My 15 Days Italy trip itinarary, looking for inputs.

Hello movexz,

Honestly I think you're planning way too much. Unless you've done several trips at this pace and enjoy the whirlwind experience I think you should reconsider how many things you're trying to see.

You have two days in Rome, a day and partial day in Florence, one partial day for all five CT villages etc. and I personally don't think this is enough. I think you'll be spending too much time in country actually travelling and carrying luggage around versus seeing and enjoying things. I sure others will say the same, but ultimately this for you to decide. Be sure you're tracking time spent on travel including packing, checking out of hotels, finding and checking into new hotels etc. My personal rule is I never stay somewhere only one night unless transportation demands it because 2 nights is the minimum to get even a full day.

In terms of practical suggestions:
- I would book attractions in Rome and Florence ahead of time and have a plan because your time is very short.
- There is no must see in La Spezia (it's just a small city) but if you stop in Pisa you will have half a day in CT at best. Even with a full day I would concentrate on maybe two towns rather than all of them.
- If you're coming from Ortisei why not stop and experience Lake Garda over night rather than go to Milan and then do a day trip from Milan to Lake Como.
- I have no idea if your Bernina Express day trip is even possible but more than 4 hours one way falls way outside my time allowance for what I would consider a day trip.

I understand the desire to see as many things as possible but I think you need to seriously consider editing down some of the far flung places and decide exactly what kind of experience you're looking for with this trip.

I think a big part of the charm of Italy is experiencing the slower rhythm of daily life and the Italian flair for la dolce far niente and I don't think you're going to have time with this plan to do any of that.

Whatever you decide have a great trip,
=Tod

Thank you for the reply, Sir.
Not to worry about too much things to see and to do.
Travel on train itself is an attraction for us coming from this part of asia.
Anyway ive done many trips, likewise so no issue to me.
It HURTS me more paying $4k flight ticket to view few places at a relax pace, it is NOW or NEVER moment hence I like it fast, short and sweet.
So no worries on that.

As for your suggestion, why do it leave me half day on CT?
My full day of CT is on the 30th from La Spezia before travelling to Ortisei via Florence the next day on 31st Morning.

I saw the time table from Florence to Pisa Centrale and Pisa Centrale to La Spezia. Looks like it is doable.

Train:
- Florence-Pisa: 1028-1128
- Pisa- La Spezia: 1456-1544

I also saw a train from La Spezia to Bolzano:

La Spezia Centrale 08:16-Bolzano Bozen 13:48
5h 32min
2 changes
67,20€ with Me & You discount, BUT it does say "This offer is valid for two people. No changes to your ticket are permitted and refunds shall not be granted. Subject to seat availability."

What does Subject to seat availability means? Does it mean if i bought the ticket in advace, i may not get the seat?

For your advise please.

I agree with hiredman. Over time I've found that in an attempt to see everything, you can end up seeing nothing. Also on any trip that is longer than a week, I plan at least one "down" day with nothing scheduled and/or booked. I spend the day at a slower pace and use it to explore the unplanned. To me there's a difference between fast paced and hectic and your plans seem hectic.

My wife and I are becoming converts to Il Dolce Far Niente.

If you are sure this pace will give you the experience you want then I don't see any real issues with your plan from a logistical standpoints.

If this is the kind of pace you want you certainly could hop off and see the leaning tower and other Pisa sites on the way to La Spezia - just be sure you have luggage storage sorted out but Pisa is small enough visit on the fly for the sights.

I checked your schedule and you are correct about having a full day in CT. I would advise you to see about staying somewhere on the CT rather than La Spezia for full experience of the small town after the day tourists leave and before they arrive. Otherwise you need to wrangle the train/ferry to get to CT. If you find yourself in La Spezia check out the short bus ride to the south side of bay - Lerici and the surrounding towns are charming and coastal and more interesting to walk around than La Spezia - especially for the second night.

I can't speak to the language directly:

What does Subject to seat availability means? Does it mean if i bought the ticket in advace, i may not get the seat?

