We are planning to be in italy for 11 days (excluding travel days) and have landed on the following itenary (we think?). We would love to get some feedback from experienced Italy travellers.

Day 1- Rome (arive early am)
Day 2- Rome
Day 3- Siena
Day 4- Greve - may stay in Siena but day trip to greve...or just stay in greve.
Day 5- Florence
Day 6- Florence
Day 7- Cinque Terre
Day 8- Cinque Terre
Day 9- Venice
Day 10- Venice
Day 11- Rome (we depart the next day at 1pm)

You are moving around a lot in 11 days, and remember that 2 nights somewhere really only means 1 full day.

It would help to know your interest or what you plan to see in each place in order to give you a better idea of time to spend, but at a glance I would say that you need to remove some of the overnights/destinations and save them for next time if you want to see anything significant.

Looks good enough to see the high points and must-sees in each place. Reasonably fit, light packers can cover lots of ground and see lots of different sights in 11 days.

Happy travels!

I wouldn't stay in Rome twice. It takes time checking in and out and since you are ending in Rome, just put all of your Rome stay together. I would probably train to Florence (about 90 minutes from Rome) upon arrival and start the trip there. Another option is train to Venice and work your way back to Rome. I think you need to drop a couple of places as your trip is too hectic with all the hotel/city changes.

If you haven't booked airfare yet, fly into Venice and home from Rome.

If you haven't purchased you air ticket, definitely go for the open-saw, as K suggests.

Have you been to Italy before? I also think it's a bit hectic, and you can definitely use more time in Rome (unless you've been there before and really want to see the other areas). I would also consider dropping one of the middle places (Siena/Greve/CT), or pick one central place and to day trips.

...oops...that's open-Jaw not open-Saw...

On airline websites open-jaw is called multi-city in the search box. But it sounds as though you already have your tickets.

DO have our tix already.. we have never been to italy before and want to try and experience as much as possible.

Would an improvement to this schedule be as follows:

Day 1- Rome (arive early am)
Day 2- Rome
Day 3- Florence
Day 4- Florence (day trip to Greve)
Day 5- Florenc (day trip to Siena)
Day 6- Florence
Day 7- Cinque Terre
Day 8- Cinque Terre
Day 9- Venice
Day 10- Venice
Day 11- Rome (we depart the next day at 1pm) - This last day gives us some flexibility of staying in Venice part day or going back to Rome early am.

Assuming you will be arriving from the States, and given the number of destinations you are trying to work in, I strongly agree with kybourbon's suggestions of traveling to Florence or Venice on your arrival day. An easy train ride to one of these cities is a great way to kill time that would otherwise not be of much use. If you were to stay in Rome, it is unlikely you will be able to check into your accommodations until the afternoon. You will also be too tired to really appreciate any sightseeing you might attempt to do that day. You could then add those 2 days in Rome onto the end of your trip for a more relaxing stay. Good luck@

I suggest you to take the train from airport to Florence, instead going to Rome. Stay in Rome at the end of the trip:

Day 1- Rome (arive early am)- train to Florence
Day 2- Florence
Day 3- Florence (day trip to Greve)
Day 4- Florence (day trip to Siena)
Day 5- Cinque Terre
Day 6- Cinque Terre
Day 7- Venice
Day 8- Venice
Day 9 - Rome
Day 10- Rome
Day 11- Rome (we depart the next day at 1pm)

I agree with kybourbon and moongirl, and would get the longest journey in first, while you re recovering from jetlag. also arriving in venice at the stazione santa lucia is a pretty special start to your trip.

so I suggest this:

Day 1- Rome (arive early am) train to termini, then Venice.
Day 2- Venice
Day 3- Venice
Day 4- Venice - train to Florence
Day 5- Florence
Day 6- Florence
Day 7- Florence train to Cinque Terre
Day 8- Cinque Terre
Day 9- CT Train to Rome
Day 10- Rome
Day 11- Rome

you don't need to book any day trips from Florence and you may want to wait til you get there before you decide whether you want to do that.

BTW, 3 nights is nothing like enough for Rome, but then 13 or 30 nights wouldn't be either! so you might as well take what you can get and just promise yourselves you'll be back!

I agree with leaving rome from the start then work your way back to Rome. The above suggestions are very good.

When are you going?

Leaving end of August... flight is 7pm on a friday night our time and land in Rome at 10am. I am going to explore saving rome for the end. I am not a fan of going straight to Venice from Rome when I land since I would have just been traveling 11 hrs... but the Florence Idea may work.

>>>I am not a fan of going straight to Venice from Rome when I land since I would have just been traveling 11 hrs.<<<

If you will be too tired to ride a train, then you will be much too tired to sightsee which is why everyone is suggesting you spend that day traveling. Here's a picture of 2nd class on the fast trains so you will know what it is like.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fr...ssainterno.jpg

Day 1 - Train to Florence
Day 2 - Florence
Day 3 - Florence (plan day trip as museums are closed Monday)
Day 4 - Florence
Day 5 - CT (3 hours travel time with train changes)
Day 6 - CT (I would drop CT and put the time elsewhere)
Day 7 - Venice (it will take about 6 hours to reach from CT)
Day 8 - Venice
Day 9 - Rome (4+ hours travel)
Day 10 - Rome
Day 11 - Rome
Day 12 - Depart

We know that you want to cram a lot in, but you are not counting the time it takes to get places, get oriented to your new surroundings every time you change locations, locating things you want to see.

and once you're on the train, you might as well stay there and have a good sleep, which you have time for on the way to Venice, but not on the way to Florence.

Echoing kybourgon and annhig (again). Yes, you will be tired, so it is counter-intuitive. Ironically, though, the place you are likely to get the most rest will be on the train. You can take on one of the faster trains that has reserved seats. You will therefore have a comfortable, air-conditioned place to sit -- and possibly snooze -- as well as a place for your luggage. In contrast, imagine being equally tired in Rome, and having to find a place to park yourself and your luggage until probably 2 pm at the earliest, maybe 4 p.m. for check-in. What would you do? Go to a cafe? Sit in your hotel lobby (if you're in a hotel)?

Thanks for all the feedback... I believe we have landed on the following:


Day 1- Rome (arive early am)- train to Florence
Day 2- Florence (day trip to Greve)
Day 3- Florence (day trip to Siena)
Day 4- Florence
Day 5- Cinque Terre (morning train to CT)
Day 6- Cinque Terre
Day 7- Venice (morning train to V)
Day 8- Venice
Day 9- Venice (depart for Rome mid-late day)
Day 10- Rome
Day 11- Rome (we depart the next day at 1pm)


How is this?

The reason I was not a fan of going straigt to Venice after the long flight was not due to being tired (since its an overnight flight, I shoulg get a good sleep in) it was more about excitement of starting the trip!