umweaglegrad

I am going to Italy from March 21-April 5 with my boyfriend, sisters, and dad- none of us have ever been to Italy before. I would like to see as much as I can while still having a relaxing trip (last time we went to Europe we were constantly on the go- I barely remember any of it and I do NOT want that to happen this time).

This is the itinerary so far. I've never planned a trip before and I am very very lost with where to begin, what to include, etc. Some background on us: my sisters and my boyfriend will be happy with just about anything we do, My dad likes to see EVERYTHING but I'm sure he would enjoy a slower paced trip if we still see a lot of the main sites, we are all wine lovers.

I would like your opinion on if this is a realistic trip, which places in Tuscany to see/ do you agree with the places I've chosen? and what to see in Venice. I'm least excited about Venice so I have barely done any research.... that is why I left those days blank. My dad wants to see Venice in case you are wondering why we are going.

Day 1: Arrive in Rome at 7:05 am. Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and Spanish Steps. Visit the Piazza Navona.
Day 2: Pompeii and possibly a stop in Naples
Day 3: Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palantine Hill
Day 4: Vatican City/St.Peter’s. Visit the nearby Castel Sant’Angelo and the Campo dei Fiori
Day 5: Siena (our home base for the nights in Tuscany). Explore Siena
Day 6: Day trip to Montepulciano and Pienza
Day 7: Day trip to San Gimigana and Volterra
Day 8: Chianti
Day 9: Florence: Piazza della Signoria and the Ponte Vecchio. Piazzale Michelangelo.
Day 10: Florence: Uffizi, Accademia, Bargello
Day 11: Then visit the Palazzo Vecchio, the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens
Day 12: Duomo (plus the bell tower and the baptistery, & perhaps the Duomo Museum). Medici Chapels, Santa Croce, Santa Maria Novella, Orsanmichele.
Day 13: Venice
Day 14: Venice
Day 15: Head home

If this itinerary seem like a jumbled mess I apologize... I need some guidance.

umweaglegrad

Also, we are looking into renting apartments during our trip. I think with the 5 of us it would be the best option. We are traveling with a chef- so that helps me feel better about not staying at B&Bs.

ekc

Pretty good for a first-timer! 2 observations:

You lose 1/2 day every time you change cities/hotels (pack up, check out of hotel, get to train station, find and board train, train ride, get from train station to hotel, check in, freshen up), so you really only have 1.5 days in Venice, which is too short IMO. I would take a day from Florence and add it to Venice. There is tons to see in Venice and your family has plenty of time to peruse the guidebooks and find out what to do in Venice.

Ditto for Rome. Although your schedule in Rome is pretty lose, you really only have 2.5 days in Rome. You will lose the first morning (and maybe most of the day) to jetlag. Therefore, I would cut Pompeii - also not a good place if it is raining as there is no protection.

You can search for apartments with www.vrbo.com or various rental agencies.

mamcalice

For the most part, you do not have a relaxing trip planned. It can be done as long as you understand you will be constantly on the go if you want to see everything you have laid out. A day trip to Pompeii is a long day. Your day 10 in Florence is a killer as is your day 12.

Since your dad wants to see Venice, why not have him plan your days there?

msteacher

You are off to a good start, but I think you still need to pare down a little. I agree with the advice to cut the day in Pompeii and instead use that day to enjoy Rome. Also, during your days in Florence, I would encourage you to spread out your museums and churches so you are not visiting several on the same day... they will all start to blend together by the 2nd or 3 rd one. You probably won't get to all the places you list in Florence anyway, but that's OK. I'd also give yourself a full day to enjoy Siena, so drop one of those day trips.

Your plan for Venice is perfect... Just stroll around and soak up the city. The most important thing to remember about a trip to Italy is to schedule plenty of time to sit in cafes, drink wine, linger over meals, and sample gelato. Enjoy!

xyz99

Overall, I generally like your plan, although it packs a lot and some days are very busy. I would skip the Pompeii day trip this time, and save if for a future trip to Italy. It’s a very long day, and Rome has so much to offer...if you want a day away from the city, try Ostia Antica. But again, I would use that day for more Rome.

I don’t know about you and you family, but for us, 1 museum/day is enough. See if you can move some things around in Florence, check the opening hours.

I love views, so I loved the trip up the Duomo and the tower (not on the same day, there are lots of stairs). Maybe one would be enough, though...

How are you traveling in Tuscany? Do you plan to rent a car? Take tours?

Venice is beautiful, and in April-May you will not have too many crowds. But like others said, 1 1/2 day is not enough.

