Itinerary Advice Northeastern Italy
 

We are planning the following itinerary and would like to know if the distribution of days makes sense for the various locations:

- 4 nights Verona, day trips to Lake Guarda (Sirimone or ??) and Vicenza
- 3 nights in Ortisei, funicular Rasciesa and hiking, drive the Stella Pass
- 3 nights in Bologna, day trip to Ravenna
- 3 nights in Venice

This is the fourth trip to Italy and these are all new locations. Still flexible on the details with the exception of final 3 nights in Venice.

We just took a two week trip and spent 5 days in Bologna.
Check out my trip report under Stoweflake. I highly recommend the Italiandays factory tour with Alessandro. Have Fun.

I think you need more time in Venice and can reduce that in Verona - which has limited interest IMHO.

Nice trip---and compact.
I too would give Venice more time--it is special.

thanks for the feedback! would really love to add some time to Venice.

Sounds great, krgystn. DH and I used Verona as a base and visited Vicenza and Milan as day trips. On the way to Milan, we passed the city of Como and I wish we'd visited that as well. FYI, if you go to Palladio's Rotunda, arrange for taxi to pick you up, or get round trip bus tickets--it's not right in town. We went on a Sunday and took a cab there. When we were finished, we realized we were a little stranded until we found a bus stop. Unfortunately, the tobacco shop wasn't open to buy tickets so we just got on the bus without them and prayed we wouldn't get fined.

I tend to agree with nytraveler about Verona, however we enjoyed the big colosseum and the smaller amphitheatre across the river, the old church, and two big piazzas. If you are there during opera season, you will be happy also. It was in a good position for our train trips.

Have a super time. Hope you write a trip report!

Last September we did

2 nights Verona (one night at the opera)
2 nights Riva del Garda
2 nights La Villa in Badia (riding lifts, hiking, driving passes)
3 nights in Venice (for the Biennale)

It was hot, and our time in Riva was a great break; we were able to do some boat rides and swim at our hotel.

The taste of the Dolomites was great for us. We also went to Lago di Braies which was beautiful.

Anyway, that was how we used our 9 nights. We had been to Venice several times before, so we weren't doing sights and experiences as much as visiting the Biennale.

I can't tell you how to use your time; just sharing how we did a similar trip.

Sounds great. We will really only be in Verona for one day. Is it worth doing a day trip from Verona to Riva del Garda or is that too much for one day?

Without knowing what time of year you are traveling and what days of the week you will be spending where, it is hard to answer some of your questions, I think. Also, will you have a car for any portion of the trip? If not, a day trip to Riva is not really possible, and how many of the Palladio sights do you want to see in Vicenza (or you planning to join a tour? Many people visit Vicenza by train and enjoy the town alone, no disappointments. But if you are going to see a lot of Palladio's work, a car is advisable.

I more enjoy spending time in Verona than spending time in Venice, especially at certain times of the year, so I think if you leave Bologna for Venice before 10 in the morning, that would be enough time in my book. But obviously others wouldn't want to that. So unless you know who are talking to, and what their tastes are overall, it is hard to count on other people's recommendations for one's own trip.

Where did you go on your other four trips to Italy, and what did you most enjoy? Might give people more clues about helping you fine tune your trip.

I think your plan is fine the way it is. I love Verona but if you get bored there are other day trips you can make from there. We did do Sirmione and loved it (took the train and ferry to get there). Mantua is another day trip possibility from Verona. I liked Padua more than Vicenza.

Here's my photos of those places:
www.pbase.com/annforcier/italy__the_veneto
www.pbase.com/annforcier/italian_lakes
www.pbase.com/annforcier/italy_emilia_romagna
www.pbase.com/annforcier/bergamo_mantova
www.pbase.com/annforcier/italy__venezia

Perhaps this might be a better use of time:

- 4 nights Lake Garda, day trips to Verona and Vicenza
- 2 nights in Ortisei, funicular Rasciesa and hiking, drive the Stella Pass
- 2 nights in Bologna, day trip to Ravenna
- 5 nights in Venice

sandralist, trip will be end of September/beginning of October. We are not finalized on the Vicenza portion, but good chance we will just see the city.

I have enjoyed all the areas I have visited in Italy thus far for the history, the natural beauty, the architecture, the art, the medieval villages, and, of course, the food. Love it all; love the diversity. I have visited Rome, Milan, Florence, Amalfi, Cinque Terre, Lake Como, Bergamo, Siena, Lucca, Pisa, and others.

isabel, great photos! (as always)

Rubicund, I was originally thinking of staying at Lake Garda, but I land at VCE at 2pm and it seems like too far for first day. Where on the lake would you recommend?

Also, is there enough to do in Ortisei for two days?

Where will you come from and where will you go afterwards? it might make more sense to begin or to end your trip at Bologna.

What about Bologna - Verona - Desenzano - boat - Riva - Rovereto - Bolzano/Bozen - Val Gardena - Canazei - Feltre - Venice?

We found that our time in the Dolomites (La Villa in Badia) sped by. We left Riva and immediately drove to a lift in Ortisei and hiked until the lifts were closing at the end of the afternoon. We drove a pass on the way to La Badia. I would need a map to tell you which.

Our hotel, La Majun in La Villa, had a pool, spa and dinner, and it was a great evening after such a workout.

Next day we drove to Lago Braiese, hiked around most of the lake and took lunch, then drove passes on the way back to La Villa. Again, without a map I can't tell you the route, but we spent a lot of time driving, looking, stopping, photographing, on both days.

Back for dinner at the hotel and out early the next morning to drive to Venice. We took the route through Cortina.

So when you say is there enough in Ortisei for two days, I would say yes, but not if you plan to spend all your time in Ortisei. To me, the real pleasure was in hitting the rode and the mountains. Also, I was in better shape last summer, but still not what you would call very fit, but I did all this hiking without much problem.

I'll add my voice to those urging a tad more time in Venice. I know you said that the time in Venice is fixed, but surely you could ADD a day if you chose to, even if that meant an extra change of lodging? Just a thought....

I tried flying into another airport and then out of VCE but the increase in fares was horrendous.

Thanks for all the tips!

krgystn,

It sounds like you will be fine with any plan you choose. Like you, I love the diversity of Italy and have been glad to see as much as I can of it. For sure I have enjoyed some places more than others, but it continues to be a surprise at every turn, Have a nice time. Many of the places you are going are great favorites of mine, and Ravenna and the Dolomiti are simply extraordinary. You will need to get out of Ortisei to experience the best of it, but you will not tire of looking at those peaks. It will take you two days to believe your eyes and that you are not dreaming.

"... I tried flying into another airport and then out of VCE" -- OK, but still, why not add a night to Venice? You said you would love to add some time there, and it would seem to me that you can. Your call, obviously, but I am confused.... Maybe I don't understand what you mean when you say "3 nights in Venice" -- that could mean 2 days, 3 days, or 4 days....