Hello. Hope you are well. We are planning a twelve-day north Italy itinerary before a Conference in Verona. It's all mid to late July. We will arrive in Milan. Already I found out the Last supper tickets are sold out. So maybe two or three nights there. Then we think of two or three nights at either Como or Lugano (or any other? Just not Garda because we saw it). We are planning not to have a car at this point. Then train to Verona to just pick up a car (to avoid one-way drop off) and drive to the Dolomites. Now, I have no idea where to be based there. We will probably have 6 days. Not huge hikers but love scenaries and views. Please advise bases and itinerary to see there. And then drive back to Verona to return the car and start the Conference. Our flight back is from Venice. I am not planning to visit Venice as we'll have just one night after the Conference. So either stay there or in Padua and return the next day. Please advise on the itinerary, suggest lakes and Dolomites bases. I'd be extremely grateful as I have no experience about that area. Thanks a million.
Posted by
CA, USA
1434 posts
I'm not sure if yout 6 days in dolomites includes the day that you get there and leave or you mean full days. Let's assume the first day of the 6 is to get there. So that leaves you with 5 days. One suggestion is simply stay in Ortisei. You don't need a car to get there, or in the region. Take the train to Bolsano and the bus up to Ortisei. Most hotels there give a transit pass when you arrive so you can take buses in the entire region.
Buy either the 3-day or 6-day lift pass https://www.valgardena.it/en/summer-holidays-dolomites/mobility-val-gardena/gardena-card/ so you can just hop on a lift to the top any time you feel like it. Go one area and go for a walk, come back down, clean up, go to a different lift and have an early evening drink while enjoying the views. Do some of the hikes or walks at https://www.valgardena.it/en/val-gardena-active-events/ which are free; most area hotels include the Val Gardena card. Spend a day down in Bolzano. Look online for other towns to visit by the included bus pass.
Posted by
martinez, ca, usa
3036 posts
hey hey michelleassay
make an itinerary of days/nights you plan to stay in the cities/towns, what activities you're hoping to do and see. traveling during high high summer season & HOT, it will be crowded with many wanting the same as you.
not knowing your budget in euros, many places have been booked for many months, look at booking.com for what is available for your dates. on left side you can filter what you want, look at map to see hotels and where they are located. more info will have more forum posters help you. how many is "we", what amenities you hoping for, any mobility issues
you will need to obtain an IDP (aaa.com/IDP) which is mandatory in italy for each driver. read all the rules, laws, signage, insurance, parking, ZTL zones. find a place with parking (may be free or have fees, can be a PITA to find parking on streets or further away from your place. be careful with luggage in car if stopping anywhere. sometimes so much easier to take the train, that's your decision. check-in times are 3-4pm and check-out times are 10-11am.
earthtrekkers.com (lugano switzerland)
you will need a sticker (vignette) for car to travel over the border, do investigate
titianinvenice.com (hotel near VCE, may have shuttle or taxi to airport) if you are not going to venice. we stayed here for our early morning flight out of venice
good luck and enjoy
aloha
Posted by
NYC area
3137 posts
I’d suggest staying in the Val Gardena. Ortisei, St. Christina and Selva are all good places to base, as they are situated within 15 minutes drive from one another. We have stayed in St. Christina, as it was the middle of the three towns/villages.
You will not run out of mountain trips to take in this area. We aren’t hikers at all and enjoyed the area immensely.
https://www.valgardena.it/en/summer-holidays-dolomites/lifts/
Consider these as your “rainy day” trips. Both old towns are under an hour drive of the Val Gardena.
In Bolzano:
https://www.iceman.it/en
In Brixen/Bressanone:
https://www.hofburg.it/museum?lang=en
Posted by
OP
32 posts
Thanks everyone! OK, maybe my message could have been clearer. I think we can extend our Dolomites days and have clear 6 days (excluding arrival/departure). That's why I think it may be worth having two bases. But which?
As for the lakes, again it would be useful to know whether to go for Lugano, Como, Maggiore or belinzano? Any preferences and why? And do we really need a car there?
Plan for far is this: 6 July-9 Milan; 9-13 Lake; train to Verona to pick up car (maybe a night stay?) drive to the Dolomites (14 to 20 July), 20 July return to Verona for the Conference - during the Conference we can sneak out and see some of Verona and maybe Padua?, 26 July to Venice/padua, and 28 July return home.
Questions are mainly regarding which lake? where on/around lake? Car or no car around the lake? Which bases in Dolomites?
The 'we' is: Myself and my husband (I am 49, He's 68). Classical musicians and music researchers. Interests are views, nature, history, archtecture, and of course classical music (but we are very picky!).