Italy in April - include Lake Como or Sorrento?
We're planning a 2 week trip (via trains &/or buses) in mid-April 2010. The intinerary inlcudes Rome-Siena-Florence-Venice - and Lake Como OR Sorrento. Travel distances make going both places impossible in our time frame. Any suggestions would be very welcome. Thanks!
Ellyn
Raleigh, NC 27613 11/11/09
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Since all of your destinations are in the upper half of the boot, I would suggest that you do Lake Como (it is super beautiful) and save Sorrento for next time.
Ditto that, you are all ready up in the North, heading to Sorrento will take a full day of travel by train. Head up to Varenna on Lake Como. The train stops right by the middle of town, the ferry is a few blocks walk. Great hotels listed in Rick Steves Italy are abundant in the Spring. Ferry over to Bellagio to see how the other half lives, and then return for a candlelit dinner on a lake front patio.
Sorrento is wonderful, but I agree you should save it for another trip. Do Lake Como instead.
Ellyn,
I definitely agree with the others. As your other locations will be in the north, it makes more sense to choose Lago di Como in this case. Were you planning to stay in Varenna or another spot on the lake?
Will you be using open jaw flights (inbound Rome, outbound Venice or Milan)?
Cheers!
Thanks, everyone. Como was my choice also but it is SO hard to choose when you only have 2 weeks. IF we had chosen Sorrento, we would have gone on the front end of the trip from Rome, but it still seems like a lot of extra travel. The plan is to fly into Rome, then Siena, Florence, Venice and end in Varenna (flying home from Milan). Or would ending in Venice and flying home from there be better? It seems going through Milan is inevitable either way.
Once we get the itinerary pinned down I will be back with asking lots more advice. Planning our first trip to Italy (on our own, without a tour) has been a little scary but with the help of Rick & the community here I think we can do it!
Ellyn,
For travel to Varenna, you will have to go through Milano Centrale. The trip is about one hour, and the station is listed as Varenna-Esino.
Flying home from Venice would probably be a bit more efficient, but of course which option to choose will depend on the cost and availability of flights.
Cheers!