We have three recommendations, where we think you still see a lot of this beautiful part of Italy. I put Lake Garda before Verona since you save a little driving time by visiting the north end of Lake Garda first. LAKE GARDA: Plan your visit with our article Best Things to Do in Lake Garda. After you woke up and enjoyed the beautiful mountain views, it is time to hit the road again. Lake Garda is even the biggest lake in Europe, and Lake Maggiore and Lake Como are set in some beautiful environments. This epic northern Italy itinerary begins in Valle DAosta, the smallest and most underrated of the regions. Day 1: Arrive in Milan (sleep in Milan) Day 2: Milan to Lake Como (sleep in Varenna) Day 3: Lake Como (sleep in Varenna) Day 4: To the Dolomites via Verona (sleep in Bolzano or Castelrotto) Day 5: Dolomites (sleep in Bolzano or Castelrotto) Day 6: To Venice (sleep in Venice) Day 7: Venice (sleep in Venice) A Cost Guide. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Next, take the metro to the Duomo. Hit the 5 major areas on everyone's northern Italy bucket list. 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. Both these cities will be your home base on this kind of itinerary. Day 1: Arrive in Venice Day 2: Venice Day 3: Dolomites Day 4: Dolomites Day 5: Dolomites Day 6: Dolomites Day 7: Northern end of Lake Garda (stay in Riva del Garda) Day 8: Southern end of Lake Garda (stay in Sirmione) Day 9: Verona Day 10: Milan Day 11: Lake Como day trip Day 12: Fly home. Tickets are often fully booked, and you need to choose a particular time slot to visit the Duomo. 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. Our recommended places to stay are in two different villages. If youre working with a 10 day northern Italy trip, you can make it simple by spending two days in each place, or do as Im suggesting using Milan and Venice as your home bases to explore more with day trips. We stayed at the Grand Hotel Savoia, which is a beautiful 5-star hotel in Cortina. I'm Michela, a travel photographer living in northern Italy with a passion for empowering wanderlusting women like you to travel fearlessly and start living their travel dream. Millions of tourists travel every year to this renowned place. 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). This road trip is around 500 kilometers, maybe a bit more depending on where you go around the lakes. 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. Both options can be done with public transportation and by car. Most of the time, we use Booking.com to book our accommodations. If you leave by 9 am, you will arrive in Verona just before noon. Verona itinerary 1 day Suggested Verona one day trip & how to spend You can also go around Switzerland and stay in Italy, but thats a longer drive. Bergamo 2 Nights. One week in Northern Italy Travel Itinerary: Your 7 Day Guide And they really are wonders - this is the land of the cathedral-like Dolomites, the actual cathedrals of Milan, and the glistening Italian Lakes, after all. In the morning, check out of your hotel. Tuscany region is great to spend more time. We love taking pictures and videos during our travels, but also like to be organized with our stuff. The best time to visit the Northern part of Italy is between the months of May and September. The city itself is not that big. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Gems of Northern Italy | Smithsonian Journeys Northern Italy itinerary: lakes, mountains and medieval villages Best Northern Italy Itinerary: Backpacking - Barefoot Surfer You can find more information about Tuscany in this article, where we tell more about the different villages in this region. Day 1 in Milan - hit the highlights. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. But this is more expensive, since you are paying for 2 days of a rental car plus parking fees. These suggestions for your time in Venice follows our 2 Day in Venice Itinerary, starting with day 2 and then doing day 1. Tre Cime di Lavaredo | Northern Italy Itinerary, Cadini di Misurina viewpoint | Northern Italy Itinerary. If you have less than 10 days, then remove a day or two from the Dolomites. So if youre lucky enough to spend more time on the road and enjoy your holiday, this itinerary is for you. You could engage in sports or you could visit to admire the views and the alpine culture! Verona Arena is one of the best-preserved Amphitheaters in the world. 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. It is one of the oldest places in Tuscany. Northern Italy Itinerary By Train (Venice, Florence, the Lakes & More) Fourteen Day Northern Italy Train Itinerary Day 1 Begin your Northern Italy Train Itinerary in Florence. We have tons of information on the Dolomites, which you can see in our Dolomites Travel Guide. To make sure you dont spend to much time in the car we recommend staying somewhere around Lake Garda. 