Italy

This is what guidebooks are written for. Buy Rick's Italy book and figure out what you want to see in each place for yourself.

How did you decide to go to Venice Florence an Rome and not know what you want to see.

Some people like seeing all the magnificent churches; others prefer to sit at a sidewalk bar, drink and watch the world go by.

You need to research what interests you.

I realize I did a poor job of expressing my questions. I am exhausted so I will try again.
My daughter and I are taking a nine day trip to Italy toward end of May. We have not visited Italy before. We are very excited about this trip! We land in Rome first. We will spend three days in Rome. Looking for suggestions on where to eat while in Rome? The day after we arrive we want to see The Vatican and the next day Pompeii. Looking for advise on what tour to take to see the Vatican and Pompeii?

We then head to Florence for four days from Rome. We are thinking of taking a train from Rome to Florence. Not sure which one to take. Does anyone have advice on what train to take or are there other options? I have read how beautiful Florence is. Any suggestions on wine tours that anyone has taken and really enjoyed it?

I have read so much information on Italy and I find myself very stressed trying to make good decisions for my daughter and myself . I would love suggestions from those who have visited the regions we are going to visit.

Others on the forum are better able to provide "how to" advice on using trains to get from Rome to Florence to Venice than I. (Presumably you are flying into Rome and out of Venice?)

I would suggest with the limited time you have you substitute a visit to Ostia Antica for Pompeii. If you feel exhausted now, the 1st three days of your trip you outline are going to give you that feeling to a much greater degree.

Based on your request for wine tour info, is it correct to conclude your daughter is an adult ?

Take a deep breath and relax.

Check out the itinerary for this tour for ideas on what to focus on in each city. If you do not already have a tour book for Italy, get one soon. EDIT-- here is the link that I failed to stick in originally----- https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/italy/venice-florence-rome

Yep, take a deep breath...and ask your daughter to help with some of the decisions. :O)

Going to Rome, Florence and Venice for three days to each place.
We then head to Florence for four days from Rome.

Marta, these two statements don't jive? Are you in Florence for 3 days or 4? Venice for 2 days or 3? Based on the first itinerary, it looks like you're in all three cities for 3 nights apiece with travel days both to and from Italy separate from your 9 nights?

Assuming it's 3 nights each and keeping mind that you lose a 1/2 day to travel every time you make a move, you realistically have 2.5 sightseeing days in each city, and your .5 arrival day in Rome may be a jet-lagged fog. Honestly? I wouldn't do Pompeii with only two full days in the city. There is a LOT to see in Rome, and Pompeii is a long way and a long day to try and do from there. The bus tours take around 3.5 hours each way so you'd spend 7 hours sitting that you could otherwise spend taking in some of the many attractions in the Eternal City. For instance, I see that you don't have the Colosseum/Forum/Palatine on your list?

You also haven't mentioned what you two are interested in? Yes, Florence is very lovely, and if you have an interest in architecture and Renaissance art it's a goldmine of both. We spent nearly 5 days there without covering everything it has to offer - no time or desire for wine tours - but if you don't have an interest in art, then your itinerary will be different. That's fine.

But what I'm trying to get at is that you don't have as much time in each city as you might think you do, and organizing tours outside of them can be robbing Peter to pay Paul, as one RS poster recently (and wisely) put it. Trying to cram too much into too little could be what has your brain needing a nap?

I totally agree that a trip to Pompeii is not the best idea with the short time you have in Rome. We went to Italy last May for 10 days and had 3 full days in Rome and I wish we had more. We enjoyed Pompeii but we were staying in Ercolano so it was very close. I vote that you stay in Rome and enjoy the many, many sights there at a more leisurely pace. Day 1 will be rough bc of jetlag, so don't plan much on that day. Maybe just a walk around some of the outdoor sights (Trevi fountain (my personal favorite), Pantheon, spanish steps, Piazza Navona). Also, beware- the Vatican is exhausting. We spent one morning there and it was really cool, but wow, HOT and crowded and just really tiring. Our fave museum (family of 4 kids 11 and 13) in Rome was the Borghese, but the Colosseum was a hit too.
Florence is lovely, and a bit less hectic than Rome. We all loved the Uffizi and the Accdemia (get tickets in advance). We really enjoyed walking around sampling pizza and gelato and people watching.
It was a magical time, and I think your trip will also be amazing-just don't try to do too much. 3 nights in a place is not as much as you think after accounting for traveling/check in unpacking. Have fun!

Here is the link that was not originally in my previous post

https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/italy/venice-florence-rome

I really appreciate all the input I have received! It has helped me narrow down my tour to Vatican while in Rome. I am also rethinking the Pompeii trip. I will definitely research castles to your in Florence. I would love more time in Italy but I have a budget. Thank you all again!!

Something that always helps if you nominate nights rather than days.
Like
Rome for three nights
Florence for three nights
Venice for three nights.
Or however many nights you plan on spending in each place.

Remember that while transit times between cities can be short, a couple of hours for each leg by train, it still takes the better part of half a day to check out, get to the station, take train, travel to the next hotel and check in.
If you have only nine or ten days, I would consider visiting two cities only rather than three.