A friend and I (both women in our mid 30's) are planning a trip to Italy in September. Unfortunatly, we know nothing except we want to go. Would you recommend September (we aren't married to that month)? We're thinking Venice, Florence, and Rome. Good choices? How would you suggest we go about doing an itinerary? How long would you suggest staying in each city? Thank you so much for your responses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

September's a great month to travel in Italy weatherwise, though some tourist traffic is still there. As for an itinerary, the big three that you mention are the usual elements of a first trip to Italy. As for how much time to spend in each, that will depend in good part on how long a trip you are planning. Each of the three deserves at least three days, with Rome perhaps even more!

All three cities will be crowded at that time, Florence especially so. Suggest you consider a few days in the countryside, eg., Tuscany or Umbria, as a vacation within a vacation.

How fun! I went last year for the first time and had a wonderful time. I planned my entire trip from the information I received on this forum. Do a lot of searches - pay special attention to advice from Bob the Navigator, Elaine, and Rex. Bob and Elaine knows their stuff and is very nice and helpful. Rex is good, too, but he is kind of sarcastic sometimes. Bob has a website, too. Do a search on Goog;e,.com on Bob the Navigator. Check out Slow Travel.com (sp?). Don't spend less than 3 days anywhere or you won't remember where you were. In nine days we stayed in Florence, Siena, Cortona (not worth the hype!!) and back to Florence. Driving in Tuscany is fun (wild!) Check out Dean's suggestions for Tuscany on this site, too. Don't miss Siena, Montalcino, and Monte Oliveto Maggiore. Be sue to have a killer $6 hot chocolate at the Cafe Rivoire in the Piazza Signoria in Florence. Go to the Leather School behind Santa Croce in Florence. If you plan on driving through Tuscany, LEARN the signs! I was an Italian major, but haven't spoken it for a long time,and I forgot a lot - signs are important. We got lost a lot (but that part is fun!)I'm not an expert - I only went once, but I had great fun planning and had no problems on the trip (except a husband who insisted on a $25 ten minute cab ride to the Piazzale Michelangelo instead of an 85cent bus fare!) I saved a lot of notes from this site and others - e-mail me if you wish. Elaine on this site also has lots of info elavine.?? - do a search. Have fun planning!! Ask for help with a detailed title and you'll get it. Dont' ask general questions - you'll get a lot of nasty answers. Ask for specific information. Look around a lot first! Have fun!

Sorry for the typos!

Hi, Angela. September is supposed to be a great time to go weatherwise, although a very popular time to go as well. I just took a trip to Rome, Siena and Florence in October. The weather was great. It was still very warm in Rome. Florence and Siena were cool in the mornings and evenings and pleasant for the rest of the day. <BR><BR>So far as planning goes, there are so many wonderful destinations in Italy to choose. I would start with thinking about what you like and what you want to get out of the trip. Italy has history, beautiful architechture, art, food, wine, shopping, scenery, etc. <BR><BR>How active do you want to be? Do you like hiking? Biking? Do you just want to walk around and enjoy the scenery? Do you want to sit at piazzas and people watch?<BR><BR>Rome and Florence are excellent choices. (I haven't been to Venice so won't comment on it.) They are both fairly bustling cities although Rome is much larger than Florence. Did you have any desire to spend some time in the country? You could spend night or two in Tuscany on your way from Rome to Florence or vice versa or do a day trip from Florence.<BR><BR>To get some ideas, something I like to do is look at what itineraries the tour companies offer, but only do about half to 3/4 as much. Good luck.

I have visited those places in late Sept and early Oct. I found the crowds not bad, the weather mostly good, and<BR>the cities wonderful. The more into October you get, the more likely for more rain, and possible high water in Venice.<BR>How much time to spend depends on your interests and is a personal thing. However,<BR>I agree with the above advice of not spending less than three days in any of those places. Rome is large, spread out, and complex, and a week there would not be too long imo. Venice is my all-time favorite; I can never spend enough time there. Florence is art and architecture heaven--even if you are not much of a museum goer, you will find enough to look at, and you could always take a daytrip into the Tuscan countryside.<BR>I have files on those cities; if you'd like to see them, feel free to email.<BR>good luck

