First, thank you everyone for all your informations so far.

We will be going to Italy for New Years this year and are planning on spending 3 nights in Venice for New Years. We have 5 more nights to spend in Italy and need help deciding where.

Should we spend all 5 nights in Rome or add one night in Venice and then spend 4 nights in Rome or lastly, 3 nights in Venice 2 nights in Tuscany and 3 nights in Rome.

These aren't our only options, just ones I have come up with.

The only definate thing is spending the first 3 nights in Venice, the rest is up in the air.

Thanks

Past trip we spent 3 days in Rome and then 6 in Florence/Tuscany. Loved them both, can't go wrong in Italy. I think that 2 cities is enough for your time frame. There is so much to see and do in all the places, only a few days isn't enough. I was sorry we didn't have another day or even two for Rome but we concentrated on the Florence/Tuscany segment. Can't wait to go back to fab Italy!!

A lot depends on how much experience you have with Italy. Rome and Venice are very different; while both are crowded, Rome has difficult even hellish traffic. Venice is beautiful and can be serene particularly at night. Rome is almost never serene, except perhaps in neighborhoods where you ought not to be. If you can take the noise and confusion Rome is worth 5 nights. It has history, wonderful food and great art. If you're not prepared for the difficulties of Rome,then spend some time in the hills of Tuscany.

Where are you flying out of? Do you definitely want to go to Rome? I was thinking of Venice and then time in the countryside as a nice 8 day itinerary.

You need to think about the weather at that time of year. I usually stay in cities when its cold and possibly wet outside.

I would fly into Venice (3 nts), then take the train to Rome (5 nts) and fly out of there.

Tuscany in the winter dazzle you as it would on a later trip in say May or Sep.

Forgot to add "might not" in that last sentence

We have never been to Italy before. We will be flying from Chicago.

Degas, that's what I figured about the weather but having never been there I just needed to hear it from someone.

Thanks for the info so far.