UK and Italy in September

[kayling05]

Hey everyone. I'm Kaylin, I'm 21 years old and I'm currently planning an approximately 3 week trip to the UK and Italy for my 22nd birthday in September.

I'm mainly interested in Scotland and London in the UK. I want to spend a few days in London and see Stonehenge as a day trip (Stonehenge is a MUST). I'm not sure if I should fly into Scotland (Edinburgh) first and the travel down to London, or go the other day (fly into London). A flight to either from Atlanta is around the same price (less than $40 difference). In Scotland, I want to stay in Edinburgh but also really want to see Loch Ness, so I've been looking into backpacker tours with Haggis and Macbackpackers that go up that way. Haggis has a 1-day one and MacBackpackers has a 2-day one that also goes to I think Isle of Skye, but it seems the MacB one doesn't run in September?? Dates are not posted for it on their website anyway.

In Italy, I'm totally not sure on anything except that I definitely wanna see Rome and Pompeii. I've been recommended to stay in Sorrento area for a few days in order to see that area (Amalfi coast, Capri) and also as it is close to Pompeii, plus I wouldn't have to stay in Naples, which I've been told by many is pretty sketchy. I do want to see the Naples archaeology museum though.

I'm also interested in Florence, Cinque Terre, and maybe Pisa (at least for a little bit to see the leaning tower etc; thinking about flying into Pisa from the UK on easyJet/Ryanair, spending a few hours there, and then the train to wherever).

I'm just not sure what there is to see in Florence besides art galleries. I'm big into architecture, archaeology (majored in anthropology in college), and I like sculpture and interior decor also, but really not a big fan of paintings (they all look the same to me after a while). I feel like Uffizi gallery would be a waste of money as I'd be bored. Should I go somewhere else instead of Florence? I would really like to see the David sculpture in the Accademia museum. My guidebook is not really helping me out in this area (it's all churches and art galleries, in the sights for Florence) so I would really like some suggestions.

Thanks so much!!

[madamtrashheap]

What a great way to celebrate your birthday, kayling05. And you seem like you've already done quite a bit of research on your trip, so the hard part is done.

I'd suggest checking the flights available from Edinburgh to Italy (there are plenty, just avoid Ryanair!) and compare prices to flights out of London to the same destinations, this will help you decide where to start in the UK. Either way, the trip between London and Edinburgh can be done by train or by a longer but cheaper bus ride (on National Express). The tours with Haggis are excellent fun, especially if you're travelling alone, plus they offer 1 day trips (Loch Ness, Highlands, etc) as you've seen, or you could do a few days on one of their tours if you can fit it in to your schedule.

London will need around 3-4 days if you plan to do a day trip to Stonehenge. You can also take a day trip with several companies offering other stops as well as Stonehenge (Bath, Windsor) so do a little more research and save yourself the hassle of trains and busses just to get to Stonehenge.

For Italy, Rome and Pompei are good starts, especially with your interests. Plus Sorrento is a great base for a day or two and will allow you to visit the island of Capri for a day (check the info on Villa San Michele, Tibirius' Villa Jovis, just to name a few) as well as visit Pompei for a day. In fact, you could take the train to Naples (the Circumvesuviana) from Sorrento (it's the same one you would take on your way down there) in the morning, visit the Archaeological Museum (you'll need around 2 hours in the Museum if you want to see everything) then return to Sorrento via Pompei for the rest of the day. I suggest this route as it's easier to make all of those stops without luggage, plus you'll have to take a public bus from the station to the museum in Naples (ask at Tourist Info inside the station). Rome will need 4 full days if you intend to fully explore the city. You'll love it.

Now for Florence. I understand that guide books tend to focus on the Uffizi, Accademia and a few other museums to the detriment of other sights in the city, but don't let that put you off. You should certainly visit the Accademia and if you don't think the Uffizi will interest you, then don't go, but it is quite impressive, even if it is filled with more paintings than sculpture!

As you're into archaeology and architecture, you'll find plenty to keep you occupied, although more of the architecture in this instance. The city is a great example of Renaissance architechture. I like to refer to it as "bugger off" buildings, which means that there are massive stone walls with a tiny door at the front, so you can't see what's inside, but once you do get through the door there are great courtyards, fountains and all the excitement happens inside for the residents, rather than for the people outside to witness.

Other buildings/areas you might like to see/visit are: the Duomo (Brunelleschi's dome inspired Michelangelo and was modelled on the Pantheon dome in Rome), Santa Croce church (inside are frescoes, sculptures and history), Bargello Museum (the place of hidden treasures, including sculpture by Michelangelo and a well stocked Armoury), Medici Chapels (sculptures all by Michelangelo), Piazza Signoria (the main square, hard to miss, with the copy of David as well as fountain of Neptune, the Titans, Perseus with the head of Medusa...amazing outdoor art gallery), the Mercato Centrale (central food market, great history and great place for lunch). And that's just for starters! I'd allow 3 full days, which will also allow you half a day to visit Pisa (it's only 1 hour on the train from Florence). If you do intend to climb the tower (expensive 30mins) then book ahead online.

