One Week In Northern Italy Travel Guide – The Perfect 7 Day Itinerary

Are you planning a trip to Northern Italy? This guide is going to show you the top attractions when you only have one week in Northern Italy!

Are you planning to spend one week in Northern Italy but unsure where to start? Look no further; I’ve got you covered with my comprehensive travel guide. This itinerary covers the top attractions and must-see sights, ensuring you make the most of your time in this beautiful region, especially when you only have one week to see it all.

You’ll get to discover the beauty of Venice, a city known for its romantic canals and impressive architecture. If you’re looking to immerse yourself in beautiful nature, the Italian Alps and the Dolomites offer a stunning backdrop for activities such as hiking. Of course, no trip to Northern Italy would be complete without a visit to the stunning Lake Como and underrated Lake Garda.

This travel guide will provide you with all of the information you need to plan your trip, including travel tips, transportation options, and accommodation recommendations. I know that planning a trip can be overwhelming, so I’ve created a week-long itinerary that will allow you to maximize your time while experiencing the best that Northern Italy has to offer.

Whether you are a city girl or a nature lover, this guide will include a little bit of everything, making it suitable for all. I am here to ensure that you have an unforgettable week exploring the beauty of Northern Italy.

Before I get into the guide I have created for how to spend one week in Northern Italy, I thought I would address some frequently asked questions that a lot of people are curious about before visiting. 

FAQs About Northern Italy

Is Northern Italy worth visiting?

The short answer is yes, Northern Italy is SO worth visiting! I would say that the main draw of this region would be the nature, lakes, and unique towns. You have such a wide variety of landscapes here. From the calm and serene Lake Como, the dramatic peaks of the Dolomites mountain range, to the romantic canals of Venice, there is something in this region for everyone!

What is the best month to visit Northern Italy?

The best month to visit Northern Italy would have to be between late May-early October. This is because nature here is best enjoyed in the warmer months when everything is blooming. In addition, you should plan your trip around the best time to hike in the Dolomites. Therefore, I would say the best months would be July and August, but you can enjoy it just the same during any other time during late spring and early fall. 

Is it difficult to drive in Northern Italy?

To be completely honest, yes it is a bit difficult to drive in Northern Italy. Although I have had my driver’s license for several years now, I let my boyfriend do all of the driving as I was not comfortable driving in this region.

Driving in Northern Italy can be difficult due to several reasons. The first reason is the mountains and steep hills. Since most rental cars are manual, you need to be confident driving a stick shift up steep hills and winding roads. Secondly, a lot of locals, and others, drive very fast here which can be scary at times. Lastly, you need to make sure you get a bigger car with the power to drive up the mountains. 

This post is all about how to spend one week in Northern Italy.

One Week in Northern Italy – The Perfect 7-Day Itinerary

Below I have created a guide based on the best places to see in Northern Italy. I have created this in such a way that you will maximize your time since the trip is only one week. I will tell you where to fly into and out from, to avoid having to travel a long distance back to where you started the trip. The itinerary will take you across a wide part of Northern Italy, stopping at the must-see sights to ensure the perfect trip. This Northern Italy guide is structured in the following way:

• Day 1 & Day 2 – Lake Como
• Day 3 – Lake Garda and the Dolomites
• Day 4 & Day 5 – the Dolomites
• Day 6 – Venice
• Day 7 – Venice and Burano

Day 1 – Lake Como

Book your flight to Milan, and get on a regional train to Varenna. The train from Milan to Lake Como is direct and only takes an hour, which makes Milan the perfect airport to start at. If you would like to explore Milan for the day, you can customize this itinerary to fit your desires. However, a little disclaimer, I visited Milan as well for a day and was quite disappointed. I highly recommend skipping this city, as I promise you will enjoy Lake Como so much more! Make sure to book your train in advance if you are coming during the high season, otherwise, they should depart every hour or so from the central station, so you can book it upon your arrival. 

