Italy Rome to Rome

I'd take a train from FCO airport to Venice right after the plane landed. There are 2 direct high speed trains from the airport to Venice leaving each day at 11:08 and 15:08; otherwise you'll have to change at Roma Tiburtina.

After Venice go to Bellagio, then take a ferry to Como and a local train to Milano Centrale.

From Milan's main station you can take a direct high speed train to Salerno followed by a ferry to Positano.
Leave Rome for the end of your journey, you'll have to stay there anyway the night before your flight home.

Venice and Bellagio are in the north, Rome and Positano in the south; an open jaw ticket may be more expensive, but it would save you 5 hours on trains to go up and down the boot.

Dario has it right. You should try to land in Venice (VCE) or Milan-Malpensa (MXP) and return home from Rome-Fiumicino (FCO).

To go from Venice to Bellagio, the fastest way is probably via train to Varenna (change at Milano Centrale) the ferry from Varenna to Bellagio.

Dario’s route via Como is however a good one to consider, at least once (going from Milan or coming back to Milan), because the boat trip from Bellagio to Como (or viceversa) is very scenic and relaxing. There are several boats connecting Bellagio to Como, some are high speed and take only 45 min.

Thanks. Unfortunately we have bought our tickets and it costs 600 to change. Does it help if I do Italian Riveria instead of amalfi coAst

The Italian Riviera (let’s say the popular Cinque Terre) is also challenging to put in your itinerary. The advantage is that you won’t need as many nights to spend there as are necessary to see the Sorrento Peninsula (Positano). Two nights at the Cinque Terre would suffice, if you are not interested in hiking. It’s up to you. We gave you the suggested itinerary if you decide on Positano. If you replace Positano with Cinque Terre, then the best sequence could be:

(Clockwise loop)
Land in Rome, immediate train to Monterosso at Cinque Terre (train changes are involved and it’s a 4 hr trip, so it depends when airplane arrives, hopefully before noon)
Train to lake Como (either Como or Varenna, then ferry to Bellagio) Via Milan Centrale.
Ferry from Bellagio to Varenna or Como then train to Venezia Santa Lucia station (Venice)
Train from Venice to Rome.
(If you have a couple of nights to spare you should probably visit Florence between Venice and Rome).

(Counterclockwise loop):
The exact reverse of the above.

You are going at a time of the year when it is potentially scorching hot. Locations near water will probably more amenable than cities like Rome or Florence. In any case you should spend at least 3 nights in Rome and two in Florence (if you decide to include in Florence).
Venice is recommended for at least two nights, but 3 would be better, since it’s a bit cooler near the water.
For the Cinque Terre 2 nights are probably sufficient, unless you want to cool off for longer after a long flight. Then 3 nights would be good.
Bellagio for 3 nights would be good too.
The Sorrento Peninsula area has a lot to see (Amalfi Coast, Capri, Pompeii, Naples, and much more), so I wouldn’t consider it for less than 4 or 5 nights, especially since its kind of a detour for your overall itinerary.

Bellagio is beautiful and checks everything off your list but sort of a pain to get to since it has no train station. The train/ferry combination is logistically easy with lots of signage and help getting around but it does add a lot of travel time. It's also a decent 10 minute downhill walk from the Varenna train station to the ferry station . I mention this because you had brought up waling around in the heat. I

I used a private transfer service from the Milan train station. It cost 140 euro each way . I know this is expensive but my partner and I felt it was a great time saver. It gave us an extra half day in Bellagio and then Rome on the return leg. It was especially nice that, on the way back to Rome, we could take the first fast train out of Milan without needing to leave Bellagio at the crack of dawn to get there.

I agree with the itineraries above. When I go to Italy, I exclusively fly into Rome because there are multiple non stop options from Chicago. I would rather get on the ground in Italy in the shortest amount of changes as possible and then get on a train. I always head from the airport to Termini and get on the next fast train to my destination. So my trips involve more back tracking but for me, it ends up being more time efficient. So it's okay that you are flying into/out of Rome.

Finally, my advice for Bellagio: Hotel Belvedere had amazing views of the lake and was a great hotel. It was tough to find an open table for dinner at night if we just meandered out to dinner so I would make reservations ahead of time.

Have a great trip!

Positano is way too far in the wrong direction ( given the rest of your trip) to do in the time you have and not just always be 'going' to places vs 'being' there.

Prior posts give good suggestions.

Booking your lodgings should be done sooner rather than later. Decide on your itinerary and enjoy the trip

spoke with my husband and took in everyone's advice. at this point we are thinking arrive in rome and go to milan and from there como or varenna. any reccomendation there? how long do you need to get from rome airport to I guess it is the central train station? I land in rome at 8:05 am.

From there thinking about italian riveria area which is think is cinque terre and maybe trip to monaco. not sure where the best to stay is? I like the beach and pool.

And then to rome

arrive aug 25 and leave on the 7th. hopin above is enough.

If you go straight to Milan, from Roma Termini it’s less than 3 hours. The airport is 32 min away from Termini by train.
www.trenitalia.com
Station name:
FIUMICINO AEROPORTO
MILANO CENTRALE
VENEZIA SANTA LUCIA (in case you still wants to go to Venice after landing)
To go to Varenna you need a regional train from Milano Centrale.
You can also take a train to Como, but I think Varenna (or nearby Bellagio or Menaggio across the lake) is quainter. Como is a busy city.

Hello,

I'm making progress. I think I am going in this order and plan on taking a train from place to place. Can you help me with the cities or towns that would be nice to stay in for the 1-5? I like hotels that are around 4 out of 1-5 as well as lakes, ocean, cities etc. I'll look for hotels with pools as well. Once I book hotels I can pick the tours. thank you so much.

Arrive Rome - Train to Venice
1) Venice
2) Italian Lakes
3) Clinque Terre

4) Tuscany

5) Rome - 3-4 nights
• Daytrip to Amalfi Coast