Bologna, Florence, Venice 5 days

Old Oct 20th, 2016, 03:32 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 569
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Bologna, Florence, Venice 5 days

Will be arriving Bologna Airport on a Sunday 4:20 PM, departing the following Saturday 1:25 PM.

Planning to see Florence and Venice, probably not enough time for Bologna.

How should I divide the time and how should I get from place to place?

Example

Day 1 (Sunday) Arrive Bologna Airport 4:30 PM take bus to Bologna, walk to Bologna train station take train to Venice, stay Venice.
Day 2 See Venice, stay Venice.
Day 3 See Venice, take night train to Florence, stay Florence.
Day 4,5,6 See Florence stay Florence.
Day 7 (Saturday) Take early train Florence to Bologna, take bus to Bologna airport, fly home.

I've been to Venice for one day 23 years ago, never been to Florence. My wife has been to neither place.

Do you think I should try to squeeze in some time in Bologna? Should I do 4 days Florence 1 day Venice. Should I just base my self in Florence and make a day trip to Venice.

Thanks in advance.
Governator is offline  
Old Oct 20th, 2016, 03:46 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,629
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
>>Do you think I should try to squeeze in some time in Bologna?>Should I just base my self in Florence and make a day trip to Venice.
janisj is online now  
Old Oct 20th, 2016, 03:47 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,038
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
On which airline did you get your cheap fare ??
Bedar is offline  
Old Oct 20th, 2016, 03:57 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 468
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I wouldn't have Venice as a day trip. It takes 1,5 to 2 hrs from Bologna. And you'll miss the unique experience of a late evening stroll when the city is quiet.
Personally I find Bologna a more agreeable city to stay than Florence. It's a journey of just 35 mins on the high-speed Frecce train. Bought in advance (on www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en) those tickets are around EUR 15 single journey instead of the normal price of EUR 26.
tonfromleiden is offline  
Old Oct 20th, 2016, 06:07 PM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 569
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Bedar, TAP $749/PP, admittedly, it requires traveling on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve, but to me the savings is worth it

janisj, Are you saying 3 days Venice 2 Florence?
Governator is offline  
Old Oct 20th, 2016, 07:12 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,834
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
It's an old debate... More time in Florence or in Venice?

For me, it's always Florence. For you, it depends on your interests, and only you can figure out which city you'd want to have more time to see. The fact that you arrive on Christmas day obviously impacts what you can see/do in your first destination. If that would be your only day there, your sightseeing will be almost entirely limited to outdoors. Even the next day (Monday), not everything will be open. You should make a list of your sightseeing priorities in each city and then research what days and hours they will be open that week.
Jean is online now  
Old Oct 20th, 2016, 07:15 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,629
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
>>janisj, Are you saying 3 days Venice 2 Florence?nights in Venice which nets you 2 days.
janisj is online now  
Old Oct 20th, 2016, 08:14 PM
  #8  
kja
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,101
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It really depends on your interests. I thought 6 days insufficient for Florence. IMO, you need to decide what YOU want to see and experience and plan your time accordingly. Good luck!
kja is offline  
Old Oct 21st, 2016, 03:12 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 7,933
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There is no night train between Venice and Florence. The last train leaves at 7:25 PM and arrives at 9:30.

Also, there is a train from the airport in Bologna that arrives at the train station. In makes other stops in the city, but if you just stay on the bus, the last stop is the train station. No need to walk anywhere.

How to split the time depends on what you want to see and do. I would make a list for each city, and then you'll have a better idea of how much time it would take.
bvlenci is offline  
Old Oct 21st, 2016, 04:27 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 19,736
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There is no right answer for the time-split stay in each city. If I were you, I'd plot out what I'd like to do/see in each city, and allot the time in each city accordingly.

