How many days to spend in Rome, Florence, and Venice?
#1
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How many days to spend in Rome, Florence, and Venice?
My husband and I are planning 10days (9 nights) trip to Rome, Florence, and Venice. We are staying 4 nights in Rome, 3 nights in Florence, and 2 nights in Venice.
we planned this way because it seems more to see in Rome and from what I read, Venice seems very small. But now I am having a second thoughts...... Should we spend 3 nights in each city?
Please let me know what you think.
we planned this way because it seems more to see in Rome and from what I read, Venice seems very small. But now I am having a second thoughts...... Should we spend 3 nights in each city?
Please let me know what you think.
#2
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If you must squeeze all three cities into your short visit, then your 4/3/2 plan is about as good as you can do.
FYI,
Here are the 12 largest Italian cities (largest to smallest):
Rank City Population
1 Roma (Rome) 2,648,843
2 Milano (Milan) 1,305,591
3 Napoli (Naples) 1,046,987
4 Torino (Turin) 921,485
5 Palermo 689,349
6 Genova (Genoa) 655,704
7 Bologna 385,813
8 Firenze (Florence) 381,762
9 Catania 341,685
10 Bari 335,647
11 Venezia (Venice) 297,743
12 Messina 262,524
Oh, and welcome to Fodor's.
FYI,
Here are the 12 largest Italian cities (largest to smallest):
Rank City Population
1 Roma (Rome) 2,648,843
2 Milano (Milan) 1,305,591
3 Napoli (Naples) 1,046,987
4 Torino (Turin) 921,485
5 Palermo 689,349
6 Genova (Genoa) 655,704
7 Bologna 385,813
8 Firenze (Florence) 381,762
9 Catania 341,685
10 Bari 335,647
11 Venezia (Venice) 297,743
12 Messina 262,524
Oh, and welcome to Fodor's.
#5
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I personally would spend 2 in Florence and 3 in Venice but it depends really on what you want to see and what interests you more.
I've spent a total of 15 days in Venice and I still haven't seen all of what it has to offer.
I've spent a total of 15 days in Venice and I still haven't seen all of what it has to offer.
#6
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I think it depends abit on your travel situationto/from Italy. If you have 10 full days I think 4/3/2 for nights is reasonable and your choice as to whether you want Florence or Venice with 3 nights.
#8
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I don;t think it;s a matter of population - but of what you want to see most.
the cities have very different feelings - and while Rome has innumerably more to see than either of the others - if you have no interest in ancient rome you may want to add a day in Venice - of a day trip from Florence.
So - what do you HAVE to see in each place - that will tell you how to divide the days.
the cities have very different feelings - and while Rome has innumerably more to see than either of the others - if you have no interest in ancient rome you may want to add a day in Venice - of a day trip from Florence.
So - what do you HAVE to see in each place - that will tell you how to divide the days.
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I agree with mjs---how are you traveling from city to city? Where do you begin?
I've been to all three cities twice and each is soooooo different. Rome takes a while to navigate with confidence whereas Florence and Venice are more manageable. Venice is impossible but that's the magic of the place so you don't care.
I've been to all three cities twice and each is soooooo different. Rome takes a while to navigate with confidence whereas Florence and Venice are more manageable. Venice is impossible but that's the magic of the place so you don't care.
#10
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nytraveler,
Of course it's a matter of what one wants to see most.
I only posted that becuase many first timers are unaware that Rome is ten times the size of Florence or Venice.
Rome in particular has about ten times as mant fantastic churches, museums and other treasures than any other Italian city. Whether they are "must" is of couse a matter of personal preference.
Of course it's a matter of what one wants to see most.
I only posted that becuase many first timers are unaware that Rome is ten times the size of Florence or Venice.
Rome in particular has about ten times as mant fantastic churches, museums and other treasures than any other Italian city. Whether they are "must" is of couse a matter of personal preference.
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I would agree with other posters to take a night from Florence and add it to Venice. There is so much to do/see in Rome so you need 4 nights there. Florence is wonderful too, but I believe that it could be enjoyed with a 2 night stay. I loved the peace and beauty of Venice and I wished we could have spent more than 3 nights there, during our first trip in March. The pace of Rome was a bit crazy with traffic, noise and people (all in a very good way though) and then Florence felt sort of like a smaller version. By the time we arrived in Venice I was so ready to relax and I fell in love with the city.
Do you have hotels picked out yet? We stayed at the Locanda Orseolo and couldn't have loved it more.
Have fun planning your trip!
