We're flying into Milan Sep.16 and plan on going straight to Lake Como for a couple of days. After that we thought we'd use the first part of Rick's 3 week trip suggestion: Verona, Dolomites, Venice and Cinque Terre/Riviera. Then fly out of Milan. We want to use trains and buses for transportation and love walking/hiking. Any suggestions on how long to stay in each place? Thanks!
Posted by
94 posts
you don't say how long your total trip is, but if it's a week or so, I'd be tempted to skip CT. It's really out of the way unless you're planning on two weeks or more. Long train ride.
Venice is good for 4-6 days, especially if you want to go to the Biennale, Verona is good for two days. Although a lot of people scoff at milan, I think it needs at least two days.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Count nights, not days.
2 nights Milano (at the end of your stay), 2 or 3 nights Lago di Como, 3 nights Venezia, 2 or 3 nights Verona (day trips to Padova, Ravenna or Ferrara), 2 or 3 nights Cinque Terre.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
If you start with a "base rate" of 2 nights per destination, then you can distribute your remaining 3 or 4 nights among the places with more to see, primarily Venice. You could stay just one night in Verona, or just stop of a few hours, depending on how much you want to see there versus the lake and mountain areas. Longest travel days (if not broken by overnight in Verona) would be Varenna to Alpe di Suisi and Venice to Cinque Terre, each 6 hours; other days max 3 hours train time.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11333 posts
If you really love the outdoors, go to Ortisei in the Val Gardena. You will be enchanted! You can take lifts on either side of the valley to explore the high alpine meadows and ridges. Hike as much and as hard as you like, or take the more leisurely paths that anyone can do. It's all magnificent.
Sept 16 - arrive Milano and transfer to Lago di Como where there are some good hikes/walks, 2 nights
Sept 18 - train to Venezia, stay 3 nights (4 is better)
Sept 21 - train to Verona if you must, 2 nights
Sept 23 - train to Ortisei, stay 4 nights since it is a bit of a long train ride (but worth it). You take a train to Bolzano then a very nice pullman to Ortisei. The longer you stay the better chance you have at great weather for at least part of the stay. We've had two weeks here (just ending) with almost no rain until 6:00PM tonight, but that is unusual.
That's 11 nights. What do you have left? 3? The Cinque Terre is great, but it is another LONG trip to get to/from. Instead go right to Milano.
Sept 27 - to Milano - 2 nights is good. If you really have 3 left I would add another night to Venezia.