First Time Traveler: Rome, Florence, Pompei

a few quick points. (1) Is there a reason you are flying back to Amsterdam? Have you looked at open-jaw flights, that is, returning to the US from Rome? Thats costing you a day. (2) Your question ". . . I'll be walking for most of it except for when I go to the Colosseo (train, probably?)": don't confuse the Metro (subway) or trams, with the trains (railroads). They are different systems, and two different purposes. (3) You are moving around a lot to try and cover a lot. Dont underestimate the amount of time it takes to get from one place to another. Its not just the projected length of the train ride - its the time it takes to get to and from the rail station, get oriented, meals, etc. A day trip mostly spent in traveling isn't as fun as it sounds. A trip in which much of your time is in transit is not fun either.

Hi Ranyas -
Some comments?

I am staying at an Airbnb in a very centralized location in Rome for 4
nights

If you are coming from Amsterdam, you realistically have 3.5 days in Rome: not enough time, IMHO to see all the things you want to - including any "hidden gems" - plus do Pompei AND Ostia Antica. I would reconsider the Pompeii trip as it would be a long day at the expense of other attractions in Rome.

On Monday morning, after I check out from my Airbnb, I'm going to
Florence...I'll be in Florence all day to see the museums....

I'm not sure which museums you were planning on seeing but were you aware that the Uffizi and Accademia are both closed on Mondays? Even if they were open, 6-7 hours or so isn't enough time to squeeze in both plus the duomo complex, and I wouldn't go for the duomo alone. There are other museums open in Florence but, well, when people say they're going for 'museums', it's the Accademia and Uffizi they're usually talking about. so...

Additionally, I wouldn't want to be day-tripping to Florence on the same day I have an air departure from Rome, even if it's not an international flight.

Why not skip Florence until a next trip when you can give it more time? I'd consider just staying in Rome for the duration - as you have to fly out of there anyway - and use your remaining partial last day to cover more ground there versus try to cram another significant city into a few hours?

If your trip is late August/early September, you're likely going to be in Rome on the first Sunday of the month (Sept 2)? If you decide not to do Pompeii, that might be a good day for Ostia Antica. Italian National Museums are free to visit on first Sundays of any month BUT you want to avoid the MOST visited, such as the Colosseum, Uffizi, Accademia, etc. Ostia Antica will be free that day as well but it's not as overrun an attraction as some of the others. Pompei will be free that day too but as mentioned before, will be a much more time-consuming, wearing trip in the late summer heat. It will likely also be very busy.

Tiny detail among many, Ranyas: If you found advance-purchase tickets to Pompeii, they are likely to the modern city of Pompeii, which is a stop at least a 15-minute walk (you said you have a walking problem) in the heat, to the ANCIENT city of Pompeii. I suggest you use the search box, top center, for many past discussions (wise or unwise) of "Pompeii Trip Rome" (possible search terms.) The proper train to Pompeii is downstairs in Naples, no advance purchase, the Circumvesuviana. Stops right across the street from the Ancient site.

Given your limited time, I would substitute Ostia Antica for Pompeii.

I would not do Florence as a day trip on the day you fly out of Rome. If you are intent on doing a day in Florence, pick some other day, not the flight day.

Maybe it is too much?

Yes, it is. You need to do some trimming

As already noted, be sure to do research, as many sites/attraction are closed on Mondays. You will need to plan around that.

I’m in agreement that you’ll need to scale back a little bit I’m afraid. Leave Pompeii and Florence for another time. The good news? Concentrating on Rome will make this trip much less stressful and more enjoyable. This is your first trip, but you’ll find that as organized and efficient as European travel can be it still takes more time than you think to string it all together. Pompeii and Florence are far flung destinations, and you definitely do not want to be doing them on a day you’re headed to the airport.

Now then, if you’re in Rome for four days the Roma pass could be a great value to you. It includes admission to just about every major sight, skip line privileges and free public transportation. Depending on where you’re at exactly, the Metro, bus or tram can be a handy way to get around. Yes, you can walk to just about everywhere you need to, but a little time/feet saving doesn’t hurt. With four days in Rome, you can see a lot. Plan your “must-sees” for each day (check hours) and then see what’s nearby. Be flexible.

Ostia is certainly a good option if you want to get out of the city. If you were interested in Florence for the art, make sure you see the Vatican Museums and ESPECIALLY Borghese Gallery. I’d actually take Borghese over Uffizi.

Also, congratulations of your first trip. I think the best advice can be to remember that it’s your first, and assume you will be back for more. You can’t do it all and that’s OK!

You are attempting to do too much in your itinerary. While it is tempting to see Pompeii and Florence I don't think you can do it and enjoy the wonderful things to see. Round trip transportation to Pompeii won't be as fast as you think. We were in Pompeii earlier this year and had a small group guide for a 4 hour tour. I could have spent another 3 hours there. It is amazing.

You could do Florence in 1 day but again you will only see a few of the marvelous attractions. Travel time by train is 1-1/2 hours each way. If you take the earliest train and take the latest train back you may be able to see 2 or 3 major attractions. You will be going in high season so crowds will slow you down. Check to see what is open on a Monday. As stated above some the major attractions are not open on Monday. We spent a month in Florence earlier this year. In my opinion it would be a shame to go there and not see everything.

Take your time to plan your amazing trip. Read these blogs and more. There are a lot of useful tips out there.

I admire your enthusiasm and energy! You may wish you to reconsider your options so that you have the best possible trip. Mostly I am concerned about your idea of going to Pompeii in the heat of summer and in a compressed schedule. It is everyone's dream to go...but I'm not sure this is the time of year or the itinerary that is best suited to fulfilling that dream on THIS trip to Italy.

