9 Days: Milan, Florence & Cinque Terre

How are you doing both a full day in Milan and a day trip to lake region with only 2 nights there? Is yor full day in Milan the day you arrive off the plane? I would probably skip the day trip to the lakes.

I would ideally do 3 nights in Cinque Terre so you could relax the day you get there, hike toward corniglia one day, and hike towards Monterosso the other day.

You should see Pisa/Lucca on the way from Cinque Terre to Florence

What is your goal for CT--would you be satisfied with one full day? Do you hike?
If you arrive early enough, I would consider pressing on to one of your further destinations and put Milan tome all together at the end.
Milan flights are common, whereas other places you might only get to visit once, so I would minimize time in Milan and put more time in your preferred destinations.
See Trenitalia and Italotren websites for train schedules.

Do you have 8 nights or 9 nights?
Hard to tell but it’s better to count your trip in NIGHTS

Either way that’s barely enough time for 3 locations
Drop Lake Como
Go right to Florence on arrival-4 nights with 1 day trip
CT 3 nights stop in Pisa OR Lucca on the way, doing both takes most of day
Milan at end of trip 1 or 2 nights ( it will take a good half day to get there)

Unless this is an absolute "bucket list" item, I would avoid CT altogether. Especially late July. Anticipate massive crowds - everywhere. The worst will be the train stations, as the platforms become mosh pits.

Land in Milan, spend 3 nights, going to the lake is always an option. Remaining nights in Florence to allow for the day trips.

Pretty busy schedule.

Consider going to Florence the day you land. Then Lake Como and finish in Milan.

Trying to squeeze CT into the mix is making for a lot a 'moving' and not much 'being there'

Thanks for all the replies.

Yes, 9 nights. Landing in Milan early in the AM so considering that our day in Milan proper.

CT is the reason for the trip, so it's a must do. The goal is is to hike the entire length from one end to the other (Monterosso-Riomaggiore or in the opposite direction). And to spend some time in each town and get a feel for each.

I've read that summer is peak season (esp weekends) so prefer to be in CT during the week sandwiched in between Milan & Florence & hopefully avoid the worst of the crowds. Otherwise, I would consider heading straight to CT & leaving Milan towards the end as suggested. I've been in Florence before but traveling w/someone who hasn't & missed Uffizi last time.

Keep the suggestions coming!

Thanks.

Just in case you didn't know, the lover's Lane portion of the hike (the easy way between riomaggiore to Corniglia) is closed until 2024. You can still hike the whole way but it requires the steeper hike via Volastra and Beccara

https://www.cinqueterre.eu.com/en/cinque-terre-current-situation

guerrai, regarding CT trail closures....
I don't want to belabor the topic if you have already done that homework/used the park website but if not, you'll want to make alternative route plans if hiking the famous "Blue Path" (Sentiero Azzurro) from Monterosso> Riomaggiore as 2 of the 4 trail sections have been closed for years now. See my post in this recent thread if that's the case:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/cinque-terre-trails-28e3638f-1116-4919-836a-13f9285ea2eb

Just got back from 2 weeks for our 30th anniversary, and we had 2 days/nights in Bellagio because I love lakes.

My advice for your Lake Como day trip: Book a 40 HP motorboat from Varenna or Bellagio. You'll arrive in Varenna by train from Milan in less than an hour. Take a boat for 3 or 4 hours, and make lunch reservations at a lakeside restaurant that allows boats to dock. (We chose Crotto dei Platani a little south of Argegno.) A weekday is ideal to avoid weekend boat traffic, but Como didn't strike me as busy with boat traffic compared to some American lakes and rivers.

The scenery of Lake Como is astonishing, with the mountains looming overhead. From the water it's also quiet and more magical. You can stop somewhere quiet and jump in to swim afterward. Beautiful villas and charming towns everywhere you look. When you return, you can shop a little in Varenna or Bellagio before you head back for the train to Milan.

I'd skip Milan and if CT is the goal I'd spend 4 or 5 nights there given what you said about your goals for the area. Bellagio is one of my favorite places in the world but I wouldn't day trip to Lake Como. I'd pick Lake Como or Florence for the remainder of your trip. 4 nights in either location would be good but I'd lean toward Florence as a nice contrast to the CT on this trip.