France/Italy Itinerary Check
 

Hi folks!

Please critique the following as to desinations and the allocation of time. We don’t mind short stays, but perhaps there could be fewer stops and more time in each.

Open jaw Paris/Milano. Travel by train. Twenty nights on the ground.

Paris [return] for three nights; Strasbourg [return] for two.

Basel for two [train change on the way to Stresa, never having been
there thought we’d give it a try].

Orta San Julio for two [car rental from Stresa upon arrival].

Back to Stresa [return] for two;

Bergamo, Mantova and Cremona each for two [maybe one could be eliminated];

Last night near Malpensa.

Thanks!

So, you plan:
Paris - Strasbourg - Basle - Stresa - Bergamo - Cremona - Mantova.

The Swiss and Italian towns you mention can easily be visited in 1 day each.

Basle has stunning museums, you would need 3 days to visit all.

Stresa is a good base for all kind of trips by Lake Maggiore boat, Lake Orta boat, bus, train, cableway (gondolas) to many interesting places around Lake Maggiore and up to the alpine valleys. Public transport there is good. A car is only needed for some rather exotic places. As you will stay there for 2 days only, you will have no time for that, however.

Mantova could serve as a base for the vist of Lake Garda, Verona, Ferrara, Bologna. In summer, some excursion boats go down th Mincio and Po river up to Venice.

Gems between the places you mention (google for them):

Colmar, Ribeauvillee vineyards, Hochkoenigsburg castle, Ecomusee d'Alsace, Car Museum and Railway Museum at Mulhouse, Medieval town of Freiburg, all between Strasbourg and Basle.

Medieval town of Berne, Lake Thun, mountains and glaciers of Jungfrau area, Riederalp - Aletsch Glacier (longest glacier of Europe), Zermatt - Matterhorn, Saas Fee - Mittelallalin, all between Basle and Stresa.

Stresa is less than 30 miles from Malpensa airport.

Thank you.

I forgot to mention that I plan to drop the car leaving Stresa, trains from there. Bergamo and then Mantova requires changes in Milano, so that will chew up a lot of time.

Orta San Giulio is about 45 minutes from Stresa so I would not pack up and move hotels for this short distance. I did the drive, the chapels to St. Francis, and the town of Orta San Giulio in about 3/4 of a day without rushing. I would stay in Stresa for both the Borromean islands and Orta San Giulio.

I agree with Adrienne---stay in Stresa and visit Orta.

That sounds like good advice. Thanks.

Should there be more or less emphasis on some of these towns? Anywhere to add?

Is Piacenza worth a visit?

I loved Basel! If it's convenient, consider stopping in Peterskirche.

"Should there be more or less emphasis on some of these towns?"

When will you travel? Stresa is very busy over Easter and in July/August. Actually, it's half empty and many things are closed.

If you have a car and prefer a tiny village with panoramic views over the whole lake, check
Colazza and Nebbiuno (motorway exit Meina)
http://www.albergocolazza.altervista.org/HOME.html
http://casadelsolelaghi.com/
http://www.hotelcollifioriti.it/camere.html
http://www.trelaghihotel.it/uk/hotel.html
or, more in the North of the Lake
Trarego
http://www.laperlatrarego.it/it/Stor...arego-Viggiona
(rather basic)

Thanks for that. September.

I'm thinking of 3 nights in Cremona with a couple of day trips to nearby towns.

May be Mantova would be the better train hub. All depends on the places you want to visit from there.

BTW: I suppose you know that in September, the weather is completely unpredictable for the whole area.

Thanks to all.