Milan to Rome via Genoa, Cinque Terre, Venice, Florence - need advice on itinerary

Posted by imt999 on 05/23/14 07:36 AM

Our family of 4 will be traveling to Italy in June for 13 days. We will be arriving in Milan and departing from Rome.
We have 4 places that are must to visit:
1. Cinque Terre area (CT) -- Sarzana (4 nights) with visits to Pisa, Lucca, CT
2. Venice (1 night)
3. Florence (undecided how long to stay yet)
4. Rome (4 nights)
Additionally looking at Genoa and evening in Parma (to meet friends)
Majority of the trip we are planning to get around by trains, but were considering to rent a car for CT area (will be staying in Sarzana) to make some day trips in Tuscany.

Would adding Genoa be too much for this trip?
What is the most efficient way to build this itinerary with or without Genoa? Should we head east or west from Milan?
At what part of the trip it would make most sense to visit Venice?

Thank you!

Posted by donna

Pa and Italy

05/23/14 12:55 PM

4152 posts

With this itinerary I don't think Venice makes sense at all. You only have it listed for one night which means you'll only spend part of one day there before moving on. I would drop it and add the day somewhere else.

You won't need a car to visit the CT but you will need a car to visit towns such as Lucca or Pisa. You could visit Genoa while visiting the CT. I would add days to the CT portion of your stay since you want to visit so many places in that area. With only 13 days you might want to spend 7 in Sarzana, 2 in Florence and 4 in Rome.

Donna

Posted by Angela

Seattle, Wa, USA

05/23/14 01:52 PM

663 posts

I agree, either add more time to Venice or drop it from your itinerary.

Do Genoa first, since it's between Milan and CT. Or, if you add some more time to Venice, go there first, then Florence, CT/Genoa, and Rome.

Posted by imt999 OP

05/23/14 04:18 PM

2 posts

Thank you for your great suggestions! I prefer to keep Venice even if it be just enough time to walk around without an opportunity to explore in depth. Looking at tweaking the dates and add another day in Venice. Also will leave Genoa out this time around (or may consider a day trip from CT once we are there and have time).

Posted by Laura

Rick Steves' Europe

05/23/14 07:03 PM

16899 posts

Looks like the plan is shaping up. You of course don't need a car for Lucca and Pisa if the train schedules are acceptable to you, e.g., Sarzana-Lucca 1 - 1.5 hours each way with a connection at Pisa or Viarreggio.

Posted by Roberto da Firenze ⚜

San Francisco Bay Area (USA)

05/23/14 08:18 PM

16675 posts

In your shoes I would do the following.
Arrive to Milan MXP (probably in the morning). Go straight from to Venice (about 3+ hours, depending on connections, with train change at Milano Centrale).
Visit Venice (at least 2 nights if possible)
Rent a car In Venice the day you depart. Drive to Sarzana via Bologna-Parma (stop with friends)-Cisa Pass-Sarzana.
Visit Lunigiana for the 4 nights you planned (you have relatives there I presume?)
You should visit Genoa (if you must) while in Lunigiana.
Drive to Florence and return the car upon arrival (you have to pass by the airport, so you can return the car there if you wish to avoid the city driving).
Taxi to hotel and stay in Florence (3 nights would be nice, also for a day visit to Siena).
Finally, high speed train from Florence to Rome (1.5 hrs) where you will spend your last nights).
I would spend 2 nights in Venice instead of just one. If you can't find it anywhere, You can borrow that night from Rome, where you could reduce your stay from 4 to 3 nights.
You could do the above by train, but I presume you'll want a car for Sarzana.