up like the locals do. Walk away from the touristy sites and then walk some more. You'll find wonderful little pockets of neighborhood with no tourists. I found a &quot;yard sale&quot; and bought some flatware for my table. Don't worry about getting lost, it's practically impossible.

eliztrav

In addition to the excellent advice you've received, I'd chime in and agree with your plan to do the Castel Sant'Angelo after the Vatican. If you can time being at the top at sunset, all the better!

DonTopaz

I won't add to the suggestions you've got. Indeed, once you get to Italy, I hope you wind up discarding 80% of your plans and follow the trails that look fascinating to you.

Mostly I'm writing this note because I'm both jealous and smiling in happy recollection, of when I was in my early 20s and about to head out, alone, on my first trip to Europe. That was in 1972, and I haven't stopped traveling since.

SuzieC

LOL.. I keep forgetting the earth is round and not flat!

strass

I took a solo trip to Italy when I was 23... my travel partner backed out on me. (In retrospect, thank God for that!) It was an amazing experience, and one you'll never forget!

Everyone's suggestions here are terrific. If you're interested in modern art at all, the Guggenheim Museum in Venice is just incredible. It's in an old palace on a canal--a beautiful place with amazing artwork. I plan to return someday. Venice will take your breath away!

dunnelli

Message: I agree with most of the responses above, but have you considered stopping in Florence for one night on the way to Venice? You can at least get sample of a wonderful historic city! I stayed at La Calcina last November, it is very easy to get around the city from there.You can either walk or take the water buses to just about any place you need to go!The canal in front of La Calcina is gorgeous at sunrise and sunset, with huge cruise ships coming into Venice. The cafe in front of the hotel is a great place to relax and enjoy a drink.
I believe one day in Florence and two days in Venice will give you a great sampling of this beautiful country.
Have a great time!!

mkf99

I recommend wandering around Trastavere. Visit the the church of Santa Maria in Trastavere. Also, visit the old Jewish Quarter, it's right across the Tiber from Trastavere. Also, Campo dei Fiori and a street called Via dei Coronari (a lot of antique and other interesting shops). There are a lot of nice and inexpensive trattorias on the streets that radiate out from Piazza Navona and the Pantheon area. If you are interested in Pompeii, take the ES to Naples. At the Naples train station, follow the signs for Circumvesuviana (it's downstairs). This is a train that travels between Naples and Sorrento and stops at Pompeii. Be sure to get of at Pompeii Scavi (the archeological site). The trains leave about every 15 min. and travel time is about 30 min. to Pompeii. The fare is around 4-5 euros.

ira

Hi jc,

Remember to throw a coin in the Trevi fountain.

Orvieto is a very nice hill town about 1 hr by train from Rome.

see www.trenitalia.com/en

CarlosSandoval

Hi Jamie,

You'll do fine! even when you get lost, you can always look back and laugh about it. Plus, you can always run into beautiful hidden places off the beaten path!!!

Have fun!!!