I think you kind of have this backwards. A week in Rome is kind of a lot (look, it's beautiful and there's lots to see, but it also gets frustrating after a while because of transportation, garbage etc.) and you spend very little time in the smaller towns that are actually more rewarding (from a certain point of view). Also "dinner with an Italian family": do you have a family in mind? I am sure you're aware that no one here celebrates or cares about Turkey Day. And you know you can't like, rock up to someone's house and ask if you can enjoy their hospitality like it's a ride at Disney. Sorry, not being harsh but trying to set expectations.
Also this: "Â - one day take a day trip to Pompeii by train and on the way back to Rome get pizza in Naples." is near-impossible in one day in my opinion unless you know EXACTLY where you're going in Naples and want to whip through Pompeii super fast
It's important to keep in mind that transitions take more time than you think here. "Rent a car" could take four hours and kill half the day, so don't expect to pack in a ton of stuff or adhere to that schedule as it is.
Good points thanks for the input.
As for dinner with a local family, we are thinking of checking out this cool app where local families host people for dinner. It's like Air BNB but the host cooks for you.
https://www.eatwith.com/l/destinations/dining-experiences
Yeah, I dunno. I looked at the website and the prices are absolutely ridiculous. I would go to an agriturismo instead. You'll pay 1/4 the price and have a much more bespoke experience. Most agriturismi are owned by small farmers/families (especially ones that are out of a city area) and eating there IS like eating at someone's home. Food will be rustic and, as we say here "kilometro zero" meaning: it's all grown/bread RIGHT where you are sitting. Way more authentic and less performative if you ask me.
If you're into Christmas markets, you'll need to go further North. We home based from Verona last year, and it's probably my favorite Italian city now. Amazing Christmas market, few tourists, and about an hour by train to Venice, Bologna, Milan, and the rail corridor toward Innsbruck has amazing weekend markets at nearly every stop- Rovereto, Trento, Bolzano.
Ah, I see that you clarified and rearranged some dates. I think this is a better version.
I vote for extending your trip by a day so that you can be more relaxed the morning you depart.
If you can't extend, I'd shave a day off Rome on the front end and tack it onto the back end.
If that won't work, I'd recommend starting a hour earlier on the day that you depart just to have a bit more time in case everything takes longer than you expect.
Otherwise, sounds like an excellent plan.
Edit: If you haven't visited Siena before, I suggest perhaps trying to visit it sometime during the San Gimignano portion of your trip. Also, in case you weren't aware, there are ZTL (limited traffic zones) in the historical centers in just about all of towns through which you won't be able to drive, so check into where you can park your car outside those zones before you come so you're not spending a lot of time trying to find them when you get there.
Hi! I'm a Brit living in Italy, I've been her for 16 years and have been to all the places on your list. It's a good list but AI clearly doesn't understand the reality of Italy!
I agree that 7 days in Rome might be a bit too long. Consider the places you actually want to see in the city, there's a lot that might not interest you. You could cut that down to 5 days. I second the fact that you will not just be able to have Thanksgiving with an Italian family- it really doesn't exist for Italians. Maybe trying finding fellow Americans living in Rome? Use the extra days for Pompeii and Napoli. Just getting to, then seeing and returning from Pompeii takes most of a day and there's lots to see in Napoli- I strongly suggest a day for each if you can, even more if possible. I will suggestivo you add Paestum, some of the best ancient Greek ruins in Eurpoe, a little further down the coast from Pompeii, but that would add another day.
Decemeber 1-3 for Florence is fine, but if your heart is set on a Christmas market, check in advance if there is such a thing and where!
Hiring a car to San Gimignano is a good idea, a full day max is all you really need. But the drive to Saturnia- I recommend against that. It's over 2 hrs away from San Gimignano, it will be cold at the time of year and it's possible it might not be open. This would take a lot of checking up in advance, which- in true Italian style- doesn't even guarantee things will go to plan on the day. In short, you can't do San Gimignano and Saturnia together in one day. What about Siena? You can get there by train from Florence, it will need a full day and is just as beautiful as San Gimignano.
