You could engage in sports or you could visit to admire the views and the alpine culture! Total Tour Investment - Starting at $9999/guest Reserve your spot today with a deposit of $1000/guest (balance due 100 days prior to departure) The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Day 1: Arrive in Venice Day 2: Venice Day 3: Dolomites Day 4: Dolomites Day 5: Drive to Milan Day 6: Lake Como day trip Day 7: Fly home. Here are some foods to try in every region on this itinerary: Starting in Piemonte, the speciality is one of the most expensive and luxurious foods in the world: truffles! 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. After a few days in Venice, youll spend four days exploring the Dolomites, a world-class hiking destination filled with some of the best outdoor scenery in all of Europe. You can find them on our recommendations page, or scroll down and read the plan your trip part in this article. Bologna is the origin of many Italian food favorites: Parmigiano Reggiano, Mortadella, Rag Bolognese, Balsamic Vinegar and Lasagne. The airport is located nearby the city and offers city buses (Aerobus) which can take us to the center for 6. DAY: VENICE BASSANO DEL GRAPPA MALCESINE (Lake Garda) Bassano Del Grappa Lago Di Garda (Lake Garda) - Malcesine Northern Italy Itinerary - 9. Lago di Braies | Northern Italy Itinerary. Stay overnight in Lake Como (for longer Northern Italy itineraries) Additional day trip from Milan - Bergamo. Read about all of your options and how to navigate bus lines in my guide on buses in Italy. We stayed at the Grand Hotel Savoia, which is a beautiful 5-star hotel in Cortina. 10 days is great, but also a bit short with so much to see around this part of Italy. Youll see the greatest highlights and have enough time for sightseeing, hiking and learn about the Italian culture. View from the campanile | Northern Italy Itinerary. Our first trip we visited Rome, Florence, Bologna, Venice, Genoa/Cinque Terre. Italy does not have a national bus line, so most buses are only regional or city. Vicenza. On our first trip to the Dolomites, we had three days and once there, we wished we had a lot more time. But it's the fastest way to get there with buses routing every 11 minutes. Its a cheap way to get around Venice and the views are amazing, as you cruise along the Grand Canal. St. Marks Square dates back to the 9th century AD. Youll probably stop a few times just to enjoy the views. View from Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute | Northern Italy Itinerary. The highlights in Milan are:if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'madefortravellers_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_17',134,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-madefortravellers_com-medrectangle-3-0'); It is easy to walk around the city center of Milan. So we recommend staying at the outside center ring, which makes it easy to park your car. It is also worth it to hire a boat to cruise by the villas, or even tour one of them. Waking up early in Venice and arriving in the historical center before 10 a.m. is recommended. We prefer Lake Como over Lake Garda, which is why we designed this northern Italy itinerary with Lake Como. Alternative: skip Veneto and head to Liguria to enjoy the glamorous Portofino. Things To Do In Milan. Most of the landmarks are in walking distance, and public transport is excellent. Today youll travel to Lake Garda. Most of the time, we use Booking.com to book our accommodations. Verona is worldwide known as the city of love. 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). This road trip is around 500 kilometers, maybe a bit more depending on where you go around the lakes. Both these cities will be your home base on this kind of itinerary. And during the night, most tourists left the historic center, so its much quieter. This road trip through a small part of the countryside of Tuscany will take up the whole day, but it is probably the best drive youll have during the entire trip. If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out again! You can also go around Switzerland and stay in Italy, but thats a longer drive. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Bus travel is also an option, but comes with its own challenges: one, understanding regional bus routes in a short period of time, and two, using coach buses means youll get dropped off in one spot and you dont have much freedom to travel around. This way youll spend your time in the most efficient way possible. We always feel at home while traveling through Tuscany. Youll drive around 62 miles (100 kilometers) a day, but that gives you enough time to explore the historical and traditional villages and countryside. From here, you get one of the best views of Venice, and it is a nice way to start your visit to this city. Our recommended articles are: Driving from Genoa to Parma is a beautiful road when you skip the tollroads. Not to worry. Milan 2 Nights. View from Castello Scaligero di Malcesine, Malcesine, Lake Garda. Pick up the car on the morning of day 3, when you leave Venice, and then drop the car in Verona. The Dolomites looks like a small area on a map, but there is a LOT to do here. Lake Maggiore is in the second largest lake in Italy, and also crosses the border with Switzerland. You can read all the details about Genoa in this. It just depends on what you feel is more convenient. With the Northern Italy Highlights 10 days itinerary youll cross the most important highlights, cities and landmarks in the northern part of Italy. Manage Settings Lake