Good evening,
My husband and I trying to plan a 14day holiday to see southern Italy at the beginning of October this year. We don't want to go to Rome in this trip. Areas of interest: Cinque Terre, Lake Como, Italian riviera. We are flying from Australia and therefore have chosen to fly in and out of Milan (Melpansa) due to cost. Thanks in advance.
I think you already have the start of an itinerary. Now all you need to do is to decide what you want to see and do in each area. Once you make a list we can help you decide how much time you'll need in each area and how best to get from one to the other.
Donna
None of the places you mention are in southern Italy.
If you fly into Milan, head straight for Varenna (sp?) on Lake Como. It will be the perfect place to adjust and regroup after a trip from Australia. Do not over look Venice. Easy to get to by train from Lake Como via Milan with possibly a short stopover in Verona.
You say southern Italy, so maybe you mean the Amalfi Coast (south of Naples) when you say "Italian Riviera".
I would head straight to Lake Como on arrival, before heading south.
Stop at Cinque Terre on your return to Milan for your departure home.
Day 1-3 Lake Como
Day 4-8 Amalfi Coast
Day 9-11 Cinque Terre
Day 12-13 Milan
Day 14 Depart
Sorry for the confusion! When I said southern Italy I was wrong, (I initially had 2 different ideas in my head).
People considering a trip to Italy, perhaps for the first time, would look at the following main options (from north to south) ...
--Milan & the Italian Lakes (Como)
--Venice
--Cinque Terre
--Florence & Tuscany (Siena, Chianti, San Gimignano, Pisa, Lucca)
--Rome
--Naples & Amalfi Coast (Positano, Sorrento, Capri, Pompeii)
With 14 days to play with I would choose 4 destinations to visit from that list.
Thanks David, is the best mode of transport train or is a car better for some of the areas you mentioned? I have heard that you cannot drive in CT and we would use the train to get to Venice as recommended.
I have never driven 'on the other side' as I have always been lucky to have European friends to do the driving.
So unless you feel confident to attempt that, as well as navigate narrow city centres with parking heavily restricted, I would advise to go with the train everywhere. They are easy, fast, and pretty cheap.
Day 1-3 Lake Como
Day 4-6 Venice
Day 7-9 Florence & Tuscany
Day 10-11 Cinque Terre
Day 12-13 Milan (perhaps one of these days better in Tuscany, depending on your interests)
Day 14 Depart
Has anyone visited Liguria? Is that worthwhile?
Hi again everyone,
What would be the best order for the following? And what modes of transport (how long for each approx)?
Milan
Lake Como
Venice
Florence & Tuscany
Cinque Terre
Milan
Thanks in advace, Jess
Liguria is the north-west coast, on the Ligurian Sea. This is where Cinque Terre is. Yes, it is beautiful!
It is also sometimes referred to as the "Italian Riviera". I noticed you mentioned in an earlier post that you wanted to visit there.
Are there any specific areas in Liguria that are better? Also, are the accessible via train/boat/bus?
Cinque Terre is probably the most popular. To get there initially, it is easily reachable by train. The 5 towns are all also easily reachable by train, a few minutes per each town. Also, there is a ferry which runs from the towns, except Corniglia, weather permitting. If you are a hiker, you can hike some of towns, such as Vernazza to Monterosso or Vernazza to Corniglia.
If you are planning to stay in one of the towns, make your reservations ASAP!
Don't know about busses, haven't heard of anyone taking one there.
Our first trip to Italy 30 years ago was similar but we had 3 weeks. I would divide my two weeks between Tuscany and the CT and Lakes. And would head by train to Florence on arrival, spent 3 nights there, then get a car and spend 4 nights in a hill town and tour the region. then head back to the lakes (we stayed on the Isola Pescatori in Lago Maggiore but in your case, Lake Coma and then spend a couple of nights in the CT and hike the trails that are open and spend your last night in MIlan for your flight out.
I would not do both the Amalfi Coast and the CT (which is often referred to as the Italian Riviera as it is an extension of the French Riviera coast). But if you want to do that then I would train to Naples on arrival and head for Sorrento and wherever else you want to stay on that coast. A good rule of thumb is to start at your distant point and work your way back. I think if you do the CT, you will have a better trip focusing on Tuscany to vary the landscape -- but we adore Tuscany since the week we spent in a hamlet near Siena over 30 years ago on our first trip. We were lucky to hike the CT on that first trip before it had been discovered by Americans and so literally had the trail to ourselves. It was the two of us and a class of Italian 14 year olds and their teacher. We later saw a dozen or so Germans arriving to hike in the area. No fees, no souvenir stands, no ticky tack -- it was a heavenly place.
How about this for an itinerary?
Day 1: Arrive in Milan
Day 1-3: Train to Florence
Day 4-8: Hire a car and spend 4 nights in a hill town and tour the region.
Day 9-11: CT
Day 11-13: Lake Como
Day 13-14 Depart Milan
Could you take a train from CT back up to CT?
Which areas would you recommend in 'a hill town in tuscany)?
Or this...
Day 1: Arrive in Milan
Day 1-3: Train to Florence
Day 4-8: Hire a car and spend 4 nights in a hill town and tour the region.
Day 9-11: CT
Day 11-13: Genoa
Day 13-14 Depart Milan
Trying to work out your # nights. This right ?? Sounds good.
Florence (3 nights)
Tuscany (4 nights)
Cinque Terre (3 nights)
Lake Como (2 nights)
Milan (1 night)
After Florence I would head to Siena and pick up your hire car here.
Drop the car in Pisa and continue on to Cinque Terre by train.
I would certainty get a car if you're going to tour Tuscany. Getting to places like Chianti can be tough without one. When there I would recommend Greve, it's a great little town with a fantastic center.
I don't know why you've decided to leave out Venice, my second favorite city in Europe (after Paris).
But to your chosen itinerary: I would start in the CT or Lake Como, where you can relax a bit after the long flights and get over the jetlag. I would also have a back-up plan if the weather forecast is poor for your time in the CT. I would not start in Florence which will probably still be pretty packed with tourists. To try to see the Renaissance masterpieces as soon as you hit the ground would be a waste. I'd also consider splitting the time between Florence and Siena, with day trips to Lucca, Pisa, San Gimignano, etc. instead of renting a car. Driving isn't easy, an automatic car will be more expensive than a manual (and a manual will be harder to drive, even if you're used to a stick shift - because of shifting with the other hand), and there are the dangers of driving in a ZTL area and getting hit with huge traffic fines.
Chani's suggestion to head to Como on arrival is a good idea, condsidering, cost, time and weather.
To avoid a car rental (and stick with trains) I would split your Tusvcany time between Siena and Lucca ...
Lake Como (2 nights)
Florence (3 nights)
Siena (2 nights)
Lucca (2 nights)
Cinque Terre (3 nights)
Milan (1 night)
