Italy itinerary feedback

I would skip the day trip to Naples/Pompei as it is much too far. Enjoy your time in Rome. You can do several days trips from Florence such as Siena, San Gimignano or others mentioned in RS book. Not much in Verona. I would recommend the Lake Como area as an alternative for a couple of days after Venice. have fun!!

Ben, keep in mind the train time is only a portion of your travel time. In the am you wake up and have breakfast, check out, get to the train station with at least a margin to find the track and board, then at the destination make your way to the new hotel and check in. Point being that it generally takes until about noon or 1pm to be out and about in a new city, even if its only a 2 hour train ride. I think you're tightly squeezed on days 5-7. The "3 days" really is going to be a 1/2 day, full day, and 1/2 day when you take transit into account. That isn't enough time for a day trip into Tuscany, nor much time in Florence itself to see the museums, visit the Duomo, climb a tower, etc. I suggest you drop the Pompeii trip unless you drop 2-3 days elsewhere and stay down along the Amalfi coast. And if it was me I'd drop Milan from the schedule, fly home from Venice, and add a day to Florence in which you take the train to one or two hilltowns .

Eliminate Verona and spend the extra day in Rome. There is much to see. Why rush it.

Actually, I think your itinerary looks good. Personally, you have enough days in Rome. You have the balance of day 1, and then days 2,3, & 4. On day 1 you could do something low key like a walk around Rome in the evening. Right now, you have the nights of 7, 8, & 9 in Venice. If you want to go into Tuscany, you will need a full day. On night 7, you could stay in Florence instead of going to Venice. Venice is a 2 hr. train ride from Florence so that will give you the afternoon & evening of day 8 and all of day 9 in Venice. Then leave for Milan on the 10th day, as planned. Another option to a trip into Tuscany, would be to stop (and maybe stay overnight) in Orvieto on your way to Florence. It is an easy 1 hour train trip outside of Rome. It's a very quaint hilltown with a beautifu Duomo. In ref to stopping somewhere on the way to Milan. It all depends on your interests in the city you stop at. For me, Verona was o.k. We stoppped there on our way to the Dolomites. However, I really enjoyed Milan. We stayed by the airport and took the train into the city. The Duomo is amazing and so is the shopping. Another option would be to stop in Padua to see the Scrovegni Chapel. It's not far from Venice and is supposed to be beautiful. Just some thoughts. Have a great trip!

Since you only have 11 days, you'd really get the most out of your trip by sticking to Rome (days 2-5), Florence (days 6-8), and Venice (days 9-11). Skip Milan, as other suggested. Look into flying home from Venice.

Ben-- I agree with Sarah. Skip Milan and keep it to the big Three (R-F-V)for essentially a first time trip for you and your wife.
That leaves a trip up north to Milan and the lakes for another time.

I agree with the suggestions to drop Milan and leave out of Venice instead, if you can. Also, drop Pompeii/Naples and substitute Ostia Antica instead. It's an easy one hour daytrip from Rome, and it's like Pompeii without the crowds. And frankly it's more romantic, partly for that reason.

Thanks so much for all the suggestions. I think flying out of Venice is a better idea and I am really intrigued by Ostia Antica. That will definitely cut down on train time and allow for a bit more exploring and soaking in a bit of the culture in the other places. Thanks again.