The highlights you dont want to miss are; Varenna is the best place to stay at Lake Como for this road trip. 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! You can also book a guided tour through the city, where youll explore the best highlights of Florence. But you will have a little more flexibility for Lake Como. We recommend leaving early in the morning, so you have enough time to reach the park. Day 8 Lake Garda - Family Fun. The entire itinerary can be done as a road trip or you can rent a car just for the Dolomites. With more time, or some modifications, you can also add in Lake Garda or more time in the Dolomites. The road will take you through the dolomites, which is lovely. Made For Travellers is compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Now, it is a museum. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. It is essential to plan ahead while planning a road trip in Italy. It is always fun to explore a city for the second time. Book your stay in Milan and spend time exploring the city, while using the next few days to visit Cinque Terre and Lake Como. There are lots of restaurants located in and around St. Marks Square but most of these are overpriced and mediocre. Cinque Terreis a Unesco world heritage site. Venice 2 Nights. 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. 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. The lake is the largest in the southern part of Switzerland. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. 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 city is known for its parma ham and renowned parmesan cheese. Dive deeper into the Val Brembana to the north of Bergamo to visit the villages of Branzi and Cornello dei Tasso. Click on the banner to get more information on the website of World Nomads. Verona Arena is one of the best-preserved Amphitheaters in the world. Lets start with the 10-day highlights! After reading the itinerary above, you might wonder how to shorten the itinerary to five days. 7.1 Venice - 5 days. Note: This post contains affiliate links. Then, ride the cable car to Marmolada, the highest mountain in the Dolomites. Once you have checked into your hotel, have a quick lunch and then make your way to the Rialto Bridge. From Florence to Rome it is about 3 to 4 hours drive. Lake Garda is even the biggest lake in Europe, and Lake Maggiore and Lake Como are set in some beautiful environments. Here are some in-depth guides to help you plan exactly what to do in each destination: Check out this Google Maps Trip Planner with extra itinerary suggestions: Outdoor enthusiasts will fall in love with the Italian Alps. Hiking in the Dolomites | Northern Italy Itinerary. Public transport in Florence is perfect, so the next day you dont have any problems reaching the city center. Part of the eastern Alps in northern Italy and marking the border between Italy and Austria, these natural beauties are another UNESCO heritage site. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Many people want to visit these cities while visiting Italy, but especially Rome is a bit far regarding the other cities. For more great itineraries in Europe and around the world, visit our Travel Itineraries page. Your email address will not be published. So we recommend staying at the outside center ring, which makes it easy to park your car. We recommend staying close by the park entrance. For full details on how to do this, refer to our Lake Como Day Trip guide and Things to Do in Bellagio. 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. Lago di Braies | Northern Italy Itinerary. You can either day trip from Milan, just visiting Lake Como for the day, spending another night in Milan. Nearby Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure are a few extra stop ideas. There is still plenty to do here that involves little to no hiking. Volterrais another small village on top of a hill. Here youll find many small traditional restaurants, the best place to have a relaxing night after much walking in the city! Renting a car in advance can save you a lot of money. You might even drive tothe Queen of the Dolomites Marmolada. It is also convenient to book a guided tour in the park and its surroundings, that way you make sure youll get the best things to see in the short amount of time. So you can use your time in the most efficint way. Vicenza. For more information, refer to day #7 of our Dolomites Itinerary. Between wine, fairytale villages, and intimate vistas, youll be feeling the Italian romance. The cover photo for this itinerary was also taken at Lago di Braies. Plan on spending about 2 to 3 hours in both Varenna and Bellagio. Italy does not have a national bus line, so most buses are only regional or city. As you cross Ponte della Paglia look down the canal for the iconic view of the Bridge of Sighs. San Gimignanois another great historic medieval village to visit. Here are some suggestions: Next stop is Liguria for fresh seafood, focaccia, and pesto! In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. Youll find both French and Italian are spoken here because of how close the two countries are. All the major cities on our 10 day Italy travel itinerary were accessible by public transportation, and the train . 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. Hopefully all these options make clearer what is at the top of your northern Italy bucket list! On the second day you drive to Lake Como, but thats only around 2 hours drive. The last day of this road trip itinerary is traveling back to Milan. Not a big hiker? DOLOMITES: For links to all of our articles about the Dolomites, take a look at our Dolomites Travel Guide. We recommend Ai Do Leoni, which is next to St. Marks Basilica and serves sandwiches and small plates of pasta. Day 3 - Lake Como. We also find that their customer service is excellent. Milan is bustling, crowded, the energy is always high. So the first day we dont plan that much. It may look like I put a lot of time into the Dolomites (because I did ). Or that you need to wait a long time in line. Making your way from the Western Alps, youll cross Milan, Lake Como, and Bergamo in the Central Alps. Ride the elevator to the top of the Campanile for the best 360 view of Venice. The big Italian big four road trip. Ready for the trip of a lifetime? Here's my suggestions for a one week Itinerary in Northern Italy: One night in Turin. Lago di Braies is a beautiful lake to visit and great for families and those who dont want to do a lot of hiking. If you cant get one, consider joining a tour. Milan to Florence is a great road trip, where you see the best parts the Tuscany and Cinque Terre region. In the Dolomites, it is free to go hiking, but there can be parking fees and fees to ride the cable cars. 