LaurenP

Hello! My boyfriend and I are travelling to Italy from beginning to mid-September. Neither of us have ever been to Italy. We want to do some sightseeing but mostly we would like to relax, eat, drink, shop and enjoy being in the beautiful country. Right now our itinerary is as follows:

Fly into Venice - 2 nights
Bellagio - 4 nights
Florence - 2 nights
Positano - 4 nights (day trip to Capri)
Rome - 3 nights
Fly out of Rome

He thinks we are squeezing too much into one trip. I am sure that you could easily spend a week in some of these cities but I would like to see as much as possible, without spending too much time travelling. Please let me know what you think. Thanks!

zeppole

I'm puzzled why you want to go to Florence if the main point of your trip to relax, eat, drink, shop and enjoy being in the beautiful country. Since you are already committed to flying into Venice and Rome, sounds like you'll get the "some" sightseeing you want there.

ellenem

Because of the distances between each of your locations, I suspect you will spend at least 5-7 hours each time you change locations--basically losing that day to travel, checking in and out of hotels, waiting at train stations, finding your way in a new place. So the better part of 4 of your 15 days will probably be taken up with travel. How does that sound to you?

My biggest concern about your timing is that 2 nights in Florence allows only one full day because of the heavy travel days before and after the stay. This may be fine if you are not interested in Renaissance art.

Jean

I agree with your boyfriend. The only relaxing part is the time in Bellagio and Positano. Nevertheless, I'd probably skip Positano on this trip because of the distance and logistics involved in getting there and back. Where you put those days is up to you and your interests, but an additional day in each of the Big Three would slow you down a bit.

If your flight to Venice is long and/or involves a connection, your one and only full day in Venice may be impacted by jetlag.

Firebird44

We just returned from a week in Italy: Rome, Florence, and Parma. I wish we'd had more time, but we did everything we wanted to do, and then some. I don't think your plan is too ambitious, assuming you're realistic about what you want to accomplish, particularly with respect to sightseeing.

How are you going to get around? Will you be driving? Taking the train? The train service is great, but you'll have more flexibility if you drive, so figure out how long your travel time will be. And don't plan on your flights being exactly on time.

For example, if you want to see St Peter's Basilica AND the Vatican Museum (Sistine Chapel) that's two half-days, and if you hit long lines, you'll have to do it on two separate days. Then you'll have to decide whether you want to do the Colisseum, catacombs, forum, Trastevere, Trevi Fountain, etc.

In Florence, the Ufizzi Museum can take most of a day, Accademia (Michelangelo's David) half a day. So in two nights, don't plan on doing the Ufizzi and Accademia and Medici Palace and the Duomo.

As for shopping, remember that most shops open in the morning, then close around 1 PM. SOME of them re-open in the evening, but not all. Figure that into the plan.

And ABSOLUTELY get reserved tickets online before you leave home for any attractions possible: Ufizzi and Accademia are perfect examples. It'll cost you an extra few bucks, but with limited time, you don't want to waste 90 minutes waiting on line. You'll also save yourself some inconvenience if you pick up some euros before you leave.

It sounds like a nice trip--just be realistic about your expectations. You're not going to see and do everything you'd like to.

bobthenavigator

What Jean said !

yestravel

I side with those who think you are trying to see too much with too few days. Of all the places u listed, Bellagio is my least favorite and I'd skip it and take those 4 days and add them to the other cities, particularly Venice and Florence becasue as pointed out due to travel time, u really only have a day in each place.

LaurenP

Thanks for the feedback. We are taking an overnight flight to Venice so we arrive early in the morning and essentially have two full days (maybe a day and a half). We plan on taking trains/ferries between Venice and Bellagio, and Bellagio and Florence. I think this will be the most timely part of our travelling from what I understand. Originally, Florence was not part of the itinterary but we have heard so many good things that we decided to squeeze a couple of nights in (it also breaks up the trip between lake como and Positano). I am considering doing a tour that covers all the popular spots so we can get a taste of Florence. I know from many of my friends that you can easily spend a week in Florence, maybe next time! We are hiring a driver to take us between the Naples train station and Positano so that should also save some time.

My boyfriend would probably be content if we did not do any sightseeing but I would like to do some so I tried to find a middle ground. He wanted more time on Lake Como so I don't think I can cut our stay short. It seems like the most logical thing to do would be to cut out Florence again..

kellymp

Florence to Positano is going to be a long ride...much longer than Bellagio to Florence from what I recall...might be more practical to cut out Positano and go to the Italian riviera instead (cinque terra or santa margharita or portofino, etc - lots of towns on the coast to choose from...) and then onto Rome. Or you could do the coast as a day trip from Florence (little far, but could be done) and you could do Capri from Rome as a day trip...again bit of a long day but you can go by boat out of Naples or by train. I have done 3 trips to Italy...one on a study abroad out of Florence for a little over a month and 2 trips with family that were about 12-14 days each...one was Rome, Florence, and Venice with side trips and the other was "North" with Santa Margharita, Como and then onto Austria...I tend to go 3-4 days in each place with a side trip so I am definitely not afraid to move around but even I think your schedule is super hectic...

jgg

I personally would drop a night from Bellagio and add to Rome, but I understand you are looking for relaxation time. So, my one advice is to get a hotel with a pool - critical for the relaxation element in Bellagio.

isabel

Yeah you need to cut something. Florence for only two days is a logical place to cut. Also, as much as I liked both Lake Como and the Amalfi Coast they are pretty far apart so there is some logic in cutting one of them. I just came back from the Amalfi Coast so now I'm partial to that area so I'd say if you can talk your boyfriend out of Lake Como and add the days to the other areas. The Amalfi Coast does offer lots more options - you can just chill on the beach the whole time but if you want you've got Capri, Amalfi, Ravello, Sorrento - even Pompeii - as options, whereas I didn't think there was as much potential on Lake Como. It's beautiful, but so is the coast.

If it were me I'd do: 3 nights Venice, 3 Florence, 6 Amalfi Coast, 3 Rome.

krgystn

I agree with Isabel: Como is way out of the way from the rest of your destinations. Great though it is, I would cut it out. I would also cut a night from Florence or Amalfi and add it to Rome (depending on your interests).

yestravel

What is it about Bellagio that appeals to your boyfriend? Maybe he can have that on the Amalfi coast instead? Also realize that rriving in Vencie after an overnight flight will leave u jetagged and in a bit of a fog the first day. Not that u cant be out and about. Venice is a wonderful place to overcome jetlag actually...wondering around the canals and seeing a few sigths works well.

zoecat

Here's a thought-

Maybe you could plan a future trip to include Rome/Amalfi only, allowing enough time to explore and enjoy both. This time, visit Venice, Lake Como, Florence and perhaps the countryside of either Tuscany or Umbria, still flying out of Rome. This would be more relaxing and allow you to spend time enjoying your destinations. You would need a car for the countryside locations.

Venice- 4
Como- 4
Florence- 2
Countryside- 4
Rome- 1 night prior to departure

Your last night, you might also consider staying just outside of Rome and drive to the airport to drop car on departure day. Here is a place located outside Rome but near the airport (~30 minutes) that seems nice and has received some good reviews (I've never stayed)-

http://www.tragliata.it/ing/borgo.htm