Hello, Fellow Fodorites! I need advice! My husband and I want to go to Italy in July 2014--he is interested in hiking the Dolomites and I want to see the historical features of Rome. I thought we might fly into Venice and spend 2 nights then rent a car to go to the Dolomite region. We'd spend 5 nights there then drive to Milan and return the rental car and take a train to Rome for 4 nights. My questions are:

*Is it worth driving to Como (drive to Como before going to Milan, return the car there and take a train to Milan) for two nights to see this beautiful place?

*What is the driving situation from Venice and is there a place in town to pick up a car or do we have to go back to the airport? Is driving in the Dolomites a harried or pleasant experience?

*How does our itinerary look to you experienced travelers?
Thanks, in advance, for all help and suggestions!

Jane

Hello Jane,
I do believe that you can see all 4 destinations, but not the way you suggest. My itinerary would be:

Venice---3 nites[ day one is a loss]
Get car--to Dolomites via Cortina to Val Gardena--3 nites
Drive to Como city---drop car---ferry to Bellagio---2 nites
Ferry to Como City---train via Milan to Rome
Rome---5 nites---fly home

That is 13 nites in Italy and 4 of my favorite destinations.
Good luck planning.

BTW, here is my trip report for the last time we did this route:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-gold-trip.cfm

one minor alternative to the plan above: go to Milan and drop the car there and take the train to Varenna-Esino. OR drive to Como, drop car, ferry to mid-lake area and train from Varenna-Esino back to Milan and change trains for Rome.

A lot depends on the ferry schedules, obviously, and some ferries are faster than others.

"How does our itinerary look to you experienced travelers"

You forgot to mention any. "The Dolomites" is a huge area.

Nevertheless: in the case you should mean the part of the Dolomites in the province of Bolzano/Bozen or in the province of Trento, it would make more sense to approach Lake Como via Male - Tonale Pass - Edolo - Aprica Pass - Sondrio. You would then reach the Lake at it's upper end and could drive along the whole Lake up to Como.

In the case you like high mountains, you could also drive from Bolzano/Bozen via Meran - Spondinig - Stelvio Pass (3rd highest Pass road of Western Europe) - Sondrio to Lake Como.

If you only want to go to a beautiful North Italian Lake, it would be much easier to drive to Riva sul Garda and along the whole Lake Garda up to Brescia or Verona and give back the car there.

Have a look at a map!

Thank you for all your responses! It's so great to get a starting point when planning a trip! And, Bobthenavigator, I loved your very informative report and pictures--invaluable--thank you! Jane

In July, I'd travel from south to north. Land in Rome, train to Venice. Pick up the car on leaving Venice and drive per neckervd's suggestions, either way to/thru Sondrio. Return the car at Lecco on Lake Como, ferry to the mid-lake area (Varenna/Bellagio/Menaggio). Fly home from Milan.

Jean: why should they drive by car to Sondrio - Varenna - Lecco, give back the car there and backtrack to Varenna by hydrofoil?

I'm not a fan of Como town and wouldn't drive the extra distance (at least another 45 minutes) just to turn in the car.

Alternatively, if the cost of additional rental days and possible overnight parking charges are not an issue, the OP could keep the car and turn it in at Malpensa before flying out.