Help With Itinerary

Posted by lmnworth on 06/19/24 09:42 PM

My family and I (M54, F51, M24, F21) plan on going to Italy next May. I have been to Rome and Florence but it was a very long time ago. I remember loving Florence. Our interests are history, food and nature. We like to see a lot but don’t like to be on the go go non stop from morning to night. I have been playing around with itineraries and could use some help. Here is what I currently am thinking-

Day 1- fly into Rome and take train to Florence
Day 2- explore Florence
Day 3- take train to Bologna for the day and back to Florence
Day 4- another day in Florence or somewhere in Tuscany
Day 5- train to Naples and private transfer to Sorrento or Amalfi Coast
Day 6- 8- Sorrento /Amalfi coast
Day 9- day trip to Pompeii on the way back to Rome
Day 10- Rome
Day 11- Rome
Day 12- fly home.

Is this too ambitious? Advice and suggestions welcomed.

Posted by Suki

06/19/24 10:02 PM

11608 posts

We have found that with Italy it has worked better
to visit northern OR southern Italy, not mixing them.

Posted by ChristineH

Gettysburg PA

06/19/24 10:45 PM

7229 posts

How many NIGHTS will you have IN Italy?
It looks like 11?
I’d pick 3 locations with 11 nights

Have you checked out flight options?
RT Rome might be your best or maybe not

Could you fly in to Bologna and home from Rome or Naples?
If you want to see Bologna then stay there -2 nights or leave it for a future trip-there is good food everywhere

Could you fly into Florence and home from Naples?

Try to travel on a linear route north to south or vice versa

Your plan is OK but you’ll be spending a good portion of at least 3 days in transit to somewhere

Each location change eats up at least a half day
To Amalfi from Florence more like 3/4 day
3 night stay means only 2.5 days in location

I’m guessing Amalfi is a priority and if Rome RT is your best option
Arrive Rome take train to Florence
Florence 4 - nights- day trip to Siena, Lucca or Pisa
Sorrento 4 nights -day trip Pompeii while here-the travel to/from Florence/Rome is tedious enough
Rome 3 nights ( bare minimum )

Posted by jadam

06/19/24 10:45 PM

111 posts

Imnworth,
That's a lot moving around for such a short time.

Can you fly into Florence and out of Naples? If so, how about...
Fly into Florence,
Days 1-5 Florence. With your two day trips included (Bologna and possibly somewhere else), that's not too much time. Plenty to keep you busy and plenty of day trips in Tuscany.
Days 6-8 head down to Rome for a few days, then
Days 8-11 Naples with side trips to Pompeii, Sorrento and
Day 12-Home from Naples
Adjust number of days to your liking.
Or perhaps do the reverse? It'd save backtracking to Rome.