Venice/Bologna as day trips from Florence or should we stay there?
Sep 30th, 2013, 01:32 AM
#1
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Venice/Bologna as day trips from Florence or should we stay there?
Hi All!
We have five full days in Italy- air tickets in and out of Rome and cannot be changed.
We're thiking of spending two days in Rome, then we're not sure about the three other days. Should we spend a day in Florence, take the train to Venice and spend the night there, then spend the last night in Bologna?
Or should we use Florence as a base for three nights, then take day trips to Venice, Bologna, and possibly Siena?
Would you save Venice for a nother trip to Northern Italy as it is a little out of the way?
Our flight out of Rome leaves at 15:50 on day number 6. So I think we can actually take the train back to Rome in the morning of our flight out of Rome from either Florence or Bologna.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
We have five full days in Italy- air tickets in and out of Rome and cannot be changed.
We're thiking of spending two days in Rome, then we're not sure about the three other days. Should we spend a day in Florence, take the train to Venice and spend the night there, then spend the last night in Bologna?
Or should we use Florence as a base for three nights, then take day trips to Venice, Bologna, and possibly Siena?
Would you save Venice for a nother trip to Northern Italy as it is a little out of the way?
Our flight out of Rome leaves at 15:50 on day number 6. So I think we can actually take the train back to Rome in the morning of our flight out of Rome from either Florence or Bologna.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Sep 30th, 2013, 01:54 AM
#2
Hi chillout,
I think that you will find that many people here will recommend spending the whole time in Rome, perhaps with a day trip to Orvieto or to Tivoli, and/or a half day excursion to Osti Antica. you don't say if you've been to Italy or Rome before, but I'm inferring from your post that you haven't. apologies if I've got this wrong.
There is simply loads to do in Rome, enough for many weeks, let along 5 days but the possibility of day trips can offer a change to the city if you want one.
However, if you decide that you can't possibly spend all the time in Rome, at least put your time in Rome at the end of your trip, so you will be in the right place for flying home on your last day.
on your first day, the best plan would be to get the train to wherever you have decided to go, and stay there til you return to Rome. you might do 3 nights in Florence [which only gives you 2 whole days there], and another 3 nights in Rome, which will give you about 2 1/2 days there too. you certainly don't have time to go to Siena [a whole day trip from Florence] or to Venice, which is too far for such a short trip. and there is plenty to do in Florence without charging off to Bologna, or anywhere else.
so, to recap - I would suggest staying in Rome for the whole 5 days, but if you can't bear to do that for some reason, go first to Florence for 3 nights, then come back to Rome for the remainder of your trip.
I think that you will find that many people here will recommend spending the whole time in Rome, perhaps with a day trip to Orvieto or to Tivoli, and/or a half day excursion to Osti Antica. you don't say if you've been to Italy or Rome before, but I'm inferring from your post that you haven't. apologies if I've got this wrong.
There is simply loads to do in Rome, enough for many weeks, let along 5 days but the possibility of day trips can offer a change to the city if you want one.
However, if you decide that you can't possibly spend all the time in Rome, at least put your time in Rome at the end of your trip, so you will be in the right place for flying home on your last day.
on your first day, the best plan would be to get the train to wherever you have decided to go, and stay there til you return to Rome. you might do 3 nights in Florence [which only gives you 2 whole days there], and another 3 nights in Rome, which will give you about 2 1/2 days there too. you certainly don't have time to go to Siena [a whole day trip from Florence] or to Venice, which is too far for such a short trip. and there is plenty to do in Florence without charging off to Bologna, or anywhere else.
so, to recap - I would suggest staying in Rome for the whole 5 days, but if you can't bear to do that for some reason, go first to Florence for 3 nights, then come back to Rome for the remainder of your trip.
Sep 30th, 2013, 02:07 AM
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Venice and Bologna are too far. You would get there, take a walk, and have to go back to the station.
Stay in Florence and take a day trip to Siena if you don't find your time completely occupied in Florence.
When do you have to check for your flight? If two hours before, you need to be at the airport at one or so. Can you get a train from Florence that will comfortably get you to Rome in time to change trains and get to Fiumicino? I would want to be on the platform in Roma Termini by noon, at the latest. This means a train from Florence around 9 or 9:30?
Read the papers or check the internet for holidays, strike plans or track work that might mean leaving a day earlier.
Stay in Florence and take a day trip to Siena if you don't find your time completely occupied in Florence.
When do you have to check for your flight? If two hours before, you need to be at the airport at one or so. Can you get a train from Florence that will comfortably get you to Rome in time to change trains and get to Fiumicino? I would want to be on the platform in Roma Termini by noon, at the latest. This means a train from Florence around 9 or 9:30?
Read the papers or check the internet for holidays, strike plans or track work that might mean leaving a day earlier.
Sep 30th, 2013, 02:38 AM
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I do like the idea of spending the entire time in Rome.
However, this will be my friends' first time in Italy and they don't get to travel as much as I do, so who knows if they will ever be back. That's why I feel almost obliged to at least show them both Rome and Florence.
I've been to Rome once before, and while I agree that there is so much to see there, it is a lot smaller than other major European capitals like London and Paris.
BTW, Bologna is only 35 mins away by train from Florence, thats why I thought of including it in the plan, though Siena is definitely out and I'm still unsure about Venice!
However, this will be my friends' first time in Italy and they don't get to travel as much as I do, so who knows if they will ever be back. That's why I feel almost obliged to at least show them both Rome and Florence.
I've been to Rome once before, and while I agree that there is so much to see there, it is a lot smaller than other major European capitals like London and Paris.
