My spouse and I will be traveling in Northern Italy in early October for 8-10 days. We would like to find a home base from which to do day trips by car. We would like to be somewhere where we can make day trips to Venice, Bologna and Milan from the same location. We love staying in an old city or town center where we can walk in town but easily drive out for day trips.
Thanks in advance for any assistance.
Sounds like Verona to me, great town, very walkable, easy day trips in various directions, including the cities you mention, others, and Lago di Garda. In my experience, in all of Italy, Verona best combines an ancient city with a very modern lifestyle.
I think you should consider spending one night in Venice.... that is when it is the most magical. Evening after all the day tourists have gone. Even though it is not summer there will still be lots of tourists.
Taking your car to both Venice and Milan for day trips will probably be a bit of a pain. You will have to figure out parking for Venice and pre-plan that part of the trip. It is so busy around that area... it will make beautiful Venice a very stressful part of your trip. Maybe 2 hotel locations. You could fly into Venice, stay there a few days and then upon leaving pick up your car and drive to Verona and do your day trips. Then, drive to Milan, drop your car and stay there a night before you fly out. (Actually that would be 3 hotels)
Here's another vote for Verona. Charming, charming mid-size city. We've stayed there twice. Good train service as well.
Yep...Verona! Very central for what you want to see!
Verona is no doubt a good base, but I question a car for some of the day trips. It is so easy to hop on a train and they are frequent and often faster than a car. For example, Verona to Bologna is 1 1-2 hours to drive, but 52 minutes by train (according to Rome2Rio.com.
Use a car for small towns and rural locations not accessible by train. Otherwise, it is an unnecessary expense.
We love staying in an old city or town center where we can walk in town but easily drive If you are in an old city/town center, parking could be a hassle and driving in and out won't be fast or easy. On the other hand train stations are either in or near the center.
I agree - for Milan, Bologna, Venice and other cities the train is much better. No parking issues, no dreaded ZTL's.
Even if you want to stay in an agriturismo out in the sticks, you're better off driving to the train station and parking the car if you want to visit towns/cities.
With 8-10 days, I'd split it to 2 bases. Verona for Venice, Milan; then Bologna for Ferrara, Modena, Ravenna, and more. I also think you'll be missing out on Venice if you don't spend 2 nights there.
