liy2121

Hello all!

I'm spending 10 days this August in Italy. I arrive and leave out of Rome. In between, my cities of destination include Florence, Rome, Venice, and am contemplating spending one or two nights in Cinque Terre. This is my tentative schedule. I would really appreciate feedback!

August 11-13 Rome
August 13-17 Florence (day trips from Florence)
August 17-18 Venice
August 18-19 Cinque Terre
August 19 Open
August 20-21 Rome (flying out the 21st from Rome)

I'm not sure whether adding CT to the schedule is worth it. Should I extend Venice for two nights? Should I add another city and exclude CT altogether? Is this schedule ideal for the time I intend on spending?

This is my first time in Italy, and I would love to make it memorable. Any insight would be much appreciated.

Thank you!

new_adventure

I have not yet made my first trip to Italy, but am in the planning process. All of your cities except Rome are on our itinerary. It will take you a good 5+ hours by train to get from Venice to Cinque Terre, so I would think it's really not worth going over there. I would add those two days to one of your other destinations, but that's just me.

And I'm sure those who have already been can shed more light on that.

new_adventure

Oh, and unless you have already purchased your tickets, I would rethink flying into and out of Rome. Open jaw tickets are no more expensive, generally, and will save you travel time having to backtrack.

joannyc

Fly open jaw. My flight into Venice and out of Rome was much better time wise... flights usually leave Venice early in the morning but later out of Rome. So, fly into Venice and out of Rome.

With only 10 days, I'd do 3 Venice, 3 Florence, and 4 Rome.

janisj

You may have a lot less time than you think. And the way you lay out your itinerary just adds to that. You have yourself in two cities on the same day -- doesn't really work that way since you have to figure a lot of travel/checking in/checking out time.

So it helps to think in terms of nights rather than days:

August 11-12 Rome = 1.5 days and the 11th will mostly be jetlag recovery time.

August 13-16 Florence = 3.5 days --

August 17 = 1/2 day in Venice

August 18 = less than 1/2 a day in the Cinque Terre

August 19 Open

August 20 Rome 1/2 a day in Rome (flying out the 21st from Rome so you really can't do anything much other than pack and go to the airport)

So IMO you need to rearrange things and drop at least one destination. Me -- I'd drop the CT and add time to both Venice and Rome.

Toucan

Two half days in Venice (including Murano) was plenty for me. Same for Rome. I know thats not the prevailing sentiment here but it worked for our first time in Ialy.

Try flying out of Milan then spend more time around Tuscany after Venice, finish up in CT / Milan. In other words, fly into Rome, train to Venice, drive through Tuscany and to CT then end in Milan.

Our recent 10 day trip (12 counting flight days) went like this: arrive Milan; Pisa, San Gimignano, Lucca (Tuscany); Rome-Pompeii-Rome (2 days); Siena; Florence; Venice; Verona; Lake Maggiore; depart Milan. All by rented car.

Many here will disagree with this itinerary being too rushed but it was a highlight trip and worked just fine for our first visit.

DownUnder

It is easy to get to Florence from the CT. Going to the CT from Venice is the long way around. I would go Rome/CT/Florence/Venice/Rome.

Golfergal

I'm going assume that since your trip is a month away you have your flights already. A short trip to CT in August would be far from my top choice. It will be packed and very hot; neither of which you want to deal with if you only have a day or two. Any of the 3 cities would be better with the extra time. I'm not a huge Rome fan, but the number of amazing sites to see takes more than 2 days, again especially in the heat, so adding time there makes it easier to see more sites without making each day exhausting. Now if you prefer leisurely days in small towns, add the time to Florence and Tuscany (that would be my choice). Or with Venice you can even hit the beach with the extra day.

My best advice, and advice learned here and through our own mistakes, is to make sure you have plenty of time for each place rather than adding extra stops. Whipping in and out of a city doesn't let you really get the feel for it or enjoy its best. Italy is not a place best experienced at a fast pace; you'll miss what truly makes Italy fabulous.

annhig

IMHO far too rushed and busy an itinerary especially for august, but if you must, you must.

but you could save a lot of time by swapping it round as jj suggests:

August 11-Arrive. Get train to Venice. stay until:
August 13-17 Florence (day trips from Florence)
August 17-19 Cinque Terre
August 19 - 21 Rome. (flying out the 21st from Rome)

this has you in Rome last so that you are in the right place to go home, and doesn't split up your stay there, which maximises your time. However, borrowing a day from Florence might give you a better balance to your trip.

it's still too crowded, but you spend your first possibly jetlagged day on the train to Venice so it's not completely wasted.

liy2121

Thank you very much for all the advice. I am going to take CT out of the itinerary and add time to Rome and Venice. Thanks again!

bobthenavigator

Good---3 destinations are best.