First Time Visit to Italy
 

My boyfriend and I are planning to visit Italy in early September. This will be my first visit and have decided that Rome is a must for that very reason. We have decided to include one other city/region to our itinerary. My boyfriend wants to go to Venice as well. I think I would prefer to visit Tuscany or Florence. Which Would you pick ...Florence or Venice?

Hi T,

>My boyfriend wants to go to Venice as well. I think I would prefer to visit Tuscany or Florence. <

Either you are not the romantic type, or this is an affair that has lost its bloom. :)

((I))

Venice is interesting, but I was not as spellbound by it as some on this board. LOVED Florence on the other hand, so I would go there. Plus then you can daytrip to little towns nearby. Also, from a woman's perspective, Florence has more shopping than you can imagine - I went nuts there! I'm sure you have a great time regardless - Italy is the best!

ira loves Venice and rightly so.

How long will you have to travel and what is your flight plan? You may be able to do both.

You could fly into Venice, train to Rome, and fly home from Rome. While in Rome, take a day trip to the countryside (Tuscany) or even to Florence, though it would be a long day. Trains are so easy in Italy.

Depends how much time you have.

A easy visit to Rome itself can be done in 4-5 days. a couple of tours out of Rome 1-2 days.

Florence will take 2 days, a couple of tours outside of Florence 1-2 days. Venice 2 days.

A big factor is planning your trip so that you have time to see what you want. Make reservations anywhere that will take them. This will keep you from wasting time in line. See things in the same area and not crisscross. Take taxis if possible, these ar faster than the buses. Also take the Euro or Rapido train anywhere. These are non-stop and fast. These take 45-55 minutes from rome to Florence where the regular train takes 2-3 hours.

To answer the original question <Florence or Venice?> I would definitely have to say Venice. So beautiful, romantic and unique. We loved our four days there!!

I agree with the other posters who recommended a daytrip from Rome to the Tuscan countryside. We have not done this ourselves, but many on this board have recommended a daytrip to Orvieto from Rome.

My vote goes to Venice because it is so amazingly unique of a city (that said, I've been to Venice twice, never to Florence).

I'm a Venice fan, too, but if you are really into Renaissance art then I would go for Florence.

Also, it would depend on whether or not you want to have any nightlife. Venice is pretty quiet, whereas Florence has more going on at night.

Siena Siena Siena Siena Siena

Actually, for a first visit, I'd pick Florence and Venice. In fact, I did.

I recently made my first trip to Italy and did Rome for five days, Siena for 1 and Venice for four. It was perfect, although I would have liked a few more days in Tuscany. But I wouldn't have cut Rome or Venice short to do it!

By the way, I'd recommend Rome first, Venice last, just because I like to do the "big, bustling city" parts of trip early on. I think my husband and I are more energized (still buzzing from the work vibe) at the beginning of a trip. When the vacation aura really sets in, I like to slow the pace just a bit. But that's just us.

Have a great trip!

Two things people should do with each other to find out about the "real" person: play cards and travel.

So now you're at the travel phase and perhaps somebody has to give up what they want to do most.

How many days in Rome? Could those be shortened so you could include both Florence and Venice as someone has suggested (a decision i think you'd both be happy with for more than one reason).

If you CAN do all three but that's all you can do, then skip the rest of Tuscany..just do Florence and move on.
Save the Tuscan countryside for your next trip.

Ira- are you trying to say Florence is not romantic? You've got to be joking! Rome is also very romantic.Venice is gorgeous,but we don't all need gondolas to get our hearts beating! ((f))

On personal experiences I would rate Florence above Venice.

However I am giving Venice a second chance this summer and I hope to have my view changed.

There's probably more to see and do in and around Florence but for two love birds I think that you should go to Venice.

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Travelogues inc. Rome, Florence
http://www.colin-julie.com/travel.htm

We will go right around Labor Day and think that we will extend the trip to include Rome, Venice AND Florence. This way everyone is happy! Thank you for all of your wonderful suggestions!

There you go! Just what I was going to suggest. Hit the Big 3, and everyone's happy. Ain't love grand?

Based on my experiences, Florence is my least favorite of the most noted tourist destinations in Europe. A big, crowded, dirty, polluted, noisy, hot, smelly place that is a one-trick pony--if you aren't deeply into Renaissance art and architecture it is one big, messy bore. As you might guess, I am not a big fan of Renaissance art and architecture or crowded, traffic-congested, polluted, dirty, noisy cities.

I do not agree with RTF on any of his points (well, the Vespas are a little noisy). Florence is a great city and if you can fit it in with Rome and Venice, it will be a wonderful trip.