lhopp

Hi. Last year, we were struggling between a trip to Italy or Greece for this year. However, that was decided for us-we weren't able to do either one because we bought our own business and had to take a year off from travel. We've decided to save Santorini/Greek Islands for our 10th anniversary in 2009, so are looking at planning a 9-10 day trip to Italy for late September/early October 2008.

We've been to Rome, Umbria, and Chianti on a previous trip. This time we definitely want to see Venice, but are undecided about what to combine with Venice for a total of 9-10 days.

Some itinerary ideas we have are:

Veneto, Dolomites, Verona & Venice

Lake Orta or Como, Piedmonte & Venice

South Tuscany & Venice (+maybe Florence)

We enjoy beautiful scenery & quaint villages. We're not foodies, but definitely enjoy a good meal for dinner with wine. Museums aren't a priority for us, as we can entertain ourselves wandering villages, having long lunches, peeking into little shops, and photographing our surroundings. We have traveled many times by train and car, so no problems there.

Do any of the above itineraries sound reasonable for 9-10 days? Or, any additional ideas? Of course we would like to stay longer, but with our business probably won't be able to this time. Thanks!

ira

HI LH,

With 9 nights, I would fly into Venice - 4 nights, train to Florence - 5 nights and fly home from Pisa PSA or Florence FLR.

SusanP

Ira gives a good plan, but it sounds as though you would prefer Tuscan towns to Florence, so maybe do those five nights in a Tuscan town and do a daytrip into Florence (not that you couldn't spend a lot more than one day in Florence, but based on your preferences, it might be a good idea).

Or do the four nights in Venice, take an early train to Florence and leave your bags at the train station while visiting Florence for the day, then pick up a car and drive to a town in Southern Tuscany (Pienza is a good choice for visiting other towns, as long as you're not looking for nightlife--it's very quiet at night).

Grandma

We've "done" all those itineraries. Since you're not foodies I'd go for the Dolomites and Verona.... but I'm just not sure how to do it. Will you have a car? Treviso and Belluno are interesting but I don't know how much farther you'd have to go after Belluno to really experience the Dolomites. One could spend several days in Verona.

lhopp

Thanks everyone. It's funny, I'm not sure why we're not real excited about Florence. We have a long list of places to see in Italy and that always seems to end up at the bottom. But, it does seem a natural pairing with Venice given our time limits.

Grandma, yes, we will have a car if we go to that area. Were looking at staying in Asolo or Conegliano as well, but there doesn't seem to be as much information on the Veneto as many other areas of Italy. I'm thinking that just means it's a little less touristed, and would probably be very beautiful in the fall.

This board has also gotten me very interested in Piedmont, so I was trying to figure out if that could possibly work with Venice (with a stop in between perhaps.)

cmeyer54

We did Munich/Rome in 10 days; also did Florence, tuscany, Venice in 10 days last summer and will be leaving for Venice/Dolomites/Milan in 14 days next week. When I return, I'll post a report here on the northern trek. Our two teens actually chose the florence/tuscany/venice trip last summer and we loved it! Flew into florence and out of venice; rented a car for the tuscany swing and dropped it back in florence at the train station and then on to venice.

lhopp

Thanks cmyer. Yes, I've followed the threads of your trip planning for Venice/Dolomites, and will be very anxious to read your trip report when you return.

If we do Tuscany, we're thinking of flying into Pisa and driving down to Montalcino for a few days, dropping the car and heading up to Florence for a few days, and then finishing in Venice.

Mimar

How about spending some time on the Italian Riviera? Maybe stay in Santa Margherita Ligure and visit Portofino (just down the road), the Cinque Terre, Genoa, Camogli, etc. You wouldn't need a car for this.

Fly into Venice and out of Milan or Pisa or possibly Genoa.

suze

Don't cut Venice short. So many people seem to only give it a couple days. I think 5+ days is ideal to spend there.

Grandma

If you chose Venice and Verona a trip directly north to Trento from Verona is very interesting. More Tyrolean than Italian.

lhopp

Mimar: Venice and the Italian Riviera are the top 2 places on our list to see, but were concerned the travel time between it and Venice was too long by train (looks like about 5.5 hrs) for a 9-10 day trip. Maybe that isn't the case?

Both Piedmonte & Southern Tuscany seem to be about a 4 hr drive to Venice, so we're still considering those also. We've driven 4 hours before in France, and it seemed to go pretty quickly.

Florence & Venice seem to make the most sense, but I think I will miss spending a few days in the countryside if we do that.

Mimar

Well, I wouldn't dislike that long a train ride, but maybe you would. I enjoy trains in Europe. You sit in roomy comfort while the view flows by. However, this isn't a hugely scenic route, and you'll have to change trains at least twice, I suspect.

capxxx

We did Venice / Dolomites / Austria and loved it. A nice combination of town and village, with spectacular scenery. It was a few years ago, but my vague recollection is....

Venice 4 nights.
Drive to Verona, spend a half-day looking around. Then on to Bolzano.

