December-January trip to Rome & athens

1. Back in 2012, we had a full week in Rome just before Christmas, before flying to Sicily, then returning to Rome after more time on the mainland south of Rome. December was a great time to be in Italy. Should be a fun New Year’s (ours was in Sorrento). I wouldn’t make Florence a single day trip from Rome. You’ll be on the train more than you will be in Florence. Unless this is your one chance to ever see Florence, save Florence for at least 3 days on your next trip.

2. Athens sounds exciting! We were supposed to be there back in January (at the end of a Middle East trip), but the tour company we’d booked with cancelled it all after fighting broke out in Israel and Gaza. In addition to potential islands east and/or south of Athens, possible day trips could be Delphi or Nemea. We had a rental car from Pop’s.

3. When using miles (or Avios, in the case of British Airways), we book ASAP, while seats are available. For the airline you use, when Athens tickets open up, book as soon as you’re ready. I wouldn’t expect prices to drop if you wait.

4. Flying “open jaw,” into one city and out from another, is often a good strategy. Even if it costs a bit more, time is money, and it saves you having to backtrack to Rome. Having said that, on the trip I described above, we flew roundtrip to/from Rome, but that trip was all Italy. Greece is far enough away that you could save time and money by flying home from Athens. Unless the airfare is just too expensive or inconvenient flying open jaw, and remembering to factor in how much it would cost to get back to Rome from Athens for comparison, I’d say see Rome first, fly to Athens (cheap flight?), and fly home from Athens.

Thank you for this. Not sure if or when will ever get back to Italy, so this might be our one chance to hit Florence. I’ve been told a day trip would not be too bad, that it is a two hour train ride from Rome, and we’re all very active and like to walk a lot!

Unless you had specific dates you wanted to be in either, I would go to Athens first to have the shorter flight last.
I would skip the island excursion with your time frame and considering the month. Nafplio would be excellent to pair with Athens if you have time for a second stop.
Check skyscanner for flights between. Forget ferry, that would take forever and likely not be pleasant.

You could do an open jaw flying into Rome and out of Athens. I like to book early.

Florence is wonderful and you need a minimum of there days to see it. The Uffizi and Academia Museums are fantastic an you need three hours to do the first and 2 hours to do the second.

Visiting the Duomo is huge and if you can do the tower as well. The Duomo is closed one day of the week. A day trip would be way too little.

Why do you think you won't be back to Italy? There is much to see, especially Venice and the Naples Area.

Athens and the Parthenon is wonderful, but you will notice that Greece is a poorer version of Italy. Don't miss the New Acropolis Museum and the Archaeological Museum. The Temple of Poseidon is south of Athens and worth the short trip there. Delphi is good, but that would take half a day. Corinth and the canal are good, but that is another half day.

I hope to return to Italy sometime, but it’s taken me 30 years to get back this time! We have a special needs child, which puts a crimp in our budget and travel opportunities. The stars have aligned for this trip, not sure when it will happen again.

It's a fast train to Florence, so why not? You can always play it by ear and stay in Rome if you decide not to.