I have never been to Italy. Fares are low. Where should I start?

[KurtNYC]

Poll question: I have never been to Italy. Fares are low. Where should I start?

RT to Milan or Rome is $298. I want to take a 4 day trip and have never been to Italy. If you have been or have heard from others who have, what is the best city to start with.

[kwassa]

1. Florence and Venice, if you only have four days

and maybe pack in a visit to a medieval town like Sienna.

[MrCoffee]

2. The Cinque Terre

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinque_Terre

Incredibly gorgeous scenery. Hike the Via Dell'Amore and pretend you're a WWII resistance fighter. Just don't bring a carbine.

[kay1864]

3. Whatever your choice, pick up Rick Steves' Italy before you go

The popular attractions in Rome are rife with pickpockets. Heed Rick's advice on how to avoid having your vacation ruined. Plus he has excellent hotel and restaurant recommendations.

#1 piece of advice I give to friends going to Europe: Leave your wallet at home, wear a money belt.

Better yet, extend your vacation to a week and a half, and fly into Rome, out of Venice, and see Florence along the way.

[onager]

4. I went to Rome and Venice last February.

Four days in each, traveling from Egypt (where I've been working). I took the EuroStar train from Rome to Venice. Six hours, but great scenery.

The hop-on/off tour buses are a good way to see Rome. Be warned that the Vatican Museum always has a long line. Everybody wants to see the Sistine Chapel.

Since I've spent about half my life in Marriott hotels for business, I used "reward points" and stayed free at the Marriott on Via Veneto. Right outside was Fedrico Fellini Plaza, which tickled me. The hotel is beside the Villa Borghese and a 15-minute walk from the Spanish Steps, Via Condotti, the Tiber, etc. etc. Harry's Bar is across the street, but very touristy. There were tons of great, reasonable restaurants in the neighborhood.

I got to Venice and the hotel clerk told me it was the last night of Carneval. That was all I needed to hear. Threw my stuff in the room, went outside and caught a bus. (The only Marriott in Venice is about 15 miles from downtown, dammit.)

Never been to Venice in my life, but had a great time. Lots of people were in costume. I just followed groups of interesting characters around, which led me to the major fun spots like St. Mark's Plaza and the Rialto Bridge.

[KurtNYC]

6. sounds great

thanks.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

5. Florence and Rome

[MrScorpio]

7. Lake Como

[NewJeffCT]

8. My parents just went this past October

I will double-check to see what they liked best, but it was a very good experience for them overall. They went on a tour, though.

[Swede]

9. My neice lives in Milan.

She loves it there.

[Lost in CT]

10. Skip venice and Sicily. (One is a smelly tourist trap and one is a third world country)

Rome is Nice but the north is the place to go. I voted for the skiing.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

13. You're spot on about Venice, but I still want to go to Sicily

[flvegan]

11. Just visit Olive Garden and save the money.

:hide:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

14. Flvegan reviews: Italy is too expensive, so stay home and go to Olive Garden

[kay1864]

22. Shouldn't that be Fl_Vegan?

:hide:

[KamaAina]

18. I thought Italy had unlimited breadsticks, too.

:shrug:

[applegrove]

12. Their jewelry is gorgeous. Bring along some extra cash for silver or gold jewelry.

Unless you are petite forget about buying any clothes there.

[WinkyDink]

21. Right-o! Every day I wear my 18k ring I bought in Venice!

[SteppingRazor]

15. Rome, no question.

Rome is the only city. Where everything began, and everything ended, before it began again.

[Blue_Tires]

16. Modena...Ferrari HQ

and don't forget to catch a soccer match while you are there!

[montanto]

17. Tough call on four days.

I've been all over Italy but if I had four days and had not been at all I think I would do Florence and Tuscany. Very pretty country and lots to see in Florence. At a stretch I'd say a day in Venice then down to Florence. Rome is great for all the historical stuff and you could certainly stay busy with that, though its not as beautiful as Tuscany. Also, you could ski then do Turin and Milan I guess. Frankly I can't imagine any of it being disappointing except that one always wants more.

[onlyadream]

19. Depends what you like

if fashion and shopping, then Milan.
if art, then florence.
if history, go south to pompei/naples.
for soemthing magical, Venice.
for scenery, north to Majorie (sp?).

I toured Italy on my honeymoon and if I went back I'd go back to Venice and Pompei.

[WinkyDink]

20. Florence, for absolute sure! (Venice is spectacular, but a BEEYOTCH to get to!).

Florence/Pisa/San Gimignano/SIENA.

I'm sorry, but 4 days is such a little bit of time, there's no snese in driving for many hours!

But if you do go to Venice, stay north, with the Lakes.

Rome? Go south to the Amalfi Coast/Capri.

Or Rome and Florence, for the biggest cultural bang for your buck.