forleafer

I am planning, what is for me, a once in a life time trip to Italy and Croatia. This is what my friend and I have planned. We will arrive on the 1st of July and Depart on August 4th.
Fly into Milan - stay two days
Lake Como - four days with side trip to Switzerland
Venice - four days
Croatia - seven days
Rome - two days
Almalfi Coast - four days
Florence/Tuscany - five days
Cinque Terra - five days
Genoa - two days (My friend family is from this area)
Back to Milan for a night then home.

Any advice as to if this is reasonable would be so appreciated.

kja

Whatever you decide, you will see some wonderful things! That said, I am a little confused by some of your time allotments: As examples:

- 7 days is VERY little for Croatia, which can easily take 3 weeks or more just to sample the highlights. What do you hope to see in that time?

- 2 days is next to nothing for Rome, which can easily merit 5 or 6 days.

- 5 days is a LOT for the Cinque Terre, which many people visit for just 2 or 3 days.

- "a side trip to Switzerland" could mean just about anything and, much as I love Switzerland, could simply be an expensive and time-consuming day trip that does nothing other than allow you to say you've been to Switzerland.

All of your plans really depend on what, exactly, you hope to see / do / experience.

Have you already purchased your airline tickets? If not, try to fly open-jay (in one city and out of another) to avoid backtracking. If you have already purchased your tickets, then consider going straight from Milan to your first destination so you only need one lodging in Milan (which will save you time and energy).

Your plan doesn't seem to count time to travel from place to place, and with the distances your are considering, that could easily take 1/2 day each move -- time to pack/unpack, check in/out, and get to/from the train/bus station, not to mention the time you will lose to get re-oriented to a new location. SO, you REALLY have about 1/2 day LESS in each location than you suggest.

I understand the desire to cram as much as you can into a trip-of-a-lifetime. Still, I urge you to consider the possibility that it could easily be MUCH more enjoyable if you trim your destination wish-list just a bit and give yourselves just a bit more time to see the places you actually do visit.

Hope that helps!

forleafer

Thank you so much for your notes. We are planning on buying tickets this week. Makes sense to go straight to Lake Como and I guess we thought since we were close, we should perhaps visit Switzerland which we will just eliminate. We are looking at the coast of Croatia - possibly Rovinj and then chosing between Zadar, Pula, Split or Hvar.

So many places we want to visit and hard to know just where to go and how much time to spend in each area. I think we need to go back to the drawing board for adjustments.

kja

"We are looking at the coast of Croatia - possibly Rovinj and then chosing between Zadar, Pula, Split or Hvar. " -- all are worthy, but all will take a chunk of time to reach. With so much to see in Italy, it may make sense to focus your attentions there. Just an idea.

"We are planning on buying tickets this week." -- OK, then think through your itinerary a bit more first. Remember that it will take time and money to backtrack, so try to identify a route that will take you from a reasonable point of entry (IF you skip Croatia this trip, perhaps Venice?) to a reasonable departure venue (maybe Naples, or vice versa)? I hope some of our usual posters who know much more than I about international airports will chime in.

"So many places we want to visit and hard to know just where to go and how much time to spend in each area" -- that is always the dilemma, even for those of us who are experienced travelers! I recommend that you consult a number of good guidebooks (or spend some time with them in your local library), identify the things you most want to see in each location, note their opening/closing times, and mark them on a calendar. Then pencil in your transportation, add a few hours on either side for the aforementioned activities, and see what you have.

FWIW, I find paring my wish lists the most painful part of planning any trip, but I also know that I would rather pare my plans in advance than end up shortchanging places in a mad rush to get to other places that I won't have sufficient time to see. And (of course) it is difficult to know what YOU will want to see.... That said, you are, IMO, allocating times that are, in general, a bit to the low end for all the places you list, so if you cut something (and I think cutting Croatia makes sense given your plans) and make some minor adjustments to take transportation into account, you would still have a lot of flexibility. For example you could easily take day trips from each of your destinations.

Oh, and I didn't say in my first message that I also think you are giving too little time to the Amalfi Coast (I thing it deserves at least 6 days, counting Naples and Capri), but again, it all depends on what YOU want to see / do / experience.

