We are enrolled in a two-week language program in a small town in the Appenines in September. We are visiting friends in Lausanne and then taking the train to our meeting point in Bologna four days later. Should we go directly to Bologna from Lausanne and take day trips from Bologna to avoid multiple hotels and dragging suitcases and backpacks even though the day trips to Parma, for example, would take us backward? My Rick Steve’s Italy guidebook doesn’t even mention Emilia-Romagna, but other guidebooks make it look worthwhile, as do comments in this forum.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32712 posts
Edward,
As you have four days, you might consider an intermediate stop for a few days before going to Bologna. Which location to choose will depend on what you're most interested in seeing and which location provides reasonable travel time from Lausanne. You could also go directly to Bologna and spend a few days touring there and enjoying the great food.
Posted by
Green Bay
23679 posts
Parma is only 1 hour from Bologna on the hourly regional train and costs only 8.50 EUR pp each way. That is an easy day trip.
Posted by
431 posts
Do you really have 4 days? Or is the 4th basically the meeting day with little time before. Day 1 isn't go to have much leeway, yet again italy is doing "work" on the railway between the Simplon Tunnel and Milan so morning travel options are limited. Unless you could catch the 06:48 from Lausanne the next logical route departure is 12:48, both change at Brig and Milan, later option arrives Bologna at 18:24. Or 14:10 which is only change at Milan and arrives Bologna at 19:24. For most of the day options are via longer routes (which you pay for). So one hotel in Bologna seems the best idea, and day trip to Parma.
Posted by
OP
San Francisco, CA, USA
84 posts
Four full days excluding arrival day and departure day.
Posted by
150 posts
I would definitely head straight to Bologna. There are lots of possibilities for day trips, depending on your interests, including Parma, Modena, and others. Sounds like a wonderful opportunity to explore a bit in a more relaxed manner. (Do a search on the forum and filter for the last year, and you’ll find many great suggestions.) Have fun!