Itinerary for toddler and fit 61 yr old

We need more info-
What sort of things are you interested in? Art, history, nature, food??

Looks like you have 9 nights between Lake Como and Rome- I would limit that to 2 or 3 locations and travel by train.
Major places would be Venice, Florence and Rome
Venice should get 3-4 nights
Florence 2-3 nights plus 1 night for every day trip
Rome should get at least 3 nights- or more

Where in Lake Como are you staying?

I don’t think I’d have the nerve to wrangle a two year old in Venice, so if you want highlights only, Florence and Rome would be a lovely combo.

Are you hoping to use public transportation (trains and buses) or renting a car for part of your trip?

If no car and traveling with the 2 year old I would choose 2 locations allowing for a couple days trips.

Where are you staying in Lake Como? That will help determine your route.

Yes, we are hoping/planning to use public transportation as we've been told driving is too dangerous! ;-)

Any idea what crowds will be like from 4/26/26 through 5/8/26?

Do you think using a car would be okay/safe? Or is it a big "no"? We are not against it, just heard so many stories about "getting run over" by local drivers. ;-)

Assuming your driver understands the rules of driving in Italy, obtains an International Driving Permit (basically just a translation of your state driver's license) and understands the importance of avoiding restricted driving zones (ZTLs) to avoid fines, driving in Italy is safe.

That said, with just over a week, there is no reason not to use public transportation in Italy.

Again, where on Lake Como are you staying, please?

Yes we need to know where on Lake Como you are coming from and what your interests are

If you are visiting the “major places” like Venice, Florence, Rome there is no need for a car
It would just be an expensive headache

There are a few places in Italy where a car in beneficial (driving around Tuscany countryside, for example)

You need to decide on where you are going first
You are very late to be booking accommodations and you are traveling over May 1 Italian holiday so deciding on itinerary quickly is imperative

Daughter and wedding party staying at Relais Villa Vittoria. I want a less expensive place that is near their hotel.

Has the wedding host offered any guidance/suggestions for nearby lodging?

I would go to Google maps, locate the wedding venue then search for nearby hotels
Book something soon, looks to be very limited
Book a refundable rate then keep looking

Have you figured out how to get there?
Are you flying in to Milan?

Yes, we are flying into Milan. Train to hotel? I've searched nearby hotels just not sure how to rate them or what to expect for a price range of $150/night USD. Will i be sleeping in a garage for that or will it be okay?

I don’t think there is train access to that town
No train on that side of the lake

150/night is a very low budget for Lake Como

Search on booking.com
Read the reviews there, they are legit as can only be left by those who have actually stayed at the property

hey hey drholcomb13
you are really late planning anything for next month with 3 people especially on lake como.
figure out your transportation from milan (MXP) to lake como and where on the lake? $150 for 3 is totally outrageous and probably worse than a garage or maybe a dog house. it is high high season, crowds will be everywhere and tiring for a 2 year old, sounds cruel. long lines for ferries, restaurants, walking along the promenade, besides grumpy, tired, obnoxious travelers all over and many tour buses, cars, vans, private companies wanting to go & see lake como. italy and the other big cities will be just as crowded.
you will need to up your budget, ask wedding planner or wedding family where? plus book your other places ASAP good luck & have fun.
friends of mine are going for a wedding first part of june for a wedding and first time to italy and her & husband can't believe how expensive it will be between rome, florence and lake como
aloha

Let's start with the first 3 nights. Do you need a room just for yourself? Or a room for you and the 2 year old? What are your plans while you're daughter attends the wedding activities? If you don't stay with your daughter, how do you plan to get around during the Lake Como stay? You probably need to increase your budget and stay within a safe walking distance to the wedding venue as well as shops and restaurants.

There is a B&B Albergo Diffuso Cacl Spiga that has 1 room available for about $250/nt.

Booking.com shows an apartment available La porto sul lago for a similar price that can include a free crib upon request.

Both places are about a 5 minute walk to the wedding venue. Read reviews before booking anything. And do some Googling about the town of Laglio to see what else there is to see besides George Clooney.

Thanks gorillas if the feedback. Sounds like i should stay home with grandson.

Sounds like i should stay home with grandson.

With as late a start you have for planning this junket,, that might be the better alternative.

If you haven't decided to stay home, one possibility for your Lake Como time might be to look at places in or very near the town of Como. It looks like prices and availability is better there and it is on a trainline. As a larger town, there might be more things to do with a toddler and your daughter would only be about 20 minutes away by taxi (I think). I have not been to Como city and it would not be my choice, but it might be a feasible solution for your needs.

