Is it possible to do Tuscany, Lake Como, Venice and then maybe Austria?
 

I'd love to try planning a 15-day trip to these spots, but just not sure how doable it is. (Don't need more than 2 days in Venice this time)

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
-Lulu-

Sure, if your 21, nuts, or just desperate for stress. My days of cramming as much Italy into two weeks are over for good. I spent 3 weeks in Venice in May and I hated to leave. But I was completely relaxed when I did. Lake Como and Tucany both deserve a month each. Anyone got Valium?

I wouldn't try it and I wouldn't need a month to see Lake Como.

I personally think you need a couple of days at Lake Como, depending on which part of the lake you'll perhaps visit. The mid-lake area around Varenna/Bellagio/Menaggio could easily take up two days if you want to explore all three towns.
I think a lot of this depends on how much depth you want and the various places you want to go. Some folks, as the previous poster has indicated, want, or need, more time to see places and some folks need or require less time. Without knowing any further specifics about the types of things you like to do/see it is difficult for me to offer any futher advice. Hope this helps a bit.

its very much possible...depending on whether this is a 'vacation' or whther this is a sight-seeing trip..

we did the latter..and in 15 days covered Paris-> Rome-> Venice ->Milan ->Interlaken -> Gimmelwald->Paris.

It sure was hectic..but would do it again.

I think that it could be entirely enjoyable. Perhaps the challenge is interpreting what you mean by "Austria" - - since you could spend an entire 15 days there (same for Tuscany).

I would have no problem recommending 3-4 days in the Graz or southern Tyrol area - - and I would stick it after como, before Venice. I would rent a car in Tuscany, and turn it in upon arrival in V3enice and fly home from there.

Best wishes,

Rex

We did a trip like this:

4 nights Vienna

4 nights Venice

4 nights Florence (day trips to Siena and San G)

3 nights Lake Como

Depart from Milan

Hi Lulu,

Chat noir has a good plan. The train over the mountains between Vienna and Venice is a beautiful trip, especially in the early spring when the snow is melting.

It's possible to do, but you're really on the go and don't have alot of time to spend anywhere. Two years ago we flew into Frankfurt, immediately got on the train to Salzberg, then on to Vienna, next to Rome, and lastly on to Paris. We had two major 13+ hour travel days on the train as we travelled around on the railpass, which at least gives you a chance to rest. I was exhausted though. We did all this in 16 days. It's do-able, but at what price??

Yes, it can be done! It also depends on what you plan to do/see and your mode of transportation.

Lake Como and Venice can each be done in two days. I would spend more time in Tuscany and Austria.

Have fun!

Thank you, everyone, for taking the time to give me your input.

How might what something like ChatNoir suggested be planned (in which order - fly in/out):
4 nights Vienna or Graz area
2-3 nights Venice
4-5 nights Tuscany
3 nights Como area
?

As for Austria, Rex, would love to stay in/near towns w/lots of charm, beauty, shopping but conveniently located in order to make this itinerary work.

There'll be 6 or 7 of us going this time - late September + early October time frame, 2004.

Thank you once again!
-Lulu-

It doesn't seem so stressful to me (and I'm 51 not 21). I also like ChatNoir's idea or a variation on that theme. Some people like to stay in one place, other people can handle the moving around. Hey, that's why they call it traveling. Have fun, no matter what you decide.
((H))

This word "doable" comes up often here when describing an itinerary.

Is this the standard for a successful trip? That it's "doable"? Can't we do better than that? Isn't there more to travel than that? I would certainly hope so!

Lulu, please follow NYC's advice and then maybe he/she won't need that valium.

