Hi my husband and I have traveled extensively but have never been to Italy. I found an amazing deal going in and out of Rome in October. I know it’s not ideal to have to backtrack but again it was a great deal. We will be getting into Rome on Oct 9th around 16:15. I was thinking we would stay in Rome and then head to Florence, Venice, Milan with possibly a day trip to Lake Como and then possibly Cinque Terre. Is this Itinerary too ambitious? We depart Rome on the 23rd at 12:50. We are very comfortable taking train and would not be opposed to flying between cities if that makes more sense. Just very overwhelmed with choices. I am reading Rick Steve’s Best Of Italy which is a great resource but having a hard time determining itinerary with start and end in Rome. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11828 posts
It may be a bit too ambitious...
Oct 9 - sleep in Rome. I get this since your arrival is late in the day so we’ll go with that.
Oct 10, 11, 12 - sleep in Rome (total 4 nights)
Oct 13 - to Florence by train, sleep in Florence
Oct 14 & 15 - sleep in Florence (total 3 nights) Can day trip to Siena if you like
Oct 16 - to the Cinque Terre OR to Lake Como by train
Oct 17 - sleep in CT or Varenna
Oct 18 - sleep in CT or Varenna (total 3 nights)
Oct 19 - long day to Venice from CT, better from Varenna, sleep in Venice
Oct 20 - Venice
Oct 21 - Venice (total 3 nights)
Oct 22 - Backtrack to Rome by train for last night
Oct 23 - return home
Unless you have something specific you are dying to do in Milan, skip it and enjoy time at the lake.
Ideally, though, you would power on to Florence on Oct 9 and shift all of your Rome nights to the end. Then you’d have 5 nights together at the end in Rome, which is a very nice first visit there.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
I think you are right about powering through to Florence on the 9th and ending in Rome. There are only 2 things in Milan I would like to see- The Duomo and The Last Supper. I didn’t know if it’s feasible from any point to possibly even take a day trip there.
Posted by
Portland
3647 posts
I concur with the advice to skip Milan. You can see St. Peter’s while in Rome, St. Mark’s in Venice, and the duomo of Florence. For a short trip that should be enough of magnificent churches. I have always found it good to temper my city sight seeing with a bit of small town or natural beauty experience. Lake Como or some other place close to Venice or Florence might fill the bill.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11828 posts
You could stay at Lake Como and day trip to Milan, a nice option if it rains. But it is hard to get Last Supper tickets at all much less last minute. A reseller might have last minute tix should you end up in a rainy day situation and desire to go to Milan. I would not give up a day at the lake for a day in Milan.