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Please critique my mostly-Italy itinerary

Hi, my wife and I are planning our first trip to Europe, and we're spending most of it in Italy. The start and end dates are set (flights are booked), but I can't help but continue to tweak the itinerary. What do you think of
this?

Tuesday 7/15: arrive in Paris in the morning.

Wednesday 7/16: Paris.

Thursday 7/17: Paris, then evening flight to Venice.

Friday 7/18: Venice.

Saturday 7/19: Venice.

Sunday 7/20: train to Siena.

Monday 7/21: Siena, get car for day trip to hill towns.

Tuesday 7/22: Siena, another day trip to hill towns.

Wednesday 7/23: train to Florence.

Thursday 7/24: Florence.

Friday 7/25: train to Rome.

Saturday 7/26: Rome.

Sunday 7/27: Rome.

Monday 7/28: fly home from Rome.

I particulary wonder whether I'm too "heavy" anywhere (or too heavy with big cities), and whether I should try to squeeze in a night or two in Cinque Terre. Also wonder if we should stay longer in the less-expensive Siena and just day trip to Florence. Any comments appreciated!

Posted by
151 posts

Florence is easier to get to by train than Siena. You might switch up the order of those two. It's easy to pick up a car at the Florence airport and drive. I agree that you shouldn't try to squeeze anything else in. Best of luck!

Posted by
19 posts

Thanks. Darby, I arranged it that way because I thought it would be easier to get a train from Florence to Rome than from Siena to Rome. But I'm a noob, so I could be wrong! :-)

Posted by
3112 posts

Because of the days you're traveling, it's best to do Siena before Florence. Many sights in Florence are closed on Monday, so later in the week will serve you better. Consider the bus for your trip back to Florence. It leaves from central Siena and arrives only a block from the train station. Bus schedules are light on Sunday, so it's probably easier to stick with the train on your way to Siena. Do take the local bus (1 EUR) from the train station to central Siena, as it's 25 minute uphill walk.