robconme

My partner and I are planning a trip to Italy this spring for my 50th birthday. This will be our first time to anywhere in Europe. We want to see Rome, Florence, Venice, Tuscany, and wonder if it makes sense to make it far south to Palermo? We are going to be there for 10 days maybe 2 weeks. Any ideas and help is greatly appreciated!!!

Michael

Forget Palermo. What you listed before will be more than enough for two weeks.

adrienne

Rome, Venice, and Tuscany is enough for 2 weeks. Palermo is for another trip as there is lots to see on Sicily and you'd want to devote 2 weeks to the island.

Andrew

Time to pick up a good guidebook. I recommend the Rick Steves Italy book. Two weeks gives you adequate time for Venice, Florence, Tuscany, and Rome. Assuming you will take the train (except for Tuscany maybe), I recommend a stop in Bologna at least for a few hours to have a meal if you can (train from Venice to Florence stops in Bologna anyway). I recommend starting in Venice and ending in Rome - fly Open Jaw not a round trip.

umbriad

I agree, three days in each of Venice, Florence and Rome is a good first trip to Italy. It would be a big mistake to try to squeeze too much in, particularly if you are travelling by train (which is an excellent option but does take time). Enjoy this trip and don't make it too exhausting. Leave Sicily for next time and give the island 10-14 days.

mamcalice

WIth only 10 days, I would limit the trip to Venice, Florence and Rome. It will be hurried but doable. With 2 weeks, you could rent a car in Florence, spend 3 or 4 days in the Tuscan countryside and drop the car in Orvieto before going to Rome by train. May would be a beautiful time to enjoy Tuscany so try to manage 2 weeks.

By all means, fly open jaw (multicit) to save yourselves the need to backtrack.

bvlenci

Umbriad, on the route from Venice to Florence to Rome, the train is *much* faster than driving, even without considering the time to find a parking area and get into the center from there. It's also cheaper, unless you're a group of three or more, if you consider the cost of parking. It's much cheaper if you buy the tickets far enough in advance to get the advance purchase discounts. Try timing the route on www.viamichelin.com, which will also give the estimated cost of fuel and tolls.

People who have a limited time are the very people who should forget about driving and take the train. A car is good for rural areas or for taking a relaxed trip and stopping here and there. People who have a limited time should just get where they're going as quickly as possible and they don't have time to stop here and there.

I don't really think there's much point in stopping in Bologna for a few hours to get a meal there. I love Bologna, but it deserves more time than a lunch, and it's not as though you can't get a decent meal in Florence.

Sassafrass

Ten days: enough time for Venice, Florence, Rome with perhaps a day trip from Florence.
Use trains - faster, cheaper, easier, city center to city center.

I like Bologna, especially the food, but on a ten day trip, it isn't worth dealing with luggage and eating up three or four hours unless you are a real foodie and have a particular place there you want to eat. See Florence instead that afternoon and have more time the next day for a day trip to a smaller Tuscan hill town.

Two weeks: enough time one more place or countryside exploration with a car.