But even for Italian trains if you have a ticket you have a ticket. This language exists on several discount tickets but I assume this means they don't guarantee this ticket will be available later if you don't buy it now. If they can sell that seat at full price they will and remove it from the available ticket pool.

Also a word on Italian trains.
1) I would download the Trenitalia app and use it to track trains in real time, check assigned platforms and even buy local tickets as needed.
2) Italian trains may not run with the promptness and reliability you may be used to. They are often fine but occasionally you end up having to tangle with the bureaucracy of the train system and that can be a struggle. There are also occasionally called strikes that affect the train system - more local trains than bigger inter-city routes - and while these are announced ahead of time and can usually be worked around. Because your schedule is so tight and train travel heavy I would recommend keeping a bit of an open mind about the "personality" of the trains in Italy.

If you don't already know about him this is a great resource for train information in Europe: https://www.seat61.com/

Have a great trip, I hope you get everything out of it you're looking for,
=Tod

Thank you Tod for the insights and thank you for understanding my travel style, appreaciate it.

Will definately check out Lerici if there's time!

Btw, is the main train station at Bolzano in trenitalia website named Bolzano Bozen?

I saw the ticket from this website:
https://www.lefrecce.it/Channels.Website.WEB/#/search-results

8605/TUSCANY LINE 4018/8506
08:16 La Spezia Centrale
5h 32min
13:48 Bolzano Bozen
2 changes

starting from
67,20€ (Price for 2 adults)

Looks like a deal for me, and my child is 2.5years old which should be free.

For the day trip from Rome to Naples and Pompeii: Viator has a tour, through When in Rome Tours, that takes a high speed train from Rome to Naples, and then shuttle to Pompeii. Then a visit to a winery for wine tasting and lunch, and then back to Rome again. 9 hours total. But they don't tour Naples. $209 each. See https://www.viator.com/tours/Rome/VIP-Day-Trip-to-Pompeii-and-Sorrento-from-Rome/d511-5831P90
We're doing that, and I'll try to write a recap when we get back.

Bozen is German name for Bolzano so the city is often displayed as Bolzano/Bozen on maps as a compromise.
This is the train station closest to Bolzano.

=Tod

For the day trip from Rome to Naples and Pompeii: Viator has a tour,
through When in Rome Tours, that takes a high speed train from Rome to
Naples, and then shuttle to Pompeii. Then a visit to a winery for wine
tasting and lunch, and then back to Rome again. 9 hours total. But
they don't tour Naples. $209 each. See
https://www.viator.com/tours/Rome/VIP-Day-Trip-to-Pompeii-and-Sorrento-from-Rome/d511-5831P90

That tour offered through 3rd-party Viator linked above is conducted by ItaliaTours, not When In Rome. I guess I'd say if interested in booking that one, do it directly through ItaliaTours and not through the Viator website. Many of us discourage using 3rd-party websites for bookings; you want to be dealing directly with the tour company if a problem presents itself.
As well, it looks like it's less expensive booked through the tour company: $175.00 per adult through ItaliaTours verus $209.00 through Viator. That's likely due to Viator taking a cut of the profits. Anyway, here is that same tour on ItaliaTours' own site:

https://italiatours.rezgo.com/details/314639/all-inclusive-pompei-from-rome-by-high-speed-train-with-wine-tasting-and-lunch

I'll agree with using any time you had set aside for exploration of La Spezia for staying IN the CT instead.

Editing to add:
Regarding "doing all the top attractions" in Florence and Rome, understand that you will need advance, timed-entry reservations to get into of those - and you want to make those reservations as soon as tickets become available: late May and June will be very busy in both cities. You also won't be able to do all the "top" attractions in Rome in a single day; you'll need to be very selective.

