Northern Italy Itinerary

Northern Italy is a world apart from the sun-baked south — a region of alpine lakes, Renaissance cities, mountain peaks and some of the country’s finest wine and food. This two-week itinerary connects the major highlights in a logical loop, starting and ending in Milan, with a rhythm that balances iconic sightseeing with slower, more atmospheric moments.

Days 1–2 — Milan

Spend two days in Italy’s design and fashion capital. Day one: the Duomo (climb to the rooftop terraces), the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II arcade next door, Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie (book months in advance), and the Navigli canal district for dinner. Day two: the Brera art gallery, a wander through the Brera neighbourhood, and an afternoon at the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana.

Days 3–4 — Lake Como

An hour north of Milan by train, Lake Como is one of Italy’s most glamorous destinations. Stay in Varenna or Bellagio rather than busy Como town itself. Take the ferry across to Villa del Balbianello (famous from James Bond and Star Wars), explore the narrow lanes of Bellagio, and make time for a boat trip to see the lake from the water. Excellent walking above the villages on the old mule tracks.

Days 5–6 — Verona and Lake Garda

Head east to Verona, Shakespeare’s city of Romeo and Juliet. The Roman Arena in the Piazza Bra is one of the best-preserved amphitheatres in the world — summer opera performances here are unforgettable. Spend a day at Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy: visit the clifftop village of Malcesine on the eastern shore or the pretty harbour town of Sirmione on its narrow peninsula.

Days 7–8 — The Dolomites

Drive north into the Dolomites, one of the world’s most dramatic mountain landscapes. Base yourself in Cortina d’Ampezzo or the Val Gardena. Walk the famous Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop — a 9km circuit beneath three iconic rock spires — or take cable cars up to the high-altitude ridges for views across the pale rock formations that give the Dolomites their name (the rock is rich in dolomite mineral, which turns pink and gold at sunrise and sunset). The food here is Tyrolean: hearty stews, dumplings, apple strudel and local craft beers.

Days 9–11 — Venice

Three days in the floating city — more than a weekend but not quite enough. Day nine: arrive and get oriented — take the vaporetto down the Grand Canal, watch the light on the lagoon at dusk. Day ten: the Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica in the morning (book ahead), then get thoroughly lost in the sestieri away from the crowds — Cannaregio and Castello are the most local-feeling neighbourhoods. Day eleven: the islands of Murano (glassblowing), Burano (candy-coloured fishermen’s houses) and Torcello (the oldest of the lagoon islands, with a haunting Byzantine cathedral).

Days 12–13 — Padua and the Veneto

Half an hour from Venice by train, Padua is home to Giotto’s Scrovegni Chapel (1305) — possibly the most important surviving cycle of early Renaissance frescoes in the world. The city also has one of Europe’s oldest universities (founded 1222) and a large, lively market in the medieval Palazzo della Ragione. On day thirteen, consider the wine towns of the Veneto: Asolo, Treviso, or the Prosecco Road between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene.

Day 14 — Return to Milan and depart

High-speed train from Padua to Milan (1hr 20min). Time for a final lunch in the Navigli or Brera, then transfer to Malpensa for your flight home.