This will be my first trip to Europe and my first trip to Itlay.
I will be flying into Milan Sunday, March 17th at 11 am and back out on Monday, March 25th at 3 pm.
The plan is to visit Florance and Rome.
My question is do I take the train from Milan to Rome and work my way back up to Florance then Milan?
Or
Do I work my way from Milan to Florance then to Rome and back to Milan?
Hi James. I probably would train directly to Rome upon landing in Milan, spend your time in Rome first, the work your way back north. You could spend the final night in MIlan, obviously, but with a 3PM flight you probably don't have to - could spend the last night in Florence and skip Milan entirely and focus just on Rome and Florence.
It's your first visit to Italy and Rome and Florence are great places to visit...but you're so close to Venice it would be a shame to miss it. There's no other city in the world like Venice.
With 8 nights you are wise to focus on these two rich cities. Yes, go right to Rome. You can nap on the train and you can buy the train ticket right at Malpensa. You will get to Rome late afternoon, in all likelihood. Check-in, unpack, shower, get some dinner, and get to bed about 9pm. You’ll be up with the the birds!
I would give 5 nights to Rome and 4 to Florence., unless you want to give one night to Milan. Worth it if you can get tickets to see the Last Supper (if that interests you). You might enjoy a day in the Tuscan countryside. Tours by Roberto does a fabulous day in Chianti.
Maybe I need more coffee (probably!) but I'm counting just 8 nights? 17th - 24th, departure on the 25th?
Yep, I'll vote with the rest for going directly to Rome, then Florence, and a final night in Milan. Personal preference, for sure, but I'm not comfortable being some distance from the airport on departure day of an international flight, thus the vote to stay in Milan. Malpensa is just short of an hour or so away from the city by express train so I wouldn't want to be further away than that.
We enjoyed our 1/2 day/1 night in Milan prior to a flight home a few years ago and didn't even make it to the Last Supper! What with a long stretch in a cramped airline coach seat ahead us, we took the opportunity in Milan for a long walkabout to the Duomo and some of the other attractions. Anyway, a suggested itinerary?
3/17 - arrival at Malpensa/train to Rome
3/18 - Rome
3/19 - Rome
3/20 - Rome
3/21 - morning train to Florence
3/22 - Florence
3/23 - Florence
3/24 - Florence/train to Milan
3/25 - fly home from Milan
Thank you all for all the great wisdom and advice!
I will start booking hostels and tours ASAP!
Well everyone has a different advice, and I too would tell you to include Venice in your itinerary, even if it is one night, since the evenings and the early mornings are the best in Venice anyway. It all come down to a matter of preference, the willingness to relocate, if light packer, your age, your interests. If this was my trip:
March 17th land at 11am train to Venice (2h 30min), 2 nights in Venice
March 19th: train to Rome (3h 30min) 3 night in Rome
March 22: Train to Florence (1 h 30min) 3 nights in Florence
March 25th train in to Milan early morning since you have a 3 pm flight.
During March the weather in Tuscany will be unpredictable: could nice colder sunny days or it could very wet day where people drink red wine by the fireplace ... that is why I always advice to focus more on the cities in Europe during the winter, even though I prefer the small villages and the countryside in the summer.
