After a Conference in Bologna, departing to tour these two locations. BUT only have a week not optimal. Is this doable?? Please help?! Fast-train early July 13th head out to which first?? Departing back to USA on July 18th from
(Milan).... Overwhelmed! Could book accommodation in Padua (cheaper) when seeing Venice.....Help appreciated:)
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
9387 posts
How many nights do you have?
You will need to be in Milan night before departure flight so allow for that
3 nghts in each city works well
Florence is less than an hour from Bologna so I would go there first (provided that is not over a Monday when museums are closed)
Stay in Venice otherwise you are just there with all the other daytrippers
Venice is most enjoyable in the early morning and evening when those crowds leave
ETA
Now I see you really don’t have a “week”
You have 5 nights and 1 night needs to be Milan
Pick Florence or Venice for 4 nights
4 nights means 3 full days
Florence is closer to both Bologna and Milan
Both will be hot and crowded
Make a list of what you want to see and do in each, then choose
At a Glance
Florence
https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy/florence
Posted by
Irving
3582 posts
You need three nights in Florence and three nights in Venice so yes, one week is doable to visit two cities.
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
8368 posts
I would never recommend someone do Venice as a day trip. Day trippers have to pay a fee when entering, but the big reason is that travelers to heavy touristed Venice should take advantage of sightseeing when the daytrippers are gone.
If you could eek out another day or two, you could get an introduction to both cities.
Posted by
Twin Cities, Minnesota
2554 posts
Doable, but you will have to use your time wisely. In Venice to do that you MUST stay on the island. I love Venice, but not from 10a.m. to 4 or 5 p.m when it is chock full of day trippers & cruise line day tours. I love walking around and grabbing a glass of wine after all the day trippers have left. Or walking in the morning or visiting the Rialto market early in the morning before the day trippers arrive.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
7335 posts
As Christine noted, given your fixed departure date from Milan, and the need to be there the night before, you really dont have time to see both cities without doing an injustice to both. You dont have a week; you have 4 nights and 4 1/2 days available (plus one night in Milan). Pick one and plan on seeing the other on your next trip to Italy
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
17891 posts
Not ideal since the last night (7/17) must be in Milan. So you have only 4 nights for both (2 nights each), instead of an ideal 3 nights each.
It is very doable however. As a matter of fact most organized tours spend no more than two nights in each, including Rick Steves’ Best of Italy Tour.
So go to Florence first, for two nights, then Venice for the next two, and finally head to Milan for one last night. July 13, 2026 is a Monday and some major museums like the Uffizi are closed, so do what you can on Monday, then leave the Uffizi for Tuesday 14.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
17222 posts
Welcome to the forum! We may seem a little nosy with questions (well, I might seem nosy, hahaha) but it's to narrow down recommendations that might work best for you!
I think it's great for a first visit to get a taste of both cities. Roberto's right about 2 nights in each. 13/14 in Florence, 15/16 in Venice and 17 in Milan.
I also agree for Venice you should stay IN Venice. I've stayed in Padua on an RS tour and it's a neat town in and of itself but it's NOT Venice. IF you wanted to stay in Padua just to see Padua that would be fine as well if skipping Venice feels OK to you.
I also agree with the suggestion you should be In Milan for the night before your flight. What time does your flight leave from Milan? Asking so people can give you suggestions on whether to stay at the airport or in town. Which airport do you leave from?