Italy Itinerary - help

so you think you can see Tuscany in 1 day?

substracting travel time you will have even less time per city. the obvious recommendation is: drop at least one and perhaps two destinations. Travel is not about 'hitting' as many destinations as you can so you can see you've been there. Once can easily spend a week in Rome without getting bored- and a few leisurely days on teh amalfi coast, making drips along the coast and going for pleasant walks.

In July the Amalfi coast will be bedlam. Typically thetraffic jam will snake al lthe way from Amalfi itself to Solerno in one direction, and to Sorrento and beyond in the other. Just hope you enjoy sitting in non moving traffic - sweltering in the unforgiving sun. Amalfi coast is best seem out of season - and to be avoided completely at the height of the season.
Use the time you save to see more of Tuscany - which will also be crowded with Brits etc - but it is easier to hide away from the crowds - even in the middle of summer

David

I am going in may.
what is the best way to see tuscany if you dont have a car?
i am staying in siena for five nights 1km outside the city centre.
Then i am off to CT for a few days.

Hi there -

We just finished up in Rome and spent 8 days here and it still wasn't enough. There is so much to see in one city. In order to even really see Rome, it takes at least 5 days. You're coming at the height of tourist season and it's going to be a nightmare to get anywhere much less all the lines you will be standing in. It took us over 2 hours in line to get to the Vatican Museums. The Colosseum line is super long and everything is just so crowded. Keep in mind too that Italians aren't interested in rushing anywhere so sitting down for a meal is a minimum of an hour and a half. I would reccomend you just pick one or two of the cities that you mentioned above and see all the sights there. You will have a much better experience and instead of spending a lot of time on the trains and busses, you'll be able to actually enjoy the city and Italian culture. You can check out our blog at www.onesweetearth.com for more info on our trip to Rome. We plan on writing a do's and dont's on Rome/Italy later on this week in our blog too.

Have fun!

Too much in a few days. Choose only or Florence and Tuscany ( 3 days, at least, in Florence - 1 day Pisa and Lucca - 1 day Siena - 1 day San Gimignano, Certaldo, Volterra - 1 day Montalcino, Montepulciano - 1 day Arezzo) or Roma and Amalfi Coast ( 4 days in Roma, the others on Amalfi coast and Naples).
Ciao ciao

I'd go to Amalfi coast on another trip - it doesn't compare with your other destinations. Maybe even leave Rome for another time too.

As much as I love it, I agree with #2 & #6 that I would definitely drop the Amalfi Coast. July will be horribly crowded along the Amalfi Coast (and pretty much everywhere else). By the way #4, although Rome can be crowded in the Spring, one reason it may have been particularly crowded is because of Easter if you just got back.

Not sure where you're flying in and out of. Assuming its Rome for both ... I'd spend 3 days in Rome then overnight train, if possible (if not, take late train) to Venice. Spend days 4 & 5 in Venice, then early train on day 6 to Florence. See Florence on days 6 & 7 (make ticket reservations for museums on line in advance!!), transfer to Siena evening of day 7, see Siena day 8, stay all night there and then go back to Rome on day 9. I'm not saying it's ideal, but if I had 9 days and was determined to see the "Big 3" plus one hilltown, that's what I'd do and how I'd allocate my time. You are going at peak season, so the lines and crowds will be miserably long. Trying to tack on the Amalfi Coast in this amount of time would be sheer lunacy.

Good luck!

Zilla37 --- I would recommend posting your question separately to get more responses.

The only place with respite from the heat in July will be the Amalfi coast.

Venice in particular is terrible in the heat (plus that smell!)

Everywhere in Italy has good food & wine. Best nightlife is in Rome. For shopping either Rome or Florence are good.

Rome has unbeatable history & sights.

So if I was you I’d spend 5 days in Rome – take in the sights, go out and night and do some shopping. Then I’d spend 4 days in the Amalfi coast relaxing on the beach and eating & drinking well (maybe take in Pompeii)

Did you say wine?! Just a few suggestions:

Montalcino: BRUNELLO (very strong red)
Montepulciano: NOBILE (my favorite red in the world)
San Gimignano: VERNACCIA (amazing white)
or enter the Chianti Area and... get lost.