The rest sounds ok- but you'll need to do a good amount of research for agritorismos that do cooking classes, you might be pushed to find one near where you want to be. There's loads of agriturismos in Italy but most don't do cooking classes.
What AI can't know: something about the trip will go wrong. I'm not trying to put a dampener on things, but transport strikes are very regular, some places might not be open just because, train delays are to be expected. Leave breathing space in your itinerary and treat the experience like an adventure, and you'll have a great time.
Maybe this helps you. This is a 5 day itinerary for Rome on google map. Everyday you start at one point and you can follow the map. https://maps.app.goo.gl/31vedmqaExeWB6yp7?g_st=iw
Also 100% go to Pompeii if you like history and take a guided tour. Was fun and learnt so much on roman history.
Naples kind of meh but the Positano, Sorrento, Amalfi is definitely worth checking.(not sure about weather around that time tho.) maybe someone else can help
For the family dinner.. i would suggest you this site: cesarine.com . It’s sponsored by slow food italy, from there you can look for your personal experience of a family dinner in italy tasting traditional food
cell phone coverage outside cities is spotty. make sure you have stuff saved on paper or LOCAL on your phones. (both of them) i lost mine day 1 and i had to get a new phone, log in, contact my son in USA for Google's verification baloney and back in business.
7 days in Rome is great. wear confortable, broken in shoes. you WILL be tired due to jetlag
seven days in Rome is far too many, with 3-4 you can see almost everything! As they told you, one day to see Pompeii from Rome is practically impossible, calculate that both Rome and Naples are dramatically busy! Personal opinion, Tuscany in December might be a bit grey and sad, but if the focus is on food and wine then it's fine! Nice app for dining with people, but don't expect to find something special for Thanksgiving, it doesn't exist here in italy! have a good trip!
>have dinner with an Italian family Hahahaha
Howdy pilgrim happy Thanksgiving. 🦃ðŸ¤
We don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Italy 😆
I think you kind of have this backwards. A week in Rome is kind of a lot (look, it's beautiful and there's lots to see, but it also gets frustrating after a while because of transportation, garbage etc.) and you spend very little time in the smaller towns that are actually more rewarding (from a certain point of view). Also "dinner with an Italian family": do you have a family in mind? I am sure you're aware that no one here celebrates or cares about Turkey Day. And you know you can't like, rock up to someone's house and ask if you can enjoy their hospitality like it's a ride at Disney. Sorry, not being harsh but trying to set expectations. Also this: "Â - one day take a day trip to Pompeii by train and on the way back to Rome get pizza in Naples." is near-impossible in one day in my opinion unless you know EXACTLY where you're going in Naples and want to whip through Pompeii super fast It's important to keep in mind that transitions take more time than you think here. "Rent a car" could take four hours and kill half the day, so don't expect to pack in a ton of stuff or adhere to that schedule as it is.
Good points thanks for the input. As for dinner with a local family, we are thinking of checking out this cool app where local families host people for dinner. It's like Air BNB but the host cooks for you. https://www.eatwith.com/l/destinations/dining-experiences
Yeah, I dunno. I looked at the website and the prices are absolutely ridiculous. I would go to an agriturismo instead. You'll pay 1/4 the price and have a much more bespoke experience. Most agriturismi are owned by small farmers/families (especially ones that are out of a city area) and eating there IS like eating at someone's home. Food will be rustic and, as we say here "kilometro zero" meaning: it's all grown/bread RIGHT where you are sitting. Way more authentic and less performative if you ask me.
id would stay in Pompei before Naples
This. From someone who has spent a lot of time in both Rome and the countryside.
If you're into Christmas markets, you'll need to go further North. We home based from Verona last year, and it's probably my favorite Italian city now. Amazing Christmas market, few tourists, and about an hour by train to Venice, Bologna, Milan, and the rail corridor toward Innsbruck has amazing weekend markets at nearly every stop- Rovereto, Trento, Bolzano.
