Hello Folks,

My wife, son, and I will be visiting Italy this June, and we’re planning the following itinerary:

• Como region – 4 nights
  
• Santa Margherita Ligure / Portofino – 3 nights
  
• Puglia – 4 nights
  
• Milan – 3 nights
  

I feel this pace isn’t rushed and appropriately justifies the number of nights in each destination. If everyone agrees, may I request your suggestions on centrally preferred areas for both hotels and Airbnbs?

Some specifics I have in mind:

1) Como region
• I’ve shortlisted Bellagio as our base — please advise if this is good or if there are other areas you’d recommend for easy access to sights around the lake.

2) Santa Margherita Ligure / Portofino
• Between the two, I understand that Santa Margherita Ligure is better as a base due to broader accommodation choices and connectivity. If you agree, kindly suggest preferred areas/streets for stays.

3) Puglia
• We plan to fly from Genoa → Bari (or Brindisi). Once we arrive, we intend to self-drive day tours around the region. I have come across places like Ostuni or Polignano a Mare as bases — please recommend which towns/villages would work best as a central base for exploring Puglia.

4) Milan
• I understand that Brera and Navigli are popular visitor districts — please confirm if these are ideal areas to stay in, or suggest alternatives.

Thank you very much in advance for your time and for sharing your valuable suggestions.

Hello Folks,

My wife, son, and I will be visiting Italy this June, and we’re planning the following itinerary:

• Como region – 4 nights
• Santa Margherita Ligure / Portofino – 3 nights
• Puglia – 4 nights
• Milan – 3 nights

I feel this pace isn’t rushed and appropriately justifies the number of nights in each destination. If everyone agrees, may I request your suggestions on centrally preferred areas for both hotels and Airbnbs?

Some specifics I have in mind:

1) Como region
• I’ve shortlisted Bellagio as our base — please advise if this is good or if there are other areas you’d recommend for easy access to sights around the lake.

2) Santa Margherita Ligure / Portofino
• Between the two, I understand that Santa Margherita Ligure is better as a base due to broader accommodation choices and connectivity. If you agree, kindly suggest preferred areas/streets for stays.

3) Puglia
• We plan to fly from Genoa → Bari (or Brindisi). Once we arrive, we intend to self-drive day tours around the region. I have come across places like Ostuni or Polignano a Mare as bases — please recommend which towns/villages would work best as a central base for exploring Puglia.

4) Milan
• I understand that Brera and Navigli are popular visitor districts — please confirm if these are ideal areas to stay in, or suggest alternatives.

Thank you very much in advance for your time and for sharing your valuable suggestions.

Unfortunately, I disagree -- your plan sounds unpleasantly rushed to me.

Have you plotted your trip on a calendar, complete with time not just to see the things you want to see, but also to get to and from places, time to pack and unpack, time to check in and out, time to eat, etc.?

Unless we have a new definition of not rushed that's going to be a road race.

How are you getting to Como to begin with? Back out travel and those stops are down to either one full day or at most two.

kja is right:: only 2 full days in Liguria nad 3 full days iin Puglia isn't worth the lonng travel in between.
If you want to do that neveetheless, visit at least Milan between Bellagio and Alassio and fly home directly from BRI (either with Neos Air via JFK or with any other company via FCO, MXP or another European airport).).

My opinion is that you are rushing around to places which are at considerable distance from each other and bypassing wonderful places in the process. I would focus on one region. However, only you know whether your plan will suit you.

Ditto, if I were my trip, I’d swap Puglia for something closer to your other choices—there are many options.

very rushed and no logical order
certainly drop Puglia

two threads with the same question, ask (click on the triangle to merge)

Your two threads were merged

There is no way that you could see the highlights of Puglia with two bases in the short amount of time....if you do decide to include that region, just decide on one area--example: Valle d.Itria. Or: Lecce and Salento. Or: Bari and Matera/Castel del Monte and possibly Trani.

In every forum you see the same bases suggested for travelers headed for Puglia.....Ostuni, Trani, Lecce, Monopoli, Polignano, Alberobello. So by now, a few of those have become kind of over-touristed, while there are other just-as-beautifiul places that attract far fewer tourists.......

But I think you are going to eliminate Puglia so will not go on any further until you make your final plan..

Puglia doesn't make any sense in your itinerary. Cut it and either add time to your current destinations or choose one more spot in Northern Italy.

Which airport are you flying into/out of?

I learned that my favorite hotel in Milan closed last summer and all workers were laid off without notice.

Thanks a lot guys for your valuable suggestions. So We will be flying in and out from Milan. Italy has tons of wonderful destinations and thankfully we have covered quite a few places other the ones I have just mentioned. Surely Puglia is not close by from the destinations selected but its wifey's milestone birthday and she wishes to add this region. It is a catch 22 situation and need to figure out how to balance the trip given the number of days we are there in Italy!
Once again, sincerely appreciate your suggestions and time. Thank you

Then cut Liguria or Como ... or both.

If really keen on Puglia, then I would focus your holiday on the south, where there are endless lovely places to visit. It's an awfully long way for what is effectively 3 days, so make the journey worthwhile.. Also, I avoid airports and flights whenever possible, so I would try to minimise them if you can, especially on a short holiday. At best, they are boring and soak up time better spent having fun.

"wifey's"
a cultural thing I expect

As others have mentioned, this is insanely rushed and each place is so disconnected from the other, it seems like it was built by AI. I’ve seen it way too often in the last months, here and on other travel websites and blogs. People posting possible trips which are all unrealistically “planned”. Take a calendar, a map,I mean a paper map where you can see the whole country at once, take a marker, or a hi lighter, and try and physically map out your planned trip. Also check to see how long it’ll take by train or plane to each destination, taking into account, traffic delays, possible train strikes, because they happen in Italy, airport delays, flight delays, rental car issues, if you’re renting a car, that is. Now, after you’ve done all of that, if you think your trip plan isn’t rushed, I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. By the way this is how I’ve planned each of my trips for the last 25 years. Grab a few guidebooks while you’re at it. Not all trips can be planned fully online.

Four destinations in 13 full days.

You imply you've visited other cities/areas in Italy, but have you spent much time south of Rome? Naples, Pompei, Herculaneum, Ischia/Capri, Amalfi Coast, et al.? Como and Portofino are lovely and I like Milan A LOT, but it doesn't make much sense to include these places if Puglia is non-negotiable. You could have a wonderful trip focused entirely on southern Italy without sacrificing gorgeous scenery, water views, interesting towns, etc.

FYI, Puglia covers nearly 7500 square miles, so I don't think you can pick one "central base" for exploring the region. Figure out what you want to see/do and then pick the best location to stay. I assume you'll rent a car for this part of the trip. The ZTL situation in Puglia is inconsistent, so do your research as you plan your excursions/drives.

You need to understand the travel times between points. Go to Rome2rio.com to get a sense of how much time will be lost in transit. For the flying days to/from Puglia, be sure to include pre-flight time required and note any luggage restrictions.

I'm curious... How old is your son? If rather young, Como might be a snooze for him.

Thanks a lot for suggestions. Yes we have covered quite a few place South of Rome in Naples, Pompei, Capri, Positano/Sorrento. Also visited Venice, Gardaland, Bologna/Maranello and quite a few places in the Tuscan region too. It was a lengthy trip back then.
Will re-program the whole itinerary and make it more comfortable. My son is 20 years old. Last time visited Maranello (Ferrari Museo), this time he intends to have a driving experience on track/circuit somewhere near Milan. Maybe Monza, Tazio Nuvolari or Castelletto di Branduzzo etc. Lets see how it plays out!
Once again appreciate your time and suggestion !