The two best lakes for watersports like kite- and windsurfing are Lake Como and Lake Garda. You can also book a guided tour through the city, where youll explore the best highlights of Florence. The drive from Parma to Milan is around 2 hours. If youre someone whos embarking on their once-in-a-lifetime trip to Italy, this itinerary is for you. The other option to spend only 5 days in the northern part is excellent for hiking enthusiasts. Whether you like hiking in the summer or skiing in the winter, the mountains are paradise. The city of Verona is a maximum one hour drive from Lake Garda. There is still plenty to do here that involves little to no hiking. Well, that is why I created this article to help you in the best way Why Is Everything So Cheap In Portugal? 9 Day Custom Tour. For full details on how to do this, refer to our Lake Como Day Trip guide and Things to Do in Bellagio. The cheapest option is to rent a car just for the Dolomites portion of this trip. Italy is one of the most visited countries in Europe, perhaps even the world. Hi there! 7.2 Verona - 2 days. Built-in 30 AD and today still used as a concert venue. However, for those arriving on a red eye flight, you will have just the afternoon for sightseeing. Teatro Farneseis a theater you should visit while in Parma, it is a 16th-century theater, built entirely from wood. However, coach bus companies like Flixbus operate throughout the country and Europe, so you could travel between regions using their service. Part of the eastern Alps in northern Italy and marking the border between Italy and Austria, these natural beauties are another UNESCO heritage site. Curious about more spots to hit? 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. Verona is located in northern Italy, about 110km from the romantic city of Venice. Franciacorta. However, the travel time is the longest. If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out again! Pizzoccheri are a mix of short buckwheat tagliatelle pasta, potatoes, cheese, and greens. The road will take you through the dolomites, which is lovely. Lago di Braies is a beautiful lake to visit and great for families and those who dont want to do a lot of hiking. Made For Travellers is about a lifestyle of freedom, fulfillment, and happiness. Thats why we selected the recourses we use all the time while booking our trips. I use Omio for purchasing train tickets or go straight to the Trenitalia website. Made For Travellers is compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. So we recommend to stay in Milan until lunch, and after lunch drive to Lake Como. 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. Hotel Garn La SoldanellaandHotel Villa Fosineare both located around 5 kilometers from the parks entrance. St. Marks Square dates back to the 9th century AD. If youre thinking of using regional or city buses, the real challenge is understanding the routes and planning your itinerary around the timetables. from $16,495 /10 days. 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. Mosaics on St. Marks Basilica | Northern Italy Itinerary, On the terrace of St. Marks Basilica | Northern Italy Itinerary. The road trip to Rome will take up a half-day. 7 Days of Northern Italy Itinerary: Northern Italy Itinerary Day 1-2: Bologna. Italy Flights to Italy The view from Marmolada | Northern Italy Itinerary. Its also a little easier to get from Verona to Milan by train. The drive back from Lake Garda to Milan is around 2 hours, so make sure you plan that properly according to your departure. DAY: VENICE BASSANO DEL GRAPPA MALCESINE (Lake Garda) Bassano Del Grappa Lago Di Garda (Lake Garda) - Malcesine Northern Italy Itinerary - 9. We always feel at home while traveling through Tuscany. Once you have checked into your hotel, have a quick lunch and then make your way to the Rialto Bridge. With many historical buildings, it is one of the most beautiful cities to visit in Italy. This article contains several road trip itineraries in length and activities. The Rialto Bridge is a covered footbridge that is lined with shops. Italy in Spring guide coming soon!). 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. Visit Sirmione for its enchanting castle and Limone sul Garda for its quiet charm. Rome is a special city to visit. Hotel Danieli is a luxurious 5-star hotel located on Riva degli Schiavoni. 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! The big question when planning a trip is always: how long you should spend in northern Italy? Once at Passo Pordoi, you have the option to ride the cable car to Sass Pordoi, for more big views of the Dolomites, and to hike to Piz Bo, one of the easiest 3,000+ meter peaks to summit in the Dolomites (5.3 km/3.3 miles, 2 to 4 hours). I recommend referring to this as you pick out what you want to do in the Dolomites. They arent as cheap as buses, but theyre less expensive than renting a car. I put Lake Garda before Verona since you save a little driving time by visiting the north end of Lake Garda first. 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. Check online for details. Drop your luggage off at your hotel and spend the afternoon sightseeing in Venice. It is always fun to explore a city for the second time. Our road trip itineraries cover the different highlights in this part of the country. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Things To Do In Cinque Terre. If you still have a rental car, drive to Bellagio (1.5 hours) or Varenna (1.5 hours). The highlights in Milan are:if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'madefortravellers_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_17',134,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-madefortravellers_com-medrectangle-3-0'); It is easy to walk around the city center of Milan. Or, you can take a train from Verona to Milan (roughly 1.5 hours with ticket prices ranging from $17 to $27 USD). I would love to hear your suggestions for an itinerary and how long to spend in each place. Genoa is excellent to spend a few days and explore the extensive history. 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. Depending on where you are staying in Venice, you can get here on foot or ride the vaporetto. All the major cities on our 10 day Italy travel itinerary were accessible by public transportation, and the train . Were here to help you plan the best road trip in Northern Italy. The bus from or to the airport can take up to 1 hour though. LAKE GARDA: Plan your visit with our article Best Things to Do in Lake Garda. But sometimes you just dont have more time. 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. Pick up the car from the airport, drive to Venice, and park it in a parking garage during your time in Venice (you wont need it). Croda da Lago Circuit | Northern Italy Itinerary, Lago di Sorapis | Northern Italy Itinerary. Bologna 2 Nights. Grand Canal of Venice from T Fondaco Terrace | Northern Italy Itinerary. Learn how to spend one perfect day in Verona. Discover more day trips from Milan to beef up your itinerary. Our first recommendation is that you start in Milan. Temperatures on average in the Northern part of Italy are favorable. Julie Last updated: January 29, 2023 Italy Leave a Comment. After reading the itinerary above, you might wonder how to shorten the itinerary to five days. The best time to visit the Northern part of Italy is between the months of May and September. Honestly, we think five days is too short to explore the best parts of Northern Italy. Then head over to the Dolomites: the most unique of mountains with jagged grey peaks surrounded by the absolutely stunning valleys and green hills of Trentino Alto-Adige. Then youll head to Venice, from which you can do a day trip to the Dolomites. Milan and the Lakes of Northern Italy Itinerary. 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 consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Day 6 To Lake Garda. Also take advantage of the linked posts within this article to discover individual destinations in depth and ultimately allow you to plan your trip better. This large parking garage is located in Venice in Santa Croce. Its worth a visit! We recommend starting in Milan and plan your departure from Rome. So you can use your time in the most efficint way. Lagazuoi, Dolomites | Northern Italy Itinerary, The view of Cortina dAmpezzo from the Tofana cable car | Northern Italy Itinerary. We recommend staying in the town of Varenna, which is the easiest to reach, and on the road, youll need to follow the next day. By car, it is a 160 km drive that takes 2 hours. A Cost Guide. Hit the 5 major areas on everyones northern Italy bucket list. Manage Settings If skies are clear, consider riding the cable car from Cortina dAmpezzo to Cima Tofana for one of the best views of the Dolomites. We prefer Lake Como over Lake Garda, which is why we designed this northern Italy itinerary with Lake Como. Head east and end your itinerary in Venice. 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. It will take around 2 hours to reach the lake. Hit the 5 major areas on everyone's northern Italy bucket list.