northern italy itinerary

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! Vicenza. Northern Italy is, however, partially composed of the Italian Alps which presents a challenge for train travel. This large parking garage is located in Venice in Santa Croce. If you have longer, great! Day 3 - Lake Como. It is fantastic to spend a half-day or full-day in this area. Pick up the car on the morning of day 3, when you leave Venice, and then drop the car in Verona. If you have a car and plan to stay in the city center, ask your hotel for advice on where to park. And during the night, most tourists left the historic center, so its much quieter. Its also a little easier to get from Verona to Milan by train. Many great artists and philosophers lived in Florence during the middle ages. 10 Day Northern Italy Itinerary - Italy Forum. The best time to visit the Northern part of Italy is between the months of May and September. But sometimes you just dont have more time. Milan has many accommodations where you can stay. 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! Cinque Terre is known for its beautiful coastline, colorful houses that are built into the cliffs, stunning nature and excellent hiking trails. 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. It is essential to plan ahead while planning a road trip in Italy. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. If you enjoy hiking, put as many days as you can in the Dolomites (in our opinion, its a better use of time than adding on Lake Garda, mentioned next). As for picking up your rental car, you can do it on day 1, if you are arriving to the Venice airport. We dont want to bring too many things, because simply you dont need that much while traveling.Over the years we tested a lot of stuff, check out our full list of recommendations for packing gear and camera stuff on the recommendations pageHere are some things we recommend you to use during your Italian road trip: Lon Kopijn works and lives as a Digital Nomad. If you are having trouble narrowing down which places are the top to visit for you or youre starting from scratch seeking inspiration, youll find the perfect northern Italy itinerary for you in this post, along with tips for visiting this part of the country. Santuario Madonna della Corona | Northern Italy Itinerary. 10 Day Northern Italy Itinerary Breakdown. purchase your ticket in advance on the official website. This evening, return to Milan or check into your hotel in Bellagio or Varenna. At the Grand Canal, there are many taxi boats where you can hop on and off with your ticket. 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. Here youll find two specialties: polenta and pizzoccheri. The parking garage can hold 4500 vehicles. 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. Genoais known as the birthplace of Columbus, the renowned sea navigator. 6.2 Lake Garda - 2 days. Lots of time and effort goes on behind the scenes to keep the free resources coming, so, if you have found my website or personal help useful and want to support me. Its worth a visit! This itinerary takes you all the way from Milan to Venice, and from Venice to Florence. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. I also recommend asking your hotel for the best way to get to the hotel. From the Dolomites, visit lovely Verona, Milan, and spend a day at Lake Como. Plan on spending about 2 to 3 hours in both Varenna and Bellagio. The great thing is that even this itinerary is worthwhile for people who arent nature lovers but love the mountain landscape. Made For Travellers is a participant in the ShareASale and Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and other websites. Temperatures on average in the Northern part of Italy are favorable. 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. From Milan, you can travel by train to Varenna (about 1 hour) or travel by train to Como (about 45 minutes) and then take a ferry to Bellagio, Menaggio, and Varenna (about 45 minutes). Instead, this itinerary will help you pick a route to travel across some of the best places in Northern Italy. We chose for Milan as a starting point because it is easy to reach, either flying or overland. If youre thinking of using regional or city buses, the real challenge is understanding the routes and planning your itinerary around the timetables. You can travel on your own schedule and get to places where it is difficult to get to by bus. Bologna is a big university city. 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. Your email address will not be published. Pizzoccheri are a mix of short buckwheat tagliatelle pasta, potatoes, cheese, and greens. Youll probably stop a few times just to enjoy the views. Planning your trip to the Northern part of Italy is exciting but can be overwhelming as well. Florence was the center of trade and banking during medieval times. Gondolas in Venice | Northern Italy Itinerary. We wrote this article about the city where you can read all the essential details. I love simple focaccia, made with just oil, but the bread is so versatile that youll find many different versions. Hotel Garn La SoldanellaandHotel Villa Fosineare both located around 5 kilometers from the parks entrance. But this is more expensive, since you are paying for 2 days of a rental car plus parking fees. An afternoon is plenty of time to see these sights. For more great itineraries in Europe and around the world, visit our Travel Itineraries page. ITINERARY. Verona is worldwide known as the city of love. Its a big day hike but it is our favorite in the Dolomites. Just be aware that they charge a 5 booking fee to use their website. This Italy itinerary is a great starting point for designing your own custom itinerary. Check out the map with extra suggestions: I could go on and on about all of the beautiful places to visit in northern Italy, but this post would then be at least 10,000 words. It's the world's largest gothic cathedral and is absolutely stunning! From Marmolada, drive over Passo Fedaia and Passo Pordoi, two beautiful scenic drives in the Dolomites. For more information on how to do this, click here. You can either join the ticket line (expect a long wait), book your ticket in advance (highly recommended!! Ponte dellAccademia view | Northern Italy Itinerary. Customize your leisure days by adding excursions to your Northern Italy Itinerary. 