What's the best itinerary for a first time visitor to Italy?

Question

I'm thinking about going for about 4-5 days. Never been and have no idea what I should see/do other than the colliseum, etc. I want to dive into the culture, and experience the country as much as possible in this short time. Where are must go spots? I love wine and food, so those are things to do that are on the top of my list.

Answer 1

I'm sure people will tell you that you need 4 or 5 days for Rome itself, but since you want to do a whirlwind tour and see a lot, you're like me.
I would start in Rome, from morning til night, and walk around the center past the Forum and just the streets themselves, just being there and seeing all the buildings and people, is an experience in itself in Rome.
Next morning take a fast train to Napoli, then a local train (Circumvesuviano trains) to Ercolano, an excavated town that's 2000 yrs old that was buried under vocanic ash and you can visit and see amazing houses from the Roman empire. Take a bus or rent a car to go around the amalfi coast. If bus, stop at Positano and take a boat back to Naples, then a train to Florence.
If U rent a car in Naples (or Rome) , you could drive to Ercolano, then around the Amalfi Coast (beautiful, especially Positano), then drive it up to Florence and drop it off there(don't keep the rent a car; turn it in) . Try to get to Florence before sunset and spend a beautiful, romantic evening walking around all Florence's piazza's, sculptures, buildings, and the riverfront. The next morning take a bus or train to Siena (about 1.5 hrs.) and walk around there. Return to Florence in the late afternoon and spend another night there.
The next morning walk around a little in Florence (take in a museum like the Uffici) then get on a train to Venice. Spend the rest of your time there.

If that's a rush, you could cut out the Amalfi coast and Ercolano, (but I highly recommend that part, even more than Florence) or you could cut out Siena, maybe spend 2 nights in Rome, but Rome is very walkable and there's a lot to see in a small area, so one day might be enough if you don't love the density and noise of a big city.
If you rented the car in Naples and drove around the Amalfi coast, you could take in San Gimignano and Siena on the way to Florence.
Buy the book Lonely Planet Guide to Italy!!!

Answer 2

First, given those cities, do not lease a automobile, it really is too severe priced and with no good GPS you would wander off and waste multiple time. Take the prepare, and take it there, they are tender, plentiful and quickly. do not reserve before, the commute brokers oftentimes rip you off doing that and take a huge reduce. Logically, your first stop ought to were Venice reason it really is at the different aspect and then Lake Como, Florence and Rome. notwithstanding, i'm Italian and in case you actually favor to flow to Venice attempt this, flow to Lake Como. Then take the prepare to Venice. Then do Venice to Florence and Florence to Rome. you should be then flying into between the Milan airports or Bergamo. Milan must be extra positive. that is what i ought to point notwithstanding, Lake Como, then Milan, then Verona, then Venice. on the some time previous, Florence, Pisa, Cinque Terre, Rome. i ought to target to get a minimum of Pisa in there.. If constrained then attempt this.. Lake Como, then Verona, then Venice. on the some time previous, Florence, Pisa, Cinque Terre. you should attempt this in 10 days. Please do take a check out Cinque Terre, you could walk from one island to a special. it really is the images you word on calendars. digital mail me in case you want extra information. Have a great and threat-free holiday.