Planning 9 days trip from Rome this Dec

Plan A-give Florence 3 nights, skip Venice-too far as a day trip-days are too short in December

Orvieto or Ostia Antica are nice day trips from

A day trip from Rome to Florence is not a bad idea, I have often done the opposite. Putting Venice into the plan is too much.

Consider that Rome to Florence is a couple hours by fast trains (by the way, you are trying to travel in some of the most crowded days in the year), Florence to Venezia a furter 2h15min. So you can see how much time in your plans will be spent on transit and packing/unpacking.

Naples is still within two hours from Rome - of course if you can survive the craziness (craziness may be a plus, however; San Gregorio Armeno at Xmas time could be difficult to believe). Florence is easier as is much more compact.

Also consider that De. 25th and 26th are very much dead days, much is closed, and 28th is a Sunday. Once you can work your way around the festivities, you will have an idea of what you can accomplish.

thanks for your reply. I should be expecting very quiet and slow day for Dec 24, 25, 26 and 28 (sunday)?

Absolutely unreasonable to try to do Florence and Venice in a two day period.
You need at least three days to do justice to Florence.

On day trips from Rome, consider visiting Orvieto or the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento and Pompeii. You need to spend more than a day trip to see all these.
https://www.travelandleisure.com/best-day-trips-from-rome-7187390

thanks geovagriffith!

I think since with the Christmas holiday right in the middle of our holiday dates. I think we will stay in Rome and consider the day trips that you suggested - I'm especially keen in Pompeii and the coast.
For Rome, can I check if it is better to stay at Vatican city side of town or across the river where Colosseum are?

The usual recommendation is to try to stay on the east side of the river (not the Vatican side). There will generally be more walkable sights if you're around the Pantheon. Some folks do like Trastevere, though; it's south of the Vatican but on the same side of the river.

Where to stay in Rome is much discussed on this forum. What I like to do is mark the attractions I want to visit on a map, then refer to that when I am looking for a hotel. One thing about Rome is that the subway system isn't very extensive, so you'll be walking or using buses much of the time. That means you'll be moving around more slowly than you might in London or Paris (or many other European cities). But you'll be seeing a lot of interesting things as you walk from place to place. There are many interesting churches, for example.

I stayed in Monti back in 2023. I really liked the neighborhood (less touristy than more central areas) and wouldn't hesitate to stay there again, but it did make for some long walks.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/pompeii-day-trip-from-rome-2c38f926-9036-480d-95fd-403dd7694e4a

You may have an unrealistic idea of what can be done while sleeping in Rome. Except maybe for Orvieto, none of these are sensible day trips. You need to get some distance and very rough times from Google Maps written alongside your list of hopes, and then factor in the holidays and general relaxed precision of Italian government agencies.

Does SG mean Singapore?

hey hey mtan
where are you arriving from and only 2 people? your first day will probably be jetlagged and "fuzzy". counting your days is really only 7 (dec 21 is arrival, time for passport/immigration, transportation to hotel, your departure day Dec 30 is checking out, getting transportation to airport? 3 hours for check in procedures)
your time is short, i would stay in rome and if possible for a day trip. i don't understand what you mean by "very/slow days dec 24, 25, 26, 28". rome will be very busy & crowded, many places may be closed, crowds doing the same thing you are trying to do, finding places to eat, if open check their days/times open. many close daytime (2-6pm), check if reservations available.
we stayed in the piazza navona area and near termini, wherever there were rooms available in hotels. we all have are own thoughts of where to stay, you will be walking a lot (wear comfy shoes/dress warm).
if you plan to take a cab make sure you go to taxi stop not hailing one on the street.
mercatocentrale.com
a big marketplace with restaurants, shops, bars, deli. roam around so much to see. don't know if opened christmas, many places don't have their calendar times up. keep an eye opened for them.
eatingeurope.com/ rome
eatwith.com/ rome
put your dates, # of people, click headers for lunch/dinner. residents cook in their home and you're invited. click the dates on calendar to see who is available for your dates. at least you know you'll have a holiday meal. good luck enjoy
aloha

24th is a fairly normal day, actually quite busy as most people will be doing their last shopping and also food shopping. 25th is Christmas, so one of the biggest holidays in the year. Reserve a restaurant in advance. 26th is officially a festive day and almost dead. The Sunday after Christmas is also a quiet day as, for example, all shops who had Sunday opening in the weeks preceding Christmas will rest.