Hi All!

I have a few days in Italy for a conference and was wanting to see a couple cities before. I did a little research and was hoping to get some feedback and see if this was doable and also if this would be the best option or if anyone had a better idea for me.
I will not have a car so it all has to be accessible by train. I also want to be less than 2-2.5 hour of travel so I don't waste time on the train and more time sight seeing.

So, my conference is in Milan.

3/18 arrive in Verona
3/18- 3/19 Verona
3/19-3/20 Bologna
3/20- 3/22 Milan and head home

My idea was to fly into Verona and spend the day and night there. then head to bologna the next day and night then to Milan on Monday settle in, have ht e conference on Tuesday (it is only from 8-3, and fly home Wednesday. I know its all quick, but I am alone and can cover a decent amount since i don't have to worry about anyone else.

Good plan, bad plan..
better cities to see? I have already been to florence and other parts of Tuscany. I wasn't sure about going to Lake Como at this time of year so I scratched that idea. I am also threw around going to Parma. I haven't booked my flights yet, so I my open jaw is still flexible.

Would love any and all advice!

Thank you,
Jamie

You really only have part of the 18th and part of the 19th in Bologna, as you're staying there only one night. If that's all the time you think you'll need, it's fine.

Do you mean Verona? I wrote above that I am in Bologna from 3/19-3/20. I get that i am only in both places about 36 hours, but are that large that i need more time than that? This is the whole reason for my post. I've done other parts of Italy and found some cities that were great for day trips and even cities that I did 2 in one day, which I really didn't want to do this trip as I won't have a car..

I think it's a great plan. Be careful to pick a hotel in Verona that is very central. If you have a very central location, you can see almost everything in a guidebook in Verona in a day&half (even secondary stuff), unless of course you like to go very slowly in museums. But even then, the art museum in Verona is in a castle that doesn't sprawl. Rather compact.

In Bologna, the main attraction for tourists is the open food markets if you are going to be there on a working day (closed Sunday). There are of course other beautiful sights inside various churches, and there is an art museum, but if you pick a few things from a guidebook that interest you, or take a walking tour, you won't feel like you "missed" out terribly in a short stay. There is a beautiful set of clay statues in a church called Santa Maria della Vita. Try to see those. And there is a fantastic old medical auditorium from the middle ages -- the kind where they used to do demonstration classes cutting up cadavers? -- sounds grim, but its amazing. But everythng else is kind of walk around and gawk, and it is all very near where the food markets are (and the places I just described).

Thank you frenchamorie.

It does seem like I would be in Bologna on a Sunday. Is there a better city to visit instead on a sunday or is everything fairly limited everywhere?

Bologna is wonderful on Sundays, quiet and relaxed. It's my favourite day for walking around. Some restaurants might be closed, museums are open.

You might like Padua or Ferrara, both very walkable (or in Ferrara's case cyclable)

Actually, I meant Bologna, but I had the days wrong.

<i> I get that i am only in both places about 36 hours, ... </i>

Yes, or you could say about 18 hours in each city. Part of that time will be spent getting to your hotel and settling in, and getting back to the train station in the morning, maybe about 2 hours total. Another part will be spent eating, including finding a restaurant, and sleeping. I would guess that you'll actually have about 6 hours in each city for sightseeing. That may be all you need, but do keep the time limit in mind when you plan what you want to see in each city.

There's no problem about visiting Bologna (or most other Italian cities) on a Sunday. A lot of shops will be closed, but museums and churches will be open.

Could you tell us what sorts of things you want to see? Bologna is a large city, and the things you want to see may be scattered about. It's hard for me to say whether you have enough time without knowing anything about what interests you. I suppose everyone would want to see the Piazza Maggiore, but then it's hard to guess what else a specific person might want to see.

Verona is a little easier, and more compact.

Ferrara would also be a nice city to visit, but with the short time you have, I wouldn't rent a bike.

What about Ravenna? Are the mosaic venues open on Sundays?

Ok, another thought..lol..my mind gets all crazy when I get the opportunity to travel on my companies dime!

