They will even show you another gallery to compensate for the lost time inthe usual location. Skip the line and explore a creepy underground world of Roman tombs and crypts with an expert guide. Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Ireland. I know its a hard call, though! Thanks SO much in advance for any advice you can offer! There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches. See our. Love your pics! Photo credit: MNStudio / Shuttertock.com 2. Our tour started at 9:30 at the Forum and another stop which took about 1.5 hours and ended with the colosseum portion of the tour. Present Day. I was thinking of mid May, but have read that May is pricey. Umbrella Option A: Plan on buying an umbrella when it starts pouring down rain. Tour the Colosseum + Palatine Hill. We want to drive along the entire coast of Italy with possible multi day stops in some of the bigger cities. LOL. At the conclusion of your tour, its customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Hello! Maybe this year it will happen. Italys enduring capital, the epicenter of the fierce Roman Empire Rome is a living, breathing history book. Hi I Loved your itinerary, am thinking of something similar in October for my family. Hi Kate, in your scenariou do you fly back home from Venice or Rome back home. I am so excited! I agree with you that one cant get enough of Italyand this time I really mean it! Board your overnight flight to Naples today. Theyll search both local and international brands that have available cars for your dates, and allow you to compare prices, reviews, and inclusions side-by-side. pick up servicefor a fee, of course, but they would be able to help with the luggage. Avoid the crowds with special access to an area of the Colosseum that's not available to regular Colosseum ticket holders: the Arena Floor. 1 2 3 Before booking check out the different Types of Colosseum Tour and Tickets. You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance. Would love your input, given we will have a car. With a 14 day trip, I would personally be tempted to trim a day from each of those destinations and add in another city (Florence/Tuscany would be my personal first pick), but you certainly dont need to, and you guys know your pace best. Hope you guys have an amazing trip! Naples feels very different from the rest of this Italy itinerary, which focuses on north and central Italy instead of the south of the country, but it is a lovely city with some fascinating things to do, the worlds best pizza, and easy access to Pompeii. The weather is a bit riskier during the spring and fall than during the summer, but we have never had much of an issue with itthe occasional rainy or cool day is worth it to us for the tradeoff of not being hot and crowded, and October is our personal favorite month to visit Italy. With regional trains that stay in one area (just Lazio or just Veneto, for example), the prices are fixed and you can just buy whenever. After the Arena Floor, go on a journey to theColosseum's first and second levels. Hellowe are looking to go in 2023 to Italy and were considering this itineraryWe need to make sure we are in Florence/Tuscany on June 18Is this a bit agressive? The towns are beautiful and distinct, Florence is a dream of a city, the history is interesting, and the golden tinge to the light that you see in pictures of Tuscany isnt photoshopit just really looks like that. If you have your heart set on a gondola ride, though, be sure to budget for it! Uber is available in Rome, but no other city on your itinerary. Cinque terre is captivating in the pics too. But, dealing with luggage on trains is not the easiest especially as we get older. Learn why theancient amphitheaterwas named the Colosseum, plus many more interesting facts. Its definitely tempting to try to stuff too many destinations into too few days, but your trip sounds wonderful. If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team. The attraction to Amalfi Coast is b/c we have heard how beautiful it is- but it does does sound far for a day trip from Rome. Heres the itinerary: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/2-days-in-florence-itinerary/, For day trips, many popular tours include Siena, a small town like San Gimignano, and a winery visit. Hi, Akshay! Thanks! Hope you have an incredible trip. Ah, thats a delightful problem to have but a very hard question to answer! When its noon in New York, its 6pm in Italy and 7pm in Greece. This is amazing blog! Im in Veneto, and so am biased about what I write about Italy. Can you please help me itinerary order. Book customized Europe vacation packages with exciting deals & offers. Hello planning to go in January for 30th bday. Wish someone had advised me then to do that. The food is