First Time in Italy- Can't decide on my itinerary!

Having been to the Amalfi Coast but not yet Florence (going this year), I wouldn't miss it if you like food and nature. My understanding is food is great everywhere, but Florence is great for art and Amalfi is great for views. Amalfi is significantly south though, far from Venice, so you're going to lose some time traveling if you try to make it all the way down there.

I think Amalfi is too far, and you have too much already. Venice, Florence, and Rome is a classic first trip for a reason.

Here's one option: April 29 - land in Venice and go to Florence night of the 29 - 1 (3 nights) in Florence. Night of the 2-7 (5 nights) in Rome. Then back to Venice, night of the 8-9-10 (3 nights). You could do 4 in Florence and 4 in Rome instead, depending on your preference.

Regardless of what cities you choose, I highly suggest ENDING in Venice. Otherwise if you started in Venice and ended in Rome you would need to return to Venice the day before your flight out. Which leaves a stray night in Venice after you've already been there for your main visit. These stray nights are not useful - it just feels like your trip is ending a night early. Instead what I suggest is landing in Venice and immediately heading to Florence - your jet-lag day isn't all that great for sightseeing, better to spend it in transit and have the rest of your time for visiting Italy!

You might consider Cinque Terre instead of the Amalfi Coast. You could do Venice ->Rome->Florence->Cinque Terre->Venice.

So like itinerary:
4/29 Land Venice
4/30 Venice
5/1 Depart for Rome (I would do a later afternoon train so you would have most of the day in Venice)
5/2 Rome
5/3 Rome
5/4 Rome
5/5 Leave for Florence (Here I would do a morning train so you have the day in Florence it is only about 2 hrs)
5/6 Florence
5/7 Travel to Cinque Terre
5/8 Cinque Terre
5/9 Cinque Terre
5/10 Head back to Venice (I would probably advice a morning train as it is a long journey or you could do the below itinerary)

Instead of heading to Florence from Rome:

5/5 Leave for Cinque Terre
5/6 Cinque Terre
5/7 Cinque Terre (Do evening train from there to Florence)
5/8 Florence
5/9 Florence
5/10 Head back to Venice
5/11 Travel home.

I do like the idea that you end in Venice. I didn't think of that.

4/29 Land and then travel to Rome.
4/30 Rome
5/1 Rome
5/2 Rome
5/3 Rome (train to Cinque Terre)
5/4 Cinque Terre
5/5 Cinque Terre
5/6 Florence
5/7 Florence
5/8 Venice
5/9 Venice
5/10 Venice

You did not say how you were traveling, that would make a difference. You could look into cheap flights from Venice to Rome & back, then train to Amalfi. We are going to do the same for a trip to Paris, my husband really wants to see the Riveria. I got cheap flights in & out of Paris, I am going to book an EasyJet flight to Nice (packing light, carry on), they are about $30-60 each way.

I would also consider Florence. This was my favorite part of Italy, we spent two jammed packed days there, loved it. If you drive or take the train, Florence is on the way to Rome. There will be less backtracking. I disagree that Florence is about the art, for me Florence was about the people. I found the people to be very nice and open there, reminded me of my hometown, Pittsburgh. I did love the Amalfi coast but that was more touristy and considering the time you are there, the water won't be warm yet so you won't be able to fully enjoy it.

Being Catholic, I found the Vatican to be very moving. Try to get the tickets to see the Pope on Wed (I believe) and go to a Mass in the Church.

Adding this in...you could take a day trip from Florence into Tuscany/Umbria as well. There are some beautiful hill towns and villages there.

Take a look at the RS tour for Venice-Florence-Rome and see if that itinerary interests you. You easily follow the same itinerary on your own.

I think the AC involves too much travel time for such a short trip. Additionally, May 1 is a holiday, so you’d likely find it difficult to secure good lodgings at this late date. And, it will be very crowded. If you want to add another city of food interest, consider Bologna.

Your first day is usually wasted due to jetlag, use it to reach your furthest location. Arrive Venice. ACTV bus to Venezia Mestre station 25 min . Train Venezia Mestre-Roma Termini 3 1/2-4 hours.

4N Rome.

Train Roma Termini-Firenze SMN 90 minutes.

3N Florence.

Train Firenze SMN-Venezia S.Lucia
2hrs 05min.

3N Venice.

Many good suggestions so far.

Some people feel that Venice is an excellent place to recover from the overnight flight from the US. It is a city made for walking, and it is not loud and chaotic like Rome. I would consider just visiting Venice and Rome

Suggest you go straight on to Rome on the 29th. Perhaps a flight rather than the train. Spend April 30th through May 3 in Rome and head to Florence on May 4. Stay there May 5th and May 6th. Head to Venice on May 7th and spend the 8th through the 10 there. My reasoning is that is almost always takes longer to relocate than one anticipates and much of the time on relocation days is wasted. Just one opinion.

