This epic northern Italy itinerary begins in Valle DAosta, the smallest and most underrated of the regions. DAY 1: Venice. If you like hiking, we highly recommend the Croda da Lago Circuit, Lago di Sorapis, and the Cinque Torri + Rifugios Averau and Nuvolau, if you didnt do that yesterday. From the views, to the quiet harbor, to the unreal swimming spots like Lord Byrons Grotto and the untouched beaches of Palmeria Island, its a lovers paradise and exudes Italian charm. Lake Como is a must stop also for mountain lovers: the peaks soaring above the lake are breathtaking. The train system is easy to use and efficient and you can get tickets in advance and with no extra agency charges on the official train site trenitalia.it What to pack for northern Italy Northern Italy has varied weather depending on the season and location. This means if you make a purchase through that link, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Then explore Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso, the oldest national park in Italy, before heading north to the tiny town, but skiing haven of Breuil-Cervinia to see Monte Cervino otherwise known as the Matterhorn! From this bridge, you get another iconic view of Venice and the Grand Canal. In the morning, travel to Milan. During this road trip, we planned a half-day in Cinque Terre, but if you want to spend more time along these coastal towns, you can skip Genoa or Parma in this itinerary. The Ultimate Northern Italy Road Trip Itinerary for 2 Weeks We had dinner twice at Hotel Freina and this hotel also gets exceptional reviews. Northern Italy is a diverse landscape: mountains, sea, lakes, floating cities, metropolitan centers, food-rich countrysides. From Marmolada, drive over Passo Fedaia and Passo Pordoi, two beautiful scenic drives in the Dolomites. WorldNomadsinsurance is what we feel is the most comprehensive and reliable travel insurance you can buy. The most efficient way to see Northern Italy is by starting in Venice and ending in Milan (or vice versa). There is not a whole lot to see in Menaggio, so this can be skipped. In the evening, have dinner and check into your hotel. Volterrais another small village on top of a hill. It is essential to plan ahead while planning a road trip in Italy. Two nights in the Dolomites. You can either day trip from Milan, just visiting Lake Como for the day, spending another night in Milan. In our Northern Italy Itinerary, visit Venice, the Dolomites, Verona, Milan, and Lake Como. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. This medieval town is great for a day visit. View from Castello Scaligero di Malcesine, Malcesine, Lake Garda. Many people want to visit these cities while visiting Italy, but especially Rome is a bit far regarding the other cities. Whats more exciting than an Italy road trip? You can use this link to check the latest prices on rental cars in Italy. Lake Garda is known for its beautiful historic villages and also beautiful landscapes. Also, youll stay in the northern part of the region. The 922-passenger ship is the first of six planned eco-conscious vessels that will sail six- to 35-night immersive itineraries, first in Northern Europe and then in South America, and feature nine inclusive dining experiences, four pools (one with a tractable roof), and 10 bars and lounges (several featuring hand-crafted Steinway pianos . The other option to spend only 5 days in the northern part is excellent for hiking enthusiasts. Our northern Italy itinerary became: Venice Florence Milan Lake Como Lake Maggiore. For this itinerary, it is best to rent a car. Parma is a city that will surprise you. Mainly because there are so many medieval villages to visit. Youll need to follow the A9 north from Milan. And Hotel Torcolo Residenze del Cuore is a centrally located budget hotel that gets very good reviews. Its also a little easier to get from Verona to Milan by train. Bergamo 2 Nights. The city of Genoa was always an important harbor city for Italy. There are some splendid botanical gardens and excellent hiking trails around the lake. Visit Sirmione for its enchanting castle and Limone sul Garda for its quiet charm. Parmawill be the last city on this itinerary before you head back to Milan. However, the town Volterra in this movie is a fictional village and not the same as the historic Italian village. We recommend starting in Milan and plan your departure from Rome. If you are having trouble narrowing down which places are the top to visit for you or youre starting from scratch seeking inspiration, youll find the perfect northern Italy itinerary for you in this post, along with tips for visiting this part of the country. The view from Marmolada | Northern Italy Itinerary. Fly into Milan or Bergamo airport, pick up a hire car and begin your exploration with Lake Como, the most breathtakingly beautiful expanse of water of all. Not far from Franciacorta is the region of Veneto, wherein the next half of the itinerary lies. It is a beautiful drive, especially the final 45-minutes, as you drive along winding roads into the mountains. Or that you need to wait a long time in line. From Verona, it is easy to do the rest of the trip with public transportation. The icon of the city is the Duomo Cathedral. If you dont want to wait in line, you can join a skip-the-line tour. Medici Family,who invented modern banking, but also a few popes came from this family. The cheapest option is to rent a car just for the Dolomites portion of this trip. On the second day, we recommend you to travel to Lake Como, somewhere after lunch. This is a more expensive option, since daily rental fees typically cost more than train tickets, plus you will have the added parking fees and hassle of parking in Verona and Milan. Learn more here. Plus, having a car makes it much easier to get around Lake Garda and transfer from Riva del Garda to Sirmione, and then once in Verona, you can drop the rental car if you prefer. However, coach bus