My husband and I are planning 3 week a trip to northern italy, beginning mid august and would like advice regarding our itinerary.
We will be flying into Milan, renting a car and then go first to Lake Como, and then onto the Dolomites (the highlight four trip)- Cortina D'Ampezzo (home base), Ortesei, Balzano, Bergamo, Bornio, Corvara, and others. Then onto Fruili-Venezia Guilia and then Conigliano for some R and R in the Prosecco region. I'd like to see Parma and Modena, but it might be too much. If we do go, we would probably need a guide there.
We would leave from Venice. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Posted by
Irving
2979 posts
Are you planning on renting a car from Milan’s Malpensa airport and driving to Lake Como after a night of no sleep?
Posted by
OP
Wayne, NJ
9 posts
Yes we are renting a car in Milan and dropping it off in Venice.
Posted by
Milwaukie, Oregon
1056 posts
Just FYI. Not many direct flights to the US leave from Venice, so your flight will be a connecting flight. This means it will leave very early in the morning. The reason I mention this is that it can be difficult to get to the Venice airport, which is in Mestre, from Venice very early in the morning. Keep that in mind.
Posted by
Irving
2979 posts
Have you considered sleeping in Milan your first night and rent a car the next day? My sister and brother-in-law were passengers with another couple who were driving and totaled out the vehicle shortly after leaving the airport. Luckily no one was hurt. Better to be safe than sorry.
You must also be savvy on ZTL zones, etc. IT has very strict driving laws and you could be fined heavily for being in a bus lane for only a moment I’ve heard. Make sure you research this thoroughly. Furthermore, Milan is not a bad place to spend the night.
Posted by
Reno, NV, USA
2430 posts
The train from Milan to Lake Como would be a better option than driving with jetlag. There are convenient ferries in Lake Como that can get you where you want to go. It is a very pleasant way to see Lake Como.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15260 posts
You might consider renting a car on lake Como after you visit the lake for a few days. You won’t need a car while at the lake and going there after a transoceanic flight, while jet lagged, is not ideal. The Milan area is heavily trafficked.
Rental car agencies are both in the city of Como and in the city of Lecco, at the tips of the two southern branches of the lake. You could choose the one closest to your lake accommodations of choice (the towns in the midlake are best, such as Varenna, Bellagio, Menaggio, the train station in in Varenna but the other two are a short ferry crossing from Varenna). On the last day of your lake stay, the designated driver (or both of you) could go to either Lecco or Como to pick up the car rental, then drive away. You will need a car to proceed with the rest of the itinerary after the lake.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16392 posts
In your previous post, you said you had purchased a Swiss rail pass and were going there starting August 21, ( flying to Zurich) then to the Dolomites.
Now you are flying into Milan and renting a car? Are you fully aware of the pitfalls of driving in Italy?
Posted by
Bay Area, California
1459 posts
Cortina is not within "commute" distance from Ortisei and Bolzano. Driving in the mountains is very tricky and different from urban freeway driving. Also, bear in mind that August is peak season and so roads will be congested.
Posted by
Washington DC
27217 posts
Bergamo is also not a day trip from Cortina. ViaMichelin estimates the driving time at 4 to 6 hours without any stops, traffic tie-ups, navigational errors, etc. That's one way.
Bormio is also a more-than-4-hour drive from Cortina.
Posted by
Irving
2979 posts
Rental car agencies are both in the city of Como and in the city of Lecco
Good to know, thank you Roberto.
Posted by
OP
Wayne, NJ
9 posts
Lola,
Due to COVID, we decided to stick with one country. We don’t know how hard it will be to travel in multiple countries by the time we plan on going. One country will simplify things. And the Swiss pass is refundable.
We are also asking for suggestions for places to visit in northern Italy that might fit in the geographic area. We are working on logistics for getting to each place and we will definitely make sure we know what to expect with driving in Italy.
Posted by
Gulf Coast, usa
1161 posts
What time is your flight out of Venice? There are several options to the airport from Piazzale Roma in Venice's historic center.
The TVO airport bus is a 20-minute trip to Marco Polo Airport and drops you off at the front door. Buses start running at 4:20 a.m. and in my opinion is the easiest and least expensive option.
A car taxi from Piazzale Roma is more expensive, a 20-minute trip, but if you have to be at airport before 5 a.m., this may be the route to go.
A water taxi from your hotel can take more time, 25+ min., but will be expensive. You will also need to talk from the pier to the terminal when you reach the airport which can take 10 minutes. This in my opinion would be the last option for an early morning flight.
We stayed at the Antiche Figure across the canal from the train station, and the Piazzale Roma was an easy walk from the hotel at 3:55 a.m. for our 4:20 a.m. bus. Dropped us right at the terminal.
https://www.atvo.it/allegati/aeroporti/linea_35_3.0_dal_12.06_al_2.04.2022.pdf