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Italy Itinerary - Too ambitious?

Our first trip in 2015 was a Mediterranean cruise that gave us a nice taste of several stops including Florence and Naples (we left from Rome but only spent an overnight - saw coliseum). On this trip, we are spending two weeks. We are planning on traveling by train with exception to a rental car in Tuscany. I am concerned we will spend to much time traveling so I am very curious to hear your thoughts. I really want to see Tuscany and the Amalfi coast. I added on Cinque Terre because of Rick's suggestions. We leave at the end of September.
I have booked these stays but I have time to alter.
Each spot of course would include travel time so not really full days. Some travel is just a couple of hours but the transition from Cinque Terre to Tuscany as well as Tuscany to Amalfi will take about 5-6 hrs by train.

Florence - arrive early evening (not quite two full days)
Cinque Terre - 2 days
Tuscany - 3 days
Amalfi Coast - 3 days
Rome - 3 days
Wondering if I should cut something out. I might be able to change my flight and add another day.
Appreciate the help.

Posted by
2151 posts

Overall, it looks rushed. I like your destinations but Amalfi and Tuscany are places to relax in, and you won’t be able to do much of that by crowding the calendar. I would add days to your trip and consider dropping Cinque Terre since you will be going to the Amalfi coast.
Have a great Trip!

Posted by
7276 posts

I'd drop CT and add those nights to Rome and AC.
Not sure Rick would heartily recommend CT anymore due to the massive crowding there.

How many nights will you actually have?
Anytime you can add a night or 2 - do it.

If you have 14 nights
Florence 3 nights- first day is jet lag and later arrival so it hardly counts
Tuscany 3 nights- only rent the car for this portion- have you determined where in Tuscany you will stay? is parking accessible? where will you drop the car?
Amalfi coast- 4 nights- have you decided on which town? Since it takes some time and effort to get here give it the time it deserves
Rome 4 nights

Posted by
7920 posts

Hi, since you already have one water location, I would cut Cinque Terre out of your itinerary and give a day to Amalfi & Florence. Or depending on what you’re planning to see in the Tuscany region, give the second day to that area.

Posted by
16657 posts

It looks rushed to me too, Emily, and count your time in nights versus days for a more accurate estimation. For instance? I'm not sure how you're getting "not quite two full days" out of Florence? If you arrive early evening and are only spending two nights there, you only have 1 full day and a few jet-lagged hours before bed at most. You need 3 nights to squeak out 2 full days.

Will vote with the others for dropping the CT and adding that time elsewhere. The itinerary Christine has offered up looks like the best plan for 14 nights.

Posted by
12000 posts

Will vote with the others for dropping the CT and adding that time elsewhere. The itinerary Christine has offered up looks like the best plan for 14 nights.

My only minor quibble would be to suggest 5 nights Rome and one less in AC

The one thing no clear from your post is how many nights do you have IN Italy? ("On this trip, we are spending two weeks")

Posted by
7276 posts

I’d normally say 5 nights in Rome as well but OP has been there and seen Colosseum

3 nights in AC is just 2 full days
Not sure what OPs interests are there but to me that’s not enough time
Pompeii for example takes most of 1 day

Posted by
7 posts

Thank you so much for the assistance. I think you all confirmed what I already knew but needed to hear it. I appreciate you taking the time to respond. We are going to extend our time in Tuscany and Amalfi coast instead. Cheers.

Posted by
7276 posts

Doubtful that you’ll regret it

Happy planning
Come back if you need help with anything

Posted by
15798 posts

Every time you move, you use about 1/2 day in travel time, so 3 days in Rome or the AC is really 2 full days and a bit. If you drop either the CT or the AC, you will have more time to enjoy the places you will be in.

If you keep the AC, with your itinerary, I'd stay in Salerno because there are fast trains from Florence/Rome. It's at one end of the AC with Positano more or less at the other end. There are buses and ferries which are a 10-15 minute walk from the edge of the historic center (which is well worth spending a day exploring).