We are taking the RS Village Italy tour which begins in June. We are flying in to Rome, arriving two days before the tour starts, and would like to stop somewhere between Rome and Padua for 2 nights. I have always wanted to go to the Dolomites. Would it make sense to take the train on past Padua to Trento? Is that doable? Any other suggestions for a good stop along the way (that's not already on our tour) would be appreciated.
Posted by
Washington DC
27111 posts
The Dolomites are great, but two nights doesn't give you a lot of time if you're starting from Rome and need to end up in Padua. Even if you take the 8:45 Frecciargento from Rome, you won't be in Trento until after 12:30 PM. I don't know how much extra time you'd need to actually get up into the mountains from Trento. A lot of folks head to Bolzano instead (arrival time: 1:14 PM) then take a bus to a place like Ortisei (probably at least another hour--and you haven't had lunch yet).
Therefore, though I really liked the Dolomites, in your shoes I'd go straight to Padua and take a day-trip to Vicenza (more laid-back than Padua) and probably another to Ferrara. The Vicenza day might be not quite a full one, but there's lots to see in Padua. Verona would be another good possible side-trip.
Posted by
Green Bay
20086 posts
If you want to go to the Dolomites, spend all your time there. There are a few direct trains from Rome Termini to Bolzano, and several with single changes along the way. Takes 4 1/2 to 6 hours. From Bolzano take a bus to Ortisei and stay 2 nights. You can get a bus/train combination to Padua around noon on Monday and get you there in time to check in and make your 5 pm meeting.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
13936 posts
Honestly? I would spend the 2 nights in Padua. One of my errors when I did this trip was not allowing extra time before the trip in Padua. There is so much to do there and 2 nights would have been great! If none of the sights in appeal, stay in Padua and take the train to Venice and spend your full day there or do one of the side trips acraven suggests.
It doesn't look like you are spending time ahead in Rome so you may be pooped by the time you get to your destination, especially if you have another 4-6 hours on the train as Sam suggests, then you'd have one full day, then need to get to Padua on the day the tour starts.
This tour is energetic and it's best to start it rested!
editing to add: Here's a link to a current thread of a tour member traveling in May on Village Italy with a bunch of suggestions on what to do in Padua.