Italy 9 days Rome to Milan
Jul 28th, 2013, 04:33 PM
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Italy 9 days Rome to Milan
Hello All, looking for some advice (as most people are on forums 
). My boyfriend and I are looking at going to Italy in early September. We have both already been to Florence, and although BEAUTIFUL will not be going back this trip, and we have both already been to Rome so we do not need to spend too much time there. We are in our late 20s and have travelled quite a bit and tend do go at a faster pace than most people. We aren't big into museums, but enjoy walking around cities to see the sites (walking 15 km in a day is not out of the ordinary), long lunches on patios and sidewalks, scenery, coastal views and strolling near water....and food 
We arrive on a Saturday morning overnight from Canada and will be departing on the following Monday. Our flights are flexible so can be: into Rome out of Milan, into Milan out of Rome, into Milan out of Milan, into Rome out of Rome. We have both flown to Europe numerous times and are good at coping with jetlag so we still get to see some sights on our arrival day an the following day as well.
So onto the questions:
I absolutely want to go to Lucca and Cinque Terra. But the rest is up in the air.
1. Is Milan a must see? Or should we skip this and fly into and out of Rome?
2. Is Genoa a must see?
3. Any suggestions for must see towns or scenic areas for day trips or as driving through?
4. Any suggestions on other towns to stay overnight?
5. Should we rent a car or rely on trains/buses. If we rent a car we would pick it up on the way out of Milan or Rome and drop it off before entering Milan or Rome. Manual transmission is not a problem.
6. Should we travel from Rome to Milan or Milan to Rome?
7. How long to spend in Lucca? Any suggestions for inexpensive/hostel-like accomodation?
8. How long to spend in Cinque Terra? Any suggestions for inexpensive/hostel-like accomodation?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Grazi!
). My boyfriend and I are looking at going to Italy in early September. We have both already been to Florence, and although BEAUTIFUL will not be going back this trip, and we have both already been to Rome so we do not need to spend too much time there. We are in our late 20s and have travelled quite a bit and tend do go at a faster pace than most people. We aren't big into museums, but enjoy walking around cities to see the sites (walking 15 km in a day is not out of the ordinary), long lunches on patios and sidewalks, scenery, coastal views and strolling near water....and food We arrive on a Saturday morning overnight from Canada and will be departing on the following Monday. Our flights are flexible so can be: into Rome out of Milan, into Milan out of Rome, into Milan out of Milan, into Rome out of Rome. We have both flown to Europe numerous times and are good at coping with jetlag so we still get to see some sights on our arrival day an the following day as well.
So onto the questions:
I absolutely want to go to Lucca and Cinque Terra. But the rest is up in the air.
1. Is Milan a must see? Or should we skip this and fly into and out of Rome?
2. Is Genoa a must see?
3. Any suggestions for must see towns or scenic areas for day trips or as driving through?
4. Any suggestions on other towns to stay overnight?
5. Should we rent a car or rely on trains/buses. If we rent a car we would pick it up on the way out of Milan or Rome and drop it off before entering Milan or Rome. Manual transmission is not a problem.
6. Should we travel from Rome to Milan or Milan to Rome?
7. How long to spend in Lucca? Any suggestions for inexpensive/hostel-like accomodation?
8. How long to spend in Cinque Terra? Any suggestions for inexpensive/hostel-like accomodation?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Grazi!
Jul 28th, 2013, 04:49 PM
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If your biggest desires are le Cinque Terre and Lucca, then I don't see the need for a car.
I don't know what qualifies as a "must see" in your estimation. Milan and Genoa are 2 of Italy's most important industrial/business cities. If you are studying Italy, you might not want to miss them. If you are coming for a vacation, you might prefer spending your time elsewhere.
If you fly into Milan, you can go directly to le Cinque Terre by train. From there, it is not far to go to Lucca by train. From Lucca, if you get on a train or bus to Florence, you can easily head to either Milan or Rome to fly home.
For some people, 9 days in just those 2 places would be heaven. Lots of time to relax, walk, eat, swim, bike and visit little towns nearby. For other people, they'd want to add on other places -- like Parma, or Bergamo, or Siena or Bologna -- or maybe rent a car.
I don't know what qualifies as a "must see" in your estimation. Milan and Genoa are 2 of Italy's most important industrial/business cities. If you are studying Italy, you might not want to miss them. If you are coming for a vacation, you might prefer spending your time elsewhere.
If you fly into Milan, you can go directly to le Cinque Terre by train. From there, it is not far to go to Lucca by train. From Lucca, if you get on a train or bus to Florence, you can easily head to either Milan or Rome to fly home.
