1 week in Italy - Florence and Rome + day trips
 

We have 1 week (7 days in country) in Italy in early October. We will be starting out in Florence and flying out of Rome. What are some good day trips along the way? Should we go to Pisa, Cinque Terre, Pompeii, Siena, or Venice? Or should we just focus on the 2 cities.

Florence and Rome have enough to keep you busy for 7 days. You
may, however, want to research a simple day trip out of each city in case you want to schedule a last minute day trip. I would suggest Sienna out of Florence, easily reached by bus.
Tivoli is easily reached by public transportation from Rome.
Neither of these trips entail long trips nor much advanced planning. Certain attractions in each may be closed on certain days of the week and require research before you get to the main destination.

I would not attempt to take longer trips like Venice or Pompeii, particularly if you have not seen the main attractions in Florence or Venice yet. Have a great time!

Pat

With only 7 days I would not try many day tips---a bus to Siena from Florence may be the only exception.

I agree. You could spend all your time in either Rome or Florence and not see everything. Another very short trip from Florence would be Fiesole, a lovely hilltop town just outside the city. Also, outside of Rome is the ancient town of Ostia Antica. It's about a 30 minute train ride away. Lovely ruins.
We did take a trip to Cinque Terre once from Florence, and I believe it took about 1 1/2hrs or so to get there by car. It was definitely worth the trip, but again....there is so much to see in Rome and Florence and with only seven days.......how does that saying go about Rome "a lifetime is not enough"

Personally I would just focus on the two cities. There is so much to see in both cities I can't see taking any time away for day trips, plus it will take you part of one of the days to travel from Florence to Rome and get settled in your accommodation, really leaving you with six days.

Good planning to fly into one and out of the other to save backtracking.
Have a great trip!

Thank you all. I guess I'm just trying to fit too much in a short time and should just focus on the two cities.

I agree. Spend two nights in Florence and then take the earliest train you can to Rome. Your hotel will let you store your luggage prior to check-in, so you can see the sites in the morning- then go back and check in when they say you can.

You still will miss much of both cities with only 7 days. Do stop at your local big book store and browse the guide books on those two cities. Figure out what is on your "A" list, and plan accordingly- keeping in mind the days and times each is open for viewing/visiting.

Buon viaggio! Italy is a magical place. You'll want to go back, I guarantee it! :)