Originally Posted by
bgriz18
Booked the mistake RTW trip but cannot do the second leg so I will be stopping in Milan. I arrive Thursday morning 10/9. I don't plan on spending more than a day or two in Milan, don't have much reason too except to see the couple of museums.
I really want to do the Cinque Terre thinking between 2-3 days. Is that sufficient amount of time? And is the weather okay in October there?
Here is my preliminary plan but I am open to suggestions.
10/9 - Thursday - Milan
10/10 - Friday - Milan / Day Trip
10/11 - Saturday - Cinque Terre
10/12 - Sunday - Cinque Terre
10/13 - Monday - Cinque Terre
10/14 - Tuesday - Genoa / Other City
10/15 - Wednesday - Depart
Anyone have any suggestions on another to see around Milan or other cities to travel too. Only my arriving flights are booked so I can depart from anywhere. Debating between Genoa, Venice as the last stop and departing from there.
A lot depends on whether you've ever been to Italy before. If you've never been there I'd recommend getting out of Milan ASAP and not doing two nights there. It is industrial, one of the least scenic italian cities, and not worth wasting a day or two there on only a six night trip.
The great thing is that you are going towards the end of the high season, which makes things a lot better. It gives you the opportunity to see places that are usually too overrun with tourists.
Cinque Terre is a good choice. In mid-October the lows will be in the high 40's to low 50's, and the highs will be in the low 60's. Downside, it's about a 3-4 hour train ride from Milan. Plus, the fastest train will take you to Monterroso in Cinque Terre. That is the least desirable of the five towns. You'll have to take a local train to get to one of the nicer towns, so it's not so easy to get to from Milan.
Another option is Lake Como, visiting either Bellagio, or Varenna. It's a only one hour away from Milan by local train.
Genoa is close to CT, the old downtown square is nice, and the waterfront has been rebuilt, but it is not really considered one of the better tourist towns to see, and much of it is gritty and run down. Turin is one hour away from Milan by fast train, and if you want to be in a big city, it's much nicer than Milan.
If you've never been to Venice, I'd say that's your definite top choice. Why ponder all these secondary cities when you can go to what is generally acknowledged to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and one of Italy's prime destinations?
Most people go in the summer when Venice is a disaster. October is fantastic. I think it's also about 3-4 hours from Milan. It's a great opportunity to be able to see Venice in what is almost an off season.
I think it depends on whether or not you have been to Italy before, and if so, where. With five days, I'd say you really only have time to see two places. Land in Milan and get to Cinque Terre/Como/Genoa for a few days, anywhere but Milan unless you have some particular interest like have tickets to La Scala. Then get to Venice and enjoy the opportunity to be there when the tourist invasion is less intense, then fly out. The biggest mistake would be trying to squeeze in too much.