A visit to St. Marks Basilica (once you are inside), lasts about 45 minutes to an hour, to walk through the basilica, see the Pala dOro, and take in the view from the terrace. When you have more time for a road trip, we recommend using it. Your email address will not be published. Afterwards, explore the town of Cortina dAmpezzo, check into your hotel, and then have dinner. Mosaics on St. Marks Basilica | Northern Italy Itinerary, On the terrace of St. Marks Basilica | Northern Italy Itinerary. So if youre lucky enough to spend more time on the road and enjoy your holiday, this itinerary is for you. 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. And you dont need your rental car while staying in Milan. Day 1: Arrive in Venice Day 2: Venice Day 3: Dolomites Day 4: Dolomites Day 5: Drive to Milan Day 6: Lake Como day trip Day 7: Fly home. The entire area is made up of the Western Alps. We are not opposed to flying in and or out of any airport as long as it makes sense. 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). 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) 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. Some hotels will have designated parking, either with or without an additional fee. However, the Dolomites can be cold year-round, especially when you go high into the mountains. I would only use the bus option if you are opting for a slow travel itinerary and have lots of time to spend in Italy, this way you save money but arent wasting half your vacation trying to figure out the buses. You can read all the details about Genoa in this. Youll drive around 62 miles (100 kilometers) a day, but that gives you enough time to explore the historical and traditional villages and countryside. Discover more day trips from Milan to beef up your itinerary. DAY: VENICE BASSANO DEL GRAPPA MALCESINE (Lake Garda) Bassano Del Grappa Lago Di Garda (Lake Garda) - Malcesine Northern Italy Itinerary - 9. You can also choose to do this road trip in the other way around. This itinerary takes you all the way from Milan to Venice, and from Venice to Florence. Which one you choose really depends if you want to cruise up Lake Como or just get to Varenna as quickly as possible. For this itinerary, you will get around by rental car and train. To check train schedules and to book your trains online, Italiarail.com is the easiest website to use. This park in the heart of the Dolomites is probably the best stop for a day visit. Here are some foods to try in every region on this itinerary: Starting in Piemonte, the speciality is one of the most expensive and luxurious foods in the world: truffles! You can either wander the canals on your own or take a walking tour. 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. Since 1982 the historic center of Florence is listed as a Unesco World Heritage site. If you decide to avoid the toll roads, which is a more scenic route along the western coastline of Italy, it will take you even around 5 hours. This very highly rated tour has skip-the-line access to St. Marks Basilica, it includes the terrace, and it also includes Doges Palace (the next stop on todays itinerary). Regional trains can take twice the length of time to cover the same distance as a high-speed train, and cost half as much, but you will be sacrificing sightseeing time. Bologna is the origin of many Italian food favorites: Parmigiano Reggiano, Mortadella, Rag Bolognese, Balsamic Vinegar and Lasagne. The entire itinerary can be done as a road trip or you can rent a car just for the Dolomites. Those are all amazing places to visit! 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. The great thing is that even this itinerary is worthwhile for people who arent nature lovers but love the mountain landscape. This 14 day Italy itinerary crams in a lot, and can easily be slowed down if you have more time. In between these two cities, it's easy to access the gems of Northern Italy: Lake Como, Verona, Lake Garda and the Dolomites. Portugal is not only a beautiful country but is also shockingly reasonable to live in. If youre someone whos embarking on their once-in-a-lifetime trip to Italy, this itinerary is for you. Relais Balcone di Giulietta is another highly rated hotel located next to Juliets balcony. There is still plenty to do here that involves little to no hiking. Also, we cover several itineraries for 5 and 14 days. Exploring Venice by day is great, but you need to decide what things you definitely want to see. Mainly because there are so many medieval villages to visit. For a splurge, we recommend the Granbaita Dolomites, a luxury hotel with a wellness center. With more time, or some modifications, you can also add in Lake Garda or more time in the Dolomites. With the Northern Italy Highlights - 10 days itinerary you'll cross the most important highlights, cities and landmarks in the northern part of Italy. Buses are usually the cheapest option for getting around, as Flixbus tickets are as low as $5. The cheapest option is to rent a car just for the Dolomites portion of this trip. 9 Day Custom Tour. 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. Book your stay in Milan and spend time exploring the city, while using the next few days to visit Cinque Terre and Lake Como. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. This means if you make a purchase through that link, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. It is recommended to plan this a few weeks before your arrival. Sign me up for the newsletter & access to resources from The Travel Library! In the evening, have dinner and check into your hotel. Genoa is excellent to spend a few days and explore the extensive history. Stay overnight in Lake Como (for longer Northern Italy itineraries) Additional day trip from Milan - Bergamo. 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. Italy in Spring guide coming soon!). Hotel Danieli is a luxurious 5-star hotel located on Riva degli Schiavoni. I recommend for anyone visiting the Italian Alps either rent a car or plan to book a tour that handles transportation throughout the days activities. The city of Verona is a maximum one hour drive from Lake Garda. 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. It is the capital of the Tuscany region. Head west to Turin, a financial and cultural hub like Milan, stylized by Baroque-style architecture and the famed Mole Antonelliana. The icon of the city is the Duomo Cathedral. In the next part, youll find step by step itineraries where we explain the best stops, famous landmarks, and best places to stay. Verona Arena is one of the best-preserved Amphitheaters in the world. The Best Guide to Val Brembana: How to Visit this Underrated Corner , The Best Weekend in Edinburgh Itinerary You Need to Steal, Mid-range price compared to bus and rental car travel, Well-connected between cities and towns (regional trains), Can be super cheap & is overall less expensive, Takes time to understand routes of regional or city buses. With many historical buildings, it is one of the most beautiful cities to visit in Italy. Plan on spending about 2 to 3 hours in both Varenna and Bellagio. Curious for more ideas? For full details on how to do this, refer to our Lake Como Day Trip guide and Things to Do in Bellagio. However, you will have more travel time tomorrow to get to the airport. