Couple Need Recommend on Where to Go

A good place to start is with the RS Italy book.

I would first look at flights—are you flying from the US, or is it part of a longer trip? I would for sure be looking for the best flight deal that got me there the fastest, with minimal layovers. Then I’d pick one place and enjoy it for five days, no hopping around wasting time.

Where are you flying in to and out of?
5 days?- is that 5 NIGHTS or 6 NIGHTS on the ground in Italy?

Can't go wrong with Rome for the whole stay.
Can't go wrong with Florence for whole stay.
Can't go wrong with Venice for whole stay.

Really depends on where your flights are and what your interests are.

Rick's recommended itineraries are here. Have a look.

Do you really have "5 days"? Where are you coming from - someplace else in Europe, or from North America or other place far away (asking because, what kind of shape will you be in for your arrival day, possibly after a long flight?)

Your trip is obviously very short. Count your usable days (and nights) carefully. For most people, having such a short actually trip makes the choice easier. One or MAYBE two places at most.

Coming from London, but have 5 days and 6 nights. Flying United and not concerned about cost as much as what someone recommends for 1st trip? Interested in historic places, but overall not a crowded experience. If you had 5 days where would you go?

What time of year?

From London flying to WHERE?

Christine,

This is the point.I can fly in and out of anywhere? I want opinions on what people think? What would you do?

Coming from London

Not on United, you're not. United may have sold you a ticket, but United does not fly from London to Italy.

Interested in historic places, but overall not a crowded experience.

You can't swing a dead cat anywhere in Italy without hitting a lot of history, so "history" is an easy box to check. Looking to avoid crowds? That's more of a challenge.

When (what month) is your trip?

Does your "5 days" include the day you arrive, and/or the day you depart? Do you already have a ticket from London? If so, where is that flight to, Rome or someplace else (there are lots of flights from London to "Italy" that arrive in other cities). When you depart Italy, what are the details - do you have a ticket home (or onward) yet? If so, from where, to where?

Given how short your trip appears to be, it's hard to give specific suggestions without more specific details of your existing plans.

Stay in Florence and make a day trip to Bologna or Rome. Or stay in Siena and make a day trip to Florence. Or pick Verona and spend some time in Venice or Bergamo.

All Italian cities are "historic places", it depends on what you are interested in. Unless you are going after the Epiphany and before Carnival, every destination worth a 5 days trip will be crowded.

People are asking WHEN your trip is because some answers may depend on the dates. Italy gets awfully hot in mid-summer. It can also be pretty crowded during high season, but less crowded in winter or fall/spring, so timing would influence suggestions.

It sounds like (maybe?) this "5 days in Italy" is part of a larger trip to Europe (you say you're coming from London) - or is it? It's not clear if you have the other part of your trip booked or planned yet, or what parameters you are working with - so it's not clear if you really have 5 usable days or not (many people count their days...creatively). Giving more details will yield better suggestions.

That said, for a first (very short) trip to Italy, many people will of course recommend Rome, so that simplifies things a lot.

OP’s original post says April.
Since I travel on a limited budget I won’t offer my opinion. However Venice will always be my first choice.

OP has stated it’s April and 6 nights. So that seems to be 5 full days and maybe part of arrival day.

As long as you avoid the Easter holiday you can spend it all in Rome. That would be the easier option. Alternatively 2 or 3 nights in Venice and the rest in Florence. Shift nights as needed according to which city you’re more interested in.

If you haven’t booked your London to Italy flights I’ve flown Easyjet out of Gatwick. As long as you follow the rules it’s a good airline. I pay for checked bags and one of the better seat. No issues yet.

Have a great trip.

It does not matter if it’s your first trip or tenth, you should go where you want to go. I’m back to the first reply now, a guide book may provide some inspiration.
While Venice will be crowded, it helps to stay long enough that you have time to wander the back streets. Rome is large enough that you can escape the crowds. Emilia Romagna is full of great day trips by train, May feel slightly less overwhelming. The point is, anywhere will be good!

I would go to Tuscany.

Choose a town, rent a car and tour. There are unlimited dining opportunities, wine and sites.

There are great sites in “non name” towns as well as all the tourist towns. Any of the “must see” places are completely different in the evening.

Have a great trip.

Christine, This is the point.I can fly in and out of anywhere? I want
opinions on what people think? What would you do?

As I said above you can't go wrong with any of the Big 3- Venice, Florence or Rome
I've been to all multiple times and would happily return to any for a 5 day visit.

From Venice you can day trip to Padova, Vicenza, Verona and others.

From Florence you can day trip to Siena, Lucca, Pisa and many other hill towns, ( I would not recommend renting a car for this first visit)

From Rome you could day trip to Orvieto, Ostia Antica, Tivoli.

Or you could fly to Naples, base in Sorrento and visit Pompeii, Capri, Amalfi Coast towns
(I would decide soon for that location, area books up early)

None of the above would require a car, nor would you want one!

On our first trip to Italy we spent 5 nights in Rome and barely scratched the surface. Still more to see after 3 more visits to Rome. it is our favorite European city so that's where I would go.

If you don't have a guide book to start your research you can read thru info here on any location in Italy that interests you.
https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy

Here is Rick's recommended itinerary for Rome.
https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy/rome-itinerary

Thanks to those of you who offered constructive thoughts on places to visit in April for 5 days/6 nights. Appreciate it.

teberts, Was there someplace mentioned that captures your imagination? Isn't there one place in Italy that you always though, "I'd love to see that..." For me, it was Pompeii. My father went in the 60s-70s and I viewed his slides so many times as a child. So that was a life goal of mine to see it in person. Of course, Venice also captivates--still have not made it there after seven trips to Italy, but I will one day...
The good news is that you cannot go wrong, there are hundreds if not more places worth seeing in Italy.

I'd start with Florence if you can fly direct. It's my favorite "big city". You might look at Tours by Roberto for some ideas or even to book with him for a day - His Siena tour is outstanding, and you can have lunch at his winery, and he'll also take you to another small local winery. Florence offers great food, great history and the Tuscan countryside for great sightseeing.

Was there someplace mentioned that captures your imagination? Isn't
there one place in Italy that you always though, "I'd love to see
that..."

I think that should be the primary criterion. Besides that, you should base in one place.

And my first three choices would be Rome, Rome & Rome. Take one day and visit the Umbrian hilltown Orvieto by train (about 75 min each way from Termini station), where you could leave your hotel at 9AM and be back by 7PM. But other than that, splurge on a really nice hotel in a great, walkable area, plan out what you want to see, get a Metro/bus pass if you're cool with that, and definitely take time to wander and enjoy la dolce far niente, which loosely translated is 'the art of doing nothing'. We've been there twice and plan on spending a winter there, hopefully while I'm still ambulatory!