jlmurdo1

My husband and I are going to Italy in September for 9 days and are planning in staying in Rome the entire time. We will be taking a day trip to Naples and Pompeii, but I'm wondering if we will regret not seeing more of Italy on our trip. This will be our first trip to Europe-hopefully first of many (we're both only 23 and hope to do a lot of traveling in our lives), but realistically who knows. This could be our only one. I've planned out what we will be doing on our trip and I don't see how we would have time to see all of the things that we want to in Rome in less days. We want to be able to have pretty relaxed days-seeing a few things each day and spend a lot of time just wandering/relaxing. Please tell me what you think. Have many of you done the same thing?

BoulderCO

I think you would regret it. Although you could probably find enough in Rome to keep you busy why not visit at least one other spot? I suggest splitting your time between Rome and Amalfi Coast or between Rome and Tuscany.

mamc

There is plenty to do in Rome - with 2 or 3 day trips, 9 days is not excessive. However, if it were my first trip to Europe, I would split my time - perhaps 5 days in Rome and 4 days in Venice or 5 days in Rome and 4 in Florence with day trips to the Tuscan countryside. September is the perfect time to go and if you visit a couple of places, you will get a better idea of where you want to return.

strass

For me, personally, four days would be the max I'd spend in Rome. It IS an amazing city with lots to do and see, but once I'm in Italy, I want to see more than just one city! I'd consider taking a few days to visit Florence/Siena, or maybe going down the Amalfi Coast. These places just take a few hours to reach by train.

Keep in mind that Rome is a big, bustling, sometimes dirty place, and that can get wearying after awhile... I remember how blessedly serene and peaceful Assisi felt to me after three days in Rome. (Assisi is also well, well worth visiting! The views, the medieval archiecture...)

That's my two cents!

marcy_

I think this is a question that nobody can answer for you. There's really not a right or wrong answer here.

Everybody has a different "style" as far as how much moving around they like to do from place to place on a trip, so you'll get lots of different opinions on this.

My own feeling is that the more I travel, the more I like the idea of staying in one place and getting to know it better instead of moving around all the time and just getting an overview of each place.

It helps to know that you're going to come back, and that you'll see someplace different the next time.

So, personally, I don't think that you're making a mistake. There's plenty to see in Rome for nine days, especially with a side trip to Naples and Pompeii. Having nine days will allow you to relax and enjoy yourselves and not feel like you're rushing through it.

I'm sure that lots of people will disagree with me, though!

Leely

I agree with the above poster; it's really up to you. I personally love Rome and could spend weeks there. That said, I've always paired it with at least an overnight in Assisi.

Did I mention that I love Assisi?

dgruzew

Personally - (This is just me) I did not like rome as much as Florence and the Tuscany area (The only 2 places I have been in italy)

Rome is cool, but italy has SO much to offer. 9 days is way to long in rome IMO. 4 nights should be enough time to see some things and enjoy a little culture as well. Since you were planning a day trip to naples, why not spend 4-5 days on the amalfi coast as well. (Capri,positano,sorrento,amalfi,etc) Alough I have never been, many people rave about it

Parker

My sister and I went to Rome over Easter for 10 days. It was the first trip to Italy for her, her son, and my daughter's friend. They enjoyed this approach and got a really good feeling for the city, the people, the food, the Metro and bus schedules, etc. There are still a number of attractions that I haven't see yet and it was my fourth time there. One can always go back to Rome and see more!!

While there, we did two day trips: one to Naples/Pompeii and one to Orvieto. They really enjoyed seeing Orvieto, a hill town with a most amazing Duomo. That will give you a strong desire to return (as you predict you will and I agree!) and tour Tuscany/Umbria.

On the flip side, if I were going to recommend two cities to visit on a first trip to Italy, I'd recommend Rome and Venice (even though Positano is one of my favorite places!)

Ciao . . .

ira

Hi JL,

Nothing wrong with 9 days in Rome, with a few side trips.

My personal preference would be 5 days in Florence, with side trips, and 4 in Venice.

Amanda23

My fiance and I (also in our early twenties) recently went to Italy for 3 weeks. We found 4 days in Rome to be enough. I wouldn't miss out on Florence, Venice, or the Amalfi coast (pick one only) if given the chance to see one of them as well as Rome. If it were me, I would do 5 days in Rome and 4 days in Florence.

Eloise

People tend to feel quite strongly for or against Rome. Personally, I think that you can easily fill nine days in Rome and still not see all that you might like to see. (And I say that after some 25 trips to Rome, on the last of which I still discovered interesting things I had never seen before.)

I would be a little concerned, though, if you are planning the trip as a "vacation." The pace in Rome can be frenetic, and you might very well need a few days away from the city and in a more relaxing environment like Tuscany.

But I do not quite understand how someone who this morning stated "I have been to Italy a number of times and have not yet seen Rome" can express a *preference* for Florence and Venice.

shellio

Why not play it by ear? If after a few days in Rome you feel you've been there long enough, pack up and go somewhere else. Drop into a travel agency and ask for help if you don't know where you'd like to go. They can help you choose and make train/hotel reservations for you. Just give your Rome hotel a day's notice.

Have a great time and don't start second-guessing yourself...there's no way to know until you get there.

