Does that itinerary looks ok ?

Hi, my wife and I will be in Italy for 12 nights (July 8 to july 20). We would have take more time, but since we leave the kids with the grandparents for that trip we dont want to exagerate ! We know that july will be hot, but being french teacher (and school psychologist for my wife) doesn't leave us much choice.

We want to enjoy at different pace we would have done with the kids. We want to have good late meals, good wine, see museums, get to historic places ...al things we wouldn't have done with kids, or less done.

It will be our sixth trip in Europe, but the first time in Italy

We have figured and plan this :
5 nights in Rome (our flight arrive at 11:20 july 8). We have found an airbnb in Trastevere (http://fr.airbnb.ca/rooms/2265519) .

For Rome we have plan to : get over jetlag on the arrival day, monday see a bit of centro storico and do a food tour of trastevere (Twilight Trastevere with eating italy food tour), see the colesseum and forum on tuesday ( we have to buy advance tickets first monday of june I think). For wednesday and Tuesday, maybe Ostia antican and Vatican.

Fast train on friday to Florence
4 nights in Florence. Once again Airbnb (http://fr.airbnb.ca/rooms/7070194)

We dont have precise plan for Florence, but we probably do a daytrip to Siena

fast train to Venice (stop for 4-5 hours in Padova to see a friend)

3 nights Venice (http://fr.airbnb.ca/rooms/12013950).
No exact plan for Venice. Our flight home leave at 13:20 on july 20

Does that plan sound ok ?

Yeah sounds fine, don't plan too much in advance though just go with the flow. With the coliseum and Forum we went in the afternoon bought a combined ticket. We did the coliseum that afternoon then the forum next morning, the forum could easily take a whole day if you wanted it to. It is definitely worth hiring the audio guide.

You might want to go straight to Venice then use one of your days their to visit your friend in Padova.

Sounds good to me...why not?

Personally I would take one day from Rome and add it to Venice. Otherwise fine.

Thanks for those answers!

Change one night in Rome for Venice would me to change accoomodations un Florence and Venice because all days before and after are already booked.

Do our accommodations looks fine ? If yes we will keep Them

Looks good to me as well, and I think Rome warrants five nights. A couple of comments:

• high-speed Freccia train tickets are cheaper bought in advance (up to 90 days)
• pre-purchase online tickets for Colosseum/Forum, Vatican, Uffizi Gallery, Doge's Palace
• the Vatican ticket is also the best way to enter St Peter's Basilica (budget 8:00 am to 2: 00 pm ++ for all - and take water and lunch)

Depending on where in Trastevere your apartment is, it might be easier / quicker to take the regional train from FCO Airport, rather than the Leonardo Express. The regionale stops at Trastevere Station, from where you can catch the No 8 tram (light rail) right along Viale di Trastevere.

Can be a lot easier than a bus or taxi from Termini Station. We purchased a three-day public transport pass / ticket on arrival at FCO.

Do our accommodations looks fine ? If yes we will keep Them

Probably better to make your decision based on reviews within Airbnb, rather than from people who have not stayed in them. If you posted precise addresses, people might possibly have a view on their location.

If you can't change your accommodation to match others' advice, there's no point asking for advice, is there?

I would consider one night in Padova. It's a fine city itself, with many historical sites, just less water than in Venice, and less crowds.
Anyway, it's less than half an hour by regional train to Venice.

Some ideas:
- Ostia can be especially intimate right after it has opened in the morning--nice lighting, fewer crowds (it is a big site, so wear comfortable footwear)
- after visiting the Forum/Colosseo, a nice follow-up walk could be to head north up Salita del Grillo toward via Nazionale; this quieter stroll would take you away from the tourist hordes and allow a peek at the more residential Monti neighbourhood; in that area, a great informal restaurant= 'Monticiani' (via Panisperna)
- a particularly attractive walk overlooking Trastevere is available from the Giancolo Hill; tres sympa
- in Venice, a night ride in a gondola is a wise splurge, worth every penny; evocative routes might include San Polo or perhaps Castello
Bonne Chance!
I am done. The end.

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