2 weeks in italy

Big question, no real answer. It really depends on your interests, whether you want time in the country vs the cities, want to move around vs stay put and day trip. Each city or area has it's proponents, meaning there are too many to see in two weeks. Maybe start with thinking about four top picks, maybe mix an overnight or daytrip in as well. The place to start is looking at other posts on here, get a good guide book or two, and just start making a list of things that sound good or interesting. In the Rick Steves Italy and Frommers, as well as many other guides, there are suggested itineraries based on the time you have and your interests, those might be worth looking at.

Robyn, pick up a Rick Steves' Italy tour book and get a feel of what there is to see and do. I also like to watch his 1/2 hour shows on PBS. Of course, Italy is not always the focus. Unfortunately, we don't know what you like to do and see; i.e., museums, cathedrals, architecture, or just people watch and relax. Like for me, I like the smaller, more quaint cities and hilltowns. However, I did enjoy what Rome has to offer. So, on my first few trips, we did Venice, Florence, Rome, Pisa and the hilltowns of Orvieto and San Gimignano. The following trip we visited the countryside (Tuscany and Chianti) and more hilltowns such as Siena, Pienza, Volterra, Pompeii, Verona, and then returned to the cities of Venice and Milan. I like to mix some country with a few big cities.

Pick up Rick Steves latest Italy Guide Book. I was in Italy in 2010 for over a week and spent 4 days in Rome, 1 day in Florence and 3 days in Venice. Would loved to have spent more time in Venice. I would pick 4-5 stops at most. Do not forget to add travel time.

I will be there then too. What area of Italy? Northern of Southern. Where are you flying in/out of?
What are your interests? Museums? Nature? Ruins? Small cities, large cities?

Robyn, I definitely agree with the others - pick up a copy of the Italy 2012 Guidebook (either in paper or E-book format) and decide what cities or sights most interest you. It would really help to have some idea what you most want to see (ie: what prompted the decision to make this trip to Italy)??? With such a short time frame, don't try to fit too many stops in. My suggestion would be to focus on Rome and the north, and save the south for another visit. Rome deserves at least four days, and other cities can be done in less time. Consider using open-jaw flights (ie: inbound Venice, outbound Rome) for best efficiency. Buon Viaggio!

a common approach for first timers to Italy is to do the big three : Venice-Florence and Rome with two weeks you can add a couple of nights in Tuscany if that interests you, somewhere like Siena with two weeks you can see a lot but you can't do it all so don't try too much if you can fly open jaw that would be best fly into Venice and out of Rome ...
the Rick Steve's Italy 2012 book would be a great idea

Went to Vence about 4 years ago, loved it. Rome and Milan will be going to for sure.

Hi Robyn, My boyfriend and I are going for two weeks next month to Italy. I have posted the itinerary in another thread titled "Another Itinerary Critique Request" on this thread. I think we are hitting a good mix of small towns, as well as all of the large cities that we want to see. Have fun; it is inevitable that you will. Ciao!
April