A) Rome 3-4 days, Florence 3-4 days, Siena 2 days skip Pisa, Cique terra 2 days, go to milan (No stay)to lake Como 2 days travel back to milan fly out

B) Rome 3 days, Florence 6 days with a separate side tour to Tuscany or elsewhere, cinque terra 2-3 days, travel up coast a bit more to Monaco total 2 days, milan 1 -2 day

C Rome 3 days, Amalfi coast area 4-5 days, Florence 4 days, side trip 1 day, milan 2 days

Be sure to watch for pick pockets in Rome. Take all precautions of using locking zippers, hotel safes, hiding in locked luggage, use money belt etc. Not sure things are the same as it was 10 years ago, but when I was in Paris, people of Asian descent were targeted. Hopefully not but take precautions.

We did a day trip to Pompeii and Sorrento from Rome through The Roman Guy (aka The Tour Guy): https://theromanguy.com/tours/italy/rome/rome-to-pompeii-day-trip We liked it a lot.

When you say you'll spend the 26th in Rome doing "all the top attractions," how manageable that is depends on what you consider "all the top attractions" to be.

For me, that would be the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, the Roman Forum, the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, and the Pantheon. I like to travel fairly fast, but I couldn't manage all those in one day. If your list of the top attractions is shorter, then it might be manageable. Make sure you plan your route in order to visit places that are near one another or on the way to one another, in order to maximize your time. Piazza Navona is very nice at night, when other sights might be closed, and I imagine the Trevi Fountain is too.

Kathryn, your own first trip to Italy is just coming up this spring, right?

Thank you for all the inputs.

As for the roma/florence daypass, 48/72hrs pass, can i buy it from Klook website?

As for the roma/florence daypass, 48/72hrs pass, can i buy it from
Klook website?

Be sure to read all the provisions and restrictions. Most find Roma Pass not beneficial. The Firenze card can be useful.

Never heard of Klook- why not buy it from the OFFICIAL sites?

info on Roma Pass
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/roma-pass-bc7c7a83-8d50-4727-9cd2-ae8253b473a1

It sounds exhausting to me, but if it really is the only trip you will ever make to Italy, then give it a go.

Years ago, we met a very personable young Chinese medical student on our train, who had been allowed out of China to attend a conference in Italy.
He had two or three spare days, and was madly rushing up and down Italy see all the things he had always read about, as he feared he would never be able to leave again.
I always hoped he had gone on to become a wonderful doctor and had a good life.

So, we all travel in different ways.

As for the roma/florence daypass, 48/72hrs pass, can i buy it from
Klook website?

What daypasses are referring to? If it's the Roma Pass for sightseeing, I've never been a fan. You also don't have enough time there to make good on a 48-hour pass (which only covers the cost of one attraction anyway) if you don't have 48 consecutive hours to use it. Your plan is to break your stay in Rome in the middle to go to Pompeii. Other than that one fully-covered attraction, you only get small discounts on other attractions the pass covers.

https://www.romapass.it/files/doc/sitiAderentiCostoBiglietti20230223_eng.pdf

With only 1 full day plus part of another in Florence, you'd have to really hustle to make good on a FirenzeCard.

Do not buy the Roma Pass just for the transport piece. It doesn't cover the airport, and Rome is such a great walking city that, at most, all you need is a few 1.5 euro single-ride BIT transport tickets for the few time you might want to hop a ride. And please don't buy a hoho bus ride: it's a lousy way to see Rome as there are so many places they can't go.

Understand that with BOTH passes you still have to make advance, timed-entry reservations at some of the most-visited attractions, such as the Uffizi in Florence, and Colosseum and Galleria Borghese. Priority entrance (meaning being able to to bypass the ticket line) is only possible at the Accademia in Florence with an advance reservation.

Not familiar with Klook, and wouldn't use it. You can buy both from their individual websites or when you get to Rome and Florence, although again, you need to have made and mandatory reservations long before that point. For your trip, I honestly wouldn't buy either: make any necessary ticket reservations from the attractions' own websites.

https://www.firenzecard.it/en
https://www.romapass.it/en/home/

Yes, we all have different style of traveling, some like it fast and
some like it slow and relax like an a retirement holiday.

