Leaving for Italy in 2 weeks and need to start planning!

I am assuming this is your first trip to Italy? You don't have time for 4 stops in a 9 night trip. You'd be better off doing a basic Venice, Florence, Rome - 3 nights in each. As to sites - you'd be best off with a guidebook, picking sites that are specifically interesting to you. All 3 cities are packed with sites.

Thank you for your advice- we have been working on planning the trip using our guidebook and recommendations from friends. We will definitely consider only doing 3 cities vs 4.

Valerie's right: less is more. Stay in each place long enough to see a few major sights, enjoy some of the local food, and relax and enjoy what make each place special. In fact, with 9 nights, I'd pick two places; for me it would probably be Florence and Rome.

Remember what Rick says: Assume you're coming back. In other words, don't try to see or do too much. Relax and have fun.

Added: And don't forget that much of your time will be spent traveling: checking out of your hotel, getting to the train station (or whatever), traveling from one city to another, getting to your new hotel, checking in, etc. It will take more time than you think.

You wouldn't need to stay in Siena and Florence. One can be a day trip from the other. I would recommend staying in Florence. You could also do a day trip into the Tuscan countryside from either. Tours by Roberto was our choice this year. It's nice to have everything all planned out for you. They have a variety of tours and they come and pick you up.

The Cinque Terre is likely going to be cold and rainy. I would skip it. The Amalfi coast is definitely too far for this short of a trip. I agree with the others. Venice, Florence and Rome is already a tight schedule for this trip. If you want to day trips from those locations, that would make more sense than a bunch of stops.

From other posters suggestions i agree skip staying in CT and increase your stay in florence with an optional daytrip to siena if u have time from Florence.
9 days is not much for these wonderful sights.
Have fun it will be wonderful.

yup, me too. 2 nights is only one day, barely worth the hassle of the move. 3 places, max.

As for longer in - or skipping - either Florence or Venice should be based on what interests you, or what you think may interest you.

For a quick overview you can watch short segments of video by Rick Steves of each city, and then decide which more appeals.

Florence:=
https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/florence-heart-of-the-renaissance

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/florentine-delights-and-tuscan-side-trips

Venice:=
https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/venice-city-of-dreams

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/venice-and-its-lagoon

Rome:=

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/tv-specials/rome-eternally-engaging-tv-special

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/rome-ancient-glory

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/rome-baroque-brilliance

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/rome-back-street-riches

These are all from 2012.

Happy (late) planning.

I also would pick two, and as you are flying into Venice and out of Rome, this could be it.. As you appear to be very busy doing other things pre-trip, this will help you to relax as well. Nine nights works out to just 8 full days, one day as transport between the two translates to 7 full days in Venice and Rome. I'd give Rome 4 days and Venice 3. You can add day trips if you feel like you haven't seen enough. It is hard for me to say this because my favorite Italian city is Florence. But if you want to see three...I would split 2 days Venice, 3 days Florence and 3 days Rome. Save CT and Amalfi Coast for another time. Although, a day trip to Naples would be fun.

Now throwing out rational thought somewhat, this is what I'd do: 2 days in Venice, 5 days in Florence (with a day trip or two if necessary---I have yet to want to leave Florence) and 1 day in Rome. I've never warmed to Rome...

I really don't think that 9 nights (8 days at least one of which you will be wiped out from jet lag if you are coming from north america) is enough for 3 cities. Just an example, say you land midday in Venice and get to your hotel and checked in with enough time to wander for a couple of hours then eat and crash out. that gives you 2 days in Venice. Next you lose about a half a day (even if you take a pretty early train to Florence) checking out, traveling and checking back in. so now you have 2.5 days in Florence, and then again in Rome with only 2.5 days (you won't even get to scratch Rome in that time). Even doing just Venice/Rome, or Florence/Rome (I can't bring myself to suggest an option that doesn't include Rome) it would still be very rushed.
Also if you have not booked your rooms yet you need to get right on it, October is high season (at least for Rome) and a lot of the good lodging is already sold out.

Another vote for 3 nights in Venice, 3 nights in Florence, 3 nights in Rome.
You don't even have time for a day trip out of those cities, since 3 nights are only 2 full days.
If you want to venture out, these are possible day trips:
- Murano+Burano islands or Padua (from Venice)
- Siena or Lucca+Pisa (from Florence)
- Orvieto (from Rome)
The last one is really an afterthought since doing Rome in just a day would be insane.
Forget the Cinque Terre. Too cumbersome and long to reach from anywhere.

You can do 3 cities easily. I'd do the Venice, Florence, Rome one. However, I wanted to pack in a lot and was prepared for the moving around. I'd do Venice and Rome if you want more of a leisurely pace, and then do a day trip somewhere...but 3 cities is Not too much if prepared.

Prepared also means traveling light...which we did for the first time. No more than a 22" inch carryon that you can pick up yourself. I chose the RS 20" carryon and veloce bag and had no issues. I also got tons of stuff in them.

So...pick your cities, and go find your accommodations now. Then, purchase your train tickets. After you do that, I'd set a few tours up online.

It is possible to do three cities. However, with your time consider only doing two places. Perhaps just Venice and Rome since those are your entry and exit points. The rational for only doing two places is that it will usually take you longer to get from Place A to Place B than anticipated. In addition to the actual travel time, there is the time spent checking in and out, packing and unpacking, getting from the hotel to the train station and vice versa. You want to have memories of enjoyable things -- not memories of cabs, train stations and trains. These ideas are not meant to be a wet blanket -- just food for thought.

Later this month, I am going to Florence for the third time. This trip, I will be going to Sienna and Lucca as day trips from Florence. I mention this because with just 2 full days in any place, you barely scratch the surface of the city. If you plan to go back, I would only plan on two places. Whether it is 4 nights Venice and 5 in Rome ( or another variation) will depend on your interests. Personally, I did not particularly care for Rome. I much preferred Venice, but that is me. Others on this site will argue for more time in Rome. If this will be your only trip to Italy, then I would add Florence. Venice and Florence are very walkable and small cities. Although I walked almost everywhere in Rome, it is not a walking city. Just my 2 cents.