Need detailed itinerary! First trip!! March 2-8 flying in and out of MXP

I was hoping to ask a clarifying question: You arrive in Milan on the 2nd (rather than leaving your home on the 2nd) and then would depart on the actual date of the 8th? Do you have six nights total in Italy?

I think the first step for you is to do some research on some guidebooks, Rick Steves' or other video guides etc. Then once you have an idea of what your interests are, we can help with more specific answers you might have. For now I can tell you that with just a handful of days (how many nights do you have on the ground?) you can't visit much, at most a couple of cities, especially because the night before your flight back you need to spend it in Milan because flights to North America depart in the morning.

Hi everyone!

Thanks for your reply! Yes- we leave SFO on the 1st so arrive in Milan at 8am on the 2nd. We slabs Milan at 10am on the 8th- so we have all day Sunday through Saturday am- 6 nights with the last having to be in Milan

Lesson #1: Fly open jaw--into one city and out of another. This is even more important when your time on the ground is short. Backtracking to your original city for departure can be expensive and rather inefficient.

As usual, I'm with Roberto on reading up on the area. I would say you'd do best to limit your trip to Florence and Venice. Both cities are very lively.

It's just a shame that your group doesn't have a second week.

Remember to pack for cold weather in early March in the northern part of Italy.

Here is my opinion for a travel schedule. When you arrive in Milan catch a train and go to Venice that morning. Spend three nights in Venice (the nights of the 2nd 3rd & 4th) After breakfast at Mid morning on the 4th take a train to Florence arrive around noon. Spend 2 nights in Florence (5th & 6th). Catch a train back to Milan on Friday afternoon the 7th. One night in Milan.

Recap: a half day in Venice (2nd) + two full days (3rd & 4th), Half a day travel, half day in Florence (5th) + plus another day and a half in Florence (6th and 7th) then travel to Milan giving you a late afternoon and evening in Milan.

10 AM flight on the 8th. Five people sharing a cab or shuttle would be easier (and cheaper?) than the train or bus from Milano Centrale.

Reasonable priced train tickets are available in advance from Trenitalia. Or course buying an advance fixed time train ticket for the morning of your arrival flight could be a problem if your flight is late. Other segments that would not be a problem. Go the the web site roninrome.com for great info on how to buy train tickets on line.

Get one of the Rick Steves Italy books for good advice on hotels, restaurants & nightlife.

Okay I just re-read you posting and realized my suggestions may be to more touristy destinations than you are wanting. But in early March they probably will not be very busy with tourists. But even if you go to different cities in Northern Italy this schedule would still be a reasonable since you only have a week.

However a week in Italy is still way better than a week in most other places!

Thanks so much guys! The reason we are flying in and out of Milan is because we found a special on airfare- SFO to Milan for $150 round trip! Thanks so much for all of your suggestions. Any suggestions for hotels? Anything you love? Thanks again!

Wow, that's a crazy low price... good for you! What airline?

It was United! Very excited but wish we had more time

I think that was the computer glitch that was in the news with United. They had to honor the tickets even though it was a computer error.
The suggestion of Venice and Florence is good. However being from Florence I will need to suggest 3 nights in Florence and two in Venice. While in Florence you could also take a day trip to Siena. But it's up to you depending on your interests.

We found it on theflightdeal.com- not sure if any of you use that site! Check it out :-) thanks for the tip to spend more time in Florence!