Como is a must stop also for mountain lovers: the peaks soaring above the lake are breathtaking. It is the highest mountain in this mountain range. However, if you like the idea of visiting Lake Garda, here is a sample itinerary, if you have 12 days in Italy. As you tour Doges Palace, you will cross the Bridge of Sighs. The parking garage can hold 4500 vehicles. in northern Italy also love their local ingredients. It starts in Venice and ends in Milan, but it can just as easily be done in the opposite direction. Genoa is excellent to spend a few days and explore the extensive history. Its a big day hike but it is our favorite in the Dolomites. We recommend Ai Do Leoni, which is next to St. Marks Basilica and serves sandwiches and small plates of pasta. To get from the airport to your hotel in Venice, you can take the bus, a taxi, a vaporetto, or a water taxi. You might even drive tothe Queen of the Dolomites Marmolada. Take the time to purchase the Firenze card right away. Here are some suggestions: Next stop is Liguria for fresh seafood, focaccia, and pesto! I love creating free resources for your travels and personally responding to your questions over chat and email. You can use these Google Maps as a recommended route to follow.Click on the image to open the map on GoogleMaps.com. The best time to visit the Northern part of Italy is between the months of May and September. Check out our article What is Cinque Terre Famous For? Hopefully all these options make clearer what is at the top of your northern Italy bucket list! An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Italy is one of the most visited countries in Europe, perhaps even the world. Ideally, plan to arrive in Venice early in the morning, or even the night before, to make the most of this day. Your email address will not be published. Restaurant Terrazza Danieli. A Cost Guide. North Italy itinerary for 14 days. When you have more time for a road trip, we recommend using it. Read my guides to Italy in Summer, Italy in Fall, and Italy in Winter to dive deeper into which season may be a better fit for you. Click on the banner to get more information on the website of World Nomads. Verona 2 Nights. Day 6 To Lake Garda. 6 Northern Italy Road Trip itinerary: Nature edition (6-14 days) 6.1 The Dolomites - 6 days. Not everything has to be perfectly planned out with a route for each day and reservations at a specific restaurant. In the morning, check out of your hotel. Italy Tourism Italy Hotels . I switched the days since day 1 of the itinerary is a big sightseeing day and not everyone will have the time and energy for it. Mosaics on St. Marks Basilica | Northern Italy Itinerary, On the terrace of St. Marks Basilica | Northern Italy Itinerary. This large parking garage is located in Venice in Santa Croce. It's the world's largest gothic cathedral and is absolutely stunning! The entrance of the park is around 3,5 hours drive from Varenna. 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. 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. We wrote this article about the city where you can read all the essential details. From the Rialto Bridge, ride the vaporetto to Pont dellAccademia. Many people think this village was the scene for the movietwilight. However, if you have more then 10 days for your holiday, it is easier to manage. To check train schedules and to book your trains online, Italiarail.com is the easiest website to use. However, the town Volterra in this movie is a fictional village and not the same as the historic Italian village. For the best experience, book your ticket online. If you will have a car, park your car at Tronchetto Parking. From Duomo Square, visit the Duomo and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Renting a car in advance can save you a lot of money. To make sure you dont spend to much time in the car we recommend staying somewhere around Lake Garda. With this guide, you will discover the perfect Northern Italy itinerary including fashionable Milan, colorful fishing villages, breath-taking Alpine vistas, gorgeous lakes, wine-clad slopes, and Venice's palazzos. PRO TRAVEL TIP: You will use the ferry to get between Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio, so you arent missing out on anything by not cruising from Como to Bellagio. For full details on how to do this, refer to our Lake Como Day Trip guide and Things to Do in Bellagio. In between these two cities, it's easy to access the gems of Northern Italy: Lake Como, Verona, Lake Garda and the Dolomites. Lots of time and effort goes on behind the scenes to keep the free resources coming, so, if you have found my website or personal help useful and want to support me. Walking into this village is like youre stepping back in time. The city itself is not that big. Once at Passo Pordoi, you have the option to ride the cable car to Sass Pordoi, for more big views of the Dolomites, and to hike to Piz Bo, one of the easiest 3,000+ meter peaks to summit in the Dolomites (5.3 km/3.3 miles, 2 to 4 hours). I will sprinkle in extra tips and suggestions based on my own experience (so you dont have to make the same mistakes I have) and extra destinations as well so you can play with how much extra time you have and be informed about other places in the area well-worth seeing. Learn more here. You could definitely tailor this Northern Italy itinerary to be only 7 days. After you arrive in Milan, you probably want to relax a bit first. