My husband and I will be traveling to Italy from June 29- July 11th. We are flying into Rome and flying home from Venice. I need help planning the trip. I like to have an itinerary so I know what we are doing every day. I would like recommendations for hotels, places to eat and places to see. This is our first time there.I have read a lot of this board and my head is spinning. Please help.

I can totally relate. Our first trip was April 2005 and I was overwhelmed with planning as well.

It looks like you have 11 days on the ground. Where would you like to go besides Rome and Venice?

Sometimes I think it is easier to plan using a guidebook (because there is so much information here on the internet, it can be overwhelming).

Or look under the "Destinations" tab here on Fodor's for suggested activities and itineraries. Rather than trying to comb thru all the various threads on Italy.

Last summer we spent 6 days in Rome, then 3 in Florence and 3 in Venice.

Here's what our schedule looked like:

Sun. (arrival) Pantheon; Piazza della Minerva; Santa Maria sopra Minderva; Sant’ Ignazio di Loyola ; Trevi Fountain

Mon. Time Elevator (3 kids with us)
Mamertine Prison
Colleseum/Forum

Tues: Vatican Tour
Pick up papal audience tickets at St. Susanna’s S. Maria d. Vittoria

Tip Tap Show-Teatro Sistina

Wed.Papal Audience 10:30 am;
Castel Sant Angelo;
Piazza Navona

Thursday: Mouth of Truth; St. Peter in Chains

Fri. Galleria Borghese
Santa Maria della Cocezione Santa Maria del Popoli
Spanish Steps

Sat. Rome to Florence

Duomo; Dome ; Baptistry ; Campinile

Sun. Academia;Medici Chapel; Santa Maria Novella ;
Ufizzi Piazza della Signoria
Ponte Vecchio

Mon. Florence museums closed
Pisa

Santa Croce (cl. 5:30 pm)
Badia Fiorentina

Tues. Florence to Venice-walk around Venice


Wed. Doge’s Palace Secret Itineraries Tour

St. Marks
Thurs. depart Venice

I just wanted to add that we did and saw a lot more than is listed; that is just what was on my computer. The night before our 5th day in Rome, I had everyone in the family list the things we hadn't seen but wanted to...I put those together and mapped out a way to get to them. Also, the time in Venice was less scheduled...wanted more time to wander and shop.

Thank you all for writing back. We would like to go to florence,capri, and i do not know where else.

Hi Jarg,

Yes, there are SO many possibilities!
Guide books are a very good place to start.

A couple of possible general itineraries might be:

Rome 4 nts
Tuscany countryside 2 nts
Florence 2 nt
Venice 3 nts

or

Rome 5 nts
one of the lakes 3 nts (or the Ligurian Coast somewhere)
Venice 3 nts
(saving Florence, Tuscany/Umbria, Cinque Terre for another trip)

I'm one of those people who really love both cities and countryside and like to have a mix on most trips. I feel like you get a better sample of the country you are visiting that way, plus the change of pace is very good.

Like most of us, you will want to return because there is always more to enjoy!

I've visited bella Italia 3 times for a total of 9 weeks, nothing compared to many Fodorites. I have my 4th trip in my head - Sicily and the Aeolian Islands!

Buon viaggio!