BTW, Bologna is only 35 mins away by train from Florence, thats why I thought of including it in the plan, though Siena is definitely out and I'm still unsure about Venice!
Sep 30th, 2013, 03:48 AM
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Unless your friends are avid artlovers, I would split your time between Rome and Venice. They are both wonderful, full of sights and completely distinctive. Could you fly into one and out of the other?
Sep 30th, 2013, 05:15 AM
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I would spend the entire time in Rome with a day trip to Florence. If your friends want to do more, spend half the time in Rome and half in Florence with a day trip to Bologna. Or half in Rome and half in Venice.
If you choose to split your time, upon arrival in Rome, go immediately to Florence or Venice. Return to Rome for the final days so you will be there for your flight home. Returning to Rome the day of your flight is very risky. What if there is a strike? Not especially unusual.
If you choose to split your time, upon arrival in Rome, go immediately to Florence or Venice. Return to Rome for the final days so you will be there for your flight home. Returning to Rome the day of your flight is very risky. What if there is a strike? Not especially unusual.
Sep 30th, 2013, 06:44 AM
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Hi, chillout, we talked to a guy who did a Florence day trip by bus from Rome--he left very early and arrived back quite late and said it was a fine, albeit a long day. Guided tour and all tickets arranged plus he didn't have to pack/unpack.
What kinds of things did you want to see in Rome? I vote for staying there also.
Orvieto's church is exquisite and the town is just the right size for a day walkabout.
What kinds of things did you want to see in Rome? I vote for staying there also.
Orvieto's church is exquisite and the town is just the right size for a day walkabout.
Sep 30th, 2013, 09:47 AM
#10
yes, you could do Florence for a day at a pinch - but it so deserves a few days in its own right that IMO Orvieto makes a better day trip option - you can see most of what it has to offer and have a nice lunch without having to rush.
but were you to decide to stay in Rome all the time, you wouldn't need to decide on day trips till you got there.
but were you to decide to stay in Rome all the time, you wouldn't need to decide on day trips till you got there.
Oct 2nd, 2013, 01:53 AM
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Turns out my friends really want to see Venice, so we'll be in Rome for two days, Venice for two, and in Florence on the last day. We'll take the train early in the morning each time we travel between the cities as to make the most of our day.
I think this may not be such a bad idea afterall, as the hostoric center of Rome is quite compact. On the first day, we would walk from the Spanish steps to the Trevi Fountain, then on to Piazza Navona and Campo dei fiori. After lunch we could walk towards the Vittorio Emanuele memorial and the Colosseum.
On the second day we would see the Vatican, the 'castle of angels' and its bridge, and perhaps Trastevere.
Is there anything else in Rome we are missing out on?
I think this may not be such a bad idea afterall, as the hostoric center of Rome is quite compact. On the first day, we would walk from the Spanish steps to the Trevi Fountain, then on to Piazza Navona and Campo dei fiori. After lunch we could walk towards the Vittorio Emanuele memorial and the Colosseum.
On the second day we would see the Vatican, the 'castle of angels' and its bridge, and perhaps Trastevere.
Is there anything else in Rome we are missing out on?
Oct 2nd, 2013, 03:16 AM
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Given your friends' requirements, this is not a bad plan -- if you can all drag yourselves out of bed in time to get the early morning trains. At least the stations are in the center of things.
I suspect that what you will be doing is making a walk around or looksie visit since you won't really have time to go in many places. This is not a problem since it will encourage you to come back but it will lead to frustration if there are things you want to see like where there are likely to be long lines.
I suspect that what you will be doing is making a walk around or looksie visit since you won't really have time to go in many places. This is not a problem since it will encourage you to come back but it will lead to frustration if there are things you want to see like where there are likely to be long lines.
Oct 2nd, 2013, 05:04 AM
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Is there anything you are missing??? Tonnes of things, but the Forum and Colloseum spring to mind!
Don't forget a good guide book to plan your very short time in each city! You will want to decide what you want to see and cross reference opening times to ensure you are able to see them.
Don't forget a good guide book to plan your very short time in each city! You will want to decide what you want to see and cross reference opening times to ensure you are able to see them.
Oct 2nd, 2013, 05:26 AM
#17
chillout,
Rome, venice and Florence - that's a hell of a lot of Italy in 5 days.
however, if that's what you're determined on, I do really urge you to turn the trip round so that you go to Venice first, then Florence, then Rome. relying on getting to Rome and to the airport from Florence sounds just too risky to me.
your trip could look like this:
Day 1 - arrive. Leonardo express to Termini [main station in Rome] [or as there are 4 of you, a cab as it will be about the same price] then express train to Venice. Arrive early afternoon, check in to hotel.
Day 2 - Venice
Day 3 - early train to Florence. Check into hotel. tour Florence.
Day 4 - early train to Rome. Check in. Tour Rome.
day 5 - Rome
Day 6 - am Rome. Midday taxi to Airport for flight home.
Rome, venice and Florence - that's a hell of a lot of Italy in 5 days.
however, if that's what you're determined on, I do really urge you to turn the trip round so that you go to Venice first, then Florence, then Rome. relying on getting to Rome and to the airport from Florence sounds just too risky to me.
your trip could look like this:
Day 1 - arrive. Leonardo express to Termini [main station in Rome] [or as there are 4 of you, a cab as it will be about the same price] then express train to Venice. Arrive early afternoon, check in to hotel.
Day 2 - Venice
Day 3 - early train to Florence. Check into hotel. tour Florence.
Day 4 - early train to Rome. Check in. Tour Rome.
day 5 - Rome
Day 6 - am Rome. Midday taxi to Airport for flight home.
