How would you manage 8 days. Land in Rome, head right out to Venice by train. Take train to Sorrento. Stay a couple of days and then spend a couple of days in Rome. I was in Rome 3 years and there is plenty to see there. I would love to go to Florence again, but I have to draw the line at 3 cities. Sorrento seems to be a good starting point for Pompeii, Herculeneam(?) and Positano. Where would you go first and how would you break up the nights?

I would land in Rome go straight to Venice from the train station and transfer to Venice. Then go back to Rome for a few days, then down to Sorrento, back up to the Hilton at the airport in Rome for my flight out if it is very early. I have done this. <BR>It also depends on the time of year, if in the Spring I would go south first and end up in Venice. In Fall I would go north first and end up in Sorrento.<BR>Two nights Venice, 2 nights Sorrento, 3 nights in Rome, your last night depends on what time you fly out.

See if you can fly into Rome and out of Venice. Will save you a lot of traveling!

We did a similar trip last year. Flew into Venice (spent three nights). Then instead of spending time in Rome (we've been there several times) we headed south to Umbria (spent two nights). Then south to the Amalfi Coast (2 nights in Ravello and two nights in Sorrento). Pompeii and Herculaneum are much easier to get to from Sorrento. Then returned and stayed the last night in Rome.<BR><BR>I agree that you'll save a lot of time if you can fly into Rome or Venice and out of the other. If you're taking the train to/from Rome/Venice, I'd probably try to fly into Venice. Then take the train through Rome and transfer down to Sorrento. Stay on the coast and then back to Rome. That way you can keep all of your Rome days/nights together. It should be a little more relaxing that way.

I would do it in the following order: Venice, Sorrento, Rome.<BR><BR>The driver is that there is a good overnight sleeper train from Venice to Naples (not the reverse).<BR><BR>Spend a few days in Venice. <BR><BR>Then take the overnight sleeper to Naples which is only an hour from Sorrento by commuter train.<BR><BR>This area is good for at least several days (Sorrento,Capri,Pompeii,Amalfi Coast, etc).<BR><BR>Then take the Eurostar to Rome. Spend a few days there and off.<BR><BR>