Where to begin, Want to see Venice, Rome, Amalfi Coast, Capri
 

First timers have about 8 days in September. Where would you start and where would you end? Is this too much
for a first time trip? Any advice is
appreciated!

Yes, it's too much because your destinations are too numerous and too far apart. A decision about what to delete will depend on your own desires, but if it were me, I would fly into Venice, then take a train to Rome. From Rome, you could train to Milan and thence take some form of public transport to the Amalfi coast. End your trip in Rome and fly home from there.

If you have to fly into and out of the same airport, then fly into Rome and see the Amalfi coast while you are in southern Italy. Then with your limited time, fly to Venice and back. This makes your trip rather expensive.

It would be better, in my opinion, to fly into Rome, see Rome and go to the Amalfi coast, and delete all the other destinations. I think this would make a better trip for a first time traveler.

Hi R,

You don't have enough time, unless all you want to do is stick pins in a map.

Fir a 1st trip of only 7 nights, I suggest:

A. Fly into Venice - 3 nights, train to Florence - 4 nights (see Siena), fly home from Florence FLR or Pisa PSA

B. Fly into Venice - 3 nights, train to Rome. Fly home from Rome

C. See Rome.

D. Fly into Naples, visit AC. Fly home from Naples.

E. Fly into Naples, visit AC 4 nights, train to Rome, fly home.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

I agree with Wayne. Stay in the south. You could spend all 8 days in Rome and not see enough. You don't have enough time to also go to Venice. Fly into Rome, and out of Naples if you decide to stick with the Amalfi Coast, too. Or vice versa.

Next time (you WILL go again after getting a taste of Italy!) go to Venice, Florence, and some of Tuscany. But try to make more time -- two weeks is minimum.

Pardon my mental blank -- my message mentioned Milan but I meant Naples.

I would recommend Ira's B or C.

You definitely don't want to go from Rome to Milan to get to the Amalfi Coast.

Wayne, we were posting at the same time. I'm glad you didn't really mean to suggest going to the Amalfi Coast from Rome via Milan! :-d

Well just a correction. If you are in Rome you do not want to train to Milan to get to the Amalfi Coast as the Amalfi coast is south of Rome. I believe Wayne was thinking of the CinqueTerre.

With 8 days and 7 nights (assuming you are counting the day you arrive in Italy and the day you depart from Italy?) I would chose one big city readyornot.

If you prefer Venice you could see some places around Venice such as Padova (Padua in the English language), Bologna, Verona.

If you prefer Rome you could visit Orvieto and if you are up to very long day you could go to Pompeii (although that may not interest you as you did not mention it).

Or you could fly into Venice, spend two or three nights, train to Rome and spend the remainder of the time and depart from Rome. It is easier to depart from Rome than from Venice which is why I mentioned flying into Venice.

For the amount of time you have it would be best to keep to one area. You will no doubt have some jetlag on arrive. And it takes time to get through immigration, customs, to your hotel, check in, get showered, oriented etc. And the last day will be last minute packing, getting to the airport at the proper time etc.

Have fun planing your trip and don't fret about not getting everywhere you want to go to. If you are like everyone else you will return to Italy and each time you can chose a different area.