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. Its also a little easier to get from Verona to Milan by train. A Cost Guide. Italy is one of the most visited countries in Europe, perhaps even the world. It is also worth it to hire a boat to cruise by the villas, or even tour one of them. Ponte dellAccademia view | Northern Italy Itinerary. . We chose for Milan as a starting point because it is easy to reach, either flying or overland. ITALY YOUTUBE CLIPS. The big Italian big four road trip. Rome is a special city to visit. Julie Last updated: January 29, 2023 Italy Leave a Comment. North Italy itinerary for 14 days. We recommend that you pick up your rental car right before you leave the city and travel to lake Como. The road trip to Rome will take up a half-day. Miscellaneous: Factor in approximately $50 USD per day for miscellaneous fees, such as short taxi or Uber rides, souvenirs, etc. If you love the idea of vineyard views on end and wine tasting with your partner, it must be added to your romantic itinerary. Italy Flights to Italy However, coach bus companies like Flixbus operate throughout the country and Europe, so you could travel between regions using their service. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. DAY 2: Exploring Venice DAY 3: Off the beaten path Venice DAY 4: Palladio Day! With regional buses you can typically reach small towns, while with Flixbus, youll mostly be limited to cities. To enter Venice, youll need to buy a ticket, which gives you also access to the taxi boats. Our northern Italy itinerary became: Venice Florence Milan Lake Como Lake Maggiore. Bergamo is big in size, but quaint in spirit. Not to worry. Bologna 2 Nights. Tuscany is often referred to as the most beautiful countryside in Italy. Map for your Northern Italy road trip 6.3 Add on: Verona/Venice/Milan 2 days eachItaly. If you have less time and want to see a lot, plan out your transportation well and get ready for days jam-packed with things to do and breathtaking places to see! Not much driving after that . Today you will drive across the Dolomites to Val Gardena. Also, youll stay in the northern part of the region. I highly recommend booking a tour with a local guide for the unique experience of hunting for truffles and do a Barolo wine tasting. At every place where we recommend staying overnight, we put some recommendations for hotel bookings. 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. Tre Cime di Lavaredo | Northern Italy Itinerary, Cadini di Misurina viewpoint | Northern Italy Itinerary. Then, ride the cable car to Marmolada, the highest mountain in the Dolomites. Sienais renowned for the largest medieval square and the famous Torre del Mangia. A visit here adds on another hour of driving, plus time to visit the church, which takes about an hour. On the second day, we recommend you to travel to Lake Como, somewhere after lunch. We also find that their customer service is excellent. It will take around 2 hours to reach the lake. The two best lakes for watersports like kite- and windsurfing are Lake Como and Lake Garda. Get updated hours before you go and you can learn more about how to visit this basilica in our Things to Do in Venice article. If you rather look up a hotel yourself we recommend using the searching tool: Tip: We only book accommodations on Booking.com that are rated with an 8.5 or higher. Northern Italy has an amazingly extensive train network that connect many of the country's top destinations. Lake Como is a must stop also for mountain lovers: the peaks soaring above the lake are breathtaking. Lago di Braies is a beautiful lake to visit and great for families and those who dont want to do a lot of hiking. Once you have checked into your hotel, have a quick lunch and then make your way to the Rialto Bridge. Two nights in the Dolomites. Milan to Florence is a great road trip, where you see the best parts the Tuscany and Cinque Terre region. Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. 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). It is not a coastal city as many people think, the region consists out of five different coastal towns. Milan 2 Nights. We parked here on one of our visits to Venice. Spend the afternoon by hiking one of the nearby trails. Nearby Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure are a few extra stop ideas. The road will take you through the dolomites, which is lovely. 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!) Lagazuoi, Dolomites | Northern Italy Itinerary, The view of Cortina dAmpezzo from the Tofana cable car | Northern Italy Itinerary. We wrote some articles about Rome, that might interest you: There are many options for a road trip in the Northern part of Italy. Polenta is a versatile grain made plain, with cheese or as Polenta Contadina, made with cheese, spinach, and local sausage. Things To Do In Milan. From Duomo Square, visit the Duomo and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Approximately 100 kilometers driving a day should be your maximum, so you have enough time to explore the beautiful lakes. 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. For drinks and dining, we recommend you to go to theTrastevereneighborhood. Also, we will recommend places to stay in each recommended city where you will stay overnight during this road trip. Depending on your departure time you can explore the islands around the historical city of Venice or go directly to the airport. During these months youll have the best weather conditions, less rain and most chance of sunshine. From Ponte dellAccademia, it is a short walk to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum and the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute. 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. We wrote several articles about Genoa which we recommend reading before going to the city. There are many accommodations to find in Venice. Read my full disclosure! In the next part, you'll find step by step itineraries where we explain the best stops, famous landmarks, and best places to stay. 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. (Psst! Start as far west as possible in Courmayeur to visit Mont Blanc and the Val Ferret. 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. If you have a car and plan to stay in the city center, ask your hotel for advice on where to park. 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. Sirmione is a historic town on a peninsula at the lake. And the first theater with a podium instead of the round square youll see in the amphitheaters. Verona 2 Nights. Our recommended articles are: Driving from Genoa to Parma is a beautiful road when you skip the tollroads.