Itinerary - 10 Nights in Italy - Please Help!

It's better to avoid the Cinque Terre in November. With short days and the likelihood of bad weather, your time there would not be very enjoyable. With only 10 nights, 3 destinations is plenty.

Is it possible to change your flights? If so, it would be best to fly into Venice and out of Rome. Venice is the best place to get over the jetlag, just relax and soak up the atmosphere. Leaving from Venice means a lot of hassle to get to the airport.

If you are locked into starting in Rome, allow more than 2 nights. Your first day is arrival - you won't be able to see much - and you may not be up to full speed on your second day either. There is so much to see there. Rome 4 nights, Florence 3 nights, Venice 3 nights. 2 nights in Venice only gives you one day there.

I agree with Chani. This is not the time of year for the Cinque Terre. Their "season" is April through October. Nov 1 is like magic and restaurants close, local proprietors take vacations, some move to apartments in town in La Spezia. Spend more time in Roma and Venezia.

If you must arrive Roma and leave from Venezia, then spend 4 nights in Roma upon arrival, 3 in Fir3enze and 3 in Venezia. If you need more time with your son in Firenze, drop a night from Roma making it 3-4-3 nights. You can get a taste of Roma in 72 hours.

I agree with Laurel's agreement with Chani - chuck Cinque Terre !!
3-4-3 or 3-5-2 (for more time with your son)

Ditto to the above. November isn't the greatest time for the Cinque Terre, and there's a ton to do and see in Rome so add those nights to that one.

Two nights in a location means only 1 full day there.

I, too, would cut out the CT. You don't have enough time and November is not the best time for a visit there.

As for how to split up your time, make a list of what you want to see and do in each city. This is the only way to know if you should do a 3-4-3 or a 2-5-3 or any other combination you can think of. A list of sites will let you see how much you're trying to accomplish and how many days you'll need in order to do it.

donna

I agree with No CT, I have been to Rome 4 times, 4 nights each time. Still need to go back. I would stay 4 nights Rome, 3 Florence and 3 in Venice. I like this itinery because you can relax in Venice more than Rome. Rome is very busy, Florence a little less busy and Venice is more relaxed. Take a train between each city or take a train from Rome to Florence, drive from Florence to Venice. It is a wonderful road trip. You can even stay overnight in a pensione and only stay in Venice for two nights. Don't be alarmed by driving it is not difficult. It is a great way to really get to know the countryside.

Lorie

If my son were studying in Florence for the year (assumption) I would skip Rome and Venice, and just stay close to him and really get to know Florence where he's living. You can always return to Italy, but you cannot get back that time with him. If he's studying the week you are there, that enables you to steal a few hours here and there with him. I've done this for every European city where my daughter has lived and that made it so much nicer when chatting on the phone later as I knew exactly where she was, in most cases, as I got to know the cities so well; i.e., 'I'm walking down Wagram Street', etc. My daughter tended to call to chat when she was on her way home from being out for the evening… We even spent 10 days in Nancy, France which is relatively small and loved every minute of it. Enjoy your son and Florence! There is so much to see right there. Just my opinion, Wray