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. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Our northern Italy itinerary, 7 days from the Alps to Milan, is all about exploring the wonders that lie at the top end of the boot. After you woke up and enjoyed the beautiful mountain views, it is time to hit the road again. 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. All of Italys regions offer something unique and in this guide, the spotlight is on the north. To enter Venice, youll need to buy a ticket, which gives you also access to the taxi boats. Three rocky islands that were bought by the Borromean family centuries ago. The best time to visit the Northern part of Italy is between the months of May and September. Milan can be a great starting point too. Highlights include time in the beautiful cities of Bergamo and Turin, a visit to the most beautiful monastery in Europe and a glimpse of the most iconic cathedral in the world (seriously!) If you like skiing, this northern Italy itinerary works well from December through March, when the Dolomites become one of the best places in Europe to go skiing. Here are the most romantic places in northern Italy: Portovenere is an underrated, hidden gem on the coast of Liguria. Teatro Farneseis a theater you should visit while in Parma, it is a 16th-century theater, built entirely from wood. The city is bustling, and if you dont book your tickets in advance, there might be a chance you miss out on visiting the historic Duomo. Spend the afternoon strolling through the streets of Verona. You can pretty much walk into any bakery in Liguria and get an amazing piece of focaccia. Where to stay in Milan. Day 4-6 Emilia Romagna. Learn how to spend one perfect day in Verona. You dont need a car when in the city of Rome. Again, expect long lines here. Whats more exciting than an Italy road trip? However, if youre flying from within Europe, you may want to consider flying into Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport, which is a hub for Ryanair flights. Italy Tourism Italy Hotels . This Italy travel itinerary includes in a lot of variety. Day 1 in Milan - hit the highlights. From Pisa, it is only a short drive to one of the most beautiful coastlines in Italy. Keep in mind that Milan Bergamo is about an hour outside of Milan. Not far from Franciacorta is the region of Veneto, wherein the next half of the itinerary lies. 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. If you dont want to spend four days in the Dolomites, you can take out a day and add it to Venice or spend a day at Lake Garda. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We also have a guide to the best things to do on the Gargano Peninsula and how to spend one day in Vieste. We selected two options, both with excellent customer reviews, which we think are great to spend one night. Verona is a great city to spend your day. Mosaics on St. Marks Basilica | Northern Italy Itinerary, On the terrace of St. Marks Basilica | Northern Italy Itinerary. 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. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. 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! It truly is the best way to visit the country and enjoy just how vastly different the landscapes are across the peninsula. Bergamo 2 Nights. Italy Flights to Italy Hit the 5 major areas on everyones northern Italy bucket list. Things To Do In Cinque Terre. The best time to visit is in the fall, also when the White Truffle Festival takes place in Alba. Your last stop on this itinerary is tapping into a bit of central Italy territory, but it is a must stop for foodies. 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. Cinque Terre is known for its beautiful coastline, colorful houses that are built into the cliffs, stunning nature and excellent hiking trails. 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. The other option is staying inPeschiera del Garda, a vibrant town next to the lake, also perfect for a romantic stay, but less expensive. Northern Italy Road Trip Itinerary: Day 1-3 Veneto. We stayed at the Grand Hotel Savoia, which is a beautiful 5-star hotel in Cortina. You can use this link to check the latest prices on rental cars in Italy. 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. If you have less than 10 days, then remove a day or two from the Dolomites. They arent as cheap as buses, but theyre less expensive than renting a car. Of course, youll visit the famous landmarks asColleseum,Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, and Vatican City. Day 6 To Lake Garda. If youre someone whos embarking on their once-in-a-lifetime trip to Italy, this itinerary is for you. Known for its iconic leaning tower. Day 4 Stresa and Orta San Giulio. Or, you can take a train from Verona to Milan (roughly 1.5 hours with ticket prices ranging from $17 to $27 USD). Hotel Danieli is a luxurious 5-star hotel located on Riva degli Schiavoni. Day 5 - 6: Explore The Port City of Genoa. We recommend taking the scenic route, though. View from Castello Scaligero di Malcesine, Malcesine, Lake Garda. 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. As you continue east on the promenade, you will pass Hotel Danieli and to your right will be gorgeous views across the canal. Alternative: skip Veneto and head to Liguria to enjoy the glamorous Portofino. The upside is that you can explore Venice by night when you arrive not too late. To avoid waiting in line, you can purchase your ticket in advance on the official website. However, during this trip, you dont have that much time to explore the most significant hiking trails. We had dinner twice at Hotel Freina and this hotel also gets exceptional reviews. Sirmione, which is a bit more expensive option, but probably one of the most romantic places youll ever sleep. 7 days in Italy - Option 1: the Northern Italy itinerary bucket list destinations First stop: 2 nights in Venice. The best way to get around the Dolomites is by car. We would really like to visit Bologna and Florence again and have to add Verona for sure due to business (just 1 day business meeting). The roads are good condition, and the views are just stunning. The Doges Palace is located next to St. Marks Basilica. For the rest of the day, you are free to explore the canals of Venice. Dynamic pricing from $3,575. Check out our article What is Cinque Terre Famous For? Built-in 30 AD and today still used as a concert venue. Fly into Milan or Bergamo airport, pick up a hire car and begin your exploration with Lake Como, the most breathtakingly beautiful expanse of water of all. From Cortina dAmpezzo, drive over Giau Pass or Falzarego Pass to Marmolada.