Hello!
My husband and I are planning a 16 day trip to Italy in July. We have plane tickets into Venice arriving at 9:15 am on July 7th and out of Naples at 7:30 am July 22nd. That gives us 14 days not including the day we arrive at 9:15 am. We are in our early 30s and tend to be more into hiking and outdoor activities. This is our first trip to Italy and Europe in general. We would love to see Venice, Cinque Terre, Rome and the Amalfi Coast/Capri. We realize that this is peak tourist season but unfortunately that's beyond our control with work schedules. I have a couple of itineraries below. Just looking for some feedback and advice.
July 7th – arrive Venice 9:15 am
July 8th - Venice
July 9th – Venice (I consider not staying this extra day and moving on, but I feel like Venice would be extremely rushed if we don't. It seems like the forums go back on forth on how much time to spend in Venice when you don't have an extended period of time to give it (2 vs. 3 nights)).
July 10th – early train to Cinque Terre
July 11th – CT
July 12th – CT
July 13th – early train to Rome
July 14th – Rome
July 15th – Rome
July 16th – Rome
July 17th – early train to Naples/Sorrento (possibly Pompeii on the Way to Sorrento)
July 18th – Sorrento – Path of the Gods, Positano
July 19th – Sorrento – Amalfi Coast – possibly to Capri late afternoon
July 20th – Capri
July 21st – Capri – ferry to Naples – Museum, Overnight Naples
July 22nd – Flight home 7:30 am from Naples
I realize this itinerary doesn't have Florence in it. I've researched Florence a lot and I just can't come up with anything that makes either my husband or I excited to go there. We just aren't into art, shopping, etc... It seems like every itinerary includes Florence so my second itinerary takes out CT and adds a couple of days to Florence. We really want to see Cinque Terre so it's a little heartbreaking but... It does add about 12 hours of travel and is supposed to be really really busy in July so I’m just torn. Don’t really have an interest in Florence but… we are going to Italy so again, just not sure. We could also just skip both Florence and Cinque Terre and add an extra day to Venice or Rome and an extra day to Amalfi area and slow it all down. If there are any other places you suggest based on our interests we are open to them as well!
July 7th – arrive Venice 9:15 am
July 8th – Venice
July 9th – Venice
July 10th – Train to Florence
July 11th – Florence
July 12th – Train to Rome
July 13th – Rome
July 14th – Rome
July 15th – Rome
July 16th – Train/Bus to Sorrento
July 17th – Sorrento – Walk of the Gods, Positiano
July 18th – Sorrento – Pompeii
July 19th – Sorrento - ?? (possibly take late afternoon ferry to Capri) for 2 nights on Capri
July 20th – Capri
July 21st – Capri – ferry to Naples – Museum, Overnight Naples
July 22nd – Flight home 7:30 am from Naples
Thank you in advance!
Sheila