My husband and I are traveling to Italy for the first time in late September, early October for 2 weeks. We will be flying into Rome and out of Venice. I am considering the following itinerary but would like to know if three nights in any given city/town may be too many?
Rome - 3 nights
Siena - 3 nights
Florence - 3 nights
Cinque Terre - 3 nights
Venice - 2 nights
I appreciate any input.
Thank you!
Personally I would switch the last 2 stops to 2 in the cinque terre and 3 in Venice. So much more to do and see in Venice. Might give one more day to Rome and take away from Siena unless you have a car and plan on driving thru Tuscany.
I’d add a night each to Rome and Venice by either dropping 2 nights from Siena and one from Cinque Terre or one from each. 3 nights is definitely not enough for Rome as you will really have only 2 full days to explore. A lot of people do Siena as a day trip from Florence so that could be something to consider doing and using those nights in Florence and Rome. Depends on what you want to do and see in each location. Italy is wonderful - have a great trip!
Everybody will have different opinions because everybody's preferences are different. We love Cinque Terre so we would suggest keeping the 3 nights there. But that's us. What are your preferences? Also, the answer depends greatly on what time of day you arrive at the new location. If you are arrive at the new hotel by 10am and easily leave your bags, you have much of that day to enjoy the new loc and you may need one less night there. Suggest you plan out not only by # of nights, but actually think about what time you will check out of your hotel, what time you will board train, and what time you will arrive at new hotel. Sometimes changing towns can eat up most of a day, so be sure to factor that in. Some people would say that you have one too many destinations and will spend a high percentage of your time changing locs. In any case, enjoy your trip!
Rome 5 nights
Florence 4 nights ( day trip to Siena or 3 nights Florence, 1 night Siena)
Venice 3 nights
CT 2 nights
( not in this order of course)
Rome has lots to offer and as it is your arrival city, your 1st night really does not count as a useful touring day
If you have not yet obtained a tour book of Italy, you should do so to investigate what interests you at each of your destinations
How long to stay in each place depends mostly on what your interests are. If you want to hike or kick back, 3 nights in the Cinque Terre is fine. Otherwise, 2N would be enough. If you just want to see the top 3-4 sights in Rome, 3N is enough. You're first day is pretty much a non-day if you're flying in from the US for example - little sleep, jetlagged, basically zonked. That gives you 2 full days when you may still have lingering haziness. You can see the highlights of Florence in one day (day trip from Siena). If you want to explore and enjoy Renaissance painting, sculpture and architecture, 3 full days will barely be enough (4N). 2N in Venice gives you barely a day and a half there - really not enough.
The most efficient route would be to go to the CT from Rome by train, then Siena/Florence and lastly to Venice.
Thank you all for your suggestions, it gives me a lot more to consider. One thing is for sure, it is going to be fabulous. I appreciate your feedback.
