76 year old parents - Italy - help for them

I think their plan is fundamentally sound, but the arithmetic puzzles me. Two days for travel, two days for Amsterdam, four days for Sorrento, four days for Millan: what will they do with the other four days?

I’ve been to Milan twice and have enjoyed it both times. It’s a relatively level city, easy to get around in whether in taxis or by public transportation. The Starbucks Roastery might merit investigation. Pinacoteca Brera I have enjoyed twice. Two members of our group chose the rather off the beaten path destination of the Monumental Cemetery, but gave a glowing report when they returned. Definitely have a drink or coffee or snack or meal at the top floor of La Rinascente department store Piazza del Duomo, perhaps purchasing a solid chocolate woman’s high heeled dress shoe as a memento on the way out, as did one member of our group.

It’s been a dozen or more years since I’ve been to Sorrento, but if they are mobility impaired they might have trouble accessing the boat to Capri, if a visit there is on their itinerary. Paestum and environs are easily accessible by bus/train/taxi.

Staying up on top at Orvieto might be a good way to use the other four days. Also to be considered would be spending some days actually at Lake Como. Varenna is probably disagreeably steep, but Bellaggio or Menaggio might work out fine.

I agree with their assessment of Venice. I would’ve liked Venice more if I had never gone to it.

It sounds like they've been to Sorrento and feel comforable with the choice to return for a few days.

I don't know if a day trip to Lake Como is easily done with their limitation. There are things to see in Milan besides the Last Supper. The Duomo is a must-see. How is your dad with stairs? You can take the elevator to the roof of the Duomo, but there are still some stairs and most of the walking on the roof is on a slanted surface (because of drainage). Next door to it is the first covered shopping mall - the beautiful Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and a block or two beyond it is La Scala for a tour. Farther away is the Sforza Castle, worth an hour or two, more if they can handle the stairs to the several interesting museums inside. In other words, there's enough to fill their 2 remaining days in the city to make it an enjoyable stay.

Assuming 15 nights to sleep in Europe?

Day 1/ Night 1: arrive AMS and sleep here one night. They could take the flight to Naples, but it will be exhausting to get to Sorrento so a stop is advised.

Day 2: Fly to Naples and take bus to Sorrento. The train might be a bit much, but if they have experience with it, fine. Stay 5 nights

Days 3, 4, 5, 6 in Sorrento

Day 7: transfer to Milan via direct Frecciarossa then on to Varenna-Esina . There is a frecciarossa at 9:40to Milano arriving 13:55. Regionale train departs 14:20 and arrives Varenna 15:53. Stay 4 nights.

Days 8, 9, 10 at Lake Como staying in Varenna

Day 11 to Milano, stay 2 nights

Day 12 Milano

Day 13 Fly to AMS, stay 3 night

Days 14 & 15 in Amsterdam

Day 16 fly home

I don't think Varenna is the place for mobility impaired 76 year olds. Menaggio and Bellagio are very much more level indeed, and are only a boat ride from Varenna.

Agree 100% with the idea to base around Lake Como instead of Milan.

Varenna is very steep and may be a challenge, but Bellagio would be wonderful.

And don’t forget the flat city of Como, itself. Might be easier than going to one of the lake towns.
My choice in the area would to visit Turin rather than Milan.

Do you know why they want to stay in Milan? It has several interesting things to see, but they are not clustered, and it's not really a relaxing or walkable or scenic city.

I hope you have better luck getting any answer to any "why" question than I do with my mother!

From Naples airport to Sorrento, they can take the direct shuttle bus: https://www.curreriviaggi.it/en/naples-airport-shuttle.

Taxis can be helpful to get them home after having walked their limit in any city, including Varenna. Varenna has flatter switch-back roads as an alternative to stairs and steeper hills, but total walking distance is longer and a bit of Via Venini doesn't have a sidewalk.

In Milan, street-level trams may be easier than Metro stations with possible stairs. If visiting museums here, they may have to ask about an elevator. They're not always easy to find (although in Naples Archeology museum, they are).

We are about their age, and I'd recommend continuing on to Naples from Amsterdam, assuming they can find a good flight. They'll want at least two hours between their arriving and departing flights, since these will be on separate tickets. Hopefully they are traveling with just carry-on luggage (allow a bit more time if they have to retrieve checked luggage).

Then I'd arrange a taxi to meet their flight in Naples and drive them to Sorrento. It would be a long travel day, but we always prefer to bite the bullet the first day and just keep going. This way, they wake up in Sorrento and can take a whole day to recover, in a gorgeous setting. If they spend the night in Amsterdam, then fly to Naples and train to Sorrento the next day, they are starting their trip with two travel days and lots of exhausting logistics.

I wouldn't do Lake Como as a day trip from Milan. And I would look hard for a flatter, more walkable lake town than Varenna. I was having knee problems when we visited and it seemed like there were endless painful hills every time we wanted to go somewhere. We did visit Bellagio by ferry but I don't remember too much of it.

They might want more than 2 nights in Amsterdam at the end of the trip. We loved Amsterdam ... very flat, fun to stroll the streets. Look for a centrally located hotel with elevator.

Thank you all for your insightful tips. I had lunch with my Dad today and started discussing all of your suggestions. I asked him, "Why Milan?" and he replied, "I honestly don't know." I think it was just the familiar name and it's proximity to Lake Como. It will take a little convincing and help to get him to choose another base, but I will go through the towns/cities you suggested until we find one.

He also suggested to me that this isn't a sight seeing trip - they have been on enough tours of Italy that they really just want to relax and take in the smaller towns on a much more relaxed and easy pace.

Thanks again. I'm very appreciative that you took the time to reply.