Italy in 5 days
 

My boyfriend and I are looking to visit Italy in May and are currently planning on renting a car and doing a road trip for 5 days. We will be starting and returning to southern Germany, so I figured driving down there would be quickest, easiest, and cost efficient compared to figuring out trains. And also it would give us freedom to go where we please.
We would like to see as much as possible, and hopefully can make it down to Rome. Is this practical in 5 days?
He is a rather picky traveler and prefers to visit places "off the beaten path". Any suggestions on where to go?

Thanks!

Rome is hardly off the beaten track. And you are talking about a LOT of driving - essentially 2 of your 5 days will be spent getting to and fro Germany. So you could spend 3 days in Rome and see some major sights - or do less driving and explore Venice or Florence.

However, although we do a lot of road trips - for this train seems to make more sense.

If you are talking about driving around Italy and staying different places every night - you can certainly do it - but will spend the bulk of your time sitting in a car.

Can you identify what specifically in italy are your must-sees?

And have you been anywhere in Italy on previous trips?

With only 5 days I would stay north. I would start in the Val Gardena in the Dolomites---only about 2 hours from Innsbruck over the Brenner Pass---pretty country.
Then, drive down to Lake Garda and stay at the north end in Riva del Garda or in Malcesine. Then decide if you want to see Verona or Venice--or perhaps stay in Verona and day trip by train to Venice. Rome is too far--save it when you have 5 days just for Rome, and take the train.

Have you checked out the cost of flying to Rome, doing some sightseeing, and then heading out for some real off the beaten track exploration before flying or taking a train back?

If you drive down from Germany and stick to the more Germanic Alpine parts of Italy -- the Dolomiti, Lago di Garda -- and polenta-eating Verona (okay, it's got a Roman arena :-) ), I'm not sure it's worth all the expense once you pay for gas, tolls and parking. And of course, you can't drive in Venice!

There are cheap flights and if you book ahead for trains, you can get some very steep discounts.

I'm just wondering if, for the same money, you could have a lot more fun seeing a bit of Rome and then something blissfully off the beaten track. Just bomb around Lazio outside of Rome. So completely different from Germany. And the food is great

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/200...familyholidays

http://www.travelbelles.com/2010/07/...-rome-ariccia/

http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/lazio/castelliromani.html

http://www.browsingrome.com/beyond-r...beautiful/5101

http://www.arttrav.com/day-trips/laz...a-ronciglione/

http://www.insidersitaly.com/2010/09...C2%A0in-lazio/

http://www.browsingrome.com/beyond-r...-casperia/4821

Rome is not off the beaten path.

The road in the northern Apennines centering around Urbino might be considered off the beaten path.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...th/4201001653/

But with 5 days I would stick to visiting Germany, or at most visit the Dolomites and lake area.