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14-Days From Milan to Rome in July

We will be traveling to Italy next summer leaving on a Saturday and arriving Sunday morning, and then staying two weeks flying back to the states on a Saturday. We technically will have 13 full days in country if we count day of arrival. My wife and I have been to Italy twice before seeing Milan, Venice, Florence, Siena, Pisa, Rome, Naples and the Amalfi coast. This time, our 6-year old daughter and 62-year old mom will be with us for their first trip to Italy (actually both’s first international trip).

We fly into Milan and fly out of Rome. We are pretty set on 3-days in Rome including the day we train in from Tuscany, but we’d like some help with options for new areas to explore around Milan and Tuscany. Near Milan, we like the idea of going to the Dolomites, Lake Como, or even visiting other cities or coastal areas such as Bologna or Cinque Terre respectively.

Could any help be provide for potential itineraries to fit the days below?

Day 1 - arrive in Milan at 11am local and settle in, visit duomo, walk the city and eat. Stay overnight in Milan.

Days 2-5 - HELP! Looking for ideas here per the above post w/r/t Lake Como, Dolomites, Cinque Terre, etc. Also need help with the right home base if not Milan.

Day 6 - Milan (or other above) to Florence via train

Days 7-10 - Home base in Florence with day trips to Siena, Pisa, and time in Florence. Are there other recommendations for day trips from Florence instead of Pisa? We’d like to spend at least one day in Florence and one day in Siena with the other’s being flexible.

Day 11 - Florence to Rome via train

Days 12-13 - Rome

Day 14 - Fly home

Posted by
77 posts

Bologna is smashing in oh so many ways! The restaurants are unsurpassed, and I'm a vegetarian. Try their evocative and surprisingly vast Museo Archeologico. Having read every Italy guide book, including Rick Steves Italy, from cover to cover over the last three years, repeatedly, it is very clear that the way to enjoy CT and Vernazza is by staying the night but never the day. Confined minuscule spaces with hordes of tourists result only in all round asphyxiation. Other charming Ligurian coastal villages such as Camogli, Levanto and Santa Maria Ligure seem more than satisfactory.

Lucca is a complete hidden gem that warrants a minimum of 2 nights.

Posted by
7189 posts

Days 2-5 - HELP! Looking for ideas here per the above post w/r/t Lake
Como, Dolomites, Cinque Terre, etc. Also need help with the right home
base if not Milan.

Look at visiting a different a Lake to avoid the crowds- Lake Maggiore, Stresa is nice and easy to get to from MXP or Milan. There will be tourists but probably not as crowded as Varenna/Bellagio and there is more room to move around.
If you choose Stresa/Maggiore- I would go there first from MXP- easy bus from airport- nice place ot get over jet lag-then to Milan for a night or 2 before Florence. You could actually visit Milan from Stresa as a day trip.

Or head to the Ligurian coast instead of CT. We loved our stay in Santa Margherita Liguria

Days 7-10 - Home base in Florence with day trips to Siena, Pisa, and
time in Florence. Are there other recommendations for day trips from
Florence instead of Pisa? We’d like to spend at least one day in
Florence and one day in Siena with the other’s being flexible.

Lucca is a forum favorite, combine it with Pisa.