For some people, 9 days in just those 2 places would be heaven. Lots of time to relax, walk, eat, swim, bike and visit little towns nearby. For other people, they'd want to add on other places -- like Parma, or Bergamo, or Siena or Bologna -- or maybe rent a car.
Aug 3rd, 2013, 12:07 PM
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Regarding your trip to Italy….. do you already know the beautiful Italian northern lakes as Lake Maggiore and Lake d’Orta (the most poetical lake in Europe)? I’m talking abt. Piedmont, you can explore this area (approx. 50 Km. from Milan) and visit magnificent gardens by the lake (such as Villa Taranto and Villa Pallavicino). You can also find here the Sacred Mountains (Unesco) such as the Sacro Monte di Orta (which is dedicated to the life of S. Francesco d’Assisi and offers a stunning panorama over the Lake) http://www.orta.net/sacromonte/intro_en.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVfg...=TL9zpvhQoic6w
In the Lake Maggiore area you should see the Borromean Islands near Stresa and the quite impressive colossus of San Carlo overlooking the village of Arona. The town of Stresa is definitely the pearl of Lake Maggiore, the main attraction in this region.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqFSP3AE3fw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPoS...873D7E3ECC9465
Moreover in the area of these lakes you can find various valleys (Valsesia, Val d’Ossola, Val Vigezzo….) which are the ideal starting point for walking and out-of-doors activities.
You can even have an interesting wine tour in Piedmont which includes a walk in the vineyards; a visit to a spectacular cave which is part of an ancient abbey with frescoes from the XVth century. Then you could choose a guided visit to some wine cellars including a buffet of local products and the unique Piedmontese wine.
So, these are my suggestions, as you can easily understand … I live in this area.
If you like, as I recently became a tour guide, I can be with you during your tour for a cheap amount (let’s say promotional)… I mean if you decide to come in the northwestern area (you can spend for instance 3 days in the above mentioned places + 1 day in Milan or Genoa or Turin /which are however interesting towns in my opinion but their attractions are mainly museums and monuments). You can also dedicate 1/2 days to the ‘Cinque Terre’, Lucca is ok but I wouldn’t suggest it in case of a short holiday in Italy.
Even if you come in these area without contacting me for a tour I will be pleased to invite you and your boyfriend to a free dinner based on typical meals (chez moi!).
Summing up .. from Lake District (Maggiore & Orta) to Milan abt. 1 hour to Genoa abt. 2 hours (and also to Cinque Terre) to Turin abt. 1 ½ hour
Have a nice stay! Ciao!
LaMonique
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVfg...=TL9zpvhQoic6w
In the Lake Maggiore area you should see the Borromean Islands near Stresa and the quite impressive colossus of San Carlo overlooking the village of Arona. The town of Stresa is definitely the pearl of Lake Maggiore, the main attraction in this region.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqFSP3AE3fw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPoS...873D7E3ECC9465
Moreover in the area of these lakes you can find various valleys (Valsesia, Val d’Ossola, Val Vigezzo….) which are the ideal starting point for walking and out-of-doors activities.
You can even have an interesting wine tour in Piedmont which includes a walk in the vineyards; a visit to a spectacular cave which is part of an ancient abbey with frescoes from the XVth century. Then you could choose a guided visit to some wine cellars including a buffet of local products and the unique Piedmontese wine.
So, these are my suggestions, as you can easily understand … I live in this area.
If you like, as I recently became a tour guide, I can be with you during your tour for a cheap amount (let’s say promotional)… I mean if you decide to come in the northwestern area (you can spend for instance 3 days in the above mentioned places + 1 day in Milan or Genoa or Turin /which are however interesting towns in my opinion but their attractions are mainly museums and monuments). You can also dedicate 1/2 days to the ‘Cinque Terre’, Lucca is ok but I wouldn’t suggest it in case of a short holiday in Italy.
Even if you come in these area without contacting me for a tour I will be pleased to invite you and your boyfriend to a free dinner based on typical meals (chez moi!).
Summing up .. from Lake District (Maggiore & Orta) to Milan abt. 1 hour to Genoa abt. 2 hours (and also to Cinque Terre) to Turin abt. 1 ½ hour
Have a nice stay! Ciao!
LaMonique
Aug 8th, 2013, 06:44 PM
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stevewith and LaMonique thank you very much for your input! We've decided to forgo the car and only make an afternoon stop in Lucca on our way to Siena (added after checking it out with stevewith's suggestion).
