We will be flying in and out of Rome this spring to begin a 14 day tour of Italy. We need some suggestions to make traveling more efficient between these cities we want to visit. Rome,Florence,Siena,Venice,Sorento and Bari.We plan on using the rail system,either the Eurostar or other rail system. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.

Bari? Are you catching an overnight ferry?

Eurostar (ES)is just the name of the faster trains in Italy, not a rail company. The Italian rail company is Trenitalia.
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...0080a3e90aRCRD

From Rome to Siena a bus is the better choice (takes the same time as a train) because it drops you in the city center. If you train, you would have to get a bus to the center once you arrived in Siena. http://www.sena.it/index_e.htm

Do you have 14 nights in Italy not counting travel? Your trip seems a bit hectic - too much travel and hotel changes. You might consider picking either Siena or Florence, not both. You can day trip between them (only an hour by bus).

First off, you are planning to visit 6 major cities in 14 days (is it 14 days on the ground or does that include travel days to and from Italy), which means you're not going to get to see much of anything at all, anywhere. I would start by limiting yourself to 4 destinations maximum. Then the issue of train travel is easy - point-to-point tickets bought once you arrive at any train station.

IMO, too much in 14 days. If you have to fly into and out of Rome, I'd limit the itinerary to 3 destinations with a return to Rome the night before your departing flight. Rome, Venice, Florence. I'd stay in Florence and visit Siena as a day trip.

I agree -- Bari?? Is there a reason you want to go there? Unless it is to maybe visit relatives or catch a ferry it really isn't a "must" on most people's wish list.

Even w/o Bari - you are really trying to cram too much into too little time.

Assuming you mean 14 days 'on the ground' - when you subtract one day for recovering from jet lag, several 1/2 days journeys between cities, and a day to get back to Rome before flying home - you are down to less than 10 days free for sightseeing. Not nearly enough time.

Especially since you are flying R-T in/out of Rome. Open Jaw would have helped a <i>little</i>, but still be too much.

Thank You for your suggestions. We would be visiting Siena on a day trip out of Florence. We will have 14 days "on the ground", and the only reason Bari came up is that my husbands grandfather was born outside of Bari and I felt maybe he would like to see the region. He really does'nt care one way or the other about seeing Bari.We plan on "recovering from jetlag" for 3 days in Rome before venturing out.The origional itinerary was Rome,Florence,Siena(day only) and Venice,returnig to Rome.I think after reading your suggestions, we will stay with the origional plan. Thank You.

I was in Italy, the most remarkable country from all in the world... I adore to go in round to Italy.

The bus is still the better option for Siena. There is a direct bus (rapido) from Florence to Siena and one that makes several stops. The bus drops at the city center. I would still put Florence first and Rome at the end. Three hotel changes instead of four since checking in and out and getting to and from trains takes up your vacation time.