Where would you spend a few days at the end of your cruise if you don't want to go

[stipmom]

Into Rome and the cruise ends at Civitavecchia. Have been to Milan and Lake Como and Florence will be one of the places we go to on our cruise..

[CruiserBruce]

"If you don't want to go"? What does that mean?

 

Assuming you have seen Rome extensively? How about Cinque Terra? Or Naples and Amalfi?

[cruisemom42]

What exactly are you looking for?

 

Beaches? Culture? Museums? Scenery? Shopping?

 

Hard to give advice when we don't have any idea what you like....

[John Bull]

Amalfi coast, Pompei, Herculaneum, the isle of Capri, Sorrento, Mount Vesuvius. And they're all comfortably within a 20-mile radius.

Possible by trains, buses, ferries. Better by car (well, mebbe not the Isle of Capri :rolleyes:)

All just beyond Naples. Under 3 hours from Civi. and about 2 hours from Rome, if by car mebbe take a break halfway at Monte Cassino.

Alternate route by car back to Rome along the coast, or if you're not yet committed to flights consider flying out of Naples on an open-jaw return.

 

JB :)

Edited April 29, 2014 by John Bull

[texancruzer]

Well first of all I can't imagine not wanting to go into Rome (my favorite city) ……. but that is irrelevant in relation to your question…….

 

I would probably head to the Tuscany countryside to relax for a few days….. perhaps San Gimignano or Sienna…… find an agroturismo or a winery B&B ….

 

But that is only because I have been to Amalfi coast area 4 times - it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been……. so that would be an option too.

[cberge]

Fly to Paris for the 4 days.

[Jacs]

We had done the major cities of Italy previously and had spend some more time in Rome before our cruise, so we took the train direct from Civi to Torino and spent 2 days there then flew home from Milan. It was a beautiful city with some amazing museums.

[kuldalai]

If you have 3 - 4 spare days then take the train from Civitavecchia up the coast to La Spezia and base yourself there at the Hotel Firenze & Continental opposite the station .

 

From here you can explore Portovenere & the Gulf of Poets ( 30 minutes by Bus P from La Spezia). Also by ferry or train from La Spezia to explore the magical Cinque Terre (Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. ) From a La Spezia base you can also do day trips by train easily to Pisa and magical Lucca (Puccinni's birthplace.) .

 

After that by train to Milan and you can fly out of Malpensa Airport .

Edited April 29, 2014 by kuldalai

[stipmom]

Thanks for the ideas. Also thinking about Switzerland.

[rebeccalouiseagain]

if you are prepared to go far- Merano in the Dolomites is fantastic. It is a spa town with 25 mineral hot springs and is heaven on Earth. It is two hours north of Verona. The train ride north from Verona is very beautiful.

 

http://www.hoteltermemerano.com/#1

[Twickenham]

Thanks for the ideas. Also thinking about Switzerland.

 

Train to Milan then on to Switzerland would be very doable. Lots of very scenic options.

[LondonTowner]

We spent a great week in Puglia, one of the lesser commercialised regions of Italy. We stayed in Alberobello and rented one of the trullo houses, unique to the area. We hired a car and visited the beautiful, local whitewashed towns with the lovely Baroque architecture. We visited some of the beaches and the countryside. We also went to Matera with the fascinating cave houses.

 

This part of Italy is much cheaper than some of the more well known areas. Would love to go back.

[Tommy3putts]

In the following order of preference, these are my favorite spots in Italy that I've visited. Amalfi Coast, Lake Como and Cinque Terre (Vernazza). Lake Como with a Switzerland train trip is awesome. We did that in 2011!

Edited April 29, 2014 by Tommy3putts

[24butterfly]

Go to Rimini on the other side of Italy. Take the train.

[LondonTowner]

Rimini is a commercialised holiday resort, very popular in the 60s and 70s. I remember having a fun holiday there, I was about 19 years of age at the time.

[agabbymama]

I'd head to Lake Maggiore and maybe continue on to Switzerland.

 

We were in a rental car, stayed 3 nights in Stresa (small B&B right on the Lake), then continued on up to Zermatt Switzerland, but I believe Locarno is on the other end of the Lake. Return to Milan or easy to continue on to Zurich for a flight home.

 

If you google a map of Lake Maggiore, it is actually situated half in Italy and half in Switzerland. Making a visit to both easy.

 

Driving in Europe was really easy, if you stayed outside the BIG CITIES. Only you can determine what it is you want to see and do.

 

Have fun, whatever you decide to do.

[Tommy3putts]

I'd head to Lake Maggiore and maybe continue on to Switzerland.

 

 

 

We were in a rental car, stayed 3 nights in Stresa (small B&B right on the Lake), then continued on up to Zermatt Switzerland, but I believe Locarno is on the other end of the Lake. Return to Milan or easy to continue on to Zurich for a flight home.

 

 

 

If you google a map of Lake Maggiore, it is actually situated half in Italy and half in Switzerland. Making a visit to both easy.

 

 

 

Driving in Europe was really easy, if you stayed outside the BIG CITIES. Only you can determine what it is you want to see and do.

 

 

 

Have fun, whatever you decide to do.

 

 

In 2011, we did something similar. For our trip to Italy we flew in and out of Zurich and took the train to N. Italy. Visited Como, Bergamo, Santa Margherita, Rome, Venice and back to Zurich; all by train. What a trip! The train ride from and to Zurich was remarkable.

[agabbymama]

In 2011, we did something similar. For our trip to Italy we flew in and out of Zurich and took the train to N. Italy. Visited Como, Bergamo, Santa Margherita, Rome, Venice and back to Zurich; all by train. What a trip! The train ride from and to Zurich was remarkable.

 

Sounds like a great trip! We had a rental car and did the driving ourselves. It was an awesome 28 day trip for us.