Anyone doing/done a Rome-Florence-Como based trip?

How much time do you have for your trip? Do you have constraints about your arrival/departure airports?

If your heart is set on these three destinations, I'd try to lock up a reservation in Lake Como first and then work around those dates. I'm guessing that's going to be the toughest reservation to secure in August. Ideally, you could start there after flying in to Milan and then work your way south.

Well... right now its 9 days 8 nights. I bet I can convince the boy to make is 10-12 days if I play my cards right. We are going August 2 but havent booked anything - it doesnt matter to us if we arrive and leave from the same airport or not. Thanks for your help so far- hope to hear more!

Andrea- my stepdaughter joined us for 10 days of our vacation doing basically your itinerary. She flew into Milan and took the train/bus to meet us in Lake Como. We stayed there for 3 nights. Then we were in Tuscany for 1 week about 1/2 hour from Florence. She actually left after 4 days and headed to Rome for a total of 3 days. We all flew out of Rome.

If it were me I'd fly first into Rome and spend at least 3 days. We were in Florence in August and I don't know if it was the heat, the crowds or what, but it was my least favorite city. Everyone else I know LOVES Florence and tells me I need to go back. I did enjoy staying outside of Florence and being able to get there for day trips - so depending on your mode of transportation, either stay in Florence (if traveling by train) for 2-3 nights or in Tuscany (with a car) for 3-4 nights. I'd then go to Lake Como and you can always add Milan as well since you would most likely fly out of Milan Malpensa.

Andrea, I took a similar trip this May. I flew in to Rome and flew home from Zurich.

The cities I visited were:
Rome
Florence
Venice
Como
Zurich

I took the train to each of these locations. If you want to stay at one of the Lake Como towns, you need to travel by car, bus or boat from Como San Giovani train station.

This itinerary worked well. The time on the train was relaxing and allowed time to prepare for the next destination. The train from Como to Zurich was breathtaking going through the mountains.

Flying open jaw saved a whole day of travel. I did this over a period 2 weeks (actually spent 13 nights).

Andrea my husband & I did this trip in 2005. Starting in Rome - 3 nights, Florence - 2 nights, Venice - 2 nights, Varenna in Lake Como - 2 nights, then we went into Switzerland for 5 nights. Loved every bit of it but would definately have added at least 1 night to each of our Italy destinations. We traveled by train & thoroughly enjoyed it. We thought Varenna in Lake Como was one of the most beautiful places we have ever been & so relaxing after touring the other 3 biggies in Italy. I truly don't think I will ever spend less than 3 nights in any large European city as there is just too much to see & do & allow for just some "down time". We are going back to Italy in May & this time lots more days & nights in each area.

I did it a couple of years ago and in the order you have listed and loved it. I found finishing at Lake Como wonderful as it was a total contrast to the other places and so relaxing. I too then took the train to Zurich to fly home and the trip was great. I did the whole trip by train and found it really easy to negotiate. We did get a cab to our hotel from the station at Como as it was pouring with rain and I just wanted to get to the hotel. It cost us 25Euro as we had to pay for the cab to return to Como. This is common I believe. If the weather had been better we would have gone to the ferry dock and got the ferry. Very easy to negotiate.