Itinerary and layover help

Bologna will be less crowded than Florence
Vernazza will also be super crowded

You can still take the direct flight to/from Rome
Just hop on a train to your first destination when you arrive-whether that is Florence or Bologna
This topic comes up a lot here -a search will bring up all the advice
Train is much easier, less expensive than a flight and will put you right in the city center

If you departure flight is from Rome you will need to be in Rome the night before

You might also look at flights to Milan

You will go thru passport control at your first entry into Schengen ( if for example you have a layover in Munich then passport control is there, customs would be wherever your final destination is and that is nothing more than walking thru the correct door)

Fly into Pisa, Florence, or Bologna if the flights work out for you - any of these flights will be connecting from somewhere in Europe not direct.

Milan and Rome are about the same for airport > city > train to either Florence or Bologna. Do not fly internally within central Italy. The train you would take will in the city before you get on your connecting plane.

If your flight is booked through one ticket US > London > Bologna (for example) then the airline should allow you enough time to connect in the booking and you will just go plane to plane. If you book Rome > Florence after your flight - or book two flights separately - you will need to collect your bags, exit the arrivals and then check in again for the new flight and go back through security and you need to allow enough time for that including if your original flight is late.

I personally would look at a different Ligurian coast itinerary. Maybe stay on the south side of the La Spezia bay or on the coast in Chiavari, Levanto, Sestri Levante etc and then travel to Rapallo and CT as day trips if you want.

I prefer Florence to Bologna but Florence will be much more crowded with tourists and Bologna is a University town so it may appeal to your younger son more. Bologna is only about 30 minutes from Florence by fast train so staying in one gives you access to the other if you want to explore.

Hope that helps, have a great trip!
=Tod

Thank you for the feedback. I’m having a very difficult time locating the search engine to type in questions like Luca, etc. I see from the how to use the form that there should be a search button, but I don’t see it.?

The search box just to the right of "Rick Steves Europe" -- if you are on a computer. On a phone, you have to click on the little white lines at top left.

Also note that it is "Lucca" with two "c"s for proper results.

Lucca is a little (within the walls) charming town with an over abundance of restaurants and churches. Pisa is easily reachable by train as are number of other towns including the coast.

Have a great trip,
=Tod

Found it ! Thanks
You mentioned skipping Vernazza .
My AU t brought me to Italy in Sept 2016
We stayed Comogli, Rapallo, Lucca then Vernazza . Vernazza was the highlight for me so not wanting to skip it . Maybe staying Rapallo is a wiser choice if it’s going to be worse than the same dates 9 years ago .
Never considered Milan! Looks I can have one lay over in Chicago that route!!
We will do some more digging into Bologna . Doesn’t look near as pretty , but neither did Rapallo and I feel in love with that little city :)

I recommend looking at some YouTube videos of Vernazza and the Cinque Terre coast as it is now.

Ah good idea . Thank you
Seems impossible to make any decisions with this trip

I always hesitate to warn people off CT because I had the benefit of visiting 20+ years ago - before the ferry, tickets, passes etc - but people still go and seem to really enjoy it. September is going to be prime season and if your visit corresponds with any cruise ships in either La Spezia or Livorno it will be even more crowded. A couple years ago I spent some time in Porto Venere and just seeing the teaming groups stopping off there on the way there or the way back I decided not to go and did other things.

Just be aware it will be very crowded and I personally find the "charm" elusive under the crowds. Staying does give you the benefit of being there after the day trippers leave but even with that plan 4 days seems like a lot to me. I finally saw the Amalfi coast in the very last week of the season this year and felt the same way. Absolutely amazing from the ocean but given it was the lowest crowd level possible in season I can't imagine how it is in summer.

Bologna has it's charms - it is the food capitol of Italy and has an amazing central square with towers. It has (until recently) escaped tourists attentions so it is more "authentic" Italy than Florence in season. As I said it is 30 minutes from Florence if you decide to do it as a day trip to check it out. If you haven't been to Siena then given the places you've liked so far I recommend it.

You might consider the RS Florence & Tuscany Guidebook book covering Lucca, Florence and vicinity for inspiration and planning.

Have a great trip,
=Tod

Thank you I have those books waiting for me at the library as I just returned the Rome ones . I agree for five days in Vernazza seems a lot, but I do want to return to Camogli to do the hike to the Abbey. I also want to show my son Rapallo, as it was a favorite for me. So that’s two days gone , plus the hiking
Me laying on the rocks and swimming in the Mediterranean in Vernazza was a highlight.
I’ve been reading that Bologna is very much so overlooked and we do LOVE food , so maybe we base there with a day or two to Florence.
So far I’ve made free cancelations for a room in the back of Vernazza and inside the wall of Lucca . Discovering a couple good day trips from Lucca as well .
I remember when we stayed in Vernazza back in Sept 2016 things were lovely once the ferry’s left .
Of course two days ago the plan was Rome, Vernazza and AC so who knows where we will end up !!

On another note , I’m finding some very affordable round trip flights from SFO to Milan With a 1.5 hour layover in Chicago Ohare - and no stops internationally after that . Do you think that’s a long enough layover ?