Tasha8182

I think that you can find plenty to do with 9 days in Rome, especially if you do a few sides trips. Naples and Pompeii are great! How about Orvieto or Pisa?

bookchick

I agree with Marcy--it's really a matter of your personal tastes & preferences. You can easily get to Tivoli and Villa d'Este for side trips, as well as Florence. And you don't need a car--lots of places like American Express can get you on a tour of the first two, and you can take the Eurostar train to Florence and be there in an hour and a half. Since it's just the two of you, I don't think it'll be that difficult to play it by ear.

Buon Viaggio,
BC

cherylforeurope

For our first trip to Italy we were in Rome for 6 nights and didn't go anywhere else...partly because it was January otherwise I would have headed for the Amalfi Coast. We both loved Rome, and it took a few days to get past their very serious graffiti problem. Do I
wish we had gone elsewhere...yes, because we fell in love and wanted to experience more of Italy. We have a trip to Germany planned for next Fall and after that it's back to Italy.
I agree with Shellio if you can do it.
Wing it while there...if you've had enough of Rome then head elsewhere. Have a plan B before you go. Have a wonderful, wonderful time. It doesn't get any better then sipping a glass of
wine while gazing at the Pantheon! Let us know how your trip goes.

walkinaround

Marcy could not have said it better.

i think you are very different from most first time euro travelers here. most want to see far too much in too little time. in general i think you are taking the right approach. i agree that you will have plenty to do in rome + some day trips.

Rome is like a country in itself. italy is very diverse and no one place will give you the "real" italy. italy has such a strong identity (actually many different identities), especially for americans that it's hard to capture all the expectations in one trip.

For me, i think that tuscany was the closest thing to it. i'm not saying that it was the best but what i mean is that when i was in tuscan countryside, i said, "ahhhh, this is italy". i got no such feeling in rome, venice, CT, forence, pisa, siena, etc.

Rome is fascinating in itself. the contributions to civilisation are staggering and it is not to be missed. don't be bothered by those who don't like rome...and there are many. your day trips (or second visited area, if you so choose) should be slower paced in my opinion as hitting rome + other major cities would be too hectic.

NYCFoodSnob

If art and history (not to mention religion) is your thing, a lifetime in Rome wouldn't be long enough. At 23, who needs relaxation? My first trip (similar age) was limited to five days and I found myself wishing I had added two more. And that's because I love to shop in Rome. Let's face it, one trip can't encompass it all.

It's true, people either love Rome or can leave it. I love it and could easily live there. Enjoy your decision.

Shanna

Hi - my first trip to Rome was 8 days - but then I went to Paris and London after. I took a lot of day trips. For your 9 days, it might be good to do an overview of Rome for 4-5 days and some other city the remaining days. One of the things about Rome is overload - it's just so much and if you don't have a history background, much of what you see you won't really appreciate. A few days and you'll come home wanting to research all you saw. That will get you more knowledge and the next trip would be more in-depth and more appreciated. I think Venice would be incredibly romantic for a young couple, but personally I'd do Venice by itself. It is mysterious, unusual, exotic, even a little scary (read Thomas Mann - Death in Venice). Florence is not my favorite city but for art - well, what can be said? Florence is art. Maybe Sorrento or some place to relax and ponder all you've seen in Rome. All that being said, the idea of not rushing through Rome - just deciding what you will see and taking time to meander side streets, stop, shop, eat, watch the world walk by -oh - that will be utterly wonderful. Just make sure you throw coins in Trevi Fountain to ensure your return to Rome. Whatever you decide, have a wonderful time. There is nothing like the first trip to Europe - take time to write down your impressions.

tashak

jlmurdo,
I think you have already answered your own questions! You took a look at what you wanted to do in Rome, and decided it could fill your trip! And it absolutely CAN-- as others have said, you could spend a lifetime going to Rome and still make wonderful new discoveries. I would be the first to tell you you MUST see Florence. Or Venice. But if you only have 9 days, I think this would be a wonderful plan. Really see Rome, and take some exploratory day trips-- since you are not moving around and changing hotels you could do 2 long day trips (and perhaps 1 shorter day trip) , and still have time to relax alot. And experience la dolce vita...instead of frenetic first-time tourist jump around pace! Sounds like you have already reached a place that many of us only reach after our first trip!

I think your plan for a day trip to Naples and Pompeii is great. It would be easy to add a cheap (by train) and comfortable daytrip to Orvieto, to see a lovely smaller Italian town with lots of history and one of Italy's best cathedrals. (Train is only 1 hr each way).

If you are feeling really hardy, you could even take an early fast train to Florence and catch a bit of that incredible city. (About 2 hours each way...but remember, you can nap on the train!) That way you will be well-prepared to plan your next trip to Florence!

Since you will be in your hotel room for 9 days, I'd try to make sure it is one you like, and one that will help you arrange your day trips. I'm not saying luxurious--just a place that feels more personal and family like (you can tell I have a favorite).

Anyway, don't let ANYONE convince you that travel is better "their way". Of course it is better their way...for them! Arrange the trip YOUR heart desires...and buon viaggio!

SusieQQ

On one of my first trips to Europe I did just that and loved it! In order to get the real "flavor" of an area you need to have time to relax, walk and enjoy it. You settle into a hotel and get to know the local neighborhood. I prefer that to running around to more than one location.