You can have lunch or dinner on the rooftop terrace with views of the Venetian Lagoon. The drive back from Lake Garda to Milan is around 2 hours, so make sure you plan that properly according to your departure. 10 days is great, but also a bit short with so much to see around this part of Italy. Approximately 100 kilometers driving a day should be your maximum, so you have enough time to explore the beautiful lakes. Start as far west as possible in Courmayeur to visit Mont Blanc and the Val Ferret. Day 6 To Lake Garda. Here's a one week in Northern Italy Travel Itinerary you'll want to follow. Below is my recommended 7 day itinerary for Northern Italy which covers the highlights and must-see cities. But for the cities of Venice and Florence, it is busy year-round. A visit here adds on another hour of driving, plus time to visit the church, which takes about an hour. If youre hoping to visit many places that arent major cities or tourist spots, then I would absolutely recommend renting a car. If you have less than 10 days, then remove a day or two from the Dolomites. We also have a guide to the best things to do on the Gargano Peninsula and how to spend one day in Vieste. However, we recommend you to drive a few hours to Venice during the evening and stay overnight in Venice. Thats why we selected the recourses we use all the time while booking our trips. But if you like, you can explore the city. The terrace is free to visit and you have a great view overlooking the Grand Canal. You can either wander the canals on your own or take a walking tour. The best time to visit is in the fall, also when the White Truffle Festival takes place in Alba. There is an airport in both Venice and Milan so you could start your itinerary in either place. Of course, youll visit the famous landmarks asColleseum,Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon, and Vatican City. 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. In the morning, check out of your hotel. Day 9 Milan. We always feel at home while traveling through Tuscany. Northern Italy Itinerary - 8. ), or visit on a guided tour. Day 7 Lake Garda - Sirmione. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. The bus from or to the airport can take up to 1 hour though. Its hard to fit it all into one trip, but hopefully youve found the perfect itinerary for your trip to northern Italy or at least sparks of inspiration! Bologna is the origin of many Italian food favorites: Parmigiano Reggiano, Mortadella, Rag Bolognese, Balsamic Vinegar and Lasagne. Bergamo 2 Nights. I think it is best to cut costs by staying in a cheaper hotel or eating out less often, so you can take the faster train and have more time exploring the city. We are coming from the West Coast of the US (California). Some of these links are affiliate links. Sienais renowned for the largest medieval square and the famous Torre del Mangia. From Florence to Rome it is about 3 to 4 hours drive. 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. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Strolling the canals is one of the best things to do in Venice and there are several ways to do it. In Pisa, youll stay overnight. Check out our article What is Cinque Terre Famous For? And despite Romeo and Juliet is a fictional love story, it is possible to visit Juliets house. We've only ever traveled by public transportation in Italy and so that's how we designed these itineraries. Day 1 - 2: Welcome Northern Italy's Romantic and Bustling Milan. You can pretty much walk into any bakery in Liguria and get an amazing piece of focaccia. This is our second trip. Then youll head to Venice, from which you can do a day trip to the Dolomites. (Psst! 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. Lets start with the 10-day highlights! Verona Arena is one of the best-preserved Amphitheaters in the world. Nowadays the most important source of income is tourism. Venice 2 Nights. We chose to take on Northern Italy by train and it was super easy and comfortable! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 5 days is very short, and you need to make some choices in what places youre going to visit. We chose for Milan as a starting point because it is easy to reach, either flying or overland. We recommend that you pick up your rental car right before you leave the city and travel to lake Como. Breakdown of your 2 weeks in Northern Italy Milan: 2 days Lake Como: 2 days Lake Garda: 2 days Verona: 1 day Dolomites: 5 days Venice: 2 days You can choose whether you start in Milan and end in Venice, or go in reverse. Tre Cime di Lavaredo | Northern Italy Itinerary, Cadini di Misurina viewpoint | Northern Italy Itinerary. Milan 2 Nights. Pick up the car on the morning of day 3, when you leave Venice, and then drop the car in Verona. Then, ride the cable car to Marmolada, the highest mountain in the Dolomites. Sirmione is a historic town on a peninsula at the lake. 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. An afternoon is plenty of time to see these sights. This is a good option for those who want to spend the night in a beautiful lakeside town. This way you can reach the historic city of Venice early morning and spend a few moments when it is not too busy. If you have a car and plan to stay in the city center, ask your hotel for advice on where to park. See itinerary. And you dont need your rental car while staying in Milan. 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! Millions of tourists travel every year to this renowned place. You might even drive tothe Queen of the Dolomites Marmolada. From the Rialto Bridge, ride the vaporetto to Pont dellAccademia. In the morning, travel to Milan. 