Itinerary for first timers to Italy - Comments please!

I wouldn't write off spending some time in Naples itself. It's chaotic but it has some wonderful sights to see, including the Archeological Museum and the Certosa di San Martino (beautiful monastery overlooking the Bay of Naples on top of a hill) and of course many gorgeous churches. Maybe spend at least the last night(s) in Naples so you have at least a day or more there? Sorrento is nice and scrubbed for tourists, but Naples is the real deal and has a certain unapologetic authenticity about it (less tourists, lots of locals and street life).

Certosa di San Martino
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g187785-d195426-r348972261-Certosa_e_Museo_di_San_Martino_Napoli-Naples_Province_of_Naples_Campania.html
Museo Cappella Sansevero
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187785-d195631-Reviews-Museo_Cappella_Sansevero-Naples_Province_of_Naples_Campania.html
Gesu Nuovo Church
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187785-d524147-Reviews-Gesu_Nuovo_Church-Naples_Province_of_Naples_Campania.html
National Archeological Museum of Naples
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187785-d195493-Reviews-National_Archaeological_Museum_of_Naples-Naples_Province_of_Naples_Campania.html

Yup, perfectly ok to leave something out and save it for another trip. There's no sense in trying to forcibly squeeze in a city that doesn't fit logistically into your itinerary. I would leave Rome and Florence out and group them together on the next trip.

Is it OK to miss Rome?

I like your plan. You can go to Rome the next time.

I like to have a list of where I want to go, and then I start outlining how the days will be plotted. Once I have a rough outline of this, I have a good idea of how much time to allot to each place. I aim for 2 activities per day, 3 at most, but that would be a more intense day. I always plan for something in the morning, and this usually gets about 2 hours, maybe three, but by two hours I am usually getting aphasiac ( = what Im seeing - art, ruins, etc - start to blur together). I allow for some down time in the late afternoon, which could be lying down in the apartment or lounging somewhere (beach, cafe, park). And then allot time for waiting in lines, eating meals, and transportation. Of course the more flexible your site-seeing is, the less of these you have to account for. But if you will get tickets to some sites, you will want to imagine your days in a more deliberate way.

Thus, whether you add Rome has more to do with interest and balance-of-time-spent in everything else you have in mind. I

It look like you have 10 nights? Adding Rome would make for a packed plan. I would leave it off this time
I don't know how necessary AC will be at the end of April - perhaps google weather in those places at that time of year.

It's perfectly fine to miss Rome, if Venice and the Amalfi Coast are of more interest to you. Not everyone loves loves loves Rome. I didn't, though the old Roman Forum and the ruins are amazing. The city itself didn't amaze me as much as it seems to everyone else, though. If you are planning to come back, see it next trip - you should visit someday if you can. Maybe you'll fall in love with Rome the way many people seem to.

Because you have an interest in Florence, I might cut a night from Venice and a night in Amalfi and spend two nights there: train from Venice to Florence, train to Naples, instead of a day trip to Florence and the flight to Naples. Or do the same with Rome, whichever is higher priority to you.

By staying near the "bus depot" in Venice, do you mean Piazzale Roma on Venice (not the mainland)? I'm not sure that's the most ideal place to stay with that many nights on Venice - but on Venice is better than Mestre (bus and train station on the mainland). I stayed near the Venice Santa Lucia train station on a recent trip, but it was my fourth visit, and it was for just one night. With more nights, I might have wanted to stay in a less busy or less touristy area.

We spent 4 nights in Sorrento- LOVED it- some of the best food in our 3 weeks in Italy (Il Leone Rosso Ristorante Pizzeria, Inn Bufalito Taverna Mediterranea). We used a RS recommended tour to the Amalfi Coast - Mondo guide - sharedtours.com - it was great. We also took the train to Herculaneum for a day trip- we liked it better than Pompeii -smaller, easier to navigate, not as crowded - it was ruined by the same volcano that plummeted Pompeii. We used the RS Italy guidebook (cheaper on Amazon) & followed his recommendation for Sorrento to Herculaneum - don't miss the skeletons at the end, many people miss it - they are down some stairs. The people tried to escape to the boat houses & were killed by lava. Some of the best pizza (Pizzeria Luna Caprese Sas Di Luna Michelina - will be on your left on the way back to the train) we had in Italy was in Ercolano which is where Herculaneum is. It was a highlight for us. See TripAdvisor for pics & info about Herculaneum.

In Venice, stay in Venice if you can, not near a bus depot. How about flying into Venice, then take the train south to Florence and Sorrento - that's what we did, super easy. Then fly home from Naples (or Rome). I can give you tons of info as you solidify your plans. Rome is not to be missed (on another trip) - Coloseum, Forum, Pantheon, Vatican. If Florence, we loved WALKABOUT FLORENCE for 2 day trips into Tuscany - we did their BEST OF TUSCANY and CHIANTI WINE & FOOD SAFARI. I'd do at least 3 nights in each city - traveling between cities takes lots of time. I'll give you more info as you figure out your plans - you'll get lots of great ideas on here.

