8 days trip to Italy in January. Itinerary suggestions?

Cities are the safest bet in winter. Certainly Rome, and perhaps add either Florence or Venice. We love Venice in the winter but it can be rather chilly. No more than two cities in 8 days. You can even do the whole week in Rome or Florence, binging on museums and beautiful walks.

Here's a thought, other than Venice. Check out Sassi di Matera, the houses and some hotels are in caves. That's different.

However, there is no more romantic place than Venice, any time of year.

For eight days you might consider flying into Florence for three or four nights and then train to Rome for the balance and come home from Rome. At that time of year it will be dark early and potential on the chilly side and even rainy. Both Rome and Florence will have indoor activities.

I've traveled to Venice in January, and it was a miserably cold time. They had all the wooden sidewalks on St. Marks Square due to high tides lapping water onto the square.

I'd suggest you going to Rome and concentrating on the city and its suburbs. Stay south if you must go in January.

I'd stay Rome south just to avoid miserable cold. Actually, January averages 55/37 in the Eternal City, which is quite temperate. We'll be there end of February, which is not that much different. Pretty much the same in Sorrento, averaging 54/37 in January. You get down towards Sicily, and at the Straits of Messina January averages are 57/50. And then in Palermo the Mediterranean cool continues, 59/52. Fair amount of rain in all areas.

Depends on what you want, of course. They do 'romantic' well both in Rome and on the Amalfi Coast. And Sicily would be exotic--what a place!

Enjoy your planning!

I love Matera and go back every year, but it's a long trip without a car. I stayed at a cave hotel once, it was a bit damp, although during the winter the heated room would help.

I would go to Venezia and perhaps Ferrara, Padova, Verona.

My first trip to Italy was in January many years ago. I was fine with an unlined London Fog type trench coat in Florence and Rome. Venice, on the other hand, was the coldest place I have ever been in my life! There's nothing worse than wet cold. So, for the amount of time that you have, I suggest an equal split between Florence (my favorite) and Rome.

If you mean 8 nights (which is only 7 days) I would stick to one destination (with maybe 1 day trip. We love Rome and if it is your first trip I would go with Rome. Don't try to do everything, 7 days even in a relatively small place like Venice is not near enough time to do more than get a sense of the place.

Rome was amazing, stay in Trastevere. We stayed four days! It was our favorite city! We did the colliseum underground one day, the Vatican one day, and a two hour night tour (first tour) day after arriving! Our time was relaxing and amazing! The food was delicious and very reasonable! Its easy to schedule to much and not leave time to enjoy it! We went to Rome 4 days, Florence 4 days ( 2 day trios) and Venice 3.

Rome was amazing, stay in Trastevere. We stayed four days! It was our favorite city! We did the colliseum underground one day, the Vatican one day, and a two hour night tour (first tour) day after arriving! Our time was relaxing and amazing! The food was delicious and very reasonable! Its easy to schedule to much and not leave time to enjoy it! We went to Rome 4 days, Florence 4 days ( 2 day trios) and Venice 3.