Going to Italy for first time

How about this as rough draft itinerary :
Milan 3 days
to Como 4 days
to Florence 5 days (include day trips Siena or other Tuscan towns)
to Venice 4 days
to Bologna 4 days (include day trips to Parma)
back to Milan 1 day.

Here is a good site for train travel in Italy that you can refer to learn the trains and sites where to buy tickets etc.
https://www.seat61.com/Italy-trains.htm

Pick up a guide book electronic or paper (you can get these at a public library);
watch some travel videos on Italy on this site to get an idea on what is worthwhile to you and your family as far as site seeing is concerned.

In my humble opinion 4 days in Milan is too much..Como is a short ride from the Milan airport and can be reached easily on the day that you arrive...see Milan for 2 nights on the way home, good for shopping before you depart.

Is there a reason you are not going to Rome? 2-3 nights could do the trick for the tourist highlights..kids usually like Rome a lot!

A mix of apartments and hotels may be best. Have you been to Europe before? Are you familiar with things, speak a bit of Italian?
With kids sometimes things happen and I would want to have a hotel with a 24 hour desk. I would also want to know that if the air conditioning broke, I could get moved to another room. An apartment with a well reviewed active host would be best.

Have fun planning!

yes i agree with you JJ-nowVoyager 4 days Milan is too much for my taste

alias,

To begin with, does the 23 day time frame include your two flight days? When is this trip taking place? Also, how old are your kids?

My first suggestion would be to buy a copy of the RS Italy 2017 guidebook, and pack it along on the trip. There's an enormous amount of information in the book that will help your trip go smoothly. If this is your first trip to Europe, I'd also suggest pre-reading Europe Through The Back Door prior to the trip.

I always prefer to use hotels as it's nice to have staff to get information from, and I like to enjoy a nice breakfast (which is usually provided with the room). I'm sure some of the others will be able to provide information on apartments.

Here's another suggestion for an Itinerary.....

• Arrive MXP - Malpensa Express to Milano Centrale - Take train immediately to Varenna (Lake Como), about one hour from Milan.
• Varenna - 4 nights (allow an extra night for getting over jet lag).
• Train to Milano Centrale and then to Venice via high speed train.
• Venice - 4 nights with possible day trip to Padova.
• High speed train to Florence
• Florence - 5 nights with possible day trips to Siena, Lucca, Pisa or other locations in Tuscany.
• Train to Cinque Terre - 3 nights - you'll have to decide which of the five towns you want to stay in. All of us have our personal preference, and I always like staying in Monterosso. If you haven't seen it yet, you might enjoy this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP316ABiTt0
• Train to Parma or Bologna - 3 nights?
• Train to Milan - 3 nights.
• Flight home

You can find information on train solutions using the Trenitalia website. If you want to buy advance tickets for the express trains, you can do that either on the Trenitalia or Italo Treno websites, or at www.trainline.eu. There are some potentially expensive "caveats" to be aware of when using trains and other public transit in Italy. If you need more information on that, post another note here. You'll also have to do some research on the aspect of "train changes" as that will be inevitable during your trip.

Good luck with your planning!

I think Ken has given you a pretty nice itinerary. You did not mention wanting to see the Cinque Terre, but you will all probably enjoy time on the water. But that also depends on when you are traveling: Is it summer? Is it this summer?

We rent apartments a lot and it is a good idea with kids, especially for 4 or more nights. For 3 nights, I think a hotel or B&B is less hassle. Ken has a point about being able to get assistance; However, we find apartment owners are pretty good at giving advice, too.

My favorite tools are VRBO.com and Booking.com, and if you are new to doing this, I would stick with those as reputable sources. Booking.com can be a good source for B&Bs and small hotels, too. One exception is for the Cinque Terre. I have used Arbaspaa with success for apartments there.

Do buy Rick Steves' Europe Through the Backdoor and the Italy guidebook. Both are available as e-books so no need to add weight to your luggage. Read them well before you go, though!

I have Been thinking about going to Rome. I didn't think it was possible. My kids are 13 and 10. I was wondering if it would be easier and less stressful with the kids to maybe stick with the Lake District, Venice, Florence, Rome and back to Milan. Not sure if this is a stretch for the 23 days and with the train. Also not necessarily in that order. Any more suggestions would be so helpful. Maybe this will give us more time to enjoy it more.

I have Been thinking about going to Rome. I didn't think it was possible. My kids are 13 and 10. I was wondering if it would be easier and less stressful with the kids to maybe stick with the Lake District, Venice, Florence, Rome and back to Milan. Not sure if this is a stretch for the 23 days and with the train. Also not necessarily in that order. Any more suggestions would be so helpful. Maybe this will give us more time to enjoy it more.

You could take Kens itinerary and cut Varenna and Florence by one night each, skip Bologna and put those (5) nights in Rome.

Keep the order Ken has and have Cinque Terre as a "rest stop" before hitting Rome.

And then end in Milan to make getting your return flight a stress free event

With 23 nights ...

Arrive Milan. To Lake Como (3N)
To Venice (4N) - visit Padova
To Florence (5N) - visit Siena, Lucca, Pisa
To Rome (5N)
To Bologna (4N) - visit Parma, Modena, Ferrara or Ravenna
To Milan (2N)
Depart Milan