Macross

whoa, grumpy much? OP asked for Italy not France.

Florence is beautiful and train can take you many places but take bus to Siena as train is far from center and you then have to take a taxi.

thursdaysd

I was going to suggest Lisbon, but if you really want cold, grey and snow I would think you might want further north than Italy, like Austria. But if you want to speak Italian I really liked Turin and it has loads of museums. Venice won't be as crowded as in summer but I think Turin would be easier with a one year old, plus it has lots of arcades to provide shelter.

Which is why I asked if it had to be Italy when suggesting Nice

TDudette

I think Rome and Florence would have the most things to do, and in winter have more warm days. I'm leaning toward Florence for a day trip to Pisa (pun intended).

Are you planning to drive?

Just thinking about Ventimiglia--it has a huge market and DH and I thought it seemed like a nice place. It's about 1 hour train trip to Nice France. Not as much to do as Rome or Flo. DH and I were in Menton in March and were COLD by the water.

kitbag

There is plenty of cold and grey in Bologna, Florence and Torino in January, and with a very good chance of snow in all three.

If you can stand the deep freeze, Torino might have the most to offer when it comes to museums that nobody will care if you have a one-year-old inside making noise. If you are at all interested in cinema, autos, the history of science, ornate palaces and many other quirky things, Torino has unusual museum offerings that are very user-friendly. Plus, it actually does have a caffe scene on a par with northern Europe. Flat sidewalks for strollers. Plenty of apartments with elevators. It's also got a great food scene for shopping for prepared foods. Like Paris, Torino has a lot of historic places where you can pick up an entire meal and skip cooking for the evening, unless you want to boil water and eat some handmade pasta with butter and artisinal cheese. (And did I mention winter truffles). And there is no end of chocolate. Some of the best in Europe.

Day trips from Torino are not a breeze, but there is some low hanging fruit: Asti, Milano -- possibly Aosta and Vercelli or Pavia. Some of these work best if you can afford an overnight (in January, hotel costs will be rock bottom in some of these places). On a sunny weekend, try the Riviera. You won't be able to swim, but you can enjoy the colourful architecture and the delicious food. Head to Savona and you won't need to change trains

https://instantlyitaly.com/visit-sav...to-see-and-do/

If you pick Florence, try to pick a somewhat residential neighborhood You won't want to pay tourist prices every time you want a pint of milk or roll of loo paper. Someplace walkable to the train station would be good, and an elevator if you can find it. Again, if you can time your trip to after the Epiphany, you will be able to negotiate a better price on a vacation rental.

Bologna can be expensive because it doesn't cater to tourists but to business trade fairs and visiting faculty, so January is prime time for rental and hotel costs. (Once the holidays are over, business and school kicks in strongly.) If you are picking Bologna because of its good train connections for day trips, then stay near the train station. (Around the via Galleria or the MAMBO is good). Also bear in mind that if you are attracted to doing lots of day trips from Bologna, many many many attractions in cities near Bologna have very limited winter opening hours. Even in summer many of them close for long lunch hours. So you will probably need to be early birds (and those sun-deprived stone porticoed streets are incredibly cold at 7 or 8am in the morning in January as you head to the train station. I would budget for taxis.)

kitbag

There is plenty of cold and grey in Bologna, Florence and Torino in January, and with a very good chance of snow in all three.

If you can stand the deep freeze, Torino might have the most to offer when it comes to museums that nobody will care that you have a one-year-old making noise. If you are at all interested in cinema, autos, the history of science and the natural scienes, vast decadent palaces, super modern art and many quirky things, Torino has very unusual museum offerings that are very user-friendly. Plus, it actually does have a caffe hangout scene on a par with northern Europe. Flat sidewalks for strollers is another plus. Plenty of apartments with elevators. It's also got a great food scene for shopping for prepared foods. Like Paris, Torino has a lot of historic places where you can pick up an entire fabulous meal and skip cooking for the evening -- unless you feel like boiling water and eat some handmade pasta with butter and amazing artisinal cheese. (And did I mention winter white truffles?). And there is no end of chocolate. Some of the best in Europe.

Day trips from Torino are not a breeze, but there is some low hanging fruit: Asti, Milano -- possibly Aosta and Vercelli or Pavia. Some of these work best if you can afford an overnight (in January, hotel costs will be rock bottom in some of these places). If you get a sunny forecast, try the Riviera. You won't be able to swim, but you can enjoy the colourful architecture and the delicious food. Head to Savona and you won't need to change trains

https://instantlyitaly.com/visit-sav...to-see-and-do/

If you pick Florence, try to pick a somewhat residential neighborhood because you won't want to pay tourist prices every time you want a pint of milk or roll of loo paper. Someplace walkable to the train station would be good, and an elevator if you can find it. Again, if you can time your trip to after the Epiphany, you will be able to negotiate a better price on a vacation rental.

Bologna can be expensive because it doesn't cater to tourists but to business trade fairs and visiting faculty, so January is prime time for rental and hotel costs. (Once the holidays are over, business and school kicks in strongly.) If you are picking Bologna because of its good train connections for day trips, then stay near the train station. (Around the via Galleria or the MAMBO is good). Also bear in mind that if you are attracted to doing lots of day trips from Bologna, many many many attractions in cities near Bologna have very limited winter opening hours. Even in summer many of them close for long lunch hours. So you will probably need to be early birds (and those sun-deprived stone porticoed streets are incredibly cold at 7 or 8am in the morning in January as you head to the train station. I would budget for taxis.)

thursdaysd

I would add what is probably the best Egyptian museum outside Cairo - and it is better maintained and curated than the one in Cairo. There's a not bad Asian museum, too.

And I agree about the cafes - plenty to chose from. If I had that much time in Turin I'd probably want to take a look at Genoa.

kitbag

Sorry for the duplicate post. I don't know how it happened.


