Planning our 1st trip to Italy, we would like to have our home base in Tuscany as the wine country is of the upmost interest to us Traveling with 6 adults, a 16yr old girl and 13 yr old boy. Also would like to see Venice, Florence and Rome. We have 2 weeks is that too much to see? Also any ideas on day trips and things to do? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Florence is the only one of your must see cities actually in Tuscany, so you need to consider basing yourself in Rome and Venice to do those justice.

2 weeks won't scratch the surface for all that Italy you want to see. Maybe a week in Tuscany, and 3-4 days in each of Rome and venice. Clearly working north to south or vicecersa, with Tuscany in the middles makes the most sense.

As for Tuscany - you can't go wrong anywhere. Wine? Try Chianti, Montepluciano, and dozens more. You could stay in one place and daytrip for a week and still be absolutely convinces you need to come back to see the other 90% of the area.

Thanks, Any suggestions on where in Rome or Venice? Do you think 1 full day in Rome will be enough really want to see the vatican and such and really don't know what to see in Venice any suggestions? Chianti or Montepluciano which would be better. We just started a 1200 bottle wine cellar and would love to add some Italian wines to our collection so woulod like to experience and taste as much as possible.

Look into open jaws tickets into Venice, out of Rome. Venice is a great place to get over jet lag, since wandering around in a daze is appropriate sightseeing. And it's a truly unique as well as beautiful place.

What kind of Tuscan wine do you have in mind? Chianti? Montipulciano? Brunello di Montalcino? If you pick your location carefully, you can visit Florence as a daytrip. But you may need a car to explore Tuscany.

One day in Rome verges on ridiculous. There's a lot to see there.

You could do 4 nights in Venice, 5 nights in Tuscany, 5 nights in Rome -- or a variation thereupon, using the train or car between Venice and Rome.

With teens along, I'd suggest Siena as a base in Tuscany because it's a university city and there're lots of students, Italian and from all over (DD was there for 3 months) and it really has a great "happening" feel to it, but also has much to see and lots of great restaurants.

It doesn't sound like you know what you want/intend to see/do in Venice and Rome or even Florence/Tuscany. I recommend you do some research so that you maximize whatever amount of time you plan to stay in each place. It would also be a very good idea to have the two kids do some reading and identify a few things they'd like to see or do in Florence/Tuscany, Venice and Rome. I'm guessing they're not into wine to quite the degree the adults are.

Jean,

Your right on I think we need to get a book and look and research a little more,I guess we wan to do as much as possible.Thanks for the advice. If anyone has any suggestions as to where to start, it would be appreciated.

Here are two Web sites full of helpful information on Italy and to get you started on research:
http://www.initaly.com/toc.htm#sitecontents
http://www.knowital.com/

There is plenty of information on the wine regions as well as maps.

Start a list of what you want to see in each of three cities which will help guide you as to how many days you will need in each place. Once you have your itinerary outlined, you can then start planning hotels, restaurants, museums, etc.

A minimum of three days in Rome and in Venice would be my recommendation...four would be even better for Rome.

Open jaw tickets will help tremendously to avoid any backtracking.

I like the DK Top 10 books to give you a good overview of a city. I would also suggest just sitting down and reading some trip reports on this site. Just put "teens Italy" in the search box and start reading!

Here are my two trip reports you may find helpful:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34599242

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34830020

My husband and I are planning out first trip to Italy as well in early March, spending two nights each in: Venice, Florence, Montepulciano, then Rome. Quick trip I know, all we could afford to take off from work. I highly recommend Rick Steves guidebooks, either the Italy 2007 one or the specific city books. They helped a ton since I am trying to plan a whirlwind trip and make the most out of the places we do visit.

We are basing most of our time out of Tuscany as well, four nights total. We are seeing the museums in Florence, quick trip to see the leaning tower of Pisa (might be fun for your kids) then renting a car and driving down the Chianti road (SS 2222) through Tuscany to Siena, Montalcino, Montepulciano, and wherever else we decide to stop!

And when it comes to the cities, I have gathered that it just depends on your taste: big city vs small town and where you want to spend most of your time. The guidebooks are are perfect place to start to feel out what exactly you want to pack during your days in Rome and Venice. Have fun!

Hi, ikjteel - here's a few tips from someone who has taken her teens to Italy and elsewhere a few times.

Involve the kids and find out what they want to do - I'm not saying to plan exclusively round them, but do at least consider their wishes. eg - I don't know many kids who enjoy wine-tours. My kids hate them. i only get to go by offering things they want to do like theme-parks, water parks, etc.

Don't try to move around too much. kids don't usually enjoy it as much as adults. Limit yourselves to three places max - the rest can be day-trips.

don't reckon on your kids just wanting to sit around and read/chat in the evenings. Stay somewhere with something to do, if it's only wandering around the shops!

If you decide on a rural tuscany stay, try to balance it with Rome and Venice each end, and look for somewhere where there may be other teens they can hang-out with.

happy kids make for happy adults!

Good luck!

woops - I apologize for butchering the name of the Chianti Road...its S.R. 222

Great idea to have a home base in Tuscany...Chianti would be my recommendation due to centrality and your love of wine! From chianti there you're a hop, skip and jump to Montalcino where I toured the Biondi Santi winery just a few months back (where Brunello di Montalcino was invented). Florence will be a real point of interest, especially for the kids...this city is a definite MUST VISIT (food, culture, shopping!). I'm with Aramis on this one: The best route may be a few days in the beginning in either Rome or Venice...spend a good chunk of your time in Tuscany to enjoy and day trip, and then end up in either Venice (or Rome...whatever's best for you). Also: keep in mind the kids needs (I'm not sure how into culture and art they are) perhaps a home base in Tuscany equipped with bikes would be perfect...you can send them into the closest village to pick up essentials for the day. I rented a house in Italy once and had a fantastic time riding around the country-side discovering Italy and living like an Italian!

Castellina in Chianti would make a nice base for Tuscany.

Look at http://www.villaluciano.com The accomodation is perfect! An very good base for exploring Italy close to Florence.

One day in Rome is not enough IMO. It is very time consuming to move around, hopping on and off trains, checking in and out of hotels. I would focus on only 2-3 main areas and enjoy.

To pack and go every two days to me is a total waste of time and energy.

I agree that an open jaw ticket will be the best option.

We are flying into Venice this trip and spending 2 nights (I don't care for Venice but my friends have never been so those 2 nights are the compromise), 6 in Florence and then 4 in Rome before flying home.

As a 16 year old when I first went to Italy as an exchange student, Rome was my absolute favorite.