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. With the Northern Italy Highlights - 10 days itinerary you'll cross the most important highlights, cities and landmarks in the northern part of Italy. Our recommended places to stay are in two different villages. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. You cant take a romantic trip to Italy without enjoying the swoon-worthy, picturesque atmosphere of Venice. So if youre lucky enough to spend more time on the road and enjoy your holiday, this itinerary is for you. Franciacorta is a territory between Bergamo and Brescia that produces sparkling wine or spumante, mostly Prosecco, Italys version of Champagne. It is still busy, but starting from 10 a.m., it is getting swamped. It may look like I put a lot of time into the Dolomites (because I did ). This northern Italy itinerary is a point-to-point trip. Map for your Northern Italy road trip In the Dolomites, it is free to go hiking, but there can be parking fees and fees to ride the cable cars. In the evening, check into your hotel and have dinner. Our website uses cookies. The terrace is free to visit and you have a great view overlooking the Grand Canal. This very highly rated tour has skip-the-line access to St. Marks Basilica, it includes the terrace, and it also includes Doges Palace (the next stop on todays itinerary). Day 7 Lake Garda - Sirmione. See itinerary. You will stay in Milan for one to two nights, depending on how you plan to visit Lake Como. Day 4 Stresa and Orta San Giulio. Northern Italy Road Trip Itinerary: Day 1-3 Veneto. From Selva di Val Gardena, it is a 200 km, two-and-a-half-hour drive to Verona. 14 days or even longer is perfect for a road trip. Milan and the Lakes of Northern Italy Itinerary. Read my full disclosure! Hotel Danieli is a luxurious 5-star hotel located on Riva degli Schiavoni. 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. From the cupola of this basilica, you get another spectacular view of Venice. Of course, youll visit the famous landmarks asColleseum,Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, and Vatican City. For a full list of things to do, check out our Guide to Verona, but the top sights include Piazza Bra, the Verona Arena, Ponte Pietra, Torre dei Lamberti, and Juliettes House. 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.. Day 5 - 6: Explore The Port City of Genoa. Our Florence hotel recommendations:if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'madefortravellers_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_10',140,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-madefortravellers_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); Florence is known as the heart of the Rennaissance. If you plan to pick up the car on the day you drive to the Dolomites, the best place to rent the car is at the Mestre train station followed by the Venice Marco Polo airport. I would love to hear your suggestions for an itinerary and how long to spend in each place. Bergamo 2 Nights. Strolling the canals is one of the best things to do in Venice and there are several ways to do it. The weather around the lakes and in the mountains can vary heavily day to day. Parma is a city that will surprise you. The best time to visit is in the fall, also when the White Truffle Festival takes place in Alba. Also, we cover several itineraries for 5 and 14 days. 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+. Required fields are marked *. Book your stay in Milan and spend time exploring the city, while using the next few days to visit Cinque Terre and Lake Como. The upside is that you can explore Venice by night when you arrive not too late. If youre thinking of using regional or city buses, the real challenge is understanding the routes and planning your itinerary around the timetables. Here's my suggestions for a one week Itinerary in Northern Italy: One night in Turin. Also, the countryside is renowned for its vineyards, so it is excellent to go for a local winetasting. 7.2 Verona - 2 days. But if you like, you can explore the city. Leave a comment! For the remainder of the day, we have a few more options of great things to do in this area of Venice. Then head over to the Dolomites: the most unique of mountains with jagged grey peaks surrounded by the absolutely stunning valleys and green hills of Trentino Alto-Adige. Volterrais another small village on top of a hill. DAY 2: Exploring Venice DAY 3: Off the beaten path Venice DAY 4: Palladio Day! This way we make sure we get the best places to stay. We wrote some articles about Rome, that might interest you: There are many options for a road trip in the Northern part of Italy. Optional: On the drive to Verona, you will be very close to the Santuario Madonna della Corona. We have tons of information on the Dolomites, which you can see in our Dolomites Travel Guide. Continue with Recommended Cookies. The people are friendly, and the food is fantastic. From Cortina dAmpezzo, drive over Giau Pass or Falzarego Pass to Marmolada. WorldNomadsinsurance is what we feel is the most comprehensive and reliable travel insurance you can buy. All of Italys regions offer something unique and in this guide, the spotlight is on the north. Tickets are often fully booked, and you need to choose a particular time slot to visit the Duomo. The drive from Parma to Milan is around 2 hours. 5 days is very short, and you need to make some choices in what places youre going to visit. Nowadays the most important source of income is tourism. But the true draw is the landscape. Get updated hours before you go and you can learn more about how to visit this basilica in our Things to Do in Venice article. Heres a more in-depth look at how to get around northern Italy: There are both national train lines and regional train lines, meaning you are well-connected between the major cities and there are also options to reach smaller towns. 