First trip to Italy - help!

[Anonymous]

Interested in going to Italy in April (Easter week) but have never been and overwhelmed with planning. We think we want to go to Tuscany. I tried to look into the weather and it seems it should be getting nice - I am curious if things will be growing yet/ green or if it’s too early in the season (if nothing is growing yet May save this trip for another time of year)

We like wineries, easy to moderate hikes, historical sights, all the normal stuff.

Can anyone share tips for a first trip to Italy? I know that’s a big question. We’ll have 7-10 days. Mid 30s, no kids. I don’t want to do beaches because i love to swim
And want to go again sometime that will be possible

[Anonymous]

Don't try to do too much. Pick maybe two places and a day trip. Like four days for Rome, four days Florence, day trip to Sienna or Montalcino.

[Anonymous]

If you've only got a week or so don't do both Florence and Rome! If you're interested in Tuscany do Florence and Siena, or stay in a villa/AirBNB in the countryside for a few days near a small town. You can fly into Milan and drive down if you want to see a large city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you've only got a week or so don't do both Florence and Rome! If you're interested in Tuscany do Florence and Siena, or stay in a villa/AirBNB in the countryside for a few days near a small town. You can fly into Milan and drive down if you want to see a large city.

We stayed in a rental in Tuscany. We visited Florence and Sienna, but had the most fun in smaller places doing daytrips to Montepulciano, Pienza and Cortona.

[Anonymous]

I’d combine Florence (probably around 3 days) and somewhere close to Montalcino or Montepulciano. We stayed at Castello di Velona and really enjoyed it. They will help arrange spa days and wine tastings for you. Rent a car so you can drive around and explore the small towns in the area.

[Anonymous]

No way would I miss out on Rome for a first visit to Italy if you are interested in historical sites. Easter week is a vacation week for Italians so things will be crowded. It is worth checking schedules ahead of time. They may differ from other times of the years. There are also big sites where you can book a tour to jump the line (coliseum and vatican come to mind).

[Anonymous]

Do Rome, not Tuscany. Reason: DO NOT plan to drive a car there if this is your first visit especially if it's only a week.

You can do plenty from Rome and have more options for train travel to smaller locations for day trips/hikes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No way would I miss out on Rome for a first visit to Italy if you are interested in historical sites. Easter week is a vacation week for Italians so things will be crowded. It is worth checking schedules ahead of time. They may differ from other times of the years. There are also big sites where you can book a tour to jump the line (coliseum and vatican come to mind).

To add to this PP’d advice: If you go during Holy Week, book your tickets to various sites well in advance. The availability that week can be non-existent. Also, be keenly aware of St. Peter’s schedule: there are some seemingly random closings that pop up during that week. If you want to see more of Italy than Rome proper, Orvieto is a beautiful Umbrian town, easily accessible by train from Rome. Ostia Antica is the site of the ancient port, and is also easily accessible by train (not crowded, very peaceful).

[Anonymous]

Seems like I disagree with most posters but we did 4 days in an Airbnb in Tuscany and 4 days in Rome doing traditional sightseeing and we did drive a car. Was totally fine. 2 adults 1 10yo in July.

[Anonymous]

If you’re interested in Tuscany, I would do Florence plus Sienna or another Tuscan town or two. You could do 4 days in Florence and 4 in Rome, but that doesn’t give you much time for hiking, wineries or relaxing.

Do NOT fly in or out of the Florence airport. It’s tiny with short runways and they cancel flights any time there is wind, which is pretty much always. We, along with thousands of other passengers, got stuck there for three days earlier this year. The airport personnel all told us this was norm. Fly through Milan or Bologna. I wasn’t impressed with Milan other than the shopping but if you use the Bologna airport, I would encourage you to spend a night or two there. It’s a lovely, overlooked city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do Rome, not Tuscany. Reason: DO NOT plan to drive a car there if this is your first visit especially if it's only a week.

You can do plenty from Rome and have more options for train travel to smaller locations for day trips/hikes.

I would not drive a car around the cities, especially since parking is impossible, but you do need a car to explore the Tuscan countryside. The best way to travel from Florence to Rome is the high speed train.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do Rome, not Tuscany. Reason: DO NOT plan to drive a car there if this is your first visit especially if it's only a week.

You can do plenty from Rome and have more options for train travel to smaller locations for day trips/hikes.

I would not drive a car around the cities, especially since parking is impossible, but you do need a car to explore the Tuscan countryside. The best way to travel from Florence to Rome is the high speed train.

Agreed- driving outside of the cities is not especially difficult.

[Anonymous]

Holy Week can be completely insane in Southern Europe. Huge crowds, massive parades, lots of things closed. Just fyi. We went to Spain over Holy Week this past April and were not prepared for the chaos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Holy Week can be completely insane in Southern Europe. Huge crowds, massive parades, lots of things closed. Just fyi. We went to Spain over Holy Week this past April and were not prepared for the chaos.

I imagine it wouldn’t be insane in Tuscany though right? Just the cities?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do Rome, not Tuscany. Reason: DO NOT plan to drive a car there if this is your first visit especially if it's only a week.

You can do plenty from Rome and have more options for train travel to smaller locations for day trips/hikes.

I love Rome but it’s a totally different experience than what OP seems to be after in terms of wineries and hikes, and she did say she wanted Tuscany.