We are getting ready to start our real planning for our trip to Italy. We've spent the last several months trying to narrow down where we want to go. We are going for about 16 or 17 days this July.
There will be 5 of us (husband, me, 21 and 13 year old daughters and my 78 year old mom).
We know we want to start in Lake Como but will need to fly into Milan for that.. or so we thought until the idea of starting off in Switzerland came into play. Ideas/recommendations about flying from Seattle to Zurich (or a better starting point in Switzerland?) staying in Switzerland for a day or two then taking the train (Bernina Express?) to Lake Como.
After Lake Como we would head to Venice for a few days, then to Tuscany- another question for that. Do we find a base in Tuscany and do side trips to Florence, Siena, Pisa, etc? Or stay in Florence and then somewhere else in Tuscany for the side trips? We would finish with around 4 days in Rome. (thanks to suggestions on another thread we decided to take Cinque Terre off our list for this trip and focus on Tuscany instead.)
We are hoping to purchase plane tickets in the next couple of weeks.
Also, since there are 5 of us we are thinking Airbnb or VRBO type lodgings. Any recommendations for those appreciated too.
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
6570 posts
Catherine- If you are going to Italy and only have 15 or 16 nights?- (Count your trip in NIGHTS, not days)- just stick with Italy.
You have listed 4 major locations in Italy- that's enough for a trip of that length. Otherwsie you'l end up with a lot of 2 night stays which really means just 1 full day in the actual location. You'll spend too much time getting to/from checking in/out and end up frustrated.
Let us know how many nights you actually have in Italy and we can help you fine tune a smooth itinerary.
IMO
Venice needs 3 nights
Florence 2-3 nights- just in Florence- no day trips from here
Tuscany town/agriturismo of your choice- 3-4 nights
Rome 4 nights (5 would be better)
That leaves 2-3 nights for Lake Como.
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
Catherine,
Are you aware that's it's going to be a full 8 + hours on the train from Zurich to Varenna on Lake Como? Then heading to Venice your train would be close to 4 1/2 hours. Are you really sure you want to spend this amount of time on the train?
With the amount of time you have, please consider just Italy this trip.
I'd personally fly into Venice-Florence-Tuscany -Rome. Skipping Lake Como for a future northern Italy trip. Less travel is more enjoyment.
3 N =2 1/2 days. Florence needs 3 nights plus a day for each day trip. This holds true for each city if daytripping.
Hope this helps.
Posted by
OP
PNW
140 posts
Thanks for your advice! It's so hard trying to narrow down where we want to go. Would our original plan of flying into Milan and then heading to Lake Como make more sense? Milan isn't really at the top of our places we want to see in Italy, but Lake Como is. My daughter will be spending a month in Rome in January as part of a study abroad so I'm not sure we will want to stay longer than around 4 days/5 nights (I figure she will be able to help us decide on the highlights that she thinks we would like) since the Tuscany, Florence, Venice type places appeal more to us. I was in Florence and Venice years ago and just loved them both.
I wish we had 2 1/2 months instead of 2 1/2 weeks :)
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
😂 everyone has that same wish Catherine.
Do keep in mind you will only travel as fast as the slowest in your group.
Here's a rough layout of your itinerary for 17 days arriving Milan MXP.
Day 1. Travel.
Day 2. Arrive Milan. ASAP Malpensa Express train-Milan Centrale. 54 min. Then train to Milan C-Varenna Esino 1:03. Total travel time 2H08m.
If you choose Bellagio add a 1/2 hour ferry ride.
Day 3. Varenna.
Day 4. Varenna.
Day 5. Train. Varenna Esino-Milan C. - Venezia S. Lucia. 4H05m. Vaporetto to dock closest to lodging.
Edit: https://quickvenice.com/transportation/actv-tourist-travel-cards.htm
Day 6. Venice.
Day 7. Venice.
Day 8. Train. Venezia S. Lucia-Firenze SM Novella.
2H05 m.
Day 9. Florence.
Day 10. Firenze SMN-Pisa Centrale. 1 hour.
Lam Rosso bus or taxi to Tower.
Day 11. Florence-Siena use bus, drops at top of town. 1H17m.
Day 12. Train. Firenze SMN-Roma Termini 90m.
Day 13. Rome. Vatican Sistine. Reservation recommend. Evening Food Tour.
Day 14. Rome. Colosseum, Roman Forum reservation required.
Day 15. Day trip. Choose one. Ostia Antica 1hr. Orvieto 1H30m. Appian Way.
Day 16. Rome. Borghese Gallery. Res. Required.
Day 17. Travel home. Allow 3 hours at FCO before departure.
Edit: pre purchasing all your train tickets, except your first to Varenna, will save you money. There's a schedule change the second week in June but many trains start to load around 90-120 days out so start looking then.
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
Just a thought, to streamline your trip, if you want to add Tuscany, do this.
Varenna-Florence 3H18m. (3 days) - Siena 1H17m by bus. (4 days) easy day trips by bus & train.
Then Flixbus Siena-Rome 2H45m. (5 days).
This does eliminate Venice but cuts travel time.
Possible day trips. B= bus. T= Train.
Trip 1. Siena-Montereggioni B 18min. -Castellina in Chianti B 30 min. - Siena B 31 min.
Trip 2. Siena-San Quirico d'Orcia B 52 min.
Trip 3. Siena- Colle di Val d'Elsa B 30 min. To San Gimignano B 35min - Siena B 1H05 min.
Trip 4. Siena-Certaldo T 30 min.
Trip 5. Siena-Buonconvento T 28 min - Monteroni d'Arbia T 12 min. -Siena T 15m. B24m.
Trip 6. Siena-Rapolano Terme T 37min. To Asciano Mont Oliveto T 10min-Siena T 26min.
Posted by
OP
PNW
140 posts
Gerri! That was so nice and very helpful! Seeing it laid out like that sure gives me a better idea on our timing. I REALLY appreciate your help!