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Advice on Travel Itinerary: Rome - Positano - Florence - Venice :)

Hello! My first time posting!
My husband and I are going to Italy this September (1st time there). We have our flights booked and tentative schedule, but was hoping some experts here could advise if the amount of days in each city seems doable or too rushed?
Day 1: Arrive in Rome at Noon
Day 2: Rome
Day 3: Rome
Day 4: Train to Amalfi Coast
Day 5: Amalfi Coast
Day 6: Amalfi
Day 7: Train to Florence
Day 8: Florence
Day 9: Florence
Day 10: Later train to Venice
Day 11: Venice
Day 12: Fly home from Venice!

The only lodging booked so far is Locanda Vialdi in Venice and looking at VRBO for Rome near Piazza di Spagna or Navona Square. Thank you so much for any advice/ tips!!

Posted by
11835 posts

Personally, I think it is too rushed. I would skip the Amalfi Coast in favor of more time in Rome and Venice. 5 nights Rome, 3 nights Florence, and 3 nights Venice is, IMO, a better pace. It is also a long trip to the AC from Rome and even longer to Florence. Your Day 7 would be mostly traveling, especially if you plan to stay south of Sorrento.

The extra time in Rome would, perhaps, allow a day trip to Orvieto, and more time in Venice would allow time to spend a day on the Laguna islands.

Posted by
5253 posts

I agree, a bit too rushed. If you have your heart set on the Amalfi coast, which would be great in September, then omit Florence, but in the current order, that would require a long travel day to Venice. Instead, you might consider heading to the AC the day you arrive in Rome (that requires some extra travel, but I am generally in a jet lagged fog in the first day anyway). Then you could visit Rome in between the AC and Venice, fairly easy travel. In the future, you could combine Florence and rural Tuscan countryside (you will be back of course).
It takes a lot of time to get to the AC, so I really think three full days is best--plus if you have lots of day trips (Pompeii?) planned, you would need more time.

Posted by
132 posts

Thank you very much for your responses! I had a feeling it seemed a bit rushed, so I am glad I asked. Right now I am thinking of cutting out Amalfi and adding a day to Rome, a night in Orvieto and a night to Florence (perhaps try and stay 2 nights in Florence, and 2 nights out in the countryside, Siena?) ... again any additional insight or tips (especially recommendations for places to stay in Florence / Siena) are welcome :)

Posted by
12037 posts

If you want a bit of a coastal experience spend 2 nights in CinqueTerre ( after Florence and before going to Venice)

A bit of a detour, but not the backtracking that going to the Amalfi coast imposes.

Posted by
1039 posts

I agree you need to give up something. I think you have a nice plan now. We had to give up something also on our first visit, which was Florence. We decided that it would be a perfect reason to return. On your next visit, you could fly into Rome, visit...then go to Amalfi Coast to relax.

Posted by
5273 posts

Since you are going to eliminate the Amalfi Coast, consider adding at least one of the now free days to Venice. Adding two days would be even better. It is a truly unique place where we always wish we had more time.

Posted by
23653 posts

Since OP is locked into the flight schedule, this suggestion is other posters. Good example of where it would be more convenient logistically to fly into Venice and home from Rome. Rome provides more options to return at more reasonable times.