Hi Stacy1800,

I think your question is too broad. Spend some time with the guidebooks and come back here with more specific questions and more information (interests, desires, why Florence?).

That said, I will remind you that traveling between destinations uses up time. So, consider traveling to 2-3 other Italian cities and save other, farther away cities/countries for another trip.

I think you should divide your time between Rome, Florence, and Venice. That's ~4 days in each with travel in between. If at all possible, fly into Rome and fly out of Venice. Take the train between the three cities. You might take a day trip from Venice to Padua or Vicenza or Verona if you want to see a smaller city.

You could spend a lifetime in any of these places, but with four days in each, you could hit many of the high spots and still have time to walk around and breathe the air and notice what it is that people love about these places without feeling guilty about "wasting time."

Thank you Zoecat and Ackislander for your responses!

The reason I'm starting in Florence is to visit family. I have a cousin studying abroad in Florence, so that's the reason I'd like to start there.

With only 2 weeks time, would it be too difficult to make it to Switzerland, or south of France for a few days apiece? I don't know when the next time I'll be in Europe and want to make the most of this trip!

no, not too difficult but you'll waste/spend a lot of time getting to those places when there are other places you'd probably enjoy as much within closer reach.

if you take up Akislander's suggestion, starting in Florence may not be the best idea - fly into Venice , train to Florence, train to Rome, fly home is the classic. However, given that you have a ready made travel guide, i might feel inclined to base myself in Florence of the entire time. there is plenty to keep you interested there, plus there are loads of day-trip or overnight possibilities - Pisa, Lucca, San Gimignano, Siena, Bologna ... plus all the places that your cousin will know about.

Stay in Italy!

With only two weeks and given you are definitely going to spend time in Florence, I would stick with the big three (Venice, Florence, Rome) in Italy, with some day trips to some Tuscan towns or a other places near your main bases. You will actually spend more of your time seeing and experiencing things, and less time and money traveling around.

If you have your heart set on seeing Switzerland, an alternative would be after your days in Florence, go to Venice, then take the train through Milan and north to Lugano, which is on a beautiful lake and is in Switzerland. You could rent a car for a couple of days and drive up into the high country on day trips. It's "Sound if Music" country up there! It's also lovely to take a boat tour around Lake Lugano. Turn the car in and take the train back to Milan and from there fly home.

These are all great suggestions! Thank you for the feedback