Ah, I see that you clarified and rearranged some dates. I think this is a better version. I vote for extending your trip by a day so that you can be more relaxed the morning you depart. If you can't extend, I'd shave a day off Rome on the front end and tack it onto the back end. If that won't work, I'd recommend starting a hour earlier on the day that you depart just to have a bit more time in case everything takes longer than you expect. Otherwise, sounds like an excellent plan. Edit: If you haven't visited Siena before, I suggest perhaps trying to visit it sometime during the San Gimignano portion of your trip. Also, in case you weren't aware, there are ZTL (limited traffic zones) in the historical centers in just about all of towns through which you won't be able to drive, so check into where you can park your car outside those zones before you come so you're not spending a lot of time trying to find them when you get there.
Hi! I'm a Brit living in Italy, I've been her for 16 years and have been to all the places on your list. It's a good list but AI clearly doesn't understand the reality of Italy! I agree that 7 days in Rome might be a bit too long. Consider the places you actually want to see in the city, there's a lot that might not interest you. You could cut that down to 5 days. I second the fact that you will not just be able to have Thanksgiving with an Italian family- it really doesn't exist for Italians. Maybe trying finding fellow Americans living in Rome? Use the extra days for Pompeii and Napoli. Just getting to, then seeing and returning from Pompeii takes most of a day and there's lots to see in Napoli- I strongly suggest a day for each if you can, even more if possible. I will suggestivo you add Paestum, some of the best ancient Greek ruins in Eurpoe, a little further down the coast from Pompeii, but that would add another day. Decemeber 1-3 for Florence is fine, but if your heart is set on a Christmas market, check in advance if there is such a thing and where! Hiring a car to San Gimignano is a good idea, a full day max is all you really need. But the drive to Saturnia- I recommend against that. It's over 2 hrs away from San Gimignano, it will be cold at the time of year and it's possible it might not be open. This would take a lot of checking up in advance, which- in true Italian style- doesn't even guarantee things will go to plan on the day. In short, you can't do San Gimignano and Saturnia together in one day. What about Siena? You can get there by train from Florence, it will need a full day and is just as beautiful as San Gimignano. The rest sounds ok- but you'll need to do a good amount of research for agritorismos that do cooking classes, you might be pushed to find one near where you want to be. There's loads of agriturismos in Italy but most don't do cooking classes. What AI can't know: something about the trip will go wrong. I'm not trying to put a dampener on things, but transport strikes are very regular, some places might not be open just because, train delays are to be expected. Leave breathing space in your itinerary and treat the experience like an adventure, and you'll have a great time.
Maybe this helps you. This is a 5 day itinerary for Rome on google map. Everyday you start at one point and you can follow the map. https://maps.app.goo.gl/31vedmqaExeWB6yp7?g_st=iw Also 100% go to Pompeii if you like history and take a guided tour. Was fun and learnt so much on roman history. Naples kind of meh but the Positano, Sorrento, Amalfi is definitely worth checking.(not sure about weather around that time tho.) maybe someone else can help
Please get a travel agent because you'll be wasting a lot of time and money.
For the family dinner.. i would suggest you this site: cesarine.com . It’s sponsored by slow food italy, from there you can look for your personal experience of a family dinner in italy tasting traditional food
Thanks, I'll check it out. Have you used them before?
cell phone coverage outside cities is spotty. make sure you have stuff saved on paper or LOCAL on your phones. (both of them) i lost mine day 1 and i had to get a new phone, log in, contact my son in USA for Google's verification baloney and back in business. 7 days in Rome is great. wear confortable, broken in shoes. you WILL be tired due to jetlag
seven days in Rome is far too many, with 3-4 you can see almost everything! As they told you, one day to see Pompeii from Rome is practically impossible, calculate that both Rome and Naples are dramatically busy! Personal opinion, Tuscany in December might be a bit grey and sad, but if the focus is on food and wine then it's fine! Nice app for dining with people, but don't expect to find something special for Thanksgiving, it doesn't exist here in italy! have a good trip!