If you go to Pompeii, 2 train rides are required, which means 2 journeys plus time to transfer from one train to the other. From Rome's ancient center, you will spend a significant time in transit: from the time you reach the train station, you will spend 1.25 hours (if going via fast train) or 2.5 hour (if going usual train) to Naples, and then another 30 minutes or so travel to Pompeii, and possibly 1 hour between the two rides due to train schedules, moving from one area in the station to another, etc. This is possibly a 3 - 4 hour journey to get to the Pompeii site. This calculation is for 1 way to Pompeii, and unless you stay overnight, you will have to do this again to return home---some people do this but it would be a very very long, strenuous day at any time but especially in the summer heat (unfortunately there is no shade in Pompeii and a lot of cobblestones reflecting the heat of the sun). If you spend 2-3 hours at Pompeii, you can see this would be a very full day.

I know it is not "POMPEII" but Ostia Antica is an easy 20 minute train ride and 10 minute walk from ancient Rome area, an expansive, flat location with plenty of ruins and not nearly as crowded as Pompeii. You can imagine life here without being jostled by crowds; the ruins are fascinating. If you have seen Rick's Ostia Antica TV show (or look for it on YouTube) you might be able to imagine yourself there. Rick has an audioguide to be used with your phone (or an ipod) that is very enjoyable. Ostia Antica does not have a good map or signage (there is a small cafeteria and restrooms, very welcome in the heat). Or maybe you could splurge on a tour guide with the money that you saved from your train fare to Naples/Pompeii?

So difficult to choose what to see and enjoy, when there are so many terrific choices. Good luck with your planning and decision making.

SuzieeQQ

Thank you all so much!!!
I did think it was too much too quick and am so happy about all the advice. I have an extra couple days in Amsterdam that I'm not really needing at the end of my trip so I think I will substitute those days with time to actually stay in Florence for a couple days. And I am going to go to Ostia instead of Pompeii. Though I would love to see it... Ostia is closer and just as beautiful. I am very set on Florence and the train through Tuscany is something I'd like to see. So I will be in Amsterdam Tues-Thurs; Rome Thurs-Mon; Florence Mon-Tues; travel back to Rome Tues afternoon to fly back to Amsterdam Tues night; fly out of Amsterdam Weds night. I've already bought my flight in and out of Amsterdam so that's my only option at this point!
Thank you all so much. I will look at the museum admission fees and dates that they are open and I will take my time to enjoy all that Rome has to offer! Thank you all again, so much!

travel back to Rome Tues afternoon to fly back to Amsterdam Tues night

Be sure to leave yourself a bit of a 'fudge factor' in case of any hiccup

Instead of going back to Rome on Tuesday afternoon, look into flying out of Florence to Amsterdam. IF there is a good Florence - Amsterdam flight (I don't know the schedules), then you save yourself a lot of hassle and get a couple more hours in Florence.

Mira, I was thinking the same thing. Or even out of Pisa.

If this were my trip I would entirely skip both Pompei and Florence. I would skip Pompei because I would do that as a part of a more Southern trip that would include some time in Naples and nearby islands, possibly continuing farther South to Sicily.
I would skip Florence because (my personal opinion) is that it is an over-hyped destination. It's not a very picturesque city. The real must see art is not all located in the Uffizzi and Accedemia even though we are lead to believe that a visit to these and Duomo captures the essence of medieval art...to see everything that is significant requires more time and effort that you have assigned.

Thanks all!
I've checked the flights and cheapest and easiest is for me to travel round trip Amsterdam to Rome. I've given myself more time in Florence and have allotted several extra hours for hiccups! I'm so excited and grateful for all the helpful suggestions. My main concern is going to be the heat BUT I will deal with it because this trip has been a dream of mine for more than 10 years! So excited and happy to have such good advice from everyone here. Very helpful and kind of you all! I'm staying 2 nights in Florence at a hotel right across from the cathedral/baptistery so I am very very pleased about that. I'll be staying until Wednesday morning, taking the earliest train back to Rome and then hopping on the plane back to Amsterdam where I will wait for my final plane home that evening.
I would ask one more question of you all... airport security. Since I am flying back to Amsterdam from Rome and will be roughly 3 hours early for my flight home, I was wondering if that is enough time to leave the airport and come back? I'm not sure how long security usually takes but I do want to make sure I have at least an hour to get through security and to my gate. Any suggestions or tips?

I'll be staying until Wednesday morning, taking the earliest train back to Rome and then hopping on the plane back to Amsterdam where I will wait for my final plane home that evening.
I would ask one more question of you all... airport security. Since I am flying back to Amsterdam from Rome and will be roughly 3 hours early for my flight home, I was wondering if that is enough time to leave the airport and come back?

Am I reading your message correctly--- You depart Florence Wednesday AM, taking train to FCO, then fly FCO-AMS and then AMS to US all the same day?

Assuming you get to AMS 3 hrs before for flight to the US, that is not enough time to go anywhere but through Schengen exit and security processing. If you have checked luggage you will have to retrieve it and re-check it.

Follow this guide for the best gelato! https://www.romewise.com/best-gelato-in-rome.html

If it's in the metal containers with lids that you can't see usually means it the best, don't be misled by the showy cheap stuff!

Yes, my plan is taking the train from Florence to Rome to fly back to AMS. I will stay at the airport when I get to AMS so thank you so much for the advice! :D I don't want to miss my flight so thank you so much!
As for gelato, I will remember that advice. Good food is something I also look forward to on this trip! Thanks again everyone! So excited. Maybe I'll meet up with some people who are also travelling according to Rick's suggestions. If anyone is going to be in Rome the last weekend of August I'd be happy to meet up for some good food and friendly company!