I'm planning a two-week trip in and out of the Milan airport for early June. I'm trying to plan it so all family members (college age kids) can see a little of what they are excited to see. So far, we've got the Piedmont region (but could exchange this for other similar towns/areas), the Alps, and Venice. A lake wold be great too someone along the way. Since we fly into and out of Milan what is the best route. Staying a few day in Milan will be enough of a big city for me. We prefer small, off the beaten track type places without crowds when we can pick that. Though we also love the art/history sometimes only seen in the bigger cities. I'd love to just stay in the Piedmont area and north into the Alps, but adding Venice might make that hard. We love history, art, wine, and nature. Should we stick with the train (which we think is a fun way to travel, especially through the Alps), or rent a car? We pack light and prefer experiences to things. Any ideas?? Thanks!
Posted by
North Italy
405 posts
Depends if you're planning to return to north Italy. If you are you could leave Venice until next time and just concentrate on a lake and Piedmont. If you're not, dedicate a week each side. On the train line Milan - Venice you can reach Desenzano and other towns on Lake Garda and cities such as Verona and Vicenza which are much more pleasant and less crowded than Milan (chaotic, polluted, stressful and expensive).
Posted by
Green Bay
21348 posts
I'd say do Venice and the Dolomites. with two weeks, that would leave time for 4 nights in Venice, 4 nights in Malcasine on Lake Garda, and 5 nights in Ortisei or Selva for the most spectacular mountains in the world.
Easy train ride from Milan.
Posted by
NYC area
3018 posts
Posted by
Portland, OR
378 posts
We did a Piedmont trip in early June in 2015. Roberto highly recommended Lago Maggiore. Our stay was delightful, we enjoyed the Borromean Islands, along with the ferry to Locarno.
As far as Milan itself; a couple of nights to see the sights is probably enough. Try to get tickets soon for the Last Supper if that interests you. The Duomo is magnificent and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is over the top.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17595 posts
I am with Sam and Paul. If Venice is a must, then visit the Dolomites, not the Alps. Stunningly beautiful mountains, and the weather is likely to be better there than in the Alps. (The Alto Adige region is known as the “sunny side of the Alps). You can visit Lago di Garda on the way between Milan and Venice.
Or if Piedmont and the Alps are a “must”, then skip Venice. (I love Venice but never include it in a summer visit).
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11848 posts
I will join the chorus with Sam and Lola: Venice and the Dolomites/ Val Gardena.
Certainly, you can go to Piemonte by visiting Lago Maggiore, but I suspect you want either the wine region or into the mountains at Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso, which both require a car to enjoy, IMO. Even combining the Val Gardena with Piemonte makes for some awkward transfers.
OTOH, Milano to Lauterbrunnen in the heart of the Swiss Alps is easy enough, then back to Stresa on Lago Maggiore is easy with a final return to Milan very easy.
Posted by
🏝️ Hobe Sound, FL⛱️
3309 posts
Last October I discovered the Piedmont and I highly recommend it. We stayed in an agriturismo in Barbaresco and visited Alba and the other wine towns in the region - Asti, Barolo and more. That area also had some of the finest restaurants I have discovered in 11 trips to Italy. We then went north to the Alps going through Val d'Aosta to see some of the most magnificent mountain scenery Italy has to offer. There are some beautiful national parks just north and west of Turin and you could travel to Cormayeur to take the Skyway Monte Bianco to the top of the Hellbronner. The views were outstanding. Wrap up your trip in Turin where there is an unbelievable Egyptian Museum and the National Automobile Museum both of which host magnificent collections.
On the same trip I visited the Dolomites and even drove the Great Dolomite Road from Cortina d'Ampezzo to Bolzano. The Dolomites are wonderful and hiking there is great but to me the Alps are spectacular as is my new favorite are in Italy - the Piedmont!