1st time in Italy! I only have 7 nights. Can't decide on a Rome, Florance and Venice trip or 4 nights in Rome and 3 nights in Sorrento?

If this is your first trip, do the big 3. Sorrento is nice, and it's a good place to stay if you want to go to Pompeii or Capri, but you shouldn't miss Florence and Venice on a first trip. Definitely don't miss Florence.
I assume you're flying in and out of Rome.... You could spend four days in Rome, two days in Florence and one in Venice, then take a really late train back to Rome the night before you fly home, sleeping on the train.
OR do three days in Rome, two days in Florence, then backtrack to Sorrento (I love Venice and it's beautiful, but there's not very much to do besides wander around and take it all in, and it is kind of out of your way).
OR just stick with Rome and Florence and anything in between (try Siena -- it's great -- and San Gimignano, which I haven't seen, but want to). This is what I would do, in all honesty.
To give you some idea of how long train rides are in between: Rome to Florence is about three hours, and Florence to Venice is about the same (trains from Rome to Venice stop in Florence, generally, so figure about six hours--long enough for a night train. You can sleep when you get on the plane/when you get home). I think Rome to Sorrento is about three or four hours (you take the commuter train -- the Circumsuviana -- from Naples to Sorrento). Florence to Siena is an hour and a half to two hours. And there's a bus from Florence to San Gimignano that's about 75 minutes.
I hope this helps. Feel free to email me if you have any questions. Since I can't afford to travel in the near future I quell my travel obsession by sharing my experiences with others! Have a good time.

Hi - for 7 days, I'd recommend just Rome and Florence. We did all three last July, loved it but Rome was our favorite. could have spent more time there. The first msg is correct too in that Venice can be just a day trip, but it is a little more out of the way for you. If you had a few more days, then maybe all three. Believe me, you'll find enough to do and see in Florence and Rome. Food (and vino!) was wonderful and reasonably priced in little trattorias.If you are renting a car, don't drive IN these cities! Remember, you waste two days basically, flying in, and flying out, so you might be down to 5 days already, and you don't want to spend the time racing to get from one place to another. There's things to see along the way too.
I can't wait for our next trip. Have a great time, ciao!

Hi - for 7 days, I'd recommend just Rome and Florence. We did all three last July, loved it but Rome was our favorite. could have spent more time there. The first msg is correct too in that Venice can be just a day trip, but it is a little more out of the way for you. If you had a few more days, then maybe all three. Believe me, you'll find enough to do and see in Florence and Rome. Food (and vino!) was wonderful and reasonably priced in little trattorias.If you are renting a car, don't drive IN these cities! Remember, you waste two days basically, flying in, and flying out, so you might be down to 5 days already, and you don't want to spend the time racing to get from one place to another. There's things to see along the way too.
I can't wait for our next trip. Have a great time, ciao!

I would recommend going to Rome & Florence only although Venice is actually my favorite. The train between Rome & Florence is not too long and you would get the most out of the 5 days you were in Italy. There is LOTS to see in Rome and Florence; Venice is a little too much out of the way.

If you want to do Rome/Venice (my favorites), you might consider the overnight train. Get a couchette and you can figure that the cost of the train is the cost of a room for one night or two if you roundtrip it. It leaves at 11:30 P.M. and gets into Venice around 7:00 the next morning. P.S. We find in Psychology 101 that a decision between two good choices has a relatively small amount of anxienty. You have been given many good choices, so your decision should not make you anxious.

I disagree with Jenz (Sorry Jen) but the train from Rome to Florence is only 1 1/2 hours on the Eurostar. We just returned from a 8 day trip to Rome and Florence, we spent 5 nights in Rome, 2 nights in Florence, and then our last night back in Rome. We still didn't see all of Rome. Feel free to e-mail me directly with any questions.

After touring Italy twice in the past 3 years, I agree with most other replies, do Rome and Florence. Spend 3 nights in Rome, take the train to Florence and spend 2 nights there, back to Rome for your last evening. There is so much to see in both cities you'll only scratch the surface and will most likely want to have a return trip, so save Vience for next time, it is beautiful but you need a good day or at least one night to really take it all in and relax. Go see all the sights in Rome and for a good evening excursion take a train to Tivoli walk the streets, see the all natural fountains, and enjoy a most delicious supper, this is a great side trip. In any case enjoy!!

Just returned from 17 day trip to Italy/Paris. The best thing I ever did was rent a car and drove from Venice to Rome. Florence - Beautiful, but the charm can get lost when you are getting stepped on the whole trip, and same with Venice. Both are beautiful, but so crowded. We ended up staying in Sienna and cut Rome short. I am glad we did. San Gimiano, Voltare, Montepulciano, Monteriggione, Montalcino, etc. Wine country. Are you looking to relax or run to see all you can..If you are going to Venice try and get to Murano and Burano. These are not as crowded and each has their own charm..

I just got back from a 7-day stay in Italy. I'd DEFINITELY visit Venice. It's totally unlike any city I've ever visited in the world (I've been around a lot).
Florence is indeed beautiful...Michelangelo's David...other art musems & churches...but Venice's lack of cars and dependence on foot and boat-travel makes it pretty unique.
If you indeed go to Venice, get the obligatory visit to Piazza San Marco out of the way. Then, I suggest you get off the beaten path...simply set-off on foot and wander the myriad alleys and narrow streets. THAT was the highlight of my Italian trip.

Ciao!