Please sign in to post.

One month away! - Any advice?

We will be leaving for Italy on 6/12, one month from today. We still to buy train tickets. Should we also start thinking of making restaurant reservations? I’ve noticed I have the beginning of our trip planned out and less so at the end. Take a look at our schedule below and give me any suggestions you think would be helpful. We can’t change things we’ve already purchased obviously so I’ve indicated things we’ve purchased.

Italy Trip 2019

Wednesday 6/12
Depart For Rome - red eye

Thursday 6/13
Arrive in Rome 7pm - Check in to hotel

Friday 6/14
9:20 am - 1pm Colosseum and Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Tour - purchased.
2:00-4:00 Capitoline Museums (2 hours) - maybe another day? Too much in one day?
Heart of Rome walk (1 mile, 1-3 hours)?
Campo de Fiori to Spanish Steps
Covers Piazza Navona, Pantheon (closes at 7pm), Trevi Fountain, and Spanish Steps

Saturday 6/15
Vatican City Tour 7:30am - 11:00 purchased.
Trastevere?

Sunday 6/16
Maybe do pantheon in the morning on this day instead of Friday?
10:00 - 11:30am Domus Aurea tour - purchased.
Jewish Ghetto?
Borghese (2 hours) 5pm - 7pm tickets -purchased
Rick Steves “Dolce Vita” Stroll?

Monday 6/17
Travel by train to Tuscany - Siena/Agriturismo, pick up rental car

Tuesday 6/18
Tuscany-Heart of Tuscany drive - Pienza, Montepulciano, etc.

Wednesday 6/19
Tuscany -Siena or another city. cooking class at night

Thursday 6/20
Tuscany - wine tour Tours by Roberto - Purchased

Friday 6/21
Return rental car and take train to Florence. check in to Hotel.
Renaissance Walk - 2 hours or so, 1 mile.
Uffizi Gallery (4:00-4:15 entrance purchased)

Saturday 6/22
Accademia (David) (8:15-8:30 purchased)
Duomo climb - need to book time

Sunday 6/23
Travel by train to Venice

Monday 6/24
Venice - St Marks, Rialto, Doges - what’s best plan for Sunday and Monday?

Tuesday 6/25
Venice Murano/Burano

Wednesday 6/26
Travel home

Posted by
3112 posts

Both Trenitalia and Italo run high-speed trains from Rome to Florence and Florence to Venice. Italo often has lower prices or discounted tickets when Trenitalia is sold out, but their trains run less frequently. Edit: I presumed high-speed train to Florence and then either bus (1 block away) or regional train to Siena.

Unless there's a very special restaurant you absolutely must go to, making dinner reservations at lunch time is almost always adequate (but don't wait until just before they close for afternoon break). If the restaurant is only open evenings, then reserve the evening before.

The Pantheon is an active church and could be closed all or part of Sunday morning for services, so I wouldn't plan a visit for then.

Posted by
5697 posts

So it looks like your unbooked transportation is:
Airport to Rome (buy day-of)
Rome to Siena **
Siena to Florence (consider taking the bus, tickets can be day-of)
Florence to Venice **
Venice to airport (buy bus ticket day-of or arrange with your hotel)

Trains marked ** will be long-distance reserved seats -- if you can buy online at a discount, do that from home.

On 6/14 give yourself the option of just sitting/napping if jet-lag catches up with you. I wouldn't purchase any more tours until you see how you do in the Italian heat.
Have a great trip in Bella Italia.

Posted by
29 posts

On 6/14 give yourself the option of just sitting/napping if jet-lag catches up with you. I wouldn't purchase any more tours until you see how you do in the Italian heat

Good point! I think we will just play it by ear and see when we can fit things in.

Posted by
29 posts

So it looks like your unbooked transportation is:
Airport to Rome (buy day-of)

I forgot to add we arranged for a private transfer through our hotel to pick us up at the airport and take us to the hotel