Two first timers to Italy, need feedback for itinerary
 

Hi all,

My husband is planning an 8 day trip to Italy for us. He is into arts, architecture, scenary. I am into just general sightseeing and good food. He is in charge of planning and I am in charge of booking hotels. We are planning our trip around the end of October.

Here is his proposed itinerary...what do you all think? He works overseas so we are planning to meet at the airport in Milan.

Day 1 (10/25 Mon): Land at Milan. Tour in city: Piazza del Duomo, La Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II,
Day 2 (10/26 Tue): in Milan: Pinacoteca di Brera, Castello Sforzesco, Santa Maria Delle Grazie
Day 3 (10/27 Wed): Check out Hotel at Milan. Visit Pavia (outside Milan). Take train to Venice. Check in Hotel in Venice
Day 4 (10/28 Thur): Tour in Venice, Stay at Hotel in Venice
Day 5 (10/29 Fri): Check out from Hotel in Venice early morning. Take train to Florence. Check in Hotel in Florence
Day 6 (10/30 Sat): Tour in Florence, including Galleria degli Uffizi (needs reservation)
Day 7 (10/31 Sun): Visit small towns outside Florence, e.g. Pisa, P Portovenere
Day 8 (11/1 Mon): Check out from Hotel in Florence.

I am confused by your day trips. How do you plan to get to Pavia---I assume the Certosa-- with your luggage, and Portovenere on a Sunday? Have you looked at train schedules?
Where do you egress Italy? I do not understand.

looks like you only have one full day in Venice-- that is a long way out for only one day, IMO. The Milan coverage looks good, maybe cut out Venice for this trip given the tight timeframe (or cut out Florence area and fly out of Venice instead.)

That's a lot of time in Milan for a first-time visitor. And not enough in Venice. Unless you're particularly interested in Milan or expect to be very jet-lagged, I'd go immediately to Venice, spend time there, then train back to Florence.

I would do either Florence or Venice, not both. It's just to rushed imho.

You say your husband is already overseas. Are you in the US? I ask only because I wouldn't be able to do all the touring you scheduled on 'Day 1' after getting off an overnight/overseas flight myself.

I think you have way too much Milan as well. I would spend more time in Venice. Verona is also amazing and on the way to Venice. Our last trip we were too jet lagged to drive all the way to Venice from the Milan airport so we overnighted in Verona (which is about half way) and we were so glad we did. We spent a day in Milan before we flew out .

Just realized you are taking train and not driving. I still would spend more time in Florence or Venice.

I am located in US and husband is located in Asia.

@bobthenavigator, husband said he looked at the train schedule and planning to store luggages at the train station. Not a good idea?

Forgot to add that husband has to take the train back to Milan to catch the return flight. Plane ticket cost 2x if he flies out of Florence.

in that case, you should finish your trip in Milan. when you land in MXP on 10/25 immediately train out of there to another city.

I assume you're both flying out of Italy on Tuesday, November 2nd. That means only 7 full days on the ground not impacted by flights, and FYI November 1st is a holiday. For that short of a trip, I'd stick with Milan, Pavia and Florence. If Pavia isn't an imperative, then I'd say Milan plus either Florence or Venice but not both.

Note: Pavia to Venice requires returning to Milan to connect. There is no luggage storage at the Pavia train station, but you could leave your luggage at the Milan station while you travel back and forth to Pavia.

FWIW, I think the food is better in Milan, Pavia and Florence than Venice. If budget is a concern, Venice is more expensive than Florence.

Ok, thanks everyone for your feedback. I have been trading msg with my husband. Since he is restricted to flying in/out of Milan only, I think it makes more sense to end our trip in Milan then fly out there?

Revised schedule
plan A:
10/29 land at milan. take train to Florance. Check in there
10/30 Sat: Tour in Florence, including Galleria degli Uffizi
10/31 Sun: Visit small towns outside Florence, e.g. Pisa, Portovenere
11/1 Mon: Check out from Florence. leave for Venice
11/2 Tue: tour in Venice
11/3 Wed leave for Milan

plan B:
10/29 Fri: land at milan. take train to Florance. Check in there
10/30 Sat: Tour in Florence, including Galleria degli Uffizi
10/31 Sun: Visit small towns outside Florence, e.g. Pisa, Portovenere
11/1 Mon: Check out from Florence. leave for Venice
11/2 Tue: tour in Venice
11/3 Wed leave for Milan
11/4 Thr: tour in Milan
11/5 Fri: back home

Better? Thanks all...

Plan B is better so you will get at least some time in Milan. I would blow off Pisa day to add one to Venice, however.

I agree that B is better. See Pisa if you will but forget Portovenere--just too far. I would prefer Lucca to Pisa.
Make your reservations ASAP.

You cannot visit Portovenere as a day trip from Florence- it's too far and there is no train station in Portovenere. I would also drop Pisa and just stay in Florence.

How about this-

10/29- arrive in Milan and train Florence.
10/30- Florence
10/31- Florence (you could do a short- 20 minutes by bus- and easy day trip to the small town of Fiesole for part of this day)
11/1- Train to Venice
11/2- Venice
11/3- Venice
11/4- Train to Milan
11/5- fly out of Molan

This would give you 3 nights in Florence and 3 nights in Venice. Only one night in Milan.

I like zoecat's plan the best as it gives you the most days not interrupted with moving around. Florence is my favorite, so there would be more than I could see in two days and no time for excursions out of the city. I also like Milan, but you can see many of the top sights in a half day and evening. If you want to see the Last Supper, get reservations (if possible at this late date).

I think zoecat's plan is a good one .

Husband just told me that on his must visit list are the 5 small towns in Cinque Terre between Monterosso and Portovenere. The pictures look amazing...

Well, if Cinque Terre is your priority, then concentrate on that:

10/29 Fri: land at milan. take train to Cinque Terre. Check in there
10/30 Sat: visit Cinque Terre towns
10/31 Sun: visit Cinque Terre towns
11/1 Mon: Visit Pisa on the way to Florence. Check in at Florence
11/2 Tue: Tour in Florence, including Galleria degli Uffizi
11/3 Wed Check out from Florence. leave for Milan
11/4 Thr: tour in Milan
11/5 Fri: back home

agreed. you cannot do CT and Venice in the same short trip.