TammMee

I am (finally) going to Italy! First time to Europe. First time to Italy. I will be traveling with my husband & mother in law who is from Ischia this September. Our plan is stay in Italy for a total of 18 days ( not counting two days for travel ) We will begin in Rome for three days / nights we are fortunate enough to have a relative in Rome to guide us. After three days in Rome we'll venture out on our own & return to Ischia for 4 nights to end our trip with family. My dilemma: I want to see it all! My top three are: Florence (Tuscany / Siena ) , Cinque Terre & Venice. In a perfect world I'd see the lakes too Please share your suggestions for best way to travel & see it all... I don't want to spend all of my time in a train. Thanks!

MmePerdu

So there are 11 days for your 3 dream destinations? I don't know why you can't see them all in that time. They're easily accessible one from the other. For instance, train to Florence from Rome, train east to the Cinque Terre then through Milan or back to Florence for Venice. Any variation on the theme, easily done.

I can't say how long in each place as I don't know what interests you most. I love Venice and the CT, Florence less. But there are those here that will put Florence first. When this all happens will make a difference, which season.

kmh7

How exciting for you, there is nothing like the first time!! Give us a little more of your interests so we can better guide you. We all of course love different things. For me Venice,lakes and Tuscany. ( Florence less so, can be day trip from somewhere else in Tuscany.) 11 days is alot of moving if you are going to try to see it all.

nytraveler

Then the OP is in Venice and have to go to Ischia for the end of the trip - and returns to the US from Naples. Venice to Ischia is along day. And, yes, you will be spending a lot ot days on the train.

IMHO you can get to all these places but you can't see it all. I would simplify - and how would depend on what you are most comfortable giving up. I would bag Ischia but obviously you don;t want to do to your MIL. So I would compromise by bagging CT. The places you have left are already a rush in terms of time on task versus in transit.

sarge56

nytraveler has a good point.

I would go straight from Rome to Venice (about 4 hrs on the bullet train). Then work your way back to Naples/Ischia.

I would do:

3 nights Rome
3 nights Venice
3 nights Florence <i>(One day from here, you could take a lovely day trip into Tuscany. Many fine guides in that area. My personal favorite is Luca Garrapa at www.hillsandroads.com)</i>
3 nights CT
2 nights Siena
4 nights Ischia

(Alternatively, you could cap Florence at 2 nights and up Siena to 3 nights and rent a car there to do some day trips around Tuscany on your own.)

Either way, you're not going to want to come home. Italy is magical, wherever you are. (I took my adult daughter on our first trip to Italy a number of years ago. Our mantra for when we missed a train, or the weather went south..."How bad can it be... we're in Italy!!!")

Buon viaggio!

TammMee

Thanks ALL!! CT is out & Amalfi Coast is in! will finish off with 1 or 2 nights before going to Ischia. Amalfi Coast is about 1 hr train to Naples then quick 45 min boat to Ischia...

NOW my new question is: is 1 night enough in Venice? We are not huge museum types but would like to see highlights we appreciate exploring cultures of places we visit and I feel like its crazy to go to Italy & not at least see Venice!

this is what I'm thinking:

4 nights Rome
w 3 full days to explore - we have a relative who lives in Rome to show us around!
1 night Venice
will take earliest train so will have 1 1/2 days to explore
3 nights Florence
2 nights Tuscany and/or Siena
2 nights Amalfi Coast
4 nights Ischia
1 Night Rome to catch early AM flight

please share input!

capxxx

Venice is not about the museums, but Florence has lots of museums ... I think you would do well to take a night from Florence and add it to Venice.

Also there is not much point in moving from Florence to Tuscany/Siena, since they're so close. Pick one place to say, and just take day trips to see both. This gives you:

2 nights Venice, and take the early train anyway.
4 nights Florence or Siena (see Tuscany by bus or car)

Sassafrass

You said you are not into museums, so if it were me, I would take a night from Florence (which is big on museums) and add it to Venice. Venice at night is so lovely and mysterious, and there are lots of places to wander around.

Also, if your relative in Rome could show you around any time, I would put all of the nights in Rome together at the end and save a change of hotels. That way, you could land in Venice and depart from Rome and save backtracking also.

Land in Venice
3 nights Venice
Travel to Florence (1/2 day)
2 nights Florence
2 nights Tuscany
Travel to AC (3/4 day)
2 nights AC
4 nights Ischia
Travel to Rome (1/2 day)
4 nights Rome
If you wanted only 2 nights in Venice, you could take one and add it to Tuscany, AC or Rome.