companies like Flixbus operate throughout the country and Europe, so you could travel between regions using their service. View from the campanile | Northern Italy Itinerary. Northern Italy Train Itinerary: 14 Days By Rail I highly suggest taking a look at the embedded maps to discover places worth adding to your itinerary based on the amount of time you have available. Check online for details. I recommend referring to this as you pick out what you want to do in the Dolomites. If youre planning on taking a train around northern Italy, read all my Italy train travel tips so you know exactly how to prepare. This Northern Italy road trip itinerary works either way! An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Italy does not have a national bus line, so most buses are only regional or city. After reading the itinerary above, you might wonder how to shorten the itinerary to five days. We always feel at home while traveling through Tuscany. We will skip the Dolomites during this road trip because the drive is taking to much time. The city is known for its parma ham and renowned parmesan cheese. The weather around the lakes and in the mountains can vary heavily day to day. Hotel Danieli is a luxurious 5-star hotel located on Riva degli Schiavoni. Our itineraries focus on four of the eight regions of northern Italy: Emilia-Romagna (Bologna and Ferrara), Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Udine and Trieste), Lombardy (Milan and Bergamo), and Veneto (Venice, Verona, and Vicenza). We stayed at the Grand Hotel Savoia, which is a beautiful 5-star hotel in Cortina. If you rather look up a hotel yourself we recommend using the searching tool: Tip: We only book accommodations on Booking.com that are rated with an 8.5 or higher. Drop your luggage off at your hotel and spend the afternoon sightseeing in Venice. I've also offered options to add on other locations if you're travelling for longer too or adding Italy to part of a longer Europe itinerary . Its airports are very well connected with Milan Bergamo being a major hub for Ryanair and other budget carriers. We recommend spending two full days to explore the Dolomites and do some hiking. In this road trip, we recommend you to start in Milan and leave the country from Venice. Walking into this village is like youre stepping back in time. The highlights you dont want to miss are; Varenna is the best place to stay at Lake Como for this road trip. Among the Northern cities are Turin, Milan, Verona, Venice and Como, all within a 400 km straight line. If youre hoping to visit many places that arent major cities or tourist spots, then I would absolutely recommend renting a car. From Ponte dellAccademia, it is a short walk to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum and the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute. Milan to Florence is a great road trip, where you see the best parts the Tuscany and Cinque Terre region. Day 4 The Leaning Tower of Pisa & Cinque Terre. Franciacorta. As a resident of northern Italy, I can share with certainty that the best time to visit is either June or September. 10 days is great, but also a bit short with so much to see around this part of Italy. From Venice, it is a 2-hour drive to Cortina dAmpezzo, in the Dolomites. Read about all the best towns on Lake Garda. The bus from or to the airport can take up to 1 hour though. However, we recommend you to drive a few hours to Venice during the evening and stay overnight in Venice. If youre into hiking, watersports, or just want to experience the beauty of nature, this road trip might be something for you. Northern Italy Itineraries for a Weekend, Week and Month in Northern Italy 2 Days in Florence Itinerary: Best Itinerary for First-Time Visitors Again, expect long lines here. Ride the elevator to the top of the Campanile for the best 360 view of Venice. The roads are good condition, and the views are just stunning. For dinner, we recommend Osteria Enoteca San Marco (one of our favorite restaurants and it is located near St. Marks Square), Impronta (a seafood restaurant popular with locals and tourists), Ristorante CaDolfin (gets rave reviews and is located in Canareggio), and Restaurant Quadri (a Michelin-starred restaurant). We wrote this article you might like, with in-depth information about the city of Milan. Today you will drive across the Dolomites to Val Gardena. It will take around 2 hours to reach the lake. If you like skiing, this northern Italy itinerary works well from December through March, when the Dolomites become one of the best places in Europe to go skiing. Note: This post contains affiliate links. For full details on how to do this, refer to our Lake Como Day Trip guide and Things to Do in Bellagio. We recommend staying a bit out of the center, which saves you tons of money. Cinque Terreis a Unesco world heritage site. The upside is that you can explore Venice by night when you arrive not too late. This 17 km (10.6 mile) hike takes 6 to 9 hours and starts in Selva di Val Gardena. Lago di Braies is a beautiful lake to visit and great for families and those who dont want to do a lot of hiking. In Pisa, youll stay overnight. In the morning, check out of your hotel. Discover more day trips from Milan to beef up your itinerary. The road will take you through the dolomites, which is lovely. And the Medici Family, in particular, had significant influence at the modern banking system. Required fields are marked *. This Italy itinerary is a great starting point for designing your own custom itinerary. Budget Hotel, double room with two people: $50 $150, Mid-Range Hotel, double room with two people: $150 $300, Luxury Hotel, double room with two people: $300+. Lake Como and Bellagio are two more beautiful places in Italy that are great day trip destinations. Youll see a lot more of the beautiful countryside of Italy. There are lots of restaurants located in and around St. Marks Square but most of these are overpriced and mediocre. On the day you drive to the Dolomites, you will save a little bit of time, since you will not have to get back to the airport to pick up the car. I put Lake Garda before Verona since you save a little driving time by visiting the north end of Lake Garda first. 