Looking to spend 8 nights in Italy, meeting my daughter who has a conference in Turin in Late Sept.
We would like to visit the Cinque Terre & then what would be the best use of our time? Perhaps Venice, Perhaps the Lake district. We will travel by train or bus. I will fly into Turin & we could depart from Milan to return to Canada?
I have been to Florence, Rome & the Amalfi Coast. Looking for advice in planning an economical & efficient itinerary. Many thanks.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16238 posts
I'd stay in Northern Italy.
The Alps are close by, and so is Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta.
Langhe and Monferrato are wine producing areas of Piedmont, although they are probably best visited by car.
Venice is also doable, and maybe even Verona, which is along the way. If you go to Venice, you may want to spend at least a couple of nights. Cinque Terre are also not too far. You can take a train there via Genoa.
8 nights aren't a lot, and I'm sure you have to spend at least one in Turin when you arrive and one near the airport where you depart from.
Posted by
616 posts
Hi!
Turin is a very nice city and there is no better place for an apperitivo. Teatro Reggio is also a wonderful place if you like opera and classical music. It would deserve at least 2 nights. Then I would rent a car and visit the Langhe (3 days)
Stops in Alba, Asti and Aqui.
Also Lago Maggiore (2-3 days)
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thank you for the info. I should have been clearer in my initial post post. I will be away for 10 nights total. So allowing for 2 nights , beginning & end for travel that is 8 nights to really spend. I will fly into Turin. We wll take the train from there to the CT. I am thinking 4 nights in the Cinque Terre & then I get stuck as to where to go next. The Lake district looks appealing but we will not have a car. Is this doable? We have not been to Venice. Then the question is where to fly out of....Venice, or Milan?
Alternatively, we were looking at the traveling from the CT to the South of France & departing from Nice airport.
We are trying to do this as economically as possible.
Look forward to suggestions & again, many, many thanks.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11852 posts
I think you should stick with no more than two locations with 8 nights. The Cinque Terre is a good option and from there either to Lago di Como or the south of France is easy via train. We stayed at Varenna on Lago di Como and enjoyed it very much. Flying out of Milan would work. Will you give any time to Torino? It is a lovely and often overlooked city.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11852 posts
I meant to add/suggest at least one night in Torino but preferably two, then 3-4 Cinque Terre, 3 Varenna. Or if you decide to go to Nice, spend your last 3 nights there.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thank You! How difficult is it to travel by train to the South of France from C.T.?
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11852 posts
We went from Genoa to Nice a few weeks ago. Not difficult at all! We took a EuroCity train that left at 8:56AM and we were in Nice at 12:04. Buy tickets at Captain Train. Obviously you need to research trains from whatever Cinque Terre town you choose and Genoa.
Posted by
616 posts
There is train from Turin to Ventimiglia. Wonderful trip across the Alps. In Ventimiglia, change train to Monte Carlo and Nice.