How long does it take to get through customs?

Long story short, I had two other trips in planning that my teen daughter eventually vetoed :)

She has requested a culture/sightseeing/city trip over the 'nature' and 'beach' options. She's had a really tough year and with all the anxiety about heading into high school, I would love to make this happen for her. I have about a month to plan this trip, so here's my first attempt at an itinerary. We will be flying in and out of Rome (only option for a direct flight), which we'll be skipping as we have previously visited:

Day 0: overnight flight into Rome, arrive 7:30 am

Day 1: Rome to Naples via high speed train, Napoli, Overnight in Napoli

Day 2: Pompeii tour, Overnight in Napoli

Day 3: Amalfi coast tour (bus tour or private driver), Overnight in Napoli

Day 4: Napoli in the morning, leave for Florence via high speed train, Overnight in Florence

Day 5: Florence, Overnight in Florence

Day 6: Tuscany day trip (bus tour or private driver), Overnight in Florence

Day 7: Train to Cinque Terre w/ stopover in Pisa, Overnight in CT

Day 8: Cinque Terre, Overnight in Cinque Terre

Day 9: Train to Milan, Overnight in Milan

Day 10: Milan in the morning, train to Venice, Overnight in Venice

Day 11: Venice, Overnight in Venice

Day 12: Venice in the morning, Venice to Rome via high speed train or flight, Overnight Rome near airport

Day 13: fly home

Would love to hear your thoughts:

- We like fast paced, but is it too fast paced? Any suggestions?

- I feel like Milan is a bit of a 'detour' and I wonder if it's worth just for one day?

- Should we get TrainItalia passes? Which one?

- I would love to have some flexibility and not prebook hotels in case we want to linger in one area more - is this too much of a risk? (I wouldn't have considered it but i feel like we could 'wing it' this year?)

- Is there anything else I need to pre-book? (ie. tours, transportation, admission tickets, etc).

Thanks all in advance!

Looking at flights from either New York or Boston to Rome and then to Bari

Do I clear customs when I land in Rome or at final destination in Bari?

If I have to clear customs in Rome is one hour 25 minutes enough connection time? I'm thinking not but look for your advice. It is all on one ticket from start to finish.

Any recent travelers willing to share how long it took them to process through FCO Immigration/customs upon arrival. Estimated arrival is 7:30am and we are trying to determine if we can catch a train 10:20 Train from Rome Fiumicino Airport to La Spezia Centrale. Thanks for any insight.

Hi!

I am trying to buy a train ticket before I leave the US for Milano Centrale to Verona.

My flight lands at 7:45 a.m if it is on time.

So, I will first take the Malpensa train to Milano Centrale. I won’t hsve any checked luggage to gather, just carryon.

Any approximate times you think that I would be safe booking?

Or just take a Regionale where I can hop on any train?

What do you think?

Thank you in advance for any suggestions and advice.

Hi Everyone,

Re-planning my postponed trip from 2020 this year. I seem to have forgotten all the valuable tips I had received for my previously planned trip. Is August a bad time to travel in terms of closures and holidays? Since I have nothing book yet, would it be better to travel in September instead?

I am thinking the following itinerary for now:

Aug 5-10-Roma

Aug 10-13-Florence with day trips to Sienna, Pisa?

Aug 13-15-Venice

Aug 15-16-Train back to Rome and fly home.

Is this too ambitious?

Will be travelling on a Covid tested flight in and out from Rome from Canada

Experts flying into Rome at 745am arrival. then and catching a Trenitalia to Vernazza question. Given these uncertain time and capacity on train It is a Friday in September should I buy the tickets in advance now? The train departure would be at Noon which is 4 hours after my arrival and should give me more than amble time to travel to Termini to get the train. Thoughts?

Buongiorno everyone! For context we are a family of 6 (2x40s, 24, 15, 12, 11) all athletic and experienced international travelers only bringing carry ons. I have been to Florence, Venice and Rome but rest have not. Kids and hubs not into art. (I know, I know.) We have an ex au pair that is Italian living in Verona currently that is going to meet us in 5T for the first part of our trip and then leave us in Florence and see us again in Verona for a daytrip later but anyway here goes!

