Yea, you can do Venice, Florence, Rome, & Amalfi coast in 2 weeks no problem. Very accessible by train and a decent amount of time. I would do: 2 Days Venice; 3 Days Florence; 2 Days Siena; 4 Days Rome; 2 Days Amalfi Coast somewhere (near Pompeii). She then has 2 days to play with.

I’d do a little different than what mim suggested, though I like his trip suggestion. Agree with 3 days Venice, 4 days Rome and 3 days Florence. I don’t really see the point in 2 days in Siena- it’s a perfectly nice place, and I enjoyed my 2 days there, but given only a 2 week trip, not really a top place I’d prioritize for a first visit to Italy. Maybe add a day to Florence and daytrip. I’d want at least 3 days in the Amalfi Coast (Pompeii one day and 2 days to see Amalfi, Sorrento, Positano, Capri, etc. wherever she wants). Finally, Cinque Terre is a must-see in Italy, IMO (ideal for 3 days). Sounds like a great 2 week trip to me!

Three weeks would be better than two, and four even better if you can afford it.

I would suggest flying into Rome and, as it is big and has a lot to see and do, spend perhaps five or six days there.

Then take a train to Naples and base there for three days. Spend a day visiting Capri, a day seeing Pompeii and Herculaneum, and I think Sorrento is on the same commuter train line. In Naples, enjoy the pizza and visit the Museum where all the relics from Pompeii are (they put copies at Pompeii). Naples also has a famous opera house, if you are interested in that.

Then take a train to Florence and spend three or four days there, depending on how much rennaisence art you want to see. Spend a half day visiting Pisa if you want, and Fiesole is an attractive place to get a scenic view while you lunch, and is a city bus ride away.

Then spend two or three days in Cinque Terre seeing the coastal scenery.

Then take a train to Venice and spend at least three days there.

Fly back home from Venice. That is sold as a multi-destination flight and gives you more time to visit, while costing about the same as a round trip flight.

There are many small scenic towns in Italy; you might want to add one of them.

Let’s hope your friend doesn’t flunk out

finnegan, well, I’m already out of school, but she is a year and a half behind due to changing majors and failing one class (which she now has a tutor for). I think your comment is a bit rude, considering you don’t have anything constructive to add.

cleveland,
I don’t think either of us would have enough money for more than 3 weeks, but 2 weeks is probably about the average we could both spend, maybe 2.5. Considering this will be her first time ever going abroad, I’m not sure she should spend a very long time overseas (she’s really close to her family and asked me yesterday about if I ever get homesick when I travel). I like your suggestions, though, for places to see. We might have to knock a few days off here and there for 2-2.5 weeks, but I think it might work.

Rude? I would say “funny”…come on, lighten up. I sincerely hope your friend doesn’t flunk out otherwise that would really screw up her travel plans. two weeks would be suufficient for her travel plans. Honestly I think she should take at least a month and do it right (after graduiation is the perfect time for a long trip…once you start a career, it’s hard to find sufficient time to travel).

Agree with you fin (about taking more time)… Only 2 weeks after graduation? The price of the plane ticket alone doesn’t justify that if she can afford to take the time.

You don’t agree with my comment being funny though?

I apologize for wrongly interpreting finnegan’s sarcasm over the internet. My bad.

My friend’s estimated graduation date was because I wasn’t sure. I knew she had at least a year left, but wasn’t sure exactly when after that. She graduated HS 2 years after me, so I just knew she had longer in school than me. I talked to her the other day and she said at the latest next December (12), but she was aiming for sooner. The trip probably still wouldn’t be until the Spring of 13 unless she graduates in August 12 and we go in September.

Good luck to your friend and hope she enjoys her vacation. If I were you I’ll go with her. That’ll be fun fun fun. Go to Venice, Florence, Rome

BTW, I don’t necessarily agree with the “wait til you can spend longer than 2 weeks” advice. If you can only swing two weeks, then go for two weeks. Don’t ever let an opportunity to travel slip by. My two week trips have been some of the best — maybe because I stuck to a relatively small geographic area. I’d only delay if I was absolutely, positively sure I’d be able to go for longer within about a year. I think it’s really unlikely that folks in their early to mid-twenties can be sure enough of their own and their travel buddy’s job/school/romance/general economic future to delay.

I don’t think it’s a “wait until you spend the time” more than if you’re just graduating college, it will be the most convenient time in your life to find the time.

If she can’t, then she can’t and I would say just go.

Fin: It was nominally funny, but nothing to write home about.

Okay I won’t quit my job to pursue a stand up career.

I personally think everyone should do at least one long european trip in their lifetime. 2 weeks is the minimum if flying all the way from North America.

I guarantee your friend would have a better time (and appreciate it more) if she were to get a crappy job for a year after graduating, save some money of her own money and then go on a huge european trip

Hahaha, speaking as someone a year out of college with a crappy job, this works in theory but not in reality when you have massive loan payments to pay back

Instead, I saved my last year in college (had a part time job) and used all my graduation money for a 6.5 week trip while in the “grace” period.

I don’t know that she would be ok with going for a long time. I would, of course, be glad to go for a month or longer, but this will be her first time even on a plane (unless she goes somewhere between now and then) much less first time overseas. She lives on her own but we only live 30 minutes from our hometown and she has never been far away from home for a long time. She has a cat that she’s very attached to that would have to go somewhere for whatever length of time also (and if you knew this cat, you’d understand how hard that would be… it’s kinda evil towards everyone but her). Also, she’s expressed some distaste with staying in big hostel dorms, (even though I told her they aren’t a big deal) but said she would stay in private hostel rooms or dorms of 4 beds or smaller if I were with her.

@DreamingofItaly, yeah I know what you mean. I’m a year and a half out with a 2 crappy part time jobs, just making enough for rent and utilities and student loan/credit card bills. Barely managing to save $30 a week extra for traveling (scrimping like mad to do it though).