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Itinerary help for March 2020

I would love to pick your brains for helping me shape our upcoming trip to Italy! This isn't firm, but would love insight if we are squeezing in too much or staying too long somewhere. We are comfortable moving around, so bouncing around isn't a concern.

Flying into Milan on Thursday 3/19 am- staying remainder of day and night in Milan
Friday 3/20- am train from Milan to Venice, Venice all day/night
Saturday 3/21- mid morning train from Venice to Florence, Florence all day/night
Sunday 3/22 - Florence, then rent car afternoon and drive to Cinque Terre, night in CT
Monday 3/23- day and night in CT
Tuesday 3/24- day in CT and head to Siena early afternoon, stay in Siena ??
Wednesday 3/25- Friday, 3/28 Rome
Leave Saturday 3/29

Posted by
5417 posts

IMO you've seriously shortchanged both Venice and Florence. Plus the weather can be unpredictable in March. You may find yourself stuck in CT with cold rain and many places still closed (it's still very early in the season.) Plus you do NOT want a car in the CT- there is train service from Florence and you get from village to village by train ( or by hiking if the trails are open).

If it was me (but of course it's not), I'd save CT for another time when the weather is more pleasant. Use those days for Venice and Florence. Use Florence as a base to day trip to Siena or Pisa/Lucca.

Posted by
907 posts

Our school (Easter break in Europe) spring break in CT was partly cold and rainy... nice for indoors but not so much for hiking around or cafes. For the ten days you seem to have I agree with the previous post that you should skip the CT (2 full days worth; PM, one day, AM) and enjoy the rest at a more leisurely pace.

Posted by
6713 posts

I agree with CJean, too little time in Venice and Florence. I don't know CT but this seems like a long time there, especially in iffy weather. If you're comfortable moving around, I won't belabor the point that every day but one before Rome has you changing locations. Lots of time on trains and highways, not much time actually being in places. You use the term "all day" for Venice and Florence, but all you really have is a partial days in each.

Posted by
2544 posts

Consider going directly to Venice on 3/19, either by train or plane. Train to Florence on 3/22. Train to Rome on 3/25.

This gives you:

3/19 travel to Venice
Venice 2 full days (3/20 & 21)
3/22 travel to Florence
Florence 2 full day (3/23 & 24)
3/25 travel to Rome
Rome 3 full days (3/26-28)
3/29 travel

Adding three more cities (Milan, CT and Sienna) really is rushing it too much. You need a minimum of two nights at each place to do more than take a picture as you’re passing through.

WOW, I am also planning a trip for March as well. I am planning a girls trip with two other woman. All of us have been there at least once before. I know its cliché but I always go back to... Plan your trip based on what you like!! Art, museums, coffee, wine, city, country, shopping etc.
We will end up having ~5 days (not so long), with the emphasis being we are looking for a lower key focus and only I have been to Venice so the other woman had that as a destination!
Sunday March 8th Day 1 (also international womans day!!) arrive @ MXP 8:30am> travel to Lake Como (most likely get a driver)
Spend day in Lake Como region (Bellagio?)
Monday March 9th Day 2 when we feel like it make our way to Milan and catch the train to Venice (2 1/2 hours high speed train) ~34Euro
Spend 2 nights in Venice (the girls would like to see Murano)
Wednesday March 11 when we feel like it make our way back to Milan on the highspeed train again
Spend 2 nights in Milan, have tickets for the last supper (although had to get through 3rd party missed the direct sales)

I would ask... what is the tone of your trip and your co-travelers? Is the intent to see as much as possible in a trip or lower key? I have done both and each has there time. Initially my group has also discussed CT, but we nixed in favor of Venice and more time at places vs. traveling to them. Also as other have mentioned traveling to CT in March can be risky.

I love the bones of your trip, I would recommend though skipping CT in favor of time in either Venice or Florence. (Florence is my personal favorite).

Posted by
16525 posts

Hi Karlye -
To echo some of the others, your itinerary will have you spending too much time checking in and out of hotels and dealing with transport that will eat into your sightseeing. No, you don't have "all day" in Florence, Venice or Siena (you'd have so little time in the latter that it wouldn't be worth the trip) but only partials, and in all cases you'll be having to deal with your luggage before heading off to have fun.

No, a car is definitely not advised for the CT. For weather reasons, I'd cut that one anyway and add the time to places you've shortchanged. I'd also look at going directly to Venice from Milan unless there's something there that's a must-see on your list. Day-trip Siena from Florence to eliminate another hotel move.

Your Rome dates are off by a day: Saturday is the 28th and not the 29th

Flying into Milan on Thursday 3/19 am- train to Venice
Friday 3/20- Venice
Saturday 3/21- Venice (or train to Florence)
Sunday 3/22 - train to Florence
Monday 3/23- Day trip from Florence to Siena by train or bus
Tuesday 3/24- Florence
Wednesday 3/25- train to Rome
Thursday 3/26 - Rome
Friday 3/27 - Rome
Leave Saturday 3/28

Whether to spend two full days in Venice or move to Florence on the 21st is up to how much in Florence you're interested in? There's a lot to see there if what's on offer trips your trigger. Do consider that the National museums (Uffizi, Accademia, etc.) are closed on Mondays, if some of those are on your list. Just 2 full days is pretty short for Rome but again, it's up to how much of it you're interested in seeing.

Posted by
26 posts

Thank so much for all of your responses! I am reworking our itinerary and will share the updated. Thanks!