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! In between these two cities, it's easy to access the gems of Northern Italy: Lake Como, Verona, Lake Garda and the Dolomites. Once in the area of Bellagio, Varenna, and Menaggio, you will get around by ferry, which runs frequently and it doesnt take long to get from town to town. Rentalcover offers the best coverage for a rental car, and it is cheaper than insurance via the rental company. Meals: Meals cost $10 to $30 per dish, depending on the restaurant. With regional buses you can typically reach small towns, while with Flixbus, youll mostly be limited to cities. Regardless, these two sister cities are only 40 minutes apart by car, but exhibit completely different landscapes. A visit here adds on another hour of driving, plus time to visit the church, which takes about an hour. You can find them on our recommendations page, or scroll down and read the plan your trip part in this article. 10 days is great, but also a bit short with so much to see around this part of Italy. Buses are usually the cheapest option for getting around, as Flixbus tickets are as low as $5. The other option to spend only 5 days in the northern part is excellent for hiking enthusiasts. Since they are very concentrated in northern Italy, I would suggest flying roundtrip in and out of Milan. Hiking in the Dolomites | Northern Italy Itinerary. The months July and August are the high tourist seasons, so it is busier during these months. So the first day we dont plan that much. 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. If you have less than 10 days, then remove a day or two from the Dolomites. Two nights in the Dolomites. To save money, stay in a hotel that offers breakfast, put together picnic lunches, and skip the drinks at dinner. It saves you a day in rental- and parking costs. In our Northern Italy Itinerary, visit Venice, the Dolomites, Verona, Milan, and Lake Como. Tonight, stay in Cortina dAmpezzo. But also many historic buildings are to find in this city. Day 10 Milan. Day 7 Lake Garda - Sirmione. We chose to take on Northern Italy by train and it was super easy and comfortable! 9 Day Custom Tour. Portugal is not only a beautiful country but is also shockingly reasonable to live in. Public transport in Florence is perfect, so the next day you dont have any problems reaching the city center. Lake Garda is known for its beautiful historic villages and also beautiful landscapes. We recommend staying a bit out of the center, which saves you tons of money. 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. Its a cheap way to get around Venice and the views are amazing, as you cruise along the Grand Canal. Map for your Northern Italy road trip 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. We wrote this article you might like, with in-depth information about the city of Milan. Our recommended places to stay are in two different villages. Luckily theres much more to see in Verona, some of the famous landmarks are Castelvecchio, Ponte Vecchio, and the Verona Arena. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. 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! You can avoid the 5 fee by using Trenitalia.com, but this website is more difficult to use. If youre into hiking, watersports, or just want to experience the beauty of nature, this road trip might be something for you. You can read all the details about Genoa in this. The total length of this road trip is 388 miles (625 kilometers). This has the advantage of not packing and unpacking again, and if you have a flight home from Milan tomorrow, you will already be in town. Which one you choose really depends if you want to cruise up Lake Como or just get to Varenna as quickly as possible. Restaurant Terrazza Danieli. We started our adventure in Bologna. Exploring Venice by day is great, but you need to decide what things you definitely want to see. Read my guides to Italy in Summer, Italy in Fall, and Italy in Winter to dive deeper into which season may be a better fit for you. 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 . Tickets are often fully booked, and you need to choose a particular time slot to visit the Duomo. Things To Do In Cinque Terre. 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. People. What cities to include in your Northern Italy Travel Itinerary? Drop your luggage off at your hotel and spend the afternoon sightseeing in Venice. If you have any questions about this northern Italy itinerary, let us know in the comment section below. In the next part, youll find step by step itineraries where we explain the best stops, famous landmarks, and best places to stay. You wont reach the Tuscany region. Tonight, sleep in Selva di Val Gardena or Ortisei. Today you will drive across the Dolomites to Val Gardena. The historic center is one of the best-preserved medieval centers in Italy. in northern Italy also love their local ingredients. If youre planning on taking a train around northern Italy, read all my Italy train travel tips so you know exactly how to prepare. However, if you like the idea of visiting Lake Garda, here is a sample itinerary, if you have 12 days in Italy. All of Italys regions offer something unique and in this guide, the spotlight is on the north. Not everything has to be perfectly planned out with a route for each day and reservations at a specific restaurant. 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. Click on the banner to get more information on the website of World Nomads. The Doges Palace is located next to St. Marks Basilica. This Northern Italy Itinerary is really made for all of the free-spirited travelers. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Both beginning in the vibrant city of Milan, you cannot go wrong with either itinerary and you're sure to fall in love with this incredible area of the country. PUGLIA: Read about 15 beautiful places to visit in Puglia and the best things to do in Alberobello. Tuscany region is great to spend more time. There are lots of restaurants located in and around St. Marks Square but most of these are overpriced and mediocre. The drive from Parma to Milan is around 2 hours. The lake is the largest in the southern part of Switzerland. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. . This way you can reach the historic city of Venice early morning and spend a few moments when it is not too busy. Then, ride the cable car to Marmolada, the highest mountain in the Dolomites. Sign me up for the newsletter & access to resources from The Travel Library! Alternatively, you can rent a car for the full 10 days. And the first theater with a podium instead of the round square youll see in the amphitheaters. 