banhbao

Hi All,
I have 10 days to 2 weeks in Italy starting in 3 weeks. The places that I would love to visit are (in order) Venice, Florence, Tuscany countrysides. I prefer the country beauty than urban so I decided not to going to Rome except flying-in and out there.
1. How is the weather there in Feb?
2. How many days I should stay at each location?
3. Portofino and Cinque Terre reasonable giving the time frame and weather?

Many Thanks,
Brian.

kfusto

1) Generally cool to cold. Sometimes rainy. Easy enough to check historical weather online.

2) It depends on your interests. You are not going to get "country beauty" in Venice or Florence as these are small cities. Other parts of Tuscany are scenic and lovely but not at their best in Feb. in terms of beauty IMO. If you do not want urban, then select a base in the countryside and make day trips from there.

3) The CT no, and Portofino (pretty to look at but I would not stay there) is more of a warm weather spot IMO. We like to stay on the coast in Liguria and really enjoy Rapallo as a base for the area but not sure about ferry schedules, etc. that would let you see the area without a car at this time of year.

Why fly into Rome if you do not intend to stay? Fly into Venice instead or Milan, which is a shorter train ride to Venice.

I like Florence in winter when the crowds are much less. The city has a very different atmosphere and is quite enjoyable. I have not gone into the Tuscan countryside at this time of year but there are many smaller towns with easy access from Florence. It depends on your personal interests and what you are looking to experience in Italy.

ira

Hi BB,

Tuscany will be dull and barren in Feb.

The CT will be cold, rainy and misty.

I suggest that you limit this visit to Venice (4 nights), Florence (4 nights) and Rome.
You can visit Siena and Pisa from Florence and Orvieto from Rome.

Fly into Venice and out of Rome.

mamcalice

I second Ira's suggestion. While I have been in the Tuscan countryside in the late winter, I would not suggest going there. It is not the Tuscany that you have dreamed of seeing. Stick to the cities in winter.

annhig

bahnbo,

i am usually the first to say that visitors to italy shoudl not confine themselves to the cities, but in the case of a visit in February, I would definitely agree that you would be better off sticking with with them.

and flying into AND out of Rome but not staying? what a waste! [and here speaks someone who had visited Italy about half a dozen times before I got to Rome, and I kick myslf every time I think about it]

My suggestion for a 10 day trip would be to get the train straight to Venice from Rome, and then work your way to Rome via Bologna or Florence, then Rome, to be in the right place for your flight home.

banhbao

Thanks all for your replies.
I have to fly-in and out from Rome because this is the stopover for my business trip. Look like I have to come back to Italy in other time to enjoy Tuscany.

My itinerary will be like this
Day 1: Fly into Rome from US, fly to Venice right away
Day 2,3,4 Venice
Day 5,6,7,8 Florence (Siena, Pisa side trips)
Day 9,10... Rome

Brian.

zeppole

Hi,

I live in Italy, not far from Portofino and le Cinque Terre, and the weather here has been mild and generally gorgeous all winter. Yesterday, I ate lunch by the sea and it was so warm that I took off my jacket. So did everybody else. It is not "cold rainy and misty."

Ira, truth time: Have you ever been to le Cinque Terre -- ever? If so, when and for how long?

My experience of Tuscany in winter is that it is green. Mamalice has no way of knowing your dreams. Maybe you'd rather not be there when it is steaming hot and crowded with tourists.

I realize you've settled on your itinerary and I'm not encouraging you to change it. I'm not predicting the weather when you are Italy. You could have hail, sleet, floods or plagues of locusts or warm breezes and almond blossoms.

Just thought it was worth popping in to correct much of the sill stuff previously posted.

PS: I'm a little puzzed as to why you think you are going in February if you aren't leaving for 3 weeks from Feb 10. Had you posted with a question about early March, you would have most likely gotten a very different set of responses.

look11

I went to Florence years ago at the end of February. The weather was chilly in the morning, but warmed to mid 60's every day. To me, the lack of crowds was the priority and I had a fabulous time. It really depends on the weather forecast for when you go, though.
That being said, I could spend a year in Rome and still not get my fill, so personally, I would spend the entire time in Rome

sarge56

Brian,

Two suggestions. Do not FLY to Venice. Cheaper and probably faster (in the long run) is the high speed train.

When you land in Rome, you take the Leonardo Express to the Rome Termini station (25 mts/E14). At Termini, you board a high-speed train to Venice. 2nd class is fine. You can sleep on the train and you will be in Venice in under four hours.

Second suggestion- take one day off of Florence and add it to Rome.

Buon viaggio!

banhbao

Hi,
My itinerary has not been set yet. I'm waiting for my work schedule so most likely I'll be in Italy on the last week of Feb til second week of March.

I prefer to see Italy in a non-tourist way, enjoy as much as local life as possible. I love to see and take pictures of everyday life Italian scenery and people, not the typical ones that everyone sees on the travel brochure.

As the day approaches, I'll check on the weather one more time before make my final schedule.

Thanks,
Brian.