First time travel to Italy - Itinerary review/opinions please

Jessica, IMHO, this trip is far too "busy" for such a short time frame and especially for a first trip to Italy. While it may be feasible, there are too many location changes. A few thoughts that come to mind.... I'm assuming you've allowed for the fact that you'll arrive in Italy the day after you depart the U.S.? Although you don't have anything on your Itinerary for Saturday, you'll still likely be suffering jet lag on Sunday so possibly won't get as much touring as planned. For driving in Italy, keep in mind that each driver will require the compulsory International Driver's Permit, which must be used in conjunction with your home D.L. Failure to produce an IDP if requested can result in fines on the spot! You may want to have a look at Ron's website regarding driving in Italy. Another concern is the numerous ZTL areas in Florence. EACH pass through one of the automated Cameras will result in a €100+ ticket, which you'll receive in the mail several months after you get home. I'd definitely suggest skipping Pisa. Rather than pack up and stay in Chianti for one night, you might consider covering the cooking class/wine tasting as a day trip from Florence. As I recall from previous posts here, there are some available in that area. Especially with travel in Italy, I've found that it's important to allow extra time to get from one location to another, as there can sometimes be "unexpected delays". I'd have to give some thought to the details of your proposed trip, but these are some initial impressions. It might be helpful to have a look at the Italy Guidebook during your planning. Good luck!

I think you have already made some good, practical decisions. Flying into Venice is a terrific way to start your Italy trip. Departing from a different city is a time-saving choice because you don't waste time looping back to your arrival point. The three main cities you chose are certainly among the most popular for visitors, and they're reasonably close together. You are planning a lot for a week. Personally, I'd probably skip the rental car and one-night trip to the Chianti region and the day trip to Pisa because they will be so fast-paced. To me, time spent checking in and out of a hotel or renting a car or waiting for a train is basically time lost from things I'd rather be doing. I'd rather add the time to one of the three cities you've chosen. I suspect you could find a cooking class or wine-tasting in Florence.

Jessica, I also suggest skipping Pisa and spending the day in Florence. In addition to the Duomo and Accademia, try the Museum of San Marco - it's a former Dominican convent and each friar's room has a fresco by Fra Angelico. Keep in mind that museums tend to be closed on Monday. If you have the time/inclination, I suggest the island of Torcello while you are in Venice. It's a good walk from the dock to the church, but it's a beautiful, peaceful place. You are very wise to allow an entire day for the Vatican museums and St. Peter's. The museums have a nice restaurant outside (avoid the cafeteria pizza inside!) in the courtyard. You might spend part of that day in Trastevere - Santa Maria in Trastevere has beautiful mosaics and is on a lovely piazza. For your day in Rome, I would suggest that you just wander the neighborhoods - the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain area, perhaps the Ghetto (where else can you get a kosher King David Pizza?). I hope you love your trip.

Jessica, I agree with others here to try to do less so you are less rushed. If you do go to Trastevere and want to visit either of the special churches, there, remember that they are typically closed for part of the day. We went to Trastevere one day for a few hours w the special intent of visiting churches. Just missed the a.m. open hours and were too tired to stay an extra 4 hrs for later admission, so we never got into them. Hours are probably in RS guidebooks and maybe there is a website someone can recommend to get the most up to date info. Sunday hours for the churches are likely to be different from weekdays.
We just got back from 3 wks, first time trip to Italy w adult daughter. We stayed 4-5 nights in each place so we could enjoy a more leisurely pace for all the sight seeing and would not have to spend too much time packing up and travelling. Have a great time!

Here's another vote for restricting this visit to the Big Three - Venice, Florence and Rome. You will probably fall in love with Italy and HAVE to go back. That's when you can start checking out other places. (I don't suppose there's any way you can lengthen your time there, is there?)

Jessica What Michael said. You really need a few more days for your itinerary. Another option rather than renting a car in Tuscany would be seeing Orvieto, a 1 hour train ride north of Rome. A great small town that travelers love. Skip Pisa since it is a 1 monument stop rather than offering many rich cultural and historical options. If you can't stretch your vacation time, come back again and see wonders. Bobbie

When in Rome, make sure you visit the Borghese Gallery. The scupltures are exquisite. You have to make reservations. Here is their web site. http://www.galleriaborghese.it/borghese/en/edefault.htm

Too busy. Fly into Florence for two nights. Drive through Tuscany for two days. Train to Rome for the remainder of the trip.

I have to agree with my fellow travelers. Drop the car rental - it is too much trouble and too many possible pitfalls. Add the extra time to Venice and/or Florence. If you don't find enough to do in Florence, take a day trip by bus to Siena. Take a wine-tasting tour from Florence (you will be able to taste more if you aren't driving).

Jessica, I hope you check out Artviva.com for a walking tour of Florence and tours of the Uffizi and Accademia. THey are a terrific company and the guide, Claus, is outstanding. The best money we spent Florence (not counting the case of Brunello we had shipped home from Niccolai winery near S.G.

