Hello all! I am trying to figure out everything for my trip to Italy in October, and I wanted to to see if you could look at my basic itinerary. Our flights have been books but nothing else--here's what I put together:

Th 10/12--arrive in Rome (1 pm), take train to Florence
F 10/13--Florence
S 10/14--Florence
Sun 10/15--Florence, train to Venice to meet my mother (arrives 6 pm)
M 10/16--Venice
T 10/17--Venice
W 10/18--Venice, train to Rome (afternoon)
Th 10/19--Rome
F 10/20--Rome
S 10/21--Rome
Su 10/22--mother leaves Rome at 9 am, Rome/day trip/over night to Naples?
M 10/23--day trip/Pompeii?
T 10/24--leave Rome at 1:20

My biggest question at this point is what to do with my last two days--do you think I'll want more time in Rome or should I look for day trips in the area? I would also love to see Pompeii if there's time, but I don't know if this is a realistic overnight trip. I would love to hear any thoughts or suggestions you might have. Thanks so much!

anyone? thanks!!!

Naples/Pompeii combined together is a realistic overnight trip. It is also a long but manageable day trip. (Travel time to Naples--2 hours; Pompeii--an additional 40 minutes beyond Naples.)

And, yes, you might enjoy more time in Rome as well.

If you plan this as a day trip, you can decide at the last minute, once you've seen how you're doing in Rome.

I agree with waiting to see whether you're tired of Rome. At that time of year, rain may affect some of your sightseeing or daytrips.

My instinct is that you will still have a lot you want to see in Rome your last two days - places you will have not discovered or thought about until you get there. Then again, maybe not.

travelerstogodotcom's idea of playing it by ear and not committing to any day trips until you get there is a great one.

Thanks so much for your advice--I think I will just see how I feel on Sunday.

Someone mentioned rain in October. Although none of us can predict the weather-- my understanding is that the weather will be perfect in October and that's one of the reasons it's one of the "high seasons".

How much rain have you actually encountered in October?

If you want to see Pompeii, it is a fantastic, incredible site and I think it is a great idea to stay overnight there. Especially since you would then also be able to visit the Archeological Museum in Napoli, which houses many of the greatest treasures removed from Pompeii for safekeeping.

JaneRebecca,

I experience plenty of torrential rain in Roma last October (first two weeks). Nobody can predict, but it is more likely to rain in October (and be chilly) than earlier.

I think you have a nice itinerary. Busy but you'll be able to hit most of the A list of things to see in each city. Rome is such an incredible city that I'd allow 4 full days for it alone and that's moving at a pretty good pace. If you don't think you'll be returning to Rome or visiting southern Italy any time soon, you might squeeze a day trip to Pompeii. We did the Context Rome day trip there which was very nice albeit expensive. There are other guided tours that are less. If you think you'll do a trip to the Amalfi coast one day, you could save Pompeii for then. Have fun!!

Oh, I didn't mean to discourage you about October weather, but no month of the year has weather guarantees, and mid to late October does have more rain, on average, then say, the first week of September.
For weather trends in the past (and for forecasts before you go), see
websites like www.accuweather.com or www.weatherbase.com
But until a few days before you actually leave, there is no saying what the weather will be. I was just suggesting you not lock yourself into planning your last few days until you get there.
Enjoy your trip

Oh, I should have said too that if you decide against a separate trip to Naples and would like a shorter day trip, Orvieto is lovely.
This website has a lot of information on Orvieto http://tinyurl.com/h5uf6

Hopefully I'll visit southern Italy one day! Orivieto sounds like a nice option as a day trip if I decide to spend more time in Rome after all...