excellent! Not sure how youre planning on getting around, but Id consider saving some time and flying from Venice back to Romebudget airlines (including Ryanair) fly in/out of both those cities, and if you plan in advance, you may be able to get very low fares. Theres no direct train from Florence to Levanto (the larger village near the Cinque Terre villages), unfortunately, so traveling by train between the two without a car is harder than it appears looking at a map. If your time frame is set at around 2 weeks in Italy, Id consider road-tripping one portion of the country (since you mentioned flying into Venice or Milan, maybe driving from there to a few stops in Tuscany and/or Emilia-Romagna/Veneto/Lombardy along the way depending on what you want to see and then flying to Sicily to close out your trip. We have a very reputable one listed in our Rome day trips guide: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/best-day-trips-from-rome-italy/. Thoughts? First, if you travel by train instead of by car (which I highly recommend for this itinerary), you can travel from Rome to Cinque Terre along the coast without switching trains, and you wont go through Florence or need to double back at all. Enjoy free time in Rome or add an excursion. I know that Rome has a popular childrens museum, as well, and several of the popular hikes in Cinque Terre are doable with your 8 and 13-year-old. Three days in Tuscany gives you a couple of options as far as lodging: you can either stay in Florence the whole time and take day trips out, you can stay in a smaller city the whole time and simply take a day trip to Florence, or you can split it uptwo nights in one city, and one in another. No chance to go to the islands, sadlythe weather didnt cooperate with us too well in Venice. If this happens, we will visit other areas of the Colosseum, and the tour will continue with the same duration. Ages: 13 yrs, 8 yrs, 1yr old. That looks like a wonderful itinerary, and very reasonable for the most part! Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Casa Boccassini! The Ultimate Italy Bucket List: 75 Best Things to Do in Italy, 2 Days in Rome: An Epic & Easy Rome Itinerary, Rome Off the Beaten Path: 30 Epic Hidden Gems in Rome, 25 Best Places to Visit in Italy (+ Map to Find Them! Love for mountains and offbeat places (less crowded) places. Delve into the labyrinth below the Colosseum, where the gladiators and wild animals would be kept to await their fates. Explore the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, Roman Forum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and more! . Its an incredibly unique and beautiful city. Were full-time travel bloggers who have been exploring the world since 2016, visiting 50+ countries across 5 continents along the way. Congrats on your weddingwe got married 5 years ago this June. Travel from Venice to Cinque Terre will likely take an entire day as well, but you could add one Cinque Terre day in between two travel days if youd like! Available entry times in the morning and afternoon. See the best of Rome your way with a private guide, with Sistine Chapel, Trevi Fountain, and more! Experience Romes cocktail culture as you stroll by the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and Trastevere! We would be thrilled to stay again! We are staying in Cortona, Italy in Tuscancy and making day excursions to Florence, Pisa and other towns within a day of Cortona. You'll spend an amazing 1.5 hours exploring the top attraction in Rome with your super-knowledgeable guide. We recommend taking a tour here if at all possibleit truly adds so much context. Sometimes car rental companies ask for it, sometimes they dont (same with the police), but in our opinion, its not worth taking the riskadd this to your list of things to take care of being starting your 2 week Italy trip if you plan on renting a car. Enjoyed your blog. Then, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonights welcome dinner. Could you guys shed some light on car rental and driving in Italy? Italy is absolutely incredible. Learn settings & techniques for capturing the aurora borealis. When traveling long distances in Italysay, from Rome to Venicewe strongly recommend looking into flights. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. What if I have concerns about my mobility? If you have always wanted to see Venice, I do think its worth itno matter how many cities call themselves the Venice of X place, there truly is only one Venice. Hope that helps! Mon-Sun: 10:30 all with the expertise of a local guide, is the ultimate way to experience Rome and the iconic Colosseum. Greece is two hours ahead of GMT and seven hours ahead of ET. Want to see which small group tours are now operating ? Pyramids of Giza: via Alexandria May 21-22, 2024. Personally, our favorite times to travel to Italy are the spring and the fall: the crowds are less than in the summer, spring brings beautiful blooms, and fall brings the olive harvest (after tasting fresh olive oil in Tuscany, I dont know how we ever lived without it). This usually happens in cases of heavy rainfall or an emergency repair. When we were first planning our trip we were trying to pack too much into 14 days. Romes highlights rank among the most famous sights in the world: who hasnt dreamed of seeing the Colosseum in person, of walking across St. Peters Square, and of admiring the masterpiece that is the Sistine Chapel? Ive certainly squeezed extra destinations I couldnt bear to leave out before. I wish to hear from you guys Love from India <3. Appreciate the Vatican masterpieces without the crowds on an after-hours tour with a private guide, Discover the mysterious Roman Catacombs, Capuchin Crypts, and Appian Way on an intimate private tour, Private vehicle from Rome to Pompeii and Mt Vesuvius with private guides, Experience the Vatican all to yourself with exclusive after-hours access and an expert private guide. Purell Hand Sanitizer Weve never been sorry to have this floating around in our day bag. Arrive in the Emerald Isle by way of the Lake District Thats not a service that we offer, but I can say that we used Trenitalia for our train tickets and were very satisfied with them. I like u r article. See the wonders of the Vatican on a tailored private tour with expert guide and skip-the-line entry. Take to the skies on the ultimate VIP Tuscany tour that includes wine tasting and a gourmet lunch, Experience Romes creepy underground tombs and eerie bone displays on this exclusive night tour, Skip the line at the Colosseum and Roman Forum then see the ancient history of Rome on a city tour, Explore the Vatican, St. Peter's Basilica, then see Castel Sant'Angelo, the Pantheon, and more, Save Money by Purchasing a Vatican Tour with our Trastevere Food Tour, Reserve your travel-certified Covid-19 test online today, Discover a Top Collection of Ancient Roman Art with a Private Art Historian Guide, Visit the ruins of Dometian's Stadium below Piazza Navona before seeing the famous Suicidal Gaul, See Judith Beheading Holofrenes and Rome's best collection of paintings. In addition to wearing or bringing clothing that covers your knees and shoulders, it's recommended to wear comfortable shoes. We dont want to be on the go 24-7 but we do want to experience Italy. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information. There are some wonderful day trip options from Rome that you may want to look into since you have 4 full days there (heres a post: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/best-day-trips-from-rome-italy/) but you can easily keep yourselves busy in the city as well! Im actually working on a Pompeii/Mount Vesuvius guide that should be published sometime this month, so be sure to check back for more detail, but heres the short versionit depends on how much time you have. About Our Coalition. Im curious though this is a 14 day itinerary but I believe only 9 days are accounted for in your post. Am I missing any must see places? Visit 3 Iconic, Roman Basilicas with an Expert Guide and Transportation Included. Yes, it's possible, though the information and guidance you get with a tour is certainly worth considering. Check out. All rights reserved. My family and i will have only 5 days in Italy, as a side trip from Germany. Guided tour of the Colosseum with 1st and 2nd tiers. Thanks to Italys (somewhat deserved) reputation for less-than-cautious drivers, some travel insurance companies will not cover you while driving in Italy, or charge an extra fee to do so. Seewhere emperors satand learn the rules of the gladiatorial games for both competitors and spectators. Were good travelers and are flexible, and yet this shouldnt be a wild ride it should have an easy pace but be full of sights, sounds, tastes, and discovery. This beautiful hotel is located in the heart of Fira, the capital of Santorini. Whether you want to splurge on a private gondola ride, opt for the mid-range shared gondola option, or stick to a budget and tour the Grand Canal via vaporetto, theres a canal option open to you. We put this itinerary together based on several months traveling in Italy, so its hard to extrapolate out what we would have spent. on the way to Florence from Venice? I have sent this to my partner and I hope he reads it, I have dreamed of coming to Italy since I was a young girl. As a co-pupil of Raphaels under master Perugino, Pinturicchio had a penchant for embedding fake jewels and other three-dimensional objects like metal saddle studs in his frescoes. Over 40 people watched in