My husband & I are planning on doing the above itinerary next month from Oct 25 - Nov 8th. We will be flying into and out of MXP. So, our arrival date will be longest travel day to get to Varenna. I have read the other Travelers' Helpline regarding Lake Como & Venice Accommodations, and things to do. Adding to this, I was hoping to get some suggestions on 1 or 2 day trips from Venice. Also, any hotel suggestions on Milan. We'll be travelling by train - no car. Actually, any help or tidbits on the overall intineray would be appreciated (Quaint restaurants, hidden gems) Thank you. Cam
Posted by
Fox Island, WA, United States
27 posts
6 nights in Venice is a long time. I can only handle 2 nights there. It is a big tourist trap. How about visiting Castelrotto in the Dolomites or Cinque Terre.
Posted by
OP
Reno, NV
3 posts
Thanks Cynthia. A couple of days in the Dolomites does sound interesting...
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
The dolomites are wonderful but you will need a car for this and the weather may not be good for driving in Nov. this area is very seasonal and may shut down betw summer and winter. However it is beautiful. ck Ricks accom recom ahead to see if you can find availability. One night in Milan is enuf, look into Lake Como-Varenna one of my favorite locations.
Posted by
Newburyport, MA
683 posts
Spend fewer Venice nights (4 is good). Leave out Milan entirely-- it is not worth your time. Easy trips from Venice include Vicenza and Verona (both on line between Venice and Milano) and Bolzano (about 90 mins to north of the Venice -Milan line). Verona is a wonderful place, still has the colosseum the Romans built (and still uses it!), is surrounded on 3 sides by a great river with beitiful surroundings, was the setting for Romeo and Juliet. Vicenza is not fast-paced, has great architecture by Palladio and unique sights. Bolzano is at foothills of the Alps and is German-speaking. The Iceman (the guy who was killed 5000 yrs ago and frozein the mountains) is in a museum there.
Posted by
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
705 posts
6 nights in Venice is probably a little long. I had to visit Bologna this year for work and although it is quite an industrial town there is a really lovely old centre worth seeing. It is about 3 hours from Venice by train from memory - no train changes. Lake Como is divine. I could easily spend 4 days there. There are so many lovely little towns around the lake. Bellagio is an absolute must, wonderful little restaurants and shops. Can't comment on Milan but have had very mixed reports. Personally I would spend 3 nights Varenna, 4 nights Venice and 4 nights Lake Como.
Posted by
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
705 posts
Oh dear Brain fade. Just realised I have confused Varenna with another town (one not on Lake Como.) I'd spend an extra one or two nights at the lake and then maybe Verona as suggested or perhaps one of the other lakes. Apparently they are all quite different. Can't comment as I have only been to Como.