How many day-trips are enough but not too much? We'll be in Milan 3 nights, Venice 7 nights, Florence 8 and Rome 9. I'm considering the following day-trips:

Milan
Como
?Bergamo vs. Cremono

Venice
Padova
Bologna
Ferrara and Ravenna (in same day)

Florence
Lucca
Siena
? Perugia
? San Gimignano

Rome
Assisi
Naples and Pompei (same day)
? Orvieto
? Frascati

Suggestions?

How about Florence - Pisa? Come on... you can't miss the leaning tower.

My first thought: since you have 7 nights in Venice and 8 nights in Florence, steal at least one night from each and stay for two nights in Bologna. Ravenna and/or Ferrara are much easier daytrips from there. From Venice, you might also consider a visit to Verona or Vicenza.

<<How many day-trips are enough but not too much?>>

If I was staying someplace for 3 nights, I might do one day trip or might do none. 7 nights? I might do two. It depends on your travel style. You can choose to do most of the day trips once you're there and you see how things are going.

Yeah, I figured an every other day day-trip is probably enough. The problem with staying 2 nights in Bologna is that we've pretty much solidified our accomodations in apartments in Venice and Florence. Also, we don't want to have to pack up and move more than 3 times. If you had to choose, what Venice trip is easiest to remove-- Padova, Ferrara/Ravenna, Verona/Vincenza, Bologna? TIA.

Roman,
You're right, we can't miss Pisa. So what are your picks for top 3 between San Gimignano, Perugia, Lucca, Assisi and Pisa?

I think your day trips might be a little too ambitious, particularly if you're doing them by train.

I suspect it might be because you have tried to add as day trips two cities -- Perugia and Naples -- that Bobthenavigator had suggested as possible additional base cities.

The ones that I think are a real stretch are:
. Ferrara and Ravenna from Venice
. Bologna from Venice (it's a lot closer to Florence...)
. Perugia from Florence
. Assisi from Rome (Assisi and Perugia are within minutes of each other, but neither is very close to either Florence or Rome; would you consider doing it as an overnighter from Rome with just the bare necessities in a tote bag? That would give you the possibility of doing Bologna from Florence.)

Lucca and Pisa can probably be done in one day, if you only go to the Campo Santo (Cathedral, Leaning Tower, Baptistery) in Pisa.

Naples and Pompeii can be done in a very long day, leaving very early from Rome; you really should see the Archeological Museum in Naples for the art works that have been removed from Pompeii.

OK, to sum up:
Venice:
Padova
Vicenza
Verona

Florence:
Bologna
Pisa and Lucca
Siena
San Gimignano?

Rome:
Perugia and Assisi (two days)?
Naples and Pompeii
Orvieto?

From the above, I might even cut one day trip from each base city...

Hi dm,

From Rome I would visit Orvieto and Ostia Antica.

Rome to Pompeii is a very long daytrip and won't leave much time for Naples. I would save this visit for another trip.

From Venice I suggest Padua and Verona as the most important.

From Florence, I would do two of the following: Siena (maybe San G), Lucca and Pisa, Bologna.

Enjoy your visit.

Thanks all-- this is the most helpful website! What train station do I go to for Ostia Antica?

Dmadore - Trains for Ostia Antica leave from Piramide station.

Piramide is on Metro Line 'B'
(4 stops from Termini, 2 stops from Colosseum).

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Thanks. I suppose if I can't make Pompei this trip, Ostia Antica would be a good substitute!

Why 3 nights in milan? What time of year are you going?

Here are my suggestions:

From Milan I'd go to Como and take the boat up to Bellagio and Varenna.

From Venice I'd go to Padova and Verona on one day. On a second day maybe Ravenna.

From Florence I'd do one day to Sienna, one day for Lucca and Pisa (very easy to combine in one day trip) and San Gimi on the third. (I think Perugia is too far from Florence for a day trip).

From Rome definitly Orvieto and Assisi (two seperate days). With 9 nights there I'd probably do one more day trip but not sure where.

Why Milan? Because we are landing there and would like to spend a few days there. Wasn't initally part of our plan, but the cheap direct flight made sence. Would rather stay there a few days then head straight to Venice-- we have plenty of time. It will be January. This might be a stupid question, but I grew up in Maine and the lakes there were frozen solid in January.

Have done some of the day trips you are considering. One we really enjoyed was Orvieto from Rome. Short train ride, beautiful views from atop the village. The Duomo is great (especially inside). The Tuscan Museum is worth a couple of hours. Lots of pottery shopping on the narrow streets of shops.

Just kind of a low key easy day.

The Funicular train from the Train Station to Orvieto is interesting.