Brandi822

I am planing to spend 2 weeks in Italy in July. We want to visit Rome, Milan, Venice and the Amalfi coast. What is the best way to get to each of these? How should we arrange trains and bus travel? If I have to leave out a city it would be Milan or Venice. Which should I keep? I have never been to Europe and am overwhelmed! This trip is a surprise for my daughter so I can't ask her opinions. Any suggestions and information would be greatly appreciated.

PalenQ

Trains are best for the three cities and to get to Amalfi area (Sorrento or Salerno) then buses or ferries from there. Book train tickets far in advance at www.trenitalia.com or www.italotreno.com - two competing rail companies using same tracks - check both but booking way in advance to get limited in number discounted tickets is key - check www.seat61.com for help in booking your own discounted tickets online -for general info about trains and Italy check www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Brandi822

Thank you PalenQ!!!

PalenQ

Many people here like to use private driver transports from Naples to their Amalfi abode - of course a lot more expensive but way more convenient than other ways - I know nothing about them but others will. But you can do on own by bus or ferry from Salerno or CircumVeusuviana commuter train Naples to Sorrento then bus to Amalfi places.

You may want to fly into Venice and out of Naples.

Brandi822

We are flying from US to Rome. I'm assuming 4 night there, then on our way to the next destination. Which should be what? Train and bus to amalfi, flight to Venice, train to milan then train back to Rome? Does that make any sense?

PalenQ

flight to Venice>

why not do that right away from Rome airport?

Or do Amalfi first then train to Florence (about 3-4 hours from Naples) then train to Venice then 3.5 hr train back to Rome. But flying to Venice somehow first would be optimal.

I would suggest dropping Amalfi and dwelling on other three areas - maybe doing day trips from say Florence to Tuscany's famed hill towns - may Rome to Pompeii, etc.

do you have 14 days on ground or 12 - if 12 those three cities at 3 days each and a day of travel between would be nice. Amalfi sounds nice but it takes a lot of time to get there and back to Rome - nice area to stay for several days but for a brief stay cumbersome.

StCirq

There's no reason you need to backtrack to Rome. Book open-jaw tickets, into one city and out of another.

Sassafrass

If going all those places, then do not do RT Rome. Buy multi-city or multi-destination tickets, into one city and out of another. Tickets may cost a bit more, but will save the cost of train or plane returning to Arrival city, and save a day of travel that can be used for sightseeing.

Do not stay twice in the same city.

If you must do RT Rome, on arrival, trek on immediately to your next city. Put all time in Rome at the end.

Brandi822

Thank you all!! This is very helpful!!

annhig

Of these, I would drop Milan. Rome, the Amalfi and Venice would make a great 14 day trip. If you can, fly into Naples and out of Venice or vice versa, and use the trains to travel between your destinations. In none of those 3 places will you run our of things to do in the time you've got, and if you fancy a change, there are plenty of day trip possibilities.

tuscanlifeedit

Venice and Rome for your history interest, and the Amalfi Coast for the most beautiful scenery.

For transportation decisions, your best choice might be to see which cities you can fly in and out of without a double stay.

Naples doesn't often connect well with US airports, but perhaps a flight to somewhere in Europe with a connection to Naples, then on to Rome, then fly out of Venice. But there are dozens of permutations on this idea.

annhig

For transportation decisions, your best choice might be to see which cities you can fly in and out of without a double stay. >>

if you can't easily get a flight into or out of Naples, it might be worth working Florence into your itinerary as there are quick trains between there and Naples that don't go into Rome. Venice - Florence - Naples [for the Amalfi] - Rome would work well.

casacruz1111

Firstly, I would attempt to arrange your trip either from north to south or vice versa to ease your itinerary. Not sure where you're traveling from but either fly into Milan or Venice and work your way south (leave home from Rome). Or after arriving from Rome, immediately head south and work your way up, departing towards home from Milan or Venice.
Personally, this is where I start. You need to find flights/itinerary that makes sense. The rest can easily fall into place thereafter.

PalenQ

The rest can easily fall into place thereafter.>

But if 12 days on ground and 4 places each of which should demand at least a few days? Even 14 days- figure a day of travel between each place...Venice, Florence and Rome would be my first trip with that limited time. You'll return sometime with the big three out of way.

Brandi822

Thank you everyone. I really appreciate all the comments. The tentative dates are 7/25-8/10 which should give 14 days on the ground I think. I am definitely open to changing the structure of the trip and sequence of cities visited. I could leave amalfi coast out because it seems to be the menace as far as travel is concerned. It's just a place we have wished to see and I'm not sure I will do another trip to see it.

PalenQ

Well if you leave Milan out and just do Venice-Rome-Amalfi that could be fine. But maximiza time by flying first to Venice and working down to Amalfi and fly out of Naples or Rome.

annhig

Brandi - does that mean that you arrive on 25th July and depart on 10th August?

in which case I make it 16 days on the ground.

I find it helpful to set out an itinerary like this:

25/7 - arrive ? {time} ? hours to get from airport to hotel. say ½ day for orientation.
26/7 - [say] Venice
27/7 - [say] Venice
28/7 - [say[ Venice
29/7 - Train to Florence. Arrive 12 noon. check in by 1pm. ½ day sightseeing.
30/7 - Florence
31/7 - train to Naples. arrive 12 noon. train to Sorrento then private car to ?
01/8 - Amalfi
02/8 - Amalfi
03/8 - Amalfi
04/8 - Amalfi
05/8 - car to Naples via Pompeii. train to Rome. Arrive by 4pm
06/8 - Rome
07/8 - Rome
08/8 - Rome
09/8 - Rome
10/8 - fly home.

if you mean that you leave the US on 25/7 and arrive home on 10/8 then you only have 14 days and 13 nights; this shows why it's important to do this sort of plan so that you can make sure that you count the nights correctly, and therefore know how many you need to book in hotels [don't laugh, it's very easy to make mistakes unless you make a clear note of when you are planning to stay where].

I hope that helps.

Brandi822

Thank you. Very helpful information! My thought was leave US on July 25, so arrive in Italy the following day and leave Italy on August 10.

I will certainly write it all down and try to map out the best route without back tracking or repeating a city. That definitely makes the most sense. Thank you all. I will take all the help I can get!

Sassafrass

Keep in mind how hot it will be in August. Plan outdoor tours and walks in the morning and evening and use mid-day for inside museums, etc.

What was your special interest in Milan?
You are already going to Rome, one of the great, great cities of the world.

It will be hot. It will be crowded, but I would choose the Amalfi Coast over Milan.

If Milan is important enough to give up the AC for it, then you could spend a couple of days in Milan and a couple on one of the lakes.

BTW, Annhig's sample itinerary (and order of things) is lovely. When I think of what might be changed, like taking a day from someplace and adding it to Florence for a day trip, I think of crowds and heat mid-day and think, no. It would be better to keep what she suggests and do day trips from those places.

tuscanlifeedit

My preferred method of getting to the Amalfi Coast towns is to train to Salerno and then ferry. The AC road is crowded and twisting, and makes me car or bus sick. The boat ride is much more pleasant. Just a thought, since most advice suggests a train to Naples, then Sorrento and a driver from either Naples or Sorrento. It's quicker and more pleasant, IME, to train to Salerno then boat to coast.