Rome is great, and has history and the Vatican, but in some ways is like any big cosmopolitan city in any country. I have found Florence and Venice much more distinct and also enjoyed them more. Also both are super walkable and bc they are smaller, you can feel like you get the hang of the neighborhood where you are staying after a couple days or so.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought about the Dolomites, but from my reading the vibe there seems more Austrian than Italian (and nothing wrong with that, in fact I’m sure is great, but this is our first Italy trip), which is why I was thinking CT for an outdoorsy stop. Would love thoughts on that from the posters familiar with the Dolomites- also do you need to rent a car for the Venice-Dolomites leg of a trip?

Will look at those Ligurian beach towns.

Thanks,
OP

Here is an example.

https://www.atlasrideco.com/destinations/italy/finale-ligure

More accessible than Cinque Terre and will be a million times less crowded.

DP- how is that area more accessible than Cinque Terre from Rome, Florence, etc, it looks much farther northwest.

Just generally from the main train lines because it's only 45 minutes from Genoa along a major secondary line along the coast. Cinque Terre takes a few transfers to get to because you have to go to Pisa, then regional line to LA Spezia, then local line to the Cinque Terre.

But yes if starting much further south it's more out of the way. If going to/from Milan or Genoa it's very easy

So you suggest Rome and then either Milan or Genoa, with a couple of days in the Ligurian seaside towns, for our first time trip? I tend to hear people mention Rome, Florence, Venice as the “must’s” for first timers (although that doesn’t make it the right move!).

Thanks again,
OP

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought about the Dolomites, but from my reading the vibe there seems more Austrian than Italian (and nothing wrong with that, in fact I’m sure is great, but this is our first Italy trip), which is why I was thinking CT for an outdoorsy stop. Would love thoughts on that from the posters familiar with the Dolomites- also do you need to rent a car for the Venice-Dolomites leg of a trip?

Will look at those Ligurian beach towns.

Thanks,
OP

Here is an example.

https://www.atlasrideco.com/destinations/italy/finale-ligure

More accessible than Cinque Terre and will be a million times less crowded.

DP- how is that area more accessible than Cinque Terre from Rome, Florence, etc, it looks much farther northwest.

Just generally from the main train lines because it's only 45 minutes from Genoa along a major secondary line along the coast. Cinque Terre takes a few transfers to get to because you have to go to Pisa, then regional line to LA Spezia, then local line to the Cinque Terre.

But yes if starting much further south it's more out of the way. If going to/from Milan or Genoa it's very easy

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought about the Dolomites, but from my reading the vibe there seems more Austrian than Italian (and nothing wrong with that, in fact I’m sure is great, but this is our first Italy trip), which is why I was thinking CT for an outdoorsy stop. Would love thoughts on that from the posters familiar with the Dolomites- also do you need to rent a car for the Venice-Dolomites leg of a trip?

Will look at those Ligurian beach towns.

Thanks,
OP

Here is an example.

https://www.atlasrideco.com/destinations/italy/finale-ligure

More accessible than Cinque Terre and will be a million times less crowded.

DP- how is that area more accessible than Cinque Terre from Rome, Florence, etc, it looks much farther northwest.

Anonymous wrote:I thought about the Dolomites, but from my reading the vibe there seems more Austrian than Italian (and nothing wrong with that, in fact I’m sure is great, but this is our first Italy trip), which is why I was thinking CT for an outdoorsy stop. Would love thoughts on that from the posters familiar with the Dolomites- also do you need to rent a car for the Venice-Dolomites leg of a trip?

Will look at those Ligurian beach towns.

Thanks,
OP

Here is an example.

https://www.atlasrideco.com/destinations/italy/finale-ligure

More accessible than Cinque Terre and will be a million times less crowded.

I thought about the Dolomites, but from my reading the vibe there seems more Austrian than Italian (and nothing wrong with that, in fact I’m sure is great, but this is our first Italy trip), which is why I was thinking CT for an outdoorsy stop. Would love thoughts on that from the posters familiar with the Dolomites- also do you need to rent a car for the Venice-Dolomites leg of a trip?

Will look at those Ligurian beach towns.

Thanks,
OP

We’re doing Rome Venice Dolomites (Near Bolzano) with teens this summer. Seemed a nice blend of city and nature

I could easily do 5 days to a week in the Venice area and kids could go off on their own and explore with the Vaporetto passes.

Anonymous wrote:I did Italy last summer. 10 days wasn’t enough for the three cities we visited. I wish we could’ve slowed down or stayed longer. I could’ve done a week in Florence alone.

Agreed on the length of time. 2 weeks is much better for 3 stops.

The Dolomites for hiking ideas is a good one. I'd also look at some of the Ligurian beach towns between Genoa and Ventimiglia. Many of them have train stations right in the town a few blocks from the beach, and also some nice hiking and mountain biking options up into the hills above. Then from there you can train to Milan to fly back

I did Italy last summer. 10 days wasn’t enough for the three cities we visited. I wish we could’ve slowed down or stayed longer. I could’ve done a week in Florence alone.

Dolomites for the hiking--Bolzano area. It is a several hour train ride from Venice.

Pompeii is an easy day trip from Rome by train. I would do that - you are outdoors and doing a lot of walking, and it’s interesting. I’d skip Venice before Florence.

Get a move on. I am also planning to visit Italy in May. Many desirable accommodations and tours are already fully booked!

OP again with two more requests- one is that we prefer to rent an apt where we stay so the kids can have their own beds/rooms more affordably than 2 hotel rooms, and the other is that our preference is to travel via public transport vs renting a car. Thanks again for any advice.

I’d like to plan an approximately 10 day trip to Italy for my family late May/early June of this year. Kids are b/g graduating college and HS, respectively.

As a family we travel well together and like history, nature, good food and taking our time vs rushing from thing to thing. No one but me enjoys art.

Son enjoys some physical activity in our trips (hiking, bicycling, etc). Daughter enjoys creative activity (I’m picturing a family cooking class).

I’d love your itinerary suggestions for a first-timers visit. The obvious choice seems Rome, Florence, Venice and that may be what we do, but if no one but me is much interested in art I’m wondering if Florence is worth the stop and maybe we insert Cincque Terre instead for the hiking/seaside? We would all love to see Pompeii but it is so far from Rome that I may take the advice on dcum threads and attach that to another trip.

Please send your suggestions my way!