This way, you have enough time to explore the highlights in Milan. You can also skip Verona, but it is a wonderful city and one of our favorites in Italy. For DaVincis Last Supper you must book a time slot in advance. Artist likeMichaelangelo, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and Machiavellilived and worked in the city of Florence.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'madefortravellers_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_11',147,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-madefortravellers_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); Florence is probably the city with the most historic architecture in Italy. The city is bustling, and if you dont book your tickets in advance, there might be a chance you miss out on visiting the historic Duomo. In the next part, you'll find step by step itineraries where we explain the best stops, famous landmarks, and best places to stay. We recommend using rentalcover. It is one of the oldest places in Tuscany. There is still plenty to do here that involves little to no hiking. The city is known for its parma ham and renowned parmesan cheese. Plus, having a car makes it much easier to get around Lake Garda and transfer from Riva del Garda to Sirmione, and then once in Verona, you can drop the rental car if you prefer. 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. Day 5 - 6: Explore The Port City of Genoa. From Marmolada, drive over Passo Fedaia and Passo Pordoi, two beautiful scenic drives in the Dolomites. The entire area is made up of the Western Alps. The most efficient way to see Northern Italy is by starting in Venice and ending in Milan (or vice versa). Lago di Braies is a beautiful lake to visit and great for families and those who dont want to do a lot of hiking. From this window, prisoners on their way to execution would have one final view of the city. in northern Italy also love their local ingredients. To save money, stay in a hotel that offers breakfast, put together picnic lunches, and skip the drinks at dinner. You might even drive tothe Queen of the Dolomites Marmolada. Milan 2 Nights. In the next part, youll find step by step itineraries where we explain the best stops, famous landmarks, and best places to stay. Depending on your interests and fitness level, you can choose different activities. Northern Italy is, however, partially composed of the Italian Alps which presents a challenge for train travel. Or, you can take a train from Verona to Milan (roughly 1.5 hours with ticket prices ranging from $17 to $27 USD). He travels the world with the love of his life and writes about inspiring cultures and practical travel tips. The city of Genoa was always an important harbor city for Italy. For the best experience, we recommend arriving in Bellagio or Varenna by 10:30 am, to give yourself enough time to visit the area. The Rialto Bridge is a covered footbridge that is lined with shops. On the second day you drive to Lake Como, but thats only around 2 hours drive. It may look like I put a lot of time into the Dolomites (because I did ). So if you intend to visit the famous tourist city of Venice, you should spend an extra day or two exploring Verona also known as the city of love. Day 1: Arrive in Venice Day 2: Venice Day 3: Dolomites Day 4: Dolomites Day 5: Dolomites Day 6: Dolomites Day 7: Verona Day 8: Milan Day 9: Lake Como & Bellagio Day 10: Fly Home. A Cost Guide. Whether you like hiking in the summer or skiing in the winter, the mountains are paradise. If you're planning to visit the island of Fogo in Cape Verde, you might be looking for a list of the best things to do in Fogo. 10 Day Custom Tour. Day 4 The Leaning Tower of Pisa & Cinque Terre. Drive over the Sella Pass and check into your hotel in Selva di Val Gardena or Ortisei. Volterrais another small village on top of a hill. Teatro Farneseis a theater you should visit while in Parma, it is a 16th-century theater, built entirely from wood. We have three recommendations, where we think you still see a lot of this beautiful part of Italy. We had dinner twice at Hotel Freina and this hotel also gets exceptional reviews. Not much driving after that . Nowadays it has the third biggest harbor in the Mediterranean Sea. And the Medici Family, in particular, had significant influence at the modern banking system. Your email address will not be published. Rome is a special city to visit. Take the time to purchase the Firenze card right away. With the Northern Italy Highlights 10 days itinerary youll cross the most important highlights, cities and landmarks in the northern part of Italy. 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. It is the highest mountain in this mountain range. 9 Day Custom Tour. Pick up your rental car, either from the parking garage in Venice, the Mestre train station, or from the airport. Continue with Recommended Cookies. The great thing is that even this itinerary is worthwhile for people who arent nature lovers but love the mountain landscape. People. Or, venture to Val di Funes, to hike the Adolf Munkel Weg and/or walk the Santa Maddalena Trail for gorgeous views of the Santa Maddalena church. For more information, refer to day #7 of our Dolomites Itinerary. During these months youll have the best weather conditions, less rain and most chance of sunshine. Northern Italy is a diverse landscape: mountains, sea, lakes, floating cities, metropolitan centers, food-rich countrysides. And Hotel Torcolo Residenze del Cuore is a centrally located budget hotel that gets very good reviews. The lake is the largest in the southern part of Switzerland. 