Rome to Venice
 

I have 5 days in Italy after a cruise from the port in Rome. Family of 5 (youngest is 13). I was planning to go from Rome to Venice and then back to Rome for my return trip. Suggestions on how to spread out the days? I was thinking of doing 2 days in Rome and then off to Florence and Venice. Thank you for your suggestions.

The local experts may tell you that five days is not enough for all of the Big 3 you've listed and you might be happier narrowing it down to one or two of those (especially if you're traveling as a large family and thus have more logistics to overcome).

Also, unless your flights are already booked, you might want to consider flying directly out of Venice or Florence if you can, rather than using your limited time to backtrack to Rome.

Five days is not enough time to do all three. Personally, I would just spend all 5 in Rome, and really enjoy your time there, but I can also appreciate your desire to see more of Italy. If that is the case I would do 3 days Rome and 2 days Venice - our teens preferred Venice over Florence.

time is relevant as they say

I sy if you will not be back in Italy for sometime then go for all three - Venice and Florence are rather compact so can see the gist of each in a day or so - Rome has a lot more real estate and sites far removed but two days you can at least explore the Colosseum/Form area and the Vatican and stroll around the narrow lanes of the old town center around the Trevi Fountain.

If you are coming back to Italy soon then yes skip Florence perhaps

Does the 5 days include your departure day? If you need to be back in Rome at the end to head home, then save all your time in Rome for the end. (Sap's idea to switch your flights if possible is a good one.)

Each time you change hotels, especially when moving a family of five, you will lose about half a day to checking in and out of hotels, traveling to and waiting at train stations, and riding the train.

For five days, I would stay in Rome, perhaps take a day trip to Florence or Orvieto. If you feel you really must go somewhere else, then I would choose one other location, along the lines of this:

Day 1: disembark from cruise; train to Rome, transfer to train to Venice (or Florence)
Day 2: Venice (or Florence)
Day 3: train to Rome
Day 4: Rome
Day 5: fly home

As you can see, even this schedule does not allow much time in any one place.

Thank you very much for your comments. I may in fact rethink it and possibly skip Florence? (...then again I'd hate not seeing the David)!! I'll actually have one day in Rome prior to my cruise and I return home on day 6 I just want to be on the safe side in be back in Rome the night before (i.e. day 5)

Here's the easiest way to do it all:

Day 1: disembark from cruise; train to Rome, transfer to train to Venice
Day 2: Venice
Day 3: early train to Florence; check luggage at Baggage Deposit in train station; spend the day in Florence (Be sure to reserve tickets to see David for this day!); late afternoon/evening train to Rome
Day 4: Rome
Day 5: Rome
Day 6: fly home

Hello Miami, I like the itinerary that ellenem posted. And just to make it easier for you if you decide to follow her good thought when you arrive by train in Florence when you get off the train and walk forward when you are past the train tracks turn left and the baggage deposit office will be down a bit on your right hand side. Do check as to what time the close up so you are back in time to retrieve your luggage. Also, if you wish to there is a baggage deposit place at the Santa Lucia train station in Venice also. When you get off the train it would be toward your left, just in case you don't want to haul all of your luggage to your hotel in Venice.

Thank you very much for your comments! I am changing my trip around to start in Venice and come down to Rome and Florence will be staying in the back burner depending on how it goes. Thanks again!