Hello!! I really hope you can help me!!
I am travelling to Italy with a friend in the second half of September for about 20 days. It is my first time there, but my friend has been in Rome and Florence so we are not going to those cities. I really need help planning the trip, which cities do you recommend, the places I can't miss and how long staying in each city. And also if you can help me with the route, we are landing in Venice and departing from Milan. Any tip or advice you can give me is very welcome!!! Thank you so much

Rmchangm... i think this question is just a bit broad. maybe you can tell us the cities you're thinking about, and we can give feedback on those.

i will say that, if you are starting in venice, you will be near one of our favorite cities, bologna. from bologna, it is easy to get from the main piazza to the train, so it could be a good base for that whole area.

if you go home from milan, you may want to visit lake como and such... it's an easy train ride.

let us know more about what you are thinking and we can probably help more. we have a rule of staying 3 nights minimum in each city... many people don't. let us know what you are thinking in that regard as well.

It's time to pick up a guidebook or two and start reading. And a map and start studying. There are thousands of possibilities for traveling in Italy for 20 days, and no one here knows you or your interests. When you have drafted an initial plan, many knowledgable people here will be happy to help you refine it.

From my recent trip report "18 days in Italy":

"First, for new travelers to Europe- and I include myself, as this is only the 4th trip I’ve taken- MIND the number of days and nights you have. For example, we had 18 nights, but that translated into about 12 ½ days of actually seeing and doing. There was one night on the plane going over and two nights coming back, as well as the time it took getting from one place to another. You have to count in that time!!
Second, know what is important to you. You can’t see it all. People ask: “What are the must-see sights?”, but that depends on you. To some, it is important to check off places and get selfies taken. To others, perhaps you have dreamed of seeing the Pantheon or the Elgin Marbles. If you are going to expend the time and money to go to Europe (from the U.S. or farther), you should expend some time in thinking and deciding, and yes, being judgmental. On this trip, I had to cut out Venice in order to see Ravenna, but I have wanted to see the treasures there for many years.
Third, know what your general budget is. I have to say, getting started at this later in life than most has allowed us to spend a bit more on some things which probably aren’t necessary, but are nice. If you are young, GO anyway, stay is hostels or whatever. Yes, you can get slices of pizza or a panini for very little, or you can sit down and have several courses with wine. Just figure out what you can afford and enjoy!
Fourth, and this is my opinion, ask yourself, “What do I really want to see before I die?” Then try to put those in some sort of order."

Thank you for your replies. The truth is that a friend is getting married on a Lake near Milan and she just gave us the save the date. That's why I decided to go and visit Italy it never was in my plans. So that's why I'm a little bit lost.

What I do know is that I like to walk around the city, learning about history and places. I like nature but my friend doesn't and I'm not a party person and my friend is hahaha.

But I'm going to investigate more and ask a lot of questions later.

Trains are great and the way to go if going mainly to cities where cars are now banned often from city centers - for lots of great info on Italian trains check: www.trenitalia.com; www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com (check out their online European Planning & Rail Guide for suggested rail itineraries) and www.ricksteves.com.

and I would go to Rome and Florence as a top priority - even if friend has been there - going to Italy and not seeing these is losing out on a lot. Your friend knows the ropes so he can show you around.

that's a wonderful reason for wanting to go to Italy - we went to Bulgaria [though only for 3 days] last year for the same reason and had a terrific time.


as for what to do well both you and your friend are going to have to compromise or you'll end up not being friends. But surely you can both like Venice and enjoy being there - it's hard not to. From there you could easily go to Rome on the train, and then to Florence - both good places for party people, who probably don't care where they are if there are enough bars and cafes - and end up at the Lake for the wedding then onto Milan and home.

Where does you friend want to go?

What I do know is that I like to walk around the city, learning about history and places.>

Florence and Rome for sure but also check out Verona, Bologna and Naples for three old cities reeking of history and which are easy to walk around.

I would put Venice at the top of my list - do a day trip to say Padua or Vincenza or Verona.

Then Bologna

Florence

Rome

Kind of the classic tour of Italy.

What lake are you staying on?

>> but my friend has been in Rome and Florence <u>so we are not going to those cities</u><<

Venice and Milan and the Lakes and Bologna and Turin/Piedmont are all in the northern third of the country. You could do a terrific 20 days split between these.

I'll agree with PalenQ here - even if your friend has been to Rome and Florence, I would go there if you have not. If you'd rather skip those cities and leave them for another trip, that's fine too.

Lee Ann