My wife and I are making our first trip to Italy in April. I am beginning to plan. We arrive April 8 and depart April 22 in the AM; Rome. We are thinking of the following; We arrive 9 AM, 3 days in Rome. Rent car and drive up east coast (is this worth it), or should we just take train to Venice. If we drive any recommendation of where to stay along the coast? A day in Venice (probably the 5th day?). Plan to park out of venice and train in or something. Stay outside of venice that night unless you recommend a night in Venice. Then drive over to Genoa area for a couple nights. Then down to Tuscany area for a couple days and to Umbria before returning to Rome and our flight home. From reading some other comments I will probably forget about Florence. Your thoughts will be appreciated. We did northern France with this kind of plan in 2006 and it worked well, Normandy, Loire Valley, Bordeaux and then 5 days in Paris. This Italy plan seems doable and not too hectic since I plan to spend at least 2 nights in most areas?
Posted by
In the Mountains, USA
689 posts
I would take the train to Venice and then rent your car there when you leave. Stay IN Venice or you will miss the best part - the evenings are where the magic is found. I would stay two nights.
If you haven't seen Florence - why skip it? If you stay in northern Tuscany - take a day trip into Florence. A car in Tuscany/Umbria is helpful to get around where you want, when you want to go there!
Posted by
cochranville, pa, usa
322 posts
I agree with the previous poster. Best to rent a car out of Venice. Also stay IN Venice. I can never figure out why people want to stay outside of the area they want to be in.
I personally would skip Genoa and spend a couple of nights in the Lakes region.
Posted by
Newburyport, MA
683 posts
We emphatically agree that you should go to the Lakes rather than Genoa. While Genoa is ok, it has none of the beauty or charm of Garda or Como.
We disagree that you should rent a car at all. The train out of Venice in directionj of Milano takes you to wonderful places like Verona,Vicenza,Desenzano (on Lake Garda) and you can go to Varenna on Lake Como by train out of Milan.
Venice is unique and less crowded in mornings (before the tours arrive) and evening (after they leave). Be sure to go to outlying areas like Lido and Guidecca bcuz there are many fewer people around and you can savor the real city.
Posted by
OP
Danville, California, USA
139 posts
thanks for the advice. Obviously we need to do more studying. Looks like we won't drive up from Rome but rather take advice and train to Venice for two nights. A couple have mentioned lakes area. Can you tell me more about that area? Why do you recommend? And what?
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
The lakes are beautiful - think of Maxfield Parrish settings. The surrounding towns are vacation resorts so you'll find lots of hotels, mediocre restaurants and not much Italian ambiance. In April it will likely be cool and rainy.
I would concur that on your schedule not to include Genoa. I would add more days in Venice. Regardless of the weather, it's beautiful.
In thinking of places that are all "touristy" there is a big difference between resorts (the Lakes, Amalfi) and historic/cultural sites (Florence, Venice, Rome). Both types are very touristed but when a resort area is out of season, it's out of season. Restaurants are closed, no one is around and most of the locals have left to go traveling on their own. Meanwhile, the cultural cities have lives of their own and being there off season can mean smaller crowds and better discoveries.