At what cost is precisely the point! My first eight trips to Italy in the 90's were all jam-packed. I couldn't get enough and had to squeeze in just one more city. It became this insane marathon that actually made me stupidly proud. And then, at age 38, I tripped and fell on a little corner of raised centuries-old pavement within 15 minutes of parking the car in Florence. My will walked faster than my legs. Instead of cramming in the "David" for the umpteenth time, I ended up in the Emergency Room (7 hrs.) with a badly sprained arm. I wore that sling for 15 days in Tuscany and struggled miserably with the pain. Thank God the Villa was close to heaven. After that experience, I decided no more marathons for me.

It's difficult to know when horror will strike but I'm a firm believer in listening to your body. Mine told me to slow down. And that's where I'm at.

Speaking of intellectual..."Venice in 2 days." Puhleeeeeeze, and thank you for making me laugh so hard. Would all the Venice day-trippers just stay home and spare that precious place! Here's a suggestion to all the half-wit Venice marathoners, read Garry Wills' "Lion City" and then tell me the smart thing to do is see Venice in 2 days. What's that you say...you're not fond of reading?

I've just topped a thread from the late Wes Fowler that I think is appropriate here. God bless him!

For those who plead for LuluG to be more leisurely, I can only say this. Sometimes I like basing in just a couple of areas and see everything in that area. Other times, I like being on the go and seeing many diffrent areas. If one really strikes my fancy, then I'll return for an extended stay.

Not knowing if LuluG wants to veg or be on the go, I think she now has two viable options. I'm not telling her which option is correct (like some others). I and few other posters are just providing the option she asked for in the first place.

In the end, it's her decision. As for me, stress and vacation have never been uttered in the same sentence (well, until now). Stress is work, not making the wrong turn in Switzerland. Plus, there's always wine at the end of the day. Everybody's different. Maybe my body just isn't ready to slow down for good.

Whatever your decision LuluG, have a great time.
((H))

NYC, my reason for 2-3 nights in Venice this trip is b/c I've been there twice in the last 2 yrs. Wanted to show new travelers coming along for this trip a couple highlights, then wanted to stay somewhere in southern Austria for 3-4 nights. We're not into museums, for the most part. Mostly enjoy strolling the town, shopping, relaxing at nice/fun cafes. For me, at least, visiting the David once was enough - as was the Vatican museum in Rome.

3 nights in each town is comfortable for me. It actually feels like the perfect amt of time for a nice visit.
I'm not into rushing around to see everything in town & I'm not into longer travel times than 2-3 hrs betw each destination, unless it's a gorgeous ride and enjoyable in and of itself.

I expect I'll be altering the itinerary along the way to make things flow more comfortably. Need to start somewhere, right?

Thanks for helping, with or w/o the Valium. :)

-Lulu-

Well, I dunno, but I've laughed at enough raucous, bawdy Shakespearean plays to know that the people of history mercifully didn't take themselves as seriously as some here do. Were there no such thing as that low brow Roman entertainer known as the gladiator, there would be no Coliseum or similar arenas. Opera in its day was what people went to because they couldn't watch "Days of Our Lives" on TV. And as for Venice, who can imagine it without Casanova, whom I understand was not exactly known for his, er, intellectual pursuits. :)

MaitaiTom, good to hear from you again. See you on the rally drive through Europe. :)

Dear Lulu,

There was no need to explain yourself to me. I'm just having fun with a travel rant and nothing I say should ever be taken personally. I'm just throwing my opinion into the mix. I firmly believe "to each his own" and "different strokes" et al.

I love a great cappucino and getting fitted for a pair of custom-made shoes by Signore Segalin. But I'm mostly wild about history and art.

Michelangelo's "David" makes me think about God, no different than his "Pieta" or anything by Bernini, and so on. When I'm surrounded by such magnificence, I'm at peace...and thrilled to be alive and in Italy.

We fly into Vienna then took the train to Venice, then Florence, then Lake Como and finally to Milan for the flight back to the USA.

You can take the bus and/or train to Sienna and San G daytrips from Florence.

Its called an Open Jaw ticket where you fly into one city and out of another. Usually doesn't too much more and often the cost is the same. Saves time when you don't have to backtrack.