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Started By
Message
Italy itinerary - anything you would change?
Posted on 1/31/25 at 5:52 pm
Posted on 1/31/25 at 5:52 pm
Wife, me and 12 yr old daughter. We will be flying into and out of Milan.
June 2-4 Milan (try to schedule duomo and last supper)
June 4-7 Lake Como (not sure what area we will stay ,probably como since its nearest trains)
June 7-9 Venice
June 9-15th Florence (I'm assuming we will stay in Florence and do day trips by train)
June 15th Milan
June 16th fly back to US
We went last year on a cruise from Barcelona to Rome and really enjoyed Rome and the Cinque Terre areas. We didn't get to go to Florence or any other areas and want to spend as much time there and see as much as we can. We are trying to take trains only, hopefully the fast ones.
Would you spend more than two days in Milan to start? Would you spend an extra day in Venice?
Thanks for any tips.
June 2-4 Milan (try to schedule duomo and last supper)
June 4-7 Lake Como (not sure what area we will stay ,probably como since its nearest trains)
June 7-9 Venice
June 9-15th Florence (I'm assuming we will stay in Florence and do day trips by train)
June 15th Milan
June 16th fly back to US
We went last year on a cruise from Barcelona to Rome and really enjoyed Rome and the Cinque Terre areas. We didn't get to go to Florence or any other areas and want to spend as much time there and see as much as we can. We are trying to take trains only, hopefully the fast ones.
Would you spend more than two days in Milan to start? Would you spend an extra day in Venice?
Thanks for any tips.
7
Posted on 1/31/25 at 6:30 pm to Shotgun Willie
I wouldn’t do a day more in Milan. It’s an industrial city. I love Florence but that a lot of days there. Maybe travel an hour down the road and do a night or two in Sienna? That also gives you close proximity to the Tuscan countryside for a day trip.
Posted on 1/31/25 at 7:40 pm to VABuckeye
We were just going to use Florence as base and do some day trips to other areas. Trying to stick to trains and wife doesn’t want to jump around every couple days.
This post was edited on 1/31/25 at 7:41 pm
Posted on 1/31/25 at 8:01 pm to Shotgun Willie
Gotcha.
We arrive in Milan on the 14th. We’re doing one night in Milan, four nights in the Dolomites and five nights in Bologna. From Bologna we have about 1 hour train rides each to explore Modena, Ferrara and Parma. We’ll have a car in the Dolomites because it’s needed.
Once you’re outside of cities driving in Italy is similar to driving in the US except there will be bicycles but just give them space and it’s all good.
We arrive in Milan on the 14th. We’re doing one night in Milan, four nights in the Dolomites and five nights in Bologna. From Bologna we have about 1 hour train rides each to explore Modena, Ferrara and Parma. We’ll have a car in the Dolomites because it’s needed.
Once you’re outside of cities driving in Italy is similar to driving in the US except there will be bicycles but just give them space and it’s all good.
Posted on 1/31/25 at 8:04 pm to VABuckeye
Goodness, what are you doing for five nights in Bologna when the rest of Italy exists?
Oh, I see. Good call. Getting out.
Oh, I see. Good call. Getting out.
This post was edited on 1/31/25 at 8:05 pm
Posted on 1/31/25 at 9:32 pm to Shotgun Willie
I would swap Riva del Garda for Lake Como. Both are gorgeous naturally. One is really cool, the other is for people on the internet to show people you saw where George Clooney lives. Maybe.
This post was edited on 1/31/25 at 9:54 pm
Posted on 2/1/25 at 3:25 am to Shotgun Willie
If you fly into Milan, you may want to consider a day trip to Cinque Terra, or Portofino
For Lake Como the best parts of the lake are all at least an hour away from Como. To get the truest experience you should aim to stay at one of these three cities: Bellagio, Menaggio, or Verenna. Como is trash compared to those locations
For Lake Como the best parts of the lake are all at least an hour away from Como. To get the truest experience you should aim to stay at one of these three cities: Bellagio, Menaggio, or Verenna. Como is trash compared to those locations
Posted on 2/1/25 at 5:14 am to VABuckeye
quote:
I wouldn’t do a day more in Milan. It’s an industrial city.
I was in Milan for 2.5 days in 2022, and I filled that time very enjoyably.
The cathedral is amazing and worth several hours, since it's definitely worth going on the roof. A good tour of the Last Supper and the Sforza's castle will also take several hours. Then, La Scala is Verdi's own opera house and the ideal place to watch an opera, especially one of Verdi's (I saw Rigoletto). Even if one cares nothing about fashion, Milan is an epic shopping destination, and it's fun to spend a few hours window shopping in the area where many of the great designers are clustered.
Posted on 2/1/25 at 7:45 am to ArmydawgMD
We spent three really nice days in and around Verena. Took the train to and from Milan. It was a fantastic little town.
Posted on 2/1/25 at 10:02 am to MintBerry Crunch
quote:
Goodness, what are you doing for five nights in Bologna when the rest of Italy exists?
Oh, I see. Good call. Getting out.
This is our 5th trip to Italy. We've been to all of the usual suspects already. Now we're more about exploring new areas to us and as you noted Bologna is a great base to explore from. I'd rather have a base and day trip from there that be traveling constantly which just eats up my exploration time.