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! We recommend booking a departure from Florence because it saves you a lot of time. Day 3 - 4: Swoon Over Picturesque Cinque Terre. 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. Another necessary and important element of visiting northern Italy is knowing how youll get around. St. Marks Square dates back to the 9th century AD. If you still have a rental car, drive to Bellagio (1.5 hours) or Varenna (1.5 hours). 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) We are not opposed to flying in and or out of any airport as long as it makes sense. Map for your Northern Italy road trip For suggestions on where to stay in Venice, take a look at our Venice Hotel Guide. 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. At the Grand Canal, there are many taxi boats where you can hop on and off with your ticket. I recommend starting on Riva degli Schiavoni, which is a wide promenade that runs along the Venetian Lagoon. Franciacorta is a territory between Bergamo and Brescia that produces sparkling wine or spumante, mostly Prosecco, Italys version of Champagne. It is on the road youll take the next day, and also it is easy to explore the best highlights of the lake with the taxi boat that leaves from this village. We recommend staying close by the park entrance. We also have guides about How to Visit St. Marks Basilica, where to get the Best Views of Venice, and how to spend Two Days in Venice. It saves you a day in rental- and parking costs. Made For Travellers also participates in affiliate programs with Booking.com, Clickbank, WorldNomads, Rentalcars.com, TUI UK, Adsense, and other sites. 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). It comes from Valtellina, a valley in Lombardy bordering Switzerland. This medieval town is great for a day visit. We feel it is essential that you plan your trip with the best booking recourses. Our first trip we visited Rome, Florence, Bologna, Venice, Genoa/Cinque Terre. Depending on your departure time you can either explore the city of Milan for a second time or maybe need to go directly to the airport. As you cross Ponte della Paglia look down the canal for the iconic view of the Bridge of Sighs. 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. This article contains several road trip itineraries in length and activities. Answer 11 of 13: 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. Polenta is a versatile grain made plain, with cheese or as Polenta Contadina, made with cheese, spinach, and local sausage. But you will have a little more flexibility for Lake Como. We recommend using the parks website to find out the best hiking trails. Did you know the famous tower straightens every year? Travel insurance is essential for your belongings and healthcare while traveling. Its also a little easier to get from Verona to Milan by train. From Duomo Square, visit the Duomo and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Tour starts on a Sunday. Stay overnight in Lake Como (for longer Northern Italy itineraries) Additional day trip from Milan - Bergamo. Our recommended places to stay are in two different villages. The Doges Palace served as the residence for the Doge, the seat of the government, and a palace of justice. Approximately 100 kilometers driving a day should be your maximum, so you have enough time to explore the beautiful lakes. This itinerary works best from the months of June through September, when the hiking trails are open in the Dolomites. Theres so much to visit in the whole country, and the northern part is no exception to that. 7.1 Venice - 5 days. You can read all the details about Genoa in this. Its easy to travel between Milan and Venice by train, so you can get back to your starting point without much time, effort, and money. Its a cheap way to get around Venice and the views are amazing, as you cruise along the Grand Canal. I also recommend asking your hotel for the best way to get to the hotel. Public transport adaptations. Where To Stay In Milan. Next, take the metro to the Duomo. In between these two cities, it's easy to access the gems of Northern Italy: Lake Como, Verona, Lake Garda and the Dolomites. MILAN & LAKE COMO: Learn how to visit Milan on a day trip or while traveling between the Cinque Terre, Florence and Venice. If you like hiking, we highly recommend the Croda da Lago Circuit, Lago di Sorapis, and the Cinque Torri + Rifugios Averau and Nuvolau, if you didnt do that yesterday. This Italy travel itinerary includes in a lot of variety. If you have a car and plan to stay in the city center, ask your hotel for advice on where to park. I use Omio for purchasing train tickets or go straight to the Trenitalia website. On the second day, we recommend you to travel to Lake Como, somewhere after lunch. Tickets are often fully booked, and you need to choose a particular time slot to visit the Duomo. You can find them on our recommendations page, or scroll down and read the plan your trip part in this article. The city of Verona is a maximum one