My wife and I are planning our first trip to Italy. We are going for 2 weeks in May and plan on visiting 3 locations. Rome and Tuscany are definite, the third location is either Venice or Positano / Amalfi coast. We have heard good things about both places, but do not know anyone who has been to both places for a true comparison.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Well, they're both very beautiful places and both relaxing. Venice can be used as one end of an open-jaws trip. Say, fly into Venice, wander around, nip into your hotel as jet lag hits. Then move onto Tuscany and fly out of Rome. Or fly into Rome and out of Venice.

The Amalfi Coast doesn't fit so well into an itinerary. You'd presumedly fly into and out of Rome. It takes about a day to get to Positano from Rome. Then another day back and up to Tuscany. Then back to Rome again?

Do you just plan to rest around Positano? Or do you plan to visit the other Costa Amalfiera towns, Capri, Pompeii, etc?

My choice would be Venice, because it is unique in the world and uniquely beautiful.

I don't think you can compare Venice and Positano - they are too different. Both are beautiful and worth going to but in completely different ways. One is North and one is South for a start so how are you planning on moving about? Train, car? Where are you flying into/out of? You will need a car in Tuscany but it will be a long drive whichever you choose. This is what I would do: rent a car visit Tuscany for 5 days , leave the car in Rome spend 4 5 days in Rome and fly or train to Venice spend the rest of the time there. Keep Amalfi for next time.
May should be lovely everywhere in Italy.

hmmmm. i saw venice a long time ago. i've also been to tuscany, and spent a lot of time in rome.

amalfi coast is amazing as well.

2 weeks in may.....so basically 12 days (2 days are for flying time right)?

well, if you were going to do venice, i believe venice is a 4 hour train ride from rome. florence is halfway between the two. is renting a car worth it? maybe, i haven't done it, so i don't know.

i spent 5 weeks in rome, and saw a lot. you need 3-5 days in rome at easily. florence is a 2 day city, unless you really want to relax for a 3rd day.

venice...my older sister loved it. again, i think venice is a 2 day city tops.

if you choose amalfi coast, amalfi was amazing, i was there for 2 days, stayed at a cheap little hostel like place, but it was more hotel than hostel, as we did have our own room.

if you go to amalfi coast....i highly recommend Ischiia, an island north of capri. this was the highlight of my trip.

this cute little "monestary" hotel, right in the middle of a castle, was $100/night when i went:

http://www.albergoilmonastero.it/en/default.asp

it was amazing views and worth it. nothing much to see here, but great seafood restaurants on the water, and the natural thermal spa resort (garden of poseidon). i used the book "the rough guide to italy"

it's published in the UK, so is less "americanized" than other travel books.

i personally would pick amalfi coast over venice because i liked it better, but that being said....everyone should see venice at least once in their lifetime. i just wish it wasn't so far north. it's out of the way of everything else i like in italy!

another nice side trip that i did while based out of rome was a day trip to:

"Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise"

it's the national park in Lazio. i forget the travel time to there, and we were hurried since we only spent a day. i'd do two days here if i did it again. it was a peaceful day of hiking through the mountains. and there was a cute little desert shop in town. i'd be happy to offer more if you have specific questions about any of the destinations.

keep in mind, if you do tuscany, rome, and amalfi....you could also swing by naples and do a day at pompeii, which is also something everyone should see once in their lifetime. i didn't do vesuvious, but might on my next trip.

Can anyone tell me if we took a train from Tuscany to Venice how far of a ride it is? Not sure where we are staying yet so don't know which town to take the train from.

Check the schedules at trenitalia.it.

I don't really remember, but it doesn't take long from Florence to Venice--a few hours on an ES train.

I vote for Venice for the reasons other posters above have delineated.

Enjoy Italy.

You need to define what you want to do.

Venice is most definitely a city - with a busy city atmosphere, incredible churches, beautiful museums, world famous works of art, decaying palazzos and is a place to do city things.

The Amalfi Coast is basically a beach resort - plus Pompeii is nearby. It has lots of cute little towns, a pretty coastline (may or may not be warm enough for swimming in May - and beaches are rocky)and islands to travel to. Lots of opportunities for cafe sitting and relaxing - but much less in the way of museums and great workds of art and culture.

Which do you want?

Sounds like you feel you'll be returning to Italy someday--so that's in your favor.

But I'd pick Venice--we enjoyed the Amalfi Coast as well as the attractions between there and Naples. It is very scenic and pleasant, and Pompeii is wonderful.

But Venice is a unique world treasure. There are many lovely coastal areas in the world, and the Amalfi Coast is right up there among the most beautiful and interesting. But there is only one Venice.

I vote for Venice--just in case you don't get back to Italy for some time.

Everyone, thank you for your advice.

Since we only have 2 full days and will be in nothern Italy, we are going for Vencie. We do not think there would be enough time for the Amalfi coast, with the two cities covered in Vesuveus' ash and the coast itself. We will have to save that for the next time when touring southern Italy and leave 4-5 days for Amalfi.