Hello,
I’ve made more changes to my questions based on the helpful responses I got from this forum. We will be taking a trip to Italy in July. I have a lot of questions and need direction and advice on what we are hoping to do, transportation, lodging, and direction for best routes, etc. It’s been requested that I put my whole itinerary in one message to help those who would like to kindly give a reply. Thank you in advance.
I have been to Italy twice, but this trip will be very different, as we will not be visiting museums or churches, except for a castle. This time I will have my husband, preteen and teenager.
July 16 Thursday arrive at Turino International Airport in the afternoon - Take train to Lake Como and stay 3 nights in Varenna and take a day trip on a boat to Bellagio during that time frame. Varenna looks nice, because our biggest reason for going to Como is the views of the lake with the mountains in the background. Also, Rick Steves recommends staying in Varenna. Both towns are adorable.
July 17 Friday spend day relaxing at the lake & a very small amount of walking in town, then maybe take a boat to Bellagio. When would the last little boat come back to Varenna?
July 18 Saturday, take a short train ride into Switzerland for a breathtaking view. Someone suggested taking the train to Tirano, then Tireno to Pontresina, and turn back. Maybe stop for a cable car in Diavolezza. So helpful!
July 19 Sunday Check out of Varenna hotel. Take a train from Verenna to Bolzano, then a bus to Castelrotto/Kastelruth and stay the night.
July 20 Monday Bus to Seceda and take a gondola higher up the mountain in the Dolomites. Go back to Castelrotto, and stay a second night. Hopefully find an easy walk with the views for about 30 minutes?
July 21 Tuesday Check out of hotel. Train to Verona, and hang out for a short time. Is there anything interesting to see close to the train station?
Then take a train to Florence.
Spend the next two nights in the Old Town of Florence. Any suggestions where to stay? How far is Old Town from the train station, Firenze SMN? I can’ seem to find that information.
July 22 Wednesday Spend the day in Old Town Florence and a second night.
July 23 Thursday Rent a car. Where do we do that? Drive to Pisa to see the tower. Drive a quick, but scenic route of the Cinque Terra to Ovada, and stay the night in a B&B in Ovada, either at a vineyard or agritourismo, maybe horses? Go for a horseback ride here or one of the other towns we stay the night in?
July 24 Friday Drive through some towns that will let us, and walk a little in others: Alessandria, Acqui Terme, Nizza Monerrato Canelli, Agliano, Asti, Barbaresco, Alba, Grinzane Cavour, Cort Emilia, Barolo, Dogliani, Bossolasco, Murazzano, Mondovi, to Cuneo and stay the night in a quaint, but nice hotel or vineyard B&B. I realize any walking we do will take up our day.
July 25 Saturday Hang out in Cuneo a few hours. Drive past, drive through, or walk through: Dronero, Busca, Fossano, Saluzzo, Paesana, Bra, Carignano, None, to Rivoli to stay two nights in a quaint, but nice hotel or B&B. Any suggestions? I hope to have a view of beautiful flowery balconies from our room.
July 26 Sunday Spend the day and second night in Rivoli.
July 27 Monday Check out early, and drive to Turino airport.
Posted by
Bendigo, Australia
1244 posts
Looks like a heap of driving to spend a short while admiring the view.
Italian trains are good. Fast. Cheap.
Posted by
OP
34 posts
Thank you. Yes, I agree. We want to have the freedom to hop over to a town to drive or walk through for a few minutes, on a whim. However, is there a train from Verenna to Seceda, then one from Seceda to Verona, then Verona to Florence? Our most important time to have our own car is when we leave Florence.
Blessings,
Sandy
Posted by
Washington DC
27348 posts
I don't think Seceda has a train station. The public-transportation path to the villages in that part of the Dolomites is via train to Bolzano or Bressanone then a bus up into the mountains. The bus service is quite good. And of course there are lifts to get up even higher.
You write of driving through a lot of towns. Are you aware that the historic areas of many towns are closed to vehicles, or at least to non-local vehicles? I suspect that in many cases you won't be able to drive right through the most attractive part of town. Also, I suspect many of those little places involve trips down secondary roads which may in some cases be rather slow-going. [edited for clarity >] I fear you will truly just be looking at things through the windshield of the car if you try to do too much of that. [< edited for clarity] I suggest checking the estimated driving times shown on ViaMichelin.com and padding them quite a bit. ViaMichelin doesn't include any time for stopping, getting lost, searching for parking, or (of course) walking from the place you had to leave the car to the place you want to see.
I'm puzzled about your plans for July 27. If that's the day you fly home (to the US or Canada?), I wouldn't recommend staying in the Turin area and trying to drive to Malpensa Airport that day in time for a flight. If you have a car problem or encounter a massive traffic tie-up on the highway, you'll end up having to buy last-minute replacement airline tickets at the walk-up price.
Posted by
OP
34 posts
Thank you, Acraven! Such good information. No, I hadn't thought some of these things through yet. It's a lot. And I've been concerned about July 27th too. I'm going to have to seriously reconsider. I'm trying to make sure we get back home by a certain date. Something has to go.
Thank you again!
Sandy
Posted by
Idaho, USA
7389 posts
July 21 - at Verona, there's much more to see besides the fake Juliet Balcony. Would your family enjoy taking a bike ride where you could learn about some of the history, along with the fun of seeing some of the sites by bike? I can recommend the one by Veronality.
July 24-25 Wow, what will your family remember from those days? My thoughts - the great memories of a trip are made outside of the car; try to minimize your time inside it.
July 27 - we really enjoyed Torino, and there's a great Royal Palace there to tour which I think your family would especially enjoy because of the beautiful armor display room with horse & rider displays. We were there two nights and could have easily stayed another couple of days.
Oh - same day as flight. For Malpensa, I stayed at MOXY Milan Malpensa, located across the street from Terminal 2. It was a modern hotel and extremely handy to catch my flight home.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11439 posts
Seceda is at the top of a long gondola ride. I don’t think you really want to stay up there. Look for a hotel in Ortisei and take the ride to Seceda if you like.
Posted by
OP
34 posts
Jean,
Thank you for your response and recommendations! And thank you for reminding me not to waste our time on the fake Juliet balcony. You're so right. And I thought about the bike ride; it sounds wonderful.
Blessings to you!
Sandy
Posted by
Firenze
500 posts
July 19 - you can't have a train trip to Switzerland and drive to Dolomites in the same day. Both are two complete and long days.
Posted by
OP
34 posts
Thank you Asps2. That is good to know.
Blessings,
Sandy
Posted by
Paris
6996 posts
However, since you have three nights in Varenna you can dedicate one day to the lake/Bellaggio and one day to the Bernina Railway in Switzerland. You take the train from Varenna to Tirano, then Tirano to Pontresina, and turn back.
Worthwhile stops = Diavolezza, for the cable car up the mountain, or Morteratsch, for a short hike to glacier views.
Posted by
Washington DC
27348 posts
On the very helpful Seat61.com website there's a page dedicated to the Bernina Express. Nearly halfway down that page is information on buying Bernina Express tickets at a bargain price.
Posted by
OP
34 posts
Oh yay! Such great help! The quick Switzerland part of our trip has been the most challenging. Thank you!
Blessings,
Sandy