As i mentioned, i dont pay $4000 flight ticket to do retirement style
holiday,

OK, I'll kindly object to these statements. Many of us who choose to spend more versus less time in one location do it because we care to more fully EXPERIENCE and LEARN about that destination. Not because we're old retired people who can't move any faster.

i did Barcelona, Ronda, Cordoba, Sevilla, Madrid and Toledo in 10
nights, 2017 i did 5 countries for 14nights in eastern europe,
likewise in 2019, 6 cities for 13nights in Japan.

And what did you LEARN about those places? What did you do other than maybe walk around and see some monuments from the outside? That's fine if that's what you wish to do - it's your trip - but best not to disparage people who prefer the deeper dive into the history and culture of a place. It's also very possible that they're not ALL retirees, just keenly interested.

So just as you wish for your style of trip to be respected - even if many of us find it not to our liking - those of us of ANY age wish for you to respect our opposing styles as well.

Apologies for the offence, im speaking for myself. No offence intended. Sorry for that.

As for the Spain trips, i learned quite a lot and still is the best trip ive done so far. Hopefully to get a likewise experience in Italy :)

Apology cheerfully accepted. :O)

But here's a missing piece I picked up from one of your other posts? As you used "I" and "me" a lot, I'd assumed this was a solo trip but it looks like you are traveling with a wife and a 2 year-old. That's sort of an important detail to have left out of this thread as this itinerary is a LOT of moving around for a toddler, however much of it is OK for you.

Thank You Kathy, and thank you for the concern. Yes i will be with my 2yo.

Btw, is the timetable at: https://www.valgardena.it/en/bus-schedule/
reliable?

Im planning to catch the 0845hrs train from Bolzano to Milan on 4th Of June. The earliest bus is at 0701 from Ortisei Piaza S Antonio and Arrive at 0759 at Bolzano. That leave me 45mins transfer time.

Regarding the Milan part of your trip, in your final week of vacation there is a lot of "back-tracking" and repetition in your itinerary. I'm not sure why you are going to both Lago Di Braise and Lake Como, and perhaps you might omit one of those stops. Plot your travels on a map to see what I mean.

If you have a car, one option is to drive from Ortisei to Tirano for the Bernina Express. Another thing to be aware of is that the train between Milan Centrale and Tirano goes along Lake Como. Perhaps that trip along Lake Como could substitute for a day trip to the lake.

Regarding the Bernina Express, let me pass along some excellent information I received last year on this forum. The Bernina Express is basically a tourist train with extra big windows and narration. If you buy the complete package, there is a lengthy bus ride from Lugano to Tirano and then the "Express" train through the Bernina Pass. There is a limited schedule and those trains are often filled. You can skip the Lugano to Tirano bus ride. Traveling on the exact same track as the "Express" are local trains that complete the journey in less time, for less money, and allow more flexibility because you can get off and on at some of the small towns. I traveled that route last October and the local train had so few passengers that I could freely move from one side of the train to the other as the views changed.

Regarding a possible day trip to Naples and Pompeii, in my opinion it's impossible to explore a major city plus a large archaelogical site in one day. I would either skip Cinque Terre and add an overnight in Naples, or skip Naples and Pompeii and instead take the commuter train from Rome to the archaelogical site at Ostia Antica. This is the old Roman port city.

Hope this helps.

I haven't been to Florence yet, but have been researching museum ticket combinations and weighing whether to buy:

the Firenze card https://www.firenzecard.it/en/card
vs buying
the 5 day pass combo, Uffizi gallery (timed entry reserved at purchase), Piti palace, Boboli Gardens, National Archaeological Museum and the Opificio delle Pietre Dure https://www.b-ticket.com/b-Ticket/uffizi/ and

GALLERIA DELL'ACCADEMIA to see Michelangelo's David, requires timed entry reservation at time of purchase https://webshop.b-ticket.com/webshop/webticket/eventlist?production=4

Neither of those options include the Duomo complex which is separate:
The Duomo combination ticket, which has 3 options depending on whether you want to climb the dome (need reserved time), the bell tower in addition to the duomo museum, la riparata and the baptistry (those are included in all 3 pass options) https://operaduomofirenze.skiperformance.com/en/store#/en/buy

For us, we've decided to go with the Firenze card and the duomo complex, but we are staying in FLorence for 6 full days (7nights) will use the Firenze card app which currently allows for extending the original 72 hour limit for 48 additional hours for free. We may consider a day trip, on our own, from Florence, only if we're sick of seeing museums and churches.

