Here is my itinerary that we are planing but are also open to suggestions.. We will be flying into Venice and staying there for 3 days. Then we ill take the train to Milan and stay there for up to 3 days too. Well in Milan we plan on doing a boat trip on Lake Como. Also doing a day trip to Portifino. After that thinking of taking the train to Florence and staying there for 2 days and will fly out of there. Is this to much to cover in 9 days??
Ed
Ed,
It is best to think in number of nights, so do you have 8 nights? Your 9 “days” includes arrival and departure days?
Arrival day is a loss. If you have 3 nights in Venice, that’s a good start to your trip.
Milan, unless there are some specific things you want to do or see, is skippable on a first trip to Italy. Instead, you might go straight through to Lake Como for 2 nights. You’ll have part of your transfer day and one full day there. Varenna makes a convenient base. Portofino is too far for a day trip.
Your final 3 nights in Florence is a good choice. 2 full days gives you a chance to see the highlights of that lovely city.
When will you be traveling?
I agree with the previous comment that Portofino is too far for a day trip. Since you have so few days and are centered around northern Italy, drop Portofino. I also agree that Milan -- unlike Florence! -- is not essential for most first-time visitors to Italy. If you really want to visit Milan, I'd stay there just one night and devote the other two nights to Lake Como or elsewhere in the lake district.
I will be traveling from Sept 3-12 from Toronto Ontario. So I have 8 nights and 9 days. Like you say that there is 2 days of travel so that is waste. Essentially there is 7 days. I am thinking of drop Milan and go to Lake Como and then head to Portifino for couple of days and forget about going to Florence. We will be arriving in Venice and thought about leaving from Florence but right now I am unable to get a decent flight from there. So I may end up going back to Venice for my return flight.
Ed
Also what area of Lake Como should I stay in if I stay there for couple of night???
Ed
Have you yet checked transit times? Varenna on Lake Como is popular. Venice>Varenna is about 4 1/2 hours. Varenna>Portofino is 4 1/2.
Portofino>Venice 6 1/2. Check into flying out of Milan.
