Who would have known in my 20s that someday unplanned days in Europe would cause me so much anxiety! I was planning to head to southern Italy to visit a friend for 5 days after Copenhagen and Tuscany where I will be taking a 5 day course to become an olive oil sommelier (yes this is a real thing) but 2 weeks ago found out that she would be in Milan so....

I have 4.5ish days from Friday afternoon 10/30 to the following Wednesday night when I have an airbnb booked in Milan to fly out the next morning. I have broken my google finger looking at potential cities I could visit in that time. There are hundreds of places I can fly cheaply from Rome, I don't want to rent a car so that limits me to cities accessible by train. I am solo so want a place that I will easily find convivial bars/restaurants/activities/walking tours. Prague is at the top of the list but I'm not 100% sold, friends recommended Switzerland but not a specific city, have thought about exploring another town in Italy although I've been to many (haven't visited Puglia region for instance). I have visited many of the biggest European capitals (Paris, London, Rome etc.) so something more out of the box maybe? I love art, architecture, old libraries, monasteries, castles, eating cheese etc.

I would love to hear the fodor community's ideas!

Bologna, which can be an anchor for day visits to other locations such as Ravenna and Ferrara.

I've read this three times and can't quite figure out your itinerary. Is it Copenhagen-->Tuscany-->??-->Milan? I'm not sure where Rome fits in. We did a beautiful Southern Italy tour this past summer so I have lots of ideas but would like to be clear first.

We spent quite a bit of time in Puglia and it was our favourite part of the trip.

If you're interested in architecture you could consider adding in Vicenza the home of Palladio which is close to Bologna, Modena and Ravenna. This area gives you lots of history, architecture and food and should be easy to get to if you're looking for something between Tuscany and Milano.

Sorry about that, I'm flying direct to Copenhagen tonight and will be there until Sunday am, then to Tuscany for the 5 day course. Rome airport would be the closest for me to depart to another city if I leave Italy at that point. I fly to NY from Milan airport on 11/5. Free days from 10/30 to 11/4 evening.

It sounds like most recommend staying in Italy? Puglia is an area I'm interested in but my thinking was something like..what city can I visit pretty comprehensively (I know I know) in 4.5 days where I am unlikely to spend significant time in the future. I return to Italy almost every year so have many opportunities to explore in the future and have been to many parts: extensive time on the Amalfi Coast, Napoli, Bologna Tuscany, Milan, Piedmonte, Venice, Orvieto area.

I so appreciate all of the above recommendations. I'm hoping something will give me an aha moment and I can go from there.

Alexandrak do you have a Puglia trip report posted? I can plan from abroad but would help to have an idea of town to base and if I can get around with no car. I do have a few Trulli airbnb bookmarks.

When my fiancé and I visited Italy this summer, We spent only 3 full days in Puglia. You could give it more, weeks even, but 4.5 could work for you. I'm not sure about public transit but we stayed in Lecce and ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. We visited Bari en route and weren't as blown away, and stopped in Alberobello (a must!).

We also spent a night in Matera, a town built completely into caves, and it was a highlight. We stayed in at L'Hotel in Pietra, a beautiful boutique hotel which was in a cave, and it was a once in a lifetime experience. The food in Matera was some of our favourite in all of Italy, and what we particularly loved was that it is clearly going to blow up as a tourist destination VERY soon (it was recently named culture capital of Europe or something along those lines for 2015) but HASN'T YET - we visited in July and it was like it hadn't been discovered yet. There is an area to hike and explore the caves, a beautiful old church, mind-blowing food (it came alive at dusk!) and in general this town truly felt like the most magical place either of us had ever been, especially at night.

Lecce may be easier by public transit (I think there are trains from Bari to both cities) and we truly did enjoy our time there, it is a beautiful city as well, but Matera was our "hidden gem" that we rave about to everyone. They are only 2 hours apart by car, much less by train, so you could potentially do both. Might be a pain to get back up to Milan though, although there are flights from Bari to Milan for about $50 Euros so that could solve that problem.

Anyway just my thoughts! Let me know if you have any questions and what you decide!

No trip report, sorry, but I listed most just now above and if you have any questions I'd be happy to answer them! If you can get yourself to Bari I think you're good on the train to both destinations I recommended!

Bologna, Vicenza, Verona are east to combine with Milan and have a lot to offer.
With only four days, how far do you want to travel?

Puglia isn't really practical if you are traveling solely by public transport. If you are willing to rent a car, then I would highly recommend it.

I would also recommend Asolo and Cormons, but again, you would need a car.

Alexandrak, thanks so much for the details above! Matera sounds fantastic and I'm going to look at the public transport options.

Happy - that is definitely easier distance wise. For me if I can get to another country in 2 hours and have 4 full days then I am willing to go..hence the idea of visiting Prague.

ekc - I'm chicken to drive in Italy! Rented cars twice before but have great friends that agree to drive while I navigate (poorly).

As an aside, if you can handle a stick, driving in Puglia was no problem. I can't drive standard but FI can, and while Naples and Amalfi were terrifying, the highways through Puglia were quiet, and no different than a major highway here at home (Canada) - in fact we preferred driving in Puglia to home! We rented a car with GPS and explored the Puglia countryside and had a blast. Amalfi, Naples, another story...

Perhaps toy with the idea of renting in Bari and driving if your comfort level is up to is? I am an extremely anxious person and had I been able to handle the car I would have been 100% fine in Puglia.

Another option in Italy is Perugia. You can explore a lot of Umbria from Perugia using public trans, and the town itself has art, architecture, great food and ... chocolate! Being a university town, there will be a large number of younger people. About 90 minutes away by train is Arezzo which holds a fabulous antiques market the first weekend of every month.

I think you need to be in Milan the evening of the 4th if your flight is on the 5th. And it sounds as though you're leaving Tuscany on the 30th, so you'll have four full days at your new destination.

Much as Alexandra likes Puglia, it's really not a great destination without a car. The coastal areas are a little bleak at this time of the year, as well, and getting from one inland area to another by train or bus is complicated. I haven't been to Lecce, but some of my Italian friends love it while others think it's very overrated.

Somewhere in Sicily might be interesting to you.

Although I've been there many times, I always enjoy a few days in London.

Madrid is another possible destination, which also has good day trip possibilities by train or bus (Segovia, Toledo, etc.)

In lieu of Puglia (where the driving was fine - nothing like Amalfi) how about Genova? A little closer to your departing airport. There is a thread here or on TA about what to do with 4 days in Genova.

If you want to do Lecce, fly to Brindisi or Bari and catch the bus to Lecce or train to Lecce direct.

Lecce; to get around you need to look at buses more than the train, but the train can help and the train roughly goes where the buses do until you get to the smaller places which you will not want to do.

http://www.provincia.le.it/web/provi.../orari-e-linee

Puglia will feel a little out of Season now, but main towns will still have a buzz.

Thanks for the additional ideas everyone. It sounds like I may save Puglia for another trip when I have more time and a willing driver. I like the idea of Genoa or some of the northern towns sticking closer to my final destination.

I will report back where I end up, for now loving Copenhagen!!

Alexandrak totally off topic but I just followed parabo press on ig and you came up as a suggested account. Small world online

We just flew RyanAir from Krakow to Rome Ciampino, 2 hrs.Easy, cheap and Krakow is a gem. Preferred it to Prague.