One drawback of the Firenze card is after you purchase it, you then must call to book reservations for the Uffizi and L'accaddemia separately. We are travelling in mid March, we will attempt to make that phone call before leaving, but we've been monitoring the available times at both places and since there's only 2 of us, I believe that if I can't complete that phone reservation successfully before arriving, then the very first day we are there we will go directly to one of the ticket offices to make those reservations being very flexible about our timing (any time from Thurs morning til Tues evening we could be available). I know even that is a risk but it looks doable. Here's the link to faq about the Firenze pass, scroll down to "USE" to read how to make timed entry reservations https://www.firenzecard.it/en/faq?search_api_views_fulltext=uffizi

We decided to go with the Firenze card rather than the other options because we have several museums and churches included in the pass that we want to have the option to visit and for us (2 people 60's) we like the flexibility, but if we only had 3-4 days in Florence, I think I would have stuck with the Uffizi combo ticket and the Galleria and possibly the Duomo - we plan to get the Giotto Pass for the duomo deciding to skip the dome climb and go for the bell tower climb (personal choice, health and safety issues).

I hope this info helps.

One comment about attractions? You've not said which of them you intend to visit in Florence and Rome but given the dense crowds, I wouldn't think your toddler would enjoy the Vatican Museums or the Uffizi at all. Sitting in a stroller, he'll have a close-up view of a LOT of grown-up legs and backsides and not much else. Unless you're REALLY keen about art, I'd skip both of them, not that you really have time for the Vatican Museums anyway.

The CT and Pompeii are also not what I'd call stroller friendly. You'd do better putting him in a back carrier.

Okay. New info. I wouldn't suggest doing the day tour to Pompeii with a 2-year-old. Not fair to your fellow passengers to be cooped up in a vehicle with a small child for that long. Instead, if you must do it, consider taking the train via Naples and getting a guide at the site. That way, you can quit early, if you need to. I'd also cut out some of the "top sights" in Rome, because travelling with a toddler will (SHOULD) slow you down. You'll need to stop more for food, potty or diaper breaks, and time to run around and burn off some energy.

(Parent of 3, and I used to babysit a 4th.)

Hello :)

25th- Rome
- Thought of doing a day trip to Naples & Pompeii, advice please?
(I would skip this and stay in Rome.)

29th - La Spieza
- Early morning train to La Spieza
- Thought of doing Pisa, but not sure if its worth it or should i just get to La Spieza and explore La Spieza if there's anything that i should not miss?
(I would spend more time in Cinque Terre and less time in La Spieza. I would not do Pisa unless you feel you have to see the Leaning tower)

Have fun!

:)

Thank you Tigger, BB, Kathy and Anita for helping me out with the inputs,

Heeding your advice, i will skip Pompei/Naples and will spend the day in Rome instead.

As for my days in Milan, according the bus and train schedule, on the 4th of June i will be taking the first bus in Ortisei Bus Station to Bolzano and taking the 0830 train from Bolzano and arrive Milan around 1200hrs.

Upon doing my research i didnt find any attractions in Milan that require more than a day, i think the 4th itself will get me to all the attractions.

4th June - Arrive Milan at 1200hrs, visit Milan attractions.

5th June - Morning train Milan to Torino, Torino to St Moritz/Tutsi or Chur (I was adviced to stop at Tutsi and take the return train to Torino as i have covered all the interesting attractions on the railway)

6th June - Day trip to Lake Como from Milan

7th June - As i covered all the attractions that i like, i am free on this day, i want to maximize my time in Italy, should i get to Lake Garda?

