The best way to get around the Dolomites is by car. Not to worry. The biggest lake in Italy and Europe. Check out our article What is Cinque Terre Famous For? From Cortina dAmpezzo, drive over Giau Pass or Falzarego Pass to Marmolada. Verona 2 Nights. Our first recommendation is that you start in Milan. If you have a car and plan to stay in the city center, ask your hotel for advice on where to park. We wrote this article about the city where you can read all the essential details. Best Northern Italy Itinerary: Backpacking - Barefoot Surfer This park in the heart of the Dolomites is probably the best stop for a day visit. Walking into this village is like youre stepping back in time. Next, take the metro to the Duomo. An Epic Northern Italy Itinerary (10 Days) - Every Steph From the Dolomites, visit lovely Verona, Milan, and spend a day at Lake Como. In the next part, you'll find step by step itineraries where we explain the best stops, famous landmarks, and best places to stay. Get updated hours and pricing on the official website. 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! There is not a whole lot to see in Menaggio, so this can be skipped. Dynamic pricing from $3,575. Dont forget to book your sightseeing tickets for Florence in advance. These suggestions for your time in Venice follows our 2 Day in Venice Itinerary, starting with day 2 and then doing day 1. Required fields are marked *. In the evening, have dinner. 10-Day Northern Italy Itinerary: 2 Perfect Routes The route will be slightly different. The entrance of the park is around 3,5 hours drive from Varenna. A perfect place to buy a fresh sandwich and enjoy your time at the main square of the village. The vaporetto is a water bus that runs along the Grand Canal (and also out to the lagoon, Murano, Burano, and Lido). We recommend using the parks website to find out the best hiking trails. It saves you a day in rental- and parking costs. You can either day trip from Milan, just visiting Lake Como for the day, spending another night in Milan. Stay overnight in Lake Como (for longer Northern Italy itineraries) Additional day trip from Milan - Bergamo. Geisler Alm, Adolf Munkel Weg | Northern Italy Itinerary. Dreamy Northern Italy Itinerary: 7 Days Italian Road Trip The drive is a bit far, around 3 hours from the national park Ademello Breno, but youll have the best views from the cable car of the highest mountain peak! We started our adventure in Bologna. Built-in 30 AD and today still used as a concert venue. This 14 day Italy itinerary crams in a lot, and can easily be slowed down if you have more time. This epic northern Italy itinerary begins in Valle DAosta, the smallest and most underrated of the regions. The Ultimate Northern Italy Road Trip Itinerary for 2 Weeks Luckily theres much more to see in Verona, some of the famous landmarks are Castelvecchio, Ponte Vecchio, and the Verona Arena. Mainly because there are so many medieval villages to visit. DAY: MALCESINE & LIMONE DEL SUL (Lake Garda) Sightseeing In Limone Sul Garda Sightseeing In Malcesine Northern Italy Itinerary - 10. However, we recommend you to drive a few hours to Venice during the evening and stay overnight in Venice. 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. Ideally, plan to arrive in Venice early in the morning, or even the night before, to make the most of this day. You will have to book a time slot in advance, and when to do this depends on your arrival time in Venice today. For more details about this day, refer to day 1 of our 2 Day Venice Itinerary. Hotel Danieli is a luxurious 5-star hotel located on Riva degli Schiavoni. I was thinking of flying into Rome due to convenience and cost and flying out of Milan mostly due to convenience. Driving west from Volterra, youll reach the coastal city of Pisa. Public transport in Florence is perfect, so the next day you dont have any problems reaching the city center. 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. What cities to include in your Northern Italy Travel Itinerary? After reading the itinerary above, you might wonder how to shorten the itinerary to five days. 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! It is not a coastal city as many people think, the region consists out of five different coastal towns. Day 8 Lake Garda - Family Fun. Day 4-6 Emilia Romagna. 4 Northern Italy itineraries - How to spend a week in Northern Italy Northern Italy Itinerary n 1: Milan, Como Lake, Venice, and Verona You can also see the map here Why? 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. 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. Approximately 100 kilometers driving a day should be your maximum, so you have enough time to explore the beautiful lakes. This article does a great job describing the numerous options, which can be overwhelming to choose from. There are lots of restaurants located in and around St. Marks Square but most of these are overpriced and mediocre. Volterrais another small village on top of a hill. Theres so much to visit in the whole country, and the northern part is no exception to that. from $16,495 /10 days. This road trip is around 500 kilometers, maybe a bit more depending on where you go around the lakes. Depending on where you are staying in Venice, you can get here on foot or ride the vaporetto. And despite Romeo and Juliet is a fictional love story, it is possible to visit Juliets house. Our recommended articles are: Driving from Genoa to Parma is a beautiful road when you skip the tollroads. Take the time to purchase the Firenze card right away. The road will take you through the dolomites, which is lovely. This 17 km (10.6 mile) hike takes 6 to 9 hours and starts in Selva di Val Gardena. Read about all the best towns on Lake Garda. The cover photo for this itinerary was also taken at Lago di Braies. Those are all amazing places to visit! To check train schedules and to book your trains online, Italiarail.com is the easiest website to use. Cinque Terreis a Unesco world heritage site. 10 Day Northern Italy Itinerary - Italy Forum - Tripadvisor Your email address will not be published. 