Italy in 5 days

First comment: Tuscany is a region not a city, so you're not going to be able to "squeeze" it in with Venice.

Venice deserves at least two nights. Florence, the same.

I'm assuming all of your traveling is by train. You need to remember to allow for all of the time it takes getting to the station, checking in, waiting for the train to arrive, then you have the reverse when you get to your next destination. As well as the actual travel time.

I'm a little confused from your descriptions. It appears that you are backtracking. You say you are going to Greece after Italy, but you're going to leave from Milan to Amsterdam. It would be helpful if we knew where you arrive in Italy and where you depart.

I understand your dilemma but I feel that you are trying to squeeze in too much. This is what I would do:2 days in Rome with a third day to go to Pomeii (optional). and then 2 days in Venice. That's it. Plan on coming back to see the rest. I'd rather spend quality time in 2 places than try and rush through 3 or 4. Factor in travel time too. It's at least 3-4 hours by train from Rome to Venice.

Enjoy.

Sorry for being ignorant about Tuscany.

-we're flying into Amsterdam to visit my family in holland. Then we'll hop on a train to Rome and stay in Italy for 5 days.

-we'll then head to Ancona and catch a ferry to Patra and a bus or train to Athens. Well, to Glyfda anyways.

-After 4 days, we head back to holland. After the ferry to Ancona and the train to Rome to Milan, there is a 5 hr gap in between connections to Amsterdam.

There wasn't any reason for doing Italy first and then Greece. Just that Holland is our home base and would hit Italy first so..... Would it be easier to do Greece first? Based on travel times with train schedules (using 2009), it would be the same amount of time either way. Then we head back to NL for a break before the last 1/2 of the trip.

Thx Andrew. My main objectives in Italy are Rome, Pompeii/Naples and a gondola ride in Venice. I know I'll be back, it's mainly my friend who won't be coming back for a long while. It's all just overwhelming, but that's why I am planning a year ahead of time.

I don't think you yet realize how long you will be on the train between the locations you have selected. Pompei is a 5.0hr. round trip from Rome. From Rome to Venice, you will stop at Florence during the 4.5hr. trip to Venice. Although Florence is in Tuscany, most of the major Tuscan cities and towns are at least an hour away in the opposite direction of Venice. I really don't think that you will be able to "squeeze" in Tuscany and Venice in the same day. From Rome to the time you exit Italy, you will be spending about $180 on high-speed Eurostars and other public transportation for these few journeys and you won't see much. I would suggest dropping Naples/Pompei and spending more time in Northern Italy once you leave Rome.

Hi Jessica, I would have to agree with Larry. Skip Pompeii. It's too much to squeeze in. It is a LONG train ride. Spend the time elsewhere. Maybe even an extra day in Rome.

Thanks everyone for your replies and links. This is exactly why I knew I had to start planning way ahead of time :)

Again, thank you!!