In the Love Venice camp. It is one of those places that is great just to be there--no matter what you do while you are there. Just wandering around the back "streets" is an experience. No other place like it.

Good idea to spend a few days in Rome, to get over the jet lag before you start driving around.

Rent a house in Tuscany or Umbria for a week, to use as a base to see those regions.

Take a cooking class, like this one: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g194843-d2188224-Reviews-Decugnano_Dei_Barbi_Cooking_Class-Orvieto_Province_of_Terni_Umbria.html

Overnight inside a small town, to wake up and see it before the tourists arrive (Todi, Spoleto, San Gimignano, etc).

Anonymous wrote:I'm also planning a first trip to Italy. It's inersting to read such opposite reviews of Venice--people seem to love it or hate it. We're making it a day (or one overnight) trip. And the pp above is the first I ever heard of someone saying to skip Cinque Terra.

I think Venice is sort of a love-hate place. It's a pain to get to, very crowded and touristy, and expensive. It's also very unique and sort of magical. The first time we went was many years ago with January. It wasn't crowded but it was pretty cold. We also had a one year old to lug around. We weren't as savvy at finding good restaurants and we thought it was just ok. We returned a couple years ago for spring break with the kids, now school age, and it was pretty crowded but we had a great time. Better weather, better dining, and able to take better advantage of the city and its atmosphere. We loved wandering and getting away from the heavy tourist zones.

I'm also planning a first trip to Italy. It's inersting to read such opposite reviews of Venice--people seem to love it or hate it. We're making it a day (or one overnight) trip. And the pp above is the first I ever heard of someone saying to skip Cinque Terra.

Last year we spent 4.5 days in Rome (too many but went a couple days ahead of family who were visiting) and then 2.5 days in Positano (too few) and a day in Pompeii.

This year we are spending a day in Naples, 3 days in Capri, and 5 days in Positano (will also visit Amalfi and maybe Ravello).

Earlier trip we spent about 3 days in Venice and 4 days in Florence, which included a day trip to Siena and another day trip to Pisa and Lucca.

If you have never been to Italy I would recommend 3 days in Rome, 2 days in Florence, 1 day in Siena, 1 day in Pisa and/or Lucca (it's possible to see both in one day - both are pretty small and not far apart). Then decision time - a few days in Venice or a few days in Cinque Terre or to Naples/Capri/Amalfi coast.

For me, I wouldn't go to Cinque Terre unless you are a big hiker. Sure, there is the train that goes between the five towns but besides being beautiful we could have avoided it and spent an extra day or two in Sorrento or Capri. The "easy" hike trail was wiped out a few years ago and never rebuilt so we were disappointed. We met many people not prepared for such serious mountain climbing!

Are you city people or not city people? If cities, obviously some great ones here. If in-between I'd put Sienna on the list. If country I'd add to the group saying Cinque Terre. If you do Cinque Terre take ear plugs though - all the hotels near the water are also close to the train track it seemed.

Anonymous wrote:I hated Venice.

In some ways I agree. The smell, the hordes of tourist, the frustration of getting hopelessly lost, the overpriced, mediocre tourist trap food, etc.

That said, it's a place everyone should visit once in their lives if they can if only for a day.

I say the same thing about Rome. For me, it's too crazy, too dirty, too big city. But I'm glad I visited.

Next trip to Italy...basing myself in the lower key, culinary gem of Bologna, eating the best food in Italy, soaking up the student vibe sans hordes of Americans, and visiting less touristy, smaller village towns on Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy.

I hated Venice.

Thank you!!!

Spend a few days in Rome once you arrive. Then, rent a place (a villa or maybe an agritourism place) in western Tuscany or Umbria for a week. You'll be able to use this as a base to travel to the beautiful hill towns, like Siena, Orvieto, Assisi, Cortona, Montepulciano, and many others. Spend a couple days in Florence. Yes, it's overrun with tourists and you should get your tickets ahead of time, but it's not to be missed. Finally, go back to Rome and see anything you may have missed the first time.

OP here. thank you everyone who chimed in..I appreciate all the input!

I did consider an open jaw flight, but went with roundtrip in and out of Rome for convenience.. non-stop on United. I've never been to Italy before.. I won't mind having to go back to Rome for the way back.

I would have done an open jaw flight but too late now

In two weeks I flew into milan, overnights there, did one day, then off to Venice for I think 3 days. From there, Florence for four days.

Then cinque terre for a few days but you also can easily do a day trip into sienna or Pompeii in there somewhere along the way.

Then Rome. Flew home from there.

In hindsight I would have traded a day in Florence for another in Rome. I adored Venice and the CT.

Re: tickets. Small churches sell them too-no waiting. I followed tips from the Rick steves guide for stuff like that. Very helpful.

OP, I'm jealous of your trip! I lived in Florence for five years but have not been back to Italy since my youngest was born...maybe next year.

If you haven't been to Italy before, you must do Rome, Florence and Venice. Yes filled with tourists (not just American) but IMO still magical, historical, necessary. If you have time for a side trip to a smaller town then there are lots of wonderful Tuscan towns to visit that are close to Florence (Lucca, Siena, Montepulciano, etc etc).

Anonymous wrote:Why in the world did you pick flying both in and out of FCO? Sorry but stupid plan. If you plan to visit other area's such as Naples, Florence, Venice etc. then you should be departing from there. Now you have to waste a day taking the train back to Rome.

It may not work for you, but that doesn't make it a "stupid" plan.

And, its just my opinion, but a day on a train traveling through Italy (or most of Europe), is hardly a waste. It's amazing!