I would not pass up a trip to Italy just because it will be difficult to plan. Florence and Rome are far from the only places worth seeing. Maybe some other stops would be doable, you really only need a couple, as moving much more than that with a toddler would be disruptive. Maybe go to Genoa and visit the aquarium? Really the options are endless.

While the possibilities are endless, the OP has indicated that her budget is not.

Mimi, let us know if you want suggestions to stay elsewhere on the lake while you're daughter is in Laglio for the wedding. Staying in the town of Como would be more stroller friendly.

Sounds like i should stay home with grandson.

I hate to say it but you are probably right. Unless you must be there with your daughter I think you and your grandson would probably enjoy a bit of quality time together at home.
Traveling with a 2 yr old is difficult enough and I wouldn't want my first experience in Italy to be marred by stress and complications.

Maybe start planning a future trip so you have time to plan, book acccomdations and perhaps increase your budget.
150/night barely gets you a decent hotel room anywhere in the USA

Thank you, Zaladelphia and VD in DC and everyone who took time to respond.

I have decided I an not going to stay home. I found 3 places, all within walking or short taxi ride to Relais, and under $600. Yes, it won't be the Relais but I'm not going to Italy to sleep.
With many of the suggestions found here I have put together 2 day's worth of low key activities for me and my grandson in Lake Como and then we will all head to Florence with daughter on 29th when her friend's wedding is over. Then to Rome to finish out the trip. (They all graduated from med school together so there is no chance of daughter staying home and if she goes, grandson goes and if he goes, I go). 😉

If anyone has suggestions for itineraries in Florence or Rome or recommendations for where to stay all information is appreciated. 🙏🏽

Good for you!!

For lodging- start at booking.com
Use the filters for budget, location, amenities like elevator, AC, Bkft, etc

I would stay right smack in the historic center of both as long as you can find something- both cities are very walkable and flat so shouldn’t be too bad with a stroller- bring a heavy duty stroller though because those cobblestones are brutal!

Lots of recommendations here as well:

https://search.ricksteves.com/?button=&date_range=2y&filter=Travel+Forum&query=Florence+hotels

https://search.ricksteves.com/?button=&date_range=2y&filter=Travel+Forum&query=Rome+hotels

Several of our members here like monastery or convent stays- good bargains but I have no experience with
https://search.ricksteves.com/?button=&date_range=2y&filter=Travel+Forum&query=monastery+stays

https://search.ricksteves.com/?button=&filter=Travel+Forum&query=convent+stays

Good luck- let us know once you find places and get things booked (post back here with questions about places you find- chances are someone has been there).
We can help you with transportation/train info as well as sightseeing.

Sightseeing info here
Under At a Glance and Plan
https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy/florence

https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy/rome

Thank you, Christine, for the idea of monastery and convents! I love that idea! And note made about a rugged stroller. He's a trooper and has already done a bit of intercoastal travel back and forth in US so likes to walk along but we need good stroller for when he crashes.😉

I can't wait to check out the links you sent! I will definitely post back with what I find! And, I'm sure I'll have other questions. I so appreciate this group. Sorry about typos in previous emails. Definitely did not refer to the group as gorillas but that's what autocorrect does. 🙃

“gorillas”

Lol
I am sure it gave us all a good laugh
Grrr autocorrect

( you can edit your post but I would leave it)

Here is link to monastery and convent stays
https://www.monasterystays.com

So what were you trying to type that auto-correct turned into 'gorillas' ?

I was thanking the group and didn't notice until I was referencing prior messages to share info with daughter that it came out "thanks gorillas. " 😅

Another suggestion, instead of a heavy stroller that will be a hassle to get on/off public transportation, consider (you said you're a fit 61 year old) a child carrier (backpack) that you could put the 2 year old in when he crashes, and/or a light umbrella stroller. When our kids were young, we used umbrella strollers when we were vacationing in cities in the U.S. and taking subways and buses.

The nice thing about Rome, there are car-free piazzas that you could go to, where the grandson can run around, Piazza Navona or Campo de' Fiori. Florence, less so, but visit Piazza della Repubblica.

