Hi, I am trying to plan a trip to Italy for April 2018 for my husband and I. We are trying to stay 14-18 days. We are interested in going to Venice, Lake Como, Cinque Terre, Rome, Pompeii. I love history, and would love to see the "must see" sights in Rome, discover the seacoast towns of Cinque Terre and Lake Como, visit some historical sights (maybe a castle?), definitely a vineyard, but main interest is to be a part of Italian culture.
My thought was to fly in to Rome 3 days, head south to Pompeii area (Sorrento? Positano?) 2 days, fly to Venice (I saw cheap flights on Easyjet has anyone used?) 2 days, then after that I am a little stuck. I would like to end in Lake Como as it seems it would be a relaxing finish, and fly home from Milan
So my thoughts are: Am I trying to see too much? Is Lake Como and Cinque Terre too "alike"? I was told driving is too hectic in Italy, so trying to decide train, bus?
I appreciate your feedback!
Posted by
Chicago
8234 posts
EasyJet is good you just have to read and follow the baggage allowance rules. The earlier you buy the better the price. They fly roundtrip to Venice from Rome and Naples.
This is how I would arrange the order of your trip.
You can put in the days. This will help you see if you are trying to go too many places
Fly into Venice
Venice
Train to Como
Como
Train to Monterosso
Monterosso (Cinque Terre)
Train to Rome
Rome
Train to Sorrento (Amalfi Coast)
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
12063 posts
Have you looked at the Best of Italy 17 day tour?
Most of your wish list is included in that tour, Pompeii being the main exception.
You could easily add a few days to go to Naples or Sorrento to do a Pompeii visit
Trying to go to that many places independently is possible, but transportation becomes an issue. Having a tour bus to take you from point to point is much more efficient than doing trains on THEIR schedule and then having to get to/from the stations every time you move to another location
Posted by
Washington DC
28453 posts
I'm not sure how great a time April is for visiting Lake Como and the Cinque Terre, but I don't think the two destinations are too similar. There's more similarity between Cinque Terre and the Positano area (Amalfi Coast).
Personally, I wouldn't bother with flying from southern Italy to Venice. You'd have to get to Naples for the flight (if not to Rome), and the express trains make the Naples-Venice run in 5 hr. 05 min. To me, doing an all-train trip is easier than starting out on the train and having to make my way to an airport and deal with all that flights entail these days. And with the train you arrive in Venice rather than out at the Venice airport.
In terms of airports, you're fine with EasyJet, but beware RyanAir's flights to "Venice", which land at the airport in Treviso, which is a long way from Venice.
Posted by
Folsom
2739 posts
I'll second Joe's suggestion. You will visit most of the places you want to in a more time efficient manor. You'll see much, learn a lot, and have memories that will last a lifetime. Sure, you can do this on your own but the logistics are challenging and you'll be spending way more travel time than you'll like.
Posted by
Reading, PA, USA
1637 posts
Doing the trip on your own is no problem. My wife and I did a 30 day trip to Italy 2 years ago. Twelve of the days we had a car to see Tuscany and Umbria. For the other 18 days we used trains. The train stations are close to where you want to be and are much faster than buses. Yes, you have to conform to their schedule, but at least you have a choice. With a tour you have to conform to the tour's schedule with no choice. Now, for the trains it is smart to buy your tickets ahead of time as you will save 30-40% and therefore you will be locked into the times you chose. Also, you can spend more or less time in a city than the tour does depending on you interests. In our case, we felt the tours did not spend enough time in the major cities.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
I say do it on your own. On a bus tour you still have to conform to the tour schedule, if you DIY at least you have choices about when to depart one city for another. You have already done some of the planning.
Just take into account that you will lose a half day every time you change locations.
On the other hand, a tour might be good if you don't feel comfortable planning and executing everything on your own.
Posted by
OP
Charleston, SC
13 posts
thanks to each of you! I will continue to research. Is traveling down to Naples from Rome feasible? and staying in Naples in order to visit Pompeii? From all I've read, Naples is dirty, and too many pit pockets....
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16710 posts
I'm voting for a do-it-yourself trip as well as it affords you much more freedom than a tour: you can create your own schedule with more daily flexibility for change.
Personally, I wouldn't go south of Rome if you only have two days for it: that area deserves more time and you'd only have one FULL day to give it on your current schedule. I'd also allow a minimum of 4 nights for Rome as there's a lot to see and do in that one, and it'll be your first base for getting your head around Italy. We've spent much more time in the city than that without coming close to running out of things to see! Arrival day - which is only a partial - is also often a jet-legged haze so just two more full days isn't enough, IMHO. Venice deserves more than 1.5 days as well.
Pickpockets are not limited to Naples. Not by far. You find them (or they can find you) just about anywhere the tourists are so you'll observe to use any number of methods visitors do to keep the valuables out of their hands. It isn't difficult.
Italian culture will be all around you, and different parts of the country have their own long histories and well as food and observances. Just keep in mind that the historical sites, churches and whatnot were not originally built as tourist attractions but are important parts of Italian patrimony. :O)
Posted by
11679 posts
Lake Como and the Cinque Terre are not alike. Lake Como is lined with large villas built by Milanese silk tycoons. The Cinque Terre is filled with quaint fishing villages set on the sea. The CT slopes are terraced with vineyards.
Stay overnight in Naples! It gets a bad rap from long ago. Yes, it's gritty but it isn't dangerous. You said you wanted to experience Italian culture and Naples will give you that, a vibrant historic city. Take a train from Rome to Naples. Take a commuter train from Naples to Pompeii.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23653 posts
...Naples is dirty, and too many pit pockets.......
You have to be careful of broad brush statements. We have been in Naples a number of times, mostly recently two years ago, and didn't it any dirtier than other but Italy cities. But I wasn't there during the garage strike either. And I saw exactly the same number of pickpockets as I did in Rome -- zero. But that doesn't mean that they are not there. Just means the pick pocketers didn't bother us in either place.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
I was in Napoli during the garbage strike a few years ago, and the residents were extremely upset about it, and tried everything to end it.
The area around the main train station has gotten a facelift and has a mall above and below ground, so some nice places to spend some cafe time.
I love Napoli, but my enjoyment of any big city depends to a certain degree on the location of my temporary "neighborhood".
My favorite area right now is Santa Lucia, near Piazza del Plebescito.