hour drive from Lake Garda. Bergamo is big in size, but quaint in spirit. The biggest lake in Italy and Europe. I would love to hear your suggestions for an itinerary and how long to spend in each place. And during the night, most tourists left the historic center, so its much quieter. There are some splendid botanical gardens and excellent hiking trails around the lake. With regional buses you can typically reach small towns, while with Flixbus, youll mostly be limited to cities. It's the world's largest gothic cathedral and is absolutely stunning! Today you will drive across the Dolomites to Val Gardena. We prefer Lake Como over Lake Garda, which is why we designed this northern Italy itinerary with Lake Como. If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out again! Gondola ride for two? A visit here is quick, taking 10 to 15 minutes for the view and lots of photographs. When you have more time for a road trip, we recommend using it. Your email address will not be published. I highly suggest taking a look at the embedded maps to discover places worth adding to your itinerary based on the amount of time you have available. ITALY YOUTUBE CLIPS. Bologna is a big university city. Day 10 Milan. 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). View from the Puez-Odle Altopiano trail | Northern Italy Itinerary. If you arrive in the morning on a red eye flight, this first day can be challenging. It is fantastic to spend a half-day or full-day in this area. Last stop for lovers: Venice! Our first recommendation is that you start in Milan. Croda da Lago Circuit | Northern Italy Itinerary, Lago di Sorapis | Northern Italy Itinerary. You can also go around Switzerland and stay in Italy, but thats a longer drive. The Tuscany of northern Italy? I switched the days since day 1 of the itinerary is a big sightseeing day and not everyone will have the time and energy for it. Built-in 30 AD and today still used as a concert venue. With more time, you can add extra days to Venice, the Dolomites, or Lake Como. Now, it is a museum. That does not include tours, only entrance fees. The below charge are average temperatures in the Milan region. 5 days is very short, and you need to make some choices in what places youre going to visit. On a privately guided journey that reveals Italy's splendours at their most compelling, enjoy a special early entrance to the Vatican, view the artistic treasures of Florence, learn about an art restoration project and sample Italian cuisine with tastings in Tuscany and a food tour in Venice. The top places in Northern Italy are Venice, Verona, Milan, Lake Garda, Lake Como, and Cinque Terre. They made these islands in the beautiful botanical gardens which they are now. Depending on where you are staying in Venice, you can get here on foot or ride the vaporetto. Hopefully all these options make clearer what is at the top of your northern Italy bucket list! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If youre into hiking, watersports, or just want to experience the beauty of nature, this road trip might be something for you. 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. As you stroll through Venice, go shopping, have a glass of wine or aperitif at a caf, snack on cicchetti, or hire a gondola. Not everything has to be perfectly planned out with a route for each day and reservations at a specific restaurant. Relais Balcone di Giulietta is another highly rated hotel located next to Juliets balcony. The parking garage can hold 4500 vehicles. DAY 2: Exploring Venice DAY 3: Off the beaten path Venice DAY 4: Palladio Day! View from the Rialto Bridge | Northern Italy Itinerary. Nearby Portofino and Santa Margherita Ligure are a few extra stop ideas. For full details on how to do this, refer to our Lake Como Day Trip guide and Things to Do in Bellagio. You wont reach the Tuscany region. In our Northern Italy Itinerary, visit Venice, the Dolomites, Verona, Milan, and Lake Como. 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. There is not a whole lot to see in Menaggio, so this can be skipped. It is a beautiful drive, especially the final 45-minutes, as you drive along winding roads into the mountains. Strolling the canals is one of the best things to do in Venice and there are several ways to do it. This is a more expensive option, since daily rental fees typically cost more than train tickets, plus you will have the added parking fees and hassle of parking in Verona and Milan. After you woke up and enjoyed the beautiful mountain views, it is time to hit the road again. Italy is one of the most visited countries in Europe, perhaps even the world. This northern Italy itinerary is a point-to-point trip. 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. 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. 10 Day Northern Italy Itinerary - Italy Forum. Tre Cime di Lavaredo is one of the most popular hikes to do in the Dolomites and you can easily add on the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint. This evening, return to Milan or check into your hotel in Bellagio or Varenna. Two nights in the Dolomites. 