Munich to Italy and back this fall

Here is a rough draft how you can do it
Fly into Munich spend 2 nights.
Fly to Rome spend 4 nights
Train to Florence spend 4 nights (decide on day trips to Siena or Cinque Terre as or if you feel up to it)
Train to Venice spend 2 nights
Train back to Munich 1 night

You have to think that you will return back to Italy and not as this is your only chance to go by trying to cover too much.
Most go realize Italy is an embarrassment of riches that requires repeat visits.

Sorry OP, but 10 cities in 13 days is just not possible, especially when spread over those distances. Jazz+travels has given you a practical itinerary. Attempting more places, especially those south of Rome, would mean you would effectively be spending more time on trains than actually in the places you want to see. What you have failed to do is account for travel time, which is basically half a day every time you change locations.
Flying to Rome (the furthest point) then making your way back North is the most efficient use of time. Too bad you couldn't have booked a multicity flight ticket into Munich and out of Rome (or vice versa).

I am certainly open to changing this itinerary. But I didn't make it up, it's Rick's list.

The veteran posters here probably all started by following Rick's suggested itineraries. What people are relaying is that from experience the itineraries can be rushed, with a lot of travel time and inadequate time left for sightseeing. The travel times below are train only and don't include travel time between lodgings and train stations and time to check into/out of your lodgings.

What you propose looks something like this, assuming trains only and flight home on day 14:

• Day 1-3: Arrival and Munich
  
• Day 4: Train to Venice (travel 7+ hours)
  
• Day 5: Venice
• Day 6-7: Florence (travel 2+ hours) with side trip to Siena (travel bus 2+ hours)
• Day 8: Cinque Terre (travel 3+ hours)
• Day 9-10: Sorrento and Amalfi Coast (travel 7+ hours) with side trip to Pompei (travel 1+ hours)
• Day 11-12: Rome with stop in Naples (travel 3+ hours)
• Day 13: Train to Munich (travel 10+ hours)
• Day 14: Fly home

Can you logistically do it? Yes. Do you really want to travel at that pace? Based on my experience, I'd suggest not.

mikekamal6, physically possible but its a Cliff's Notes version of Italy you will see - quantity, not quality. Don't underestimate the time lost to traveling between cities (even if flying some segments). If it were me advising a friend, I'd suggest cutting everything south of Rome for sure.

Since you said that you have 16 nights in Europe, that's a couple of days more than what any of the above responses are tallying. There are several budget nonstop flights daily from Rome to Munich, or Lufthansa also flies nonstop from Naples to Munich.

You read my mind, I was looking at those flights online this morning.

If I fly Rome to Munich, should I still skip the areas below Rome (Sorrento, Naples, Amalfi Coast)?

I do understand and appreciate the concerns about too much travel time. Please keep the advice coming.

THANK YOU.

So here is my tentative itinerary, using some of the advice offered here.

9/23 arrive Munich AM. Stay for three nights.

9/26 Train to Innsbrock, stay two nights.

9'/28 Train to Verona, stay three nights. Day trips to Milan, Venice, (Vicenza and Padua?)

10/1 Train to Florence, stay four nights. Would a day trip to Cinque Terre make sense? Sienna and/or Arezzo?

10/5 Train to Rome, stay 3 nights.

10/8 Fly to Munich in the afternoon, stay overnight, catch flight home the following morning.

I need to start booking rooms, so PLEASE share your thoughts and suggestions.