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Extending time in Rome: Day trips vs. on the move

My husband have an empty nest and we are going to celebrate in Italy!! We have a trip planned in November and have flights, hotels, and trains between the cities of Venice, Florence, and Rome, 3 nights in each city. We extended the flight back by 4 days, so we have some freedom to plan some additional things.

Would it make more sense to stay the extra 4 nights in Rome (for a total of 7) and do day trips from there, or is there another part of Italy that we must see and therefore should be on the move? Our flight out is from Rome, so we would likely travel back to Rome on the last night to be near the airport. Thoughts?

Day 1: Arrive in Venice. Recover from jet lag

Day 2-3: Venice

Day 4: Train to Florence

Day 5-6: Florence, possible day trip to Siena or Pisa/Lucca

Day7: Train to Rome

Day 8-9: Rome.

Next 3 nights are flexible with the 4th and last night back in Rome to catch our flight back.

We would like to book a guided tour of Pompeii and a day trip to Orvieto. We are more into history and less into art museums, if this helps. We would like to take it easy but also don't want to miss any must-sees. Please help!! :) Thanks for any thoughts!!

Sherri

Posted by
1103 posts

There is plenty to do in Rome, considering that you are planning day trips to Pompeii and Orvieto.

Posted by
787 posts

You could easily spend all of your additional days/nights in Rome and still not see all of the city's must-sees (though of course, after the first 5 or 10 sights in Rome, what's a "must-see" can be pretty subjective).

In addition, depending on your specific interests in history, you could add a night to Venice or Florence or both, plus Rome.

Posted by
6231 posts

3 nights is very little time in Rome so if you do the 2 day trips I’d say just stay in Rome. 3 nights is really just 2 days for sightseeing plus the half day depending on what time you arrive.
The 2 major sights in Rome -Colosseum and Vatican both are quite long days, don’t plan to do those on same day!

It sounds like you can’t extend time in Venice and Florence to due lodgings and trains already booked- is that correct?

As you must know a day trip to Pompeii will be a very long day!

Posted by
54 posts

Yes, the days in Venice and Florence are already set and reserved, so no flexibility there. Thanks for the replies. Any recommendations for accommodations (hotel or AirBnB around $100) in Rome? We may move within the city.

Thanks!!