Italy how many days.

When is the trip? Have you been to Italy before?

2 nights in Milan would not be my choice on a first trip of under 2 weeks and I would not travel to Monterosso to stay less than 3 as it is a big time commitment to get there. If you drop Milan, perhaps ad a night to Monterosso and another to Rome. Or make it easy on yourselves and focus only on Venice, Florence and Rome, adding in a few daytrips like to Ostia Antica, Padova, Tivoli and VIlla d’Este, Lucca or Siena.

I say stick with Venice, Florence, and Rome with maybe one or two day trips total. Milan is nice, but with your limited time give yourself the chance to get to know those 3 main cities. Enjoy!

I would skip Milan
Give Florence 3 nights plus 1 night for every day trip
Rome needs more than 3
Venice needs 3, 4 would be better since your arrival day is jetlagged

A 3 night stay is only 2 full days in location
Every location change eats up at least half a day

What time of year is this trip?

CT is crowded in the day time due to daytrippers and cruise passengers
If you must go there you’d be better off staying the night
I would skip but YMMV
All the locations you listed will be extremely crowded
i’d try to add in a smaller town for variety-Siena or Orvieto works
or any Tuscan hilltown ( would likely need a car)

Are you aware of the Jubillee this year?

First trip 13 nights I would do this
Venice 3
Florence 4 with day trip to Siena or Lucca
Orvieto 2
Rome 4

Two nights in Monterosso is just one full day. I would skip the Cinque Terre and add a night to Florence and Rome.

The Cinque Terre was a huge let-down for me. It was 20 years ago (!), but what I remember most is how crowded the trails were.. It was like the Mist Trail in the Yosemite Valley on steroids.

Had you considered: Milan-Lake Como-Venice-Florence-Rome

Are we including too many stops?

Maybe/maybe not. What time of year is the trip and what do you have on your 'must see/do' list for each location?

If you have a 2yr old or 90 yr old in your party, one less change of venue would probably be a good idea.

Book MultiCity Tickets --
I'd fly into Venice, minimum of 3 nights (3 nights is only 2 full days- that is nothing!!), but would like 4 - maybe a day trip to Burano. Get a private guide for the Jewish area and St. Marks and a walking tour of Venice.
Train Florence for 3-4 nights. David - get a private guide, Santa Croce (email [email protected] for a FREE 2 hr tour - it is a spectacular basilica) - don't miss the Leather School in the back for great items, a day trip with WalkAboutFlorence BEST OF TUSCANY tour
Train to Rome for 4 nights. San Clemente (a church built on 3 centuries - 1st, 4th, 11th - amazing), Colosseum, Forum, Pantheon, Vatican - again a private guide
Milan - I'd skip it for my 1st trip as I think Venice, Florence, and Rome are the highlights everyone should see.

CT is super crowded - I'd skip it.

Florence (3), Rome (6), Naples (3) in that order. Add the missing day where it suits you best.

We will be there from 29th August for 13 nights. 2 travellers aged 26 and 59, mother daughter. First trip to Italy, yes I'm aware of the Jubilee year.
I think we have been over ambitious with wanting to cover as much as possible. We do want to do a Tuscany day trip, was planning a trip to Lake Como from Milan.
I think the suggestion of less is best is a good idea. I want a mix of big city and country town. Happy for suggestions. Thank you.

Skip Milan, do Venice, Florence and Rome with at least 5 days in Rome.

You need at least 4 nights/3 days in Florence and Rome -- This trip as outlined will be all about logistics and moving around and woe to you if anyone gets a bellyache for a day or two.

It all depends on how you prefer to travel. You could spend 13 nights in any one of those places and have plenty to do, or you could stay in 13 different places that each warrant at least one night. I think your plan strikes a happy medium and gives you a good taste of five great places. Good luck with the trip!

"You need at least 4 nights/3 days in Florence and Rome -- This trip as outlined will be all about logistics and moving around and woe to you if anyone gets a bellyache for a day or two"

I generally agree with this, however, I like my trips faster paced and ambitious with many stops and fewer nights in each place, so I think your trip is doable, but ultimately agree with some others you should cut Milan. I love MIlan, of that's what your next trip is for. Add a night to Cinque Terre and add a night in Tuscany on your way down. I would rent a car and drive to one of the hill towns for that leg of the trip. I have done three nights in both Florence and Rome. While it leaves A LOT for subsequent trips, you can still hit a lot of the high notes and see the historic parts of the city and honestly for me I could go to Rome and just walk through the Forum and leave....I love imagining the streets of ancient Rome it just gives me goose bumps.

The reason I said I generally agree if because I got a stomach virus (along with my youngest) on a trip to Italy a couple of years ago and we spent the better part of two days barfing with a fever. Fortunately we were in Sienna where we based our Tuscan leg out of but we lost Montalcino from the schedule and the day we struck out to Val D'Orcia was pretty rough because we were still sick. It will be amazing however you structure it because all the places you have chosen are amazing!

You need at least 4 nights/3 days ...

Ah, this overused phrase that, to me, means nothing; anyone can certainly visit anywhere for any period of time. But I certainly agree with the underlying sentiment that Florence and Rome are, for most people, the most important Italian cities. However, different people are looking for different things.

If you're a devout Roman Catholic, you'll want to spend lots of time in Vatican City. Those who are especially fascinated by ancient history could spend weeks on the Palatine hill, Ostia Antica, and in and around the Colosseum. Those whose interests are strongest in art will want to maximize their time in Florence. Foodies might well eschew all this and focus attention on Bologna, arguably the culinary capital of Europe (the Lyonnais will argue vociferously).

Ask yourself what about Italy draws you and fascinates you the most. Your priorities as to where to spend your time should become more clear. Enjoy your trip!

big noisy complicated places like Florence and Rome are likely to disappoint with very short first stays. It becomes all logistics and confusion about getting around with very little payoff. A village can work for a day; a big busy city tends not to.