plan for a 17 day trip of Italy

Just returned from 17 days (3 Venice, 2 Florence, 2 CT, 1-Sienna, 1-Orvieto, Sorrento-2 and Rome 5). It was all by train and very doable. We thought about getting a car for a few days and then decided not to. My best words of advice are that a week in Amalfi seems a bit mush and DO NOT DRIVE ALONG THE AMALFI COAST! Leave it to the professionals! Best trip of my life! Have fun!

Hi Hedy,

I cannot comment on leaving from Nice; however, my wife an I have just returned from Italy! First trip overseas and an amazing experience. Briefly our itinerary - Rome 4; Tuscanny 4; Assisi 2; Florence 2; Venice 2; Cinque Terre 3 and finished in Rome 2.

I drove in Tuscanny - covered approx 600 kms and found this to be best way to get around - you are in control - where you go, when and for how long. We also used the train to travel between - Rome, Florence, Venice, Rome. As a fellow Aussie, the experience was a little scary (driving on the RHS) but I would do it again! I used a TomTom and my wife's patience.

We will be going back next year. Please contact me directly if you wish to discuss further.

Enjoy your trip!!!

Thank you Becky and Shaun for your replies but now I wonder why a week in Amalfi Coast is too much. I was planing to stay maybe a night on Capri and the rest somewhere on the Amalfi Coast....any suggestions. Maybe Sorrento for a couple and the rest somewhere along the coast....

Given your travel choices, I would skip Venice and use those extra 10 days after Amalfi for Rome, Florence, and possibly the Cinque Terre or Lake Como towns. It is possible to take a daytrip by train to Venice from Florence; that's what I did on my first trip to Europe. You can get a good sample of Venice in a few hours.

Hedy,
We just got back from a wonderful 16 days in Italy. We flew into Milan,2 nights in Varenna(LAke Como), 3 nights in Cinque Terra, 6 nights in Montepulciano, and two nights in Venice. Everything was planned perfectly for time except Montepulciano. 6 nights was too much. 3-4 would have been perfect. We rented a car and drove all through tuscany, and loved it. Would never try it any other way. I drove from La Spezia to Mp, and all was fine except getting out of the city. They drive crazy over there. I think that more than a few nights in any one place gets to be a little long. Try to use sleeping/overnight trains if you can. the travel days on trains really eat into your time. We talked to a young couple celebating there hjoneymoon that took a night train, and even they loved it. Good luck, and enjoy. you will love it. Jeff

Hedy

Nice to Venice 2 days - Train( must see on your first trip to Italy)could be a night train but I think you may have to change in Milan. + day travel= 3

Train from Venice to Florence 3 days - l day bus to Siena

You could rent a car from Siena down to Montalcino, Pienza, Montelpulciano
then Orvieto 4 days. Leave car in Orvieto take train to Amalfi coast ( probably Orvieto to Rome regional train then fast train to Naples and then regional train to Sorrento.

Sorrento 4 days- side day trip to Capri by Ferry.
side day trip to Amalfi/Ravello

Take train back to Rome 3 days

You did not mention if the 17 days excludes travel to Nice and out of Rome.

Hope this helps

I just had a 15 day travel thru Italy. We spent 5 days in Rome, 5 days in Tuscany and 5 days in Massa Lubrese(Amalfi Coast). I rented car as leaving Rome and kept it until returned to Rome on last day. We used a small Inn in Strove as our base in Tuscany. Made day trips to Pisa, Florence, Sienna, Orvieto, etc. Driving is the only way to really enjoy the scenery. As long as you use a good GPS, no issues...even driving in and out of Rome! I agree with the previous poster, a week on the Amalfi coast may be too long. FYI, be careful around Naples driving. Was twice asked for bribes to 1/ drive to the top of Vesuvio and 2/ asking for directions getting to Pompeii since road was closed. Both requests for money were from supposed police. Use the local train Circum Vesuviano. Took train out of Sorrento next day and got to Vesuvio and Pompeii with no problem. As for driving Amalfi Coast..I rented a driver recommended by the hotel. Be very specific as to how long you want to stay out and where you want to go. Most drivers want you to stay out all day and will try to divert you to shopping at specific stores, fruit stands, and anywhere else will make use stay out longer. Remember, their goal is an 8 hour day. Our driver was not happy that we only used 4 hours. Honestly, We drove the coast ourselves the next day. As long as you not going during high season it is not bad if you are comfortable driving on mountain roads. Enjoy your trip!

My husband and I just returned from 16 days in Italy. After five days of sightseeing in Rome and five days of driving all over Tuscany (we loved both!), it was nice to kick back and relax for five days on the Amalfi Coast. Actually, two of those days were spent doing day trips to Capri and Pompeii/Mt. Vesuvius. We spent the rest of our time at our hotel, Onda Verde, provided us with breathtaking views of the coastline between Praiano and Amalfi and the sea and was very close to a little beach. We were sorry we didn't book a full week there, which was our original intent. I would have liked to have spent more time in Amalfi and visited Positano and Ravello, but my husband and I kept saying that we had to leave some things to do next year.