17days Italy itinerary for Dec
 

Hi

I am planning a trip with my husband to Italy this December and would appreciate some advice. Which are the must go places, especially on 24 Dec to spend Christmas and also 31 Dec for the count down. Thanx

17 Dec Arrive Rome


3 Jan depart Milan

It would help to know what your interests are - history, art, architecture, fine dining, visiting small hill towns, wine-tasting, shopping, etc.

Unfortunately at that time of year the countryside will not be at it's best and the seaside resorts will be mostly closed - so you're fairly well limited to cities/towns.

We spent a week in Tuscany over New Years last year and loved it. We found the countryside lovely and it was great to see Tuscany without hoardes of tourists.

You can read our trip report here

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-new-years.cfm

And see our pics here

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pug_gi...7639164500734/

We have also spent a week over New Years in Rome and had a great time.

Pics are here

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pug_gi...7637218569466/

Happy planning!

We spent 12 days in Rome last year over Christmas and New Years. The trip report is on the board if you want to do a search. For Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the Vatican is quite special. You don't need tickets if you're willing to stand outside, the huge screens do a great job broadcasting and Papa Francesco came to the balcony both times to give a blessing. As for NYE....Piazza Poppolo is the epicenter in Rome with music, fireworks, etc. However, all over Rome there are celebrations that will run up to an hour.

Thanx for the advices. We will be very interested to try all local food, see the architecture, experience the culture, visiting small hill towns, some off beaten tracks, wine-tasting, and of course shopping.

Are you going by train or car or both?

17 Dec Arrive Rome
18, 19, 20, 21, 22 (can do day trips by train to Pompeii or closer neat places like Tivoli and Hadrian's Villas or Ostia Antica, etc)

23-Florence
24 (24th eve go to Christmas Mass in a church with a big choir)
25, 26, 27 Tuscan hill towns or day trips from Florence to them or Pisa's Leaning Tower, etc.

28, 29, 30, 31 - Venice (should be wonderful at New Year's Eve)

1 , 2 Milan
3 Jan depart Milan

Trains are the best for Italian cities IME - cars are a hassle with wide swatches of cities being off-limits to private vehicles, parking can be hard to find and expensive when you do - cars are useless for exploring cities like Rome (and of course Venice)'

For lots of great stuff on Italian trains I always spotlight these IMO super-informative sites: www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.seat61.com.

Book tickets really early at www.trenitalia.com for nifty discounts over just showing up but note that they are sold in limited numbers so must be booked in stone (for all practical purposes) weeks ahead of time and cannot be changed nor refunded I believe but can save a ton over walk-up tickets.

Thank u PalenQ for the suggestions! It's definitely a big help in my planning

My friends said suggested to visit Sardinia. Is it a good time to travel to the island? What the the best transportation mode and from where?

No. December really is a terrible time to go Sardinia. This is a time when severe storms can blow across the Mediterranean. Most of the restaurants and hotels in Sardinia are really geared toward the summertime tourist trade, and you would struggle to find best food and things to do.

Noted on the low season during winter. My husband is set to go.. Pls advice how can we fit in the itinerary, what transportation mode and from which location to depart from. Thanx

Sardinia can be reached by ferry from the mainland - would fit in between Florence and Rome but after being there a few times I would not go out of my way in winter to see this island that is very enjoyable in warm weather.

IMO not a good time to travel to Sardinia - cities like Florence and Rome and Venice can be enjoyed in any weather or season but Sardinia I think not so nice.