What order shall I visit Rome, Venice and Florence in May?
 

My husband and I are taking an anniversary trip to Italy in May. Tix are already booked -- we arrive late Wednesday, 5/17 in Rome (after a 12-hour layover where we will explore London) and leave Sunday, 5/28 (also out of Rome). I must book hotels soon, but am confounded as to whether to begin in Rome, go to Florence, Venice, and circle back? We want to definitely hit those three cities. I am thinking we should start in Rome, then go up to Venice and circle back to Florence. Or should we just go up to Venice right away? I'd love to do a day trip to Siena as well but am not wedded to that. Thanks!

I lived in Florence for 4 months and had the chance to visit both Venice and Rome numerous times. Here's what I would suggest:

Wed night 17th through Saturday 20th in Rome (3 full days - I've seen the major sites in 1 day, which most people don't believe but it's doable so 3 days should be enough to see the big stuff and enjoy the city, too)

Leave for Florence late evening on the 20th - trains go from Rome to Florence all the time, it's only 1.5hrs by train

Saturday night 20th through the 24th in Florence, with a day trip to Siena by bus or train (so 3 full days in Florence - again, plenty of time to see the big stuff and still enjoy the city, 1 day in Siena - its about an 90mins from Florence and is a wonderful day trip! if you can swing it, you should definitely go)

Take a late afternoon train on Wed 24th to Venice (4hrs from Florence by train)

Weds night 24th through 27th in Venice (3 days, make sure to hit the islands - Murano is a fun trip!)

On Saturday 27th, late afternoon/early evening train back to Rome with a hotel room that night or take a train first thing in the morning out of Venice on the 28th

Be warned: trains in Italy will go on strike at random; however, they announce it the day before in the newspaper. If you plan to follow this suggestion and take a train in the morning on the 28th, check the papers on the 27th so you don't get stuck. It only happened 2 times in 4 months and it was usually mid-week, so hopefully that shouldn't be a problem for you.

I suggested Florence first because it's a shorter train ride. If you would rather a longer train ride at the start of your trip, then switch the order of Florence and Venice.

Hope you and your husband enjoy Italy! It's a great place to visit - make sure to wear good walking shoes, especially in Florence (lots of cobblestones)!

Traci

Hi J,

I suggest that you go directly to Florence after landing in Rome, then on to Venice, returning to Rome for several days before flying home.

Don't trust that public transportation will get you back to Rome to take your flight.

With 11 days, I suggest 3 nights in Florence (with a daytrip to Siena by bus), 3 nights in Venice and 4 in Rome.

Have a nice visit.

((I))

PS, next time fly open-jaw - into one city and out another. You could have saved a day on this trip.

Ira: Did you leave out a day?

I agree about hitting Florence first, though she doesn't say how "late" they arrive in Rome on Wednesday. Best, though, to be in Rome the night before you leave.

If I'm not mistaken, they can do
4 nights Florence (w/ daytrip to Siena)
3 nights Venice
4 nights Rome

Rather bad airline ticketing to visit Italy with a 12 hour layover in London and no open jaw but as you are already booked you must make the best of it.
Ordinarily I would train directly from Rome to Venice on a first day as most people would get into Rome from overseas before the evening and if you are going to be jet lagged the first day you might as well use it to eat up your further travel time needs.
In your case you will be quite exhusted by the time you get to Rome so I would stop there first. I do not think it matters whether you do Florence-Venice-Rome next or Venice-Florence-Rome. Would give more time to Rome than Florence even including a day trip to Siena. Also agree on staying the last night in Rome before overseas departure.

I was reading a tip that Venice hotels are cheaper, and there are fewer tourists, if you visit Monday through Thursday. That's because of all the weekenders. I'm not sure how that would play into your plans.

Otherwise, I would go with what works best logistically. I did Venice, Florence, and Rome and that worked out great, but I think it would have worked out just as well in any other convenient order.

I would rest up from all your initial and rather adventurous journeying and stay in Rome rather than heading off for Venice. If you save hectic Rome for the end when you’re really exhausted, you’ll end up hating it. Apportion your limited time as you see fit, but I would do the following: Rome, then a train to Venice, then Venice to Florence, and Florence back to Rome before home.

Skip Siena — it’s worth seeing, but not for you now. Just stay the night in Rome at the end. Make sure you get tickets in advance for venues in Florence like the Uffizi and Accademia (where “David” is) and for hot spots in the other places. You don’t have time to stand in line.

I think MJS is right. Take a day off Florence and add it to Rome. I forgot about the travel day from Venice.

I still think starting in Florence is best if you don't arrive too very late in Rome.

Hi jmgray, what ever way you decide to visit the three major cities in Italy (Rome, Florence and Venice) I would get back to Rome the day before your flight leaves from Rome. Unless you have a late night flight from Rome (which I doubt) I would not count on the trains being on time even if they don't have a strike. I have experienced Italian trains being very late compared to their schedule. I would not want the stress of a late train when I had to fly home the same day.

I would probably arrived in Rome and go onto to Florence. Then I would visit Venice and then return to Rome and enjoy Rome..and fly home from Rome as you will obviously do due to your flight schedule. Have a wonderful time!!

Thanks to everyone for the help. We couldn't do open jaw because we were flying on miles -- and we thought having a long layover in London would be fun (are seeing a friend there). I appreciate all the help!

P.S. Forgot to mention that we arrive at 9:30 p.m. into Rome -- might be a little late to keep on traveling.

Oh yes, arriving in Rome at 9:30pm at night does make quite a difference. So I think (although some might disagree) with your long layover in London I would personally stay at the Hilton Hotel at the airport in Rome and than the next day take the train to Florence (changing trains in Rome) and than after enjoying Florence I would go onto Venice and than take the train back to Rome and visit there and of course fly back from Rome. I personally think by the time you arrive at the airport in Rome you will be ready for a bite to eat and a good nights sleep which I why I suggest staying at the Hilton at the airport in Rome. Do have a wonderful time in beautiful Italy!!

9:30pm!
By all means, take LoveItaly's sage advice.

Hi J,

>...P.S. Forgot to mention that we arrive at 9:30 p.m. into Rome ...<

Minor detail.

Simply radically changes the advice we would have given you. :)

I ditto Loveitaly.

Have a nice visit.

((I))