Venice or Amalfi

Jan 14 - On arrival head straight to Sorrento - 2 nights
Jan 16 - Train to Florence - 3 nights
Jan 19 - Train to Venice - 2 nights
Jan 21 - Train to Rome - 3 nights
Jan 24 - Depart Rome

(Cinque Terre is not an option in January)

I would not miss Venice. It is an amazing city unlike any other city.

You are on the horns of a true dilemma. Normally I would say it's a no-brainer, see Venice. It is the one ans only. People talk about places that are 'the Venice of the north' but that is all hog wash, they simply don't compare by a couple orders of magnitude. Personally, Venice is the one and probably the only place in Italy south of the South Tyrol and Lake Como that I would really care to see again. The Amalfi coast is nice but there are other places in the world that are like it. The problem is your timing. Many many years ago I was in Venice in late December and it was cold and gray and rainy and to really appreciate Venice you need to be able to walk around. It is a small data sample but, if you hit weather like that you will be in real trouble and wishing you were someplace warm like the Amalfi coast.. Sorry my answer is not definitive but that's the way things work out. Best of luck on your trip.

I'd rather be in Venice in the rain than in Sorrento in the rain. For me Venice is one of the must-see cities of Europe.

If Pompeii is very high on your list, get up really early one morning in Rome and do it as a day trip. I was in Sorrento in February and loved it, but . . . one of the few things that was closed was the elevator from the town center down to the water. It's a long steep walk down and, while I didn't do it, I imagine most everything is closed there since the ferries to the Amalfi coast aren't running then. Also, you'll use up too much of your short trip just getting to and from Sorrento.

Instead of Pompeii, go to Ostia Antica, and walk out to the seashore.

I visited both the Amalfi coast and Venice on my first trip to Europe in 2001. I've been back to Venice three more times and have not been back to the Amalfi coast at all. I simply cannot go to Italy without visiting Venice. One of the trips included two full days of cold rain - and I still loved it. With only ten days, going to fewer places and really seeing those places will be more enjoyable (in my opinion) than spending so much of your precious time seeing as many places as you can.
There is simply no place in the world like Venice. It's definitely a 'must see'.

With only 10 days I would go directly to Florence from Rome. 3 nights there, onto Venice 3 nights, then back to Rome. As others have said, Venice is not to be missed. Enjoy the cities you will be in, rather than spending your precious time travelling on a train.

Considering the fact you've never been to Venice and the time of the year, my vote is Venice. It is truly a city like no other. A bad day in Venice is, imho, better than a good day in a lot of places.

We just spent 3wks in Italy and went to both Venice & Sorrento and LOVED them both . . . if we had to make a choice, & we could only return to one . . . VENICE! But be sure and see more than just St.Marks Square. We stayed in a fantastic B&B off the beaten path, but VERY close and easy to the Vaporetto and our best days were spent exploring the non touristy areas. Our best meal was at La Zucca - must have a reservation. We also loved a 1/2 trip to Burano (lace island). While we loved our 5 nights in Sorrento, I don't think January will be a good time to see/visit that area. Our B&B hosts told us it's pretty quiet end Nov. to end March. We did really enjoy our day trip to Herculaneum from there . . . it's a tough call . . . but because it's January, I say Venice.

Venice ...absolutely.

Venice. That and Paris are the only two cities I return to again and again and again. Don't miss it. It's magic.

Like China lake, we spent 2.5 weeks in Italy this fall and loved both Sorrento and Venice. In January in Sorrento, many restaurants, tours and hotels are closed. Venice is amazing g and not to be missed IMHO. We stayed on Isola Rosa at the new Marriott and it was unlike anywhere I've ever been. Pompeii via train from Rome is very doable

Enjoy!

Don't leave out Venice,
I'd also miss the CT.
I'd also arrive Rome and get on the first train to Venice then back track to Florence and end in Rome.

Never miss a chance to see Venice.

Never miss a chance to see Venice.

Venice, no doubt.

I would stick to Venice-Florence-Rome and probably allocate the days 3-3-4 and flying into Venice and out of Rome. This leaves you with some latitude as to what time of day you leave Venice and Florence, in case you really can't tear yourself away (but I warn you, Rome is a five night city even on a quick visit). I have been to Italy on four separate trips, and only made it Sorrento / Pompeii and CT on the third one. One thing that favors Venice, even though so much of the appeal is simply walking the town, they do have great indoor attractions as well for days when it's raining. Doge's Palace, city museum, Guggenhiem museum, Accademia. I wouldn;t advise you to spend all your time in those places if the weather was nice, but if not there are worse things. You are going to have fewer bad whether options on the Amalfi Coast or CT. Venice/Florence/Rome are great and it's hard to exclude any of those a return trip to Italy for us. It almost feels obligatory to go back to all three on every trip, but then we would never see anything new.

It is obvious that Venice has many faithful enamored followers. But I just simply could not go to Italy without seeing its coastlines, too. So, here is what I did for the Italy portion of our European holiday... Rome, 3 days, Naples with Pompeii and Amalfi Coast, 1 day, Florence, 3 days, Vernazza, 1 day and back to Rome... we are also scheduled to be in Germany for over 12 days... so... we took four of those twelve and are flying to Venice for three of them. How could we not?? We will be in Venice even before going to Rome. I know it is convoluted but when you have 6 weeks and your'e staying with relatives and they've already done some of the planning for you... what can you do but make the best with what you have... thanks again for all your input. You have, once more, pushed me over the edge and I have taken another plunge. Can't wait!!! (little more spendy and time consuming to do it this way but at least we get to do it!)

I would say Venice. I love the Amalfi Coast, but would still choose Venice. Like someone else said, other places similar to Amalfi Coast in the world. Also, it was goid advice just to take a day trip to Pompeii from Rome.