Italy itinerary 9/15

Dona,
Yes, plan on going back! In 2012 my wife and I (late 50's and active) spent 10 days in Italy. 4-Rome, 2-Florence, 2- La Spezia (Cinque Terra) and 2-Venice (5 blocks from the Grand Canal)

Never went to Lake Como so I can't comment on that.

You said you like outdoor stuff like boating. Do you kayak? If you do then might I suggest kayaking the canals of Venice with Venice Kayak. We did a 4 hour night kayak 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm and it was one of the highlights of our trip which we still talk about. Staying in Venice proper is fantastic, especially early morning and late afternoon on as the islands are yours without the "tourists". 2 nights was enough.

We took the earliest fast train out of Rome to Naples-local train to Pompeii. We were in Pompeii by 11 am and spent 4+ hours there which was enough to see half of the ruins. If it wasn't for the blistering heat (June) we probably could have stayed longer.

Our 4 nights in Rome were spent like this: arrived 11 am, check in to hotel, spent all day walking around Colosseum, Forum, etc. Day 2-Pompeii, Day 3-Vatican Tour Pantheon etc, Day-4 planned museums and Colosseum tours using Rome Pass but local strike shut down all museums, colosseum, buses and metro. We plan to return but 4 nights for our first time to Rome was enough.

Know nothing about the Amalfi Coast but we liked the Cinque Terra for its hiking trails between the cities and small crowds.

We never rented a car and took the trains and local transportation.

Your itinerary looks ok, enough time for first time in Italy. 4 days at the agriturismo, will that include a day trip to Pisa, if that's of interest? We did a 3 hour stopover from the train and that was enough. Didn't need to spend the night there.

But take a serious look at the Cinque Terra!

Good luck with your planning!

Hi Dona-we stayed in Sorrento the week after Christmas (and enjoyed New Year's there) and used it as a base to visit the ruins at Pompeii and Herculaneum, plus day trips to the Island of Capri and to Naples for its fabulous archaeological museum (full of artifacts from Pompeii) and for pizza where it was invented. We needed several days for those sights, so you may find a one-day guided tour to the Amalfi Coast might let you hit some highlights in that region, but won't give you lots of time to explore villages along the coast plus the stunning scenery along the coastal drive plus Pompeii, etc., etc.

Haven't been to Lake Como (yet), but if you're passng thru Milan, you'd have the opportunity to see the restored Leonardo Da Vinci's Last Supper (get reservations ahead of time - details in Rick Steves' Italy book), have some risotto and/or polenta, and more. Happy planning and happy travels!

Where in Germany were you thinking. we spent 15 days there 2 years ago as part of a 5 week trip.

5 days Berlin
4 around Heidelberg, Weinheim area - great hiking
5 Rothenburg\Fussen
1 Munich
We rented a car when we left Berlin and dropped it off in Munich, stayed one night there and one full day and took a very late over night train (11:00) to Croatia
loved Berlin, was surprised by how much. You don't need 5 days there, I would add a few days to Bavaria and drive down the Romantic Road, which starts in Wurzburg. Most times the smaller towns are the most fun and more affordable. Each little town we stayed in we were within walking distance to our B&B and therefore didn't have to worry about having a few glasses of the local wines.
I agree with you, planning and reading about the different possibilities is half the fun.

Thank you both for the excellent suggestions, who would have thought that you could kayak on a canal in Venice!
I HAVE to do that! Eating pizza in Naples is definitely on my must do list too. I do really hate to give up Sorrento, I've been looking forward to a freshly picked lemon ever since I saw the RS video. : ) I will look at CT again. People who have been there seem to be passionate about it. When I first started planning I thought 5 weeks seemed like a long time……

Many thanks- Dona

Since you are coming from Munich and going to Venice, you could be visiting Lake Garda instead (which is along the way) rather than detouring to lake Como.

I actually like your itinerary as is. Is there a way for you to borrow 2 nights from Germany/Austria to spend them at the lake?

Fabris,
The Germany portion of our trip is a little more fast paced. We will actually start in Amsterdam for a couple days and then train to
Germany where we will pick up a car. We will visit Cologne, Bacharach, Rothenburg, Schwangau (near Fussen), Salzburg, Hallstatt,
and end in Munich. 2 nights in most places, closer to 3 weeks total. I lived in Germany when I was a teenager and we are visiting some of my favorite places and the town that my husband's family is from. Because of the N to S route we are taking I did not feel that we could include Berlin although I would love to see the changes since I was there. It was kinda scary and sad to this 15 yr old.
Thanks for your suggestions, the plan isn't in stone yet and I will definitely consider all ideas. I'm so glad I'm not the only one who
finds so much enjoyment in travel planning.
-Dona

You risk falling victim to the classic "Oh, while you're in Italy you absolutely MUST go to (fill-in-the-blank)! We went there X years ago and it was the most amazing experience I've ever had in my life!! YOU HAVE TO GO THERE!!!!"

Feel free to ignore them. The truth is that there are literally scores upon scores (if not hundreds) of amazing places you could go in Italy alone. I could come up with 20 different itineraries in a few hours, any and all of which would be unforgettable.

