Want to know the best way to proceed on an itinerary to Turin, Milan, and Lake Como. Coming from NY, my husband and I thought we would fly to Turin, stay for about 5 days, and then take a train to Milan, stay three days, and then take a train to Varenna, in Lake Como, where we plan to stay a week to explore the area by ferry, and bus. Would then have to go back to Milan by train to fly to NY. Are these connections feasible? Difficult to arrange? Would appreciate any helpful advice so we can go forward with these plans. Hope we have enough time to plan this for May. Thank you.

No difficulty at all - trains are great and run frequently on those routes - for those short rail journeys take regional trains - dirt cheap -just show up and buy tickets -no need to book in advance- seat reservations not even possible.

There are faster trains Turin-Milan but cost more and demand a seat reservation before boarding - marginally faster on your short jaunts. check www.trenitalia.com for schedules.

From Varenna by train to Milan is the only route- you may wish to check into airport transfers from Varenna to airport.

For lots about trains check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Your itinerary sounds sweet- possible day trip from Turin - head up to Alpine areas in the Aosta area -possible by train.

Thank you for your quick reply and kind words. Would staying a whole week in Turin be pushing it?

Not sure if you received my reply, but was asking if staying a whole week in Turin would be too much.

Might be helpful if you told us a little about your interests including why you decided to include Turin at all.

Not sure if you received my reply, but was asking if staying a whole week in Turin would be too much.>

IMO yes -I loved Turin for a few days but a large busy city.

Have you been to Venice? If not that could fit in well with a northern Italy sojourn - to me the most mesmerizing gorgeous city in the world!

Just a few hours by train from Milan.

Originally we wanted to tour all the lakes, Como, Maggiore and Garda. But because we are not driving, making connections by train/bus to these towns from Milan seems involved. Plus, we like to stay more than a couple of days, rather than hopping around, so we can really get to know a city. We love Italy and have traveled to many regions but never to these. That's why one week in Varenna on Lake Como makes sense to us because we can go to other beautiful towns from there.
Friends told us that Turin is lovely with interesting museums, fine restaurants, etc. When PalenQ suggested taking a train from Turin to Aosta/Alpine area, I thought perhaps, like Varenna, Turin could be a base as well as an interesting place to visit. That's why I said maybe a week not only to explore Turin but explore other places nearby, if there is a train/bus to get us there.
Thanks again for your input and comments.

if there is a train/bus to get us there.>

there are buses and trains everywhere and Turin can be a great base- I thought you meant 5 days in the city itself.

Genoa is a fine fine old town not far by train - and yes the lovely nearby Alpine areas (Turin did host the Winter Olympics)

Blondie - this looks like a great itinerary and how nice to read a post by someone who has really thought about what they want to do, and isn't madly trying to squeeze seeing most of Italy's major cities into 10 days.

May will be a lovely time to be by a lake and topping and tailing the trip with two great cities gives a good balance.

A decent guide book or two will give you lots of ideas about excursions from all of these places so you shouldn't run out of things to do.

Originally we wanted to tour all the lakes, Como, Maggiore and Garda. But because we are not driving, making connections by train/bus to these towns from Milan seems involved>

Not really - Stresa is a great base for Lake Maggiore - on mainline north from Milan

Garda has two railheads on its southern tip then boats go everywhere.

https://translate.google.com/transla...nc&prev=search

For one heck of an awesome gondola ride from Aosta check out the one to Pte Heilbrenner from where you can take another thrilling not for Nervous Nellies cable ride to Aguille de midi - crossing a sea of ice- at times dangling eerily above it whilst the cable stops for folks at termini to get on and off.

https://www.google.com/search?q=aigu...w=1745&bih=864

Rather expensive but a real Alpine adventure -one of the best in the Alps I've been on.

I really enjoyed Turin - my report is here:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...omment-9370880

If you do a search you find a longer report on Turin here by someone else.

For my visit to Lakes Como and Maggiore, start here:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...omment-9356416

I haven't rented a car for a trip in over a decade.

May 2015 we did 4 nights in Stresa [did a day trip to Locarno by boat/train], 3 nights in Lugano and then [Lugano to Mennagio by bus and Mennagio to Bellagio by ferry] for 4 nights in Bellagio and then ended in Milan for 3 nights.

It was really nice; weather was good and it wasn't crowded at all. There were some places [Lake Como area - Varenna, in particular] that weren't open as it was early in the year; season not yet started.

We were in Bellagio from 18th to 22nd of May and Varenna was really shuttered.

7 nights in any one place would be to long for me, especially at that time of year.

Thank you so much for all your input. You've been so helpful and supportive. I will check out the recommended websites and head to the library. Can't wait to read the personal Turin travel itineraries some of you sent. I do feel now a lot more comfortable with our decision.
PalenQ I did mean to devote five days to Turin itself as friends of ours stayed there that long and told us there was plenty to do and see. That's where I got the number five. What I was asking was should I make it 7 and use the extra days for travelling from Turin to other places. Sorry to keep repeating but you gave me that idea with the suggestion to go to Aosta/Alpine area. From all your answers, I gather I could, but I should do more research to determine what I would like to do and see.

Also, must start searching for airfares! Pronto! I welcome any suggestions on that subject as well.

Grazie tanto!

Aosta and Genoa are very far to be day trips from Turn. There are smaller towns nearby, like Alba and Asti, that are easier. In May, the Alps and the Aosta valley are usually still very cold . Turin itself will be pleasant and has loads to do and enjoy if you like museums and palaces. It's also nice for chocolate and cheese and historic shops and cafes.

Emirates Airlines often has very good prices if you are coming from NYC.

If you are regretting not being able to tour the lakes, and you have a bit of money to spend, then think about landing in Milan and using a car transfer to Lago di Como. After that go to Lake Garda, perhaps to a midpoint on the lake (it will be a long travel day) and then finish up in Stresa in Lake Maggiore. From Stresa it is quite easy to get to Malpensa airport for your flight home, and it is also easy to visit Milan as a day trip. But I think Turin is very nice, and personally I would probably prefer to be sightseeing in a city then spending all my time on the lakes. But I thought I would mention it.

IMO the rail connections to Stresa from Milan are a bit easier, and perhaps only by a "bit" than the rail connections from Milan to Varenna-Esino.

All the connections to Varenna are on regional trains; Stresa gets EuroCity services as well.

Maggiore and Stresa are a lot different than the mid-lake Como towns of Varenna, Bellagio, and Menaggio; Stresa, for example, has a whole row of those so-called "belle epoch" hotels, real grand dames in their own way, lining the lake. The stuff that can "keep you occupied" on the lakeshore itself might be a bit more varied on Como than Maggiore; anyway a lake is not necessarily a lake in some ways.

Both are great IMO and we've stayed on both; I think for sheer scenery at the lake itself I'd pick Como and this is very subjective I realize.

IMO the rail connections to Stresa from Milan are a bit easier, and perhaps only by a "bit" than the rail connections from Milan to Varenna-Esino.>

If going from Malpensa airport I took a direct bus from airport to Stresa- quickest way- but from Milan itself the train.

Did you find a non stop flight from NYC to Turin? Otherwise fly to Milan Malpensa. There are frequent direct buses from Malpensa to Turin (2 hrs journey).
http://www.sadem.it/en/prodotti/coll...a-airport.aspx

Aosta Valley:
on weekends in July and August, there are direct buses to Breuil-Cervinia (2 hrs OW) where you can board the gondola to Testa Grigia (Matterhorn Paradise area). On all other days you will have to change buses at Chatillon and the OW journey lasts 30 min longer.
Pointe Hellbronner mentioned by Palen is about 4 hrs from Turin (by public transport) and a bit too far away for a day trip. Sleep 2 nights at Aosta and you can really enjoy the highest mountains of Western Europe!

"Originally we wanted to tour all the lakes, Como, Maggiore and Garda. But because we are not driving, making connections by train/bus to these towns from Milan seems involved. Plus, we like to stay more than a couple of days, rather than hopping around, so we can really get to know a city"

If you want to be in the center of Lake Como/Lake Maggiore/Lake Lugano, check Lugano:
trains to Como (30 min journey) about every 30 min from 4.04am until 22.04; connecting buses and ferries to Menaggio, Bellagio and Varenna.
10 daily buses to Menaggio/Lake Como (50 min journey) with connecting ferries to Bellagio - Varenna.
Trains to Locarno/Lake Maggiore (1 hr journey) every 30 min from 5.26am until 23.56; connecting buses and boats to Ascona - Brissago - Cannobio - Intra - Isola Bella - Stresa
Trains and buses to Ponte Tresa - Luino/Lake Maggiore (1-1 1/2 hrs journey) about every hr; connecting trains and boats to Laveno - Intra - Isola Bella - Stresa.
Cog railway to viewpooint Monte Generoso.
Rope railways to Monte Bre and Monte San Salvatore.
Gondolas to Monte Lema and Monte Tamaro.
Frequent boats on Lake Lugano
Frequent trains to Milan, Lucerne and Zurich
Daily buses to Tirano (- Bernina Express resp Stelvio Pass) and St. Moritz (- Scuol - Landeck - Innsbruck)
http://www.luganoturismo.ch/en

I think your itinerary looks good except I'd probably do either 3 days Torino/5 Milano or 4/4. I liked Torino but three days was enough, plus Milano has tons of day trip options (towns within an hour or so train ride) as well as more in the way of museums, etc.

Here's my trip report that included Torino with links to photos
http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/dolo...ino_alto_adige