Agree with TC, fly, if you can get your flights to line up. Allowing 2 hours between arrival and departure.

So if you arrive at 9:15, you could depart for Rome around 11:20.
Flight time is 1:15m

Alitalia airlines is a choice be these two airports, but be sure to check their baggage requirements. On these flights, they're much less than on American flights.

Another vote for three cities - Venice, Florence & Rome. I saw one trip suggestion that had you going from Venice to Rome for the first night's stay in Italy. Then you stayed in Rome, moved onto Florence and ended in Venice. That one gives you a lot of flexibility in each city and maximizes your travel time between points.

If St. Peter's & the Vatican Museum are high priorities for you, consider looking at a tour that will give you access during less congested periods. Otherwise, just know that both will be crowded while you're there.

Hope you have a wonderful time!!!

Nalafo59, lot’s of good ideas here, certainly enough to confuse you. I will just toss in the thought that it would be a shame to only visit hectic and crowded cities like Rome, Florence and Venice, without spending at least a little time in a beautiful and ancient smaller hill town, for generally a totally different aspect of Italy. Often these towns are at their most enjoyable in the early mornings and evenings, when the day-trippers are gone, if you can make that work. From Rome, Orvieto is a natural and wonderful choice, just over an hour from Rome by train, with a nice little funicular from the train station up to the old town. I love Orvieto. From Florence you might consider a day tour by “Roberto”, which would include 2 or 3 small Tuscan hill towns, and maybe winery stops for tastings and/or lunch. Even in Venice, a day out on the lagoon at the nearby islands of Burano (for a fish or seafood meal, lace, and quaint residential neighborhoods), Torcello (rural, and the birthplace of Venice) and Murano (glass) is in my experience, always a pleasant day, if you plan it well. Enjoy! It’s very hard to go wrong in Italy.

In my opinion, for first timers visiting Italy, do the big three, Rome, Florence and Venice. All are wonderful and special. Plan on the Amalfi coast, Sorrento, Capri, Naples and Pompeii on another trip. Perhaps you can purchase an open jaw ticket, flying into Venice and out of Rome.

I advise folks to get to their farthest point immediately upon arrival from overseas, yet I've only done it once, our first trip to Italy where we did Chicago-->Rome, then took a flight to Catania, Sicily. Didn't know what real jet lag was at the time but comparing it to subsequent trips I was no worse off than normal.

That being said, I'd start in Rome (agreeing that the Amalfi Coast is too far/too much this trip), providing your flight from the US to Venice arrives at a reasonable hour. Fly into Roma Fiumicino (1+ hours) or you could get over to Venezia Santa Lucia station and take a Freccia train 3 hours, 33 min to Roma Termini. Pros & cons to both--although I love trains and the ride to Rome would be restful, maybe it's better off you just schedule a quick one-way flight and be there quicker. Get your bags, taxi to your hotel, you're where you want to be!

And here's how I'd do your trip--

4/29 Rome
4/30 Rome
5/1 Rome
5/2 Rome
5/3 Orvieto by train (1 hr 17 min)
5/4 Orvieto
5/5 Florence by train (2 hrs 27 min)
5/6 Florence
5/7 Florence
5/8 Venice by train (2 hrs 5 min)
5/9 Venice
5/10 Venice
5/11 Venice to US

I usually say less stops are better, but if you get to Rome immediately upon arrival, you can fit in a couple nights in the wonderful Umbrian hilltown of Orvieto. Charming place, spectacular cathedral, awesome food, most importantly it's unlike any of the other three destinations. And it's on the way.

Logistically, these train rides are quick, efficient, comfortable and if you set it up in advance--like now--you can probably save at least 40% of the cost.

For a first trip, this to me is the best use of your time. You say you're not an art buff, but I said that too. And I defy you to visit Rome & Florence, which are so different on so many levels, and not have the art and the history behind it move you. While 3-4 nights apiece in these classic cities is not nearly enough, it's a taste. You'll be back.

Enjoy your planning!

Thank you everyone for your help, I really appreciate it!

I am going to go straight to Rome from Venice, which is something I hadn't even considered. Also, I've cut out the coastal towns and have decided on Orvieto so I wont be traveling so much and can enjoy my time. It looks wonderful. I'm so excited!!! :)

I've cut out the coastal towns and have decided on Orvieto

You'll love Orvieto. Explore the shops and side streets! I still have a wonderful memory of both a toy store there plus a great shop that kept bringing us olive oil, bread, wine, cheese, etc., to taste!

One thing about flying home from Venice: if it's an early morning flight, getting to the airport on time can be a bit of a challenge. I had an 11 am flight and had no problem, but people here with earlier flights have often discussed the difficulties.