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 total length of this road trip is 388 miles (625 kilometers). If you like hiking, hike the Puez-Odle Altopiano. The highlights you dont want to miss are; Varenna is the best place to stay at Lake Como for this road trip. There are several options to spend five days in the Northern part of Italy. Our road trip itineraries cover the different highlights in this part of the country. Alternative: skip Veneto and head to Liguria to enjoy the glamorous Portofino. Genoa is excellent to spend a few days and explore the extensive history. The months July and August are the high tourist seasons, so it is busier during these months. All of Italys regions offer something unique and in this guide, the spotlight is on the north. View from Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute | Northern Italy Itinerary. Not a big hiker? Also, we will recommend places to stay in each recommended city where you will stay overnight during this road trip. It is not a coastal city as many people think, the region consists out of five different coastal towns. Planning the best order of visiting these places will depend on what airport you end up flying into, as well as what day your business meeting falls on! Milan is bustling, crowded, the energy is always high. From metropolitan Milan to the medieval hilltop city of Bergamo, the major cities in Italy all offer a different landscape to be explored. You can also book a guided tour through the city, where youll explore the best highlights of Florence. Get updated hours and pricing on the official website. ITINERARY. They'are also a top destination for hikers, mountain bikers, and skiers from all over the world. Keep in mind that Milan Bergamo is about an hour outside of Milan. VERONA: Verona is a beautiful city in northern Italy. Restaurant Terrazza Danieli. That is up to you and the flexibility of your travel dates! We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Hotel Garn La SoldanellaandHotel Villa Fosineare both located around 5 kilometers from the parks entrance. Our recommended articles are: Driving from Genoa to Parma is a beautiful road when you skip the tollroads. For those who want to combine a few Italian cities with some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe, youll love this northern Italy itinerary. Two villages you dont want to miss areGardaandSirmione. Bologna is the origin of many Italian food favorites: Parmigiano Reggiano, Mortadella, Rag Bolognese, Balsamic Vinegar and Lasagne. Four nights in Milan with a day trip to the Lakes OR two nights in Milan and two nights at Lake Como. Youll drive around 62 miles (100 kilometers) a day, but that gives you enough time to explore the historical and traditional villages and countryside. Also, youll stay in the northern part of the region. To get from the airport to your hotel in Venice, you can take the bus, a taxi, a vaporetto, or a water taxi. This park in the heart of the Dolomites is probably the best stop for a day visit. Where To Stay In Cinque Terre. The best time to visit the Northern part of Italy is between the months of May and September. 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! DAY: MALCESINE & LIMONE DEL SUL (Lake Garda) Sightseeing In Limone Sul Garda Sightseeing In Malcesine Northern Italy Itinerary - 10. We wrote some articles about Rome, that might interest you: There are many options for a road trip in the Northern part of Italy. This 17 km (10.6 mile) hike takes 6 to 9 hours and starts in Selva di Val Gardena. Best Things to Do in the Dolomites (with Little to No Hiking), Things to Know When Planning a Trip to the Dolomites, Freccia nel Cielo cable car to Cima Tofana, 10 Days in Italy: 4 Amazing Itinerary Ideas, 10 Days in Italy: Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre & Venice, 14 Days in Italy: Best Way to Spend Two Weeks in Italy, How to Plan the Perfect Day Trip to Lake Como, 10 Days in Italy Itinerary: 4 Amazing Ideas for Your Trip to Italy, Lake Garda Bucket List: 25 Things to Do in Lake Garda, Italy, 20 Best Places to Visit in Italy (+ Map & Photos). But also many historic buildings are to find in this city. Read my full disclosure! 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! This Northern Italy road trip itinerary works either way! All the major cities on our 10 day Italy travel itinerary were accessible by public transportation, and the train . 1000 Gourmet Venezia gets great reviews, serves pizza and pasta, and is located on a side street just a few blocks northeast of St. Marks Square. Where to stay in Milan. The drive from Parma to Milan is around 2 hours. Arrive on an empty stomach! It will take around 2 hours to reach the lake. Make it easier to visit using my Lake Como budget tips, but dont be afraid to indulge in visiting its most romantic places like Villa del Balbianello and the town of Bellagio. Part of the eastern Alps in northern Italy and marking the border between Italy and Austria, these natural beauties are another UNESCO heritage site. The other dish I ordered at every restaurant in Liguria: Trofie al Pesto. The northern part of Italy is renowned for its beautiful mountain lakes. If you cant reserve a time slot on the official website, here is a one hour tour that includes your admission to see the Last Supper.. Required fields are marked *. Spend the afternoon by hiking one of the nearby trails. