First time Italy trip - itinerary
 

Hi everyone, my friend and I planned to visit Italy in mid June 07 for 2 weeks. I came up a draft itinerary and would like to get some feedback if my plan makes sense. I haven't come up the details but would like to lock in the cities and dates. Thanks in advance for your help.

Day 1 Toronto ---> Sorrento (fly to Rome and take the train)
Day 2 Sorrento/Amalfi Coast
Day 3 Visit Isle of Capri, then head out to Florence (by train)
Day 4 Florence
Day 5 Bologna (a day trip by train from Florence)
Day 6 Pisa (a day trip by train from Florence)
Day 7 Florence
Day 8 Florence ---> Venice (leaving Florence in the afternoon)
Day 9 Venice
Day 10 Venice ---> Rome (leaving Venice in the afternoon)
Day 11 to 14 Rome
Day 15 Rome ---> Toronto

A couple of concerns:

1. We don't want to backpack, wonder if it's too inconvenient to bring the luggage to the train?

2. I planned to stay in Florence and to take day trip to Bologna and Pisa, does it make sense?

3. Do you think this itinerary is too "compact"?

Once again, thank you so much for your help

DLSJ

I can't comment too much but do know 1st class has more room for luggage than 2nd class.
this site has some good info about the italian rail system (dated 2005)

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/trains/service.htm
hope this helps

My husband and I used the train from Rome to Venice and then from Venice to Paris. We made the mistake of having a large bag as there was hardly any space to store luggage especially if you wanted to keep an eye on it from where you were seated. We travelled in September and the train was reasonably crowded. Happy travels.
Deb

I think the basic plan is ok, I think I see 3 hotel changes in 15 days, basically.

As far as the day trips go, I think they are too packed in, and you will be spending most of your time on trains for relatively short visits, and will exhaust yourselves. For example, I would probably leave Pisa out of the Florence trip, and allow yourself one more day to wander about and really experience the real Florence.

Pisa is a nice place, I personally do like it alot, but I think packing in more does not improve the quality of your vacation, just makes it frenzied.

I would probably say the same thing about Capri. Just the though of going to Capri, coming back and then taking the train to Florence means no time whatsoever in Capri, just travelling to and from to say you have been there.

And you have the added factor of doing this by train-- which takes longer, and yes, schlepping luggage is a pain. You should take 24 inch rolling suitcases with you which are not over packed, making it easier to get up and down stairs and so on. Remember, train travel is great, but it takes more time.

What is missing in this plan is time to breathe and take in the beauty around you. I envision you and your friend rushing to trains, rushing to get to this sites, and rushing on. By just removing a couple of day destinations, you will allow yourselves time for a coffee or a glass of wine in the piazza, for a stroll down the non-touristy back streets, a moment to put your face in the sun,time to look around and take in the beauty around you, which is such a gift when you are in Italy!!

More than anything, enjoy your time in this beautiful country.

That seems like a lot of train-travel time to me, but maybe you're OK with it.

Here's a suggestion. Take a look at the amount of time you're going to spend on trains, and factor in another 2 hours for each train trip (1 hour getting to the station and waiting for the train; 1 hour getting from the train station to your hotel or other destination).

Total that time, and decide whether it's worth it to you to be spending X number of hours in transit instead of actually doing or seeing something.

Thank you so much everyone! I'll take a look and revise it, I agree that we may spend too much time on the trains.

:DLSJ

I think you've been given good advice by the previous posters. As far as Capri, I think Pompeii is a much more interesting daytrip. Capri is just a tourist island. Ravello and a coastal drive (Positano) would be much more interesting than a day in Capri. You don't have much time on the coast so if you wanted to take a day from Florence, that wouldn't be a bad idea.

As far as Bologna and Pisa, there are many more interesting options around Florence. You could arrange for a day trip out to the countryside for wine tasting and/or a cooking class in some really charming places. There are also numerous hill towns which would make an enjoyable day simply driving around Tuscany.

Do some research on Florence before you go. I always recommend reservations for the Academia and Ufizzi (especially the Ufizzi). You can play it by ear in Florence and use the hotel concierge or front desk for suggestions. Do not try to have a car in Florence, but if you want to rent one for a day to do your day trip(s), that would be a fine idea.

In Venice, you will have one day full which will give you time to see St. Marks and tour the Doges Palace as well as wander around a little bit.

Your four days in Rome will be most enjoyable.

a better side trip from Florence would be Sienna ( on hour on the bus)
Pisa has the tower but not much elese to see. Don't know Bologna
Also, you have anly 3 days in Rome - try for one or two more - it is wonderful

HiD,

With the days you have, I would really eliminate 1 destination, or cut a day from Florence and add it to Venice.

2 days on the Amalfi Coast are not enough, and 1 1/2 days in Venice are definitely not enough.

The suggestion to add up the train time and see how much time you will actually be spending traveling vs. "being" will help put things in perspective.

Your use of time would improve considerably if you could do an "Open Jaws" flight, into Rome and out of Venice. You'll gain a day!

Buon viaggio!

Hi dl,

Not a bad plan.

I suggest flying into Naples and out of Rome. With train fare, the price is almost the same and you can take a bus from NAP to Sorrento. See www.kayak.com for airfare.

Day 2 is a bit crowded.

Day 3: Will you be returning to Sorrento before going to Florence?

Day 6: You might want to do 1/2 day in Pisa and 1/2 day in Lucca.

I suggest leaving Florence on Day 7 and adding Day 8 to Venice.
As much as I like Florence, I think Venice is better.
OR, you could take a day from Rome and add it to Venice.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

I also agree to drop Pisa, too many daytrips.
How about this:
Day 1 to Sorrento
Day 2 Sorrento/Amalfi Coast
Day 3 Daytrip to Capri
Day 4 to Florence
Day 5 Florence
Day 6 Florence
Day 7 to Venice
Day 8 Venice
Day 9 Venice
Day 10 to Rome
Day 11-14 Rome
Day 15 home

For Bologna, I would look into leaving your luggage at the train station and stop there on the way from Florence to Venice instead of as a daytrip.
Have a great trip!

Well, Dayle, Ira and I were all posting at the same time! Of course, they are right, if you could do an open jaw flight, into Naples and out of Venice or vice versa, that would be great.

If you leave Toronto on day 1, you will arrive Rome day 2.

Day 3 - What do you plan to do with your luggage while on Capri?

I would fly into Venice for the first few days, stop in Bologna on the way to Florence (most train stations have luggage storage, but check about Bologna to make sure), spend a few days in Florence, train to Naples for Amalfi, Capri, Sorrento and end in Rome.

Good idea from KY.

Why not fly into Venice and out of Naples or vv?

((I))

I also recommend you cut Pisa and Bologna...too much time on the train and these two places in my opinion are not as memorable as Florence...spend as much time in Florence as you possibly can - you will never regret it. Not familiar with the Amalifi coast but your Venice and Rome days look good.