Any particular reason for Milan? Maybe you could go someplace like Lake Como instead?

I’d agree with limiting time in Milan or even skipping it altogether. Lake Como is a great idea, and Verona, which is on the rail line between Venice and Milan, might be another possibility to consider.

Have you thought about departing from Milan or Rome instead of Paris? Might save you some money on flights. Unless of course you need to return to paris for some reason

No particular reason for Milan, just an option at this point. Any other suggestions to substitute? A different place in France that’s worth checking out? I have to return to Paris, so leaving elsewhere is not an option. Keep the suggestions coming!

Gavin

Take the 2 days you were thinking of spending in Milan, and spend them somewhere in the South of France, like Nice.

Annecy is a nice stop between N Italy and France. I also second/third the Como recommendation (or Cinque Terre).

Forhet Milan and spend a couple of nights in the Cinque Terre. It will be well worth it.

I did the Night train from Paris to Milan then went directly to Cinque Terre. then Venice, florence, Rome. then i would fly back to Paris if needed. no matter where it is you want one non major city expirence
to just relax.

Gavin, when are you starting this trip?

i agree with the open jaw option
fly into/out of Rome and Paris

The trip begins August 11th (I arrive in Paris on the 12th). Open-jaw ticket is not an option. My girlfriend is living in Rouen for the year (teaching English at the University). This trip is kicking off her stay, and then I leave again. I intend to be there to drop her off, and then in/near Rouen when I leave again. Otherwise, I’d totally get the open jaw ticket.

Your itinerary loks fine to me. Milan is not a must see, but it works.

If you’re interested, a great suggestion would be to drop Milan as a site, and add a place in southern France, maybe Avignon, Arles, Nice, Cannes, Grasse, Antibes, or Menton (to balance out northern France: Paris and Rouen). You can stop at any of these towns to break up the Paris-Rome commute.

Hi Gavin,
I’d also say "forget Milan". Instead, if you want to visit a city on those days, replace it with Turin, IMO is much more interesting.

Turin, the first capital of Italy, is reach in history and offers an interesting historic center, with &quotortice", portals seen in many places in Piemond. Also an interesting museum of cinema, great parcs, a lot of churches.

just my 2 cents…
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Yeah, you might find Turin (Torino in Italian) a pleasant surprise in the Piedmont (Piemonte) region. I still think, though, that your trip focuses too much on Italy, on not enough on France. Since you’re passing through southern France anyways, try adding a place in southeastern France that would be on the way to Venice/Florence.

I agree with everyone else. I would never go back to Milan. Cinque Terre is a MUST see! I have never been to Rome, but people say a couple of days is enough.