Pre-tour ideas for travel with teen - Dolomites

Do I understand that you have not purchased your airline tickets yet? I think one important question is what type of experience are you looking for? You are going to have three large city experiences. Do you want more of that or to change it up a bit and go more rural? Cinque Terre is an option. Lake Como Area is an option. What are you interested in?

If you like hiking, then CT would be fine. The mistake most people make is giving it only one day and not realizing they will spend many hours on a train getting there and away. It’s not that onerous to get to from Rome for example. I don’t think three days is too much for nature and relaxation, and there are day trips you could do.
If you flew to Milan, you could go to the lakes.
You really have endless possibilities so I’m just reacting to what you mentioned. If you want to throw out your flight options or add some personal info about interest that might clue us in, we can make other suggestions.

From Milan MXP you are very near Lake Maggiore, look at Stresa and Ranco, and not too far from Lake Como. We like Bellagio, others prefer Varenna.
Or spend those three days in the stunning Dolomites in Ortisei. Other places you could stop between MXP/ Milan and Venice are Verona and Padua. Lots of varied choices.

Had you considered using the 4 nights at the end of the Tour?

Perhaps spend 2 nights in Sorrento ( immediately after the tour ends) and the last 2 nights in Rome. Gives you the opportunity to do Pompeii in an un-rushed manner, and then see some extras in Rome that were not included in the Tour.

Thank you for the replies. We can only add one day to the end of our tour and planned to visit Pompeii. The days prior to our tour can be extended. We have not purchased airline tickets yet, so we are flexible. My son plays classical piano and violin and has an interest in music. He’s interested in hiking, but I don’t want to do too much and then be too tired before our RS tour begins. I would love beachside and relaxation, but I also know that I tend to want to see and do everything I possibly can when given the opportunity and would have a hard time just sitting still.

If your son is interested in hiking, biking or ferry’s to other small towns, look at Lake Garda.

It’s located about an hour & half from both Milan and Venice. With your itinerary, I’d be inclined to spend either all 4 nights here or split your nights between here and Rome on the end. This can give you a better idea than I could without writing an epistle.

https://www.gardaitaly.com/

Welcome to the forum.

Edit, since your son plays violin, look at the events in Verona. 1/2 hour from Lake Garda.

https://www.visitverona.it/en/explore/the-city-of-music

I spent four nights in Venice before this tour and wished I had more. There's a lot to see and do in Venice and nearby. I visited several churches and museums that aren't on the tour, went to the Ghetto, and took a day trip to Padua. My three-day vaporetto pass got a real workout, as did my legs. It's not mountain or rural hiking, for sure, but you can do plenty of walking including up and down bridges. The tour goes to Torcello and Burano, but Murano and the Lido are also good easy destinations.

If flying into Milan is a possibility, you might consider at least one or two nights there. Or, if you want a more rural environment, Lake Como isn't far away. I haven't been to those places, or the Cinque Terre, but I'd think the travel time between CT and Venice would be a disadvantage.

I'd suggest flying into Milan and going to Varenna, in Lake Como, before hand. I believe Varenna is an hour train ride from Milan proper, tho coming from the airport MAY require more time and a transfer. The area is beautiful and IMHO, the perfect place to recover from jet lag and explore.
You can then fly home from Rome with an open jaw ticket.
Safe travels!

We went to Lake Como with our young adult children last August and every one loved it. There is hiking but also history and gardens as well as just being a beautiful setting. I choose it over Cinque Terre and had no regrets.

They also loved Venice. If I were in your shoes I would consider spending 3 nights at Lake Como and 1 of your extra nights before the tour starts in Venice.

Since your son has an interest in classical music and violin, it would be nice to find a concert or activity related to it.

I’ve been to the Stresa Music Festival, but you may be too early for it. Just checked dates, and yes, it won’t be that early. Could you share the specific dates you are trying to fill? You’re also too early for the Verona Opera Festival, but Verona is a wonderful city with a great old center that’s easy for tourists. Verona is three hours from Malpensa with a transfer at Milano Centrale. It’s also just an hour from Venice by train - handy for meeting up for your tour. Does anyone else know of any other classical music festivals?

Cremona has a very nice violin museum. It’s the town of Stradavari, so your son would probably love it. I’ve been to Mittenwald’s violin museum in Germany and will be in Cremona this June. Cremona would take about two hours from Malpensa airport by train with a transfer at Milano Centrale.

During your tour, also mention to your tour guide that your son likes classical music because there’s usually some evening music venues in Venice in some beautiful settings that you could attend.

Maybe spend a few days in Milan and then travel by train to Cremona. This city has an excellent violin museum and is world-renowned as a center of string instrument crafting.

If you are in Venice a day or two before your trip, I highly recommend Row Venice. You and your son can get a lesson rowing on classic venetian gondolas of a style that preceded the current style. It’s a great experience and one you won’t be able to replicate any place else

In Venice, there will be a concert in the Church of San Vidal, just off Campo San Stefano, on the San Marco side of the Academia Bridge.
They will do Vivaldi, most likely.