silence as a monk repeatedly penetrated my flesh. After centuries of looting and neglect, Pope Benedict XIV declares the Colosseum a sacred place and forbids any further damage. After leaving Rome, head north to Cinque Terre for coastal views, hiking, adorable fishing villages, and plenty of fresh seafood. If you only have right around 2 weeks in Italy and dont want to cut any other destinations, you can do Pompeii as a day trip from Rome. Playing over one hundred shows in Europe, the Americas, Australasia and Africa. Thanks! Or trustworthy websites to try? . Would you be aware of any reason for that? At the start of your tour, you'll follow your guide to the Bramante Courtyard, designed by Donato Bramante. How do you feel about this choice of month? Hello, it was nice reading your and other peoples ideas. Personally, wed first cut Cinque Terre (especially if youre visiting outside the summer season), leaving the trifecta of Rome-Florence-Venice intact. ), 2 Days in Florence: The Ultimate Itinerary, 75 Fantastic & Fun Things to Do in Florence. Will Dolomites be accessible in early May? Final touches are added to the Colosseum. I know its not an ideal season for sightseeing and getting around, but would you recommend including Catania or Malta in the itinerary during that time of the year? Yes, I can definitely see how the luggage on and off trains can be difficult. As for where to go the week after the wedding, youre right that your dream list is a bit long, but which areas you pick are totally up to you! To help with budgeting on the ground, we put together this post: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/trip-to-italy-cost/. Travel Journal If you want to keep a travel journal, but cant commit to a huge amount of writing each night, I recommend theOne Line a Day JournalIve been using it for more than a year now and adore it! Follow in the footsteps of the ancient Romans on a guided tour of the Eternal City. Latest news from around the globe, including the nuclear arms race, migration, North Korea, Brexit and more. Kate, Thank you so much this has been enormously helpful! And/or add in any day trips? You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times, as well as getting in and out of boats and ferries. Appreciate your thoughts! I totally agree about heading to see the Alps, the Dolomiti is a must too. Follow in the footsteps of the ancient Romans on a guided tour of the Eternal City. If so, where is that at? Hope that you guys have a wonderful trip, and happy graduation to your daughter! Does the Vatican ever experience unexpected closures? However, if flights are much more expensive that way vs booking a round trip ticket, you can also take the high-speed train from Venice back to Rome to fly out. Hope you get to go back, Archana! Here on Our Escape Clause, we are dedicated to helping travelers plan their adventures. I havent personally taken a whole trip in Italy alone, but I have many friends who travel solo as women in Italy and love it, and Ive never had any big problems going out alone, etc. Both of those options sound amazing, so itll really just be down to personal preference! Your wish list sounds amazing but honestly, with 20 nights thats probably going to be a bit too much. Oh, it must be so much fun to live in Italy! For example, some of the best photos of the Trevi Fountain, Colosseum, and Spanish Steps that weve taken were snapped around dawn! Also, this will be our honeymoon! You will need to walk a bit to the metro stopbut since the walk will take you through the heart of the beautiful Centro Storico, we doubt youll mind. Michelangelo painted more than 600 figures in all, and the sheer magnitude of his endeavor is mind-blowing. I discovered your blogsite recently and this is really amazing I wanted a favor from you guys, I will be travelling to Italy soon, for some office work in mid march. Well-reviewed and boasting exceptionally clean rooms, Hotel Condotti is the perfect choice for a traveler with a midrange budget (or even a luxury travelerthis hotel also holds some impressive looking suites!) 2020 The Roman Guy. Please keep current exchange rates in mind. Question Should we decrease time in Rome to add 1-2 nights in Naples or Sorrento to see Amalfi Coast? Really, any city or reasonably-sized town that appeals to you is a great option. Do the 3 chimney hike, you will not be disappointed! Is it driver friendly with interpretable directions? Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Danieli! We just really dont have interest in Venice (I know its weird) but would you suggest we could easily sub in Milan/Como for Venice? Sometimes the Colosseum closes access to the more restricted areas with little notice. See the best of Rome your way with a private guide, with Sistine Chapel, Trevi Fountain, and more! 9/10 and then work our way down to Florence, CT, Rome.. but now i am wondering if i should fly to Venice on 9/10 after a good nights rest instead of train to save time.. its the same price! We typically focus on travel in the USA and Europe (especially in our beloved Italy), but feature destinations across the world! He is a huge history and art buff, I am definitely planning on including Rome, Florence/Tuscany and Venice from your 2 week itinerary. Hey Amanda! Plane tickets will be incredibly dependent on where you are flying from in the USALas Vegas, Orlando, NYC, Chicago, Atlanta, and sometimes Boston are all places to check for budget airline flights if youre looking to save cash and those are an option for you. Bargello Guest House Located in the heart of Florence, this property is only a short (read: less than 5-minute) walk away from some of Florences highlights like the Palazzo Vecchio. There is no refund given if the Arena Floor portion of the tour is closed. Maybe we should do 5 days in Paris and the rest in just Rome and Florence? We are heading to Italy for a wedding in Volterra. Tony. The Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps: what do all of these famous things to do in Italy have in common with each other? We will be there for a total of 13 nights. How long would you spend there and where would you stay to include this stop. Prices will be at their lowest, and crowds will be as small as they ever get. Hi Kate, So happy I stumbled upon your blog most helpful of everything Ive found online so far! If you want to squeeze it all in, Id recommend either starting in Paris or ending in Rome, or vice versa. You'll begin your tour by meeting your local guide at the top of the stairs outside of Caff Vaticano, which is across from the Vatican Museums. If you need to book more than 7 guests on this tour, contact us at [emailprotected] (On Any Budget), The Perfect Tuscany Road Trip Itinerary (+ Important Driving Tips! Truly my favorite part of my job is knowing I help people plan their trips. Your 3-hour tour includes: Skip-the-line Colosseum tickets. Take This Map With You! We leave for our first Italy trip next week! The latest Lifestyle | Daily Life news, tips, opinion and advice from The Sydney Morning Herald covering life and relationships, beauty, fashion, health & wellbeing That being saidthere are a million ways to get off the beaten path in Rome no matter when you visit, and while touristic hotspots like the Colosseum and Spanish Steps are nearly always crowded, fascinating places like the Capuchin Crypt, the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, plus the neighborhoods of Testaccio, Ostiense, and Monti in general, are just a few of the many great places to enjoy Rome without dense crowds. If you need to cut a second destination, let geography be your guide, and trim off whichever destination will take the most time to reach based on your travel plans. Walking Tour of Basilica of S.M., Tiber Island, Ancient Crypt, Synagogue (outside), and Jewish Pizza! Tickets are sent via email. Hotel Ariston offers members an urban hub with the convenience of public transportation to major sites including the Colosseum, Fori Imperiali, and Santa Maria Maggiore. The visit will either take place on the evening of day 11 or 13 depending on the ferry schedule. Budget flights within Italy can help keep costs downfor inexpensive tickets and airlines, look for flights to and from Rome, Pisa, Bologna, Milan, and Venice. If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. Thanks, guys! If youre looking to start with hustle and bustle and then end with somewhere relaxing, Id recommend starting with the Amalfi Coast and then heading onto Umbria! Whilst the best-known landmarks, such as the Colosseum, are prominent and well-known, there are many lesser-known, but no less fascinating, remains to be seen. I dont know the cruise itinerary, but I would imagine that the cruise will focus more on natural beauty + beaches, and a a trip to Rome would be more focused on history (with still a sprinkling of beaches in that week if you hit up Cinque Terre). I will need everything bought ahead of time and planned out to the T so I wont be stressed. AD 82. A travel Expert will get back to you to arrange all the details. An Europe trip is a travellers dream! Or maybe you know a place that doesnt require a week stay in Tuscany? However, you will definitely pay for the privilegeits expensive, and there will be crowds in May, especially if you go toward the end of the month. The room was simple but clean, and the shared bathroom a fair trade in exchange for their competitive prices in a great location in Cannaregio. It was an amazing trip and I want to go back too. . See our, Rome in a Day Tour