Once in Lake Como, I recommend making Varenna your base. Not only is it one of the most beautiful towns on the lake, but it is extremely convenient, being the only town with a train going directly to Milan. You can book either a hotel or an Airbnb for a more budget-friendly option. 

Early Afternoon

Once you have arrived, take your time to explore this town. Explore the beautiful gardens of Villa Cipressi and Villa Monastero which are extremely well-kept and offer stunning views over the lake. It costs money to enter both gardens, so I recommend getting a combo ticket which should cost around 15€ in total. 

Afterward, spend some time exploring the town. Walk along the “lovers walk” connecting the ferry station and historical town. Then explore the small streets of the historical town and get an Italian apéritif by the water to enjoy the views. Eat dinner at one of the local spots, but make sure to arrive a bit early as these places fill up rather quickly. 

After dinner, hike up the Castello di Vezio, to catch an incredible sunset over the lake. If you are feeling tired, you can also consider hiking up here for sunrise the next day!

Day 2 – Lake Como

Morning

On your second day in Lake Como, make sure to explore the lake, and check out some of the other towns. Take the water bus to Bellagio, the most picturesque town in Lake Como. Spend the morning hours exploring the town, before the masses arrive. Bellagio is probably the most popular town and gets extremely busy during the afternoon hours. Make sure to explore the historical city center, as well as the promenade lining the lake.

 

Afterward, I recommend booking a tour of Lake Como, as no trip here is complete without one! Private tours are extremely expensive, and group tours are a great way to stay on a budget. We actually took a group tour in which you sit with around 10-20 people on the boat while touring the lake. In addition, our tour dropped us off at Villa Balbianello which is an extremely unique and beautiful property. If you would like a similar experience then I encourage you to book this same trip with Bellagio Water Limousines. Plan for this experience to take around 2.5 hours in total. 

For more things to do in Lake Como, check out my full blog post linked below!

Read more: 9 Best Things To Do In Lake Como

Afternoon

In the afternoon, pack up your things and head to the train station. Have a ticket booked to Trento where you will pick up your rental car. I highly recommend booking your rental car through SunnyCars. I used them several times during my trip, and it always went extremely smoothly. They will provide full insurance, excellent customer support, and the best prices (not sponsored in any way).

From here you have two options, either you would like to see Lake Garda, and give up one extra day in the Dolomites, or you would rather skip Lake Garda and head straight to the Dolomites. Either way, I will provide activities for both options, so simply make sure to decide where you would rather go and drive to your accommodation for the night. 

Day 3 – Lake Garda / The Dolomites

Lake Garda

If you choose to take a detour to Lake Garda, then I recommend that you stay in Riva del Garda, so it will be easier to drive to the Dolomites. When in Lake Garda, make sure to explore Riva del Garda, and then take a boat to Limone sul Garda, one of the prettiest towns on the lake. 

After exploring this town, head back to Riva del Garda and walk along the Sentiero del Ponale. This walk will provide you with stunning views over the lake as you walk through tunnels in limestone cliffs. After about an hour’s walk from town, you will reach the restaurant Ponale Alto Belvedere. I highly recommend getting a meal and a beer here. The prices are fair with huge portions, and you get to enjoy views of the lake below you. 

Once you arrive back in town, pack up your things and drive to your accommodation in the Dolomites, as you are going to have 2 fully packed days in the mountains. 

The Dolomites

Morning

If you prefer to head straight to the Dolomites, then I recommend making the region around Lake Misurina your base. Get up early, and drive a short while to the start of the Lago di Sorapis trail. This alpine lake is breathtaking, and one of the most beautiful hikes you can do in the Dolomites.

To start the trail, park by the free gravel parking lot close to B&B Hotel Passo Tre Croci Cortina. The parking lot is called Parcheggio per Sorapis, but you can also find the exact spot by clicking here. After parking, make your way towards the B&B and continue along the main road. You will see a map and a trail to your right (on the same side as the B&B). Simply follow this trail, and look for any signs towards Rifugio Alfonso. In general, the trail is very easy to follow and you cannot get lost. While the trail is not dangerous and of moderate difficulty, there are a few exposed sections, so walk with caution. I wouldn’t recommend hiking here after rainfall, as the trail may be slippery and dangerous. The hike is around 12 km round trip, and to get back simply follow the same trail down. 

