7 Days in Northern Italy with 2 kids

Pick 2 locations, it's really the only time you have.

Where do you fly out of?

We fly into Munich, spend a night, take the train to Innsbruck, spend two days, take a bus with the team to Bolzano, stay 6 days, then we are free for 7 days before we fly back to the US from Munich. Busy! We will go from Bolzano to Venice (via train) on day 1 of the final 7, from there I need advice.

We will take a train late on the 7th day or on the day of our flight from wherever we are back to Munich. I'm trying to spend the 7 days wisely, wanting to see as much as possible while enjoying our time.

I'd be very tempted to spend my nights in Verona. It's 1/2 the train time from Bolanzo. You could day trip by train to Venice (1hr10m). Bologna is (1hr09m). Florence (1hr33m). You're also 15 minutes from Lake Garda. It's much easier to visit not changing accommodations. On your 6th day take the train back to Munich for your flight home. Don't risk transportation snafus be there the night beforehand.

Verona. Try to stay on one of the piazzas...Erbe or Bra. Good walking city with lots to see and do. Milan is not a favorite of mine. I would not spend time there.

I would expect kids to enjoy Verona and Venice more than the others. Verona will be very crowded during opera season.

I agree that two locations in 6 or 7 nights is the max. I would split between Venice (endlessly fascinating) and Lake Como. two or three nights at Como before you return to Munich could be a nice relaxing end to a great trip.

I do not understand the fascination with Verona. Fine for a day, but Venice is, to me, far more interesting. Your kids won't want a lot of museums and churches, I would guess. In Venice you can do a gondola rowing lesson, take the vaporetto to the islands, or just go to a park in S. Elena with the local kids.