First trip to Italy - need help! Flying from Paris to...???

It's fast, but you can see the highlights. I definitely would start in Venice and would prefer to stay two nights. If you think you're not too interested in Florence, you could use Siena for two nights or you could stop in Orvieto (a smaller hill town right on the main train line) for just one night.

Ok, so first trip to Europe - instead of Italy, why not stay in Paris? You mentioned you love history, architecture and good food - Paris has all of that and you can easily fill up 4 days even if you don't step foot into a single museum - thus maximizing the short amount of time you have instead of spending a large chunk of it in transit. However, if you are dead set on Italy then I'd skip Venice and go straight to Florence. Using Florence as your base, you could see Florence and fit in a day trip to Siena, Lucca or do a wine tour in Chianti - all are quite doable day trips. This way you will skip losing time changing locations (i.e. packing up, checking out of hotel, traveling to train station, train trip itself, etc., etc.) Since it's your first time in Europe, it will take you some time to "acclimate" and so minimizing the logistics is a great strategy. Unlike here in the U.S., things move slower in Italy and it will take you longer to get your bearings and get around than you think.

I have to agree with Nancy... if this is your first trip do you have no interest in France? Paris? Provence? All would be much easier than going on to Italy... however, if that is your dream then I would suggest doing Venice, a smaller town in Tuscany and Rome. I would forget Florence if you are not that into museums and give yourself a little variety. Rent a car for a few days and see some Tuscan countryside as well as visit a few vineyards. It will be a whirlwind trip, but I have done plenty of them and never regretted it. Just gave me the desire to return again:)) Venice is fun just wandering around.... Tuscany is fun just driving around and picking towns at random... Rome... you will need to do a little reading and decide what will work for you...either on your own or maybe a tour or the Hoho bus.

We will be coming to Italy from Paris where we will have spent 2-3 days.
Our plan is to take a train from Amsterdam to Paris when he's done with his work and then on to Italy.

Thank you so much for your replies!

leigh,

There are many ways you could arrange your Itinerary, and this is one suggestion....

• July 20 - Flight from Paris / ORY to Pisa / PSA via EasyJet. If you take the morning flight, it will mean getting up VERY early to get to the airport, but will give you the better part of a full day in Italy. From PSA take the Shuttle to Pisa Centrale and then train to Florence. Check into your hotel, have a bit of a walkabout and then a fine hot meal.
• July 21 - Explore any sights in Florence that you're interested in or perhaps a wine & cheese tour (I don't know of any but the Guidebook may have some listings).
• July 22 - Take a day trip to either Siena or Lucca. Siena is easier by Bus (about an hour each way) and for Lucca I'd probably use the train.
• July 23 - Take the train to Rome after breakfast. Sightseeing in Rome (plan touring carefully as you don't have much time).
• July 24 - Continue sightseeing in Rome.
• July 25 - Check out of hotel (11:00?) and store luggage at hotel. Spend an hour or so sightseeing and then head for FCO airport at about 12:45 using the Leonardo Express (€14 PP, 35 minutes). Use EasyJet flight departing 15:10 for the flight back to Paris / ORY.

With such a very short time frame, I'd suggest limiting your destinations in Italy to two cities plus a few day trips. You could substitute Venice instead of Florence, but I used Florence as it offers some good day trip possibilities (and of course wine tasting in Tuscany). With so little time, I don't believe you have time to rent a car and meander around Tuscany (and that comes with some other issues, such as the need for each driver to have the compulsory I.D.P.).

There are also some potentially expensive "caveats" when using trains or other public transit in Italy. If you need further information, post another note. Given the short time until your departure, you'll have to do some fast research on the transportation links you're going to be using.

For sightseeing in each of the cities you'll be visiting, I'd suggest packing along some Guidebooks such as the Pocket Paris, Pocket Florence and Pocket Rome (or the Pocket Paris with the Italy 2014 Guidebook). That will help you to plan your touring efficiently so that you don't waste any time. The books have a wealth of information, such as which days certain sights are closed, how to minimize queues, restaurant and hotel info, etc.

Once you've finalized your Itinerary, I'd suggest getting hotels booked SOON!

Buon Viaggio!

You can fly into Venice from Amsterdam cheap on the following air carrier: http://www.transavia.com/hv/en-EU/home
KLM will be very expensive flights.

If your time is short in Tuscany, just stay in Florence. If time permits, you can rent a car for a day and drive down to San Gimignano and Volterra. Siena is best visited via bus on a day trip--the city's very congested and parking is difficult.

If you Google "free walking tours" in any major European city, you'll find a group of fine tour guides that work for tips. It's a great way to learn the basics of the city and figure out where you'll want to visit again--and you will be back to these great cities. My best advice for Rome is to figure out how to get around on the bus system--or you'll walk yourself to death. And read RonInRome.com for everything about Rome.

From Rome to Amsterdam, you can fly cheap on EasyJet.com. Just keep your baggage down to one carry on bag--and pay close attention to their rules and regulations.

Hi Leigh, what luck to get this opportunity to tag along with your husband! I've done some of that traveling as well and always consider myself so lucky:) Since you are less interested in art and museums, I'd second the suggestion to stay in one of the smaller towns in Tuscany rather than Florence. I would imagine hotels are generally more expensive there than in some of the other towns, and if you're in Florence but day tripping to other places, you'll also be spending more money on train tickets and more time on transportation. So consider Siena or somewhere else that has easy train/bus connections, and enjoy Tuscany! When we were in Tuscany, we enjoyed San Gimignano (but only after 5 PM or before 11 am), Lucca, Montalncino, and Volterra (but Volterra is hard to reach by public transport). Have a great trip!