Here are a few more itineraries for Italy: To see all of our articles about Italy, take a look at our Italy Travel Guide. Our northern Italy itinerary became: Venice Florence Milan Lake Como Lake Maggiore. We selected two options, both with excellent customer reviews, which we think are great to spend one night. Travel west to another of northern Italy's fabled lakesLake Orta and spend the morning discovering the medieval lakeside town of Orta San Giulio.Set on the water's edge overlooking a picturesque island, the town is a delightful maze of cobblestoned streets and pastel-colored homes that date back centuries. Planning the best order of visiting these places will depend on what airport you end up flying into, as well as what day your business meeting falls on! Day 6 To Lake Garda. Depending on your interests and fitness level, you can choose different activities. 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. Northern Italy Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Venice, Northern Italy Itinerary Day 3: Dolomites, Northern Italy Itinerary Day 4: Dolomites, Northern Italy Itinerary Day 5: Dolomites, Northern Italy Itinerary Day 6: Dolomites, Northern Italy Itinerary Day 9: Lake Como & Bellagio. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Between wine, fairytale villages, and intimate vistas, youll be feeling the Italian romance. We wrote this article you might like, with in-depth information about the city of Milan. Gondola ride for two? Best Time To Visit Italy For a 10 Day Trip. Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy, and it sits between the Dolomites and Milan. With the Northern Italy Highlights 10 days itinerary youll cross the most important highlights, cities and landmarks in the northern part of Italy. They cover over 150 activities, even some extreme sports and have 24/7 emergency assistance when necessary. Travel insurance is essential for your belongings and healthcare while traveling. We have TONS more information about Italy in our Italy Travel Guide, including Rome, Florence, Venice, Tuscany, the Dolomites, the Amalfi Coast, the Cinque Terre, and Puglia. The top places in Northern Italy are Venice, Verona, Milan, Lake Garda, Lake Como, and Cinque Terre. Check out the map to see this sample itinerary and extra suggestions on where to visit: Some travelers cant get enough of a historic, bustling European city and Italy is rich with them. A Cost Guide. Its airports are very well connected with Milan Bergamo being a major hub for Ryanair and other budget carriers. For more details about this day, refer to day 1 of our 2 Day Venice Itinerary. 10 Day Northern Italy Itinerary - Italy Forum - Tripadvisor 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. The city itself is not that big. We chose to take on Northern Italy by train and it was super easy and comfortable! Three Weeks in Northern Italy: a Travel Itinerary With more time, or some modifications, you can also add in Lake Garda or more time in the Dolomites. Dynamic pricing from $2,859. Northern Italy is a diverse landscape: mountains, sea, lakes, floating cities, metropolitan centers, food-rich countrysides. It is the capital of the Tuscany region. Days 1-2: Lake Maggiore Piedmont Located at the foot of the Swiss Alps, there are 5 major lakes in Northern Italy: Maggiore, Orta, Como, Iseo and Garda. This road trip is around 500 kilometers, maybe a bit more depending on where you go around the lakes. In Pisa, youll stay overnight. . That does not include tours, only entrance fees. 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. If you take the train to Varenna, you will have less travel time, which you can then use for a private boat tour of the villas. It will take around 2 hours to reach the lake. Northern Italy is the most developed part of the country, so transportation is easy-to-access and can take you just about anywhere. Day 3 - Lake Como. 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 . In the evening, have dinner. 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). No itinerary in Northern Italy should not leave unvisited one of the most iconic and romantic places there is - Venice. Tickets are often fully booked, and you need to choose a particular time slot to visit the Duomo. Julie Last updated: January 29, 2023 Italy Leave a Comment. 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. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Tuscany is often referred to as the most beautiful countryside in Italy. Geisler Alm, Adolf Munkel Weg | Northern Italy Itinerary. It starts in Venice and ends in Milan, but it can just as easily be done in the opposite direction. Today youll travel to Lake Garda. From Florence to Rome it is about 3 to 4 hours drive. Again, expect long lines here. Continue with Recommended Cookies. 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. I also recommend asking your hotel for the best way to get to the hotel. View from Castello Scaligero di Malcesine, Malcesine, Lake Garda. The biggest lake in Italy and Europe. Ultimate Northern Italy Road Trip Itinerary: 2023 Guide - Wanderlust Chloe This 17 km (10.6 mile) hike takes 6 to 9 hours and starts in Selva di Val Gardena. Here's my suggestions for a one week Itinerary in Northern Italy: One night in Turin. Strolling the canals is one of the best things to do in Venice and there are several ways to do it. In the evening, check into your hotel and have dinner. If you will have a car, park your car at Tronchetto Parking. And during the night, most tourists left the historic center, so its much quieter. Where to stay in Milan. But this is more expensive, since you are paying for 2 days of a rental car plus parking fees. There are lots of restaurants located in and around St. Marks Square but most of these are overpriced and mediocre. 