I have a trip planned flying into Milan (3 nights) train to Venice (3 nights, but could be 2) train to Florence but have a couple extra days so I'm wondering if we should book our lodging longer in Florence and take day trips from there or go from Venice to Ravenna or San Marino and then head to Florence for 3 nights - will be in Florence for Christmas and then head to Rome for a couple days and fly out of Rome. So we have 9 nights to spend in Venice and Florence and anywhere in between so would love some advice. The Milan and Rome portions are set already and we have an airbnb for 3 nights and restaurant reservations in Florence on the 24th and 25th. What advice do you have for us? I would love to take a train along the coast if that exists.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8141 posts
FYI: Expect your December/January temperature ranges in Florence to be about 35 degrees F for lows and 50 degrees F for daily highs.
If you have any extra days, you'd do best to extend your reservation in Rome by whatever days you have. It's worthy of all the time you can spend there.
In Summer, I would tell you to rent a car in Florence, stay in agriturisimos and visit close together Tuscan hilltowns like San Gimignano, Certaldo, Volterra and Siena. Then return the rental car in Orvieto--another great hilltown. The train into Rome is at the foot of the funicular there.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15807 posts
Susan, which, along with the 24th and 25th, other night have you booked in Florence? What are you wishing to see and do in that city? It's of concern because much will be closed on Christmas Day, as well as Monday, when most Italian State Museums are closed.
Posted by
Irving
2948 posts
Susan, Venice deserves three nights. Arrival days in cities take a full day to settle in and isn’t easy. If you’re staying near Venice’s Santa Lucia’s train station (end of line) that’s better than if you have to catch a vaporetto (water bus) from the train station to your place of lodging then find it on foot. Make sure you can use Google maps on your phone. Venice is a maze of narrow walking lanes with no street names.
To explore Florence requires a minimum of three nights and if you’re there on the 25th everything will be closed. Buy tickets for the Uffizi Gallery today so you can visit on the 24th first thing in the morning and afterwards skip on over to Accademia to see David. If you add a day trip from Florence, you must add another night.
With that said you need a minimum of four nights in Rome. With nine nights total you don’t have much time. From Malpensa airport can you go straight to Venice by train and do away with Milan?
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
6047 posts
Your post is a bit confusing but as I understand it you have 9 nights to split between Venice, Florence and somewhere else.
The Milan and Rome parts of your trip are in addition to these 9 nights, correct?
I don't think a train along the coast actually exists
You could easily stop in Bologna as you travel from Venice to Florence.
Venice 3
Bologna 3- day trip Ravenna, Modena, Parma, Ferrara- lots of possibilities or choose 1 of these smaller towns to spend the 3 nights
Florence 3
Or add 2 nights to Florence and 1 night to Rome