Hello Travel friends:
I have always found travelers on this site to be exceptionally helpful and generous with sharing their experiences and wisdom. Thank you!
I have a significant birthday approaching and I am taking each of my daughters on a special trip. I recently returned from a trip to Egypt ( 7 nights on the Nile and 7 nights in Cairo) with one daughter and it was fabulous. Now, I am planning a trip with my youngest daughter who lives in Mexico City and has traveled extensively, She will be leaving her husband in charge of their two school age kids so we are limited on time. But, she has never been to Italy.
She says she has plenty of big city living in Mexico City so she wants to do the countryside more than big cities, but there are some things in Italy that cannot be missed. This will be my third trip to Italy.;

Here is what I have hashed out and packed in. Please do comment:
Day 1 Travel"
Dat 2: meet late afternoon in Venice
Day 3: begin with a small group tour of the city..rest of the day free:
Day 4: boat tour to Murano with an afternoon departure by train to Florence
Day 5:Walking tour of Florence and the Duomo etc
Day 6: more of Florence
Day 7; day long hill town plus vineyard plus wine tour
Day 8: depart by train (late morning/early afternoon ) for Cinque Terra . Suggestions for where to stay would be appreciated. Stay in Cinque Terra
Day 9: Stay in Cinque Terra
Day 10: enjoy Cinque Terra and depart in the afternoon to stay in Pisa
Day 11: My daughter flies back to Mexico from Pisa and I will take the train to Rome. I have never been to Pompeii so I will take a day long tour from Rome on Day 12.
It seems like a doable and active look at northern Italy. I had thought about Lake Como or Maggiore and some of the other hill towns. I have driven in Italy before without incident( I did get a ticket months later...which I paid) but the train seems so easy and we are light packers.
I always appreciate any thoughts or recommendations.
Many thanks.
LL

When are you going, the weather may have a significant influence of how you enjoy Cinque terre (e not a)?

You might look at La Torretta in Manarola.

I’m not sure why you are heading to Rome at the end of this trip, rather than giving yourself more time in Venice or Florence but, that said: IMO, a day trip from Rome to Pompeii is far from ideal. If you do go to Rome, consider visiting Ostia Antica instead.

If it was me, I'd visit Burano instead of Murano. More picturesque and (I think) less busy. Also you are likely aware that all the Cinque Terre villages are very steep. It will give your legs a workout.

We liked Manarola and had 4 nights there, one too many in hindsight. If I wasn't staying there, I'd probably choose Riomaggiore. Corniglia is the only village of the five that is not by the sea.

I don't see much "countryside" for your daughter in this itinerary. It's almost entirely the busiest places in the country.

Depending on the time of year, tourist crowds could feel.overwhelming. Get tickets/reservations for anything that offers them.

When is this -- makes a big difference. Especially for the CT. In winter is is wet and not safe on some of the trails. In summer it is very (VERY) crowded. in the mid-autumn the CT is a bit more doable. I agree with Jean that there is little to no 'countryside' on this itinerary. Other than a day long coach tour for hill towns/vineyards, I guess the CT sort of qualifies. But if this is the summer it will be city-type crowds on foot/boat.

Even though Venice is not countryside -- IMO you have very little time there. You arrive in Venice in the afternoon after transatlantic/overnight flights (so that half day will probably be a jet lagged blur). Then you are planning a half day tour so really only half a day free to explore on your own. The next day its the tour then dashing off to Florence. (Though in summer Venice will be a mad house)

Good point. Early October. Will the weather still be good? Thank you!

I have always wanted to visit Pompeii and since I was in the area I was trying to fit it in. That is the only reason.

I can cut out Venice, but to go to Italy and not see Florence just seems wrong.Should I replace Venice with Lake Como or Maggiore? I might just have to rent a car, although I was trying to avoid that. One year we stayed in a magical agritourismo outside of Sienna, but it is closed for the year.
Anyone know of another great agritourismo?
Suggested itineraries that include Cinque Terra during the first week of October?
Hill towns to visit?
Again, thank you!!

Early October would be great for most anywhere (including the CT). You say "to go to Italy and not see Florence just seems wrong" whereas though I enjoyed Florence, I ADORED Venice (ymmv)

I think a combo of Venice, Tuscany and Florence would tick all your boxes. Maybe renting a car in Tuscany for a couple of days and avoiding coach tours

One thing to keep in mind, October is still very much high season in Italy. All of the places you intend to travel to would be very busy.

Someone on here (forgot who) posted a photo of pre-covid Cinque Terre in mid November and it was wall to wall people. It's probably worse now.

I love Florence but it has gotten unbearable for me, ymmv. Plan wisely if you intend to take in any of the galleries.

We visited Cinque Terre a year and a half ago in October, and it was so strikingly different than the first time we saw it in 2007. The charm is gone. It is solely a tuna can of tourists these days. Even trying to hike the paths is difficult. I might feel differently if I was there for the first time, but I doubt it. Sad to say that, because it truly is a beautiful place, but there is no place for people anymore.

Stay a little farther along the coast in either direction. We stayed in Santa Margherita Ligure and visited Cinque Terre for a day by train.

To go to Italy for the first time and not see Venice would be a travesty, lol. I would prefer another day there. Your itinerary looks busy but enjoyable if you want to crowd all that in.

Hello Livelight,
So it looks like your daughter has 9 days, and you have 10 to work with.
If it were my trip, I'd spend :
3 days in Venice (with a side trip to Burano or Murano)
and the rest of your time with your daughter based in Florence.
From Florence you can get to many hill towns (don't miss Siena!) and you can do a day trip to Cinque Terre . (We drove many years ago and it took about an hour). Many options from Florence, and you would not have to change hotels, and waste precious time.
After Florence and the surrounding hill towns, you daughter heads to Pisa to fly home, and you head to Roma.
You head to Roma and spend a day there, and if time allows a day trip to Pompeii.....a Very Long Day. Or the alternative is take the train from Rome to Ostia Antica (about 1/2 hour) and see the ruins there. Having said that....I don't blame you for not wanting to miss Pompeii, and you could just go for it!! It might be cooler in October, but bear in mind there is no shde there.
Enjoy!

Herculaneum is a smaller but just as facinating space as Pompeii, I might consider that instead

Hi livelight,

I agree that Venice needs more time. Whether Murano or Burano has to be your choice... stay longer and see both?

DH and I made Pisa a base:
In Defense of Pisa
That might give you ideas. We took many day trips by train.

Know your daughter will love it, and happy birthday in advance.