8th June - Flight from Malpensa only at 1630hrs. Considering i have the first half of the day in Milan, i should maximize my stay here,

To note, i dont do museums (not interested).

Ps: Tigger, i think i'll skip Pisa, but that leave will get me to La Spieze in the morning. I dont want to do CT for 2 days, is a day trip to the nearby town Lerici worth it?

7th June - As i covered all the attractions that i like, i am free on
this day, i want to maximize my time in Italy, should i get to Lake
Garda?
8th June - Flight from Malpensa only at 1630hrs. Considering i
have the first half of the day in Milan, i should maximize my stay
here,

Why so many days in Milan if it is not interest to you?
I wouldn't backtrack to Garda but you might consider spending your last 2 nights at Lake Maggiore- Stresa is delightful. You can take the ferries to the garden islands, etc. It's flat so a bit easier with a toddler.
Stresa is actually closer to Maplpensa than Milan and easy to get to- there is a bus that goes right from Stresa to Malpensa
https://www.safduemila.com/linee/alibus-malpensa-lago-maggiore/

Another idea would be Verona. Not too far as a day trip from Milan.

6th June - Day trip to Lake Como from Milan

or consider staying at Lake Como for a night or 2.

Reason why i stay milan is because of the accomodation price. I checked nearby town, the price are over my budget. Hence i haf no choice but basing in Milan

The town at the southern end of the Bernina pass is Tirano. Torino is a different city. Easy to make that mistake!

Thank you, i mispelled that. Its Tirano! Haha.

By the way, this is my tentative attractions that i wanted to visit. May i ask, which any of these require me to book tickets way in advance?

Day 1: 24th May
1. Piazza Navona
2. Pantheon
3. Spanish Steps
4. Trevi Fountain
5. Terraza Del Pincio (Sunset)

Day 2: 25th May
1. Colosseum
2. Roman Forum
3. Palatine Hill
4. Altar Of The Fatherland
5. Circus Maximus
6. Trastevere Area
7. Janiculo Hill ( Sunset)

Day 3: 26th May
1. Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel
2. St Peter Basilica
3. Gardens of Vatican City
4. St Peter Square
5. St Angelo Bridge
6. Villa Borghese Garden

Day 4: 27th May
Morning train to Florence.
Check in Hotel
- Central Market
- Palazzo Marteli
- Piazza Del Duomo
- Ponte Santa Trinita
- Palazzo Michaelangelo (Sunset)

Day 5: 28th May
- Florence Cathedral (Climbing)
- Uffizi Gallery
- Ponte Vecchio

For your perusal pls.

No reservations needed for anything on the May 24th list

May 25th:
Colosseum; That will be a timed-entry ticket and include entry to the Forum and Palatine within 24 hours UNLESS it's a night tour.
https://www.coopculture.it/en/tickets/index.html. (official website)

May 26th:
Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel (the Sistine is IN the Vatican Museums)
Gardens of Vatican City: you can only do this one with a tour
https://m.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani-mobile/en.html. (official website)

As I'd said earlier, I'd rethink taking a toddler to the Vatican Museums but that's just me.

Thanks Kathy, i times my 24th to be free and easy, i might skip some and have a rest from the long flight.

As for the museums, my wife will not be interested in any of the museums, very likely i will be the one entering while my wife and son waited outside/in hotel.

Hi!
Exciting plans!
I do have a few suggestions.

• Day trip from Rome to Pompeii is not easy with a 2 year-old. Using a stroller in the ruins of Pompeii is tricky (although I believe there are some "accessible" routes you could use). I strongly suggest taking the train to Naples and booking a tour out of Naples if you still decide to do it.

• This goes against usual advice, but in your case, if you really want to go, I would consider visiting the Cinque Terre as a day trip from Florence. Sure, it is a lot of time on the train (3 hour one way), but not having to move your luggage between hotels will help, and you will save several hours on the trip to Ortisei the next day. Also, if the weather is bad, you could easily cancel Cinque Terre that way - going to Siena instead for example. Or Pisa (which is just a half-day trip).

