Hi there!

We're planning a short trip to Italy (really only 5 full days, 7 nights), and based on what I've been reading on these boards, we've decided to go to Venice for a couple of days and then Rome.

Since we're only going to be there for 5 days, I wanted to make the most of my days as possible, and sleep on overnight trains if possible. Can you tell me if this makes sense?

Take a overnight train from the Rome airport to Venice. Wake up & check in, sightsee, etc.

Sleep that night in a hotel.
- What makes the most sense in terms of areas to stay?

Check in our luggage with the concierge (do they do that there?), sightsee during the day. That night, take another overnight train to Rome, and get there early morning.
- Are there things to do late at night? I think our train doesn't arrive until midnight, so we'd have to keep ourselves occupied.

I'm not sure what we're going to do early morning in Rome.

In Rome, we're renting an apartment & meeting up with some friends. What's the best area to rent an apartment in?

Does this even make sense, or am I trying to cram too much in? I really didn't want to waste a half day traveling.

Thanks so much for your assistance!

It really doesn't make sense to take an overnight train between these two cities as the ride is too short. Can you fly into Venice and out of Rome?
That would be my first choice. Spend a few days in Venice and then take an afternoon train (travel time 4 1/2 hours) to Rome.

Hmm...the overnight train is actually about 6 hours long, which is probably enough time for me to get some shut-eye. I am worried about the jet-lag though.

I can't fly into Venice...I already booked a roundtrip non-refundable ticket to/from Rome.

Also, what time do water taxis and water buses operate until?

For early morning activity in Rome..head to the Vatican Museum/Sistine Chapel and get in line by 8:30.. as soon as the doors open at 8:45 you'll be in within 10 minutes. We used the headphones our guide recommended and it was perfect for 6 Euros.

The 6 hour train leaves from Rome's Tiburtina station not Termini. Somewhere I certainly wouldn't want to be late at night. That station is iffy even during the daytime. There is a train from Rome Termini that is about 8 hours but you have to change trains during the journey so you sure wouldn't get any sleep. The daytime ES trains are 4 1/2 hours.

What time does your flight arrive in Rome? You might consider catching a Ryanair flight from Rome Ciampino airport to Venice Trevisio. Ryanair has some flight specials right now for as low as .99E + taxes. Flight time is one hour. You would have to get the bus (www.terravision.it)from Rome's FCO airport to Rome CIA.

Treviso is not at Venice, it is north of Venice. Personally Lorea if I were flying into and out of Rome and with 7 nights I would stay in Rome except for perhaps day trips to Florence, Orvietto etc. There are many day trips you can take via train from Rome. I would save Venice for another trip since you have already booked your airline tickets. As you said, you will only have 5 full days. I would make those days enjoyable. There is so much to see and do in Rome. I would suggest you not try to cram so much travelling into such a short amount of time. I think you will come home exhausted and with the feeling that you did not really enjoy any part of the trip. After all, don't forget you will have a bit of jetlag when you arrive also. That is my thought. Best wishes to you.

I say what LoveItaly says! Simply stay in Rome and take day trips.

Actually I would have talked you into flying into Venice and out of Rome but sounds like it's too late for that plan.

Addressing your post, you have to find out does a train even leave from the airport in Rome? I thought the train station was a separate location. Is an overnight train without transfers and sleeping cars even available?

Even if yes, to me getting off a plane jet lagged with the first night on an overnight train, then ANOTHER night on an overnight train would be an absolute nightmare! (have you ever been on an overnight train? somehow i'm guessing you haven't?)

Hi L,

As much as I love Venice and Florence, I also suggest that, if you are flying in/out of Rome with only 5 days to visit, you stay in Rome.

You can visit Orvieto for a hill town experience and Ostia Antica for ancient ruins.

If you want to do a night train, you can take the 22:53 from Rome Tiburtina to Trieste, ARR 08:06 and the 08:26 or 08:47 from Trieste to Venice, ARR 10:17, 10:50.

Ira - Have you ever been to Tiburtina station? I would not tell anyone to go there at night!

Hi ky,

I know that you cautioned the OP against Roma Tib station.

Note that I said, "If you want to do a night train, ....".

I absolutely don't think this plan can be enjoyable. Doable, yes, but so is eating worms.

"That night, take another overnight train to Rome, and get there early morning.
- Are there things to do late at night? I think our train doesn't arrive until midnight, so we'd have to keep ourselves occupied."

I am not sure I understand the above.

Rome is not that easy a city to navigate. It takes a little concentration and awareness to really enjoy your time there. Have you read recent Rome threads here?

Take the advice of people here that know these cities: stay put in Rome, and if you must, daytrip to other places.

And seriously, you do not want to be dragging yourself and your stuff around Tiburtina station at night. And getting there, and getting from there... it boggles my mind. I assume you are flying to Italy from the Western Hemisphere. Jet lag will be at least a small issue; maybe a large one. Be nice to yourself.

You said, "based on what I've been reading on these boards, we've decided to go to Venice for a couple of days and then Rome"

That surprises me because if there is any consistent advice given here, it is not to cram too much in a short trip.

If your decision to visit Venice is based on how much people here like it, consider this: they also like Paris an awful lot, but wouldn't try to fit it into such a short schedule with flights in and out of Rome.

I know I seem very firm about this, but I think you will ruin your trip if you try to squeeze this much traveling and so little sleep into your journey.

Save Venice for another trip. You'll be back.

I know I said it already above but getting off a transatlantic flight (assuming), transfering airport to main train station, and immediately doing an overnight train journey is just not a reasonable idea.

Hopefully Lorea is still checking in on this post?

Thank you all for your responses! And thanks for giving me a good knock on the head...based on your feedback, we will NOT be taking any trains to Venice. Instead, we are going to be taking a quick flight (<1hr) flight to Venice and staying there for 2 days and going to Rome for 4 days (I checked my schedule and it's actually going to be 4 days).

I know what you all say about trying not to pack too much in one trip, but I went to France last year, and my favorite parts were the non-Paris parts...I suppose I like getting away from major cities.

Thanks again!
Lorea

If you don't really enjoy big cities just skip Rome entirely, heading from the airport to Roma Termini, where you can catch a train to your choice of smaller places within a few hours train ride of Rome. Forget Venice---your time is too limited.