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Northern Italy itinerary advice needed

*** EDIT: Our flight out of Milan MXP departs at 11:10 am. Trying to see if it is possible to get to MXP airport from Venice or Florence leaving very early in the morning same day. Trying to search train schedules but I don’t even know which Milan train station to search for then get how to get to the airport swiftly,

We (2 adults) have 7 nights to spend in Florence and Venice. Thinking of 4 or 5 nights in Florence and 2 nights in Venice. We will do long day tours from Florence. Thinking of: Viatour one day to Siena, Pisa, and San Gimignano (includes a nice lunch at a vineyard), a different day tour to Cinque Terre, and a food tour in Florence. In Venice, might do a walking food tour. These tours are the most efficient way to see what we want in a short time.
QUESTIONS: We are flying in and out of Milan so should we go to Venice first or Florence first? We will be taking the train from city to city. Is it more efficient or make more sense to do Venice or Florence first? Or the other way around?
Any other travel tips for us? Should we spend 4 or 5 nights in Florence? That will determine if we will have 2 or 3 nights in Venice.

Posted by
5954 posts

Give Venice 3 nights minimum
4 if you go there first since first day will be jet lag

I’d probably go to Florence first since it’s a shorter train trip from Milan.

Florence should get bare minimum 2 nights ( not jet lagged days) plus one for each day trip but honestly I’d skip a day trip to CT unless you like crowds

Also see if you can find similar day tour with the actual tour company rather than booking thru Viator. ( they are a reseller not a tour operator)
There are many recommended here- a search will bring them up

Posted by
827 posts

Regardless of how you route your trip to begin, consider timing the train journey to/from Florence to include a several hour stop over in Bologna. I think you will be glad you did.

Posted by
182 posts

@marc. Thank you, but we will be in Bologna before Milan, so just trying to get from Venice or Florence very early morning the day the flight departs from MXP in the most efficient and fast way. Trying to figure out if it is possible to get from Venice or Florence the same day as our flight departs MXP (11:10 am).

Posted by
5954 posts

There is absolutely NO WAY I’d be in Florence or Venice the night before flight leaves Milan
Stay in Milan, stuff happens

11 flight means at the airport by 8
It’s a 2 hour or so train from Florence to Milano Centrale then another hour-ish to MXP
You’d have to be on a train leaving Florence by 4:30?
No way