3 week adventure with my husband, two active seniors, flying in and out of zurich from Miami, with direct flight to Nice. Arriving April 16. Staying out of large cities, interested in scenery, art, people. We have already been to Florence, Venice, and Rome.
Nice 3 nights, train to CT - staying in Monterosso;
CT 2 nights, train to Lucca;
Lucca 1 night;
renting car - greve in chianti - 4 nights;
assisi/Perugia - 2 nights - or 2 nights chiusi?
train to Milan - 2 nights;
This is where I need help: want to rent a car and go to stresa and lake como;
2 nights stresa and 2 nights como? or 4 nights como;
train to Lucerne 2 nights;
train to zurich 1 night;
fly home.
Is this doable? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We've booked a morning tour in Milan and tickets to La Scala in the evening. Booked a painting class in Chianti, wine tour and olive oil tour. Nothing else, just have 6 rick steve books to peruse. Thank you.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
Are you going in less than three weeks from now? Or are you planning a year in advance? If the former, isn't it a little late to be asking for advice?
Posted by
Tampa, FL, USA
1054 posts
Skip the car and take the train to Varenna on Lake Como. Stay there for 4 days. You can use the ferry around the lake. You can access Lake Lugano also for a day trip by Bus.
Where is your painting class in Chianti with. I"m going in August to Tuscany and would be interested in something like. I'll be visiting Greve too.
Posted by
OP
25 posts
Hi Robert. Thanks for the advice re Lake Como. Regarding the painting class, we are staying at a B& B: Ancora del Chianti in Greve (you will need a car). I believe the owner is an artist herself and I'm booked for a 3 hr. class. I am traveling with my husband, so I really couldn't spend a week in a painting workshop. Since I have not stayed there, I cannot give you a recommendation, but the owner has been very helpful in her communications with me.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
295 posts
I would also skip renting a car. You can easily train to Lake Como from Milan. The town of Varenna would make a great day base. From there you could ferry around Lake Como and from Menaggio you could reach Lake Lugano in Switzerland by bus for the day. Four nights might be one to many. In Milan, if you have time I would definitely visit the Duomo and take the elevator to the top to walk amongst the spires. Truly an unique experience. The Last Supper is also amazing. I finally saw that on my third trip to Milan.
Posted by
OP
25 posts
Thank you Jenn. I did make a reservation to see the Last Supper. I have been to lake como and lugano before (my husband has not been to either locale) that is why I thought I would like to see Stresa and Lake Maggiore, it just seems difficult to see both lakes with only 4 nights. I was hoping to go to Villa Taranto in Verbania. I do know I can take a train to Lucerne from Stresa, but it is easier from Lake Como. Such a wonderful dilemma, Lake Como or Lake Maggiore.