Planning a trip to Northern Italy? This DIY travel guide brings together travel itineraries, destination highlights, packing tips and advice to help you plan an unforgettable trip – without over-planning or overspending.
Travel Guides
My Italy travel guides focus on Northern Italy, which is ideal for short trips, slower itineraries and easy rail travel.
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Northern Italy Itinerary
Our Northern Italy by Rail guide covers a realistic 7-10 day, well-paced itinerary covering some of our favourite Northern Italy cities, things to do and must-see highlights.
Pisa→(Cinque Terre)→Florence→(Tuscany) →Bologna→Verona→Venice Ideal for first-time visitors, city lovers and travellers who want an easy rail-based route.
Places to Visit in Northern Italy
Northern Italy Cities
Northern Italy’s cities are ideal for short weekend trips, or longer itineraries that take advantage of Italy’s excellent train connections. They offer plenty of variety, history, art and amazing food.
Milan
Known for fashion, modern architecture and historic landmarks like the Duomo, it also offers fast train connections to the lakes, Venice and other northern cities.
Venice
Venice is one of Italy’s most unique cities, built on canals and islands rather than roads.
Beyond the main sights, our guides about Venice Hidden Gems and our Venice Opera Trip feature quieter neighbourhoods, unique experiences and lagoon islands for a slower, more local experience for visitors who stay longer than a day trip.
Verona
Verona is a smaller, relaxed city with Roman ruins, elegant piazzas and a charming old town. We love this beautiful and romantic city.
Often paired with Lake Garda, it’s ideal for fans of Romeo and Juliet and travellers looking for history without the crowds of Italy’s larger cities.
Our Best Things to Do in Verona guide explores the city in depth, from walking tours, a Romeo & Juliet trail to Roman ruins, amazing view points, cookery classes, festivals and our favourite places to stay and eat. This dedicated guide focuses entirely on what to see and do in Verona.
Bologna
Bologna is known for its food scene, medieval towers and long porticoed streets. With excellent rail connections and a local feel, it’s a great base for foodies and travellers who want authentic northern Italian city life.
Guides coming soon!
Pisa
Pisa is predominantly a university city but is best known for the Leaning Tower. It’s an easy half-day or overnight stop – with a walkable historic centre and direct train links making it simple to combine with Florence or Cinque Terre.
Florence
Florence is the heart of Tuscany and one of Italy’s most culturally rich cities, famous for Renaissance art, architecture and museums. Despite its popularity, it remains easy to explore on foot and works well as a short city break or rail stop.
Our guide Pizza Cookery Class in Florence includes things to do in Pisa and Florence and highlights our experience of a fabulous Pizza Cookery lesson in a Tuscan villa!
Tuscany
Tuscany is known for rolling countryside, historic towns and world-class food and wine. While Florence is its main city, the region also suits slower travel, with hill towns, vineyards and scenic drives easily added to a Northern Italy itinerary.
Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre is a collection of five colourful villages along Italy’s Ligurian coast, connected by trains and coastal walking paths. It’s ideal for scenic hikes, seaside views and short stays combined with Pisa or northern Tuscany. You can easily arrange day trips from Florence.
Northern Italy Lakes
The lakes of Northern Italy are perfect for slowing down between city stays. Lake Garda, Lake Como and Lake Maggiore combine scenic ferry routes, lakeside towns and mountain backdrops, making them ideal for relaxed travel, family trips and easy day excursions from nearby cities.
Northern Italy Mountains & Outdoors
Northern Italy’s mountains offer a completely different side of Italy, from dramatic alpine scenery to peaceful valleys. The Dolomites and South Tyrol are well known for hiking, skiing and cable-car views, while also being surprisingly accessible by train and bus for travellers who want outdoor experiences without complicated planning.
Planning a Trip to Northern Italy
Best Time to Visit Northern Italy
Northern Italy is a year-round destination, but the best time to visit depends on whether you’re exploring cities, lakes or mountains. We love to explore the cities in spring and autumn for less crowds and fine weather.
- April-June and September-October are ideal for most travellers. You’ll get pleasant temperatures, fewer crowds than mid-summer, and better value on accommodation.
- July-August is peak season and opera season in Verona. It gets very busy, especially around Lake Garda, Lake Como and Venice. Expect hot weather, higher prices and busy attractions – but it’s great for alpine hikes and lake swimming.
- December-March is perfect for skiing in the Dolomites and winter city breaks. Christmas markets are popular in places like Bolzano and Verona, while Venice and Milan are quieter (and often cheaper) outside major holidays.
💡If you’re planning a multi-stop trip, shoulder seasons make moving around far easier and more enjoyable.
Getting About
Northern Italy is one of the easiest regions in Europe to travel independently.
🚄 Trains are fast, reliable and well connected between major cities such as Milan, Verona, Venice, Bologna and Turin. High-speed trains save time, while regional trains are cheaper for shorter hops.
🚗 Car hire is best if you’re visiting the Dolomites, Lake Garda, Lake Como or smaller towns. It gives flexibility, but be mindful of limited traffic zones (ZTLs) in historic centres.
🚌 Public transport within cities is generally excellent, with trams, buses and metros covering most tourist areas.
✈️ Flights: Milan (Malpensa, Linate, Bergamo), Venice, Verona and Bologna all work well as entry or exit points for a Northern Italy itinerary.
💡 It’s easy to combine trains for cities with a short car hire for lakes or mountains.
Money & Safety
💶 Currency: Italy uses the Euro (€). Cards are widely accepted, but it’s still worth carrying some cash for small cafes, mountain huts and rural areas.
- Costs vary by location. Milan, Venice and Lake Como are the most expensive, while cities like Verona, Bologna and Turin offer better value.
- Tipping isn’t expected. A small rounding-up or leaving a couple of euros is appreciated, but service is usually included.
Safety: Northern Italy is generally very safe. The main issue for visitors is pickpocketing in busy tourist areas and on public transport, especially in Milan and Venice. Keep valuables secure and avoid carrying everything in one place.
✔️ Tap water is safe to drink, and healthcare standards are excellent.
Visas & Entry
- UK passport holders can travel to Italy visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period for tourism.
- Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure date from the Schengen area.
- You may be asked to show onward travel and accommodation details, so keep digital copies handy.
- Travellers need to comply with new EU entry systems (ETIAS), which will be an online pre-authorisation rather than a visa.
🧾 If you plan to visit multiple European countries, remember the 90-day rule applies across the entire Schengen zone, not just Italy.
What to Pack for Northern Italy
Discover what to pack for Italy and grab your free ultimate Italy packing list!
Where to Stay in Northern Italy
I’m gradually adding dedicated accommodation and hotel guides for Italy. You’ll find recommendations in all of our destination guides based on in-depth research and our personal experiences.
Our guide Where to Stay in Verona recommends hotels in the historic centre from budget to luxury accommodation.
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