Genova is a tough city to crack as a day trip from Torino, and much of it is quite steeply hilly and not stroller friendly. Savona is more bite-sized, flat, with fun street food that is easy to find, and fair to say it is the cleaner city. https://www.olivellaline.com/blog/hi...live-oil-soap/

I prefer the Met in NYC for Egyptian, or the Louvre or British Museum, but if you like Egyptology, Torino is definitely a contender

misskdonkey

Hi coming in late but be away!!
I agree with suggestions Bologna and Palermo. I'm an Aussie too, and totally understand getting away in January.. we went to Spain over Christmas/New Year this year and it was great.
The idea of one city for 3 weeks really appeals, and daytrips to Moderna, Parma, Florence, Ravenna (my fav) from Bologna would be great. Palermo is a really underrated city in my opinion, and I think you could fill your time easily. If using a car be careful of the zones in Bologna, and maybe take your own GPS and babyseat.
I suggest using a car because while trains are great, stairs and platforms in these towns are often exposed to the elements, and with a small child in tow, can be freezing in winter.

kitbag

You need to be very careful of zones for any of the cities of Italy being talked about -- all cities, really, including smaller ones like Modena. Torino is the most car-friendly of all the places to stay under consideration, but it would be good to stay near the train station to have some options for trips without the car (to places like Milan). The Porta Nuova station is actually one of Italy's most comfortable, with everything on one level like Florence. There's plenty of excellent food shopping near Torino's Porta Nuova train station and more parking. In January in mose Italian cities you should be able to book a car on short notice for a short period of time, so you wouldn't need a 3-week car rental. Just watch out for trade fairs in these cities, which means a competition for everything for as long as they last.

5alive

I would do Rome. I have been twice. On our first trip, my dad sprained his ankle, and we had him in a wheelchair for a couple of days. He really was able to do a lot. After he was walking but not as much, we took the train to Florence for a day trip. We took a cab from the station.

The second trip we went at Christmas and took the kids. Echo the vote for staying in Prati if you do choose Rome.

If you truly are undecided, I could see moving once--perhaps to Venice since it is calling to you.

annhig

Also bear in mind that if you are attracted to doing lots of day trips from Bologna, many many many attractions in cities near Bologna have very limited winter opening hours. Even in summer many of them close for long lunch hours. So you will probably need to be early birds (and those sun-deprived stone porticoed streets are incredibly cold at 7 or 8am in the morning in January as you head to the train station. I would budget for taxis.)>>

if you opt for Bologna and want to do some day trips, I can thoroughly recommend the Blue Guide to Emilia-Romagna for transport tips, opening hours, eating recommendations etc. All the info seemed to me to be bang up to date and very reliable.

PalenQ

OP asked for Italy not France.
Which is why I asked if it had to be Italy when suggesting Nice>

And I indeed read the OP and title and was suggesting three bases instead of one - and still do -or two bases - a month in one city sounds neat but why not pick two or three different areas to explore?

thursdaysd

@PQ - the OP told you why:

"really get to know and enjoy the city."

Plus, small child.

PalenQ

I understand that but think OP may want to reconsider that - and get to know two different places well. Just a suggestion like yours about France even though that was not in the OP's statement either. 3 weeks could get rather boring perhaps after exhausting easy daytrips and local sights. Just a suggestion like yours that was not in OP.

Cheers!

PalenQ

3 weeks in January I'd opt for something in the south of Italy where temps likely to be much warmer - no fun sitting at outdoor caffe in 40 F weather- remarkable warmer Rome south- Naples could be a fascinating city and don't believe anything you hear about it being awful, etc. Has an old-world charm disappeared from many more modern Italian cities. Again maybe splitting time between say Rome and Naples or other more southern city would be nice. But the north can be too cool for lazing around in Janaury IME.

Peter_S_Aus

. <<<<3 weeks could get rather boring perhaps after exhausting easy daytrips and local sights.>>>
Some Italian cities, you could do three months and not get bored.
That’s why, to date we have spent ten months in Venice, and are returning for ten nights in a couple of weeks.

vinoroma

I’d pick Torino.
Op made clear they don’t want Venice, Rome or any other sunny place. Bologna is nice bit can be expensive. Milan is too industrious and nordic. I find Torino to be just laid back enough, with a great coffee house culture (bicerin!), an amazing market, some very good eateries (at all levels) and lots of museums and other cultural offerings. Some very nice day trips are possible - towards mountains, piemontese countryside or even the seaside.

StCirq

<< Milan is too industrious and nordic. >>

Completely disagree. It's a beautiful city with loads of cultural attractions, amazing style, and nothing the slightest bit "Nordic" about it.

I do like Torino for all the reasons given above.

<<no fun sitting at outdoor caffe in 40 F weather>>

No need to, ever, in any Italian city. In Milan there are countless enclosed and heated sidewalk cafés where it's always comfortable to sit "outside" and have a drink, no matter what the weather. The same was true in Stresa and Isola Pescatori when we were there last December. And the same in Rotterdam a year earlier when it was storming like crazy in late fall. It's the same pretty much all over Europe. The café culture doesn't end when the weather turns bad.

Traveler_Nick

The OP is asking about January. The weather can and will be all over the place. It might even snow in Sicily. Obviously the further north or the higher the elevation the chance of cold increases but over three weeks the OP will likely see a bit of everything.

JeanneB

We did Rome, Florence, Venice in late January a few years ago. Florence was absolutely frigid with cold wind whipping around every little street. We were about 6 blocks outside the center and ended up taking a taxi every time we went somewhere. Venice was warmer; but it did snow while we were there.

I would recommend Rome as a base. It was much warmer. And you could still take a train to Florence for the day.