Excited that my husband surprised me with a trip to Italy. This will be a first for both of us and to Europe. It's been a dream to not only go to Tuscany but down to the Amalfi coast. We normally do not like to do the top touristy thing. I want to live like an Italian for the the time we are there. Love cooking food wine, hiking biking. Oct 26-nov4. Flying into Florence departing from Rome. Want to spend bulk of the trip in Tuscany. Want to go to a vineyard, possibly take a cooking class? Perhaps a day in Florence when we arrive then drive out and spend, a few days in Tuscany, rent a car and drive down stopping along the way to the coast. A couple days on the coast and then ditching the car and taking a train back to Rome - staying for a night or 2. Any thoughts on cities we should see? Possible itinerary? Plane tickets are booked. I know people will suggest more time in Rome- and know we can't see everything. But how do I get the most out of the main 3 destinations in the time we have? Florence, neighboring cities in Tuscany and Amalfi. This may be our 1 and only trip here. Appreciate thoughts and suggestions.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15238 posts
Does 26 Oct-4 Nov include travel time?
To plan you should know the exact number of nights on the ground. Remember that 2 nights in a place is only 1 full day in that place. 3 nights are only 2 full days.
If for example you depart on Oct 26 you will arrive on Oct.27. Then if you depart on Nov. 4, then you know that your last night (Nov 3) you should spend in Rome because the flights to North America depart in the morn. Your total nights on the ground are 8, which is a very short time for the locations you intend to visit, but you could divide as follows:
Florence: 2 nights
(Rent car on way out of Florence)
Tuscany: 2 nights
Amalfi: 2 nights
(Return car upon arrival at Rome-preferably at or near Tiburtina train station, which is easily accessible, or even Ciampino airport)
Rome: 2 nights (last 2 nighs).
This is a really fast paced trip. I would even be tempted to choose one central Tuscany location near Florence and visit Florence and the rest of Tuscany from there. So basically you would stay 4 nights in the same place outside of Florence instead of changing hotels first in Florence then in the Tuscan countryside.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
Do you have 9 or 10 nights on the ground in Italy ?
Florence (2nts)
Tuscan countryside (2 or 3nts)
Amalfi Coast (2 or 3nts)
Rome (2nts)
You really don't have time to do anything more.
Rent a car (and return it) in Florence.
Train Florence to Naples and pick up another car (perhaps in Sorrento).
Train Naples to Rome.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
My advice is to take a cooking class if you want to, but save your cooking for your return - with such a short time in Italy, you should see Italy.