Milan to Florence Road Trip ideas please

[vimtovibes]

Hoping someone can help please.

We are due a significant celebration that would mean DH and I would need to be in Milan for minimum of one night - trip to the opera

However we would also like to visit Florence (first time for both) and therefore make Florence the "home base"

Would you hire a car for one trip to Milan for the opera event and treat it as two separate city breaks or look at being based in Florence and catch the train to Milan for one night away?

Am struggling as flights can go into either Milan Malpensa or Milan Bergamo airports or we could just fly to Pisa and get to Florence.

We have visited a lot of Italy when younger (and with DC and car) but driving would fall to me this time (which I am happy with) but just trying to work out how we do it!

Would suggest you use the train rather than drive. Parking in Milan can be difficult.

Milan Malpensa is much further out from Milan than Bergamo.

Thanks @AttilaTheMeerkat that's very helpful

Malpensa is an easier ( and ever so slightly closer ) to get into the city than Bergamo.

Florence to Milan train is quick and easy.

Don't even think about driving. Get the train.

@vimtovibes my son lives in Milan so we visit quite frequently and we always use the trains as they are efficient and relatively cheap. Last time we went we had a weekend in Florence and used the train - so easy!

How long will you have? If you haven’t already, have a day at lake Garda and another at Verona or Venice before going to Tuscany.

Are you going to tour around Tuscany?

What an amazing trip!

Can you get to the opera in Florence as well?

Under no account get a flight direct to Florence, the runway is short and the regularly bump passengers and baggage if there is a hint of wind.

Agree train travel in Italy is easy and pleasant (unlike the driving) so unless you want to make a road trip with multiple stop offs I'd just get the train.

You absolutely do not need a car for Florence, it's a very small walkable place with incredibly narrow streets and easy to walk to and from the station.

My ds lives in Milan, I would always opt for the train over driving anywhere! Either of the airports is fine, trains and buses are easy from Malpensa, and the bus from Bergamo is easiest. Linate is the closest airport but the budget airlines don’t fly there.

There are two fast train lines. La Freccia and Italo. So easy and quick ! Unless you want to visit other cities such as Bologna, Parma, don’t bother with a car!
in Milan, go on the roof of the Duomo and take the opportunity to see the Da Vinci’s Last supper painting at the Cenacolo. Book in advance! Actually book everything in advance!
Malpensa is better to fly in. it is not about the km, but how long it will take you to get into the city center! Traffic is crazy, train from the airport is so much better than having to wait for a coach and then traffic. It is. It is called Malpensa Express.

Thank you all for your helpful suggestions - train it is!

We have done Italy quite a lot (Verona, Naples, Rome, Venice, Lake Garda, Pompeii) - surprised we've done neither Milan or Florence sooner.

@AnnaMagnani - it has to be Milan for the opera we want to see (Tosca) and will be great to see it at La Scala.

Will get booking now - thanks again.

@vimtovibes no space for 2 operas?
OK it's not La Scala but Florence has a lovely opera house with similarly world class casts and productions.

I live in Milan, I have driven and taken train to Florence but I would choose train over car, you can be there in a couple hours with a fast train like Italo or Frecciarossa. Malpensa airpiet hads a atrina direct into the city centre, but Begamo you'd need the bus, it's not Milan and not that close to Milan really. if you fly from London you can fly into Linate and there's an new underground line direct to the city centre too that is very fast.