Am I crazy? UPDATE WE ARE NOW GOING THIS APRIL!

One suggestion for your arrival in Rome. In case your flight is delayed, or in case there's a train strike, you might consider staying in Rome the first night before taking the train to Orvieto. If you are arriving in Rome around Easter time, consider reserving a hotel far in advance.

The crazy part is waiting until 2027. We live in an age where time is of the essence…I feel.

I agree with the previous commenter that the only crazy thing is waiting until 2027. What are you going to do for the entire 2026 in Cary, North Carolina? You will be bored to death.

I think it is safe for you to go immediately to Orvieto without staying in Rome on the night of arrival unless your flight arrives in the evening. There are at least two trains per hour going from Rome to Orvieto, and the last one is at 10pm. They are Regional Trains so no reservations required. Just hop on the first one, like on a subway (obviously buy a ticket first when you arrive).

Be aware that there are no trains going to Malcesine, which is not served by a rail line. The closest stations are Rovereto to the north (probably the closest) or Verona or Peschiera to the south. From those stations you will need a bus to reach Malcesine.

@Susan, thanks so much for thinking of that. I looked and the train runs every hour to Orvieto until midnight so hopefully we will be okay but I need to think about that more as airline problems definitely happen!

@acechrist, agreed! My husband is willing to go this year but I think it might be too late to get the lodging I like. I am picky, picky, picky! LOL You have aroused my curiosity so I will have to check and see what is open still in April of this year.

@Roberto, LOL about being bored in Cary!! I'm going to do some fast talking to get my husband to move the trip up a year but I will try! I will look more closely into the transportation to Malcesine. It sounds difficult but I really want to go there.

I am checking flights for this April in case I can convince my husband that he is going to be bored and it is really tough to get home from Vienna unless we leave at 6:30 a.m. I am afraid to do when I don't know the airport well. Would it be a mistake to flip the itinerary and fly into Vienna and out of Rome?

O agree with the posters about waiting until 2027. With our political climate, I could foresee something happening and Americans ability to travel to the EU could be curtailed. Not to be dramatic…..

If you do go, to the extent you can, take fast trains and book first class seats. It will make those train trips more comfortable.

Good luck.

Regarding Florence to Malcesine. The 3:47 route you've suggested is evidently train to Verona and then taxi to Malcesine. This would work, but I think the taxi could be pricier than they suggest. I used a private driver who is based in Malcesine to get there. If/when this trips comes to be, I'd be happy to share the driver's contact information (which I originally got from another poster on this forum). It's pricy as well, I will say.

I can vouch for the boredom as I am in your neck of the woods OP! How many strip malls and Jersey Mike’s can one take! NC is dog meat compared to almost anywhere in Europe.

@Eileen, Thanks so much for your post as I am so tempted to book the non-refundable cheap seats but your post reminds me to be smart as things might change quickly!
@Janet, Thanks so much! I will reach out to you if this trip happens! That sounds much better to use someone that you have used!
@acechrist, LOL!

Crazy for wanting to return to Italy? Absolutely not. Hold on to those 2027 travel plans, and if you’re able to go sooner, even better.

I visited Italy for the first time for my 60th birthday in 2024 and fell head over heels in love. It was everything I had dreamed of since my teen years, and the moment I returned home, I started planning my next trip. Several people on the travel forums suggested I slow down and let the excitement fade. I didn’t take that advice.

I had planned to return for my 61st birthday in 2025, but a death in the family led me to cancel two months prior to my trip. I now have lodging secured and an itinerary in place for 2026.

I will always tell people life doesn’t pause while we wait for the “right” moment. The perfect time is often now. If travel is calling your soul, listen and go.

Malcesine is challenging to reach. Fast train to Verona and then either two buses from Verona train station - Verona to Garda and then Garda to Malcesine. This is probably about 2:30 on the buses. Or 12 minute train to Peschiera del Garda and then ferry to Malcesine - this would be a long ferry ride probably 3:30-4 hours. And timing is critical especially if the ferry is not in full season schedule yet only a few ferries a day go all the way from north to south.

You should also be able to Garda on the bus and then get on the ferry but this will be same ferry from Peschiera del Garda so you're trading the bus for the ferry or vice versa. I think the bus station in Garda is far from the ferry station so this plan would require some research as a plan.

The other way is to train from Verona to Rovereto and then probably private transfer to Malcesine, and then do the reverse of this to get back to Rovereto to go onto Innsbruck. The lack of train service to the top of the lake will complicate your plans.

Have a great triup,
=Tod

You asked for our thoughts, so here's my reaction.

