Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Itinerary Suggestions for Sorrento Area, Florence, Venice

Itinerary Suggestions for Sorrento Area, Florence, Venice

Old Aug 8th, 2015, 05:40 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Itinerary Suggestions for Sorrento Area, Florence, Venice

So my wife and I will be in the Italy from late September to early October. The areas we plan on visiting:

1. Sorrento area (Almafi Coast, Pompei, Naples) - Tentative 4 days
2. Florence area (Tuscany, Florence, Leaning Tower) - Tentative 4 days
3. Venice - Tentative 3 days
4. Rome - 4 Days booked lodging

We've already booked accommodations for Rome which will be the last leg of our trip and I'm now working on planning the Sorrento, Florence, Venice.

For Sorrento, I hear it's a good place to set up home base there and then take day trips to Pompei and the Almafi Coast. I've read that Pompei is doable in a day, so that's done.

How about the Almafi Coast? I heard there are a lot of smaller cities along the path, any suggestions as to best to maximize time there? Should we do 2 separate day trips to the various coast cities? I heard a ferry is nice too. What about Naples? I think Sorrento is a part of Naples, so is a single day worth it there? Is 4 days in this area enough?

As for Florence, I would assume the Leaning Tower is a day trip (anything else besides looking at the tower in Pisa?). Then there's Tuscany and Florence, what do you guys suggest and where to stay? We like cities and walking around, so a CBD area to stay would be cool if that's recommended. We like museums/history but we also like the outdoors. Is 4 days enough?

As for Venice, no idea what to see here, I've heard both rave reviews and negative reviews about this place. It seems the average recommended stay here is 3 nights. Any ideal location to stay? CBD?
cadd is offline  
Old Aug 8th, 2015, 08:41 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
OK - we don;t know you and what you will like to do.

So the first thing to do is to get a couple of guidebooks and read them - so you know what YOU want to do. Also I think you need a good map so you understand the relationship between the different places.

As for Sorrento - no it is NOT part of Naples, although it is on the BAY of Naples - just around the corner from the Amalfi coast. It is a good transit hub, with a train from Naples (also stops at Pompeii), and ot of f erries and hydrofoils to get to Capri and down the coast to smaller Amalfi and Positano. The latter two are also reachable by the local bus - which should not be so madly busy as in August.

Tuscany is a province and Florence is the capital. Pisa is one easy day trip (about 30 minutes by train) from Florence and there is a lot else to see/do besides the leaning tower.

Venice is just unique and you will decide what you want to see besides the basics (Duomo, Doge's Palace, Grand Canal, several major churches/museums - and just enjoy walking around the city).

You have a reasonable amount of time in each place but unless you do some of the advance reading not sure how you will determine your must sees. If you are more visual then look at some tour brochures or a pictorial guide book to get a better fell for what you will be seeing.
nytraveler is offline  
Old Aug 8th, 2015, 09:43 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,971
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You are departing from Rome - that is good.
Where are you arriving? I hope you did a multi-city ticket, arriving in Venice because that makes the most sense with your itinerary. Some better travel advice will depend on that.

Your itinerary looks pretty good if you are calculating your days correctly. Many people do not for a first trip. To have 3 days in a place requires 4 nights. Have you calculated the additional time for getting from your hotel to the train station and from the train station to your next hotel?

You may already know all that and be just fine, but sometimes when people give only tentative days, they have not actually considered it. Honestly, it does not look as if you did.

For example, you say 4 days booked in Rome. Does that mean 5 nights in a hotel? If you have only 4 nights actually booked, then you have only 3 days in Rome.

If you have 15 days, this is what you actually have. It does not come close to the days you have listed.
1 & 1/2 days Venice
3 & 1/2 days Florence and surrounding area
2 days Amalfi Coast
3 & 1/2 days Rome

Here is an itinerary with days and travel time. It is just a general idea. You add or subtract depending on your interests.

