Rome - Florence - Venice (8 days)

Your first trip to Italy will always be memorable and I guarantee you'll want to return. While your itinerary is certainly doable, with only eight days you might want to consider visiting only two places. Going to three places will be a bit rushed and you'll just be able to scratch the surface in each place.

For transportation my choice would be trains. Italy has a very good system and when I'm on vacation renting a car and driving is just a hassle I don't want to have.

In Rome we've stayed at Hotel Fontanella Borghese many times and have always been pleased. While it is not "luxury", it is very nice and the location is great. You can walk to Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Nuvona, even Vatican city. Ask for a room overlooking the courtyard as rooms overlooking the side street can get noisy. The web site is www.fontanellaborghese. In addition, they have a sister hotel closer to the Pantheon called Hotel Due Torri.

In Florence check out Hotel California -- that's really the name. You can walk everywhere from there.

In Venice we like Pensione Guerrato near the Rialto Bridge. Off the beaten path and quite acceptable.

We've always emailed those hotels with our request for rates, reservations, and questions and have always gotten a response within 24 hours.

Thanks TC! I really want to check out those 3 places & I agree that I’m well off focusing on 2 places. I will probably do that or try to extend my time there for 3 more days.
I had a feeling public transportation was way to go but I have never really used it so I’m more intimidated by it especially since it’s our first time there. I will spend time looking into public transportation then. Thank you for your advice.

You may want to consider starting in Venice and ending in Rome.

MANY flights from Venice headed for US leave at 0'dark ugly/early, making for some challenges to get to the airport. Transport is available, just spendy

You would likely be better off using trains for your destinations

Thanks Joe. I will look into that option.

You definitely do not want nor need a car in any of the cities you are planning to visit! I also agree that with only 8 days on the ground (one of which you will, more likely than not, be a bit jet lagged) I'd limit it to 2 cities or extend your trip.
Italian trains aren't difficult at all. A very helpful website for train travel in Europe is The Man in Seat 61 - https://www.seat61.com/ .
Covers train logistics, tickets, etc., etc. After spending time on the site you should feel much better about train travel in Europe!

Don't really have hotel recommendations since we always do Airbnb. My advice is to do lots of research on what there is to see/do so that you hopefully avoid the dreaded "gee if I'd only know THAT was there, I would have made to see/do it!"

Personally? I don't think 8 days isn't enough to do all three locations justice. Just IMHO but I consider 4 nights/3.5 days the very minimum for first-timers to Rome, and a minimum of 3 nights/2 full days - or more! - at the others so I would drop one. With every move to a new city it takes some time to get acclimated to how they're laid out.

Secondly, I would use trains between the cities versus a car. You can get on a train in the middle of one city and get off in the middle of another much more efficiently than you can do it by road; no ZTLS or expensive/limited parking issues to have to avoid. You will NOT want a car for your city stays as so many areas in their centers are pedestrianized or zoned for local traffic only.

Take the train. Having a car in Florence is a problem with parking. Also, you will spend tons of money on tolls on the Autostrada.

Thank you all, I appreciate your advices.

MAK2323, we went to Italy for our first time this past October and I was also worried about taking public transportation as I've never lived anywhere that it was an option. But for our trip it made no sense to rent a car as it wasn't needed anywhere we stayed (as is the case with your cities). There's a lot of great information on this forum and online, and you'll be able to do it!

Agree with all on limiting to two towns and using the trains. I've been to all three cities. Think Florence is more of an art lovers' town and Venice has more of a "magical" feel. However, that is very subjective. Different people will have different preferences. I would read Rick's guide to both cities and then make your decision.

If you choose Venice, please stay within Venice --- on the island --- and not in Mestre. The nights in Venice after the cruise crowds have departed are spectacular. You don't want to be going back and forth to Mestre.

Suggest B&Bs in all cities that are near the sights you have prioritized.

Thanks again. Right now I’m leaning towards Rome & Venice if I can’t extend my stay by few more days. You’re all awesome & very helpful.

Car vs Train? Really a non question.
Train from Rome to Florence, about two hours and you arrive in the city centre. Train shoves along at about 100 miles an hour while you enjoy a drink in the bar on board. Same applies for Venice.

Of course 8 days isn’t enough, 20 days isn’t enough either, so you make the best of what you’ve got! At least 3 nights in Rome, I don’t care for Florence so I gave that 1-2 nights (most people love it, but I’m not an art museum kinda gal) and 3 nights in Venice (my all time fave in Europe.) we took a bunch of walking tours through Walks of Italy and they were ALL fabulous!

Trains are a piece of cake, great idea someone gave you to look at the Man in Seat 61.
Take the early train from Rome to Florence, and the late train from Florence to Venice to maximize your time in Florence.

We stayed at the Hotel Al Codega in Venice, loved it! A little tricky to find, but great location and great breakfast included, plus the were really helpful at the front desk.

Of course you will get a better idea of the cities by only going to 2, but I never can make up my mind so I always cram another one in, lol.