14 days or even longer is perfect for a road trip. If you love the idea of vineyard views on end and wine tasting with your partner, it must be added to your romantic itinerary. Both options can be done with public transportation and by car. For full details on how to do this, refer to our Lake Como Day Trip guide and Things to Do in Bellagio. Customize your leisure days by adding excursions to your Northern Italy Itinerary. On our first trip to the Dolomites, we had three days and once there, we wished we had a lot more time. An afternoon is plenty of time to see these sights. But if you like, you can explore the city. You can easily take public transportation from and to the airport. It is always fun to explore a city for the second time. Lake Garda is known for its beautiful historic villages and also beautiful landscapes. Sirmione is a historic town on a peninsula at the lake. This way, you have enough time to explore the highlights in Milan. The below charge are average temperatures in the Milan region. Day 8 Lake Garda - Family Fun. Pick up the car from the airport, drive to Venice, and park it in a parking garage during your time in Venice (you wont need it). From the Rialto Bridge, ride the vaporetto to Pont dellAccademia. 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. Alternatively, you can spend the night in Bellagio or Varenna, which are on Lake Como. Most of the time, we use Booking.com to book our accommodations. Marvelous to visit!if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'madefortravellers_com-banner-1','ezslot_8',137,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-madefortravellers_com-banner-1-0'); Theres a lot to see at Lake Garda, so you might be interested in reading our article with in-depth information about this area. However, if you like the idea of visiting Lake Garda, here is a sample itinerary, if you have 12 days in Italy. We will get into the details of this in a little bit. It is one of our favorite cities in Italy! link to 20 Best Things To Do In Fogo, Cape Verde, link to Why Is Everything So Cheap In Portugal? 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. You dont need a car when in the city of Rome. If you have a flight leaving from Marco Polo Airport (Venice), from Milan it takes a minimum of 3.5 hours to travel by train and just over 3 hours by car. If youre into hiking, watersports, or just want to experience the beauty of nature, this road trip might be something for you. The drive from Parma to Milan is around 2 hours. But the advantage is that you can stay overnight in Florence, and the next day has all day to exploring another historic city.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'madefortravellers_com-leader-1','ezslot_13',146,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-madefortravellers_com-leader-1-0'); It is a bit difficult to drive into the city center of Florence. We tried to be as thorough as possible and make different routes for different interests. Once you have checked into your hotel, have a quick lunch and then make your way to the Rialto Bridge. We stayed at the Grand Hotel Savoia, which is a beautiful 5-star hotel in Cortina. Italy is one of the most visited countries in Europe, perhaps even the world. Your email address will not be published. St. Marks Square dates back to the 9th century AD. 7 10 day northern Italy Itinerary: Discover Veneto. ): 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. Public transport adaptations. See Day 1 of this northern Italy itinerary for restaurant suggestions. Their search engine gives the best and most affordable results. Or maybe you didnt have time on your first day to see all the highlights of the city. 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. The city is known for its hospitality. We recommend staying close by the park entrance. At every place where we recommend staying overnight, we put some recommendations for hotel bookings. So you can use your time in the most efficint way. The icon of the city is the Duomo Cathedral. 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). Two nights in the Dolomites. If you head out on your adventure using one of these itineraries or have questions for curating a totally customized itinerary, share with me Id love to hear how your trip has gone or help you further plan your dream northern Italy itinerary! From the cupola of this basilica, you get another spectacular view of Venice. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. It is a beautiful drive, especially the final 45-minutes, as you drive along winding roads into the mountains. Things To Do In Cinque Terre. So if youre lucky enough to spend more time on the road and enjoy your holiday, this itinerary is for you. Franciacorta. Parmawill be the last city on this itinerary before you head back to Milan. View from the Puez-Odle Altopiano trail | Northern Italy Itinerary. VENICE: Learn more about Venice in our article Best Things to Do in Venice. You can also spend the day in Alpe di Siusi, hiking or biking between the rifugios, dining on Italian food, and enjoying the view of Sassolungo. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Dive deeper into the Val Brembana to the north of Bergamo to visit the villages of Branzi and Cornello dei Tasso. View from the campanile | Northern Italy Itinerary. Drive over the Sella Pass and check into your hotel in Selva di Val Gardena or Ortisei. Among the Northern cities are Turin, Milan, Verona, Venice and Como, all within a 400 km straight line. View from the Rialto Bridge | Northern Italy Itinerary. Rome is a special city to visit. There is so much to find in Rome, historic building, culture, and great food! So if you intend to visit the famous tourist city of Venice, you should spend an extra day or two exploring Verona also known as the city of love. The Top Island Itineraries for 2023's New Cruise Ships Fourteen Day Northern Italy Train Itinerary Day 1 Begin your Northern Italy Train Itinerary in Florence. We have more info on how to do this in our article Things to Do in Bellagio. 