Whatever you decide, you and your friend will experience some of the world's finest destinations -- don't lose sight of that as you contemplate adjustments to your plans!

bilboburgler

I'm a bit with the above, Cinque Terra and 5 days would let yo udo a lot of walking, however are there more family to visit here?

Rome in 2 days is a bit tight.

I like the idea of Croatia, the various places mentioned are a bit different.

Zadar (not been), Pula (basically a big modern holiday resort with an ampitheatre (they have a big one in Rome) in it and a small walled town, not worth a lot of time, Split has the Diocletion palace built into the town which is an interesting visit but strangly unsatisfying, still worth a stop along with Trogir up the road which is another Venice enclave on an island. Hvar or indeed any of the Islands around there are far more pretty little places to chill out for a day or 2.

I'd look at Split for 2/3 days and Hvar/Bol for 2/3 days and leave it at that

Ackislander

You also need to think about how you will travel (car, bus,train, air, ferry) for the various parts of your trip.

You don't want a car in Florence, Rome, Venice, or probably Genoa. Is there anywhere you would need a car in the Cinque Terra? You wouldn't take a car to Hvar. You may want a car in Amalfi and at Lake Como if you don't mind narrow, curvy road with steep drop offs.

You also need to think about your energy levels. If you ate coming from a long way off, Lake Como is a great place to get over jetlag. Otherwise, I would try to put scenic destinations in between places with intensive cultural and historic attractions so you can rest, mentally and physically.

Rome needs five days, believe me. I would go early in the trip, when it is likely to be less hot.

neckervd

As said above, you plan to stay way too long in Lombardy (6 days) and Liguria (7 days) and not long enough in Croatia and Rome.
A one day side trip from Lake Como to Switzerland brings nothing.
Same remark fo Lake Como. You will land at Milan Malpensa airport, only a few miles from beautiful Lake Maggiore and you will travel along Lake Garda on your way to Venice. If it must be a North Italian Lake, it would be a good idea to stay at either lake Maggiore or Lake Garda instead of Lake Como.

Don't underestimate the journey times between the places you mention. There is for example only 1 daily bus from Venice to Pula and it takes 5 1/2 hrs. Pula - Split by direct bus takes 10 hrs.
If you want to go up to Amalfi Coast, it would make sense to go down the Croatian coast up to Dubrovnik in order to board a Bari bound ferry and a connecting marinobus from there to Naples.

forleafer

Thank you to all who replied. So amazed at how generous all of you are with your comments and suggestions.

We have already decided to skip Milan on our arrival and go straight to Lake Como adding Milan days to the end of out trip. We plan on taking the ferry from Venice to Rovinj. We plan to take a ferry or hire a boat for our island hopping. We will take a plane over from either Split or Dubrovnik to Rome once we explore the coast.

We have decided we might spend more time on the Coast of Croatia and skip Amalfi which many travel friends have commented might be over crowded during July and temperatures higher than Croatia. I live one block from the beach in Huntington Beach, California so just spending time sitting on the beach is not an objective.

We will add a day or two to Rome, remove one or two from Cinque Terra, and add an additional day to Florence/Tuscany.

I have spent many trips to Europe where I have traveled from location to location on a daily basis. My concerns were more about spending too much time in one location rather than another. Again, thank you for your suggestions.

vincenzo32951

Every place in Italy is going to be crowded in July. But of course the Amalfi Coast will be especially busy. It's beautiful, but given what else you're doing, skipping it might not be the worst idea.

I generally agree with your other adjustments for Italy -- more time in Rome and Florence/Tuscany, less in CT.
You're going to get some differing opinions about which lake area to visit in Italy. I happen to like the Como area, and to get to Varenna takes only about a 1 hour cheap train trip from Milan.

BTW, there's some disagreement about Milan as a touring destination. I like it. (Maybe I just like cities.) It has a lot to offer. If you want to see the Last Supper, make sure to reserve in advance.

neckervd

Anche Io amo Milano, but for a "once in a life time trip to Italy" of only 2 weeks....?

