We will be in Italy for 2-weeks mid February and are flying in/out of Rome. We plan to stay in Rome for 3-nights, Florence for 2-nights, Cinque Terra for 2 or 3 nights, Venice for 2-nights and back to Rome for 1-night. I have a free night where we can stay longer in one location or add in another, any recommendations?
Also, thoughts on Tuscany and train travel?
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16243 posts
An open jaw airplane ticket with arrival in VCE and return from Rome FCO would have been better in your case.
But if your flights are already set, I would go straight to the farthest point, that is Venice, on the day of arrival, since you are likely arriving in the morning. The train trip from the airport is less than 5 hours (with change at Roma Termini).
Then I would work my way down leaving Rome as last.
If it were another period, like spring or summer, I would tell you to travel as follows (assuming 13 nights on the ground):
Arrive Rome FCO and go straight to Venice
VENICE 3 nights (with visit to Murano and Burano islands)
FLORENCE 3 nights
Cinque Terre 3 nights
ROME 4 nights
But in February I would totally skip the Cinque Terre and allocate those nights to Florence and during that stay take day trips to Tuscany (Siena, Lucca + Pisa). Actually if you absolutely must go to the Cinque Terre you could take a day trip from Florence if the weather is decent. You won't be able to do anything there in February and to take a couple of pictures and walk a couple of villages it takes just a couple of hours. You could also allocate an extra day to Rome or Venice and visit some surrounding towns (like Padua from Venice or Orvieto from Rome).
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32405 posts
kj,
I agree with Roberto that you may want to either skip the Cinque Terre or just go on a day trip from Florence. In mid-February that area will still be closed for the season, and while there may be a few businesses open it will most likely be very quiet with not much to see or do. If the weather is bad, it won't be a "nice" visit.
Posted by
693 posts
Assuming your tickets are booked .......
If you follow Roberto's advice to go straight to Venice from FCO, you MAY be able to get a direct service from FCO and NOT have to change trains in Rome.
Each day there are two high-speed Frecciargento train services between FCO and Venice – a journey that takes just over four hours. They stop at Florence (2h 14mins), Bologna (2h 59mins) and Padua (3h 57mins), as well as at Rome stations Termini and Tiburtina.
The trains leave FCO at 11.08 and 15.08, and depart from Venice at 05.40 and 09.25.
Posted by
Scottsdale, AZ, USA
1127 posts
Another vote to follow Roberto's advice. Skip the CT in February - it's not the time to be visiting there.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you! This is a last minute trip, I appreciate the feedback!
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15799 posts
Instead of Roberto's 3 nights in the CT, you could stay in Bologna, and day-trip to Ravenna (stupendous early Christian mosaics, charming town), Padua (another charming town), Ferara (another charming town), and other charming towns between Venice and Florence. Or you could visit Assisi (1 night) and Orvieto (1-2 nights) between Florence and Rome. All by train.
If you are arriving before February 17, take into account that Carnevale is on in Venice until then. That would definitely impact your stay.
Posted by
Martinez, CA, USA
1558 posts
Another vote to keep your Rome nights together at the end of your trip. You will have more time in Rome that way. Also agree that you need 3 nights in Venice since that will give you only 2.5 days there. You would probably use the bus for your day trips from Florence and the train to get between. If you skip CT you might want to add one more night in Venice (4) as you could add a day trip to Padua or another town in addition to Burano and Murano islands.