sesjazz01

My husband & I would like to travel to Italy next May for about 12-14 days. We would like to see Venice, Rome & Florence. What else would you recommend? Is it possible to go to Tuscany, Cinqa Terra (sp?) or Capri?

Michael

Those cities just about cover the minimum time specified. You might want to add Siena and Orvieto in the mix.

nytraveler

You need to define how many days you actually have. Is it 14 days on the ground (plus the day you leave US? day arrive in Italy and day depart Italy). Or is it actually 9 days on te ground (12 counting the day you leave US? arrive Italy and depart Italy).

Responses will vary based on your time available. For the latter the 3 major cities are a rush. For the former you can perhaps squeeze in a day at CT. (Florence is the capital of Tuscany - so do you mean a couple of the small hill towns?) And you can't do the big 3 plus CT plus hill towns plus Capri even in 14 full days.

Mimar

Capri is way off your route. And you probably don't have enough time.

Plan an open jaws flight, into Venice out of Rome. Or vice versa, although an early departure from Venice will cut into your time on the ground. Plus the earlier in the year you get to Venice the smaller the crowds. Open jaws (multi-city on airline websites) should cost about the same as round-trip and will avoid spending time and money backtracking.

And take the train for the rest of your travel in Italy. Except maybe the bus from Florence to Siena. (The bus stops in the historic center of Siena, the train outside the walls, necessitating a taxi or a bus.)

As Rick Steves says, expect to return. Don't try to see everything on this trip. Slow down and enjoy the dolce vita.

bobthenavigator

With 12 days on the ground, stick with the big 3. With 14, you can easily add parts of Tuscany---such as a day trip to Siena. Be sure to fly open jaw--into Venice and home from Rome.

ira

Good advice from BTN.

paula1470

I just got back from a trip with the similar amount of time. I was gone for 13 days and that included flying time from the West Coast. I really wanted to spend some time in the countryside of Tuscany so had to make a decision to leave out something. In my case the something was Florence. I left on Oct 2 arriving in Rome the 3rd. I should have been there by noon on the 3rd but planes were delayed. Had the evening of the 3rd and then 3 full days in Rome. Left Sunday the 7th for Venice via the train. Had the rest of that day plus the next 1 1/2 days in Venice. We then picked up a car at the Venice train station and drove to San Gimignano. The drive wasn't bad but mayby we could have taken the train to Florence and got a car there. I think it was a little more economical to rent the car in Venice which is why my travel partner did that.

We had two and half days in the countryside. Went to Siena and Volterra one day. Loved Siena. The second day went to the Chianti region, Greve, Rada etc. The last day we spent some time in the morning in San Gimignano before driving to Orvieto for the night. Loved Orvieto too and it was an easy drive to the Rome airport the next morning to fly home.

I felt like we had enough time in Rome and Venice to at least see the major sites. It was my first time to Italy although my friend had been several times before. I loved, loved the countyside of Tuscany and of course could have spent so much more time there.

If you have 14 actual days in Italy then you might be able to do Florence and some of the rest of Tuscany. I know I will be back to see Florence and definitely the Amalfi Coast but no way you can fit that in with the time period you mention.

A lot depends, too, on the way you travel. We pretty much got up and were out all day so were able to fit in a lot. You definitely need a car if you plan to stay in the hill town area of Tuscany. The driving was pretty easy and we never got lost although we had to turn around a few times!! We had looked at open jaw tickets but we got the best deal flying in and out of Rome. The loop, Rome, Venice, San Gimignano, Orvieto worked fine for us.

Italy is amazing. I am ready to go back already and I've only been home a couple of weeks.

sesjazz01

Thanks. We are used to taking tours, so I'm a little nervous about driving in Europe. I've been to Florence, Rome and Venice for a day each from a cruise ship, but my husband has never been to Italy and wants me to pick where to go. I don't mind going back to repeat what I saw but I'd like to add other places as well.

annhig

sesjazz - if you don't fancy driving, lots of Italy is very easy by public transport.

you could do the following:

Venice - 3 nights, train to

Florence - 5 nights - at least one day for a day trip by bus to siena, and another with a private guide out into the countryside. Train to

Orvieto - 2 nights - lovely town with the most wonderful cathedral. Train to

Rome - 4 nights

sesjazz01

Thanks. I think that sounds perfect. We can go either mid-May or mid-June. Would May be better, so it isn't so hot?

annhig

Would May be better, so it isn't so hot?>>

depends what you are used to. coming from the UK, May appeals most to me for that very reason, but your idea of hot and mine might be different. I spent 10 days in Tuscany in May 2011 and that was hot enough for me.

either will probably be very nice. the days will be longer in June than in May which might be another consideration.

mamcalice

May has a better chance of being a little cooler and more comfortable than June and there are likely to be fewer tourists in May. Sounds like a nice trip.