Never been to Italy before, but will be flying in and out of Milan in April for 6 nights, 7 days. Would love to see Venice, Florence, Milan and the Lakes area -- knowing that I will not be able to see nearly everything. Would someone be able to recommend a travel order by city and number of nights in each to see the major highlights? Was thinking Venice (1 or 2 nights); Florence (1 night); Milan (1 night) ending in Lake Como (2 nights). Thanks!
Posted by
Pacific Northwest
2699 posts
Do you mean April as in next week? You really don't have time for much of what you're hoping to do. Since it's your first trip, I would choose two spots. Milan would seem to make sense but I've never been there so I can't weigh in. Milan to Venice is 2.5 hours by train and I would definitely go to Venice...it's beautiful and unique.
Venice to Florence is 2 hours by train. Milan to Florence is 1hr 40 min.
I think it might be helpful to sit down with a guide book and jot down sites that interest you in these three cities and pick TWO based on that. You can do Milan 3 nights and Venice 3 nights, or Florence 3 and Milan 3. It would be nice to get to Florence AND Venice, but coming and going out of Milan, it's going to be rushed.
Avoid 1 night stays - you will see nothing of these beautiful cities and spend all your time transiting between them.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you! I am in most interested in Venice and Florence. Would it make sense to do 2 nights in each and then 2 nights in the lake region? (Could do Venice then train to Florence than train through Milan -- just a quick stop to see The Last Supper -- and on to Lake Como for last 2 nights? Thanks again.
Posted by
Milan, Italy
308 posts
Take Valerie's advice and pick 2 towns. Your trip is short and the less you time you spend on trains going from place to place, the more time you can spend enjoying the sights and your trip! Two nights in one town is really one full day. Checking in and out of hotels, getting to train stations on time, train rides etc can take up a half a day at least. A "quick" trip into Milan to see the Last Supper will not really be quick at all. You can always go back and see what you missed :)
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thanks Jackie!
Posted by
Pacific Northwest
2699 posts
You definitely don't have time for that. If you have 6 nights, and you're flying into and out of Milan, you're likely going to spend one of your nights in Milan, leaving you 5 nights.
In a best case scenario, you arrive in Milan in the morning and can then take a train to Venice without sleeping in Milan. You spend 3 nights in Venice and take a train to Florence. You then spend 2 nights in Florence and go back to Milan the evening before you fly home, sleeping in Milan that night.
If you have a night flight home from Milan, you could spend a 3rd night in Florence and then take the train over the morning of your flight home. I am not a big advocate of transfers in on the day of a flight home, but you could do it to get yourself some additional time in Florence.
You don't have time for anything else....Lake Como can wait for your next trip....you'll love Italy and you'll be back.
Also, assuming that you're traveling in the next few weeks, get your lodging sorted out. You don't want to waste any time on a trip this short looking around for a place to stay.
Posted by
Milan, Italy
308 posts
I was just thinking that you should spend the last night of your trip in Milan since you're flying out of there. For example, pick your 2 towns but plan the last night in Milan. It will avoid any unpleasantries like late trains or strikes that might make you late to the airport. Maybe that last day you can hit the Last Supper and spend the night in Milan? If that's a possibility, look into Last Supper tix now because it's a hot item!
Buon viaggio!