Help!It's my first time going to Italy and of course, I'd like to see everything I can in 9 days. I wanted to find out if its possible to take the train to Rome or Venice for the day.

Yes, it's possible but I'm not sure it would be worth the trouble. The Eurostar train takes about five hours each way. If you are willing to get up very early and catch the early train, you could be in Venice by the late morning and stay until late afternoon/early evening before catching the train back to Rome to arrive around 10 pm. This isn't an inexpensive train ticket either.

<<I'd like to see everything I can in 9 days>>

Then get up early and go til you drop every night. Seeing a lot would have little or nothing to do with moving from one city to another.

Train from where to Rome or Venice? Rome and Florence are reasonably linked by a 95 minute train. Venice-Florence is quite a bit longer - - over 3 hours from Duomo to San Marco.

I suppose what you mean is that you want to see as many things - - check them off a list - - of the most "famous" things in Italy. Inherently, that means you will see FEWER things, because you will be moving all arounf to getto where all those famous things are. You might only see nine things.

Or you can see ninety things in Rome in 9 days. And learn something different from each and every one of the. In fact, you can see ten different things that are primarily linked to ten different centuries in Rome every day.

You need to think about, or communicate more clearly what is "everything I can". Do you want to see fashion outlet malls near Milan? Windsurfers? Pompeii? Vineyards? the Pope? the leaning tower of Pisa? (probably on the top ten list of things people can name in Italy, before they start reading about everything else - - then it might just barely make the top 100)

I don't mean to come across as sarcastic, nor ridicule you (but I fear that I have).

It's just that people too often come here without having thought (much) about what kind of place Italy really is - - and view it like som animals in a cage at the zoo - - I want to see a lion and a bear and a tiger and a gorilla and an elephant... and want advice on how to dash from place ("cage&quot to place to get a snapshot of them.

End of soapbox (well, probably not really the end of it, either...)

Best wishes,

Rex

Sorry, I misread your post and thought you were going from Rome to Venice for the day. Well, from Florence to Venice, like Rex says, is a shorter trip, but still not worth just a daytrip in my opinion. Rome would be a better daytrip from Florence but of course you'd be scratching the surface.

If you really mean going to Rome or Venice from Florence as a day trip, I'd say don't bother. You can't even scratch the surface with 3-4 days in either city.

Is there any reason you HAVE to stay in Florence for the entire time? If not, you can possibly split your time up to 3-3-3. But then, where are you flying into/out of Italy???

I am not into seeing a lot, but rather seeing a little and seeing it well. Please try to savor the morsels and not try to gulp the loaf. I saw a video of a Rick Steves tour and nearly died laughing. He allotted five minutes for the David. When it came to the Louvre, he said as you are going up the steps glance left to see the Winged Victory. It's more than thirty yards away. I must have spent a full half hour with each of these, soaking up the essence and history of each. I'm glad I did. The first time in Italy I had only two weeks, and did not get out of Venice and Florence.

We really don't know where this questioner is "basing" nor what is really meant by "take the train to Rome or Venice".

It could be a reference to being in Milan or Bologna, for all we know.

Oh, geez - - now I see - - it's in the message header!

Well, anyhow, my first post still "stands" and makes sense (for the most part).

And you could see "more things" by staying put in Florence, the same as in Rome. There are easily 90 things to see in Florence, just as there are in Rome.

I could spend an entire day, just shopping for pietra dura, or sampling cinghiale, or ...

Thank you for all your responses and thank you Otium for the kind message. Since it is my first time in Italy ? Florence, Italy, I?m hoping to savor everything I can about Florence, Italy ? the museums, churches, etc. I was torn between dashing off from one place to another or just staying in Florence and learning everything I can about the city. Now with your message, I can rest assure that there many things to do and enjoy in Florence. I have information overload right now about Florence that I don?t know what to do (trains, sites to see, museums, churches, etc), which is why I had posted a message to see if is feasible to travel to Rome via train from Florence. And I?m sorry I didn?t reiterate this info in the body of my message (instead, it was only in the subject matter).

My bestfriend, who is taking me on my birthday, keeps reminding me that we?ll ?just see what we?ll do when we get there.? She?s not the planner type like I am when it comes to vacation. But Italy is a big deal since it is my first trip outside of U.S. (yap, besides Mexico, this is our first trip) and I?d like to be able to savor everything (not gawk at it like some ?som animals in a cage at the zoo.?). So, again, thank you for all your responses.

Thanks for the clarification. With this additional info, I think you SHOULD plan on at least one OVERNIGHT getaway to Rome. And if you get restless, you might do the same - - with a minimum of one OVERNIGHT, for Venice.

Twelvenight, I would see SOME museum, but not necessarily ALL--it'll be informational overload AND EXPENSIVE.

I'll give you an idea what we museums we did see in the 4 days we spent in Florence. We went inside the Academia, Spedale dagli Innocentes in the Piazza SS Annunciata, the Palazzo Vecchio,Duomo Dome tour,and the Uffizi. We also saw the Loggia at the Piazza Signoria, the outside of the Duomo and the Campanile. IMHO, of the things we paid to see, the ones that are worth the admission were the Palazzo Vecchio, the Duomo Dome tour, and the Uffizi, and the Academia. The Loggia and the outside of the Duomo and Campanile were great--best of all, they were free!

What I liked best was wandering about Florence, soaking up the daily ambience of the city--we stayed in San Marco, where things were more "normal."

I would also read up on the things to do in Florence and make a list of things you want to see. Many of them can probably be done on a stroll through the city...

Have a good trip!

Lil

try this www.toomuchtuscansun.com

"If you really mean going to Rome or Venice from Florence as a day trip, I'd say don't bother. You can't even scratch the surface with 3-4 days in either city."

I agree. It's not even worth going to Italy unless you quit your job and move there for 2 years. Otherwise, you're just scratching the surface, and you time would be utterly wasted.

Well platzer was being a bit sarcastic, but I have to say sometimes the responses on this board do make it seem like it's a crime to want to "scratch the surface". It's not. Of course there is enough to do in any major city to keep you busy for 9 days, but since this is a first trip to Europe I would think twelvenight might be sorry if he/she didn't go somewhere else besides Florence. It would seem at the very least you should do day trips to places like Pisa, Lucca, Siena, etc. One night each in Rome and Venice would not be crazy and would make you feel like you got a taste of more of Italy than just Florence. Even if your flights are in/out of Florence and money is tight I would still find a way to do a little time in Rome and Venice - the trains are very cheap in Italy (well, compared to some places).

Hi twelve,

Nine days in Florence is very nice. I think that you would do well to spend one or two nights in Venice if you can.

I think these links will help you.

Ira?s Trip Report
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044

Helpful Information: Italy http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34443340

Venice is one of the worst places in the world for a day trip. You almost undoubtedly would get caught up in the stampedeing herd of daytrippers that descend upon the city daily like a horde of filthy locusts.

Dear Mr Firefly,

On behalf of locusts everywhere, I wish you to know that I am quite offended by your likening us to those hordes of daytrippers.