General Italy Question
 

If you were young (25), single and going to Italy (then London) over the course of 10 days...what would your plans be?

I'd enjoy sight seeing / historical stuff during the day and partying / enjoying the nightlife scene at night.

Your thoughts...

Hi TH,

5 nights in Rome, 5 nights in London, or vice versa.

I'm in my 50's but have been to Italy many times and chatted with young locals. Naples is a very interesting city by day and supposedly has great night life.

I would imagine, though, that Florence also has a great night life. So many college kids during semesters. Of course, you can't beat the beauty and art that Florence has to offer. Enjoy.

The answer also depends what time of the year you're going.

Assuming you have 10days in Italy (as opposed to Italy and London combined), I would spend 4 days in Rome, 2 days in Florence, 3 days in venice. I also like Verona and Padua--smaller cities but both historical and beautiful--though it may be too much moving around. You can travel by train domestic.

If you mean 10 days for Italy & London combined, another vote for just Rome.

What time of year, though ?

If it's 10 days for just Italy and it's in the summer, combining Rome with a resort like Rimini would be fun for the nightlife although you'd need to do daytrips by car or train to do much sightseeing from there.

Florence has the best nightlife - or used to when I was a student a few year's back (!) in Padova (which dosen't have such a back scene either actually)we used to take the train down to Florence for the weekend....depends on what nightlife you want though...Florence has a HUGE expat scene...the big university towns like Bologna have a better local scene.

Thank you for all of the replies!

For clarification, I plan on spending 5 days in Italy, then 5 days in London. Most likely Italy first.

I will certainly take all of your advice and check out Florence. Being that I'll only be there for 5 days, how many different cities in Italy do you reccomend I go? I'm thinking 2, if not 3 - depending on travel time.

I've heard about the Eurail to get from place to place. Any thoughts on that? And how about accomodations? So many questions...

PS: The plan is to go in July or August.

This may help in airline tickets. But if you are coming from the USA, you may find a flight cheaper to London, then take a smaller Euro plane to Rome for 5 days,and back to London. I bought my tickets that way and saved $500.00 dollars.I bought the london to Rome online from a europian airlines.And my USA tickets from Cheap tickets.

>>Being that I'll only be there for 5 days, how many different cities in Italy do you reccomend I go? I'm thinking 2, if not 3 - depending on travel time.<<

Two at most. Every time you move, you lose at least 1/2 day packing/unpacking, checking in/out, getting to/from your hotel. Do you really want to spend 1.5 days out of five doing that?

Rome and Florence are a good combination, and fast ES trains take a little over 1.5 hours.

The budget airlines will be much cheaper than other transportation between London/Italy. If you are going to Florence and Rome, look for flights from the various airports in London to Rome FCO, Rome CIA, Florence or Pisa. Use the trains between the cities in Italy. Trains passes are rarely cost effective for Italy.
www.whichbudget.com
www.skyscanner.net

With only 5 days I'd say 1, if that 1 was Rome. But personally I find 2 days in Florence enough. So if you really want to go to Florence, then Florence & Rome.

Hi T,

>Being that I'll only be there for 5 days, how many different cities in Italy do you reccomend I go?

As I mentioned before - Rome.

((I))

PS,

I would also fly into London and out of Rome.

It allows you to acclimate yourself to Europe where they speak English (sort of).

((I))

I agree with Ira, really 5 days for Rome is a must if you've not been before.