Arriving in Milan and taking the train straight to Venice.
2 nights in Venice
1 night in Bologna
3 nights in Cinque Terre
2 nights in Milan
Does this seem like a good plan or should we eliminate Bologna? Feeling slightly stressed about making our way around Venice. Recommendations on hotels? Is it best to stay in a central location or closest to the train station? Should we stay only 2 nights in Cinque Terre? We will be traveling the entire time by train.
Thanks!
What time of year is the trip?
That's a fairly unusual day breakdown (and list of destinations) for a short first trip (I'm assuming this is your first trip to Italy).
Your first day you'll probably be sleep-deprived and jet-lagged if you're flying in from the US or Canada, so that first day isn't going to be worth much. Therefore, you're giving yourself just one day in Venice vs. closer to 1-1/2 in Milan. Three nights in the Cinque Terre is rather a lot, given the short time in Venice, and I'd seriously consider reducing it to two. I like Bologna, but I would suggest Florence instead.
You may have well-thought-out reasons for the proposed itinerary; it's just that it is rather unusual.
Venice is a lot of fun to wander around. It's not terribly large, and you'll frequently come upon arrows pointing toward "San Marco" and "Rialto", which will help you get oriented. Unless you have mobility issues that make walking up the steps to the little hump-backed bridges an issue, I think you'll get around just fine. Part of being there is getting lost for a few minutes here and there.
You'll get lost in Venice - everyone does. It's not stressful, though. It just means a little more walking. Venice is small and you're never more than a few minutes' walk from the Grand Canal. Venice is a good place to start, relax, wander and soak up the atmosphere.
I like the idea of Bologna. It's not a big tourist town, so fewer crowds. I'm not sure why you want 3 nights in the CT or 2 in Milan, though. What do you want to see/do there?
And, as craven said, advice about your trip will be different for different times of the year.
Sorry for the missing details of our trip - This is not my first trip to Italy. I have been to Rome, Assisi, Florence and Sicily - during two other trips. We are flying in and out of Milan due to the great deal on our tickets :D $378 rountrip from JFK!!! We will arrive in Milan on 10/2 at 12:15 and take a train to Venice arriving around 6 or later. Depending on the train system. So basically dinner and a good nights rest. We fly back to the states on 10/10 around 4 in the afternoon so that is why I have scheduled 2 nights in Milan. Are you suggesting then, 3 nights in Venice and only 2 in Cinque Terre? I have also read great things about Bologna and also thought it would break of the long trip from Venice to Cinque Terre and give us the experience of a smaller town - which I always have enjoyed. If you have any further suggestions please feel free - no arrangements have been made yet except for the flight dates. Our interests are seeing some of the great sites as well as experiencing life as locals do and I love to shop for family members and myself.
Thank you so far for your comments!
Keep Bologna! The centro storico is compact, although the city itself is not that small.
I would say two nights in Cinque Terre should be enough for the total length of your trip, but in decades of travel to Italy I've only spent an hour there (it was June).
Sounds like I'll be on the same flight! I land at 12:15 & flying out of JFK on 10/2! Crazy great deal. I have flown overseas before & find this type of flight really minimizes sleep depravation. We are trying to decide Venice or Florence first. Good luck in planning!
Katie - Enjoy your planning also! Loved Florence when we went 4 years ago! I can't get enough of Italy!
My daughter and I are flying on this same flight out of JFK on April 10 (mon) to Milan. It was a great deal (350 RT) but now we are trying to figure out the best way to get to JFK from our house outside Phila. Kind of a hassle... We are spending the first 2 nights in Milan, going to Lake Como on the 2nd day in Milan and then going to Venice for 3 days (2 nights), back to Milan for 4 nights taking a day trip to Verona and Sirmoine at Lake Garda. We will be there over Easter, so I'm not sure if that will effect our sightseeing. It's my first and probably only trip to Italy (daughter has been there before).
I hope you have a great time.
Martin, I'd take a night from Milan and add it to Venice. I'd also consider taking a night from the CT and adding it to Bologna.
I'd reverse your plan and head to Cinque Terre first. You have direct trains for Monterosso departing from Milan at 14:05, 16:05, 18:05. Buy a ticket when you get there.
Oct
2. Arrive Milan. Train to Monterosso (3)
5. Early morning train for Bologna (1)
6. Late afternoon train for Venice (3)
9. Early morning train for Milan (1)
10. Depart Milan at 16:00
Thank you, David! This makes for a better ease of travel! I may rule out Bolgona then and travel to Florence - as my friend has never been there before. The train travel time is more direct also! You have made me rethink this and it seems like less train travel time -- thank you!
