8-10 days in Italy
 

My wife and I are planning our first trip to Italy. We would like to spend some time in Venice and Rome. Looking for some suggestions on the best time to go and suggestions for an itinery.

Thanks

These questions are easily answered by any travel guide book or website, which you can then take along with you, having everything in one place.

The best time to go is subjective but I prefer the spring.

Click on the word "destinations" above. Fodor's has already put together itineraries for major cities.

Alot depends on your personal preferences. I like to travel in Italy in April/May or Sept./Oct. Crowds are slightly thinner and temperatures are cooler than in the summer months.

Another suggestion is to fly into Rome and out of Venice or vice versa, if those are the 2 cities you plan to focus this on. This way you won't have to backtrack to get your flight home.

Hi Snooz48,

With 8-10 days, you could probably do two or maybe three places. Many first-timers pick Rome, Florence and Venice, though that certainly doesn't mean you have to. It sounds like you already know you want to see Rome and Venice, so I would do some research and decide if you want to spend several days in both those cities, or whether there is somewhere else that you would like to add. Zeppole is correct that there are lots of guidebooks and web sites that will help you. I would see what books your local library has on Italy, and check out the Fodor's Destinations pages and other web sites.

As far as best time to go, August is when many Europeans go on vacation, so it's possible that the "resort" areas will be crowded and places in the cities will be closed or have more limited hours than they do at other times of the year. Personally I'd pick May or early June, but I haven't been to Italy in those months.

Here's a free, "non guide book" for Venice. The sort of guide book that one might write for oneself. Which I did.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...st-verbose.cfm

Hello Snooz, May, June, the latter half of September or October would be my preferred period of time. I have been in Italy several times during those months.

With the time you will have for your visit to Italy I think Venice and Rome is a very good decision.

I would fly into Venice and depart from Rome. I say that as usually the flights departing Venice leave quite early in the morning which can be somewhat of a hassle. In case you are not aware arriving at one airport and departing from a different one is called "multi-city" aka "open jaw" flights. You will consequently not lose time backtracking to the original airport.

I imagine you are thinking of taking the train between Venice and Rome. Both train stations are right in the middle of each city and the train trip will take around 4 1/2 or so hours.

Have fun doing research for your trip!

Snooz, my sister and I are going, for our first time, in early October. We're flying into Venice and out of Rome. We're, staying for 3 nights in Venice, taking a train to Rome and staying for 7. We plan on utilizing the trains a few times for day trips to Pompei, Florence (maybe) and points hither and yonder.

We're using Rome as our base so we can enjoy the leisurely time in Rome without the hassle of changing lodgings & cities every few days.

We even rented and apartment for the Rome leg. Check www.vrbo.com. Have fun planning.