As to whether driving in Italy is dangerous, thas opinion depends a bit on where you (you or your daughter) drive in the U.S. Parking can be a hassle, however. For example, I (62yo female) live in a mid-sized U.S. city, and used to live in large U.S. cities as am/was accustomed to driving in those. I also have driven a manual transmission car for most of my life (in the U.S.). So driving in Europe, including Italy, is easy, and because I prefer to drive a stick, I always rent one. Automatic transmission cars are available almost everywhere. Because you're only talking about Lake Como, then Florence, then Rome, a car isn't really needed, but it will be a long day from Lago di Como to Florence by public transport.

hey hey drholcomb13
happy to read you are NOT staying home, it will all work out. how many nights in florence and in rome?

booking.com
on left side are filters you want or need for you 3 to spend together, stay close to city center. reviews are written by travelers that have stayed in the properties. florence is compact, crowded but that's life. just know may 1 is a public holiday "worker's day" with limited public transportation, many places closed "banks, govt, etc" have some cash euros with you, ATM's will be around but many people will use them and when does it go empty and need to rush around finding another one. if attractions open, reserve early (time/date stamped) you may see many celebrations/parades during this weekend.
florenceboattour.
take a gondola ride on arno river
piazza della repubblica, has a merry-go-round, pedestrian only square, he can run around with other kids doing same, we sat outside cafe with glass of wine & chacuterie board to enjoy
educated-traveller.com wine windows. order from small window, sit at table even something for grandson
mercatocentrale.com covered building with many shops, restaurants. click artisans, scroll faces to see what they offer
paintandwineflorence.it
crowntours.com under rome
paint and sip painting class with wine & pizza
don't forget the many shops of gelato and different flavors. go down side alleys/streets away from crowds to look for mom & pop restaurants you don't need reservations.
when you train to florence, stop at shop near hotel or train station and bring a "picnic" on board, we got a sandwich/wrap or salami & cheese, crackers/breadm bottle wine (always carry/pack a corkscrew or buy twist top bottle) enjoy the view through some countrysides. enjoy, have a great time LOL the "gorillas", loved it and please do keep it posted
aloha

You should not stay home! Don't miss a chance to go to Lake Como!
While traveling with a 2-year old overseas is a challenge it can be done - we travelled all the time when my son was little. We do have family in Germany and went nearly every year. But also went to France (18 months old), Spain (close to 4yrs), Scotland (6yrs), Austria (7) and Lake Como (9 years). All trips were great fun! You just need to adjust to the speed and interest of your grandson! Slow down and enjoy.

Lake Como is fabulous. A vacation spot for >2000 years. My husband and I went 20 years ago for a conference. for work. We went with our son in 2019, and only the pandemic prevented the return trip in 2020. From Milan you can take the train to Como, then take the ferry to your town / accommodation, especially if it's on the Western side. Easy connection from tran station to ferry by taxi (without luggage you can also walk). On the Eastern side, you can reach e.g. Varenna fairly easily by train, and take a ferry from there (we stayed in in Bellagio, which was reached easily; the apartment was fabulous and new on the rental market, and affordable. It costs a fortune now...)

Activities with a toddler: even my American ice cream rejecting kid LOVES gelato. You can go on a gelato exploration tour in the town you stay in. I am sure you will find many different gelaterias you can try. Visit a villa and garden, and enjoy the blooms of spring with your toddler. Combine with taking a boat tour. Try to identify all the fancy cars. Visit some churches and look at all the paintings and statues together as a "treasure hunt". go to a local market and admire the local produce and all the goods. You can find schedules online, I think; kids love the markets, and we don't have them like this here in the US (but with some exeptions). Even just having a very leisurely day on Lake Como without much sight seeing is a fantastic day!
On the hillsides above the towns on the Western side of the lake are also opportunities for hiking / nature. We had planned for that but it was a very hot July in 2019, and thus we stuck more to gelato (and didn't gain weight from all the walking up and down the hills)
Oh, and if you or your daughter are looking for actually well made toddler shoes that are not sneakers and designed for growing feet and reasonably priced - stock up! Italy is comfortable while fashionable shoe paradise - including for kids!

Overall, I'd agree, especially with a toddler, less is more! Take maybe one stop on route (by train) to Rome and explore for a few days. When the child is older, you can come back together and go to all the art museums then.

Happy travelling!

May 1 is a big holiday in Italy, and most folks expand that to include the week before/ after, so expect heavy crowding. We were in Lake Como for the May 1 holiday in 2025, and the ferry lines and crowds were huge! The regional trains to/ from Milan were so packed it was almost dangerous. Also, note that the towns are built on the sides of hills, so there are more steps than roads.
I would vote for Venice, as it's easy to experience the charms of this delightful town, and avoid crowds. Just stay away from the St Marks/ Rialto area and just wander and eat gelato!
That being said, if one prepares for the realities on the ground, one can have an incredible family adventure! Book lodging asap. Safe travels!