You need to plan this trip for your own interests, not so that someone can vicariously relive their own amazing experience through you. (You can't blame them - Italy really is incredible.)

Come up with an itinerary that minimizes travel between destinations and that allows you enough time in each place to actually experience some of it, not just check off a box that you've "seen" it.

In my own experience, almost without exception, every time that we've spent only 2 nights in a place, we end up wishing we had spent three. (This is why I think Rick's suggested itineraries are wackadoo - too many places crammed into too few days.)

IMHO, in general, day trips should be kept in your pocket as Plan B, and done only if/when you find yourself tired of where you're staying.

Italy will still be there for your next trip. If you're at all like me, you'll start planning that next trip on your return flight home. (^_^)

Michael said it well.
But I just can't help adding my 2 cents. We had a great time in Venice in March. 4 nights and not enough in my opinion. My family had asked for a museum free visit to Venice so we did not even go into the Doges Palace, the Accademia, the Guggenheim and we still managed to fill our time. So, back to my 2 cents. We had lessons with RowVenice. Fabulous and absolutely the best thing we did. I will never recommend a gondola ride after learning how sexist and closed that old boys club is. RowVenice has a great web site. Check it out. And when it comes to Italy, less is more. My husband and daughter were on their 7th trip to Italy before ever getting to Venice. We have been many times and pick one area to concentrate in and save the rest for next time.
And Michael is right, I start planning my next trip on the flight home.

Michael said it well.
But I just can't help adding my 2 cents. We had a great time in Venice in March. 4 nights and not enough in my opinion. My family had asked for a museum free visit to Venice so we did not even go into the Doges Palace, the Accademia, the Guggenheim and we still managed to fill our time. So, back to my 2 cents. We had lessons with RowVenice. Fabulous and absolutely the best thing we did. I will never recommend a gondola ride after learning how sexist and closed that old boys club is. RowVenice has a great web site. Check it out. And when it comes to Italy, less is more. My husband and daughter were on their 7th trip to Italy before ever getting to Venice. We have been many times and pick one area to concentrate in and save the rest for next time.
And Michael is right, I start planning my next trip on the flight home.

Michael,
I totally agree that I have to base my choices on my interests ( and,to some degree, my husbands : ) ) but those of us who have
never been to Italy don't even know what our choices are. I never would have known that I could kayak in a canal in Venice or even that there is a Lake Garda that might be a better alternative to Lake Como. Everyone who is kind enough to share their experiences
help me with my planning, even if it is to steer me away from something that I'm not interested in. I also agree that to go with the idea of checking off the box would be a waste of my valuable vacation, so that's not happening. Please don't hesitate to give your advice and share your experiences with the rookies, we love to hear your stories and value your wisdom.
-Dona

WAY too few nights in all of your destinations. I did that trip once in Spain, and vowed Never AGAIN! I'd take a few cities off the Germany itinerary (and I've never even been there) and enjoy just being where you ARE in your most favorite cities!

Re Italy, since you're coming from the North (Germany) enjoy Lake Como or Garda and Venice and save the South (Amalfi) for another trip -- it's a long damned way from Germany! (And Venice)

You've got a full list already, I wouldn't add anything. I would kayak on one of the lakes rather than in Venice.

I love the Amalfi Coast and visit often. I would hate to give that up, even though you are staying in Sorrento, not on the Coast itself - it is a good base.

Oh. the lemons are sweeter in Sicily (next trip!).

I've been to Sorrento, Cinque Terre, haven't been to Lake Como.

I would not try to see the Amalfi coast on a day trip from Rome - too long and tiring and you'd see very little. You can get to Ostia Antica for a half-day instead of Pompeii. Not the same, but from the same time period.

Lake Como will require less travel time than Sorrento. But Sorrento and surroundings have more options, if you happen to get bad weather. I was there in February, with rain, and fell in love with the town. The Cinque Terre are nice too - but there's more to see/do on the Amalfi coast and it's picturesque too.

The simple truth is that wherever you go in Italy, you are in for a wonderful time. My rules - gelato every day, house wine at dinner every evening. Don't think about what you won't see or do, enjoy where you are.

And stop watching videos of places in Italy you aren't going to or you may have to eliminate Germany/Austria . . . though as an Italophile, that's not the worst idea I can think of either.

Dona
All the replies offer great advice. We have been to Amalfi-Lake Como & Cinque Terre. IMO you can leave your Itinerary as it stands. You will come back to Italy believe me. At that time you can to Cinque Terre & Lake Como which are in the northern part of Italy. I also have planned a year in advance of our 5- one month trips to Europe. It gives you the best times to pick hotels and are assured of a reservation. You can always cancel if you find a better deal on a hotel. Also you did not say how you are travelling- car or rail. If rail use the Bahn site for travel planning. If you need more information on this send me a private message.

Our first trip we drove from the Milan to Venice, Ravenna then across to Tuscany & then to the Amalfi & back to Rome, it was fun.. The other trips have been a combination of rail & flights and do find it a bit more relaxing.

Whatever you decide have fun planning & I know this website will be rich in advice. So many helpful people out there.