We are planning a trip to Italy for 14 days in October. Our current itinerary includes Rome for 3 days, then driving to Pompei/ Amalfi coast 2 days, Orvieto 1 day, Florence 3 days, Venice 2 days, ending in Milan 2 days. All of the posts I have read seem to think this is a little too ambitious. We don't know when we'll have the opportunity to make another trip trip like this, so we really want to make the most of it.
We do want to rent a car and have factored that cost into the trip. Also wondering whether we should wait to make hotel reservations until we get there in case we decide we want to stay longer somewhere, but am concerned about the extra cost and time we'll need to make reservations when we get there.
Very interested to hear feedback on this. Thanks!

I think your trip is too hectic. I would drop Milan and fly home from Venice adding one of your Milan nights to the Amalfi coast and the other to Rome or Venice.

I doubt you have factored in all of your cars costs. Rome/Florence/Venice will cost about 30-40€ per day to park your car (you are not allowed to drive in the center of these cities as they are restricted traffic). Did you also add in the toll costs?

hi Kelly,

well only a little bit over-ambitious - lol!

have you booked your flights yet? if noy, can I suggest swapping Venice for Milan and mising Milan out this trip? not only does that free up 2 days, but it means that if you want to free-wheel in the middle of your trip, you can book hotels in Rome and Venice [essential, IMHO] and busk the rest.

then what about the middle? if you add your two miklan days to the amalfi [it's a long way to go just to turn round and come back!] and follow my suggestions above, you get this:

Rome - 3 days [do you mean days or nights?]
Amalfi - 4 days
Orvieto - 1 day
Florence - 3 days
Venice - 2

that's 13 days and 12 nights - so you could add a night to Rome or Venice. it's a bit more rushed than many here would like, but definitely doable. if you swapped somewhere smaller in tuscany for Florence, you'd get more out of having a car; alternatively return your car in Orvieto and get the train to Florence. [you may have decided to do this anyway.]


have a great trip,

regards, ann

Hi kelly,

Honestly, you are making a first-timer's mistake in underestimating the time it takes to get from place to place. From Rome to the Amalfi Coast will take about a half day - getting to train station, buying ticket, waiting for train. Getting to Napoli Centrale, buying ticket for the Cicumvesuviana (local train) to Sorrento, waiting for the train, finding and checking into hotel. Reverse this for the return plus some for the travel to Orvieto. You end up with 1 day in the area to see Pompeii. Not really time to relax or even drive the Amalfi Coast. Worth it, no.

You need to take the time to research travel times between your planned destinations. Then add up all your travel time and see how much time you will ACTUALLY have to spend IN your destinations. You will quickly see that the more you move - the less you see!

Even if you take a car for the entire 14 days, you need to factor time in for taking a wrong turn here and there. No big deal, but it can take longer to get places even with the freedom of a car. Plus, you REALLY DON'T want a car for the major cities. Just to pay to park it somewhere? You'll be walking everywhere while in Venice, Rome, Florence. Trains are much easier.

Also, with the 14 days you have, I would definitely make reservations in advance. October is still quite busy (and a good time to go weatherwise). You don't have time to be searching for lodging!

Ann has a suggestion that works. But you could fly into Naples and out of Venice. Just visit the Amalfi Coast first, then Rome and on too the other destinations. As 'kb' said, you should not drive into Rome. Florence is very difficult. So, from Naples take the train to the Amalfi coast [very easy]. A taxi from the airport is better. Then take the train back to Rome. Hire the car once you leave Rome. Richard

You are correct in thinking it's too ambitious. I would drop Milan and Orvieto, or perhaps do a daytrip to Orvieto out of Rome. With 13 nights, I'd fly into Venice and stay there 3 nights. Train to Florence for 3 nights. Train to Rome for 4 nights. Train & bus to the Amalfi Coast for 3 nights and fly home out of Naples. No need for a car with this itinerary, train is more efficient for your short time in each place. Even this will only give you time for the highlights in each place.

Thanks for all of the great suggestions. I thought a car would be preferable in amalfi coast for the scenic drive. Do you see this from the bus also? Wasn't planning on spending much time in Naples. Hate to come in and fly right back out though. May have to cut out amalfi and do a day trip to pompei from Rome, start in Venice.

Driving the Amalfi Coast will not allow the driver to see anything. It's a precarious drive. The bus, yes if you are on the right side. But much better from a ferry, say from Sorrento. But your last sentence said it all. Fly into Venice [as others have suggested] and out of Rome. Do your day trip to Pompei. You can easily do everything else.

I agree with everything that's been said! It's much too ambitious. I'd travel by train and just do three cities: Rome, Florence and Venice. That way you'll have a chance to get to know these places a little and you can do the odd day trip out as well for a bit of variety - Lucca and Siena from Florence, Ostia Antica for some very special ruins from Rome, and Padua from Venice. Fly home from Venice. This way it won't all just be a big blur when you get home.

Did you include the cost of CDW insurance in your car rental figuring? It's required in Italy as is an International Drivers Permit, but that's cheap.

Hello,

Ambitious yes, but it is up to you and your travelling partner to make the ultimate decision. I have been planning the same type of trip but have centered it on three cities, Venice (4 nights), Florence (4 nights) and Rome (3 nights). Using these cites as a base, I will make day trips from each city, to Verona, Pisa, Siena and I will try to make it to Capri from Rome but that will depend. I am using the train, due to the time factor and the trains I hear in Italy are great.
I have already booked hotels, actually I booked last November to get good rates, on www.initalia.it, this site had the best rates.
Have a wonderful trip maybe we will cross paths.

We just finished a 17 day trip to Italy

Rome 5 days
Sorrento 3 days
Florence 3 days
Cinque Terre 2 days
Venice 4 days

We did the trip by train and found it really easy. We did not feel too rushed in any of the places but did not have time to do very much hiking in CT - not that we minded...we just used it to eat, drink, rest and be merry! we also did not visit many museums in Florence and spent 1 day visiting Sienna and San Germinago (sorry about the spelling)

5 stops in 14 days might be a bit more rushed can you add a couple of days