Travel plan for Italy
 

Hello everyone!

So this August I will be flying into Rome. It's going to be my first real trip overseas and I am going to be leaving Australia alone! Scary right?

Anyway, My plan is to land in Rome and spend a night or two there before heading down to Sicily where I will be meeting for the first time, my best friend and spending the period of a month with him and his family. I would see the north of Italy first but my friends wants me to go down for the end of their holiday time in August. After this, I have two weeks to spare. I don't know if I will ever make it back to Europe so I want to make the most of it and see as much as I can, so after my extended visit I wanted to see Rome, Venice, Florence and Cinque Terre.

Now I come here for everyones help. I have been doing a lot of research and would like to sort some things out but I have some questions;

What is the best way AND the cheapest way to do this? I was thinking maybe fly from Catania up to Venice and catch trains from Venice to Florence and down to Rome, Good idea or no?

Is two weeks enough time to see these places? How should I balance my time between them all?

I thought I would travel from Florence to Cinque Terre, what would be the most effective way to get there and how much time should i allow? I have word of just doing a day trip but the source was less than perfect.

Would appreciate any help! It's time for me to start sorting things out haha any suggestions would be great :-)

Thankyou!

Kay welcome to Fodors, for prices and times check trenitalia against the flight costs, you are in Italy in high season but tickets bought now may still be cheaper than bought later, hotels will also book up and prices high.

Venice, Florence, CT, Rome is a good sequence. Catch the train to CT, it is basically a hiking area and there are buses.

Given that it will be hot you have decide how much you want to say sit in Venice and watch the boats and tourists go by or hike. Lots of other people do something like

Venice 2
Florence 3
CT 2 (day trip very possible again it depends on what you like to do)
Rome 3

Lets see what others say
CT

Venice 2
Florence 5
CT 2 (day trip very possible again it depends on what you like to do)
Rome 5

Must be going mad

Why do you say going mad @Bilboburgler? haha

Two weeks in a fair amount of time to visit Venice, Florence, CT and Rome. Trains are the best way to travel between these destinations. Visit Venice for 3 nights, Florenc for 4, CT for two and Rome for 5. You can take a day trip or so from Florence and Rome.

Happy travels!