A friend and I are spending 17 days in Italy next June. We prefer trips where we have lots of time to wander rather than doing a different city each day - too hectic. We were going to do 4-5 days in Rome then spend the rest of the time in Sienna and take day trips. Are we missing out by not trying to build in Vienna? Cinque Tierra? Florence? What would all of you seasoned Italian travelers say?

Not to sound abrupt but it's probably best to do some research on the places you'd like most to visit and then pick a few to concentrate on. Then let us know so we can help more.

I think you can fit Florence in if you are going to be around Siena anyway. It IS a day trip from Siena (although I would reccommend more time there) being just an hour or so away. Anyway, if you like to take your time while traveling, i think you're making a good choice by limiting it to a couple of bases and exploring those areas. I might use Florence and Rome as a base instead of Siena and Rome, but Siena IS nice for the tranquility, and Florence plus Rome might make for two very busy bases.

Also, you might consider doing some day trips from Rome as well. There are definitely nearby cities in that area that are worth a day trip, if you really want to sort of "master" the regions you are visiting.

Also, one thing--if you are trying to slowly visit the area and not make it too hectic, I would stick with Italy, more specifically Tuscany and Lazio. No Vienna, okay?

I think your trip is off to a good start, you are doing just what I would suggest. I love Siena and think that would be a good second base. You can do alot of day trips from there.

Do a little research on what you enjoy doing and then you can figure out your day trips, just keep in mind that the narrow roads make each day's driving a little longer, and train checkins make train travel a little longer too.

I think the poster intended to say "Venice", not "Vienna"...don't you think? If so, Venice SHOULD be "built in".

I would use two bases: one in Tuscany and one n Umbria. But that all depends on what you want to see and where.

This is something that worked for us -- we spent our first couple of nights in smaller places (Chiusi, then Verona) before heading to the bigger cities. We were comfortable with our basic Italian courtesy phrases, comfortable with eating and a more "Italian" sense of time, reading menus, establishing easy and friendly relationships with the hotel people (makes EVERYTHING easier) and we were ready for everything. Nothing seemed hectic or strange by the time we ended our trip in Roma, and we know we ended up experiencing more than we might have otherwise. So I guess my strongest recommendation is to start out in a lower key and save Rome for last!

Will you have a car for the day trips?
Do you love natural beauty?
Are you both women/men?
Have you traveled Italy before?
Where do you plan to fly into/out of?

It really depends !

Well, from what you've said, I'd fly into Rome, stay 5 nights, take the train to Florence for 2 nights, rent a car when you leave there and stay in an apartment somewhere in Tuscany for a full week, turn the car back in at Florence and take the train to Venice for a final 3 nights. Try to fly into Rome and home from Venice for no backtracking.

Great ideas all...above..but I agree that the key to this lies with YOU and your first decision as to what areas you want to explore. I think everyone will tell you to "do" the so-called "big three" (Rome/Florence/Venice) and already above someone has more or less commanded that you "build in" Venice....I'd reserach it first on-line or with a good guidebook and pick several places you are most interested in..be they well-known or not so well-known and THEN ask for opinions.
It is interesting that people here often complain about "tourist traps" and places that are "tourist-infected" and when you ask them where should I go in Italy, these same people chime in with the places that ALL the "other" tourists end up in. But there's a (good) reason people flock to certain places.
I think if you limit yourself to Rome and Tuscany you can do a lot of in-depth travel; but don't make the mistake of thinking you've really "seen" Italy because there is MUCH more to the country than those two regions. Good luck.

Hi avid,

Definitely fit in 2-4 nights in Venice. One thing it is not is hectic.

So why did someone "command" you to build in Venie (not me, by the way)?
Probably because Venice is unlike anywhere else on earth, but is so magnificent that everyone tries to capitalize on it. How many places have you heard are "the Venice of Belgium (Brugge), the Venice of France, Little Venice, the Venice of whatever? It is true that Venice is so unique it is worth a stop, and yes it is touristy because it is worth it.