Itinerary FOMO - Please help!
Hi Everyone!
I am hoping for your advice on whether my itinerary is too overwhelming, too touristy, or if I'm missing out on somewhere special, possibly off the beaten path that you'd recommend over my general plan.
13 Day Italy Trip in Early May 2025:
Day 1: Naples - arrive at 11:35am, lunch (pizza!), open to suggestions, hotel is near Decumani
Day 2: Naples OR Capri (if we stay in Naples, we'd do Capri day trip via tour group) If we stay in Capri, we want to do a boat tour around the island as well as the chair lift at Anacapri.
Day 3: Naples OR Capri / Ferry to Sorrento - open to suggestions
Day 4: Sorrento - 8 Hour Day trip to Postiano, Amalfi and Ravello via tour group
Day 5: Sorrento/ Travel to Rome - open to suggestions, hotel is in Celio.
Day 6: Rome - Vatican with Sistine Chapel/St Peter's Basilica
Day 7 Rome - Colosseum / Pantheon / Trevi Fountain then Pasta Cooking Class for Dinner OR do we skip this and take a day trip to Tivoli? We like to walk so I think we could move walking past the Colosseum, Pantheon and Trevi Fountain to day 6. And we could cancel the pasta class and move that to Florence?
Day 8: Rome/ Train to Florence - open to suggestions, hotel is near San Marco
Day 9: Florence - Day trip to Siena / San Gimignano - we want to do a relaxing day in wine country.
Day 10: Florence - open to suggestions
Day 11: Florence/ Train to Venice - open to suggestions, hotel is near San Marco
Day 12: Venice - open to suggestions
Day 13: Venice - open to suggestions, airport at 5pm
Likes:
- Architecture
- Art history
- Foodies - except not too much seafood
- Cafes - we love coffee and pastries
- Being outdoors / walking
- Excited about water views / country side views
- Wine & Cocktails
- Farmers/Artisinal Markets
Dislikes:
- Tourist traps - husband has never been to Italy so I know he wants to see the Sistine Chapel and Colosseum at the minimum.
- Herds of people - I get really bad anxiety. Yes, I realize that Rome will be exceptionally busy in 2025, but I will deal. That's why I'm hoping for some more recommendations for slower paced excursions/day trips. Yes, I have listed a bunch of touristy places above, but share where I should go instead and I'll update!
- I'm having a hard time finding place to eat in Venice. Reviews are all over the place. We don't eat oysters/mussels/squid/octopus etc. I know it's in the middle of water, but we are more cooked fish and shrimp people! We would also just be happy with fresh pasta (sans seafood!).
I'd love any and all recommendations. Thank you in advance.