My First Trip to Italy - Itinerary Check

When you just list places, # of nights, people will just respond to which places are their favorites. If you add what you want to see and do in each place, plus desired day trips, you can get a more accurate picture of if you have allotted enough time.
Rather than split your time in Rome, if you are arriving early-ish in the day, I would head straight to Florence, as it is not a long train ride, then put all Rome time together at the end, but I just don't like one-night stays.

Welcome to the Forum! This, to me, looks like a great trip. Give us some more information and I'm sure you'll be one of the group's favorites! Where are you flying from? Have you been to Italy before? What are you looking forward to seeing/experiencing?

My first thought, based on your schedule, is about spending the first day and night in Rome. Florence is really a fairly quick train ride from Rome and the Freccia trains are much more comfortable than most plane seats. Maybe consider heading straight to Florence?

I love Siena. And you've chosen wisely - the bus is the best way to get there for convenience and scenery. If your hotel is in the medieval center, even better. Bus to Rome? Hmmm, that's a new one on me. Would it be easier to take the bus back to Florence and then catch the Freccia to Rome? The bus station in Florence is right across the street from the train station which makes the transfer very easy.

Day trips? Not sure you have enough time to do Florence itself and also take a day trip. Same with Siena. But from Rome you've got lots to consider especially Ostia Antica and Orvieto.

Get out your RS books and keep planning. Make lists - that will help you plan your time in each city better. I, personally, think you're off to a great start!

just noting that if your flight into Rome is an AM arrival, you might not be able to check into your hotel until alter in the afternoon anyway. I'd just keep moving forward and go on to Florence, since you're coming back to Rome anyway.

There are numerous trains daily from FCO to Florence, connecting at Termini or Tiburtina stations in Rome. The whole trip takes about 2.5 hours. So unless your flight lands late in the day, you could be in Florence that first night. If you buy an advance ticket for a specific train, leave enough time to deplane, go through immigration, retrieve bags if necessary, and get to the airport station -- I'd say at least two hours, but others may have better estimates.

We are leaving 4/13 and returning 4/24/2023...11 sleeps

Do you depart home AND arrive in Rome on the 13th?

If your arrival in Rome is before 6PM you might as well go to Florence that day and bunch all you Rome days at the end.

For a change of pace, a visit to Ostia Antica, while in Rome would be one suggestion.

Orvieto as also frequently mentioned as a day trip from Rome

Thanks for all of the help! I read many things and flip flopped on whether or not to stay in Rome the night of the 13th. I read things about flight delays and so forth that made me decide to stay in Rome that first night. It is too soon for me to book flights, but I am looking (hoping) for an early/mid-morning or so arrival. I wouldn't mind an extra wine day somewhere.

Deb

It is too soon for me to book flights,

Is the trip this year or next? If this year, I do not think it is 'too soon' to book flights.( or are you coming from somewhere closer to Italy than the Western Hemisphere?)

You might consider spending your first night in Orvieto
Not as far as Florence and would be a nice place to get over jet lag
Regional trains leave from Termini or Tiburtina frequently so no need to purchase tix in advance

Not sure what time you’re arriving in Rome but at 1:53p you can hop on a direct train from the airport to Florence (2h 30m).
From Florence take a direct bus to Siena (1h 15m) and on day two take a direct train from Siena to Montepulciano (1h 15m). You’ll need to take a taxi from the Montepulciano train station to the city center for the day.
When you’re ready to go to Rome take a direct bus from Siena (3h).

Joe32F, she specifies April, 2023, so there's lots of time for planning and making adjustments.

I see OP has edited the original post to specify ( add) '2023', to the trip dates

Yes, we are traveling in 2023. I am hoping to purchase flights in the next few months. I am hopeful for a fairly early arrival. Your comments have been very helpful. If we do arrive early afternoon on the 13th, I will take your advice and go to Florence, I will adjust my schedule and add a day in Siena so I can take a wine tour or two.