Sorrento, Rome, Venice or Rome, Cinque Terre, Venice

Personally I would save CT for another trip. Four nights in Rome and 3 in Venice is about all the time you have. Sorrento is a little hard/inconvenient to get to from Rome on the first day then you spend part of another day returning. If you want to see a beach take a Rome day and go to Ostia Beach from Roma via the local train.

My first thought was that you do not have time for three places, and I see Frank beat me to the keyboard. 3 nights = 2 full days. That is not enough time in Rome, nor is 2 nights/1 full day in Venice. If those are "musts" for you, split your time 4 nights Rome/3 Venice.

Thank you for your replies! We actually have a total of 8 nights. Do you still think it's too much to do 4 Rome, 2 CT, and 2 Venice? We liked the idea os a little time on the coast. Thank you!

Rome and Venice will be perfect. Don't complicate or congest it.

I'd stick to just two locations as well. There is so much to see in Rome, and you could easily take a day trip (Ostia is a good suggestion) with added nights there. Three will only give you 2.5 days: not enough time to begin to take that one in. I've probably totaled nearly two weeks in Rome over multiple trips and feel like I've just scratched the surface!

Sorrento and the CT are not really 'beach' locations, IMHO. I don't know how important that is to him but thought I'd mention it. It's also really late in the game for getting reservations in the CT for the end of May (it will be mobbed) and Sorrento will involve backtracking that I wouldn't advise on a limited schedule.

Roma and Venice would be my choice for your time in-country. Are you arriving in Roma on May 30th or is it the day you leave home? Since your time is short and reducing travel time allows you more time to explore. There is plenty to do in both cities to keep you busy.

Did you purchase your air tickets yet? The reason I ask is, based on reading and posting in other forums, the conventional wisdom is to begin in Venice and return from Roma. The reason is that flights departing Venice are usually early morning before public transport is operating. The departing flights from Roma leave later in the morning. Just sayin'...

You can save Le Cinque Terre for another trip because Italy will seduce you and you will want to return.

But in any case, go and have fun.

Buon viaggio,

Have to agree with the others, stick to Rome and Venice. You don't want to spend your precious time on a train and checking in and out of hotels.

Do you still think it's too much to do 4 Rome, 2 CT, and 2 Venice?

Yes, yes, yes. Eight nights is not significantly more than seven. The big issue is the time lost when you change locations - packing, unpacking, checking in and out, finding trains, finding next hotel, etc. - all take time and often more than you anticipate. We plan on a min of a half day lost and frequently it is more. With two shifts you lose at least a day and probably a little more. Your first day and last day are pretty shot so of your nine days on the ground three to four days are lost. That means at best you have six days of unlimited sightseeing. Since you are locked in to leaving from Venice stick with two locations. It will make for a more enjoyable experience.

I agree with the other comments. Recommend you spend 4-5 nights in Rome and 3-4 nights in Venice. There's so much to see and do in both. If you finish what you want to see in Venice, take a day trip to one of the outlying islands like Murano. Venice has been my favorite place in Italy so far. Very romantic and relaxing, walking around surrounded by water and no cars. Great food. Rome itself easily deserves a full week. So much history and art. We have been to Rome three times, once for a week long RS tour (which was great) and twice for 1-2 days each time on other trips, and it's my husband's favorite city. I would reserve Cinque Terre for another trip (you can do it with Milan) and Amalfi for another trip (can do it with Naples, Pompeii, Capri, etc.). I think Americans tend to rush vacations, traveling from one sight to the next, and don't get enough time actually relaxing. In any case, I believe you are going to love Italy! Have a great time!

You need to realise that the Cinque Terre is not really "Beach". Really, the CT is four villages with relatively rocky harbours, and Corniglia has no harbour. The trails give ocean views, but you won't see too many beach umbrellas or swimming beaches.

if you did want to see a beach then one option , while in venice, 'might' be to catch the ferry out to the beach.
we used Jesolo as a base for our visit of Venice and the islands. it was amazing to see kilometers of beach umbrellas and chairs all neatly in rows. just something that we could not imagine here in australia.

Thank you all for your replies. Your input is greatly appreciated!