Day 1 (Sat): arrive FCO at 8am on COVID tested flight. Adults are preregistered for tests on arrival but it doesn't currently allow me to register the kids. Booked the 1157am fast train from Termini to La Spezia, hoping 4 hours will be enough time to test, take Leo Express to Termini, grab a bite and hop on train (its the Frecciabianca - should we wait and eat on train instead?) transfer to 5T train at La Spezia, arrive approx 1613 at Vernazza about an hour after our Italian and check in and chill.

Day 2 (Sun): See how we feel, likely do an am hike to either Corniglia or Monterosso. We can come back to apartment midday or do a private boat tour for 3 hours.

Day 3 (Mon): See how we feel, do am hike (whichever we didn't do day before), or do boat tour this day. Dinner at lovers table at Ristorante Belforte for hubs and I at 7pm.

Day 4 (Tues): Early am train to Pisa, stow bags at Stow Your Bags near Pisa Centrale and walk through Pisa to tower. Likely get Tower appointment for about 10am so we are not rushed. See how long kids last in museums, perhaps grab lunch here (any recommendations?) and then hop back on train to Florence and check in, go somewhere for dinner before Italian AP has to leave us. A lot of Americans say ZaZas is fun - recommend or alternatives?

Day 5 (Wed): Florence - the big two plus likely the Galileo museum because our kids love science

Day 6 (Thurs): am in Florence (so maybe split the big two into one each morning), check out and catch 1120 train to Venezia. Apartment is walking distance from S Lucia so check in and then one museum or activity and dinner - recommendation?

Day 7 (Fri): Venice

Day 8 (Sat): am maybe one thing in Venice, then train to Verona, spend day with Italian AP and then fly VRN to FCO at 1930, check in go to bed

Day 9 (Sun): Rome

Day 10 (Mon): Rome - Scavi tour at 1330 for adults

Day 11 (Tues): Rome

Day 12 (Wed): Rome

Day 13 (Thurs): depart FCO at 10am arrive super early to COVID test at FCO before flight

Will definitely do Pompeii one day - any recommendations for day or guide and eats?

Anything else I missed?

If you are planning on traveling on a COVID tested flight ticketed by Delta: the DL website is pretty thorough with info and steps to take regarding advance PCR tests and day of departure procedures. Take a look at the page and choose your applicable route and departure date category: https://www.delta.com/us/en/travel-planning-center/know-before-you-go/italy-covid-tested-flights

Beware… rapid-result PCR tests are not cheap. IME the cost can range from USD 150 to USD 300+

I hope you all make your arrangements correctly so that you will be able to board on your scheduled departure date.

We have a 11:55 flight back to the US on 24 September. We went through the testing in June at FCO, and we found it simple and not so time consuming (30 minutes total). We were thinking about getting tested at the Red Cross Termini site, but the lines both days have been soooo long. We want to stay in Rome our last day as long as we can, so we’d like to test in the morning before our 11:55 flight. Can anyone give us a heads up on testing lines and length of time for process in the morning? We’d tested at 14:00 the last time , and it wasn’t that busy. We don’t want any surprises when we show up. Thanks!

I'll be flying from the USA into MXP, landing at 7:30 AM in a few weeks on Thursday. Flight out is Saturday at around 5:00 PM from MXP to France. I mostly want to go to Lake Como, but I was hoping to also see Milan city if possible. I will be using public transport and prefer to stay somewhere that isn't Como city.

If anyone has experience, can you please give some advice on what would be the best way to do this? I was thinking either go straight to Milan and get an early train Friday morning to the lake and then straight to airport Saturday, or go straight to Lake Como and then Milan either late Friday night or super early Saturday and walk around for a few hours before my flight. I am open to skipping Milan if the schedule is too tight - I have already taken pictures in front of many churches and fountains in Europe, and I also don't have interest in museums.

I guess my concerns are using public transportation for such a long trip with a lot of transfers after landing in Milan - I could be held up in immigration for hours and maybe the trains aren't frequent? And also using public transport for a long trip on the same day as my flight out - if I don't make a connection, I could end up stuck somewhere!

Appreciate any insight you can give!

Thank you :)