Do you have hotels picked out yet? We stayed at the Locanda Orseolo and couldn't have loved it more.
Have fun planning your trip!
#12
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Thank you all for your advice. It's really helpful.
we will arrive in Rome in the morning from London, and will take trains to Florence, and to Venice. At the end of our trip, we will fly out of Venice.
After reading everyone's post, I think we will cahnge our plan to the following:
Day1: arrive in Rome in the morning
Day2-4: Rome
Day5-6: Florence (Very Eary train to Florence on Day5)
Day7: Afternoon or evening train to Venice
Day 8&9: Venice
Day 10: Flight in the morning
This itinerary will aloow us to spend half day in Florence and still have dinner in Venice on the Day 7. I can get to Venice early on Day 7, but my husband want to arrive in Venice at night. So 2.5days each in Florence and Venice.
Do you think it will be a good idea to arrive in Venice at night?
bardo 1: I enjoyed your statistics. Tx
CVerga: I checked with Locanda Orseolo, but it was all booked. We are staying in Ca'Gottardi.
we will arrive in Rome in the morning from London, and will take trains to Florence, and to Venice. At the end of our trip, we will fly out of Venice.
After reading everyone's post, I think we will cahnge our plan to the following:
Day1: arrive in Rome in the morning
Day2-4: Rome
Day5-6: Florence (Very Eary train to Florence on Day5)
Day7: Afternoon or evening train to Venice
Day 8&9: Venice
Day 10: Flight in the morning
This itinerary will aloow us to spend half day in Florence and still have dinner in Venice on the Day 7. I can get to Venice early on Day 7, but my husband want to arrive in Venice at night. So 2.5days each in Florence and Venice.
Do you think it will be a good idea to arrive in Venice at night?
bardo 1: I enjoyed your statistics. Tx
CVerga: I checked with Locanda Orseolo, but it was all booked. We are staying in Ca'Gottardi.
#13
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Excellent choice, saburita-you're going to love the area that Ca' Gottardi is located in more than you know-and you are right next door to the vaporetto stop Ca d'Oro, the Venice Casino, the Trattoria alla Vedova-one of the best in Venice, and the Billa supermarket-not to mention that you'll be looking down at the fascinating street life of the Strada Nuova-the palazzo Ca' Gottardi oozes atmosphere at night...believe me!
#14
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saburita, I think your plan sounds great! It sounds like you picked a great hotel/location to stay at in Venice. You are going to have such a wonderful time!
I would probably take an afternoon train to Venice, instead of an evening train. That's just my opinion, there are many more experienced "Italy travelers" on this Board that can better advise you on this.
I would probably take an afternoon train to Venice, instead of an evening train. That's just my opinion, there are many more experienced "Italy travelers" on this Board that can better advise you on this.
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Our idea was also to arrive in Venice by train after dark, from Florence. It was my daughter's idea, as she had already visited Venice and thought I'd like to see it for the first time all lit up at night. She was so right! You will step out of the train station and see Venice and the Grand Canal before you-- it's breathtaking. I'd choose a night-time arrival again.
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Hi saburita, I would suggest that you arrive in Venice in time to get to your hotel and still have time for dinner which I am sure you will want. The restaurants in Venice generally tend to close up earlier than restaurants in other places in Italy.
Have a beautiful trip, and flying into Rome and departing from Venice is good, you will not have any backtracking to do. Happy travels!!
Have a beautiful trip, and flying into Rome and departing from Venice is good, you will not have any backtracking to do. Happy travels!!
#17
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don't shortchange the city you fly into - you are going to more or less miss the first day due to arrival/getting set up in your hotel and jetlag. If you are going to do 4 days in Rome, that would be a good city to start the trip.
I love Florence, but I think I'd cut one day off of that rather than Venice. Venice is just so unique.
I love Florence, but I think I'd cut one day off of that rather than Venice. Venice is just so unique.
#18
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Saburita,
I think your plan looks great. It will give you enough time to explore each city and then you will know which ones you want to return to and for how long. I love Venice. If you have the time, read John Behrendt's(sp) City of Falling Angels before you go.
I promise you this - you will want to return.
I think your plan looks great. It will give you enough time to explore each city and then you will know which ones you want to return to and for how long. I love Venice. If you have the time, read John Behrendt's(sp) City of Falling Angels before you go.
I promise you this - you will want to return.
#19
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saburita, take Xander's advice and read The City of Falling Angels before you go to Venice. I'm reading it now and wish that I had read it before I had been there. One more reason that I have to return to Venice - to check out all of the places that he writes about in the book!