Cinque Terre are stunning, but in September/October there are large storms which pummle the Med and close the hiking trails, even the concreted ones, so if that's what you had planned to do, keep that in mind as you may find yourself sitting in a cafe watching the lightning - which is not a bad thing on a holiday either. NOTE: Pisa is between CT and Florence, so you could even visit it on the way, store your luggage at the train station for a few hours.

Other cities you could consider include Verona (interesting Arena and archaeological areas outside the city), Venice (if you haven't been, you should treat yourself for a day), Siena (visit between Rome and Florence for a day, compact but very pretty and interesting), San Gimignano (a 45min bus ride from Florence, interesting and pretty walled city with great gelato).

Once you've had a chance to read a little more on the other cities, let us know when you've drafted an itinerary and we'll be able to fill in the blanks. Happy planning!

[herrbert]

Well in this case a flight with Ryanair wouldn't be so bad. Providing you can stick to the weight limits, and the stupid commercials. : )

If you want to head to Pisa just to see the leaning tower, you can fly into Pisa airport from Edinburgh and from Glasgow Prestwick. From there you can get to La Spezia, and Cinque Terre.

The Isle of Skye is maybe the most beautiful part of Scotland. If you can't make it with a tour there are ways to get there. You could put together you own tour. From Edinburgh, you could go to Inverness, along Loch Ness, to Fort Augustus, following the A87 to the birdge to Skye at Kyle of Lochahls. On Skye you need to decide where to stay, but Portree offers enough places. If you want to return you could get to Armadale, take the ferry to Mallaig, from which you can take the train to Fort William, and from there back to Edinburgh. This all would take some time to travel and enjoy. It's a bit different from going there straight with a tour, and turnaround again.

Florence, I will leave to the experts : )

[kayling05]

Okay so right now what I'm thinking for an itinerary is this:
Either--
Depart Atlanta pm Sept 6 (or 7th): overnight flight to Edinburgh (seems the cheapest option here is to layover in Amsterdam for a couple hours. no biggie) OR overnight flight, direct, to London
If Edinburgh then:
Edinburgh 2 days +Scotland tour 2 days (or E. 3 days and tour 1 day)= 4 days total
Morning of 5th day, fly/bus/train? to London. 4 days incl. arrival day and day trip to Stonehenge

If London then:
reverse the above so,
London for 4 nights. incl arrival day and daytrip to Stonehenge; Scotland 4 days.

Either way rest of the trip will be the same:
Morning/mid-day of 9th day, fly from UK to Pisa, Italy (easyJet from London, Ryanair from Edinburgh, are cheapest as of now.) Spend a few hours in Pisa at the Leaning tower, etc.
Train to Cinque terre in afternoon/evening, spend night.
Morning do hike in Cinque terre (I'm not gonna do the really strenuous one probably; but I will do at least a couple of the hikes between the towns, but will probably take the train back to the town I'm staying in, lol). spend night again.
Early morning train to Florence. Arrive before lunch. 2 nights.
Morning train to Rome. 3 nights.
Morning train to Naples. Archaeology museum. train to Sorrento, see some of the town. spend night.
Pompeii bright and early. Probably some time in afternoon to see more of Sorrento area. spend the night in Sorrento again.
explore Sorrento area; afternoon train back to Naples and then back to Rome. Spend night in Rome.
Morning/mid-day flight back to US!

I might skip the Cinque Terre and go straight to Florence from Pisa, not sure yet. Not counting the leaving ATL and leaving Rome days, it is 19 days total for the trip. It's not alot but 3 weeks is the max I can take off work (and it's about the max my budget can take as well), and I will probably try work in the morning before my flight in the evening, so I only have to take 20 days off.

[madamtrashheap]

I'd be inclinded to take the flight which lands in London first, to save the layover time, but that's my personal preference and it will also depend on what tours in Scotland are available on certain dates. Either way, you know you can fly from London or Edinburgh to Italy.

CT needs at least 2 full days to make it worth your time, so if you're not that interested in it, better to add the time to another city along the way as you have limited time to play with. You could do a small hike (depending on the one you choose and the town you stay in) as you've noted, but don't plan to hike to all 5 towns in one day.

Florence - 2 nights will give you 1 and a half days, which is fine as I get the feeling you don't really want to see too much of the city. From there, you could continue south all the way to Naples/Sorrento and stay there before going to Rome and ending your trip, rather than backtracking. Also, I did suggest not doing Naples on the way to Sorrento as you will have luggage with you and whilst you can leave your bags at the station luggage hold, I would rather see you arrive and depart Naples without the hassle of luggage. I really do think you are going to want more than three nights (2 full days plus peripheral time either side) in Rome, so if you can swing it you won't be sorry.