Any advice would be appreciated. I've learned so much on this Forum through the years. Thank you!
We have 17 nights in Italy in Late April-May 2019. We work at being "relaxers" but truth we're more "doer's" who love food, wine, walking and seeing sights. As my husband is tiring a bit on churches and museums I've been trying to find other sights/activities to incorporate on our trips to Europe.
Fly into Pisa
Cinque Terra 3 nights (we want to go back even though we know it will be different from when were there in 2011)
Turin 3 nights
Rent a car for Piedmont wine country 4 nights
Lake Como area - 3 nights
Milan 2 nights
Fly out of Milan
We plan to train except the rental car for Piedmont wine area (pick up & drop in Turin). We can rent other areas to if needed.
Where would you recommend adding 2 nights? Another town? What would you increase or decrease?
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11178 posts
3 nights Venice and 1 night ( last night night) Milan ?
Posted by
North Carolina
2448 posts
You might consider a couple of nights in Lucca when you first arrive.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11315 posts
I think it is excellent. You run the risk of spreading yourselves too thin if you add another stop. Turin is lovely and not often visited versus other locations. Great idea to spend 4 nights in the Piemonte!
Posted by
North Carolina mountains
548 posts
Where are you staying in the Piedmont area? Already planning a trip for my 70th birthday next year and this might tie into our stay in Switzerland. Too hot to go to Tuscany in August! Haven't read anything about this area. Don't think it's in the Rick Steves' Italy book we have.
Glad you mentioned it.
Your trip sounds great! Enjoy!
Posted by
OP
Tacoma, WA, USA
518 posts
Thank you. We’ve spent time on previous trips in Lucca (loved it) and Venice. I’m looking at Bergamo as an option, moving days around or adding one. Any suggestions on Beragmo?
As for Piedmont im gathering information through the internet and am going to download one chapter from Lonely Planet. PM if you would like my final itinerary of Piedmont if interested. I’ll be obsessing for awhile though.
Posted by
South Florida
225 posts
I love Milan! I always stay at the UNA Maison Milano. Right in middle of things. It's about a 30 second walk to the duomo and the train station. Be sure to do the rooftop tour of the Duomo. There is a restaurant called Piz. Not fancy, only 3 kinds of pizza and a pimiento for appetizer. They greet you with complimentary proseco and pimiento (which I love so much, they let me special order it for dinner) and then they ply you with delicious meloncello, hazelnut cello, pistachio cello..... you get what I mean. The first is on the house. Super fun and delish.
Don't miss the Sforza Castle. And there's my two cents.
Posted by
North Carolina
2448 posts
It's great that you're exploring NW Italy. Are you hikers? I've read great things about the Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso - perhaps that could be your two nights.
Posted by
Freedonia
14995 posts
Think about Stresa on Lake Maggiore and Orta San Guilio on Lake Orta.
Lake Como is beautiful but very touristy.
Turin is a nice city. If either of you has an interest in cars, the automobile museum is excellent. (Turin is the home of Fiat). It's worth an hour or two.
Posted by
OP
Tacoma, WA, USA
518 posts
Yes I am looking into the other lakes especially as I am interested in the Borromeo Gardens. As I will be traveling by train then (and it appears the trains go via Milan) is there one you would recommend as a day trip? Maggiore or Como (Varenna) from Milan? I try to move accommodations as little as possible.