Hi-

My husband is meeting me in Milan (I'll be in a conference in Bologna for the week prior). We have only a week to travel around. This is my initial itinerary:

Day 1- Arrive Milan, train to Lake area, Varenna

Day 2- The Lake area

Day 3- train to Cinque Terre

Day 4- Cinque Terre

Day 5- train to Lucca

Day 6- train to Venice

Day 7- late afternoon train to Milan

Day 8- fly home

I've been to Italy before, but my husband has not. We don't mind doing some fast sightseeing... we like being on the go. But we also don't want to spend all our time on trains (I'm not sure how long some of these connections are).

Any suggestions?? I'm not set on this itinerary, but we would like to go to Cinque Terre for sure (we'll be there in September).

Thanks!

Every time you move from one city to another, you will lose at least half a day, probably more. Yo will not have much time in Lucca, Venice, or Milano.

Check schedules here:
http://www.trenitalia.it/en/index.html

Ellenem is right. You'll spend most of your time traveling & very little of it enjoying. At most, just go to two places.

With 7 days, you don't have time for all of these places. A quick estimate of the many train journeys adds up to about 17 hours. Add to that about 4 hours for checking in/out hotels and getting to/from train stations in all these towns. That's an average of 3 hours every day just moving around, not actually seeing any of the places you're traveling to.

Pick just two.

And, just curious, why not Florence?

My suggestion:

days 2 and 3 Lake Area
days 4 - 5 - 6 Cinque Terre

otherwise you see almost nothing of every place and will not enjoy it.
September is wonderful for Lake area (Como lake, I presume) and Cinque Terre.

Venice will be your goal next time !



Vincenzo

I agree that 2, with a maximum of 3 polaces would be ideal. I love Venice, so I might chose:

Day 1- Arrive Milan, train to Varenna on Lake Como

Day 2- lake como area

Day 3- train to Venice

Days 4-5 Venice

Day 6-train to Stresa, Lake Maggiore

Day 7- either late afternnon train to Milan or stay in Stressa for quick trip to airport on Day 8

Day 8 -fly home

You can visit CT, Flroence, and Lucca on another trip.

Good luck,

Margret

I agree with those who tell you that you will spend too much time on trains using the itinerary you propose. You can work it out for yourself at http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

On a recent 30-day trip to Italy we learned it is wise to book the fastest train and to avoid, whenever possible, changing trains on the way to a destination.

Given seven nights, I would spend at least two in Varenna and two in Venice. Three nights in each place would suit me better.

Do yourself a favor and pick 2 destinations---Como and Venice or Como and CT---not all 3.