We are a family of 6 flying in and out of Milan from Boston (best priced flights) in June. Can you comment on this general itinerary, Im really wondering if I should cut Milan down a day and add to Rome or Florence.
Arrive early AM Milan
Milan - 3 nights (1 day trip to Lake Como)
Venice - 2 nights
Florence - 4 nights
Rome - 4 nights
Milan - 1 night before flight back home
I would proceed directly to Venice on arrival and stay 3 nights, It’s an easy train ride from Milan and a great place to get over jet lag. Rome can easily consume you for 5 nights but it depends on how much time you really want in Milan, which pales by comparison to your other stops, except for your desire of a day trip to Lake Como. So maybe
Venice - 3 nights
Florence - 4
Rome - 5
Milan - 2
Milan is so underwhelming compared to the others. Add more time to Venice. 2 nights is only one full day - Venice needs much more time than that. Personally, I'd skip Milan all together and book MULTICITY flights - fly into Venice and out of Rome.
Thanks so much. My plan was never to include Milan but after snagging a really good flight deal I choose that round trip flight to save thousands. All that to say I can’t change flights so figuring travel within Italy based on my flights. We have 2 kids age 16 and 11 so was thinking 3 nights in Milan would get us through some initial jet lag but now I’m reconsidering.
was thinking 3 nights in Milan would get us through some initial jet lag but now I’m reconsidering.
Check the train schedule (https://www.trenitalia.com/it.html) to go to Venice on arrival. It's about 4 hours including one change of trains (you take a local train from the airport to the train station then a highspeed train to Venice Santa Lucia station). You can grab some sandwiches and snacks at the station before boarding the train to Venice, nap on the train, and arrive in time to check in, take a walk, have dinner. We did this on our very first trip to Italy and it worked beautifully as an intro to the country and a place to get over jetlag.
Since you arrive in Milan in early AM, you wouldn't be able to check-in a hotel, or do much jet lagged, so if it were me, I'd just keep moving forward and get to your real destination.
I’m with Laurel, just go straight to Venice from Milan —- your kids will love it especially if you stay in a less heavily touristed neighborhood like the eastern end of Castello or Cannaregio. We took our grandchildren there in December 2023 —- you can find my trip report about what they enjoyed the most. I would be inclined to skip the daytrip to Como and spend only the night before your flight home in Milan. Believe me I know how hard it is to cut back on places to go to in Italy, but the big three are enough for a short trip with six people.
Here’s the trip report —-- https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/bologna-ferrara-venice-rome-in-december-with-kids
You all convinced me! I spent the last day rearranging my whole itinerary and all. Had to rebook all my hotels and already booked tours but I think this will be a better experience. I’m just stuck in finding accommodations in Venice. The hotel I originally booked at has no availability on the new dates. New itinerary as you suggested:
Arrive in Milan and head straight to Venice
Venice - 3 nights
Florence - 4 nights
Rome - 5 nights
Milan - 2 night (hope to still do day trip to lake Como)
I had already purchased last supper tickets which was a complete hassle and now will not be able to use them. And the new dates already sold out. Boo!
When in June is your trip? The Jeff Bezos wedding June 24-26 may be contributing to the trouble finding accommodations. Have you tried booking.com or Airbnb/vrbo?
Nice! Looks much better now and I guess you still have time for that day-trip to Como.
I doubt the Bozos have booked everything available in Venice so that mortal people don't interfere with their wedding. There are approximately 100,000 hotel beds in the city of Venice alone (without counting AirBnB), and I doubt one can book them all for himself.
However finding accommodations in Venice for that period is always a challenge. There are several events taking place in Venice in June, including the Vogalonga on the 8th. Consider Mestre or Padua if worse comes to worse. Not ideal, but if prices are out of the budget, both offer more reasonable accommodations.
That's interesting. I've looked at AirBnB and booking and hotels direct. It's just more difficult with a party of 6 (4 adults and 2 kids). Our new dates do overlap with the Bezos wedding...hahaha
Our dates do also! For whatever reason, I had more luck with VRBO for Venice than Airbnb (we needed at least 2 bedrooms)
