All the major cities on our 10 day Italy travel itinerary were accessible by public transportation, and the train . You can also book one of the transport options below. The months July and August are the high tourist seasons, so it is busier during these months. 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). Book your stay in Milan and spend time exploring the city, while using the next few days to visit Cinque Terre and Lake Como. Things To Do In Milan. Which itinerary is on your bucket list? The drive back from Lake Garda to Milan is around 2 hours, so make sure you plan that properly according to your departure. Lombardy & Veneto in 10 Days In the morning, check out of your hotel. Arrive on an empty stomach! You can also choose to do this road trip in the other way around. Also take advantage of the linked posts within this article to discover individual destinations in depth and ultimately allow you to plan your trip better. It is recommended to plan this a few weeks before your arrival. Learn how to spend one perfect day in Verona. 7 Days of Northern Italy Itinerary: Northern Italy Itinerary Day 1-2: Bologna. To enter Venice, youll need to buy a ticket, which gives you also access to the taxi boats. 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. Ponte dellAccademia view | Northern Italy Itinerary. Make it easier to visit using my Lake Como budget tips, but dont be afraid to indulge in visiting its most romantic places like Villa del Balbianello and the town of Bellagio. Note: This post contains affiliate links. 8.1 Bologna - 7 days. If you will have a car, park your car at Tronchetto Parking. Dont forget to book your sightseeing tickets for Florence in advance. Sirmione, which is a bit more expensive option, but probably one of the most romantic places youll ever sleep. There is still plenty to do here that involves little to no hiking. This cable car station is located in Cortina dAmpezzo and from the mountain station you have jaw-dropping views of the Dolomites. We chose for Milan as a starting point because it is easy to reach, either flying or overland. You'll visit two of Italy's best culinary regions, Emilia-Romagna and Piemonte; you'll marvel at Italy's most picturesque mountains in Trentino and Alto Adige; and you'll visit four lakes: Garda, Como, Orta, and Maggiore. I highly recommend booking a tour with a local guide for the unique experience of hunting for truffles and do a Barolo wine tasting. See Day 1 of this northern Italy itinerary for restaurant suggestions. Your email address will not be published. Parmawill be the last city on this itinerary before you head back to Milan. Total Tour Investment - Starting at $9999/guest Reserve your spot today with a deposit of $1000/guest (balance due 100 days prior to departure) Keep in mind that Milan Bergamo is about an hour outside of Milan. Learn more here. Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy, and it sits between the Dolomites and Milan. Grand Canal of Venice from T Fondaco Terrace | Northern Italy Itinerary. Regardless, these two sister cities are only 40 minutes apart by car, but exhibit completely different landscapes. Italy is one of the most visited countries in Europe, perhaps even the world. Known for its iconic leaning tower. LAKE GARDA: Plan your visit with our article Best Things to Do in Lake Garda. A Northern Italy itinerary From the canals of Venice to the mighty Dolomites and the stunning Italian Riviera, there's so much to see and experience in this part of the country, so not everything is included in this list. Day 4 Stresa and Orta San Giulio. For more details about this day, refer to day 1 of our 2 Day Venice Itinerary. Tuscany is a bit different than the other regions in Italy. Pizzoccheri are a mix of short buckwheat tagliatelle pasta, potatoes, cheese, and greens. View from Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute | Northern Italy Itinerary. The road will take you through the dolomites, which is lovely. Or, you can take a train from Verona to Milan (roughly 1.5 hours with ticket prices ranging from $17 to $27 USD). Head west to Turin, a financial and cultural hub like Milan, stylized by Baroque-style architecture and the famed Mole Antonelliana. 6 Northern Italy Road Trip itinerary: Nature edition (6-14 days) 6.1 The Dolomites - 6 days. This article does a great job describing the numerous options, which can be overwhelming to choose from. Curious for more ideas? The Rialto Bridge is a covered footbridge that is lined with shops. This article contains several road trip itineraries in length and activities. Depending on where you are staying in Venice, you can get here on foot or ride the vaporetto. Honestly, we think five days is too short to explore the best parts of Northern Italy. On our first trip to the Dolomites, we had three days and once there, we wished we had a lot more time. Which one you choose really depends if you want to cruise up Lake Como or just get to Varenna as quickly as possible. Best Time To Visit Italy For a 10 Day Trip. View from the Puez-Odle Altopiano trail | Northern Italy Itinerary. Youll see a lot more of the beautiful countryside of Italy. On the second day you drive to Lake Como, but thats only around 2 hours drive. That does not include tours, only entrance fees. Required fields are marked *. 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. You could engage in sports or you could visit to admire the views and the alpine culture! Make sure to bring some warm clothes, even in summer! This is our second trip. Our first trip we visited Rome, Florence, Bologna, Venice, Genoa/Cinque Terre. Not to worry. The people are friendly, and the food is fantastic. Lake Garda is even the biggest lake in Europe, and Lake Maggiore and Lake Como are set in some beautiful environments. As you tour Doges Palace, you will cross the Bridge of Sighs. However, coach bus companies like Flixbus operate throughout the country and Europe, so you could travel between regions using their service. You can use these Google Maps as a recommended route to follow.Click on the image to open the map on GoogleMaps.com. 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. Public transport in Florence is perfect, so the next day you dont have any problems reaching the city center. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. 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. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. Verona is worldwide known as the city of love. At the end of the day, we recommend to leave Venice, hop in your car and drive to Florence, which is still a 3-hour drive. The other option to spend only 5 days in the northern part is excellent for hiking enthusiasts. San Gimignanois another great historic medieval village to visit. DAY 1: Venice. The below charge are average temperatures in the Milan region. That is up to you and the flexibility of your travel dates! Its airports are very well connected with Milan Bergamo being a major hub for Ryanair and other budget carriers. 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. If you cant reserve a time slot on the official website, here is a one hour tour that includes your admission to see the Last Supper.. For this itinerary, it is best to rent a car. We found that insurance can be a tricky thing, but since were using Rentalcover.com for our rental insurance, we stopped worrying. With regional buses you can typically reach small towns, while with Flixbus, youll mostly be limited to cities. Lago di Braies | Northern Italy Itinerary. Hopefully all these options make clearer what is at the top of your northern Italy bucket list! It truly is the best way to visit the country and enjoy just how vastly different the landscapes are across the peninsula. 