My husband and I will be going to Italy next June. We will be flying into and out of Milan and have nine days. We were thinking of spending three days in Milan and three days each in two other cities. We have been to Rome, Florence, and Venice on a previous trip. Any suggestions?
Rina
Verona and Vicenza are 2 I like. It is unlikely we both have the same taste.
You've told us so much what you liked and what you didn't; what you'd like to see and what you don't care about - - how can we possibly make appropriate suggestions.
I second Verona....amazing town! Have you considered going north into the Dolomites? Spectacular mountains if you are interested in that sort of thing. If you are more of a seaside person maybe go down to the Cinqueterre?
3 days in Milan are excessive IMO. At most I would spend the night when you arrive and the day before your departure (2 nights max).
This is an idea for a trip:
If instead of Lake Garda (since you are already going to Lake Como), you'd rather go to the Dolomites mountain, I suggest renting a car in Verona for efficiency, since you have limited time. Drive to Val Gardena and enjoy the mountains.
I am a person that if I am flying into and out of the same city and going to outlying cities, I finish my trip in the city that I will be flying out of. I too recommend landing and getting on a train and going to where you want to go. Come back and finish up in Milan. Maybe 2 nights are warranted in Milan; we did it in 1 night, seeing Duomo, Brera Gallery, Last Supper and walking thru town and seeing the Galleria, the fashion retail district, and castle (externally only). I think there is more to Milan than we think but Italy's other cities are usually more of a priority.
How about a stop in the Cinque Terre, Portofino area? It's opposite of the other suggestions above and would take a longer train trip to get to. Unless you go south and west from Milan instead of East on the trip.
We spent 4 weeks in Italy in September/October. From our experience I'd suggest: 2 nights in Milan (flights arrive early in the day so you have most of two full days), Varenna on Lake Como, Verona, and someplace in the Dolomites. That may be too many locations for your length of time, so choose based on things like nature/scenery (Lake Como & the Dolomites) versus cities with cathedrals and Roman arenas, etc. Have a great trip.
Thank you for all your help. I think we'll probably spend three nights in Milan, three in Verona, and three either somewhere on Lake Como or somewhere in the Dolomites. I'm reading through the relevant sections of Rick Steves' Italy guidebook and then will make decisions.
If you end up in the Dolomites, I'd recommend Castelrotto for a base. Good public transportation to get to hiking trails and gorgeous scenery.
