LeslieC

Need advice on the best ways to navigate Italy. I'm helping my brother with a 12 day (11 night) trip to Italy in May. He didn't take my advice and buy an open jaw ticket (in Rome, home Venice)...so he and his wife have purchased a round trip ticket Denver to Rome.

They want to spend 4 nights Rome, 2 nights Venice, 2 - 3 nights Florence and also see Siena and Orvieto, not in any particular order. His departure from Rome to US on the last day is at noon. He is nervous about flying from Venice to FCO early that morning although I've found 4 early flights on Al Italia.

Since they will only have 2 - 3 days for Tuscany/Umbria, I don't think he wants to bother with car rental, especially since neither Orvieto nor Siena are car-friendly.

Here are two options. Anyone have better ideas? Are there other airlines to consider? Would it make more sense for them to stay 5 nights in Rome, taking a day trip to Orvieto and then 4 nights Florence, taking a day trip to Siena?

OPTION 1:
Arrive Rome, 4 nights
Day 5 take the Eurostar AV train Rome to Venice. 2 nights Venice
Day 7 take the ES train Venice to Florence. 2 - 3 nights.
Day 9 or 10 take the train to Siena, one night
Day 10 or 11 take the train to Orvieto, one night
How best to get to FCO on day 12?

OPTION 2:
Arrive Rome, 4 nights
Day 5, train to Orvieto, 1 night
Day 6, train to Siena, 1 night
Day 7, train to Florence, 3 nights
Day 10 ES train Florence to Venice, 2 nights Venice
Day 12 Fly Venice to FCO for noon overseas flght (or fly late on Day 11 and stay near airport).

Alternate to Option 2 is to stay only 2 nights Florence and then Fly to Rome on day 11 (using EasyJet to Campiano) stay in Rome overnight and train or taxi to FCO on Day 12

Andrew

I flew into and out of Rome on my first trip to Italy in 2007 (long story short: it made more sense to me to fly that way than an open jaw, I'll save the explanation). I did Rome, Florence, and Venice but had more in my itinerary.

Anyway, many flights from the US arrive in Rome early. How early does your brother arrive? If he arrives early enough, why not take a direct Eurostar train from Rome to Venice? This is what I did and it worked out fine - but I arrived in Rome from the US at 7:00, so I had plenty of time to get into Venice by mid-day. I'd be nervous about flying from Venice to Rome the morning he goes home as well.

I did a day trip to Siena via bus from Florence. That worked out fine too.

dreamon

I agree with Andrew in that I would be tempted to leave Rome until last, seeing as they prefer to stay in Rome the night before. I think I would take a train directly (or as direct as possible) from the airport to Orvieto, head north and then take the train from Venice to Rome.

We flew from Rome on an international flight - we arrived at the airport nearly 3 hours prior to our flight and almost missed it because check in was so slow. I can't tell you whether this is typical of Rome airport, though. Taking the train from Roma Termini to the airport is easy, quick and fairly frequent.

DownUnder

For me the best way to tour Italy is by car, but train while not as convient, is a good option.
My itinerary would be:
Arrive FCO and fly straight to Venice and stay for 3 nights, I would then take the train Venice to Florence for 3 nights with a day trip to Siena. I would then take the train Florence to Rome for 5 nights with a day trip to Orvieto. It is easy to get the train from Rome Termini to FCO on the morning of the flight or a taxi if necessary.

LoveItaly

Hello, Leslie, personally I agree with DownUnder's itinerary.

If your brother and wife visits Siena from Florence the bus will take them into Siena unlike the train so the bus is the most convenient for visiting Siena.

It is too bad your brother didn't listen to you regarding a MultiCity aka Open Jaw flight (but do they ever?) but DownUnder's suggestion should work out quite well.

kybourbon

He needs to end in Rome.

Option 1
Train to Orvieto upon arrival (1 hour by train from Rome)
Florence 3 night with day trip to Siena
Venice 3 nights
End in Rome 4 nights

Option 2
Train to Venice upon arrival (4 hours by train)3 nights
Florence 3 nights
Orvieto 1 night
Rome 4 nights

ellenem

Everyone is saying the same thing:

Arrive at FCO and immediately continue on to another destination, whether it be Orvieto, Florence, or Venice by train or plane.

Put Rome at the end so al Rome time is together and to be close to the airport for departure day. This avoids any transit snafus on departure day.

LeslieC

My brother liked your advice, so here's their plan as of now:

Arrive FCO, train to Roma Termini and then train to Orvieto for first night (is this how it is done?)
Train to Firenze for 4 nights, taking a day trip by bus to Siena.
Train to Venezia for 2 nights.
AV train to Roma for their last 4 nights!

Do you know of tour companies that run day trips to Siena from Firenze? Or should they just take the public bus?

