Please review my 14d itinerary: Rome-Amalfi Coast-Cinque Terre-Lake Como

Have not been to northern lakes, but check for date of low season ferry schedules and maybe a few closures or fewer days open of some attractions?

Hello qfbariza,

You've stated your case pretty well - you're going and seeing what you want to see in the time you have and you seem realistic about the possible issues so I think you've done well.

My only suggestions - since you asked - might be to spend the Lake Como days differently:
- Instead maybe adding a day in Rome and then extending a day in CT/Liguria or adding a day in Milan before you go. There is a lot to see and do in Rome and you've already got two very picturesque locations and CT to Como is probably another 6 hour travel day.
- Or if you spent them someplace between Sorrento and CT you could break up that travel day into parts rather than going all day. I'm thinking Orvieto or some other picturesque hilltown before moving into CT.

But these are different trips than one you have laid out and are just some suggestions not criticism.

Have a great trip,
=Tod

We were in Venice, Lake Como, and Amalfi this past May. We had been in Venice and Lake Como before, but first time in Sorrento/ Amalfi Coast.
In May, the AC cities were packed. Shoulder season seems to be just as busy as summer. We did the AC drive with a private driver, but if I were to do it again, I would instead of gone to Capri and viewed the AC from the boat. Positano and Amalfi town seem to be shopping meccas, I don't get their appeal; Ravello was charming and naturally beautiful, and not crowded. The AC drive basically consists of 4.5 hrs in a car to have 4.5 hrs in the towns.
We had unusually bad weather, and those areas lose much of their appeal when there's no visibility and the cloud cover makes the water and the sky grey all day. Also the ferries don't run in bad weather. I'm wishing you good weather! I did enjoy staying in Sorrento.
I was naive to how congested traffic is in the area, and the lack of efficient transportation systems, and basically poor infrastructure . You can't get anywhere quickly. The regional Naples to Sorrento train is hot, SRO, often runs late. It is exhausting traveling through the area. You are then traveling out of the area and going to an equally crowded area in the CT. The cruise ships keep coming, so I'd expect CT to be crowded in Sept.
My advice is to skip the CT, spend an extra day in Sorrento decompressing, and add a day in Lake Como, which is much calmer, beautiful, and peaceful. We didn't find Lake Como crowded this past May, and wished we could have stayed longer.
The regional train from Varenna to Milan was SRO, but at least it's just an hour. This is the second time we have experienced that, so I think it's the norm, not the exception.
Of course, it is your trip, and hope you report back after your adventure . You have obviously done your research and careful planning. Safe travels!

Since it's come up I was in Varrena/Lake Como and Porto Venere mid September last year. It was definitely still in season in both places at that time.

Everything - ferries, restaurants etc were up and running on Lake Como. The weather was beautiful but a storm had just rolled through and we got the great days following it on the lake. Varenna was lovely but busy and Bellagio seemed like it was heaving - especially at the ferry docks - but I'm sure it was down from August. It looks like the Como mid-lake ferry schedule runs through November 5th so all of September (and most or all of October even) is still in season.
https://comolake.today/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Traghetto_2023_feriale.pdf

We didn't do CT - we did it many years ago and I'm fine with that - but Porto Venere was super busy with groups coming and going from CT in mid-September and I'm sure it was very busy. The cruise ship docking in La Spezia really swells those crowds when they are docked. We really enjoyed the southern side of the harbor and if I was to go back I'd do Lerici and area instead.

My general impression is that September is no longer really a shoulder month except that Italian kids go back to school in the second week of September so internal family travel quiets down but foreign tourists are still in force.

For all water areas the ferry schedule determines "the season" so check how when the calendar changes and you'll have a good idea of when that is.

Hope that helps,
=Tod

Travel from CT to Lake Como (Varenna) will at least be 1/2 the day. Moving fast is one thing but enjoying what each region has to offer is another. For me one full day on Lake Como isn't enough so add a day to Sorrento and a day to CT and skip lake Como since one day isn't enough to enjoy yourself.