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. Note: This post contains affiliate links. I love simple focaccia, made with just oil, but the bread is so versatile that youll find many different versions. Lake Como is a must stop also for mountain lovers: the peaks soaring above the lake are breathtaking. Florence was the center of trade and banking during medieval times. Fourteen Day Northern Italy Train Itinerary Day 1 Begin your Northern Italy Train Itinerary in Florence. The big question when planning a trip is always: how long you should spend in northern Italy? There are two ways to visit Lake Como today. It's the world's largest gothic cathedral and is absolutely stunning! Between wine, fairytale villages, and intimate vistas, youll be feeling the Italian romance. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. This is our second trip. The city is known for its hospitality. Since 1982 the historic center of Florence is listed as a Unesco World Heritage site. The entire area is made up of the Western Alps. After you woke up and enjoyed the beautiful mountain views, it is time to hit the road again. DAY 1: Venice. Hotel Garn La SoldanellaandHotel Villa Fosineare both located around 5 kilometers from the parks entrance. Lake Maggiore is in the second largest lake in Italy, and also crosses the border with Switzerland. Verona Arena is one of the best-preserved Amphitheaters in the world. Day 10 Milan. 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. 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 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. This is the road youll need to take the next day.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'madefortravellers_com-box-4','ezslot_6',136,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-madefortravellers_com-box-4-0'); The next day you follow road SS36, 38, 39, 42 and 239 to the national park Adamello Brenta. Our recommended places to stay are in two different villages. Not much driving after that . Four nights in Milan with a day trip to the Lakes OR two nights in Milan and two nights at Lake Como. Alternative: skip Veneto and head to Liguria to enjoy the glamorous Portofino. Also, the countryside is renowned for its vineyards, so it is excellent to go for a local winetasting. You can pretty much walk into any bakery in Liguria and get an amazing piece of focaccia. It is a gorgeous basilica, both inside and out. Bergamo 2 Nights. The Ultimate Two Week Northern Italy Road Trip Itinerary 2023 Last stop for lovers: Venice! Dive deeper into the Val Brembana to the north of Bergamo to visit the villages of Branzi and Cornello dei Tasso. You can find more information about Tuscany in this article, where we tell more about the different villages in this region. The parking garage can hold 4500 vehicles. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The big Italian big four road trip. Day 7 Lake Garda - Sirmione. The terrace is free to visit and you have a great view overlooking the Grand Canal. Keep in mind that Milan Bergamo is about an hour outside of Milan. Northern Italy Itinerary, 7 Days From The Alps To Milan Millions of tourists travel every year to this renowned place. The weather around the lakes and in the mountains can vary heavily day to day. We are coming from the West Coast of the US (California). Manage Settings Lagazuoi, Dolomites | Northern Italy Itinerary, The view of Cortina dAmpezzo from the Tofana cable car | Northern Italy Itinerary. Waking up early in Venice and arriving in the historical center before 10 a.m. is recommended. 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. For the best experience, book your ticket online. A Cost Guide. Buses are usually the cheapest option for getting around, as Flixbus tickets are as low as $5. We also have guides about How to Visit St. Marks Basilica, where to get the Best Views of Venice, and how to spend Two Days in Venice. We chose to take on Northern Italy by train and it was super easy and comfortable! 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 northern part of Italy is renowned for its beautiful mountain lakes. 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. St. Marks Square dates back to the 9th century AD. People. The most efficient way to see Northern Italy is by starting in Venice and ending in Milan (or vice versa). We are not opposed to flying in and or out of any airport as long as it makes sense. At the Grand Canal, there are many taxi boats where you can hop on and off with your ticket. In the evening, check into your hotel and have dinner. Not everything has to be perfectly planned out with a route for each day and reservations at a specific restaurant. We were pleasantly surprised during our visit to Parma, and recommend anyone to stay here and explore this lovely city. Its airports are very well connected with Milan Bergamo being a major hub for Ryanair and other budget carriers. There are many accommodations to find in Venice. RENTAL CAR: You can drop your rental car in Verona (and travel by train for the rest of this itinerary, which is the cheapest, most environmentally friendly option) or keep it until the end of your trip. 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. Answer 11 of 11: 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. Day 2 in Milan. However, if you like the idea of visiting Lake Garda, here is a sample itinerary, if you have 12 days in Italy. We have more info on how to do this in our article Things to Do in Bellagio. 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. 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. In the evening, have dinner and check into your hotel. Day 6 To Lake Garda. If you leave by 9 am, you will arrive in Verona just before noon. Dynamic pricing from $3,217. Ultimate Northern Italy Itinerary For 10 Days Voices of Travel Northern Italy Itinerary: Venice, Dolomites, Verona & Lake Como Santuario Madonna della Corona | Northern Italy Itinerary. Italy All Italy Hotels 2 Days in Florence Itinerary: Best Itinerary for First-Time Visitors 8 Discover Emilia Romagna - 10 days. And the first theater with a podium instead of the round square youll see in the amphitheaters. You might even drive tothe Queen of the Dolomites Marmolada. You can go more off-the-beaten-path and deep dive into the culture, taking the slow travel route. I love creating free resources for your travels and personally responding to your questions over chat and email. Arrive on an empty stomach! Learn how to spend one perfect day in Verona. Not a big hiker? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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.