We are traveling to Northern Italy in Sept. Flying into Milan we are spending 2 nights in Varenna and 3nights in the Dolomites (Ortisei or Castelrotto) then on to Cinque Terre, Florence and Rome. My questions concern whether or not train/bus travel is better than driving and have 3 scenarios:
1. Take train and bus to/from all destinations
2. Take train to Varenna from Milan. Enjoy our two nights using local transit then pick up car on Monday in Varenna area and drive to the Dolomites, use car in Dolomites then drop off car in Bolzano and take train to cinque terre and use transit the rest of the trip.
3. #2 except take transit instead of car from Varenna to Dolomites area and pick up and drop off car in Bolzano before heading to cinque terre.
Thank you!

Nice trip, but I hate to see you criss-cross Italy from the Dolomites to the CT---that is a long drive. I would drop the CT, but that is not what you asked.

You cannot get a car in Varenna---you can in Lecce or Como.
I would go ahead and get it at MXP since the extra days will not be that much, and I would keep it until La Spezia---why mess with Bolzano. By the time you do that---and catch the train---you will already be more than halfway to La Spezia.

Ortisei and Calsterotto are not on the railway network. While they can be reached by buses, that is an area where having a car is an advantage.

To Bob- So would you have another choice besides CT for three days before Florence? The World Cycling race is finishing in Florence on the 29th and I'm trying to avoid it in case the city is too crowded

Add time to both Ortisei and Varenna.

I agree--add time and unpack less.

Thank you!

One more question...would you rather spend time in Varenna area or CT if you had to choose? We are acouple in our 40s. Very active...looking forward to beautiful scenary and hikes. I chose Varenna cause I have not been but my boyfriend has and chose CT cause I have been but boyfriend hasnt.

I love Lago Como, but both are weather depedent.