3 Days Solo Trip from Milan. Venice or Alternatives?

Congrats in advance for your Mt. Blanc ascension!

You've hit on a crucial point: if Florence in three days feels rushed to you, Venice is definitely even more so. It's a city that truly rewards slower exploration, with plenty of layers to peel back. So you'll be busy in those 3 days.

Your strategy for approaching Venice sounds perfect for late summer. You'll absolutely find plenty of quieter spots away from the beaten path. For instance, the perimeter of the main island is wonderfully quiet all year round. And don't worry, there's certainly no shortage of things to do - besides simply walking and taking in the incredible urban variety this city excels at.

I just returned from a trip to Italy and stayed in Bergamo three days. It was busy with locals and tourists but not crowded. I LOVED Bergamo - there is so much to do and see. Venice is my favorite place on earth but I think it will be very difficult to have a peaceful experience in August (October is much better).

Hello kai, and welcome to the fourm!

If you have never been to Venice then I would vote for Venice every time. You have the right attitude and strategy for dealing with the city, crowds and exploring. Explore the city in the morning and then take the vaporetto out to the more outlying areas and just wander. Venice is a unique place in the world not just Italy and I think everyone should really experience it once. That may enough for you but I'll always go to Venice.

Florence is more rushed in 3 days because there are so many things to see but remember you don't need to see them all. If you choose Florence limit the number of things you're trying to see and leave some room for exploring and more programed adventures.

I'm a fan of Verona but compared to Florence and Venice it is a second or third trip to Italy kind of place.

Varenna/Lake Como is very different type of vacation involving lounging, exploring the tiny town and taking the midlake ferry to explore other towns and villas. If you think you're going to want to just relax, enjoy the views and have no real agenda then lakeside relaxation is an option.

Everywhere in northern Italy is going to be hot in August so be sure your place has AC and don't be afraid to retreat and siesta in the heat of the day. This lifestyle strategy exists in the places it gets really hot for a reason.

Have a great trip,
=Tod

If you stick with Venice, your plan of starting early and finding neighborhoods off the beaten path or visiting an island is great. Try to find how many cruise ships will be in town on your dates. A couple small ships, not too bad. A couple mega liners with 5000 passengers each, yikes!

I love Lake Como, but there are many reports of overcrowding. So do some research beforehand for best way to accomplish what you want to see and do.

I haven't been to Bergamo, yet. But I think it would be great for a few days. Definitely not on the usual tourist route

Verona is a lovely city. Yes, there will be day trippers hanging out at Juliet's balcony. But, you'll have some breathing room there.

I would nix Florence if your wanting to avoid crowds. IMO, they are everywhere and they are loud.

Wherever you end up, try to reserve ahead for dinner or a leisurely drawn out lunch. Places book up everywhere, even off the tourist routes.

If Venice is calling you, you will enjoy it, and you CAN find quiet moments. As others have said, it is a unique and amazing city. I love Varenna and Lake Como so much that we were scheduled to go there Aug 1 and I changed my whole trip, because of the reported long lines to catch any ferry, and, the interruption of service by train from Milan, which requires train + bus through September. I chose Verona because it's opera season and so we are going to our first opera. I would stay away from Florence, but if museums are your thing, then that's the place to be. I haven't been to Bergamo.

I think over anything it is what interests you should drive where you go. Also, how you're getting home. If you are flying home from Milan, it makes sense to stay in the Milan area, for instance.

Venice, imho, is a treasure. So much to see - even so much away from San Marco (which is also worth seeing. Pre-book major sites like Doge's Palace, Basilica San Marco). Being in the city, especially if you're away from the crowds, can be enchanting. Murano, Burano and Torcello are also great to visit. For reference, I went to Venice twice in August/September. It was crowded. But you can manage it by planning around the crowds. Definitely pre-book most of the sites in San Marco if of interest. There is so much to see in the city AWAY from San Marco and those crowds that you can really take it all in.

Milan is often underrated. But the Duomo, The Last Supper (if you can get tickets or an independent tour) and Castello Sforzesco are worth visiting if of interest. Bergamo is nearby, as is Como. I have not yet been to Como, but judging by my knowledge and own research, it is less about sightseeing as it is for relaxation and recreation.

Florence is heavy on Renaissance art and architecture. If that is of interest. Yes, there are other things to do and see, it just is the focus of the city. It is recommended to prebook major museums (Uffizi, Galleria d'Accademia, Duomo dome, etc.).

Bologna is a nice mix of excellent food and sightsee.

Verona has a nice variety of interests with a Roman arena that is still used for concerts and performances, a castle, and many more. It gets a lot of day trip traffic, so staying overnight is worth it.

If you give us a better idea of what you're interested in and where you will be coming home from, we may be able to offer more specific suggestions.

Hello! As other people said in the previous comments, there are plenty of opportunities to see a much quieter Venice even in peak season. Aim to spend most of your time in neighbourhoods like Dorsoduro, Cannaregio and Castello, and you'll barely see any crowd! It's definitely a good idea to explore early in the morning most popular areas when the crowds have not taken over the streets yet.

Thank you all for your replies — your suggestions really gave me more confidence!

I’ve decided to go explore Venice after all.
I’ll be staying on the seaside part of Cannaregio, and luckily, it has air conditioning!

I’ll also be flying home from Milan Airport — I’ve already booked a place near Milano Centrale for the last night. Hopefully there won’t be any train disruptions!

Wishing everyone a wonderful and enjoyable trip!

Hi Kai, yeah! Venice is fantastic- still in my top 5 Italian cities after staying in 45.

Download the Trenitalia app to purchase train tickets. And if you have an early flight from Malpensa (Milan), I like to stay at the Moxy which is right across the street from the airport.

When I last asked about airports close to the airport, someone here told me to just stay at the Sheraton IN Malpensa airport. It was great. Walked to my 6 am flight.

Yes, Venice is crowded, but still an amazing place and should be visited. We have been to Venice several times.
Once, we happened to drive down from Germany and arrived in the middle of a festival that I think happens every year.
It was extremely crowded then, so we stayed on the mainland. Still, it was a great visit.

I vote for Venice, too. We were just there in May, and it is spectacular! Venice is like no other place we've visited. Where are your accommodations? We stayed in the Dorsoduro district, and it was much less crowded than St. Mark's Square and San Marco district. Be sure to have drinks and cichettis (sp?) in Zattere in Dorsoduro on the sparkling blue Guidecca Canal.

Florence is amazing but it was the most crowded and frenetic place we visited on our recent trip. Yes, even more crowded than Venice and Cinque Terre. The crowds never left! I don't think Florence gets a lot of daytrippers so you won't see lots of tourists leaving by 5PM. They are there all night! And all day!

Varenna and Lake Como are beautiful but August will be very crowded.

My vote is for Venice! Venice dazzles!

We love the Cannaregio area of Venice. It has a nice buzz, with restaurants and businesses, but no crowds. You can take sunset pic without a person in the frame.
Enjoy!

I found out that Emily in Venice will be filming from August 15 to 25, 2025.

Although I’m only arriving on the 28th, I wonder if it’ll still be more crowded because of that, haha.