And maybe something you don’t want to hear, but for 14 days, have you considered eliminating one of your destinations, and have a more relaxed trip? Have fun planning, this is a very good start, you don’t look lost at all.

travelmamana

Cut out Pompeii. If you want to see ruins, check out Ostia Antica. If you just want to get out of Rome, a day trip to Orvieto would be nice in lieu of Pompeii. I would suggest Tivoli but it may be off season then. I felt the same about Venice until I got there. It's beautiful. Take time to just stroll away from touristy areas. We just loved it and can't wait to go back. Burano is beautiful and less crowded. Worth visiting even with your short stay. Agree about the Florence museums. Spread it out or do one in the morning and another in the afternoon. Enjoy!

kybourbon

Will you have a car for Tuscany? Two cars? I doubt you can fit 5 people + luggage in a car so you would need a van. If you are picking up a van, I would train to Orvieto or Chiusi from Rome and pick it up there. Stop at Montepulciano (about 30-40 minutes drive from Chiusi) and Pienza (20-30 minutes from Montepulciano) on your way to Siena. You aren't really leaving much time for Siena (deserves more than a partial day), but could remedy that by driving through Chianti on your way to Florence and drop your van at the airport. If your chef is into wine, you might want to switch one of your other towns for Montalcino.

PalenQ

another great day trip from Rome - Tivoli's Villa d'Este water gardens and Hadrian's Villa - both bout an hour east of Rome by car, bus or train - the two IMO are as interesting as Pompeii and I also endorse Ostia Antica as really just as impressive as Pompeii - Rome's ancient port with Fish Market but none of the terror caught at Pompeii.

Pompeii is however a doable day trip - 1.25 hrs each way to Naples then train another hour or so or obviously quicker by cab from Naples main train station (Centrale) - for lots of good info on Italian trains check out www.seat61.com; www.rickstevees.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - if doing Pompeii book well ahead if going by train at www.trenitalia.com for discounted tickets but on a specific train that cannot be changed nor refunded so be sure of your date and times - book to Naples Centrale - the CircumVesuviana commuter railway that runs from Centrale to Pompeii Scavi (right at ruins entrance) is not part of Trenitalia and that ticket is just a few euros so buy it at the entrance to the tracks (follow signs in Naples Centrale to the CircumVesuviana station - hooked by a corridor.

adrienne

Where are you from? If you arrive on an overnight flight does your flight land at 7:30? If so you'll be ready to explore about noon.

Swap Day 2 & Day 3 as you might experience jet lag and the Pompeii trip will be a long day.

Day 7 - I would not go to San Gimignano on a weekend (too many people) and would not go to Volterra on a Sunday when things tend to be quiet.

Day 9 is very light - a square, a bridge, and another square.

Day 10 - three museums - you'll be experiencing sensory overload. Put one of the museums on Day 9, either the Uffizi or the Accademia. The Bargello would work well with either one of them but the Uffizi and Accademia together is a lot.

Day 12 - no "perhaps" about the Duomo museum - do it! Put all these things in order of importance in case you don't get to do all of them (also keep in mind opening hours).

<< I'm least excited about Venice >>

Wait until you get there - you'll change your mind. There is no place on earth like it.

You have a lot on your schedule - I would skip Pompeii because of how long it will take you to get there. Instead, see more of Rome; wander around Trastevere, Borghese Gallery, more churches (you can't believe how beautiful the Roman churches are). A few steps from the Pantheon is Santa Maria Sopra Minerva (with the elephant and obelisk in front of it). I also recommend Santa Maria Maggiore, St. Peter in Chains with the statue of Moses.

Jean

You have listed several, very specific things you want to see in Florence, so I wouldn't take away from your time there. But I agree your days are a little lop-sided with multiple museums on one day, multiple religious sights on another day and all of the 'outdoor' stuff on a third day. I would mix it up a bit.

I would drop Chianti. I like Chianti a lot, but I don't think it would be very scenic or interesting at that time of year. If you did drop Chianti, you could move Florence up a day and add a day to Venice.

BTW, there are Venice people and there are Florence people, and each group swoons over 'their' city. You won't know which you prefer until you experience both. Me? I'm Team Florence.

asps

Too many side trips and too long. The trip from Rome to Pompeii is long and tiring - you would not want to it if you are still jet lagged. The Tuscan towns look all the same if you have no time to have a careful look, so no need to visit four of them and then having no time for Siena. If you drop some or all the day trips the itinerary makes sense. Also, it is good to have a list of sights you really want to see, but the exact order is better worked locally. For example, if Day 11 falls on a Monday, Palazzo Pitti will be closed.

adrienne

<< there are Venice people and there are Florence people >>

I never knew that. These two cities are very different from each other and I love them both.

burnie

Old Florence is teeny tiny, and the Duomo is only 5 minutes walk from the Uffizi. Unless you are an art historian, you will be able to move through museums like the Bargello fairly quickly, as after viewing lots of renaissance art, it does become abit same-same. Greek statues copied by the Romans and recopied during the Renaissance.