Day 1, depart from home, probably evening
Day 2, arrive in Venice in the morning, get from airport to hotel by mid-morning to noon. 1/2 day Venice. Could be jet-laggd. Plan on simply walking, getting acquainted with the city. (Night in Venice)
Day 3, Venice, whole day (night in Venice)
Day 4, travel to Florence, 1/2 day Florence (night in Florence)
Day 5, Florence, whole day (night in Florence)
Day 6, Pisa and Luca (or other place) (night in Florence)
Day 7, tour Tuscany, winery or some unique city like Siena, (night in Florence)
Day 8, travel to Sorrento, arrive mid-late afternoon (night in Sorento)
Day 9, Pompeii (night in Sorrento)
Day 10, Amalfi Coast, tour by boat or bus (night in Sorrento)
Day 11, travel to Rome, 1/2 day Rome, (night in Rome)
Day 12, Rome, whole day (night in Rome)
Day 13, Rome, whole day (night in Rome)
Day 14, Rome, whole day (night in Rome)
Day 15, depart for home.

This is, IMHO, pretty rushed. I would want an extra day in Venice and in Sorrento, perhaps also Rome. But you can see, you do not have the days you think.
Hope it helps with your planning. It is doable and can be a great trip, just good to be realistic.
Sassafrass is offline  
Old Aug 8th, 2015, 11:10 AM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We'll be in Italy for 16 days (15 nights), we arrive in Rome in the mid-morning and then depart from Rome in the early morning.

The way I'm doing it right now:
Arrive in Rome and immediately leave for Sorrento and spend 4 nights there, travel to Florence area and spend 4 nights there, then travel to Venice for 3 nights there and finally travel to Rome for 4 nights there. So I guess in some ways, I'll be spending probably 1/4 to 1/2 a day traveling to some destinations. Based on this, does this change anything from what you guys wrote?

As for what we like to do, we like sightseeing, hiking, museums are fun and good food. I would assume a lot of our trip will be just walking around and enjoying the scenery and the cool city architecture and checking out museums (and lots of gelato). I think we can figure out what we'll be doing in Rome (Vatican, Colosseum, Museums, etc.) but I'm not as sure about the other destinations and "Must sees."
cadd is offline  
Old Aug 8th, 2015, 11:52 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We are lovers of Florence and spend time there each time we visit Italy. In 8 trips over the years, we still have not seen everything on our list. With a little over 2 days (assuming you spend a day in Pisa), I would start with the Duomo and visit the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia to see the David. Be sure to make reservations in advance for both the Uffizi and the Accademia.

In addition, I would try to fit Santa Croce and perhaps a short bus trip to Fiesole into your time.

There is so much to see that you should review a good travel guide to Florence. It's hard for others to advise you on what you want to see and do. The city is quite compact so you will have no trouble visiting most things on your list with a short walk.
mamcalice is offline  
Old Aug 10th, 2015, 03:41 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,971
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
After Sorrento, I would
Fly from Naples to Venice,
Train to Florence
Train to Rome

Lot less backtracking and train time. I like trains, especially in Italy, but in your case, that flight from Naples directly to Venice might be better. The Naples airport is smallish and easy to navigate.

Sorrento is definitely not part of Naples. It is set on beautiful cliffs overlooking the Bay of Naples, but is over an hour South from the city of Naples. It is at the tip of where the Amalfi Coast starts and continues South.

The Amalfi Coast is gorgeous from the water, but I don't know if ferries are still running then. Check schedules. I understand that views from busses are equally beautiful. I personally hate busses, so have not done it.

Your trip is not far away. It will be wonderful!
Sassafrass is offline  
Old Aug 10th, 2015, 04:51 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There are no places that are 1/4 day apart. Even if the train only takes 2 hours the time from starting out in hotel in city 1 and checking into hotel in city 2 will be at least 4 hours - can be more. So unless you are on the train at 6 am - you will have 1/2 day at best whenever you arrive in each town (except the day trips).
nytraveler is offline  
Old Aug 10th, 2015, 05:05 PM
  #8  
kja
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,089
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I agree that you need to consult some good guidebooks. Their cost is TRIVIAL in comparison to the cost of your trip, and they are ALWAYS a good investment IME, but you can also go to a library and look at them there.
kja is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
batasari
Europe
18
Jun 15th, 2015 07:33 PM
DianaK
Europe
37
Apr 4th, 2013 03:22 PM
Mirta_Machuca
Europe
9
Feb 4th, 2012 03:05 PM
mzs1978
Europe
6
Jul 23rd, 2006 07:46 AM
MikeyP58
Europe
14
Apr 17th, 2006 06:30 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -