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2 1/2 weeks in italy in (9/21 - 10/8) - Milan, Venice, Florence, Tuscany, and Cinque Terre

Posted by (USA) on

Hey all,

My fiance and I will be heading to Italy for 2.5 weeks in September/early October for our honeymoon. Both of us have been to Rome and southern Italy before and decided that we wanted to see some new sites. (Note - I have been to Florence for a few days years ago, but would love to go back. She has been to Venice and Lake Como, but would love to go back) We are both in our early thirties, love to drink wine and spend time at wineries. Additionally, we would like to see some of the cities/museums/sites. As this is our honeymoon, we dont want to be super touristy, but we like to "do stuff" during the day. We were able to get a great deal flying in and out of Milan. We land at noon on the Sept 21st and fly home at 4 PM on Oct 8th. Our tentative itinerary is to train to Venice immediately and spend a few days in and around Venice (3 nights). From there the plan is to train to Florence for a few days (2 night) and then rent a car. From florence via car we want to explore Tuscany for a week (7 nights). I have no idea where we will go, and more importantly, where we will setup a home base. While in Tuscany, we want to relax, drink wine, and eat. After a week in Tuscany, we plan to head to cinque terre (2 nights). We arent sure where to return our car and how to get to CT ( understand that there are no cars in CT, so we need to drop the car off and train there). Basically, while in CT, we want more of the same - relax, eat, drink, and hike between the towns. Finally after leaving CT, we will head back to Milan for a few days (3 nights) before flying home.

Now for the questions:

1) Does this Itin seem doable in 18 days (NOTE: we have 18 full days on the ground, not including travel)?
2) Where in Tuscany should we go, where should we base ourselves? Ideally we would stay in one place for 7 nights, but we could split betwen two places with 3 and 4 nights
3) Where to rent the car in florence, and where to return the car before going to CT?
4) Where (what town) to stay in CT?
5) I have 3 days schedule for Milan at the end of the trip. We want to stay there so we dont have to rush to catch a flight. However, Lake Como isnt that far via train. Is it worth going there for a day (or more)? Could we go directly from CT to lake como and spend a night or two? Or should we just spend a few days in Milan and bag Lake Como?
6) Is Milan worth spending 3 nights?
7) Any suggestions, on the the itin, travel, places to stay, or even if you suggest a different order/places for the itin - any adive would be great.

Thanks

Posted by
1955 posts

Since it's easiest counting nights, and you have 17 nights, it looks like you have this itinerary:

3 nights Venice
2 nights Florence
7 nights Tuscan countryside
2 nights Cinque Terre
3 nights Milan

1) I think that is very doable. In fact, it is a very relaxing itinerary (depending on how many different places you decide to stay in Tuscany).

2) I'd consider staying at an agriturismo somewhere in the Tuscan countryside, potentially for all 7 nights. With a car that will make it easy to select day trips or stay put or do whatever you want each day. Alternatively, consider spending 2-3 nights in Siena, which is a great place to be during the evening. As for where else to go, there are so many great towns to visit in Tuscany, and everyone has their favorites. Grab a copy of Rick Steves' Florence and Tuscany guidebook and maybe some others as well, read about the different locations in Tuscany, and make your plan that way. Or ask the hosts at your agriturismo to recommend some daily itineraries. You don't have to plan all of that in advance.

3) I'm not sure, but your best bet might be to pick up and drop off the car in Florence and take the train to CT.

4) There's no right answer. Here's another case where reading some guidebooks or doing some online research to learn about the different towns and what they're like will help you decide. Monterosso is the most classically touristy beach resorty town, but they all have a slightly different character, and they're all charming. Assuming you will do some combination of hiking, riding the train, and taking boats from one town to the other, it doesn't necessarily matter that much which town you stay in.

I can't comment on the other questions, but I think you have such a great itinerary that a little bit of tweaking won't make too big a difference in how much you enjoy your time there.

Posted by
1054 posts

1) That is very do able. I did something like that 2 years ago except with less time in Tuscany and added in Rome.

2) If you like wine I'd home base south of Siena in a nice villa or agritourismso. You can use your time in Tuscany to explore Siena for a day trip, and it's lovely at night. For wine visit the town of Montalcino home to the Brunello Wine and all the wineris around the town. My favorite is Biondi Santi but you need to make a reservation in advance. real easy on their website. Just a short distance from Montalcino is the lovely hilltown of Montepulcino and it's famous Vino Nobile wine. Right smack in the middle of both of those towns in Pienza, with some farms and great pecorino cheese. North of Siena you start to get into Chiati country and stop by Greve or Radda in Chianti.

3) Don't know where to rent from, but people on for drop off always say La Spezia. It's an easy train ride from La Spezia to the villlages of the CT.

4) I like Vernazza and have stayed there on my 3 trips. Monterosso is the biggest and more "resorty" of the towns with a beach and more hotels. The others have a few hotels but nice apartments or rooms to rent from locals.

5 & 6) 3 Nights in Milan is a big no no. Afterall Lake Como is honeymoon country. I'd skip Milan all together and stay in the town of Varenna on Lake Como. There is a train with no connections from Milan to Varenna and it's only an hour ride. You are at the mid-lake area with ferry service to Bellagio just across. I've stayed at Albergo Milano there and another friend stayed there for their honeymoon. Highly recommended. What time would your flight back to the US be from Milan? I'd spend the extra 100 euro or so and get a private car from Varenna to MXP and not worry about trains or anything and just enjoy the ride.

7) The way you have it laid out make sense if you are already booked to fly into and out of Milan. Head to Venice first, train to florence, car around Tuscany, train to CT, and Train to Varenna.

Posted by
116 posts

I agree with Robert. Lake Como area (Varenna) is where I would spend a couple of nights, instead of Milan. In fact, that is where I will be spending a couple of nights in just two weeks! My first trip to Italy - I can''t wait!

Otherwise, your plan looks fabulous!

Kathy

Posted by
1079 posts

Your vacation is definitely doable. It will be a great vacation. We did the RS 17 Day Best of Italy Tour. All of our transportation was arranged so we could see a lot of things in the 17 days. You might want to take a look at this tour to see where it goes and plan your trip to see some places the tour goes to. It was the best vacation I have ever taken and I have traveled to Europe on my own on 5 prior vacations. I think two nights in Milan is enough. Varenna in Lake Como was really great.

If you can afford the tour, you might want to take a look at it. It checks off most every place you want to go and more. You will spend two days in Rome where you have been, but you could leave early and head back to Milan to catch your flight home. Just a thought!

Posted by
616 posts

I would at least spend 3 nights in Florence,
If it's a honey moon, I would rather choose to rent an apartment in Florence and/or Venice, you would feel more at home and relaxed.
If I were you in order to limit travel time I would do Tuscany only, dividing it between Florence, Siena, Volterra and Isle of Elba or Tuscan archipelago. Weather is nice in September and Tuscan archipelago is a wonder. You can rent a car and drive to Elba via the ferry from Piombino.

Posted by
16762 posts

I think the plan looks good too. As suggested you might cut your amount of time in Milan but I'd spend your last night there if you have a morning flight out of Malpensa. Varenna is just far enough away - heck, even Milan is a long way from Malpensa - that I would want to be closer to multiple modes of transport: specifically the express train to the airport to avoid any potential road complications.

I also don't personally see the need for apartments for 2-night stays. In reality, that gives you just a day and 1/2 for sightseeing, and I think you'll spend most of that out and about.

Posted by
11852 posts
  1. Yes, feasible
  2. Montalcino - seriously wine country and a delightful place to return to after a day of touring. Stay close enough to town -- in it is better -- so you do not have to drive to dinner and can really enjoy your wine. There is good parking and the hotels and B&Bs pay for your parking permit.
  3. Rent at the downtown location. Take a taxi there from the center. Return it in La Spezia.
  4. Any of them
  5. Stay in Varenna on Lago di Como and take the train into Milan and to the airport the morning you leave. With a 4:00PM departure you have plenty of time.
  6. No
  7. Take one night from the end of the trip and add it to Venice, giving you two nights at Varenna.
Posted by
3648 posts

re # 6: I agree with the chorus advising to cut a night off Milan, or even 2. The scenery of the lake area is fabulous, and there is plenty to do. Take a look at Lake Maggiore's islands, for example; or the villas on Lake Como.

Also, I'll just mention that spending a week in Tuscany is a great idea. Besides what is usually mentioned, there are spa towns all over, and outdoor sculpture parks (a particular favorite of mine), If either appeals to you.

Posted by
16762 posts

Oops: I missed that 4:00 PM departure flight. Sorry!
Agree with Laurel; take the train in from Varenna in the morning.

Posted by
29 posts

Thanks to everyone for your insights. This has been extremely helpful. Looks like consensus is that i should spend most of our last few days in Como as opposed to Milan. So i think our new plan is to train from CT to Lake Como ( probably Varenna) and spend a few nights there. We may try to get back into MIlan for our last night or early on our last day just to see the Duomo and perhaps The Last Supper, although I hear getting tickets for that in advance can be difficult. I have read that you can buy tickets from what appear to be scalpers for about 15-20 euros outside. Does anyone have experience with that?

We are going to do a bunch of research on where to stay in Tuscany, but from what i have read, it doesnt really matter, all of the towns are great. I appreciate everyone's help here.

Oh i had one more question. Has anyone here purchased the Firenza Card in Florence? We will likely go to the big museums/gallaries while in Florence and we hate lines. When in Paris, we purchased the Paris pass, which we thought was an incredible investment. However, we will only be in Florence for a few days, and as we are on our honeymoon, we dont want to go-go-go all day long. But we will want to go see the major attractions. Any insight would be great.

Thanks

Posted by
11613 posts

In Firenze, the only places you probably will need a reservation are the Accademia and the Uffizi. You can check the other sights that have free entry with the Firenze Card, but I can never fit in enough to make it pay.

Posted by
56 posts

For the Cinque Terre, I've stayed several times in Monterosso. It's the largest town with loads of choices for places to eat and two beaches, one in the old town and one in the new. The CT towns get progressively smaller as you go along. The next best one, Vernazza has a lot of charm but it is small. From Monterosso at one time (maybe summer?), I took a boat ride along the coast down to Porto Venere; a lovely excursion.

Aside from Florence, make your way to Lucca, a walled city that has fabulous food or Siena to see the famous Palio square.

Be aware that Milan has a rush hour (with horrendous traffic) and if you need to get to Malpensa airport, get there early. You have an option of an express bus or train from Termini station.
P.S. I was in Milan in the beginning of 2015 and it's a surprisingly interesting place once you know where to go.

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