Extended family all traveling to Rome, Florence, Naples and Venice. We only have 1 day in Rome, Florence and Naples and 2 days in Venice. We want to see a few main sights but want to get a feel of each city even more than visiting museums. What is the best way for a family of 5 to get around Rome...walk or bus or Metro? My husband and I plan to go back on our own next year but need advice on travel with teens and a 9 year old with little time in these special cities.

Wait....you're taking a 9-year-old to Italy and dragging him to Rome, Florence, and Naples for 1 day each and then zooming to Venice for 2? Sorry, but that's nuts (with or without a 9-year-old, but especially so with).

Or am I misunderstanding your post? I really hope so.

I think you are misunderstanding her. I read it as one day total to see all of Rome, Florence and Naples - probably one in the morning, one in the afternoon and one in the evening.

Oh. Well that's even stranger. In fact it's downright impossible.

I hope Urofleck writes a trip report.

Uroflek won't remember anything.

This trip is a gift from my parents in law. A cruise where you only have 1 day in several diffenent cities. Not the way to experience Italy but it is a gift and our family including cousins and grandparents will be able to spend time together on the ship. My immediate family didn't want to go on the typical bus tours that the ship offers. Our goal was to experience these cities on our own and not be stuck on a bus with a tour group.We have only 1 full day to 2 full days to spend in each city.

There can be difficulties with doing this on your own in Rome and Florence since the ports (Civitavecchia and Livorno) are more than an hour away by train, plus you will spend time making connections between the port and the train station, and then getting to sights in each city.

For your group it actually might be easiest to join the cruise excursion. Or hire a private driver to whisk you directly to your interests. For Venice and Naples, the ports are within the city so touring on your own is more straightforward, depending on your interests.

A bus in Rome will take you closer to most sights. The Metro might work for a few, but it does not really serve the center.

Since you want to get the feel of the city, I stick mostly to walking. Train from Civitavecchia to Stazione San Pietro, near the Vatican. Walk to Piazza San Pietro and visit the inside of the basilica if you want, Then walk past Castel Sant' Angelo and across Ponte Sant' Angelo to the old center where you could stroll the warren of near Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, and the Trevi fountain. Then walk to the Colosseum and Forum area (you decide whether to go inside or view from outside.) From there, catch a metro a few stops to Roma Termini station for you return train to Civitavecchia.

For Florence, once you arrive at the train station, it is a short walk to the city center and most sights.

Oh, a cruise. That makes sense now. So do ellenem's suggestions. Since your time will be limited at each destination, I suggest you study maps of each of the cities ahead of time so that when you arrive you have your bearings and can make the most of the few hours there.

"the warren STREETS of near Piazza Navona"

urofleck - did you know there's a cruise board on this forum. You might be able to get some good info. Near the top of the screen click on "change forum" and check out the postings under cruises.

Thanks for all the advice and help. Knowing Rome is walkable from the Vatican to the colisseum really helps. I've read tons and memorized maps and streets and sights. We'll come back and stay a while next time!

The route I describe is flat. If you walked directly from Piazza San Pietro to the Colosseum, it would be about 2 miles. Your group will be spreading it out over several hours and diverging from the direct route--walkable in my estimation.