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). Some hotels will have designated parking, either with or without an additional fee. Youll drive around 62 miles (100 kilometers) a day, but that gives you enough time to explore the historical and traditional villages and countryside. 7 Days of Northern Italy Itinerary: Northern Italy Itinerary Day 1-2: Bologna. However, it would be pretty tough to see this all in a week, even with a car. 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. If you cant get one, consider joining a tour. The towns in Cinque Terre used the be fisherman towns. The stops on this north Italy itinerary include: Youll probably start this itinerary in Milano, given that the most major airports are located just outside the city. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. For this itinerary, you will get around by rental car and train. 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. 10 Days In Italy: An Unforgettable Northern Italy Itinerary 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. If youre hoping to visit many places that arent major cities or tourist spots, then I would absolutely recommend renting a car. Also, we recommend leaving from another city. DAY: VENICE BASSANO DEL GRAPPA MALCESINE (Lake Garda) Bassano Del Grappa Lago Di Garda (Lake Garda) - Malcesine Northern Italy Itinerary - 9. We recommend leaving early in the morning, so you have enough time to reach the park. 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. As you tour Doges Palace, you will cross the Bridge of Sighs. Make sure to bring some warm clothes, even in summer! They made these islands in the beautiful botanical gardens which they are now. Some of these links are affiliate links. However, if you have more then 10 days for your holiday, it is easier to manage. 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. 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. 8.1 Bologna - 7 days. It is also worth it to hire a boat to cruise by the villas, or even tour one of them. Ready for the trip of a lifetime? You can use these Google Maps as a recommended route to follow.Click on the image to open the map on GoogleMaps.com. We had dinner twice at Hotel Freina and this hotel also gets exceptional reviews. 6.2 Lake Garda - 2 days. We recommend staying a bit out of the center, which saves you tons of money. Click on the banner to get more information on the website of World Nomads. Lake Maggiore is in the second largest lake in Italy, and also crosses the border with Switzerland. And if you need a pet friendly apartment, take a look at Cristallo & Faloria Suite Apartments. Youll probably stop a few times just to enjoy the views. It just depends on what you feel is more convenient. If you have longer, great! One of our favourite Northern Italy itineraries calls for a leisurely weekend in Northern Italy focused around the Italian Lakes, a popular stop on the European grand tour. 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. 6.3 Add on: Verona/Venice/Milan 2 days eachItaly. Here are some suggestions: Next stop is Liguria for fresh seafood, focaccia, and pesto! Which itinerary is on your bucket list? We prefer Lake Como over Lake Garda, which is why we designed this northern Italy itinerary with Lake Como. We wrote this article about the city where you can read all the essential details. The Ultimate Northern Italy Itinerary | Mr Hudson 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. The roads are good condition, and the views are just stunning. Things To Do In Milan. And the first theater with a podium instead of the round square youll see in the amphitheaters. We are not opposed to flying in and or out of any airport as long as it makes sense. 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! You will stay in Milan for one to two nights, depending on how you plan to visit Lake Como. Lake Garda is even the biggest lake in Europe, and Lake Maggiore and Lake Como are set in some beautiful environments. You can either wander the canals on your own or take a walking tour. Read about all the best towns on Lake Garda. Hopefully all these options make clearer what is at the top of your northern Italy bucket list! Renting a car in Italy is the most flexible yet most expensive option for traveling around northern Italy. Whether you like hiking in the summer or skiing in the winter, the mountains are paradise. Its worth a visit! The Borromean Islands are the main attraction at Lake Maggiore. I recommend starting on Riva degli Schiavoni, which is a wide promenade that runs along the Venetian Lagoon. Mosaics on St. Marks Basilica | Northern Italy Itinerary, On the terrace of St. Marks Basilica | Northern Italy Itinerary. Once in the area of Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio, you will get around by ferry, which runs frequently and it doesnt take long to get from town to town. 5 Northern Italy Itineraries You Should Steal The Bucket List Northern Italy Itinerary If you're someone who's embarking on their once-in-a-lifetime trip to Italy, this itinerary is for you. 10-Day Northern Italy Itinerary: 2 Perfect Routes 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. 2 Days in Florence Itinerary: Best Itinerary for First-Time Visitors 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. Both these cities will be your home base on this kind of itinerary. Instead the meals are heartier, which reflect the lifestyle of people living here: industrial workers or those living in the Alps having to face long winters. We recommend taking the scenic route, though. Not a big hiker?