Italy at the end of June - from Nice to Venice & Rome and back in 11 days -- Please help!!!

[lacey baker]

I'm planning on traveling to Italy at the end of June. I will be heading there from Nice. I have not spent much time in Italy and wanted to know where I should go and see. I also wanted to find out if driving is worth it or if I should take the the train. Rome is on my list as well as Venice. Wanted to get some ideas of points in between. I have 11 days to spend before I must return to Nice. Help!!!

[Villa in Umbria]

Hi, think having a car is always handy in Italy. Only if you will be visiting big towns you can use public transport and be better of. However, Italy has lovely small hill towns as well that are worth visiting.
Big towns like Rome and Venice are very nice. Also beautiful are Parma, Firenze, Siena, Verona ... and many more.

[Hugh C. Barton]

Lacey: You can do this by car. Drive from Nice down the coast to Pisa, see the sights and stay overnight at the Royal Victoria Hotel on the banks of the Arno. Next day continue on the coast road to Rome.Several Tripatini folks have hotels in Rome..suggest two full days and nights. Then head north to Umbria and a few days in an agritorismo to explore that area and the Chianti region. From here to Venice where you can park your car for at least three days. Then one more overnight in Florence for a day before the drive back to Nice. I think that's about 11 days....have a wonderful time

[Anil]

I would take the train, and enjoy stress free inter-city travel, and spend that time lounging in an outdoor cafe sipping wine, having ciccihetti and enjoy the scene go past by. I'd fly from Nice to Napoli, then rent a car, drive through Amalfi coast and land up in Rome three days later, drop off the car. Spend three days in Rome, take the train to Florence, two nights in Florence, take the train to Venice and end your holidays there.

[Max Pesling]

I agree with Anil: I would take the train. Train travel in Europe is delightful, and driving, especially in Italy, is not for the faint of heart. I'm a good driver, and one of the most horrifying experiences of my life was driving in Rome. That being said, if you really want the freedom and flexibility of driving, I would recommend always parking on the outskirts of major cities (go online to find suitable places like train stations near public transportation first!) and taking public transport into the center.

When on the highway, be aware that Europeans take the SLOWER-TRAFFIC-STAYS-IN-THE-RIGHT-LANE rule religiously. The left lane is used only for passing; and if your toodling along in the left lane at speeds under 120 k/h, you will constantly find aggressive drivers riding 6" from your rear bumper and flashing their lights to tell you to get out of the way.

It's actually a better way of driving, in the sense that the left lane really should be only for passing. I wish we Americans did that more.

[Travel With a Mate.com]

I did this journey by train and i'd recommend it. The train is just as pretty a journey as the road plus you have the added bonus of you and your travel companions being able to relax and enjoy the view, as well as eat on the move.

Coming in to Venice by train is a treat too. Plus i love the hustle and bustle of a train station. The trains are very clean, very fast and very easy. You can also stop at Florence on the way. Get yourself a railpass and you'll save money.

Hope this helps.

[Alan Broadbent]

Hi Lacey
I have organised several bespoke trips in Italy and driving is by far the most fun way to see the country. I recommend using Rome as your base and branching out from there to Florence, Venice and Naples. Regards, Alan

[David Paul Appell]

You know, train versus driving is always a tradeoff in any European country, and Italy is no exception. It so depends on where you're planning to go -- is it the usual urban highlights such as Rome, Venice, Florence, Milan? Train, definitely -- no muss, no fuss, not expensive. But if you'd like to venture to spots like rural Tuscany or Umbria -- which are absolutely fantastic, without a doubt -- you'll need a car, because a train can get you to Florence, but not to the hinterland. One compromise could be to take trains but where you want to get into the hinterland (Florence/Tuscany comes to mind), rent a car locally. Keep us posted please!

[Nan Devlin]

I recommend not driving if you haven't been to Italy before. As an itinerary, from Nice, take an overnight train to Venice, or better yet, stop off in Lake Como and spend two days exploring, then on to Venice for 2 days. From Venice, head to Sienna and make it a base for exploring small towns in Tuscany, 3 days. Then on to Rome for a 2-3 days. On your journey back to Nice, stop off in the Cinque Terra and enjoy those five small villages for 2 nights. You'll see both city and country in an 11-day visit.

Have fun!

[Allan Lynch]

If you're going to do the cities, then skip the car. For a North American driver, they are nightmares! Gas/diesel is expensive and parking is even more expensive. If you want a carefree time, take the train. Travel light, don't be fumbling with heavy bags. Rome has a subway system and friendly bus drivers (I had one who yelled out the name of a bridge where I was to meet friends). I cannot imagine driving in this city.

We had rented a villa in Tuscany. A group of us met in Rome, did some sight-seeing on foot and using the subway. If you go to the Vatican in the morning, you'll be in long line ups. Go after lunch and you get in much more quickly. BTW, there's a really good restaurant across the street from the Coliseum with outside tables. Turn right when coming out of the subway.

Because we had the villa we rented cars. We did that from here and picked them up at the airport. It was cheaper and slightly less harrowing than trying to navigate traffic in the city. On their freeways, well, I don't know what the speed limit is - we just gripped the wheel and tried to keep up. Friends of mine also rented a villa in Tuscany and said they would never again bother with a car. They found out that a local bus came by every hour, and they felt it would be less stressful to have used it. A car is nice in many small and rural areas, but if you're city hopping Rome, Venice, Florence, Sienna, I would look at trains and local bus services. That way you can relax, sit and have a glass of wine and not worry about drinking and driving or the cost or where you left the car and if it was in a tow zone ...

If you are going between Rome and Venice, then you can't really miss Florence. Plan a day or two here. It's worth it.

[TED JONES]

No question - train between main cities and rent a car locally - or take local wine etc. tours. There's a great overnight sleeper service between Nice and Rome and also one to Venice. But beware ... the return sleeper from Rome to Nice does not leave from Rome's Stazione Centrale - it departs from an out-of-town terminal, the name of which escapes me (check with Trenitalia.it in case I'm out of date). Excellent service - breakfast in Nice included - so long as you don't do what I did and wait at deserted Rome Central for train that never was! Great trip. Tedjon