You are not allowed to swim in the lake, and please respect these rules, as otherwise, they may end up closing the trail to the public. In addition, this is a popular hike, so I recommend starting it early, to enjoy the serenity of the lake without a lot of people. Plan to spend at least an hour at the top to enjoy the beautiful views.

 

Afternoon

In the afternoon, check out some of the beautiful lakes in the area. These include the famous Lago di Braies and Lago di Dobbiaco. Make sure to bring some lunch with you, and spend the afternoon enjoying the breathtaking views of these lakes. You can either walk around the lakes themselves or take one of the numerous trails starting at each lake. While you are allowed to swim in some lakes here, make sure to check beforehand as it is prohibited in some. 

Day 4 – The Dolomites

Morning

Start your day off early as you will be hiking the most popular trail in the Dolomites. Today the plan will be to complete the Tre Cime Di Lavaredo hike, and an additional quick hike to the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint. Then you will drive to your next base in the Dolomites around Santa Maddalena. 

Hiking Tre Cime Di Lavaredo 

In order to start your hike, drive to Rifugio Auronzo and park in the large parking lot here. Pay attention that in order to get here, you have to drive on a toll road which costs 30 euros per car. If you wish to avoid paying this, you can also park by Lago Atorno and hike the additional ~ 4 km to start the hike. I do not recommend doing this, as the road to the Rifugio is extremely steep and this part will be harder than the actual hike. I have a full blog post on how to hike the Tre Cime di Lavaredo trail so make sure to check it out before your trip!

 

Once parked, you will follow the route toward Rifugio Lavaredo. The hike is moderate, as it is not all that difficult and the loop is about 10 km. On your way, you will pass the Capella degli Alpini, before making it to Rifugio Lavaredo, which provides clear views of Tre Cime. In addition, here you will find two beautiful alpine lakes, and in the summer the Rifugio will be open and you can get a drink here. While here, consider hiking a bit extra to reach the caves, for a special view of the three peaks. It was super foggy on the day we visited, so we personally did not do this. Afterward, head towards Malga Langalm, and from there towards the car park. 

Read More: How to hike the Tre Cime di Lavaredo trail

Hiking the Cadini di Misurina Viewpoint 

In order to get to the viewpoint, you will have an additional 3 km hike from the car park. Follow trail 117 starting from Rifugio Auronzo. Continue along the red and white trail markers until the path splits. Then take the right trail, both will lead you to the same place, but the right trail is a little bit safer. After about 10 minutes you should be able to locate the viewpoint and then take the same way back to the car park. Click here for a detailed description of how to get to the Cadini di Misurina Viewpoint. 

Afternoon

Head back to your accommodation and check out. Make sure to book another accommodation for the next two nights that will be close to Santa Maddalena, as the next hikes are all within this region of the Dolomites. Since you only have one week in Northern Italy, it makes more sense to switch accommodations frequently, than spend extra time on long drives. 

Once you have arrived, consider getting some food on the go and driving to Lago di Carezza for sunset. This lake is extremely picturesque and I really regret not having the time to go here. Make sure to learn from our mistakes, and take the extra time to visit as many beautiful spots as you possibly can!

Day 5 – The Dolomites

Morning

Day 5 will be your final hiking day, with 2 different hikes lined up. The first hike will be to Seceda, the most dramatic peak in the Dolomites! It can be a little tricky to figure out which way to hike up from, as there are several options. Therefore, I highly recommend checking out my full guide on hiking the Seceda Ridgeline where I have outlined all of the different options!