If you're the wing-it type, OK. Then just take a guess on the time split.
vincenzo32951 is offline  
Old Oct 21st, 2016, 05:30 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,782
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you have purchased your air tickets, you've made Bologna your base. Stay there. It's a great place for tourism with day trips to Pisa and other northern attractions. The airport bus runs to the train station, which is not downtown but on the edge of the central district. To do a second big city in a week, you should fly into one city and home from another using a multi-destination search. But Bologna is worth the stay and renting an apartment for a week gives a bigger selection to choose from.
Southam is offline  
Old Oct 21st, 2016, 05:40 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 36,778
Likes: 0
Received 14 Likes on 11 Posts
>>>Arrive Bologna Airport 4:30 PM take bus to Bologna, walk to Bologna train station
kybourbon is online now  
Old Oct 21st, 2016, 06:24 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,629
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
>>There is no night train between Venice and Florence. The last train leaves at 7:25 PM and arrives at 9:30. >Day 3 See Venice, take night train to Florence, stay Florence
janisj is online now  
Old Oct 21st, 2016, 06:53 AM
  #14  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 569
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Revised destination itinerary (2 days Venice, 3 days Florence):
Day 1 (Sun) Arrive Bologna Airport 4:30 PM take bus to Bologna Central train station take train to Venice, stay Venice.
Day 2 (Mon) See Venice, stay Venice.
Day 3 (Tues) See Venice, take evening train to Florence, stay Florence.
Day 4,5,6 (Weds-Fri) See Florence stay Florence.
Day 7 (Sat) Take early train Florence to Bologna, take bus to Bologna airport, fly home.
------------------------------
Being as I already saw Venice for a day, 23 years ago, I think I'll want to spend more time in Florence. I'm even thinking 4 days Florence, 1 day Venice.
------------------------------
Southam, It's tempting to base myself in Bologna; we don't like packing and moving. However, looking at the cost of train fares, I'd spend at least an extra 180 Euros going return, Bologna to Venice/Florence, an extra 3 times.
--------------------------------
If I'm reading it right, the first train from Firenze SMN to Bologna Centrale, on Dec 31, is 8:30 AM arriving 9:07 AM. Being as my flight is 1:25 PM, I may need to stay in Bologna on the last night. What do you think?
Governator is offline  
Old Oct 21st, 2016, 07:09 AM
  #15  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 569
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
To make it less hectic, and being as we'll be jet lagged on Sun, what do you think of this itinerary?

Revised destination itinerary:

Day 1 (Sun) Arrive Bologna Airport 4:30 PM, stay Bologna.
Day 2 (Mon) Train to Venice, see Venice, stay Venice.
Day 3 (Tues) See Venice, stay Venice.
Day 4 (Weds) Train to Florence, see Florence, stay Florence.
Day 5 (Thurs) See Florence, stay Florence.
Day 6 (Fri) See Florence, evening train to Bologna, stay Bologna
Day 7 (Sat) Bus to Bologna airport, fly home.
Governator is offline  
Old Oct 21st, 2016, 08:53 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 19,736
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Looks OK to me. Florence is pretty compact so you should be able to see/do a lot in a couple of days.
vincenzo32951 is offline  
Old Oct 21st, 2016, 09:44 AM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,834
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
I dislike one-night stays, so I wouldn't stay the one night in Bologna on arrival. Being Christmas, it's pretty much a "lost" day, it will be dark when you land, etc. I'd rather push on to Venice and have a late dinner there. Make reservations before you leave home.
Jean is online now  
Old Oct 21st, 2016, 09:49 AM
  #18  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 569
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
With this itinerary, I'll even get to see a little of Bologna; a piazza or 2 at night and maybe the market in the morning, before leaving for Venice.

Another advantage, I can leave the bulk of our luggage at the Bologna hotel, to which we'll return on the last night, and travel lighter to Venice and Florence.

This will be my shortest European vacation, but it's shaping up to be a memorable one.
Governator is offline  
Old Oct 21st, 2016, 09:59 AM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,038
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Wow, that is a GREAT airfare. I wouldn't have thought of using TAP to go to Italy ! Doesn't matter which days you have to fly, just the cost. On which site did you find this fare ?
Bedar is offline  
Old Oct 21st, 2016, 10:27 AM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 7,933
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I don't think the OP meant an actual 'night train' since he posted >>Day 3 See Venice, take night train to Florence, stay Florence

I realized that, but I didn't think a train at 7:25 PM was even "lateish".
bvlenci is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -