Hi, I'm turning 60 & traveling with my 19 yr. old daughter in early June (arriving Milan 1st night (Mon.) and trying to see Lake Como and Cinque Terre for the first time before leaving for Venice (Thurs./Fri.) So far I was thinking of seeing the Milan Duomo early Tues. morning before taking the train to Ravenna and want to see the Villa Balbianello (near Lennno) and the Villa Melzi (Bellagio) as well as the Villa Carlotta (Tremezzina) and have booked my 2nd night (Tues.) at Albergo Lenno. Can I see all three of these areas in one afternoon/evening and what would I do with my baggage in Bellagio before taking the water taxi to Lenno/Tremezzio? Also, I have a few questions about the next morning (departing for Cinque Terre -Monterosso base) -How early can I get a boat back to Ravenna & what train(s) goes to Cinque Terre? also what are the best things to see in Cinque Terre. I actually have the Rick Steves pocket guide to Cinque Terre so everything (all the walks through villages, beaches, churches) sounds amazing. Can I see it all in 2 days? Will I need reservations at restaurants for dinner? Finally, what is the best route from CT to Venice? If there is a way to go through Lucca and spend a few hours in Lucca before further embarking on the train to Venice, would it be worth it to do so (I've heard it's cool to ride bikes on the wall)? Note I'll be going to Florence for 3 nights (after Venice) and could do a side trip to Lucca then, but since my 2nd day in Florence is a Monday ( with the Accademia and Uffizi closed) I don't think I'd have time to do side trips to Siena, Lucca, and possibly Chianti region in those few days and still see the main museums. Any advice for any of these questions is welcome (budget minded traveling please). Final note, I've been to Venice and Florence before on my 2006 trip to Italy but this will be my first time to Northwest Italy and first time out of US for daughter.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11158 posts
Have you plotted your proposed trip on google maps (or similar)?
I think you will find that Milan-Lake Como-CT-Venice -Florence is a convoluted sequence
It appears you plan to fly into Milan--- from where do you plan to depart?
Posted by
Southwest Florida
856 posts
It would be helpful if you posted what your proposed itinerary is by day. How many days are you planning in total? Reading your post it is hard to define. You say you are going to Ravenna - but I think you mean Varenna, as Ravenna is nowhere near Lake Como. That being said, the ferry guides are posted here: http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/home.aspx
The Trenitalia website can give you information on trains and times: https://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en
I would suggest staying in Varenna rather than Lenno only to make travel easier the next day.
As stated earlier, I think you are routing the trip all wrong. Travel and time-wise it is easier/more efficient to go Milan-Varenna-Venice-Florence-CT.
Based on your post it all sounds ambitious and not giving yourself much time.
Posted by
Rural Georgia
2107 posts
I get the feeling you watched some Rick Steves reruns of Italy and random order and based your trip on the episodes as you watched them. I see you've been to Venice and Florence before. I though you'd have a better handle on the possibilities.
Your trip sounds pretty much like a drive by and wave experience. Do you realize it's nearly three hours by train from Milan to Ravenna and you want to visit all of that in an afternoon? Seriously, go to Google Maps and plot out what you are proposing.
You've read RS pocket guide to CT. Now go out and Google and see the reality of CT, especially on the days the cruise ships are in the area. It's no longer the quaint, out of the way RS and others have made it out to be, especially in June and the rest of the high season. With the time you have, do Milan, Lake Como and Venice or Milan, Venice and Florence. You don't have nearly enough time to do all the things you have listed.
Posted by
Tampa
222 posts
I have to agree with DougMac... we found Cinque Terre just ok. It was so over populated when we were there! No relaxing just mobs of people.
Posted by
4326 posts
Skip CT--you will spend the better part of a day getting from there to Venice. Enjoy the lakes at a leisurely pace instead and/or stop at some of the towns along the train line to Venice.
CT is about scenery and hiking, and you can do both in the lakes without hordes of people (I am sure the lakes get crowded in parts but nothing like cramming too many day trippers into five tiny villages).
