Trying to balance a first trip where we see alot and having a vacation. I welcome feedback for our plan:
Flying into Milan (landing Monday morning)--Duomo/ Terraces tickets for 4pm; dinner
Tuesday-likely train to Lake Como for day (only plan to spend day in 1-2 villages)
Wednesday-AM train to Florence; afternoon/ evening in Florence
Thursday, Friday, Saturday--one full Florence day; one day trip to Tuscany (not sure tour or train to a town and explore on own); Bologna for day for food tour?
Sunday-AM train to Rome
Monday, Tuesday-Colliseum tour; plan for mornings to tour and afternoons low key
Wednesday late AM flight home
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
9409 posts
It’s probably fine but I would never book an important thing on arrival day-flights are often delayed and climbing around on the Duomo terraces in a jet lagged state not a good idea!
Maybe drop the day trip to Lake Como?
I would drop the day trip to Bologna as well
Too much traveling around gets old on such a short trip (9 nights equals 8 full days)
Rome could use at least another night
Posted by
Coral Gables, Florida
582 posts
I guess you like doing day trips. I would skip the Bologna day trip, I would do day trips to Siena, Pisa and Orvieto before day tripping to Bologna. Also Bologna is kind of a bigger city, not apt for a day trip. Siena and Orvieto have small, beautiful, historic centers with stunning duomos. You can visit Pisa in a late afternoon/ evening from Florence. In two or three hours you can visit the tower, baptistery and Duomo, or a little longer if you visit the cemetery (also worthwhile). The Orvieto day trip would be from Rome.
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
9409 posts
I see from your previous thread that you are not fans of museums so curious why so long in Florence?
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/graduation-9-night-italy-itinerary-help
I suspect you are limited now by accommodation availability but consider staying in Siena, Lucca or Orvieto for a smaller town experience rather than 3 big very crowded cities.
Posted by
Idaho, USA
9793 posts
Everyone has their own likes/dislikes, so this is just a suggestion:
Skip Milan. Land at Milan’s airport, Malpensa, and take the Alibus to nearby Stresa on Lake Maggoire or take the train to Lake Como. Yes, it’s a jet lag day, which is always beneficial to be outdoors. And we’ve taken multiple flights and multiple trains on an arrival day to begin at a good location. I’m assuming from your movement on other days that you could do this.
So, Monday/Tuesday is a lake set. If going to Stresa, explore the very close little islands with gorgeous gardens & villa.
The rest sounds fine, although there’s closer cities than Bologna for a day trip from Florence. But still not a bad choice, And food tours whether in Bologna or Parma are fun & a great way to try multiple local items.