What about Turin? Either skipping my first idea all together and starting that side and heading to Milan from there..stopping somewhere midway..any ideas? Or going from Bologna to turin to Milan? Does that seem doable or crazy?

Actually, I think the heart of Bologna is its food markets and its food. The markets are shut down and many restaurants are closed (or only open for lunch). I've never made a point a paying to attention to what else might be shut on Sundays. Sometimes it is hard to tour churches in the mornings because there are services. I'm not sure the medieval operation "theatre" is open because it is part of a library, so it might be shut. I don't know.

If you do decide to go, I disagree that the sights of Bologna are scattered about. Almost every single one is within the city's old walls, which is a 20 minute walk in any direction from the central Piazza Maggiore. About the only "outlier" I can think of is the hilltop sanctuary some people like to take a hike to go see.

If the weather is pleasant, Turin should be filled with people out and about, and it is town full of interesting unusual museums, with a lot of variety. It has outstanding food and wine, in particular wonderful chocolate and cheese.

Ravenna would also appeal to me for its spectacular mosaics. Incredibly rewarding. Padova is a nice choice (although again, I would want to be there for the markets and many of its university-associated attractions would be close. If you are at all interested in Palladio's architecture, then Vicenza would be ideal, except you need to check what's open on Sunday. Mantova has a LOT going for when it comes to a short visit. Two beautiful big palaces to fill up the bulk of your sightseeing, and then some smaller quirkier sights and corners to explore. I love the unusual food there. (Not the wine.) I don't know how much time you'd spend on the train getting in and out if you are also going to Milan and Verona, but not more than you'd spend going to Torino or Ravenna.

Thank you all for your advice. I think my decision is to fly into bologna, stay there til the 19th and then take the train to Turin, then head to Milan on the 20th. Head home on the 22nd. Luckily with the high speed train,I can get to each place fairly fast.

I adore both Bologna and Turin. Fantastic choice.

Same.
I would reduce time in Milano and Torino is one of my preferred cities.
I am right now in Vicenza and I really like it too. Would like it better if I was not in a meeting room.

FWIW, here's the link to my TR which includes Turin and Bologna. We had a spectacular meal there! There are other Turin TRs as well.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ellagio-tr.cfm

I don't really have the choice on how many days I have in Milan as I am there for work and the extra days I added for Turin and Bologna were bonus that I added myself.

Any suggestions on a neighborhood in both Turin and Bologna that I should stay? I'm a female traveling alone.
I'm thinking I may do Airbnb.

piperfl, our trip was some years ago, and we wanted to be somewhat close to the train station so this info may not be helpful to you:

In Turin: http://www.astoriahotel.it/ [right on a bus route]

In Bologna: Sofitel Bologna, Viale Pietramellaria, 59 [it might not be a Sofitel now]

After DH died, I traveled alone and preferred hotels as there was always someone who saw me daily. Your call of course.

for lots of info on trains check www.trenitalia.com for fares and schedules and for long-distance trains booking your own discounted tickets; www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

But on your short train jaunts I'd just take regional trains and no reason to buy those in advance - a flat fare so just buy at stations as you go.

Don't forget to cancel (validate) your own regional train tickets before boarding regional trains or face a possible fine for not doing so.

I think your choices are fun places to be. For Turin it is nice to stay directly in the center of town, near the Palazzo Madama. I've stayed in Townhouse 70 and like the ambience very much, but there are other choices, depending on your budget. I've never looked at what AirBnB offers in Turin, but you might find something very nice. I wouldn't stay near the train or the area of the Quadrilatero. The first is kind of depressing, and the second can be extremely noisy with restaurant life. It's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to sleep there.

In Bologna, I would definitely check out AirBnb to see if you can get something at a nice price right in the historic center, near piazza Maggiore. I wouldn't stay in the student quarter -- again, noisy -- and the closer you get to the train station, the less atmosphere you have, the more modern the buildings. Both cities have a lot of motor traffic, so it's a good idea to read reviews (and pack earplugs anyway).

Thank you all for the advice. After all this my company got word out client is cancelling the conference. So after all my research and booking my flights I had to cancel it all yesterday

I was so looking forward to getting back to Italy as it's been 6 years since I've been.