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. The Doges Palace is located next to St. Marks Basilica. Lago di Braies is a beautiful lake to visit and great for families and those who dont want to do a lot of hiking. When you have more time for a road trip, we recommend using it. By car, it is a 160 km drive that takes 2 hours. From Marmolada, drive over Passo Fedaia and Passo Pordoi, two beautiful scenic drives in the Dolomites. 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. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. With more time, or some modifications, you can also add in Lake Garda or more time in the Dolomites. There is plenty to keep you busy here for three days, and the minimum amount of time that we recommend is one day in Lake Garda. The cheapest option is to rent a car just for the Dolomites portion of this trip. 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. verona itinerary 1 day Verona location on Italy map | verona itinerary 1 day 10:00 am (#verona itinerary 1 day . Day 4 The Leaning Tower of Pisa & Cinque Terre. Theres not much I need to explain as to why Venice is a good city-break: the uniqueness of its landscape and how it affects every aspect of life from transportation to food. The big question when planning a trip is always: how long you should spend in northern Italy? Spend the afternoon by hiking one of the nearby trails. The parking garage can hold 4500 vehicles. 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. Its a cheap way to get around Venice and the views are amazing, as you cruise along the Grand Canal. 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. Whats more exciting than an Italy road trip? ITALY YOUTUBE CLIPS. View from Castello Scaligero di Malcesine, Malcesine, Lake Garda. He travels the world with the love of his life and writes about inspiring cultures and practical travel tips. Next, take the metro to the Duomo. Because theres no traffic, the vibe is even more unique. Not far from Franciacorta is the region of Veneto, wherein the next half of the itinerary lies. I've also offered options to add on other locations if you're travelling for longer too or adding Italy to part of a longer Europe itinerary . 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. 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. 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. The easiest way to get around northern Italy is by train. The entire area is made up of the Western Alps. However, if you have more then 10 days for your holiday, it is easier to manage. For the best experience, we recommend arriving in Bellagio or Varenna by 10:30 am, to give yourself enough time to visit the area. Many people think this village was the scene for the movietwilight. Northern Italy has an amazingly extensive train network that connect many of the country's top destinations. If you cant get one, consider joining a tour. WorldNomadsinsurance is what we feel is the most comprehensive and reliable travel insurance you can buy. The train system is easy to use and efficient and you can get tickets in advance and with no extra agency charges on the official train site trenitalia.it What to pack for northern Italy Northern Italy has varied weather depending on the season and location. View from the Puez-Odle Altopiano trail | Northern Italy Itinerary. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. DAY: MALCESINE & LIMONE DEL SUL (Lake Garda) Sightseeing In Limone Sul Garda Sightseeing In Malcesine Northern Italy Itinerary - 10. You can avoid the 5 fee by using Trenitalia.com, but this website is more difficult to use. And the Medici Family, in particular, had significant influence at the modern banking system. This means if you make a purchase through that link, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. That does not include tours, only entrance fees. 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. Shakespeares love story Romeo and Juliet is set in Verona. Lagazuoi, Dolomites | Northern Italy Itinerary, The view of Cortina dAmpezzo from the Tofana cable car | Northern Italy Itinerary. Discover more specific destinations for loved-up travelers on the map: Italian food is in a league of its own, but youll soon find out when visiting northern Italy that the traditional dishes are not pasta and pizza. Parmawill be the last city on this itinerary before you head back to Milan. 7.1 Venice - 5 days. Restaurant Rifugio Ospitale is located outside of town but is also very highly rated. But sometimes you just dont have more time. In some places, we recommend staying two nights, so it is more relaxed, and you allow yourself to really get to know the city or village. Santuario Madonna della Corona | Northern Italy Itinerary. Manage Settings Two villages you dont want to miss areGardaandSirmione. You can use these Google Maps as a recommended route to follow.Click on the image to open the map on GoogleMaps.com. 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. You can go more off-the-beaten-path and deep dive into the culture, taking the slow travel route. Honestly, we think five days is too short to explore the best parts of Northern Italy. Are you planning to travel to Italy? Or that you need to wait a long time in line. It starts in Venice and ends in Milan, but it can just as easily be done in the opposite direction. Italy is one of the most visited countries in Europe, perhaps even the world. Learn how to spend one perfect day in Verona. We wrote this article about the city where you can read all the essential details. Dynamic pricing from $3,575. It is one of our favorite cities in Italy! 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. 10 Day Northern Italy Itinerary Breakdown. Both these cities will be your home base on this kind of itinerary.