First time to Italy and would appreciate itinerary help

Your best bet for directions may rest in how much it costs to fly in/out of each end of the trip, based on your dates and home airport. The general time of year in which you plan to travel can make a difference.

Personally, I'd skip the Cinque Terre & Amalfi and add those nights to other locations.

I agree with aquamarinesteph. Aside from logistics, the Cinque Terre was one of the two most disappointing places I've ever visited in Europe.

Depending on how much time you have, you could have a great trip with just Munich, Salzburg and Venice.

A lot depends on when you are traveling. Assuming off season: I would start in Munich and work south. Munich has fewer “sights”, so you can relax a little more and acclimate to the time change. Rome has soooo much to see, and you will be hard pressed to see it all in two full days. Your arrival day and departure day are wasted basically. I would add a night (or more) there and reduce elsewhere.

Maybe just 2 nights in Salzburg, since it’s only 2 hrs from Munich and you could get there early enough to still see the town on arrival day. It’s really hard for me to say that, because I love Salzburg! But travel time between the other cities is greater (4-6 hrs each) and will cut into your actual time in each city.

I LOVED Cinque Terre, but that was over Christmas 20 years ago. I’ve read that it’s over-run in the summer, so depending on your travel dates you might consider dropping it and adding days to Rome and Salzburg.

Florence is my least favorite of your cities, and two nights were plenty for us. We went to the Uffizi & Duomo, shopped a bit in the markets, took a taxi to the hill across the river for views of the city. You could drop a night there too.

You could drop Florence and do Amalfi instead of C.T, but I’ve read that trains don’t go to Amalfi, only busses. You’d have to go to Naples first, either by train or plane. (I haven’t been to Amalfi, so I can’t advise on that.) Then end the trip in Rome and fly home.

For me, weather would also factor in. I hate the heat, so if the trip starts in June I would do Rome first and work north. It will still be warm in Munich by the end of the trip, but not as bad as Rome.

What time of the year will you be going? I like the Cinque Terra when I visited, but if you go in the summer, expect very large crowds. I would probably skip the Cinque Terra and add the days to Venice, Florence, and Rome. If you still wanted to visit another town, you could add Varenna to you list. It would be closer from Venice than the Cinque Terra. The direction you travel would depend on when you are going. It will be cooler in Munich and Salzburg so plan be in that area towards the warmer time of your trip.

3 nights really equals just 2 days.
Your arrival day to each destination is maybe a half day at best.

We liked Munich well enough but I think 3 nights there is probably OK. Your first day will be a jet lag day so hardly counts.

Salzburg we loved- we spent 4 nights and did a few day trips- St Gilgen and Berchtesgaden- so if those are not of interest I suppose 3 nights is OK there too.
The trip from Salzburg to Venice is going take most of a day- I'd add a night to Venice. Train is not really much longer than a flight once you figure getting to/from airport and getting thru security/check in. Plus getting from Venice airport to Venice proper takes more time as well. Really nice to arrive in Venice at the train station- you are right on the Grand Canal when you step off the train.

CT- takes a bit of time to get to- I've never been and all I hear is that it is very very crowded! I think most would say 2 nights is enough here.

Florence- 3 nights is OK- but that doesn't leave any time for day trips- Siena, Tuscany hilltowns- I'd add a night to Florence if you want to see any more of Tuscany.

Rome needs 4 nights. 5 would be better.

WOW!! Thank you everyone for your input. I appreciate it!!!

We are traveling in mid-June (can't help it, wife is a school nurse), so starting off in Rome makes sense. From reading the input here thinking of now ditching Cinque Terra altogether. Maybe substitute Lake Como instead......but, I don't know, as that seems out of the way too.

Again, thank you everyone

3 nights Rome.

Rome-Lucca train 3:06.

3 nights Lucca. Day trips by train, Barga, 1:43 Devils bridge in Mozzano 23m, Viareggio 27m

Lucca-Florence. Train 1:19.
3 nights Florence. Day trip to Siena bus 1:17.

Florence-Venice Train. 2:05.

Venice-Munich. Fly 1 hour. Add to that 1:15 to get to the airport, with arrival to gate 1:30. (3:45). Total travel time.
Munich-Salzburg. Train 1:57.
3 nights Salzburg.

Salzburg-Munich. Train 1:57.
3 nights Munich.

I love Cinque Terre. I would not drop that location. I have been there multiple times. It is gorgeous. Go there to hike in the mornings.
You go from Venice to Florence to Cinque Terre to Rome.