Northern Italy Itinerary Help!
 

Hi all,

The time has come for me to get some help with my Italy itinerary. My husband and I plan to go in May 2004 and here is what we have planned

Milan 5 nights
Lake Como 4 nights
Vernoa 2 nights
Venice 3 nights
Cinque Terre 4 nights

My main question is: what order should we do this in? And, where should we fly in and fly out?

We had originally planned to fly into Milan and travel in the order above, flying out of Genoa. But, after reading some posts here, I gather that it is difficult to get from Venice to Cinque Terre. So, now we are thinking of flying into Venice and then going: Verona, Lake Como, Milan, Cinque Terre and out of Genoa. Any thoughts?

Fyi, the reason we have a shorter stay in Venice is because we've been there before.

Thanks!

the above should say "Verona."

What are you planning to do in Milan for 5 days?

Hi,

I also wonder why 5 nights in Milan. Into Venice and out of Genoa is a better idea.

How about a stop off in Florence or Bologna for a few days?

My $.02 -- agree with the wonderment about spending 5 nights in Milan. We didn't spend much time there (not by design) but were glad of that. There are so many more beautiful things to see in Italy.

If you fly into Venice, you can take the train to Milan and stop in Verona on the way. It's a darling place. If the opera is performing when you are there in the outdoor collesium, recommend trying to get tickets. For the rest I'd go with your order - Como, Milan and CT, or switch Milan and Como.

They will be too early for the opera in May.

Hmmm. I think 2 nights in Milan is more than enough. Add a night or two in Florence to break up the train ride from Venice to 5 Terre.
Ideally with that much time I would do pretty much what I did for my Honeymoon in June. Fly into and out of Milan. Immed train to Lake Como, 2 nights (all relaxing here, not much else to do/tour, just beautiful, 3 nights would be the max for me or I'd get bored). I'd add Verona for 2 nights, then Venice for 2. Florence for 2, rent a car and spend 4-5 nights in Tuscany, south of Siena. Turn the car in in Pisa and train to Cinque Terre for 2. Milan for one afternoon evening then home. :) Good luck! We absolutely loved it. The Tuscan hillside was our favorite area.

Thanks for your help!

We decided 5 nights in Milan would be our minimum after reading a lot about it. We've been to Italy several times, but never to Milan. I read about so many sights there (museums, churches, etc.) there that I did not want to stay less than that. We also want to go to a soccer game. Actually, I have a feeling we will have to leave Milan before we visit all of the sights we want to see.

Neither I or my husband likes whirlwind type tours with 2 nights here, 1 night there, etc. I find that type of traveling too superficial. I like to stay in a place long enough to really get a feel for it. (As example, my first stay in Venice was for 9 nights and I found that perfect.)

Maybe those of you who said you would stay in Milan for less time can give me an idea of how long you would advise a first timer to stay in Venice, Rome, Florence (all of which I found required at least a week on the first visit).

Thanks again! I appreciate your help.

The only place I recently visited in Italy I'd do a week is Southern Tuscany. But I don't get to travel as much as I like and want to see what I can at my own comfort level. I'm amazed by those who do 3 countries in 2 weeks!
To answer your question, to a first timer I'd still say 3 nights in Venice and 2 in Florence. (I've not yet been to Rome). If time is unlimited, a week each would be lovely I'm sure.

Hi daria

Nice travel concept.

But you have too much time in Milan for sure - you are swimming upstream on that pick. There are many good reasons why the vast majority on this forum will tell you to spend less time there.

Check out the Dolomites and places like Trento, Bolzano, and Castelrotto.

I'll be the voice in the wilderness and say, "Hey, spend the five days in Milan!"
Based on your comments on how you like to spend your time, you'll enjoy the five days there....and there is more than enough to keep you occupied.
No, Milan certainly can't compete with the A-list cities of Rome and Venice, but it is certainly worthy of your time, especially since you're a veteran of Italy.
On your time trip, consider Bologna!

you might want to look into the small towns of Bassano del Grappa and Marostica about 1/2 hour north of Verona. Marostica is a completely walled city with a castle sitting atop of a hillside above the town below--there is also a restaurant in this castle. If you are interested in ceramics and Capodimonte porceline, try Nove just before arrival into Marostica. I agree with everyone else on the Milan thing, but I enjoy the smaller towns and villages, I think they have so much more charm and culture. Patti

Hi Daria,

Of course you need a lifetime in Venice, 1/2 that amount in Florence and Rome. However, you seem to be making Milan the main part of your trip, which, even with the football game (one day), leaves you in an industrial/commercial city when there is so much else to do.

Take 3 nights off Milan and see Bologna and/or Siena, and some of Tuscany.

Thanks everyone! My main question is whether anyone has any opinions about *which order* to visit these cities in. And, where should we fly in and out of?

We really aren't interested in adding any other stays because even if we cut 1 night in Milan, that would mean staying somewhere else for only 1 night, which we don't like to do. I agree we could stay a lifetime in Venice though, so I might consider cutting from Milan and adding to Venice even though we've been there before. But, we are committed to the places we've chosen and aren't interested in adding others.

Any other help will be appreciated.

I would not discount Milan. It is a great city for shopping and many tourist sights. Perhaps 3 nights is enough but don't forget the great restaurants and other things to see. The people are beautiful. Clearly, one could extend stay if visiting the opera. Also, Lake Como is spectacular! This region could easily be a 2 week event. I worry about your spastic trip....very intense in terms of geographical coverage...skip C Terre for a coastal vacation someday or don't go to Venice (I love Venice). You are wasting a lot of time moving east and west.

As far as order, I suggest Venice, Verona, Como, Milan, Cinque Terre, or the reverse. Have fun!

ttt

well why didn't you say you don't want any other ideas up front? geesh.
fly in and out of Milan. in order: Milan, Como, Venice, Verona, Cinque Terre.

So sorry! I didn't mean to be ambiguous about what I was asking or to waste anyone's time. I thought it was clear that my main questions were about what order to visit these cities in, and where to fly in and out of.

It seems to me that your proposal e_roz involves a lot of back and forth. I'm thinking russ_i's suggestion makes the most sense. Then we can travel in a straight line without any back tracking. It seems that if we started in Venice and ended in Cinque Terre, the only back tracking we would have to do would be to go from there to the Genoa airport.

Does anyone else think this makes sense?

the reason why e_roz's itinerary goes back and forth is because you are covering a lot of ground east-west AND north-south. Also, if you were happy with russ_i's itinerary and you were not willing to change the towns/cities that want to visit, why did you bump up your thread?

Having said that, I do agree with russ_i's itinerary. I would fly into VCE and out of MIL. If you live near JFK you can do this non-stop with Delta.