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. For more information on how to do this, click here. 7 Days in Italy Itinerary - a guide to what not to miss in Northern Italy This is the priciest lunch option on our list. Italy All Italy Hotels I use Omio for purchasing train tickets or go straight to the Trenitalia website. Relais Balcone di Giulietta is another highly rated hotel located next to Juliets balcony. To save money, stay in a hotel that offers breakfast, put together picnic lunches, and skip the drinks at dinner. Genoais known as the birthplace of Columbus, the renowned sea navigator. I was thinking of flying into Rome due to convenience and cost and flying out of Milan mostly due to convenience. View from Castello Scaligero di Malcesine, Malcesine, Lake Garda. This is a good option for those who want to spend the night in a beautiful lakeside town. Last stop for lovers: Venice! This way, you have enough time to explore the highlights in Milan. The parking garage can hold 4500 vehicles. When you have more time for a road trip, we recommend using it. Because theres no traffic, the vibe is even more unique. Italy does not have a national bus line, so most buses are only regional or city. Youll need to follow the A9 north from Milan. 10 Day Northern Italy Itinerary by Train: Fun Guide From Milan to Venice VENICE: Learn more about Venice in our article Best Things to Do in Venice. 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. 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. It is also worth it to hire a boat to cruise by the villas, or even tour one of them. So you can use your time in the most efficint way. View from the campanile | Northern Italy Itinerary. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You cant take a romantic trip to Italy without enjoying the swoon-worthy, picturesque atmosphere of Venice. Also, we cover several itineraries for 5 and 14 days. From here, you get one of the best views of Venice, and it is a nice way to start your visit to this city. Genoa is excellent to spend a few days and explore the extensive history. Or that you need to wait a long time in line. Italy Tourism Italy Hotels . See Day 1 of this northern Italy itinerary for restaurant suggestions. 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. Northern Italy Itinerary, 7 Days From The Alps To Milan Not to worry. Or, you can take a train from Verona to Milan (roughly 1.5 hours with ticket prices ranging from $17 to $27 USD). This article does a great job describing the numerous options, which can be overwhelming to choose from. You will have to book a time slot in advance, and when to do this depends on your arrival time in Venice today. 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). Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. 9 Day Custom Tour. For more details about this day, refer to day 1 of our 2 Day Venice Itinerary. But the true draw is the landscape. WorldNomadsinsurance is what we feel is the most comprehensive and reliable travel insurance you can buy. Vicenza. When you still have time for exploring, we recommend dropping your rental car at the drop-off and head to the city center. 3 recommendations for a northern Italy itinerary 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. During these months youll have the best weather conditions, less rain and most chance of sunshine. 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. Were here to help you plan the best road trip in Northern Italy. Franciacorta. Here are some suggestions: Next stop is Liguria for fresh seafood, focaccia, and pesto! Lines can be long to enter it, but it is worth it, both to see the golden interior and to stand on the terrace for a view across St. Marks Square. In the morning, travel to Milan. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. (Psst! Day 5 - 6: Explore The Port City of Genoa. 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. With more time, or some modifications, you can also add in Lake Garda or more time in the Dolomites. Here's my suggestions for a one week Itinerary in Northern Italy: One night in Turin. This Northern Italy Itinerary is really made for all of the free-spirited travelers. Milan is bustling, crowded, the energy is always high. The below charge are average temperatures in the Milan region. Sirmione, which is a bit more expensive option, but probably one of the most romantic places youll ever sleep. MILAN & LAKE COMO: Learn how to visit Milan on a day trip or while traveling between the Cinque Terre, Florence and Venice. Curious about more spots to hit? Renting a car in Italy is the most flexible yet most expensive option for traveling around northern Italy. Hit the 5 major areas on everyones northern Italy bucket list. One Week Itinerary in Northern Italy: Recommendations for an Artsy Trip Driving west from Volterra, youll reach the coastal city of Pisa.