1. Traveling more than 20 hours by train seems like time wasted, as well as exhausting and potentially stressful when considering many unexpected factors.

2. I don't understand why you and your husband would spend nine days in Florence, Innsbruck, and Vienna when you wrote:

   We...love...exploring cute little towns. We are huge nature people, not crazy about cities.

Your first day you say that you will take the train from Rome to Orvieto, but then you don't show that you are staying in Orvieto. Hopefully that's just an oversight; I really enjoyed our stay there.

I can't thank this board enough. I told my hubby about all the encouragements to just go this year and so we are! I bought the tickets and we are going in April.

@Nonegativevibes - I am so sorry to hear about the death in your family. We have had way too many of those in our family and it is so very hard. I hope the trip this year will be comforting and healing for you.

@Hiredman - I remember you gave us great advice last year and thank you for your suggestion to train Verona to Rovereto and than take a private transfer. I think that sounds like a great plan! I know Janet has someone she recommends so I will reach out to her!

@Palmisanojm - Thanks for noticing that I got caught up in what everyone says we have to do. So do you or anyone else have a suggestion instead of Florence that is on the train route from Orvieto to Malcesine/Verona? I saw a previous post with a recommendation for Fiesole so maybe we stay there 3 nights instead of Florence. Also maybe we skip Innsbruck and spend 3 nights in Salzsburg and 3 nights in St. Gilgen? And maybe we increase our stay one of the places by 1 night and cut Vienna to 2 nights?

@naalehurtiree - Thanks so much for the positive encouragement for Orvieto. We are staying there 3 nights in an Airbnb that is a 25 minute walk or a 5 minute bus ride so I am very happy about that!

I’m glad you were able to move your trip forward to this year! After the Covid years, at my age, I am not delaying any travel that is reasonable & possible.

Isn’t Spello charming? I will be there again this year during the Infiorate.

Just want to comment that I was very happy to see you mention Sankt Gilgen in your list. My husband & I returned to beautiful Salzburg and I added a couple of nights at St. Wolfgang (adjacent on the lake). It was a wonderful location & so relaxing and pretty!

Florence is a favorite for many people for good reason, but I am surprised to see it on your list. Do you want other ideas, or is there a reason why you want it in your itinerary?

@Jean- so good to hear from you! I remember you so kindly helping us for our last trip!

Emily on the Austria forum suggested Sankt Gilgen. I emailed the beautiful place that she has stayed, but I doubt they’ll have availability for the suite we’re interested in at this late date.

I would love other ideas instead of Florence. I saw someone recommended Fiesole on an old post and it looks like it would not be that far out of the way as we have three days in between Orvieto and Malcesine.

Thanks again for all the help and support, Pam

I can't suggest an alternative town in place of Florence without adding more hours traveling by train.

And I'll defer to more experienced travelers who can answer your questions about Austrian towns and cities.

Good luck with your ambitious plan!

On my 4th? 5th? visit to Florence I finally went to Fiesole. I enjoyed a hour or so walking around and a wonderful lunch. The view wasn't really worth the time to get there. There is so much to see and do in Florence. If you don't want to spend hours in the wonderful churches and museums, there are neighborhoods to explore.

I haven't been to Innsbruck but I filled 3-1/2 days in Salzburg, including a day split between the Documentation Center (which includes Hitler's bunkers) - well worth seeing - and a half-day at the outdoor museum. Went to both by bus.

Hi, I will send you a PM.

Thank you again everyone for the wonderful advice! I've been up WAY too late looking for accommodations for the last few nights but I think we are almost done! I am so grateful for sweet Jean who went above and beyond to help me figure our itinerary. We are flying into Rome, going to St. Peter's (as we ran out of time on our last trip) and then eating at our favorite pizza place near Hotel Smeraldo, Pizza Time, Via Arenula, 75/76, 00186 (highly recommend!). I have been dreaming of that pizza since our last trip! LOL We will head by train that afternoon to Orvieto for 3 nights, then to Cortona for 3 nights, then to Stresa (Jean has gorgeous pictures of Stresa!), 2 in Stresa and 1 in Jean's favorite Hotel Elvezia on Isola Bella. We will then head to Verona for one night and than a long train ride to Salzburg. We will stay in the town for 2 nights and then head for 3 nights to either St. Gilgen or Wolfgangsee. Both places are very pricey and I am late to the game to be looking but I think we settled on an Airbnb in Wolfgangsee. Then to Vienna to stay at Jean's favorite, Boutique Hotel am Stephansplatz! I can't wait! Thank you again and I will post a trip report on our return.