  • You can live without seeing Lake Braies; there is nowhere to rent a car in Ortisei anyway.
  • Are you sure you need to stay in Milan? Given your interest in Lake Como and the Bernina railway, even if you cannot afford Varenna, look at Bellano, Mandello del Lario, or Lecco maybe?

Sorry, you must have edited to add the 5/28 Florence schedule You'll need to make advance timed-entry reservations for the Uffizi and to climb the dome at the cathedral.

For the dome, you need to purchase the Brunelleschi Pass and choose an open time slot. There is no ticket option JUST to climb the dome.

https://operaduomofirenze.skiperformance.com/en/store?skugroup_id=3006&product_id=13344#/en/buy?skugroup_id=3006&product_id=13344&bookable_y_n_a=a. (official ticketing)

For the Uffizi:
https://www.b-ticket.com/b-ticket/uffizi/default_eng.aspx.html (official ticketing)

You have a choice of the regular timed-entry ticket for entering after 8:45 AM, or the reduced, timed-entry ticket for time slots 8:15-8:30 or 8:30-8:45.

Thank you balso for the insights,
I have booked my accomodation in La Spezia :)

Hi Kathy,
I think i skipped Uffizi, i dont think any of those pics interest me. But climbing the duomo is a must.

Hello :)

"Ps: Tigger, i think i'll skip Pisa, but that leave will get me to La Spieze in the morning. I dont want to do CT for 2 days, is a day trip to the nearby town Lerici worth it?"

I'm sorry but I can't comment on Lerici, we have not visited there :( sorry...

:)

It has been a great help.

1. May i ask if Vatican City need a ticket to enter or it is free for public and only the museum has to pay?

2. I checked the trainitalia website and the train station in La Spezia is named central spice?

3. What are the train trips that i need to buy in advance to get discount? Some of the train i see have a same price in june and tomorrow.

The main La Spezia train station is La Spezia Centrale.
https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html

Understand as well that if you're trying to do all 5 CT villages in one day, the train station in Corniglia is located well below the village. You need to take a small bus - timed to meet the trains - up to the top of the cliff or climb the very long "Lardarina" staircase: 382 steps over 33 flights. There is a small fee for the bus.

"The Vatican" cover multiple parts. The only pieces that can be accessed free by tourists are the Basilica (not the excavation below said to contain the remains of St. Peter, and not the dome) and Piazza San Pietro in front of it. These are often closed on Wed. mornings for a scheduled service but you are scheduling for a Friday so no problem.

Depending on what time you visit, the security line for the basilica can very long. While entry is free, you have to pass through an airport-type security check to get in, and you must be properly dressed: knees and shoulders must be covered so no sleeveless tops or shorts/skirts much above the knee, if at all. Modest dress is a standard requirement for most Italian churches.

Note my edit to the post above.

Thank you Kathy, will heed your advice.

I wanted to know if breastfeeding (covered) is normal in italy? My wife still breastfeeding.

Why is it in:

https://www.lefrecce.it/Channels.Website.WEB/#/search-results?handoff=true&referrer=www.google.com

the La Spezia Centrale train station is named as Central Spice?

No Idea what you're looking at (your link was to an expired search or something) but the name of the main train station in La Spezia is La Spezia Centrale. For sure. "Spezia" is the word for spice in Italian, and you want to use the Italian names of the train stations when using the Trenitalia site. "Central Spice" won't even come up as an option.

https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html

I wanted to know if breastfeeding (covered) is normal in italy?

Breast feeding is normal everywhere in the world.

Hi Kathy,

I tried eng version of trenitalia, it written central spice. maybe auto translate.

thank you everyone, enjoying my time in italy now going to ortisei tomorrow.

Are you still heading to Lake Como? Check out the detour around the Varenna -Ensino stop. There was a landslide after all the rain.
Safe travels!

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/train-disruption-at-varenna-essino-due-to-landslide

Yes, Lake Como is still in the plan. Any alternative to varena?

If you don't stay in Varenna, Bellagio and Como are options, and all can be reached by ferry.