Will this itinerary work? 13 days in paris and italy

Italy is too rushed for my taste, but it looks doable. Day 3 - which day of the week? That can affect a Vatican visit Day 4 - There's a fast train to Naples, then you have to change to the local Circumvesuviana train to get to Pompeii. It may be easier to return to Rome on a late train, then you won't have to shlep your luggage with you and you'll avoid a hotel change. Another option would be to stay overnight in Naples - leave your bags at the station when you arrive from Rome, then collect them after Pompeii and go to your hotel. Day 7 - most people here think the gondola ride is overrated and way too expensive. If you do decide to take one, be sure that you go through the small canals and not up and down the Grand Canal.
Day 8 - Too much for one day, unless you are just going to zip through to say you've been there.

Day 3 -Planning on visit on Thursday Day 4 - plan to take a train to pompeii and spend all day and come back at night into rome hotel Day 7 - is price of gondola the same if taking on small canals rather than grand canal? is it prettier?
Day 8 - what would you recommend the top things to visit in only about a day and a half?

Lynn, Most of your proposed Itinerary looks reasonable, except for Day 1. That seems like a lot to cover on arrival day, especially as you'll likely be jet lagged and tired. For your visit to the Colosseum, were you planning to buy a combo ticket or use a Roma Pass? If you're buying a combo ticket, the office on Palatine Hill is usually an easier place to purchase as less crowded. Happy travels!

Day 3 - Thursday's fine. Day 7 - is price of gondola the same if taking on small canals rather than grand canal? is it prettier? I believe the price is the same. You can ride the vaporetto up or down the Grand Canal and see as much as on a gondola for a fraction of the price. It looks completely different in daylight and at night, worth doing twice. Day 8 - what would you recommend the top things to visit in only about a day and a half? I think you've picked the best things. I don't know anything about a pub crawl in Venice - is that a tour? If you are willing to be very short on sleep in Venice, you can fit most of it in. I got up at first light and took the vaporetto to St. Mark's Square to watch sunrise over the lagoon (magical) then went back to my hotel for breakfast. If you skip the breakfast, you could go from there to the Rialto (early is best), then back to the Square for the Basilica and the Doge's Palace. You may find you have time for the Correr Museums afterward, it just depends on you. After a day at the Vatican Museums, the Correr would be the lowest priority for me - very good stuff, but "more of the same," so to speak. Do visit the museum in the Basilica. Then after everything closes, you still have the evening for wandering or "cruising" the Grand Canal. Rest on the flight to Paris!! Sounds like a great plan.

Just have to second Chani's advice about getting up early in Venice to watch the sunrise or day break if there is no sun. It's really a special time when you can enjoy a different mood of Venice. I am a photographer so I do that every day when I am in Venice... and each morning is different. Enjoy your trip.
My only comment is you have only cities in Italy and no time for Tuscany (my favorite part of Italy) I know there are only so many days...

pub crawl was mentioned in rick steves book. just tasting the different foods at the pubs. pub hopping.

thanks for all your comments. it definitely helps to know that the itinerary is doable since i've never been there.

We spent 4 nights in Rome; we planned for a trip to Pompei but were decided to bail on that notion when we realized it would take time away from Rome, time that Rome really needed. If you had 5 nights, I would then cheer on the idea of going to Pompei. Rome is action packed and can be very exhausting if you pack in too much in a short period of time. If your trip was mine, I would skip the day trip to Pompei.

I have been to both Rome and Paris for a week each, more than once and there is a lot to see in each city. Lots of walking and museums and seeing the city streets. Very demanding, but well worth it. I have been to Pompeii and it is very nice, but I agree, I would skip it and stay in Rome. Rome is amazing and there is a lot to see and it can be overwhelming. Have a great time.

I have been to both Rome and Paris for a week each, more than once and there is a lot to see in each city. Lots of walking and museums and seeing the city streets. Very demanding, but well worth it. I have been to Pompeii and it is very nice, but I agree, I would skip it and stay in Rome. Rome is amazing and there is a lot to see and it can be overwhelming. Have a great time.

from your suggestions I will take out Pompeii and focus day 4 on ancient rome and day 1 on relaxing and exploring around. thanks for your comments!

You're smart to drop Pompeii. There's just so much in Italy to see. The itinerary is do-able, but you may need a week's vacation when you return home to catch up on your rest. Maybe you can slow down a little when you get to Paris. You have planned well, however be prepared to "roll with the flow" on anything but the major attractions in every city. My best suggestion for Rome is to learn how to negotiate the public transit system including buses and the subway. It's a city people have a tendency to push themselves in. My other suggestion is to read RonInRome.com for his travel experiences there.
You're going to have a great time.