The next trip we will probably explore Abruzzo and Umbria.
Posted on 2/1/25 at 10:07 am to Shotgun Willie
One problem you may have is doing day trips from Florence by train. One of the charms of Tuscany is visiting the wine country and the small hill towns. I don’t think many of them are very assessable by train. We always have a rental car in that area. It’s pretty easy.
Posted on 2/2/25 at 9:49 am to geauxpurple
quote:
One problem you may have is doing day trips from Florence by train. One of the charms of Tuscany is visiting the wine country and the small hill towns. I don’t think many of them are very assessable by train. We always have a rental car in that area. It’s pretty easy.
Definitely this. My personal experience with trains is they are great from medium to large city center to city center, but anything small towns and rural they aren’t good at all. With 2 or more people a rental car really works well.
As said, outside of the cities Italy is extremely drive able. It’s no different than the USA if you can find lodging with parking to simple walk outside, get in the car, and drive to where you want to go.
Trains will always require you to walk to the train station, wait on the train, take the train, walk from the train station to your destination and repeat going back home.
Posted on 2/3/25 at 3:33 pm to Shotgun Willie
quote:
June 7-9 Venice
Every street in Venice is about the same. I would spend 2 of those days in Cortina at the Dolomites. One day in Venice is enough.
Posted on 2/3/25 at 3:37 pm to baldona
quote:
With 2 or more people a rental car really works well.
Italy is also more strict with their driving laws. You will need an International Driving Permit.
Posted on 2/3/25 at 4:07 pm to LSU Grad Alabama Fan
quote:
Italy is also more strict with their driving laws. You will need an International Driving Permit.
Agreed. Some here will disagree but it's a simple trip to AAA and the fee is small to get it. Reminds me that I need to do it for my trip in June.
Posted on 2/3/25 at 4:27 pm to LSU Grad Alabama Fan
quote:
Italy is also more strict with their driving laws. You will need an International Driving Permit.
Driving permit is one thing, I don't disagree. I'm on the side of I've never needed, but that's neither here nor there.
They are absolutely not strict about their driving laws though. Everything there is essentially a suggestion, they drive like maniacs. Its a blast.
ETA: The only thing I'd suggest to the OP, is that there's no reason to take a train out for an hour and come back for an hour to return to a hotel over and over. I always try to slowly work my way in a line. Yes its more hotels, but its less travel time. Its not always easy to do.
In regards to days in each place, that's very unique to each person. Italy is one of the best countries in the world to just take the day off from anything planned, walk around, have some wine with lunch, and just enjoy the scenery. There's few places better to just not rush.
This post was edited on 2/3/25 at 4:29 pm
Posted on 2/3/25 at 4:29 pm to baldona
quote:
Driving permit is one thing, I don't disagree. I'm on the side of I've never needed, but that's neither here nor there.
They are absolutely not strict about their driving laws though. Everything there is essentially a suggestion, they drive like maniacs. Its a blast.
I rented a car in Milan. The company tried to stick with a $200 fee for not having an International Driving Permit.
Posted on 2/4/25 at 8:44 am to LSU Grad Alabama Fan
Thanks for all the info, really don't want to rent a car unless we have to. The only place I might rent one would be Florence area, but I think we can take a train to the couple of places we want to go...pisa, cinque terre, sienna, bologna. Trying to book hotel/vrbo now in Verrena on Lake Como, but trying to figure out train to Venice from there. Looked at lake garda as well, even staying in Verona, but wife wants to see Lake Como area.
This post was edited on 2/4/25 at 8:46 am
Posted on 2/4/25 at 9:06 am to Shotgun Willie
Not sure why you don't want to rent a car, but if you feel like you will be intimidated or won't understand the signage, there is nothing to worry about.
I've driven all over Europe, and it is pretty much the same as driving here. I wouldn't recommend driving in the cities- Florence, Milan, etc. but it is an absolute travesty to be in that region and not have a car to visit the small towns and see the countryside. That is the real experience that you will remember.
Google maps/Waze works over there the same as here, and the cars are on the same side of the road.
I've driven all over Europe, and it is pretty much the same as driving here. I wouldn't recommend driving in the cities- Florence, Milan, etc. but it is an absolute travesty to be in that region and not have a car to visit the small towns and see the countryside. That is the real experience that you will remember.
Google maps/Waze works over there the same as here, and the cars are on the same side of the road.
This post was edited on 2/4/25 at 9:07 am
Posted on 2/4/25 at 9:14 am to LSU Grad Alabama Fan
quote:
I rented a car in Milan. The company tried to stick with a $200 fee for not having an International Driving Permit.
I get it. I'm not trying to argue. They aren't free you know? If I paid $200 every now and then I'd still be better off not buying them. It sounds like "tried" as in you didn't do it. I'm absolutely not suprised that someone in a major airport would try and fee tourists to death.
The pass is a joke. Its nothing official. Its literally just an interpretation of your DL to Italian any many other languages.
I'm fairly certain I read you can have them mailed to you now. I had to drive an hour away to get mine done in the past and no one asked me for it. Its a piece a crap paper that takes 5 seconds to fill out. So yes if easily able to be gotten, definitely do it. I'm not suggesting not worth it, I'm just suggesting they are a joke.
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