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Note: This post contains affiliate links. However, the town Volterra in this movie is a fictional village and not the same as the historic Italian village. As a resident of northern Italy, I can share with certainty that the best time to visit is either June or September. Day 1 in Milan - hit the highlights. You can pretty much walk into any bakery in Liguria and get an amazing piece of focaccia. For the rest of the day, you are free to explore the canals of Venice. Today, you have several options to choose from. Italy Tourism Italy Hotels . Public transport in Florence is perfect, so the next day you dont have any problems reaching the city center. It is the capital of the Tuscany region. If you have any questions about this northern Italy itinerary, let us know in the comment section below. The cheapest option is to rent a car just for the Dolomites portion of this trip. If youre planning on taking a train around northern Italy, read all my Italy train travel tips so you know exactly how to prepare. 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. 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! Learn how to spend one perfect day in Verona. These suggestions for your time in Venice follows our 2 Day in Venice Itinerary, starting with day 2 and then doing day 1. This is a good option for those who want to spend the night in a beautiful lakeside town. 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. PUGLIA: Read about 15 beautiful places to visit in Puglia and the best things to do in Alberobello. Youll see a lot more of the beautiful countryside of Italy. From the Rialto Bridge, ride the vaporetto to Pont dellAccademia. We have made a train itinerary for you that can be shortened or lengthened based on your preferences. There are lots of restaurants located in and around St. Marks Square but most of these are overpriced and mediocre. To check train schedules and to book your trains online, Italiarail.com is the easiest website to use. Places you dont want to miss while visiting Florence are: When you want to visit the Duomo, you must reserve a ticket in advance. You can either join the ticket line (expect a long wait), book your ticket in advance (highly recommended!! So we recommend dropping your rental car when arriving at the city. For this Itinerary we recommend you to start in Milan. We recommend staying a bit out of the center, which saves you tons of money. For more details about this day, refer to day 1 of our 2 Day Venice Itinerary. North Italy itinerary for 14 days. This Northern Italy Itinerary is really made for all of the free-spirited travelers. Known for its iconic leaning tower. Sirmione, which is a bit more expensive option, but probably one of the most romantic places youll ever sleep. 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 chose to take on Northern Italy by train and it was super easy and comfortable! We tried to be as thorough as possible and make different routes for different interests. Here are a few more itineraries for Italy: To see all of our articles about Italy, take a look at our Italy Travel Guide. Many people think this village was the scene for the movietwilight. The 922-passenger ship is the first of six planned eco-conscious vessels that will sail six- to 35-night immersive itineraries, first in Northern Europe and then in South America, and feature nine inclusive dining experiences, four pools (one with a tractable roof), and 10 bars and lounges (several featuring hand-crafted Steinway pianos . 8 Discover Emilia Romagna - 10 days. Among the Northern cities are Turin, Milan, Verona, Venice and Como, all within a 400 km straight line. Franciacorta. 10 Day Northern Italy Itinerary Breakdown. Fly into Milan or Bergamo airport, pick up a hire car and begin your exploration with Lake Como, the most breathtakingly beautiful expanse of water of all. Milan Lake Como Cinque Terre Venice Dolomites Highlights Lagazuoi, Dolomites | Northern Italy Itinerary, The view of Cortina dAmpezzo from the Tofana cable car | Northern Italy Itinerary. Trains are generally easy to navigate, so tourists shouldnt be intimidated. Or that you need to wait a long time in line. Italy All Italy Hotels It is still busy, but starting from 10 a.m., it is getting swamped. 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 . Italy All Italy Hotels To make sure you dont spend to much time in the car we recommend staying somewhere around Lake Garda. (Psst! DAY 5: Beautiful city of Verona DAY 6: Majestic Lake Garda DAY 7: Emilia Romagna, foodie's paradise DAY 8: Parma, gastronomy day DAY 9: Maranello (Ferrari and fun cooking) DAY 10: Gastronomic capital Bologna DAY 11: Ravenna and its UNESCO world heritage sites On the day you drive to the Dolomites, you will save a little bit of time, since you will not have to get back to the airport to pick up the car. But the true draw is the landscape. If you dont want to spend four days in the Dolomites, you can take out a day and add it to Venice or spend a day at Lake Garda. The upside is that you can explore Venice by night when you arrive not too late. In the afternoon, you can also stroll through the Dorsoduro neighborhood and/or ride a gondola through the canals of Venice. The easiest way to get around northern Italy is by train. The roads are good condition, and the views are just stunning. Dynamic pricing from $3,217. They arent as cheap as buses, but theyre less expensive than renting a car.