Look into biking in the lakes area--I saw a new boardwalk trail is being built somewhere, and that could sub for Lucca for now.
https://www.italymagazine.com/news/europes-most-spectacular-bike-path-has-just-opened-italys-lake-garda
Posted by
Sunriver
1321 posts
Could not agree more ... CT is only ok and since it really doesn't make sense with your trip to Lake Como I'd skip it
Posted by
California, USA
18 posts
You are better off going from Milan to CT due to better train connections. Also, please note that most of the popular short trails are closed or have been closed for a while.
Posted by
OP
Los Angeles, CA
20 posts
Thank you all for your help. I did mean to say Varenna (not Ravenna), and only recently had thought that I would through in the CT stop, but realize it would be rushing myself inn both the Lake Como and trying to do CT the next 2 nights. So far I have non-refundable reservations for June 7 & 8th in Venice and this is my current itinerary (that I'm trying to fill out):
June 3 (6:30 pm) arrive in Milan -Dinner
June 4th -Milan (Duomo & rooftop), travel to Varenna by train, lunch, see Villa Balbianello and stay in Lenno (I can change this)
June 5th -? Continue in Lake Como, stay in Varenna
June 6th- ? take train to Verona or Padua (on way to Venice) stay night
June 7& 8 Venice
June 9,10, 11th Florence with possible day trip to Siena/San Gimignano or Lucca
June 12,13,14,15 Rome with day trip to Tivoli one day (train to Naples early on 16th)
June 16, 17 Sorrento hotel, visiting Pompeii/Herculeum on 16th, Capri & Positano/Ravello 17th and 18 & return to Rome (evening)
Rome 18 (night) departure 6/19 to US @ 10:00
Posted by
Southwest Florida
856 posts
This is helpful.
Again, I would suggest staying in Varenna as you can leave your bags at your hotel upon arrival, then ferry out to wherever you like. You will also possibly find that Varenna has the latest ferry arrivals.
With travel to Florence from Venice you will be short-changing yourself for time there, especially with planning a day trip to Lucca. Unless you leave very early in the morning from Venice you are going to arrive in Florence around noon. Just don't short change your time in Florence.
Keep in mind that the train route to Sorrento from Naples means riding on Circumvesuviana. From/To Rome - Sorrento will be at least a 2+ hour journey. Circumvesuviana is a regional commuter train, so it will be crowded. Google Circumvesuviana to find their schedules.
For 14 days in-country I think you have a very aggressive schedule. Fortunately, the Padua/Verona day will be less hectic and you may find by the time you arrive in Rome that you may want to have a breather day.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11158 posts
To save a bit of in/out of hotels, I suggest going to Sorrento when you leave Florence and do all your days in Rome at the end.
You have a very busy schedule, so every bit helps, by reducing the number of times you move in/out of a lodging.
Posted by
OP
Los Angeles, CA
20 posts
Thanks Marc! I agree, I needed a little more "breathing space" so the stopover in Padua on way to Venice will be more relaxing -mostly just seeing cathedrals/art. By the time we get Rome, you're right we might need to schedule the trip to Tivoli/Hadrian's Villa as a more relaxing day within those 4 days, maybe we could take one of those Vespa tours or just go to Borghese park? Do you know of any Rome hotels that would allow use of their pool (with fee) for someone not staying as a guest (in Los Angeles there are some of these) Our Rome hotel is budget and has no pool.
Thanks for the reminder about travel time around Sorrento/Amalfi area. We'll want to be sure to give ourselves a bit of a cushion for the return trip to Rome so we can have dinner and get to bed a tad early for our flight. In Rome will we need a full 3 hours ahead of our 10:00 am direct flight to US? I'm planning on staying very close to the Termini station to get a train to the airport.
Posted by
Southwest Florida
856 posts
See the note from joeF32 above regarding scheduling of Rome. He makes an excellent point in regards to travel time and routing. A quick Google gave me these options for hotel pools with fee: https://www.romeing.it/swimming-pools-rome/ I think there are a couple of public pools that are cheaper in town.
Observe the motor traffic in Rome and then decide if you want to do the Vespa tour.