OK, this will be our first time in Italy. Me, DH (in our 30s), parents (in their 60s), perhaps even a couple of our friends.

We want to do 4 days each in Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan, using trains and local transport.

When would be the best time to travel there? My dad has traveled extensively for business, and we've all been to the UK/Ireland, but not much beyond that. DH is on a quadmester school system, so we've got to plan around that.

Suggestions? Tips?

Forgot to say -- this is for 2007!

IMO
Go April or May..Sept or Oct.
Trains are a good mode of travel in Italy.
Have a wonderful time...

Hi Green Dragon,

I would go in May, but I wouldn't spend 4 days in Milan. I would spend 1 day there and 3 days at one of the lakes.

Also, unless you plan to do a couple of day trips outside Florence, or you are really, really big art and museum people, I would take a day or 2 from Florence and add a day each to Rome and Venice.

Buon viaggio!

Thanks for the input! We love art and history, but that doesn't mean we're fanatics... however, show me a ruin and I'll be there all afternoon

So Milan is only worth one day? Which 'lakes'? Tell me about them! (I'm very new to Italy!)


So... Rome 5 days, Florence 3 days, Venice 4 days, Milan 1 day, 'the lakes' 3 days?

Our interests include history, art, architecture, ruins -- not huge on 'fashion' shopping, but enjoy shopping crafts and local produce/foods. We would like to relax some with the locals. My husband tried some Limoncello at Epcot last month, and loves it. What other suggestions?

<<So... Rome 5 days, Florence 3 days, Venice 4 days, Milan 1 day, 'the lakes' 3 days?>>

Yes.

Here's a start on the lakes (I havn't been to Milan or the Lake region yet):
http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgr...tion=milan@103

I'd pick the countryside of Tuscany over the Lakes region. Otherwise, your schedule so far looks good. You definitely want to travel open jaws (fly into one city, home from another).

We are trying to keep the stops to four -- as we don't want 'whirlwind' tours of a different hotel every night. Definitely open-jaw -- I love that option!

<<We are trying to keep the stops to four>>

You could EASILY add another night to three of your four cities instead of "3 lake days" - you still won't see everything you want to.