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. 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. Making your way from the Western Alps, youll cross Milan, Lake Como, and Bergamo in the Central Alps. Also, we recommend leaving from another city. However, the Dolomites can be cold year-round, especially when you go high into the mountains. Sirmione is a historic town on a peninsula at the lake. We parked here on one of our visits to Venice. View from the Rialto Bridge | Northern Italy Itinerary. 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. However, during this trip, you dont have that much time to explore the most significant hiking trails. You dont need a car when in the city of Rome. Milan - 2-3 nights. If you love the idea of vineyard views on end and wine tasting with your partner, it must be added to your romantic itinerary. Life moves just a little bit slower, especially up in Citt Alta, an UNESCO World Heritage site and the medieval, historic old town that rests on a hilltop overlooking the more economic center, Citt Bassa. During this road trip, we planned a half-day in Cinque Terre, but if you want to spend more time along these coastal towns, you can skip Genoa or Parma in this itinerary. There are two ways to visit Lake Como today. We recommend that you pick up your rental car right before you leave the city and travel to lake Como. At every place where we recommend staying overnight, we put some recommendations for hotel bookings. You can also choose to do this road trip in the other way around. 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. Nearby Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure are a few extra stop ideas. 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. Our first trip we visited Rome, Florence, Bologna, Venice, Genoa/Cinque Terre. At the end of the day, we recommend to leave Venice, hop in your car and drive to Florence, which is still a 3-hour drive. Day 5 Cinque Terre. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Gondola ride for two? The other option is staying inPeschiera del Garda, a vibrant town next to the lake, also perfect for a romantic stay, but less expensive. After you woke up and enjoyed the beautiful mountain views, it is time to hit the road again. Honestly, we think five days is too short to explore the best parts of Northern Italy. Trains are generally easy to navigate, so tourists shouldnt be intimidated. Mainly because there are so many medieval villages to visit. We selected two options, both with excellent customer reviews, which we think are great to spend one night. The drive back from Lake Garda to Milan is around 2 hours, so make sure you plan that properly according to your departure. You could engage in sports or you could visit to admire the views and the alpine culture! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Check out more in-depth locations for the perfect city-break itinerary to northern Italy on the map: Its no secret Italy is one of the most romantic countries in the world to visit, so Ive also curated a North Italy itinerary perfect for couples, whether on honeymoon, anniversary, or simply a romantic trip. Day 4 The Leaning Tower of Pisa & Cinque Terre. 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. 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! From Duomo Square, visit the Duomo and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. 10-Day Northern Italy Itinerary: 2 Great Routes Without further ago, the two routes below outline different directions you could take in Northern Italy. On the second day, we recommend you to travel to Lake Como, somewhere after lunch. Made For Travellers is compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. If you arrive in the morning on a red eye flight, this first day can be challenging. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. Keep in mind that Milan Bergamo is about an hour outside of Milan. Hit the 5 major areas on everyone's northern Italy bucket list. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Drive over the Sella Pass and check into your hotel in Selva di Val Gardena or Ortisei. Optional: On the drive to Verona, you will be very close to the Santuario Madonna della Corona. For the best experience, book your ticket online. For information on renting a car, including rental car fees, drop fees, and things to know ahead of time, take a look at our article Important Things to Know Before Renting a Car in Europe. This way we make sure we get the best places to stay. They arent as cheap as buses, but theyre less expensive than renting a car. link to 20 Best Things To Do In Fogo, Cape Verde, link to Why Is Everything So Cheap In Portugal? In this guide, we lay out a 10-day northern Italy itinerary, with tips on how to modify it, depending on your interests and how much time you have. DAY 2: Exploring Venice DAY 3: Off the beaten path Venice DAY 4: Palladio Day! 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. A Cost Guide. They cover over 150 activities, even some extreme sports and have 24/7 emergency assistance when necessary. For full details on how to do this, refer to our Lake Como Day Trip guide and Things to Do in Bellagio. As you cross Ponte della Paglia look down the canal for the iconic view of the Bridge of Sighs. 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. The Doges Palace served as the residence for the Doge, the seat of the government, and a palace of justice. View from Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute | Northern Italy Itinerary. 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. From the train station, take the metro to Santa Maria delle Grazie for your scheduled viewing of the Last Supper. Remember to arrive 20 minutes before your appointment. Between wine, fairytale villages, and intimate vistas, youll be feeling the Italian romance. Or, you can take a train from Verona to Milan (roughly 1.5 hours with ticket prices ranging from $17 to $27 USD). For more details about this day, refer to day 1 of our 2 Day Venice Itinerary. 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. Not a big hiker? So when you want to save some money, dont go to a traditional Gondola, but hop-on a taxi boat. Your last stop on this itinerary is tapping into a bit of central Italy territory, but it is a must stop for foodies.

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northern italy itinerary