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. 10 Day Northern Italy Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Venice Day 2: Venice Day 3: Dolomites Day 4: Dolomites Day 5: Dolomites Day 6: Dolomites Day 7: Verona Day 8: Milan Day 9: Lake Como & Bellagio Day 10: Fly Home Northern Italy itinerary map About this Northern Italy Itinerary We found that insurance can be a tricky thing, but since were using Rentalcover.com for our rental insurance, we stopped worrying. You can also skip Verona, but it is a wonderful city and one of our favorites in Italy. We also have information about things to do in Sirmione and Riva del Garda. Your email address will not be published. What cities to include in your Northern Italy Travel Itinerary? If you still have a rental car, drive to Bellagio (1.5 hours) or Varenna (1.5 hours). Best Time To Visit Italy For a 10 Day Trip. For suggestions on where to stay in Venice, take a look at our Venice Hotel Guide. In this road trip, we recommend you to start in Milan and leave the country from Venice. You can also book one of the transport options below. Unless you have a late afternoon flight, you will either have to leave very early in the morning or travel to Venice the night of day 9. Here youll find many small traditional restaurants, the best place to have a relaxing night after much walking in the city! This Northern Italy road trip itinerary works either way! Just be aware that they charge a 5 booking fee to use their website. For those who want to combine a few Italian cities with some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe, youll love this northern Italy itinerary. In the Dolomites, the first snow begins to fall sometime in October and continues through May, so during this time, the hiking trails will be covered with snow. If you like hiking, hike the Puez-Odle Altopiano. Our road trip itineraries cover the different highlights in this part of the country. In Selva di Val Gardena, Hotel Tyrol has an excellent location and gets wonderful reviews. If you need to start and end in the same location (for example, if it is easier to find flights in and out of one airport), that can be done as well. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Ideally, a robust northern Italy itinerary falls somewhere between 10 and 14 days. The two best lakes for watersports like kite- and windsurfing are Lake Como and Lake Garda. Day 10 Milan. It is fantastic to spend a half-day or full-day in this area. If you will be arriving Venice very early in the day (for example, you are already in Europe and wont be dealing with jet lag), or the night before, you can follow our 2 Day Venice Itinerary. If you're planning to visit the island of Fogo in Cape Verde, you might be looking for a list of the best things to do in Fogo. For information on renting a car, including rental car fees, drop fees, and things to know ahead of time, take a look at our article Important Things to Know Before Renting a Car in Europe. Answer 11 of 12: 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. Hiking in the Dolomites | Northern Italy Itinerary. 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. Did you know the famous tower straightens every year? The easiest way to get around northern Italy is by train. As far as how long to spend in each place, here are my recommendations for a minimum amount of stay based on how much there is to do in each place (& my personal favorite spots! The city of Verona is a maximum one hour drive from Lake Garda. Four nights in Milan with a day trip to the Lakes OR two nights in Milan and two nights at Lake Como. The city is busy, and most roads are one direction only. Many great artists and philosophers lived in Florence during the middle ages. Its easy to travel between Milan and Venice by train, so you can get back to your starting point without much time, effort, and money. It is essential to plan ahead while planning a road trip in Italy. Tuscany is often referred to as the most beautiful countryside in Italy. Milan Lake Como Cinque Terre Venice Dolomites Highlights DOLOMITES: For links to all of our articles about the Dolomites, take a look at our Dolomites Travel Guide. The Dolomiti Lodge Alvergets exceptional reviews. It is a beautiful drive, especially the final 45-minutes, as you drive along winding roads into the mountains. Train Travel: To travel from city to city, train fares range from $15 to $60, depending on the distance traveled and the speed of the train. However, you will have more travel time tomorrow to get to the airport. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. In the next part, youll find step by step itineraries where we explain the best stops, famous landmarks, and best places to stay. Youll be able to use your time in the most efficint way. You can also choose to do this road trip in the other way around. Northern Italy is a diverse landscape: mountains, sea, lakes, floating cities, metropolitan centers, food-rich countrysides. Answer 11 of 13: 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. The most efficient way to see Northern Italy is by starting in Venice and ending in Milan (or vice versa). You can do this itinerary all year, but during the months of November, April, and even May, you will be very limited in what you can do in the Dolomites, as this area transitions between a hiking and skiing destination.