The Uffizi is the highlight, but once again, after a couple of hours, you may find yourself moving swiftly towards the exit, and I highly recommend some kind of gallery guide book.

If you do like paintings a lot, then you can also visit the Pitti Palace art collection on the other side of the Ponte Vecchio and 10 minutes walk from the Uffizi; or for something different visit the other collections in the Pitti.

You either chose the Duomo or the bell tower, as they are afew yards from each other and you get the same view; though the Douomo climb is weird and wonderful. Depending on your fitness, this takes 1-2 hours.

The star of the Academia is David and the rest of the museum is small, with only a few points of major interest. You can do that in an hour.

The Duomo museum is somewhat the same. Lots of church statues with a couple of superstars, like Michealangelos last piece and the Ghiberty doors. Once again, make sure you get the audio guide or a book of features.

I would make sure to take a stroll through the Palazzo Vecchia which is right beside the Uffizi. Take time to go through the food market and have a fresh meat and gravy sandwich with the locals. Taste some balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Have a Florentine steak. Eat gelato from Festival du Gelato on via del corso. Look at the impressive tombs in the Santa Croce church, and the leather school in the back of it. Have a cafe in one of the many coffee bars, watching the locals interact.



It can all be done easily in a couple of days

burnie

For Rome, check out roman candle tours. There are lots of guides in the city, but many can be very dry, regimented and boring. Roman candle is run by a young Canadian guy and his guides know what people want to hear.

bilboburgler

I think you are too busy on this trip and even your first day is busy and not very exciting but it does at least allow for jet lag to kick in.

Florence is pretty big but most people just hang around the few bits in the centre, you have covered a good lot of those well done and the timings are good. If you have got to the Boboli you may want to walk out to the Roman gate. To see more outside the walls you may want to take a taxi.

Chianti?

vincenzo32951

I think your itinerary is pretty good, if a bit busy for my tastes. A couple of suggestions:

Underline the things you **really** want to do and see, and make a list of the secondary things. Then, be flexible and realize that some days you may say to yourself, "We planned to see three museums, but two is enough. Let's just sit in the square and have a glass of wine." For me, no trip to Florence is complete without having a glass of wine hear the Piazzale Michelangelo and watching the sunset over the city. Decide what's most important for you.

The apartment idea is a good one, with a caveat (see below). Some rentals insist on a 3-night minimum, but since it's not really high season, you might be able to get fewer days. Caveat: I'm big on renting an apartment, but first-timers should realize that you lose something by not staying in a hotel, in that often the hotel staff can help you with plans and attractions. What it means is a bit more planning and work on your part.

Jean

Adrienne, don't you get the impression that people think either one or the other is 'better' and deserving of more time? Because I'm crazy for Florence, I feel the Venice fans are often telling posters to take away time from Florence and give it to Venice. "Venice is magical" and all that. Well, I (and a few others) feel that way about Florence and not Venice. I admit my bias.

burnie

In Rome, you can take the metro to the Colosseum where you are right beside the forum and Palantine hill. Walk along the forum road and follow signs and in 20 mins you can be at Trevi, and in another 10 minutes, the Spanish steps.

Go back across via del corso, and follow signs for 10 mins to the Pantheon, which is 5 minutes from Navona, and in another 30 min stroll, cross the tiber to Castel Sant Angelo and down the road to the Vatican. Next day go back to places that interest you.

If you want roman ruins, as someone mentioned, take the normal train to Ostia Antica which is half an hour on the train.

You can take the local bus to the area with the catacombs and spend a day there. It's all much more accessible than you realise.

Pompeii can be reached in an hour on an express train from Termini station. I would allow 4-6 hours inside with an audio guide or hire a local guide from the entrance for €100. They are all pretty good. I wouldn't stop in Naples unless you are very street wise and want to overnight there. I would recommend carrying on just past Pompeii and stopping in Sorrento, which is beautiful and much safer.

Venice is another fabulous choice, which if done right, can warrant a 3-4 day stay.

Flo, Rome and Venice are all totally different and unique. I would split up the time equally between them.

adrienne

<< Adrienne, don't you get the impression that people think either one or the other is 'better' and deserving of more time? >>

I think there are only a few posters who make that claim about Venice or Florence and we see their opinions multiple times. These two cities are worth more time than many people give them. I'm one of the "Venice is magical" people but I would not say it's better than Florence or deserves more time; it's different.