Andrew

Wow, I can't believe I still remember this 2+ years later...but the company that most commonly runs buses from Florence to Siena is called "SITA" I'm pretty sure - I just googled and that's what the company is unless it has recently changed. Very easy - the bus terminal in Florence is right across from the train station and there are buses running all day, and the buses take you right to the edge of the old town (much closer than taking the train to Siena). There are also express buses and local buses that are slower run by the same company so have your brother check the schedule, even just day of. I seem to recall I could get on any bus back to Florence with my return ticket, so I could decide to come back whenever I wished from Siena instead of confirming ahead of time.

Two nights in Venice (only one full day in Venice) wouldn't seem like a lot to most people, FYI, especially when you're taking a long train ride after the last night. The 4/2 split you've chosen for Florence/Venice might work for some but others would prefer 3/3 nights. Depends on the person I guess.

kybourbon

The buses between Siena and Florence are operated by Tra-in and Sita, sometimes a combo of the two. You wanted the rapid - schedules on the left side(zoom in to 100% to see the legend keys, etc.). The schedule highlighted in pink is Tra-in and the blue is Sita.

http://www.sitabus.it/sita-toscana/Firenze-Siena06.pdf

http://www.sienamobilita.it/EN/index.html

>>>Arrive FCO, train to Roma Termini and then train to Orvieto for first night (is this how it is done?)<<<

Yes. A cheaper option is the new shuttle bus from FCO to Termini 8€ as the train from Termini is 11€.
www.sitbusshuttle.it

suze

I like your switched order of itinerary. So you end up with Rome and the end. I don't like the idea of trying to get back to a city on the same day as an international flight home! Too potentially nerve-wracking.

nytraveler

IMHO 5 different hotels in so few days will waste a lot of time - packing and unpacking, finding them, checking in and out. Much better to do Siena as a day trip from Florence and Orvieto as a day trip from Rome.

One in Italy I wouldn't go near another plane - there is just way too much time lost getting to and fro airports, getting through security lines, waiting for boarding etc.

Once they land in Rome they should train straight to Venice (they can sleep on the train) for severla night there, then train to Florence (Siena day trip), then rome (Orvieto day trip). do realize they don;t have much time in any of thee places, since IMHO you need a minimum of 3 days in Rome and 2 each in Venice and Florence (which is 11 days if you include arrival, departure and travel between cities).

christabir

Thanks for all of this info. DH is suffering from asthma problems (not too bad, but uncomfortable, seeing doc Tues) so we had to cancel our high altitude national park itinerary and am replacing it with just this trip (or Brazil). Might have to fly into Milan (AA FFmiles) and train to Venice, but this is all info that is very useful. Thanks Lesley and all the other posters. And yes, siblings can be impossible.

For day trip to Assisi, where would you go from - Rome or Florence? - and what transportation would be best? Trying to avoid a car, but would do a one day rental if that's the best way.

LeslieC

OK. So, here's the plan my brother prefers. My question now, is how and when to best transfer (via train) at the end of their trip, from Orvieto to FCO for their flight home leaving at noon:

4 nights Rome, train to Venice
2 nights Venice, train to Florence
4 nights Florence (with a day trip to Siena), train to Orvieto
1 day (possibly night) in Orvieto
Flight leaves FCO next day at noon.

Should they take an early morning (7:32 am) train to Rome Termini (arriving 8:24) - transferring to the train to FCO?
Or should they just visit Orvieto by day and take a 6:00 pm train and stay overnight near the airport (probably less stressfull, huh?)

kybourbon

Trains start running from Orvieto to Rome at 4:30 am except on Sunday which I think is 5 am. The problem you encounter taking any early train is that the funicular from the hill town down to the station does not operate that early. I think it starts around 7:30. If you day trip to Orvieto, you have to arrange for luggage storage. It would be best to put Rome the last four days of the trip.

LeslieC

That's what I recommended but they have some psychological problem with coming all the way to Rome and then bypassing it to save for the end ot the trip. That's very good information about the funiculare running times. If they are insistent on this plan perhaps I'll suggest they visit Orvieto their last day (daytime only) but take an evening train out to the airport and spend their last night there. Do you know if there are lockers in the Orvieto train station where they could store luggage?

Also, any suggestions of hotels near FCO that offer shuttle service?

triciafromoz

I see everyone is recommending trains and I have to ask are trains better than flying? We are landing in Paris late on the 18/4 then flying to Rome on the 22th then on to Venice on the 25th back to London City (with flyBaboo airlines, love that name). I know its only a very short stay in Venice , we were going to give it a miss and stay longer in Paris and Rome but its such a long way from Oz and I'm not sure when or if I will make it back so I had to at least see Venice. I know it would probably be cheaper to go by train but is it faster?

kakijalan

triciafromoz: Train Rome-Venice is 3hr45min (on the fast train) terminal-to-terminal.
After taking into account, travel time to/from airport, having to be at airport earlier to check in, security checks, flight time etc... I think train is a faster, less hassle option.

triciafromoz

Thank you kakijalan, guess we will be on the train.

kybourbon

Are you flying into Rome's FCO or CIA?