6 nights trip Northern Italy mid October 2018

That region is so well served by trains that I wouldn't even think of renting a car.

Sincere question: Have you been to Italy before?

You say you plan to fly in to Venice, and fly out from Milan. You're there for just five days. Seems to me you have already determined which cities you're going to: Venice and Milan. With just five days on the ground, I wouldn't add any more. Unless you go to northern Italy all the time and you're just sick and tired of Venice and Milan.

Honestly, I am amazed that people travel all the way from North America to Europe and just stay five days. If you are able to go to Europe very frequently - lucky you - then I suppose it may make sense (and yes, I do understand that everyone has constraints on their time). For me, the expense and effort required just to get there and back make it seem crazy to go for such a short trip - it takes a day to get there, a day to get back (never mind all the planning/prep time and recovery from the actual travel), so to me, the ratio of "time en route" to "time actually there" just is too unfavorable for what's essentially a long weekend. If it works for you, hallelujah, but it's hard for me to get my head around flying to the other side of the world for just 5 days. Personally, I'd stay much, much longer (if I couldn't do that right now, I'd wait until I could). In any case, good luck and I hope you enjoy your trip.

Thanks for your post. Yes we have been to Italy before but Rome and South. This trip to Italy is part of a larger trip we are taking to Europe. WE are flexible and could stay up to 7 nights for Northern Italy. But we need to fly into Venice and depart from Milan on to our next destination.

This trip to Italy is part of a larger trip we are taking to Europe.

Ah, then this makes perfect sense, please disregard my comments above about "a long weekend" in Europe. :)

A few things come to mind: Padua and Verona are right on the rail line between Venice and Milan. There's also Lake Como, a bit further to go, but quite a contrast from the others. Still, you don't have that many days so I'd be careful to limit my number of stops.

Two caveats.
1. My wife and I are Venetian nut cases.
2. We have never stayed in Milan, but it is on the agenda for next trip, I think 3 nights.
You have six nights for this part of the world, and i would siggest four in Venice, train to Milan and spend two nights.
With four nights in Venice, three and a bit days, you will barely scratch the Venetian surface. It is once you discover the “off Broadway” things in Venice, that the city really becomes alive and lives for you.

OK, I will outrage many people here. Skip the Doges Palace, skip the Basilica, get hold of a copy of Secret Venice and explore. You will find a city that is quite peaceful and endlessly fascinating.

I’m in Venice right now, for the next couple weeks and i’m writing a bit. Take a look, you’ll discover where my head is at.

In addition to Padua and Verona, there is also Vicenza, which has a smaller historic area and wasn't terribly touristy when I visited in 2015. I haven't been to Verona, but I liked Padua a lot. There's enough there for two nights and at least one full day. But Venice is unique.

Verona is a favorite city of mine. Bologna is also wonderful. Both good walking city. Verona with it's Roman ruins and amphitheater and Bologna with it's many covered arches. That area of Italy is serviced very well by trains. I would not rent a car. If you are interested in a lake in the area, I would recommend Maggiore. My favorite part of Italy is Northern Italy. Enjoy!