BTW:
I suppose you know that the Venezia - Rovigno catamaran in NOT cheap.
If you like boat trips, you may go by boat/catamaran from Pula to Mali Losinj and from there by boat to Zadar. Zadar - Split by bus. Split - Korcula by ferry, Korcula - Dubrovnik by catamaran.

Mimar

So I gather you plan to use public transportation for this trip.

I'm glad you're set on Croatia, which we loved. However, I didn't love Pula. Just not a very interesting place, except for the amphitheater. Rovinj is very nice, Split interesting but not worth more than a day or so. I would consider Dubrovnik and Plitvice national park, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, accessible by bus. Jadrolineja has boats along the coast and to the islands. But a car is good for Rovinj and Istria, also Plitvice. The best place for me was the island of Korcula, VERY charming, and the acme of the laid-back Croatian life style.

Needless to say, the above is just my (not so humble) opinion.

forleafer

Thank you neckervd. Our trip is 35-36 days not two weeks.

forleafer

Thank you vincenzo32951 - we are planning on the Lake Como area and to spend two days in Milan before we leave back to California as I do want to see the Last Supper.

Mimar - thank you for the tips on Croatia. We still haven't figured out exactly where we will go but are thankful for the suggestions.

kja

"We are looking at the coast of Croatia - possibly Rovinj and then chosing between Zadar, Pula, Split or Hvar. "

If you do decide to try to fit Croatia into this trip, here are my thoughts: Rovinj is very pleasant. Zadar is interesting. I didn't go to Pula. Split is fascinating. Hvar is beautiful, but Hvar Town was way too up-scale for my tastes. BTW, the Plitvice Lakes National Park is brilliant and easily worthy of a full day.

sarge56

forleafer, I have no doubt you'll have a wonderful time. I'm glad that you are taking suggestions about "slowing down" and not trying to do too much in your allotted time.

The revised plan sounds good, but I'd still look at doing open jaw- you could really save yourself some time. (Fly into Milan, head to Como, then Venice. From there, to Florence; then to Tuscany (and/or CT). On to Rome. Then fly Rome to Dubrovnik, traveling up the coast. Flying home from Zagreb. Alternately, perhaps fly into Dubrovnik, travel up the Croatian coast; bus or ferry Ravijn to Venice. Then Venice/Milan/Como/Florence/Tuscany and on to Rome. Fly home from Rome.)

Remember to stop and smell the espresso!

Buon viaggio!

jim21

forleafer, have you purchased your tickets yet? If not, seriously consider sarge56's recommendation about flying open jaws into Dubrovnik and out of Rome. It is by far the best option and use of your time. We have flown into Dubrovnik twice on similar itineraries. If you have not yet purchased your tickets I can elaborate.

Also, DO PLAN the side trip from Lake Como to Switzerland. Make it a day trip on the Bernina Express through the Bernina Pass...the only alpine pass from Italy that goes over the alps and not through them. It is one of the great train rides of the world. We have done it twice.

You catch an early morning train from Varenna to Tirano which departs around 07:00. You must purchase your tickets from the travel agency in Varenna the day before. At Tirano you walk across the piazza from the Italian station to the Swiss station where you catch the Express. It snakes its way through the pass prior to ascending the alps. You pass alpine green mountain lakes and glaciers among other incredible scenery before arriving in St. Moritz. You will have about 3 to 4 hours in St. Moritz to have lunch and walk the town...which is very small and accommodating. Then catch the train back down the pass.

Allow a full 12 hours for the round trip and be sure to take food and drink with you for the long train ride. Remember, the Swiss still use the franc so be prepared to use a credit card or an ATM while you are there.

neckervd

The Tirano bound train leaves Varenna at 8.24 and arrives at Tirano at 9.50. The fully airconditioned Bernina Express leaves Tirano at 10.03 and arrives at St. Moritz at 12.36. If you take the Bernina Express, you will have no possibility to leave the train at the most attracive places, like Bernina Diavolezza, from where a gondola leaves to Diavolezza, in the middle of the glaciers of the Bernina group. Only the hourly standard trains stop there.
Go back by bus along the lakes (St. Moritz, Champ fer, Silvaplauna, Segl) and over the spectacular Maloja Pass to Chiavenna, where you board the Varenna bound train.