Best way to spend a week in Italy
 

We are a family of 4 traveling in June & July. We fly into Barcelona;2 nights there,1 night Cadaques, 1 night Aix en Provence. We have one week to explore before we get to a villa (for 1 week) near Siena. We'll be flying out of Rome, so we'll spend 2 nights there before we leave. So, where do we spend the week after we leave Aix before we get to Siena villa? We do want to hit Milan & Venice, but where else? Is 2 nights in Venice too much time? Would appreciate your input.

No, 2 nights in Venice is not too much time! I would simply split your week between Milan & Venice. In my opinion you've already got plenty of places and you're moving around very very quickly until you arrive at your villa week.

Thanks very much for your response. We will do 2 nights in Venice. What do you think about splitting the time between Lake Como, Venice, and Milan?

3 more cities?
For my taste, you're doing way too much running around, and not even considering all the travel time, the packing, the hotel rooms that may not be ready, the flight that may be delayed, not to mention the signifcant crowds you will run into.
A family/group of four imo needs some flex time, and this whirlwind in Spain, France, and Italy doesn't seem to me to be in the spirit of the countries you're visiting.
Are the stops in France absolutely necessary?
Anyway, for the week you want to spend prior to your villa, I'd say rearrange if you can, to have more days in Rome.
If not, then split your week between Venice and Lake Como, and skip Milan except as a train or car transfer point.

You don't say what kind of family of four you are, and if anybody has any special interests or dislikes.

There is a fabulous auto museum, movie museum and Egyptian museum -- all in Turin (on the way to Milan). There is a fantastic aquarium in Genova. Lago di Garda has water sports activities and amusement park.

This sounds like an episode of "The Amazing Race." Two nights on arrival, then one night, one night, then three places in one week. Yikes. Why are you even going to Barcelona if only for a day-and-a-bit?

Anyway, it's your trip. Consider that every time you move from one city to the next, you lose AT LEAST half a day. I'm guessing Cadaques to Aix and Aix to Milan are both more than half-day journeys.

With your plans for the first 4 nights and your reservation in Siena, I'd skip Venice and spend the week in a smaller geographic area. Milan and mid-Lake Como would be easy and the time on the lake a bit slower.

If that sounds like too much time in two places for you, you could make day trips from Milan to Bergamo and from mid-Lake Como to Lugano. And that would make four places in one week!

Are you traveling by car or train?


Either way, your plan clearly is not allowing the reality of getting from one place to the next. You lose 1/2 a day each time.

Is this your first trip to Europe by any chance?

Thanks for all your input. It's not our first trip to Europe, but it is my children's first trip to Italy. We're flying into Barcelona (cheapest flight) and driving north through France into Italy. I'm listening to your advice and it probably is best to slow it down a bit. We do enjoy the driving, however. Thanks again.

Susanab,

I would stop enroute around Piedmont and Liguria before heading to Tuscany, its en-route, lots of things to do, some of the best wine and food in Italy and won't be too strenous on your travel agenda. If you haven't seen Venice and feel you really must, then you could spend a few days around Genoa, drive over to Venice for a few days and then down to Sienna, more driving. I would skip Milan, a big city and lots of traffic, unless you really have something you must do there.

It sounds like good itinerary.
While a single night somewhere is beeter than not going, I would make Aix two nights.
Venice has alot to offer. We did a one day there and really wish it had been two. You might consider two days for Venice and think about going to Burano/Mirano.
Lake Como is a good idea (we have been there twice).

Some of the sights, sites, and activities in Venice:

Piazza San Marco, Basilica San Marco, Campanile, Palace of the Doges, Grand Canal on a vaporetto, Lagoon islands: (Murano, Burano, Torcello), San Michelle, Gondola yard. The Arsenal and the Naval Museum, Correr Museum, Accademia art museum, Peggy Guggenheim Gallery, numerous art shows and exhibits that are always running, The Ghetto. Another dozen or so specialty museums (Lace museum, Archaeological musuem, etc).

Too many churches to list with interesting and world-class art and architecture, but...Basilica Santa Mariadella Salute, Basilica dei Frari, Santa Maria dei Miracoli, San Sebastiano, San Pietro di Castello, Santo Giovanni E Paolo, Madonna dell'Orto. Venice's churches have some of Italy's greatest works of art--many free to view--by the likes of Tintoretto, Veronese, Titian, Bellini, Vivarini, and Carpaccio.

Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Scuola San Giorgio degli Schiavoni, Scuola San Nicolo, Scuola Grande Dei Carmini, Scuole Grande of San Rocco.

Campo Santa Maria Formosa, Ca’ Rezzonico museum, Querini-Stampalia palace/museum, San Giovanni Evangelista, Ponte di Rialto, Rialto market, Ca’ d’Oro, Ca' Pesaro museum, gondola tour of smaller, hidden canals. Opera and concerts at La Fenice and other venues. Walking away from the daytripping herds and discovering a quiet, secret city that most tourists have no clue exists--quiet campos with perhaps a restaurant or two and a couple of shops, and neighborhood children playing or couples strolling before dinner.

And don't forget the Lido of Venice in the summer.

Of course, there's a variety of special events year round.

Hi S,

>2 nights [Barcelona], 1 night Cadaques, 1 night Aix en Provence. We have one week to explore ...<

You certainly can't be accused of being a Slow Traveler. :)

I suggest one more night in Aix.

You might want to spend a little longer and drive around Provence.

I think that two nights in Venice is one night too few.

Have a nice expedition.

((I))

...and I think that two nights in Venice is at least one week too few.

Thank you to everyone, and thanks for all the info on Venice, Rufus.

Hi, susanab.

Not that everyone is expected to be interested in or have time for all of the sights in Venice (or any other destination), but there are a lot of interesting ones that most visitors never hear about.

If you've been to Europe and traveled at a fast pace before and enjoy it, I say go for it.

I asked only because when people post 1 day here 1 day there itineraries often it is their first trip and they may not understand the logistics of moving around so quickly.

On another recent thread, one poster offered the opinion that 1 afternoon(!) in Venice was plenty for her.

It's off the usual toursim trail, but the cinema museum in Turin is an amazing place -- a fabulous building in a vastly underrated city.