Sorrento or Umbria for Feb. trip?
 

We have planned a trip to Italy for mid February and I have been back and forth about my itinery. I need some help. We fly in and out of Rome. Right now I am booked in Sorrento for 3 nights, then Florence for 3, then Rome for 2. We are renting a car out of the Rome airport and plan to drive to Sorrento, tour the area, drop the car in Naples and take the train to Florence. I am having second thoughts about this part of the trip. My dilemma is whether the Sorrento part is too ambitious given the time we have in Italy and Umbria would be easier, or is Umbria going to be too cold and less inviting than Sorrento in February. I would appreciate your feedback on this. Thanks so much!

First of all, Florence (Firenze) is in Tuscany, not Umbria.

You cannot count on favorable weather in either location.

Rome offers you the most to do, no matter the weather. The pleasures of Sorrento are mainly outdoor pleasures, including driving the Amalfi coast - which is no pleasure at all if rain and fog are obscuring the views. Of course you could go to Pompeii, but if it is rainy or nippy, that could turn into a drag.

Firenze has many, many indoor sights to see. But is is likely to be the coldest place on your itinerary.

I suggest that you plan 5 nights in Roma and 3 in Firenze. If while you are in Roma you experience brilliant and balmy weather, take a train to Sorrento and a bus drive down the Amalfi. Or take the train to Orvieto (which is in Umbria).

Skip renting a car.

I suggest

3 nights Roma
3 Firenze
2 Roma

And if the weather is good, take day trips.

Agree that Sorrento/Amalfi in Feb is likely to be a disappointment. As with any beah resort out of season may hotels and restaurants are closed or on limited hours. And ferries along the coast and to/fro Cpari will be limited to non-existent (if the seas are too rough).

Agree with the idea to stick to cities (countryside when it's chilly and rainy is not a lot of fun) and if you get a couple of good days do day trips (to Pompeii) or to a couple of the smaller fans out of Florence.

I should have added that I have been to both Florence and Rome twice before in February but it's never enough. I agree that sticking to the big cities is the way to go, but I wanted to add something new, Sorrento or Umbria (Perugia,Assisi, etc). So given that info, where would you spend those first 3 days? Thanks again.

Even though it will be cold, I would head to Umbria. Perugia is a fantastic city, filled with lots of warming eats and hot chocolate, so don't worry too much about the cold there. The art museum there is one of the finest in Italy, so be sure not to miss it. From there you could take a train to Assisi.

We were in Sorrento in mid-January last year. We were supposed to stay for a week but left after 3 days and headed to Rome. Sorrento was almost totally shut down - we found very few restaurants open and we couldn't do much. Go somewhere else.

Hi JN,

One more vote to skip Sorrento and the AC in mid-Feb.

Is there a reason for skipping Venice?

Orvieto is a nice town for 1-2 nights.

((I))

Thanks all. You have helped me make the decision that I am more comfortable with. We will save the Amalfi Coast for a more favorable season and head to Umbria, renting a car when we arrive at the Rome airport.
Any suggestions for a base city and a really nice hotel?

At that time of year, I would pick Perugia, or perhaps Assisi, to have enough to keep you indoors if the weather turns lousy. Be aware though that both are very steep hilltowns. Perhaps Spoleto would work if you can't stand hills, but I'm not sure how well serviced it is by trains.

By the way, I would think twice about renting a car until I see what the weather is like. You could just as easily take a train to Roma, switch to another that goes to Orvieto and be there in just about the same time. If it's snowy, you don't want to be driving. If the weather is clear, you could pick up a car in Orvieto, but personally I would stick with trains to get me into Perugia, or even Assisi.

I have spent time in Northern Italy every February and the weather has been lovely. The places I have been spending time include Torino, Milan, Florence, and the ski resorts in Piedmonte. I am headed to Italy again in Italy with a Shopping Tour (www.lemonlimetravel.com)
The temperatures average around 55 during the day. I would make sure to travel around by car in Tuscany.
Enjoy!