Thank you to everyone for all of your great advice! We aren't able to extend our trip but we are going to skip Pisa and the overnight in Tuscany and just focus on Venice, Florence and Rome. Any other info is most welcome. Thanks again and Happy Thanksgiving! Jessica

Happy Thanksgiving, Jessica! You only have 8 nights. I would suggest giving yourselves at least 3 nights in Venice to not only enjoy my favorite place (so far) in Italy, but also to recover from jetlag. I spent 4 nights there and never made it to Murano...only 1 full day in Venice IMO is a crime. Also, if you are around on Tuesday morning, you can wake up early and catch the Rialto fish market at its most interesting hour. Here's my suggestion: Venice - Sat, Sun, Mon, leave Tues - 3 days, 3 nights Florence - Tues, Weds, leave Thurs - 2 days, 2 nights
Rome - Thurs, Fri, Sat, leave Sun - 3 days, 3 nights

Good for you! For Venice, be sure to stay in Venice proper. Pensione Guerrato is an excellent choice. We've stayed there twice. It's a longstanding RS favorite, and is in at least one of his videos. Do wander away from the crowded places to see Venice at its most magical. I'm not sure how big your budget is, but if you can afford guides, you might want to do that to really maximize your time. RS recommends several for each city in his books. It's not the way I usually travel, since I prefer to do the research on my own, but a good guide can often get you into places you couldn't or wouldn't go to on your own. And they can focus their time with you on the things you find most interesting. Happy travels.

Jessica, let us know what other specific questions you have. Someone suggested hiring guides. That is a very different experience from exploring a new city on your own. A good guide will tell you about a site and escort you all around, but you're experiencing it through that guide's eyes and comments. My suggestion is to read a variety of tour books about each of the cities you plan to visit. If you have time, you could add some novels and history books about those cities. Develop your own "to do" list of places, food, experiences, etc., that interest you. The cities you plan to visit are all very tourist-friendly. Food, accommodations, and public transportation are easy to access so you don't need a local expert to help you find your way. I hope you'll opt for exploring and discovering on your own.

Hi Jessica, Don't worry about missing out on major areas. As everyone else has posted. Venice, Rome and Florence are more than enough for a week. My husband and I just celebrated our first year of living in Italy and we only have one more year left here. I remarked to him that there are still so many more places in Italy that I want to go, I don't know if I'll get it all done... in a year... You will miss lots but you will see lots too. It is a beautiful country. I have a feeling you will be planning your second trip on the flight home! Julie

In Venice: 1. Get up really early one morning and go to St Mark's Square to watch the sunrise over the lagoon. Then go back to your hotel for breakfast. 2. Take the Secret Itineraries Tour of the Doge's Palace. 3. Download the 4 Rick Steves audio tours and take them 4. Be in St. Mark's Basilica between 11.30 am and 12.30 pm. That's when the mosaics are floodlit and at their best. In Florence: 1. RS audio tours 2. if you really like sculpture, don't miss the Bargello. For some of Michelangelo's best, go to the Medici chapel In general: 1. Eat lots of gelato. I thought it was much better in Venice and Florence than in Rome. 2. Learn a few basic phrases in Italian. You will get a much friendlier response if you start conversations with a greeting in Italian. Note the difference between "permisso" (when you are trying to get past someone in a crowd) and "scuzi" (when you step on their feet in a crowd).
3. Don't forget to validate your train tickets at the yellow machines before boarding.

If you are arriving in Venice early on Sat morning, then check into your hotel, drop baggage and hit the road running. That is what we did on our first trip there. Have an early dinner/bedtime and get up the next morning and finish Venice. We found we were able to hit the highlights of Venice this way. I, too, would recommend staying in Venice proper in order to save sightseeing and travel time between destinations. Mon....early morning high speed train to Florence will get you there about lunchtime. Again, check into your hotel, drop baggage and start touring. You can easily fit in the Baptistry and Duomo this day and still find time to walk around and just savor Florence. Skip the rental car and overnight in Tuscany. Too hard. Make your advance reservations for the Accademia and Uffizi for Tuesday. Wednesday you could still do a day trip to Pisa and include more museums in Florence or find that cooking/wine tasting class in Florence proper. I think your plan for Rome is good. Enjoy your travels.

I'd actually skip Murano but see Burano. Murano is just a long avenue of glass vendors; while Burano is like Village Venice -- extremely picturesque and colorful. Either way, I agree with those who have suggested this trip be limited to "The Big 3". And I'd do it entirely by train.

Jessica, I agree with previous comments re number of sites packed into limited time, but let me add one point: you have Sunday in Venice, with the intent of seeing the Basilica of San Marco. The open hours are going to be very limited on Sunday, with Masses and evening Vespers (although both Mass and Vespers there were wonderful liturgies, so you might consider attending). I'd suggest checking the basilica's website and planning carefully if that visit is important to you. Also, one of the high points of Venice for me was just wandering and getting lost in its charm. Your schedule doesn't allow much time for that.