Great airfare to Milan, but where to stay what to see?

I actually was surprised by Milan. It was very easy to get around in Milan by using the Metro. I would spend two days there to get over your jet lag. It will be important to let your dad adjust to the new time zone before adding to much stress right away. You will love the Duomo and the Galleria. I highly recommend taking the elevator to the roof of the Duomo. Your dad should really enjoy it. If your dad gets too tired too fast, it will be difficult to recover his strength in a city like Rome. See Rome when he is well rested.

You might even consider working your way down to Rome and save it for last. September can still be pretty warm, so give Rome a chance to cool down a little. Rome is very chaotic. To me it was like NYC on steroids. I doubt you or your dad will appreciate it as much if you are tired and jet lagged.

We were in Rome in 2014 and he loved it but we were rushed everywhere on a tour. And didn't get to see some places because of that rush. This time we will go at our pace. I really hate that "we are parked on a hill above the Colliseum, you have an hour to walk down the hill, look around the Colliseum and get back up the hill to the bus..." Or the "we meet here in an hour, & then we have to rush thru Siena to get to the bus..." If I'd had a map & knew were we were going, I could have lead my group of older seniors on a leisurely stroll down the streets toward the bus and we wouldn't have had a woman complaining of chest pains... Never again...

Do you have any suggestions on places to stay in Milan within easy walking of the sights?

If your Dad wants to go to Rome, and the ticket to Milan is cheaper, fly into Milan and then take the train to Rome. NO reason to force yourself to stay in Milan if you're not really interested in it! And tickets to Rome if bought in advance will definitely cost less than the $500 you would spend on the airfare.

Pam,

Have you considered visiting Northern Italy?

I took my mom (age 87) to Italy in late September (2014). Our flights were also to/ from Milan.
Since we had already visited Rome & Florence,
We visited Verona (day trip to Lake Garda), Padua, Venice, Ravenna & Varenna.

If you want to return to Rome, you can take the train upon arrival or sleep in Milan before heading to Rome the following day. You can work your way North ( from Rome) & visit Florence, then end in Milan, or travel to Varenna for a couple of days.
If your father has any mobility issues, Varenna may not be the best choice, since there are lots of stairs.

My mom walks slow & too many stairs are challenging at her age, but she loved the beautiful scenery of Varenna.

Our trip was 14 days long but wished it could have been longer...

Have a wonderful trip with your dad!

Pam,

I'd suggest spending your time somewhere other than Milan. Places you could consider are Varenna (Lago di Como), Florence, Verona, Lucca or even a few days in Rome. It's very easy to get around using the high speed trains, so travel time will be minimal (for example, Florence to Rome about 90 minutes).

In terms of "where to stay, what to see", I'd suggest having a look at the RS Italy guidebook as that lists all the main attractions. That way you can arrange sightseeing according to what interests you the most.

Which part of the Alsace were your grandparents from?

Milano is a great city. I would spend a couple of nights there, it's flat rand easy to walk, with a good transportation system for getting around.

Hotel Garda is a few minutes' walk from Milano Centrale station, where you can take the metro to the main sights. You can get tickets for da Vinci's Last Supper in advance, there are several good museums and notable churches, and a castle/museum/park. Bergamo is an hour away by train, so is Lake Como.

After Roma, return to Milano the night before your flight.

Milan is definitely worth 2-3 nights. The Last Supper, La Scala, the Castello Sforzesco, the Galleria Umberto, the High Gothic Duomo and its piazza.

I would advise you to take business or 1st Class train If the Journey is long And you can afford it. Will be more comfortable for your Dad.
Also make sure spécially in Rome And Florence that the hotels or apartments you have booked do have a lift.

I flew into Milan (MXP) for two reasons ... 1) it was a great price from JFK ... 2) other than Rome, it is the only place in Italy I could pick up my lease car from AutoEurope. I skipped Milan and drove to Florence.