Last minute March trip - starting in rome

How many nights will you be in IT?

There are direct (zero connections) overnight trains from Rome’s Termini station to Palermo (12h) and Syracuse (11h 15m) but it is not the smoothest ride even when sleeping in a sleeper car. You can also fly from Rome’s airport to Palermo and Catania (Syracuse).

It is, IMO, early for Sicily. Plus, you don’t have enough time to do it justice unless you pick one location. We spent a mostly awful week in Trapani one March, mid-month.

Have you been to Italy before?

Honestly, you could easily spend 10 days in Rome and not see everything the city has to offer. There are also lots of beautiful and interesting places around Rome to visit on day trips. But, if you want to change hotels and stay somewhere outside of Rome, I'd pick just one location. As others have commented, March weather is likely to be chilly, so Sicily might not be very enjoyable.

In any case, I'd advise booking your last night in Rome so you don't have to stress traveling there to get to the airport.

I’ve been to Sicily once in late March and it was warm outside the whole time I was there. I never wore my lined raincoat and each day was sunny. Al fresco dining was the norm.

How many nights will you have? 9 or 10?
Since you have to be in Rome for departure I would pick a location not too far from Rome and head there on arrival. Put all your Rome nights at end to avoid a split stay/1 nighter.
I wouldn't travel as far as Sicily on such a short trip- you'll spend 2 days traveling.

I'd suggest going to Florence on arrival for 3-4 nights- if weather is lousy there are countless indoor things to do there. Then head back to Rome- maybe with a 1 or 2 night stop in Orvieto.
All easily done by train
Florence 3
Orvieto 2
Rome 4

I'm in Italy right now. I landed in Rome on February 11. I've spent 10 nights in Rome and am now going into Night 6 in Naples. After the 7th night in Naples I'll be heading to Salerno for 4 nights then returning to Rome for my final 10 nights. There's a lot to do in Rome and plenty in Naples as well (including places like Pompeii a manageable train ride away). It's early in the year for small towns along the Amalfi Coast and for the islands near Naples.

The weather has been extremely stable, with high temperatures mostly in the high 50s and low 60s F, just about what one sees in average-temperature tables. What those tables don't tell you is that it's darn chilly early in the morning. I've had a lot of days when it didn't really get above 40 until 11 AM or noon.

Rain has fallen, but it has either been so light as to be ignorable or has occurred at night or at other times when I've been indoors. It hasn't affected me at all.

I'm sure I've been lucky with both the temperature and the amount of precipitation. When you travel at this time of year, you have to be prepared for unpleasant weather. I'd suggest sticking to large cities unless you plan to rent a car.

If it's your first time to Italy, I'd recommend picking no more than two locations. As others have mentioned, you could easily fill 10 days with Rome and surrounding day trips, but Rome as a city isn't my cup of tea (aside from the historical sights, which are obviously amazing). For 10 days, with your parameters, I'd land in Rome and take a train straight to Florence (quick and easy to do). Florence for 5 nights, then back to Rome for your remaining nights.

But that's just me. If you give us some more details (have you been to Italy before, what do you want to do, are you interested in art, history, food, etc.), we can better tailor our responses :)

If you haven’t been to Pompeii before, I’d seize the opportunity to see it outside of the summer heat and crowds. Maybe head down to Naples after your first two nights in Rome and then back to Rome for two or three nights at the end (depending upon your interests). Or, cancel those early nights in Rome to head straight to Naples and return to Rome for four or five nights all in a row.

Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions!

So excited - decided on
rome - Umbria - amalfi loop

Focus on culture food and relaxation

Again thank you all!