Not counting travel days, we will have 9 days in Rome. This is our 2nd trip to Italy. On our 1st trip we've stayed in Rome, Sorrento, Florence, Venice, Milan, each with 3-4 nights.

Given that we will fly in/out of Rome, would you spend all 9 days in Rome or split the time between Siena/Tuscany and Rome?

I know there are many good days trips out of Rome; Tivoli, Ancient Ostia, the Umbria region (Orvieto, Assisi). Plenty to do to fill the 9 days.

However, last time we day-trip to Siena from Florence and want to go back and spend more time in Siena and vicinity. We'll land in Rome 9am so it is conceivable that we head onto Siena right away, and be there in the afternoon. We can spend 4-5 nights there before heading back to Rome.

We are a family of 4 with 2 teenagers, love Roman ruins, charming medieval towns, and good food.

Any insight will be appreciated.

Did you miss any of these on your previous trip to Rome?:

Let us know what you want to visit (or re-visit) in Rome and it will be easier to recommend 9 days (8 nights?) in Rome or split it up.

National Etruscan Museum (Museo Nazionale di Villa Giulia)

Galleria Borghese

Hadrian's Villa (Villa Adriana)

Roman Forum (Foro Romano), Palatine Hill (Palatino), and Palatine Museum (Museo Palatino)

Catacombs of St. Domitilla (Catacombe di San Domitilla)

The Colosseum (Colosseo)

Basilica di San Pietro (St. Peter's Basilica)

Vatican Museums (Musei Vaticani) & the Sistine Chapel (Cappella Sistina)

The Pantheon

Villa d'Este

National Gallery of Ancient Art (Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica)

Imperial Forums (Fori Imperiali)

Trevi Fountain (Fontana dei Trevi)

Galleria Nazional d'Arte Antica in Barberini Palace

Villa Lante

Ostia Antica's Ruins

Palazzo del Quirinale

Villa Farnesina

Capitoline Museum (Museo Capitolino) and Palazzo dei Conservatori

Catacombs of St. Callixtus (Catacombe di San Callisto)

Castel Sant'Angelo

Santa Maria in Trastevere

Diocletian Bath (Terme di Diocleziano) and the Octagonal Hall (Aula Ottagona)

Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore

Santa Cecilia in Trastevere

National Gallery of Modern Art (Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna)

Pyramid of Caius Cestius

Palazzo Altemps

Galleria Doria Pamphilj

National Museum of Palazzo Venezia (Museo Nazionale di Palazzo Venezia)

Catacombs of St. Sebastian (Catacombe di San Sebastiano)

Augustus's Mausoleum (Mausoleo Augusteo)

Altar of Peace (Ara Pacis)

Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano

St. Peter in Chains (San Pietro in Vincoli)

Golden House of Nero (Domus Aurea)

Basilica di San Clemente

Santa Maria d'Aracoeli

Galleria Colonna

Baths of Caracalla (Terme di Caracalla)

Villa Gregoriana

Park of the Monsters (Parco dei Mostri)

Montemartini Museum (Museo Centrale Di Montemartini)

St. Paul Outside the Walls (Basilica di San Paolo Fuori le Mura)

Palazzo Massimo alle Terme

Santa Sabina

Vatican Gardens

> We can spend 4-5 nights there before heading back to Rome. <

Absolutely - why not?

I'd suggest that you find a self-catering agriturismo somewhere in the lovely Tuscan countryside. I think your family would love it!

If you want an excellent budget hotel in Rome try the Hotel Felice:

http://www.hotelfelice.com

A downtown hotel within walking distance of historic sights, restaurants and typical hosterie.

Carcassone,

For me, as much as I LOVE Roma, I would also want a few days in the countryside to balance. I would stay in a TINY hilltown for 3-4 of those nights rather than Siena. Why not go somewhere new?

Look into southern Tuscany, around Montalcino/Pienza/Montepulciano. Or, Spello, visiting Assisi and other towns from there.

Last trip, I especially enjoyed a day trip out of Rome to Tivoli. Seeing Hadrian's Villa and the Villa d'Este. It was a highlight!

Buon viaggio!

Do you plan to rent a car for Siena? I didn't get that impression. You'd probably need a car for an agriturismo or a small village.

I like your plan of heading straight to Siena. However, I'd only stay there 3 nights or for 4 if recovering from jet lag. So much to do in and near Rome.