with Colosseum and Vatican Museums, Colosseum Underground Tour with Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, Privileged Entrance Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel, Complete Vatican Combo Tour with Sistine Chapel & Dome Climb, Skip the Line Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel, Private Skip the Line Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and St Peter's Basilica Tour, VIP Colosseum at Night Tour with Underground and Arena Floor, Day Trip From Rome to Pompeii and Sorrento, Private Colosseum Tour with Arena Floor, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica Private Tour, Detailed Itinerary Vatican in a Day Tour with Sistine Chapel, Trastevere and Jewish Ghetto Private Rome Tour, Private Full Day Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica, Private Pompeii & Sorrento Day Trip from Rome, Private Transfer from Rome to Amalfi Coast with Tour of Pompeii, Vatican Highlights Tour with Sistine Chapel, History of Christianity Tour with Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and Catacombs, Privileged Entrance Colosseum Tour with Roman Forum & Palatine Hill, Private Rome in a Day Tour with Colosseum & Vatican Museums, Private Family-Friendly Vatican and Sistine Chapel Tour, Private Family-Friendly Rome Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour, Ultimate St. Peter's Basilica Dome Climb and Tour with Papal Crypts, Private Vatican Highlights Tour with Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica, Ancient Rome Tour with Colosseum Arena Floor & Catacombs Tours, Colosseum Arena Floor with Trastevere Local Food Tour Combo, Rome Walking Tour with Pasta Making Class and Lunch, Vatican at Closing Time Tour with Sistine Chapel, Colosseum Underground plus Belvedere Top Level Tour, Sistine Chapel, Vatican Gardens & Castel Gandolfo Day Trip, Private Early Entrance Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel, Rome Evening Cocktail Tour with Local Guide, Vatican Under the Stars Private Evening Tour with Sistine Chapel, Pompeii & Mt. I have always been fascinated by Italy and its historic colosseum. Greece operates on the European standard 220-240 volts and uses Types C, E, or F plugs with two small, round pins. Travel to your hotel on the Sorrento peninsula. Cinque Terre looks particularly interesting too. Hi there, I am taking my wife for 2 weeks coming up next month. Both are phenomenal, neither is objectively better. I like that we started in Italy first then on to Greece. While technically you can make it work (especially using day trips), that will be a very exhausting trip and the coastal destinations wont be at their best in March. Vicki, A day in Cinque Terre on the way to Florence, perhaps but youd need a whole day, and likely need to spend a night. When you are mapping out distances to travel between destinations use Google maps or Rome2Rio. Thanks Kate Storm , Your article is so incredibly helpful. Your travel blog is perfection! You'll explore the 2,000 year old palaces and learn stories of Rome's rich and famous. Greece is beautiful, windy and dry. Thanks for the great ideas and tips. Raphael encompassed the ideals of a Renaissance man and frescoed multiple rooms inside of the Vatican Museums. Should we add a city worth seeing or is it too spread out to really enjoy it? We want to go to Venice, but have also heard that there are new laws for tourists and how expensive it is during this time of year. Its also one of our favorite places in the world, so Im a bit biased. I have been before and love the trains and agree with all. This time were going to Umbria area and the Amalfi coast probably 14 days total. Enjoy a boredom-free Vatican private tour that's perfect for kids, with treasure hunt and fun guide, Bring the Colosseum to life on this interactive kids tour with a treasure hunt and fun local guide, See St. Peters Basilica up close and climb the dome for the best views of Rome and the Vatican, See the best of Rome with the comfort of your own private vehicle and a dedicated local tour guide, Explore the Vatican before the crowds on an early morning private tour with your own expert guide, Skip the line and gain quicker access to the Vatican so you can explore at your leisure, Explore the history of Rome and save money with our combined Colosseum, Forum, and Catacombs tour. The logic for going to Cinque Terre before Florence is two-fold. Beautiful photos to accompany the post too! Group great. We will likely be hitting the high points when it comes to museums and churches. A friendly representative will be there holding a sign with our company name on it. If youre looking to stay right on a canal in Venice without paying luxury prices, we can heartily recommend Hotel Lisbona: the building is beautiful and