Good afternoon, Angela<BR>Can offer these following suggestions:<BR>1. Mid to end of October might be the <BR>best time as you still have the warmer<BR>weather, nights may require a light<BR>jackets, would no expect the crowds to<BR>be gone, have noticed over the years<BR>that in late November they still can<BR>be there.<BR>2. Would suggest starting your trip in<BR>Venice and then by rail to Florence, to<BR>Rome and then return home out of Rome.<BR> Catching an early flight out of Venice<BR>Marco Polo can be difficult and expensive...Fly into Venice or rail from<BR>Milano.<BR>3. Select your hotels with locaion in <BR>mind, would suggest that in Rome use<BR>those in the area of Pza. Navona/Rotunda<BR>as you are in walking distance of most<BR>of Rome sights. In Florence from the<BR>Ponte Vecchio to the Duomo, in Venice<BR>in or around the Pza S. Marco, or the<BR>Rialto Bridge... If you need any help<BR>in locating your hotel selections, drop<BR>me a line and will gladly check for you.<BR>4. Might further suggest that Alitalia<BR>Tours offer an itinerary for Rome-Florence-Venice. Offer fairly good<BR>choice of hotels in diffeent price<BR>ranges also air and rail fares are <BR>included and the time within these<BR>cities is entirely on your own...<BR>5. We have for many years gone on our<BR>own however did take two escorted trips<BR>way back when. After that after understanding the lay of the land been<BR>on our own.<BR>6.Our daughter and husband took one<BR>of the Alitalia trips to Florence for<BR>a week in '99, and were very much satisified<BR>with it. We returned with them for <BR>Venice and Florence last year.. This<BR>time on our own..<BR>Would suggest a min. of four days in each, however would add to those days<BR>depending upon your interests.<BR>Any help I can be write and will reply.<BR>Richad of LaGrange Park, Il..<BR><BR><BR><BR>

Angela, you've gotten some good suggestions here, considering you haven't given us much to go on as far as the total number of days you've allotted or your interests. I, for one, would devote the most number of days to Rome (of the three cities). If I had to skimp, then Venice could be appreciated in two (my bias: Venice gets claustrophobic after two days due to the crowds of tourists and Roma offers so much 3 days barely scratches the surface). <BR><BR>Also, I endorse RJD's suggestion of some time in a country setting in Tuscany and/or Umbria to balance out the city experiences. There are many fascinating small medeaval hilltowns (see the Graffitti Board at www.ricksteves.com for inspiration on the smaller ones) You'll also find many people recommend visits to any of these places in Tuscany/Umbria: Siena, San Gimignano, Assisi, Orvieto, Pisa or even the coastal towns of Cinque Terre or Santa Margarhita Ligure. There are so many, you'll have to make some choices. The train between Venice and Florence is a good idea. The 'countryside' tour of Tuscany/Umbria is best experienced by renting a car (picking it up in Florence and dropping it off in Rome). While driving in Italy is easy, driving in the big cities should be avoided. If you don't want to rent a car then, you should consider some day trips/bus tours from Florence to or from Siena.

Angela--<BR>For two women traveling for the first time in Italy, I definitely endorse the recommendations you have already received to use train travel. However, one-day side tours from any major city are also a way to get out into the countryside that you couldn't otherwise see except by car. Obviously, Rome, Florence,(and Siena) and Venice are all number one choices for a trip; but as already mentioned, you need to decide what kind of things you like. If you hate congestion and big cities, don't go to any of those three places. But if you enjoy art, architecture, and history, do go. Away from the 3 big cities, I would say you might consider Orvieto, San Gimignano/Volterra, Pisa, and Lucca, plus the Cinque Terre for pure breathtaking scenery. Try to arrange your trip to land in one city and then travel along your itinerary to depart from a different city, saving the necessity to backtrack to your place of arrival. Have fun; I know you will.

Angela, a trip to Italy in September must include Penisola Sorrentina !<BR>Italy is a very wide country and you haven't to forget that there is southern part of Italy that is wondeful.<BR>I suggest you this itinerary: Rome ( 3 days ) Rome - Naples by train and Naples - Sorrento by another train. Sorrento 4 days so that you can visit Pompei, relax, sun and sea and the best views of Italy.<BR>Naples - Venice by airplane. Venice 2 days. Venice - Florence by train. Florence 2 days.<BR>Write me if you need help: no problem.<BR>Ciao.

I do not find Italy uncomfortably crowded in September, but I do prefer May.