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. We will skip the Dolomites during this road trip because the drive is taking to much time. Day 3 - 4: Swoon Over Picturesque Cinque Terre. Italy Tourism Italy Hotels . This way you can reach the historic city of Venice early morning and spend a few moments when it is not too busy. Millions of tourists travel every year to this renowned place. It is also worth it to hire a boat to cruise by the villas, or even tour one of them. This epic northern Italy itinerary begins in Valle DAosta, the smallest and most underrated of the regions. It is the highest mountain in this mountain range. But you will have a little more flexibility for Lake Como. But for the cities of Venice and Florence, it is busy year-round. We recommend taking the scenic route, though. 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. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. 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. The easiest way to get around northern Italy is by train. We wrote several articles about Genoa which we recommend reading before going to the city. This road trip is around 500 kilometers, maybe a bit more depending on where you go around the lakes. This walled village with a big cathedral dates back to the 8th century BC! Or maybe you didnt have time on your first day to see all the highlights of the city. And the Medici Family, in particular, had significant influence at the modern banking system. Travel insurance is essential for your belongings and healthcare while traveling. We selected two options, both with excellent customer reviews, which we think are great to spend one night. Where To Stay In Cinque Terre. Arena Suite is a 4-star hotel in the city center that has large rooms and gets exceptional reviews. It may look like I put a lot of time into the Dolomites (because I did ). Yes, its a tourist experience, but its also still incredibly unique and wholesome to run away to the city and get lost in its alleys for a few days. Discover more day trips from Milan to beef up your itinerary. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. In this guide, we lay out a 10-day northern Italy itinerary, with tips on how to modify it, depending on your interests and how much time you have. Cultural Exploration Family Tour of Northern Italy. 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. This way youll spend your time in the most efficient way possible. The weather around the lakes and in the mountains can vary heavily day to day. Here's my suggestions for a one week Itinerary in Northern Italy: One night in Turin. purchase your ticket in advance on the official website. We wrote some articles about Rome, that might interest you: There are many options for a road trip in the Northern part of Italy. The most efficient way to see Northern Italy is by starting in Venice and ending in Milan (or vice versa). if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'madefortravellers_com-box-3','ezslot_3',133,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-madefortravellers_com-box-3-0'); When you feel it is more convenient, you can also choose to start your road trip at Venice. Our website uses cookies. Once you have checked into your hotel, have a quick lunch and then make your way to the Rialto Bridge. 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 wait in line, you can join a skip-the-line tour. The total length of this road trip is 388 miles (625 kilometers). Parma is a city that will surprise you. 5 days is very short, and you need to make some choices in what places youre going to visit. Medici Family,who invented modern banking, but also a few popes came from this family. Use this link or the banner below to get a quote. See itinerary. You can start this itinerary from top to bottom - Venice to Rome, or the other way round from Rome to Venice. ITALY YOUTUBE CLIPS. The vaporetto is a water bus that runs along the Grand Canal (and also out to the lagoon, Murano, Burano, and Lido). Volterrais another small village on top of a hill. The cover photo for this itinerary was also taken at Lago di Braies. 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! 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. Then youll head to Venice, from which you can do a day trip to the Dolomites. We wrote an in-depth guide about Cinque Terre. For those adventure seeker and outdoor sportsmen, you may also enjoy traveling through the Italian Alps in winter during peak ski season. Artist likeMichaelangelo, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and Machiavellilived and worked in the city of Florence.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'madefortravellers_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_11',147,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-madefortravellers_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); Florence is probably the city with the most historic architecture in Italy. Italy Flights to Italy 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. This 17 km (10.6 mile) hike takes 6 to 9 hours and starts in Selva di Val Gardena. By car, it is a 160 km drive that takes 2 hours. The biggest lake in Italy and Europe. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'madefortravellers_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_9',138,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-madefortravellers_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); It is lovely to spend the night in Verona. While youll easily be able to get from city to city and even towns using regional trains, going through the mountains will mean there are less stops and train options, or there may just be no option at all. 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. Miscellaneous: Factor in approximately $50 USD per day for miscellaneous fees, such as short taxi or Uber rides, souvenirs, etc. I recommend starting on Riva degli Schiavoni, which is a wide promenade that runs along the Venetian Lagoon. Ill be recommending the stops on the itineraries in a certain order, but not necessarily saying you should be spending one day here and two days there. Where to stay in Milan. DAY 2: Exploring Venice DAY 3: Off the beaten path Venice DAY 4: Palladio Day! From Pisa, it is only a short drive to one of the most beautiful coastlines in Italy. Youll see the greatest highlights and have enough time for sightseeing, hiking and learn about the Italian culture. The cheapest option is to rent a car just for the Dolomites portion of this trip. The Dolomites looks like a small area on a map, but there is a LOT to do here. Hit the 5 major areas on everyones northern Italy bucket list. 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. Lake Garda is known for its beautiful historic villages and also beautiful landscapes. Required fields are marked *. Verona is the ultimate city of romance in Italy: the setting of Shakespeares Romeo & Juliet, made up of rose-hued buildings and castles nestled over the Adige River. Bergamo is big in size, but quaint in spirit. The best way to get around the Dolomites is by car. 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.