rome and the italian lakes sept. 16-sept 26

If you haven't booked your flights yet, consider flying in to Rome and out of Milan.

Sounds like your flights are booked. Weather should still be great in September, but if you want to go right to Varenna from your flight, it makes for one less transfer of hotel and eliminates that awkward last night before the flight in Rome. According to Trenitalia.com, it is about 4.5 hours from Roma Termini to Varenna-Esino with one change of trains. All the details on how to find trains and use them are in Riclk Steves' guidebook for Italy. You will have to get from FCO to Roma Termini, so you will buy tickets on arrival. Trains do not sell out, in general, and as you can see there are several choices.

We have spent a week in Rome in 2011 so we will not be sightseeing there. Although we would like something new and different to do there. Great places to eat also. We will try to stay at the Collonna Palace by Parliament as it is to conveniently located to the ancient area....however does anyone have any recommendations in that area That might be better or more reasonable?

Rome has endless possibilities. I will PM you with a list I have prepared for our visitors of Things to Do that are a bit more unusual. I would look at Booking.com for a hotel you like in that Pantheon/Piazza Navona area or in Prati, near the Vatican, which is a very nice area and well connected by public transportation. Rome really is not huge and is easy to get around.

Your itinerary seems a bit rushed since you are planning to visit Lake Como (Varenna) and possibly Lago Maggiore where you will probably want to visit the islands of Isola Bella and nearby Isola dei Pescatori, plus other islands if you have time.

While in Varenna, you could easily fill 3 full days by taking day trips to Bellagio and other nearby towns to explore the various villas and gardens. To get to Varenna, you will want to go from Rome to Milano Centrale, then catch a Regionale train & stop at Varenna. Visit www.trenitalia.com for schedules. You can get discounted tickets for the fast Freccia train from Rome to Milano if you book 4 months in advance. Good advice from the previous reply re flying into Rome and out of Milan.

Wow thanks for the great advice! We look forward to seeing the things to do in rome that we havent and taking the high speed train to milan! Sounds like we may need to stay loger in the lakes.friends in the stayes told us three days was too long in the italian lakes...no restaurants and nothing to do!

Might be wrong, but it sounds as if you would prefer something other than Rome. If that is so, and the flights have not been booked, you might want to consider staying in the northern part of the country. Verona, Padua, Venice, and Florence are all close to the lakes. If you can get convenient flights in and out of Venice, Milan, and / or Florence that might be an option to consider.

I think Sept weather would be perfect for the Lakes and if anything hot in Rome so if I was to flip them I might be inclined to do so for the opposite reason (so Rome would be cooler) But I am not sure how much 5 days makes a difference.
Depends what type of traveler you are though, the Lakes I think will be much more relaxing and Rome will be busy days with tons of walking and in general staying busier than relaxing. Which vacation do you want first or last, the way I see it you have 2 vacations in 1 which is a good thing and all comes done to personal preference which to do first.

Thank you!

I'd flip them also. Go straight to the lakes. Better to get over Jetlag up there rather then touring the big sites of Rome early. Take it easy for a few days on the lakes

Good Idea!