definitely has that oh-wow-Im-in-Venice effect (especially when you look out the windows), the customer service great, and the included breakfast tasty. The fastest trains on that route take just under 4 hours, but youd need to book those tickets in advance. Personally, Id strongly recommend cutting a couple of destinations from your list. We ask both men and women to cover knees and shoulders, otherwise the Vatican might refuse entry to religious sites and youll miss out on a portion of your tour. A travel Expert will get back to you to arrange all the details. Email Updates. We actually put this itinerary together based on a couple of months worth of travel in Italy, so we didnt follow these steps exactly in order (though weve visited all of these destinations, some more than once! Here are a few very well-reviewed properties to consider during your time in Cinque Terre: Luciano Guesthouse (Riomaggiore) This is where we stayed during our most recent visit to Cinque Terre, and we cant recommend it enough! Could I ask what your final budget was for travel and accommodation / tickets etc please? I was in Rome, Florence, Siena and San Gimignano for about ten days, 25yrs ago and have been dreaming of going back ever since!! Skip-the-line tickets to the Vatican Museums, Pio Clementino and the best of the Vatican's galleries, Available entry times in the morning and afternoon. Weve visited Tuscany both ways: by staying in Florence and commuting out, and by staying near Lucca and commuting into Florence for a day trip. Really enjoyed it, would definitely recommend. It's ideal for travelers who prefer tours later in the day but still want a fun, comprehensive Vatican experience with a super-knowledgeable guide. Restoration work begins in earnest. For Pompeii itself, you really only need one day, and with some solid planning, a base in Naples, and an alarm clock, you can squeeze in a visit to the crater of Mount Vesuvius or Herculaneum that day as well. We are looking to surprise our daughters with a trip next summer and you have covered everything on our wish list. Sit back and savor the good life in Sorrento and on the Isle of Capri, then watch as history comes to life in Rome and Athens. You'll explore the 2,000 year old palaces and learn stories of Rome's rich and famous. If he has his heart set on seeing them, Id consider swapping one of these destinations for the mountains! And, without knowing I almost followed your first-time visitor itinerary. We are flying into Venice ( award travel) and was planning to stay 2 nights, then stay 5 nights in Tuscany and then head to Positano for 5 nights. Small restoration work begins. Summer is the most popular season and will bring warm weather, lots of sunshine, and lots of tourists. As the villages of Cinque Terre are fishing villages at their heart, the seafood here is also absolutely delicious. Cities and small quaint charming towns are superb; we can probably skip coastal towns on this trip since we live near the beach in FL If you disagree, do speak up! Hotel Lungarno Nestled right against the Arno River and home to one of the best views of the Ponte Vecchio in Florence (not to mention some of the best views of the rest of Florence from their top deck), Hotel Lungarno is our personal if we everreallywant to splurge hotel in Florence. If this happens, your guide will make up the time at other areas within the Vatican. What Does a Trip to Italy Cost? See the Colosseum and ancient Rome like a VIP, with Gladiators Gate, Temple of Caesar, and more! Your assigned time slot could be 30 minutes outside of the one you chose. Its up to you and how the flights work to/from your destination. Get special access to the Underground dungeons and Arena Floor on this guided small group tour, Enjoy early access to see the Raphael Rooms, Creation of Man, St. Peter's Basilica, and more, Climb St. Peter's Basilica, explore the Papal Crypts, and skip the line at the Vatican Museums, See the bucket-list Vatican attractions and St. Peter's Basilica with start times throughout the day, Enjoy a tailored VIP Vatican experience with early entrance and a dedicated private guide, See a different perspective of the Colosseum and Roman Forum with no crowds at night, Explore the famous buried city and dive into the Amalfi Coast on this unmissable day tour from Rome, Join a culinary guide to indulge in tasty cheese, pasta, gelato, wine, and authentic food of Rome. This will be the first time in Italy for my husband and near-adult kids ages 16 and 18. Other than weather, etc, if you want to include either Catania or Malta in your trip, the other two things Id check on are flights (many budget flights to/from beach destinations are seasonal and wont be running in November), and for Malta, whether anything you want to do