10 Day Northern Italy Itinerary by Train: Fun Guide From Milan to Venice Polenta is a versatile grain made plain, with cheese or as Polenta Contadina, made with cheese, spinach, and local sausage. A perfect place to buy a fresh sandwich and enjoy your time at the main square of the village. In the next part, you'll find step by step itineraries where we explain the best stops, famous landmarks, and best places to stay. If you dont want to spend four days in the Dolomites, you can take out a day and add it to Venice or spend a day at Lake Garda. When you would rather looking for other accommodation, make sure to use this link, which will direct you to the best deals in Milan on Booking.com. This article does a great job describing the numerous options, which can be overwhelming to choose from. Northern Italy Road Trip - 1 Week Itinerary | The Crowded Planet We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. It is also worth it to hire a boat to cruise by the villas, or even tour one of them. I do not recommend making big plans today (no St. Marks Basilica or Doges Palace visits) because you might be exhausted. We would really like to visit Bologna and Florence again and have to add Verona for sure due to business (just 1 day business meeting). We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Use this link or the banner below to get a quote. Answer 11 of 11: I'm planning a 10-day trip and would like an opinion on the following itinerary: Day 1 Arrive in Milan AM, Rent Car Drive to Lake Como - 1 Hour Lake Como Day 2 Lake Como. Lombardy & Veneto in 10 Days VERONA: Verona is a beautiful city in northern Italy. For the best experience, we recommend arriving in Bellagio or Varenna by 10:30 am, to give yourself enough time to visit the area. We are not opposed to flying in and or out of any airport as long as it makes sense. The Best Northern Italy Travel Itinerary (7 days) - The Mindful Mermaid We always use rentalcars.com for booking a car. View from the Puez-Odle Altopiano trail | Northern Italy Itinerary. From the train station, take the metro to Santa Maria delle Grazie for your scheduled viewing of the Last Supper. Remember to arrive 20 minutes before your appointment. The basics are the same as the 10-day itinerary for Northern Italy, but we added more stops and more time for sightseeing and exploring. Venice 2 Nights. We also have information about things to do in Sirmione and Riva del Garda. I highly recommend booking a tour with a local guide for the unique experience of hunting for truffles and do a Barolo wine tasting. The terrace is free to visit and you have a great view overlooking the Grand Canal. When you still have time for exploring, we recommend dropping your rental car at the drop-off and head to the city center. You can easily make it everywhere in Florence by walking, but public transportation is available if you need it. It's the world's largest gothic cathedral and is absolutely stunning! He travels the world with the love of his life and writes about inspiring cultures and practical travel tips. For drinks and dining, we recommend you to go to theTrastevereneighborhood. Id also like to see Lake Como, Lake Guardia, Dolomites and Piedmont but know we cant fit it all in and Im ok with making another trip some day. Day 6 To Lake Garda. Its a cheap way to get around Venice and the views are amazing, as you cruise along the Grand Canal. We have tons of information on the Dolomites, which you can see in our Dolomites Travel Guide. There are many accommodations to find in Varenna, but the two that stand out the most, regarding customer reviews are: You can also look for other villages to stay if you wish, but we recommend staying at the eastern side of the lake, on the road SS36. This way we make sure we get the best places to stay. This is a good option for those who want to spend the night in a beautiful lakeside town. Its a big day hike but it is our favorite in the Dolomites. To avoid waiting in line, you can purchase your ticket in advance on the official website. For the rest of the day, you are free to explore the canals of Venice. The great thing is that even this itinerary is worthwhile for people who arent nature lovers but love the mountain landscape. Whether you like hiking in the summer or skiing in the winter, the mountains are paradise. Bergamo is big in size, but quaint in spirit. 10-Day Northern Italy Itinerary: 2 Perfect Routes If you have less time and want to see a lot, plan out your transportation well and get ready for days jam-packed with things to do and breathtaking places to see! Check out the map with extra suggestions: I could go on and on about all of the beautiful places to visit in northern Italy, but this post would then be at least 10,000 words. Hit the 5 major areas on everyones northern Italy bucket list. Things To Do In Milan. There is truly so much to do and see that one trip may not be enough, which is why I have curated 5 northern Italy itineraries that play to certain strengths: one for those who want to see the most famous locations, one for outdoor adventurers, one for city-lovers, one for couples, and one for foodies, so you experience a little bit of everything. Lake Garda is even the biggest lake in Europe, and Lake Maggiore and Lake Como are set in some beautiful environments. Or, venture to Val di Funes, to hike the Adolf Munkel Weg and/or walk the Santa Maddalena Trail for gorgeous views of the Santa Maddalena church. A Northern Italy road trip is an incredible way to experience a wide range of beautiful and world-famous cities in a very short space of time. And you dont need your rental car while staying in Milan. The city of Verona is a maximum one hour drive from Lake Garda.