cutting one night…where?

Personally, because of your travel dates in Oct/Nov I would eliminate one night in Cinque Terre. Chances of heavy rains at that time of year there are quite high. If you don't mind hiking in cold wet weather then I guess 3 full days are good, but I think 2 days would be enough for most people.

Your time is pretty generous all over, so cutting a night anywhere could be acceptable. If late in the season, cutting it from the Cinque Terre probably makes most sense. I assume you'll use some Florence and Venice time for daytrips to towns nearby. I could also comfortably cut Milan to just one night, but if you haven't seen it before, there is certainly enough sightseeing for a day there.

Just my 2 cents, I would cut 1 day from Venice. I t would still leave you with 3 full days there. If the weather is bad, Venice might be difficult with flooding. I would want to spend at 3 full days in CT so you could spend 1 day getting to know the town you are staying in, 1 day to visit the other towns, and maybe 1 day to re visit your favorite town again.

I was trying to avoid crowds and heat by going in Oct/Nov, but maybe I should switch my time frame to late Sept or early Oct if going to CT. Or just cross CT off the list and choose a different location? We were hoping to photograph some nice sunsets from CT... Thanks for your input.

4 full days in Venice is a bit much. You can walk from one end of Venice to the other in an hour (RS guide.) I was just there fewer days than you and was able to add Bellagio, Varenna, Pisa and Rome.

As much as we love the CT, perhaps drop a day there.

I would cut a day in Cinque Terre. One can spend way more that 4 full days in Venice and not do it all. For me 2 full days in the CT is enough, but that is just a personal preference.

Thanks all. We do plan on day trips from our bases if we feel the need, but we like to really settle and visit an area, and 4 days is not that long for us. I hadn't realized about the rain in November, so I think we will go in late September or early October and cut one day from CT. Does that sound reasonable? I don't have a huge interest in CT other than photographing sunsets, but B. wants to see the Mediterranean from Italy so it is included. The towns do sound cute. Thanks for your help. Wray

I think we will go in late September or early October and cut one day from CT. Does that sound reasonable?

October is a GREAT month to travel in Italy. It is my favorite time in the Cinque Terre and we have enjoyed October in Venezia as well, as many of the crowds of May-Sept have departed. I do agree, if you have to drop a day/night, take it from the Cinque Terre, but also look into some of the fine day trips you can take: Porto Venere, Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure, Lerici. Many beautiful places to explore and photograph even if you are not hikers.

I would drop a day from Cinque Terre as well. Many great day trips from Venezia if you feel you need to get away.

I think Cinque Terre can afford one less night.
Day trip to Padova from Venice, as you have a generous amount of time there.

Thanks. I'm cutting a day from CT. If we get bored (not something that usually happens to me) we'll take some day trips from Venice and Florence. Thanks for everyone's help! Wray

I don't think you'll get bored in Venice. I've spent 10 nights there over 4 trips and would go back for a week (or two)! Murano/Burano/Torcello alone fills a day. And there are so many off the beaten path areas - I still have areas I've never made it to in Venice. And late Sept/early Oct (my fav time of year - we leave for France this weekend) is perfect.

Since neither one of you has been to Rome, I would cut one night each and add Rome to the itinerary. If you go in late Oct or Nov I wouldn't even bother with the Cinque Terre at all. In that case I would do it as a day trip from Florence if the weather permits.

@Roberto, I've been to Rome twice. My thinking was I'd do the northern part of Italy this trip, and if B likes it, which I'm sure he will, we'll do the southern part including Rome, Naples and Sicily the next time. The more trips I can get out of this the better! I've moved the dates of travel to the beginning of October, will the weather in CT be OK then? Or is there a northern city you would recommend? Thanks, Wray

@Nicole, Thanks. I was hoping that was the case. We like to spend time in place. Three locations is even a lot for us to base in.