13 day Italy Itinerary - help please!

I think your itinerary looks fine. 2 days in Venice was enough for me. 3 days in Florence is fine as long as you prebook your museum entries. Your hotel can usually do this for you free of charge. Email them with your request of date and time. 5 days in Rome will be a great way to finish off your trip. Read Rick's clues to get in to sights easier. You need a large portion of one day to see the Vatican Museum and wander through the Basilica. Spend your evenings sitting in a Piazza, drinking wine and people watching. Enjoy. Italy is lovely.

I am taking my first trip to Italy about the same time with a a similar schedule, but 18 nights. Sept 12- Oct 1. Venice-3.5, Tuscany-4, Florence-3, Sorrento-3, Rome-4. I was going to CT from Venice, but it takes most of the day to travel there. I substituted Sorrento as my West Coast option, since it is quicker to go from Florence-Naples-Pompeii-Sorrento than from Venice to CT. I can make this trip and still get a half day tour of Pompeii. Based on Rick's suggestion I think 2.5 days in Venice is ok if you don't want to visit the islands. You will really only have 1 full day in CT. I would add a day in CT and reduce a day in Rome or skip CT and add extra days in Florence to see Sienna and the hill towns.
Please take what I say with some skepticism as I haven't been to Italy for pleasure, but has spent a lot of time with Rick's materials (books, Cd's and helpline) Happy travels

Erikka, Your Itinerary looks reasonably good, but I'd suggest a bit of "fine tuning". Unfortunately with such a short time frame, I believe it will be necessary to make a choice between the Cinque Terre and Siena (although Florence is in Tuscany also, so your visit there would provide some time under the "Tuscan Sun"). Here's one possibility to consider: > Sept. 1 - depart U.S. > Sept. 2 - arrive Venice > Sept. 3 & 4 - Venice > Sept. 5 - train to Florence (depart Venezia S. Lucia, arrive Firenze SMH, ~2H:05M via EuroStar Italia / Alta Velocita, reservations compulsory) > Sept. 6 & 7 - Florence > Sept. 8 - Bus to Siena (~2 hours) > Sept. 9 & 10 - Siena (depending on the time you leave Florence, this will provide 3 nights and about 2.5 days in Siena) > Sept. 11 - Train to Rome (~3H:15M, usually one change in Chiusi or Firenze, arrival at Roma Termini - if you transfer in Florence, the trip from there to Rome will be via ES / AV / FrecciaRossa train). > Sept. 12, 13, 14 - Tour Rome > Sept. 15 - Leonardo Express to FCO, flight back to U.S. I'd suggest having a look at the Italy 2012 Guidebook so that you can plan your touring very efficiently. Pay particular attention to "Rail Skills" as there are some potentially expensive "pitfalls" to be aware of (ie: not validating tickets when travelling on Regionale trains, not having reservations for the premium trains - fines will be collected on the spot!). The Guidebook has LOTS of other information that will help your trip to go smoothly. Even though you won't be travelling until September, I would highly recommend booking Hotels SOON! There are good suggestions in the Guidebook. Buon Viaggio!

Erikka, your itinerary does sound reasonable. I would substitute Sorrento for Cinque Terre only because of the trravel time involved. If you do spend a couple of days in Siena, as suggested, you can do a day trip or two from Florence and Siena to nearby hill towns (Montalcino or Arezzo from Florence, Todi, Assisi or other suggestions from your guidebook from Siena).

I would eliminate one day in Rome, and add a day in Tuscany for Siena which you can do from Florence.

Ken has outlined a great itinerary for you. You will see a lot, but have time to enjoy each location. The CT is a bit far afield for this trip, and Sorrento as suggested even more off the path taking a lot of time to get to and from.

Ken has outlined a great itinerary for you. You will see a lot, but have time to enjoy each location. The CT is a bit far afield for this trip, and Sorrento as suggested even more off the path taking a lot of time to get to and from.

Erikka, I am planning the same trip but 16 nights, and this is my itinerary: Fly into Rome - 3 nights Train to Naples, then transfer to Positano - 4 nights Train Naples to Firenze - 4 nights Train to Venice - 3 nights Train to Milan - 2 nights Fly out of Milan We are going to Milan to see the art. I've visited Cinque Terre many times before so if you're not a big art lover best to go there for a few nights. Look at the train schedules first to maximize your time and money. Great travels,
Robin

Hi Erikka, Venice - great choice to start your trip. Cinque Terre - it may be easier to visit Florence first, then the CT and on to Rome. You have to go through Florence to get to the CT. I stayed one night (roughly 1-1/2 days) and was happy with that, but I'm sure I would have enjoyed another full day. However I was there a month later and there were few tourists. If you do go, be sure to take the ferry from Monterosso to Riomaggiore (or reverse) in the afternoon when the sun is in the west. Florence vs Siena - Florence is all about Renaissance art and architecture. If that's your thing, you will love it and 3 full days is not too much. But if it isn't, you might do better to spend the time in Siena (more scenic, more atmosphere), with a day trip to Florence (by bus) to see the highlights.