6 days in Italy - Bellagio, Cinque Terre, Portofino visit???

I just got back today from a trip that included Milan and Lake Como (and Venice). We were really happy with the way it went. We flew into Milan and stayed one night. The next day we took the train to Varenna (Lake Como). No reservations necessary, a one hour train ride. We stayed at Hotel du Lac in Varenna for 3 nights on the lake. If you only had 2 nights here, it would be ok, but we were glad to have 3. If you don't want to spend the night in Milan, its easy enough to go straight to the train station upon arrival, and that gives you another night to work with for your other destinations.
I would spend the time between Varenna and Pienza in Portofino, as its easier to get to, and may be a tad less crowded. But CT is spectacular.

Here's a thought.

6th - Arrive Milan and train to Como (probably Verenna or Como), I would use a rental car
7th, 8th - Como, drive around the lake and ferry around
9th Depart by car for Portofino, or, consider Portovenere
9th, 10th - If Portovenere take the boat and see all 5 Terre towns, use rail between towns and boat back to Portovenere check schedules here: http://www.navigazionegolfodeipoeti.it/polopoly_fs/1.2813593.1461144357!/httpFile/file.pdf, and Portovenere info here: http://cinqueterre-travel.com/destination/portovenere/
11th depart for Pienza, 171 miles or so
11th-13th - Pienza, depart for Rome, or,
14th - Pienza to Rome and fly home.

Note I have this flying into Milan and out of Rome. Rome is closer to Pienza. If you have to drive all the way back to Milan be sure and give yourself time to do so. It might be better to do Milan and then Rome if your travels allow, more efficient

You just need to decide where you prefer a 3rd night, Lake Como or Cinque Terre.
6 Sep Arrive Milan and to Lake Como
8 or 9 Sep Train via Milan to Cinque Terre
11 Sep Train via Empoli to Siena, then bus to Pienza for wedding
13 Sep Taxi to Chiusi and train via Florence to Milan
14 Sep Depart Milan

Hi all! Thanks for these tips. As of now, we are flying into Milan 1pm and going directly to Varenna. That first day (the 6th) will be a dud Bc we will be tired and jet lagged. So is it enough to just have the full next day to explore and then leave the 8th? Or do we need 2 full days?

Then we don't know whether to go to portofino or CT? And how many days? We have to be in Pienza by 5pm on the 11th thru 13th and will be flying out of of Rome early am on the 14th.

"Then we don't know whether to go to portofino or CT?"

Given your very short time frame, I'd skip Portofino as (IMO), your time would be better spent in the Cinque Terre (where you could also take the short trip to Porto Venere). You'll have to first decide which of the five C.T. towns you want to stay in and then try and find a hotel room. At this late date, that could be a challenge. If you can't find a room in the five C.T. towns, you could also try Levanto, as it's only about five minutes by train from Monterosso.

Plans changed. We now have 2 extra nights. Should we spend them in Portofino? Worth staying there for 2 nights from Cinque Terre?

As of now we have 2 nights Bellagio, 3 nights CT, 2 nights _____, 1 night Rome, fly out.

Should we add a night to Bellagio and a night to CT? Should we just do 2 nights in Portofino?

Budget could be a consideration for Portofino. Also, Portofino is not on a train line so that may eat into your time.

My suggestion would be to forget Portofino. Your time would be better spent elsewhere.

My vote too: skip Portofino because of cost and inconvenient transport to/from the Cinque Terre. Staying anywhere between Levanto and La Spezia is going to put you on the train line for the CT. But if it's THIS Sept, you're talking, better scramble to get reservations: a lot of the CT will be booked up. If you can't find anything that suits in the 5 villages (4, actually; I'd eliminate Corniglia for some transport issues), look in Levanto.

We already have accommodations in CT. The issue is whether we add more nights in CT (currently are at 3), or go somewhere entirely diff. We've visited Rome before. Anywhere else worth fitting in for 2 nights from CT (we have to end in Rome for flight early am)

I agree with the others, I'd skip Portofino.
If you're set on going to CT, I'd suggest staying in Monterosso since it's the largest of the 5 villages & thus it offers more accommodations.
If you cannot find accommodations in any of the CT, or if you decide to skip the CT altogether, then I'd add an extra night to Varenna (or Bellagio) & spend the other nights in Florence or Rome.

If you've visited Florence & Rome in the past, you may consider staying in Siena or Orvieto.

EDIT... I was writing so didn't get to read your last post until afterwards. I'd add an extra night to Bellagio, then I'd travel to Florence after CT. You don't say if you've been to Florence before.

Or stop in Orvieto for a couple of nights.

As of now we have 2 nights Bellagio, 3 nights CT, 2 nights _____, 1
night Rome, fly out.

OK, so if you've already been to Rome, I'd spend those two days in Florence (have you been to Florence?)
Orvietto would be another good choice.