If You Have a Long Weekend in Italy
Three days in Italy opens your options dramatically, especially if you invest in an all-you-can-ride train pass from Eurail (
Essential
You don't need a reservation for train seats in Italy, but commuter-time trains tend to fill up fast. If you're planning to be aboard during rush hour, you might consider making a reservation in advance. With only a few days in Italy, you don't want to waste time standing around in a train station, waiting instead of sightseeing.
Day 1
If you start your long weekend in Rome, you can follow the one-day itinerary described earlier in this chapter.
Day 2
On your second morning, get up early and take the three-hour train ride to Pisa, where you can see the Leaning Tower and have lunch in a local trattoria. It's just an hour's train ride from Pisa to Florence, where you can spend the afternoon admiring the masterworks at the Uffizi Gallery. Enjoy another fantastic Tuscan meal for dinner, and you'll be ready to sleep like a baby.
Day 3
Wake up in Florence, where you can sightsee again during the morning before getting back to the train station and heading to Venice, which is a two-hour ride if you catch a high-speed line. You can be on the Grand Canal in time for an afternoon cruise, and then enjoy a leisurely, last-night-in-Italy dinner overlooking St. Mark's Square.
Day 4
Overnight in Venice before flying home the next morning. The airport is connected to the train line, so you can use your Eurail pass once again before it expires, thus saving beaucoup bucks for a taxi.