Bolzano 2-3 nights. Visit Utzi (the bronze-age man found in the ice). Visit Castlerotto (castle covered with frescos), hike in mountains. A daytrip to Trento would be nice (we didn't go, but I have been there before.)

Drive to Innsbruck, 3 or 4 nights. Daytrips to castles (we went as far as Neuschwanstein), drives in the countryside. Cable cars up into the mountains for pleasant walks. See a Tyrolean show (yodelers and alpine dances), drink beer.

KarenKM

Ihopp,

I'm a meandering quaint village hopper, too, and spent time in all the places you mentioned last fall. There's never enough time. Given you've said museums aren't a priority, I'd consider leaving Florence out (for now--you can always return later.) The real draw of Florence is Renaissance art, and you have to endure a lot of crammed city life to enjoy it.

One option is to fly into Venice for an introductory 3 nights (you'll want to return anyway)...Rent a car and make your way west to Piemonte over 2 days, maybe, researching villages on country roads along the way you might stop to look at...One to stay in for a night. The countryside will be lovely at that time.

Then, if you can get a booking, go stay at the beautiful and very fun Baur B&B near Acqua Terme for 3 nights, where Diana & Micha will help you on day trips to wonderful, unspoiled villages of Piemonte. Then, fly out of Milan. The vineyards and countryside of Piemonte will be stunning at that time. (There are other options of places to stay if Baur is full.)

There are many others, but given what you've said, that's what I'd do with that number of days/nights. I spent a couple of nights in Asolo after having driven the extraordinary 'Dolomite Road' & enjoyed it--but that's something I'd choose when I had more time between other 'main destinations', ie: the Lakes, etc...

I have photo galleries of all the places you've mentioned which might help you decide, including one of the Baur B&B, and a link to their site. (I had bad weather there in October, hence I need to return to do Piemonte villages in earnest, but the B&B is a fabulous place to be--whatever the weather.)

http://www.pbase.com/karenmickleson/italy_italia_photos

Karen
http://www.pbase.com/karenmickleson

fogfog

We have lived in Italy and traveled there several times--so I envy your next trip!! ;o)

Venice-need I say more-The Dodges Palace will take you a day, and there is so much to soak in and do---

Padua-Gotta see the Sc. chapel etc--and the museum there is great. Can park in the carpark not far away..

Verona-lots to see from ruins to churches etc--We spent a full day there and still had tons to see or do..

Ravenna- mosaics-Byszantinne art--you can get a great idea about the influence here--like S Marks but much lass crowded and lots of good examples

Bologna-Accadamia, food, the colonades..a great town--If I could move back--This is one of my top picks


There isn't much in the Dolomites--except when there is snow and you are there for that and a sauna..and you might find alot of locations closed and off season if they aren't ski season hotels as well

Lake Como is Alsways lovely..and the funicliare up the mt is great and has a lovely view in the crisp air!

Firenze is Firenze--always worth the trip...

have you considered Umbria--Perugia, Spoleto etc..Assisi

WHat parts of Umbria and Tuscany have you done or not done?

toni_g_b

Have you considered Le Marche, ihopp? We drove from Venice to Rome just a couple of weeks ago and did most of the road trip through there and Umbria, spending nights in Ferrara (Emilia-Romagna, actually), Urbino, Perugia, and Assisi. It was amazing! There's hills in Tuscany; there's mountains in Le Marche. Breathtaking! And there's another small village to discover around every corner. If you can just find the right road to take you there! We spent about an half hour trying to get our bearings on Peglio! But worth every minute.

lhopp

Thanks for the additional replies.
Suze: yes, we want to allow time to wander in Venice, so we figured 4-5 nights for our first time would be ideal.

Mirmar: it was a hard decision, but we decided to save the Italian Riviera for the next trip due to the long travel time involved and not really having enough time available.

Karen: I have viewed your website multiple times, and I have to tell you that your photos are absolutely gorgeous! I also wanted to tell you that I'm truly inspired by your story in your travelogue.

I am so happy that someone recommended Piedmont! I've been reading recommendations about Baur B&B for months now, and it would truly be a perfect match for my husband and I. It's exactly the type of place that we love. We're considering flying into Milan and spending a few days/nights in Piedmont, then maybe stopping somewhere for a night or two on the way to Venice to break up the drive(?maybe Verona..or other suggestions??). Or, just drive the 4 hours straight over.

After discussion last night, we've narrowed it down to Southern Tuscany & Venice, or Piedmont & Venice. While I want to visit both, since we've been to Chianti on a previous trip, I'm leaning toward Piedmont this time, and saving Tuscany for our Italian Riviera trip next time. We had a wonderful wine from Piedmont with our dinner this evening, so now I want to go even more!

Fogfog: we've visited the Chianti area of Tuscany, and Orvieto, Assisi, & Spello in Umbria. We liked all those villages, but for some reason, we were more drawn to Tuscany than Umbria.

toni gb: Thanks for the suggestion. I just started researching LeMarche a little bit for a future trip. Urbino and San Leo look wonderful.

Thanks everyone for the great feedback!