is closed for the season. Italy is such a cool destination and this is the perfect guide to plan a trip in two weeks. Hotel Condotti Located just around the corner from the Spanish Steps (and consequently the Piazza di Spagna metro station), you couldnt ask for a better location in Rome! Photo credit: MNStudio / Shuttertock.com 2. Hi Kate, very helpful blog indeed, thanks. The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. Join a local guide to see the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and so much more on this Rome e-bike tour, Get your dough on in an authentic Roman kitchen and see Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and Pantheon, Explore the Vatican with fewer crowds in the late afternoon, Includes Palatine Hill, Roman Forum, and newly opened tunnels, Travel to the Popes summer residence by train after an in-depth Vatican Gardens and museums tour, Enjoy a unique opportunity to visit the Vatican after hours without the crowds, Get privileged access to the Vatican on a VIP early morning private tour with St. Peters Basilica. If youre open to budget airlines, be sure to check Pisaits about 20-30 minutes outside of Florence, and most of the budget airlines fly there instead of directly to Florence. Just a 5 minute walk away, their lunch special offered a choice of about 10 main courses plus bread, wine, and one of several desserts for 8 Euros/personits hard to beat that! This tour visits Italy and Greece. Im wondering if it would be a better plan to split the time between Venice and Florence and plan to see Rome during a trip during a shoulder season (we also have 2 weeks available to travel after Christmas ). Spend a final morning in Santorini before flying back to Athens. Thank you for the information. If you find yourself with more time in Italy, consider heading to the South Tyrol region to experience the Dolomites (also known as the Italian Alps). Have you ever cruised the coast of Italy ( i want to see as much as possible going for 2 weeks) and know we cant see it all but wondered how a cruise (small less then 300 people) might help us see all those amazing sights on the water 7 day then heading into shore and seeing the other parts of Italy. , Hi Karen, Thanks for your advice. Weve personally only visited Venice in the late fall, so we havent experienced the summer crowds ourselvesbut we know they are intense. Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they wont confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges. Escape the city on a VIP private day trip to Tivoli, with Villa dEste, Hadrians Estate, and more! Arguably the most famous of Cinque Terres villages due to its postcard-worthy view, Manarola is the perfect place to watch the sun sink behind the sea (preferably with a glass of local wine in hand). Im sure it comes with its challenges as well, like any destination, but if we could pick somewhere to live for a year, Italy would be VERY high on the list! Hey! The trip was an amazing experience for my wife and I. Take a ferry to Santorini to see it all alongside a local expert. Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for excursions. Gelato forever! You'll visit some of the most famous Roman Forum buildings including the Temple of Julius Caesar, Arch of Titus, the Roman Senate House, and more. My plan ( which can be tweaked ) is to fly into ROME March 2 arriving 7 am and fly out March 16 at 11 am. Im Matt adventure travel photographer, professional blogger, and digital nomad. ), feel free to stay in whichever one appeals the most, or even in nearby Levanto to save a tiny bit of cash. Hi. A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing. Unfortunately, I didnt note the name of the winery at the time, but there are similar views all throughout the area! We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter. Etc over buses. Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour. Modern technology and techniques are used in an attempt to restore the Colosseum to its former glory. You can purchase skip-the-line tickets to the Galleria dell Accademia here and to the Uffizi here. Venice is divided into six districts, or sestieri, and each sestiere has its own distinct flavor and beauty. Weve worked for a month at a time from Rome, Florence, and Bologna, and for a week from many, many places including Naples, Palermo, Otranto, Verona, Venice basically, the sky is the limit! The Uffizi Gallery (home of the Birth of Venus) and the Galleria dellAccademia (home of Michelangelos David) are both home to undisputed world treasures that deserve to be admired during your 2 weeks in Italy. Check out the video, and dont forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel for more adventures! 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