Thanks for the replies. I may tweak the itinerary by a night or two, since I do think 3 'bases' could work instead of two. The Piazzale Roma bus station, a couple of blocks Southeast. Possibly the Olympia or next door at the Arlecchino. We could go a little further in if necessary..

I would save Florence and Rome for another trip. There is so much to see in both cities and many day trips you can take from Florence. I would spend 4 nights Venice, 4 nights Sorrento and 2 nights Naples. Naples was fantastic. Being a fellow Bostonian I think you will love Naples. From Sorrento you can see the Amalfi coast and take a ferry to Capri for the day. It's a great base. In Venice we stayed at Le Isole in the Castello area. If that hotel is not in budget I would still stay in that area. Enjoy your trip

I wish I had stayed in Naples instead of Sorrento, personally. I spent a few hours in Naples one afternoon and loved it. Sorrento seemed like a tourist trap for British expats, but it's certainly more laid-back than Naples, which is a busy, bustling, real city. And Sorrento is probably a more practical base for Amalfi.

ok. Need to nail it down and make firm lodging and flight plans. Appreciate all you thoughts and going with the 4/4/2 plan of Joyce’s. Budget is fairly moderate, not looking to go on the cheap. Wife has high standards when it comes to lodging but sensible enough not to overspend where not warranted. That being said.....Hotels in Sorrento and Naples recommendations? I appreciate access to trains and transportation within a half mile if possible.

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Does that put you into Pompeii on the holiday, 5/1, May Day? If so, that's a pretty big holiday so check if the ruins are open.

in Sorrento, we stayed at a great B&B (Villa Monica), which was up on a Mountain (3min drive to OldTown Sorrento) - scary to drive, long winding roads, GORGEOUS VIEWS- they ran a shuttle to Town Center all day, so it was easy. We never got a car during our almost 4 weeks in Italy. The B&B was super nice, but when we do it again, we will stay in the heart of Sorrento so we can go back to the hotel easily (although, the shuttle made it so nice). I'd look on TripAdvisor and under Sorrento hotels, have them rank based on DISTANCE to TownCenter - there are SO MANY. If you want a B&B, you can't go wrong with Villa Monica - (see TripAdvisor for reviews and photos) - the owner's dad owns a pastry shop, so our breakfasts were great. We loved our day trip to Amalfi & Herculaneum. We also did a great FOOD WALKING tour in Sorrento.

In Venice, try to stay in Venice - it is one of our favorite cities - we loved a B&B there called Campiello Zen - it is VERY close to a Vaporetto stop, so easy arriving with luggage and the owners were SO helpful - they gave us a map and taught us how to navigate the city and use the Vaporetto. It is also close to a GREAT restaurant called La Zucca (see it on TripAdvisor), our B&B hosts made us an RSVP 3months out as that's about the only way to get in (reasonable prices and great food, super small). It's a couple Vaporetto stops from St.Marks Square, so it's not touristy, but so fantastic. Download the RS app before you go, bring earbuds, get on the #1 Vaporetto and he takes you around the canal - it's a great overview of Venice and you see so much. Get the Vaporetto pass (we got the 72 hour one, much cheaper than buying a pass for each trip). Use RS Italy guidebook - he has some great suggestions and walking tours of Venice (or just buy the RS Venice book - usually cheaper on Amazon unless this RS site is doing a sale).

Jack, In Naples we stayed in the historic center at Palazzo Decumani hotel. excellent hotel. Many shops, restaurants, pizza shops and pastry shops.in walking distance. ( Naples pastry and pizza to die for ) Also, if you are flying home from Naples I suggest you spend the last two nights in Naples and go straight to Sorrento from Venice. This way you are in the city that you leave from already and not backtracking to fly home. In Sorrento we stayed at Palazzo Montefusco. It's in the heart of the city. It does not have sea views if that is something you want from your hotel. But great place to stay.

I would consider spending your last day and night in Naples. That will give you a chance to visit some of the things Naples has to offer, and the next day, when you fly out, you will be only 20 min from the airport instead of 1.5 hours.
I like Positano a lot, so I would even consider a couple of nights there (borrowed from Sorrento).
I’m not sure if you have already purchased the airplane tickets, but compare flights from Venice to Naples to train.
The train will get you from Venice Santa Lucia right on the Grand Canal, to Napoli Centrale (where the train to Pompeii Sorrento is) in 5 hours.
If you take the plane, once you add the long distance to Venice Airport (in the mainland), the airport security which requires you to be there 90 min prior to departure, the flight time, the deplaning and baggage claim procedures, the transfer from the airport to the Napoli station, I bet the train is just as fast, more comfortable, and less hassle.

Itinerary looks great with 4/4/2.

Save yourself some time, on arrival NAP take a taxi to Pompeii Scavi.
30 minutes, about €40 ( check price before entry into the cab, have them print receipt). Check bag at site, then when done, take Circumvesuvian to Sorrento.

Personally, wouldnt stay near the bus station if I could avoid it. many places will be a long walk, or a wait for the correct water taxi.