I'm traveling to Italy for the 1st time from Sept. 1 through Sept. 16. I arrive in Palermo, Sicily early September 1 for a friend's wedding, and then plan on flying to Rome late September 3. My flight back to the US is from Venice on September 16. I'm trying to determine the best itinerary, and this is what I'm thinking:
9/1: Sicily
9/2: Sicily
9/3: Sicily/Rome
9/4: Rome
9/5: Rome
9/6: Rome
9/7: Rome/Florence
9/8: Florence
9/9: Florence
9/10: Florence/Pisa/Cinque Terre
9/11: Cinque Terre
9/12: Cinque Terre
9/13: Cinque Terre/Venice
9/14: Venice
9/15: Venice
9/16: Fly Home
Does this seem like enough time to see each city? We'd be taking public transportation everywhere. My boyfriend wants some beachy/non-museum time, which is why I considered Cinque Terre. Thanks for your help!
Posted by
Coppell, TX, USA
13 posts
Jodie,
My husband and I are essentially doing the same trip in April, only backwards. We will only be in each place for two days, but your itinerary seems perfect! Have a great trip!
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Jodie, nice itinerary. On Pisa, you only need 1/2 day. Not much there besides the leaning tower and some nearby historical grounds. In and out in 3hrs or so.
Leave boyfriend in hotel. Wonderful museums abound in both Florence and Venice. There are many that should not be missed.
Hope that your flight out of Venice is not one of those really early flights. Travelers often have to resort to a speedy water taxi to get there in time. Water taxis are about 110Euro ($150) minimum. Any flight after 7:30am and you can make it easily from the main island. It's those 6:00am flights that have problems. Plan carefully.
Posted by
Boulder, CO, USA
44 posts
I think this itinerary looks very feasible. Moving between cities takes most of the day by the time you leave one hotel, take the train, find the next hotel, get oriented, etc. so it's great that you have a couple of full days in most of the other spots. You won't be able to see much of Sicily, but I wouldn't cut back anywhere else--so you'll just have to save something for "next time".
Posted by
OP
Rockille, MD, USA
2 posts
Thank you so much for your thoughts! I just realized that my 2 full days in Florence would be on a Monday and Tuesday, and from Rick Steve's guides I read that most places are closed on Monday. Do you think I would still be able to see the major sites those days?
Posted by
Slidell, LA
570 posts
Jodie
Get plenty of exercise before you go and hike the trails between Monterosso and Riomaggorie in the CT. Total of 9 miles, with stops at towns in between. Some of the most breathtaking scenery you'll ever see. Took my wife and her 83 year-old mother there the last week of September 2007 and missed out on part of it because they didn't want to go. I'm going back in September with a cycling friend to do the whole thing. Spend time in Vernazza and you'll fall in love with it. It's the perfect place to recover from the hectic pace in the rest of the country and it will be just what your boyfriend ordered.
Consider a Eurailpass for your travels. Trains are great and easy to use (not Amtrak), and they go to all the places you list. The highspeed train from Rome to Florence takes 1 1/2 hours with beautiful scenery, and the view from the train from Florence to the CT is spectacular as well.
Have a great trip. You picked the best possible weather for your vacation.
Jim
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
A one-country Eurail pass for Italy may be just the ticket here. About $175 and probably a good value given all of your train travel.