For full details of this itinerary, plus suggestions on how to visit the Duomo and see the Last Supper, refer to our One Day in Milan Itinerary. ): Piedmont: at least 2 nights (Piedmont is a large region, so depending on how much you want to see, you could easily extend this a couple of nights) Lake Como: at least 1 night Bologna: at least 1 night Florence: at least 2 nights Verona: at least 1 night Lake Garda: at least 1 night (or even a day trip from Verona & you stay in Verona 2 nights) Dolomites: at least 2-3 nights. link to 20 Best Things To Do In Fogo, Cape Verde, link to Why Is Everything So Cheap In Portugal? Read about all the best towns on Lake Garda. Venice 2 Nights. So when you want to save some money, dont go to a traditional Gondola, but hop-on a taxi boat. We also find that their customer service is excellent. 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 . 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. From Milan, you can travel by train to Varenna (about 1 hour) or travel by train to Como (about 45 minutes) and then take a ferry to Bellagio, Menaggio, and Varenna (about 45 minutes). For drinks and dining, we recommend you to go to theTrastevereneighborhood. For suggestions on where to stay in Venice, take a look at our Venice Hotel Guide. Millions of tourists travel every year to this renowned place. Renting a car in Italy is the most flexible yet most expensive option for traveling around northern Italy. Then youll head to Venice, from which you can do a day trip to the Dolomites. And if you need a pet friendly apartment, take a look at Cristallo & Faloria Suite Apartments. Made For Travellers is compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. For this afternoon, we recommend something short and not too far away: Lagazuoi to the Falzarego Pass or the Cinque Torri with the optional add on Rifugios Averau and Nuvolau. Also, we recommend leaving from another city. Once in Milan, the main things to do include a visit to the Duomo (walking on the rooftop is an awesome experience), seeing DaVincis Last Supper, and visiting the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Its a big day hike but it is our favorite in the Dolomites. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. From Verona, it is easy to do the rest of the trip with public transportation. Parmawill be the last city on this itinerary before you head back to Milan. Our recommended places to stay are in two different villages. If you dont want to go hiking on your first day, and the skies are clear, ride the Freccia nel Cielo cable car to Cima Tofana. Also, the countryside is renowned for its vineyards, so it is excellent to go for a local winetasting. If youre planning on taking a train around northern Italy, read all my Italy train travel tips so you know exactly how to prepare. You can find more information about Tuscany in this article, where we tell more about the different villages in this region. You will have to book a time slot in advance, and when to do this depends on your arrival time in Venice today. The best time to visit the Northern part of Italy is between the months of May and September. From metropolitan Milan to the medieval hilltop city of Bergamo, the major cities in Italy all offer a different landscape to be explored. A few of the highlights you dont want to miss are: It is also great to visit the surrounding islandsBurano, Lido di Venezia, Murano, which is comfortable with one of the taxi boats. And you dont need your rental car while staying in Milan. If youre someone whos embarking on their once-in-a-lifetime trip to Italy, this itinerary is for you. Made For Travellers is about a lifestyle of freedom, fulfillment, and happiness. Tuscany is often referred to as the most beautiful countryside in Italy. 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. The Tuscany of northern Italy? In the Dolomites, it is free to go hiking, but there can be parking fees and fees to ride the cable cars. Public transport in Florence is perfect, so the next day you dont have any problems reaching the city center. Since they are very concentrated in northern Italy, I would suggest flying roundtrip in and out of Milan. If you decide to avoid the toll roads, which is a more scenic route along the western coastline of Italy, it will take you even around 5 hours. In the next part, youll find step by step itineraries where we explain the best stops, famous landmarks, and best places to stay. Bologna is a big university city. The view from Marmolada | Northern Italy Itinerary. I would love to hear your suggestions for an itinerary and how long to spend in each place. For more tips and tricks to help you plan the perfect trip, consider reading this article: 7 Things to Know When Planning Your First Trip to Europe. We recommend taking the scenic route, though. Northern Italy Itinerary: Venice, Dolomites, Verona & Lake Como But if the price is better in Rome, you could always take a train to a major northern Italian city or find a cheap flight with RyanAir, for example. View from Castello Scaligero di Malcesine, Malcesine, Lake Garda. Tour starts on a Sunday. They'are also a top destination for hikers, mountain bikers, and skiers from all over the world. On this full day in Venice, you will visit some of the most popular tourist attractions: St. Marks Basilica, the Doges Palace, and St. Marks Square. You can read all the details about Genoa in this. If you enjoy hiking, put as many days as you can in the Dolomites (in our opinion, its a better use of time than adding on Lake Garda, mentioned next). An Epic Northern Italy Itinerary (10 Days) - Every Steph 7 days in Italy - Option 1: the Northern Italy itinerary bucket list destinations First stop: 2 nights in Venice. With the Northern Italy Highlights 10 days itinerary youll cross the most important highlights, cities and landmarks in the northern part of Italy. View from the Puez-Odle Altopiano trail | Northern Italy Itinerary. See Day 1 of this northern Italy itinerary for restaurant suggestions. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Its no secret Lake Como is one of the most luxurious destinations in Italy and its exclusivity, plus the incredible views of villas and alpine peaks, makes it an intimate retreat. We also have information about things to do in Sirmione and Riva del Garda. 4 Northern Italy itineraries - How to spend a week in Northern Italy Northern Italy Itinerary n 1: Milan, Como Lake, Venice, and Verona You can also see the map here Why? The other option to spend only 5 days in the northern part is excellent for hiking enthusiasts. Lake Garda is even the biggest lake in Europe, and Lake Maggiore and Lake Como are set in some beautiful environments. Julie Last updated: January 29, 2023 Italy Leave a Comment. We recommend booking a departure from Florence because it saves you a lot of time. Hotel Garn La SoldanellaandHotel Villa Fosineare both located around 5 kilometers from the parks entrance. It's the world's largest gothic cathedral and is absolutely stunning! The Rialto Bridge is a covered footbridge that is lined with shops. The weather around the lakes and in the mountains can vary heavily day to day. There is so much to find in Rome, historic building, culture, and great food! If you like hiking, hike the Puez-Odle Altopiano. In the evening, have dinner. We wrote several articles about Genoa which we recommend reading before going to the city. For full details on how to do this, refer to our Lake Como Day Trip guide and Things to Do in Bellagio. From Pisa, it is only a short drive to one of the most beautiful coastlines in Italy. Volterrais another small village on top of a hill. So the first day we dont plan that much. For the remainder of the day, we have a few more options of great things to do in this area of Venice. Bus can also be a flexible and inexpensive option for airport transfer. 6.2 Lake Garda - 2 days. San Gimignanois another great historic medieval village to visit. However, we recommend you to drive a few hours to Venice during the evening and stay overnight in Venice. Lets start with the 10-day highlights! A perfect place to buy a fresh sandwich and enjoy your time at the main square of the village. . We have three recommendations, where we think you still see a lot of this beautiful part of Italy. Some hotels will have designated parking, either with or without an additional fee. We wrote an in-depth guide about Cinque Terre. From Varenna, it is easy to explore the lake.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'madefortravellers_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_4',135,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-madefortravellers_com-medrectangle-4-0'); The villages around the lake are great to explore, but Lake Como is renowned for its beautiful nature. Note: This post contains affiliate links. 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. That is up to you and the flexibility of your travel dates! On a privately guided journey that reveals Italy's splendours at their most compelling, enjoy a special early entrance to the Vatican, view the artistic treasures of Florence, learn about an art restoration project and sample Italian cuisine with tastings in Tuscany and a food tour in Venice. Head west to Turin, a financial and cultural hub like Milan, stylized by Baroque-style architecture and the famed Mole Antonelliana. I love simple focaccia, made with just oil, but the bread is so versatile that youll find many different versions. It is a beautiful drive, especially the final 45-minutes, as you drive along winding roads into the mountains. You can travel on your own schedule and get to places where it is difficult to get to by bus. Depending on your departure time you can explore the islands around the historical city of Venice or go directly to the airport. If you arrive in the morning on a red eye flight, this first day can be challenging. 3 recommendations for a northern Italy itinerary The Top Island Itineraries for 2023's New Cruise Ships There are lots of restaurants located in and around St. Marks Square but most of these are overpriced and mediocre. For the best experience, book your ticket online. 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. Whether you like hiking in the summer or skiing in the winter, the mountains are paradise. To get here, you will park in town and it is a 0.8 km (0.5 mile) downhill walk to the church (or you can take a bus). This road trip is around 500 kilometers, maybe a bit more depending on where you go around the lakes. As a resident of northern Italy, I can share with certainty that the best time to visit is either June or September.