 

Start the day early and drive to Col Raiser. If you are unsure of the location, then you can find it here. Buy a ticket for the cable cars (25 euros round trip per person) which will drop you off at the Almhotel Col Raiser. From here, follow the signs up to Seceda (you can also clearly see the mountain when you get off the cable car). The hike itself is rather short, as it is only around a 7 km round trip, but it is quite steep, so take your time and enjoy the beautiful valley views.

Read More: Ultimate Guide to hiking the Seceda Ridgeline

Afternoon

Once back, head over to the Adolf Munkel Weg hike, located just outside the town of Santa Maddalena. Park at Parkplatz Zanser Alm, or click here to get the exact location. Once here, take the trail that goes towards Dusler Alm. While many people will start in the other direction, I highly recommend doing this hike “backward”. This is because then you will be walking facing the mountain range, instead of it being behind you. At Dusler Alm, take the trail towards Geisleralm.

Once you reach Geisleralm, take a long break at the restaurant to enjoy the beautiful views. You can sit here for a drink or something to eat. If you simply want to enjoy nature, then there are some chairs behind the hut which will be perfect for you. Afterward, take the trail that indicates Adolf Munkel Weg, and then follow the signs to Zanser Alm, which will lead you back to the parking lot. The whole hike is around 9 km and is one of the easier hikes in the Dolomites. The views are incredibly stunning so even if you are a little tired after Seceda, I recommend you push through this hike anyways. 

 

End your day by exploring the beautiful Santa Maddalena. There is a trail here called the Panorama Weg, which offers stunning views of the valley. Even if you don’t wish to take on another mini hike, I recommend getting to the start of the trail to enjoy the views of the village, with the Val di Funes mountains in the background. There is really nothing like the Italian Alps, so make sure to soak up as many views as possible!

Day 6 – Venice

On day 6 you will hop on a train to Venice for the final days of your one week in Northern Italy trip. Consider waking up early and heading to Seiser Alm to watch the sunrise, before continuing into Trento to return the rental car. You are only allowed to drive in Seiser Alm before 9 AM, which gives you the perfect excuse for an early wake-up call. 

Although there isn’t much to do in Seiser Alm, it is the largest high-altitude alpine meadow, and well worth a visit. Spend an hour enjoying your view, and then drive to Trento to return your rental car. 

Afternoon

Once in Venice, head out and explore the city. A lot of people come to Venice for the picturesque canals, and completely disregard the history and culture of this place. Therefore, I highly recommend booking an afternoon tour of the San Marco Basilica and Doge’s Palace to get to know Venice better. We booked our tour through GetYourGuide, although you can use any platform to book yours! 

If you would like a special dinner with an incredible view, then I recommend making reservations at the restaurant on the roof of Hotel Danieli. While this restaurant is definitely on the higher side of prices, the experience you get here is incredible. If you are celebrating a birthday, an anniversary, or simply want to spoil yourselves with a beautiful night, then I cannot recommend this place enough! Make sure to reserve a table well in advance, and let them know if you have any kinds of allergies or are vegan, etc. 

Day 7 – Venice and Burano

On the last day of your one week in Northern Italy trip, you will explore the rest of Venice, and even take a day trip to the colorful island of Burano.

Morning

Wake up early and explore the city before the others wake up. Since central Venice is actually rather small, it can quickly feel overcrowded. Therefore, waking up early can give you plenty of time to explore the empty canals and take in the beauty of this place.

Make sure to take a gondola ride on this final day in Italy. While gondola rides are expensive, and can often feel overrated, they are just one of those things you have to experience at least once. We found that early morning (around 9 AM) is the best time for a ride. First of all, the gondoliers are just starting out their day, and will most likely be friendlier. Secondly, there is no canal traffic, so you will actually explore Venice, rather than get stuck in water traffic!

 

Furthermore, I have listed some of the main attractions for you to check out in Venice below!

Must-See Bridges:

• Ponte di Rialto
• Ponte dell’Accademia
• Ponte-dei Sospiri
• Ponte Chiodo
• Ponte Maria Callas
• Ponte Balbi

In addition to San Marco Basilica, another worthy church to check out is Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute. When it comes to terrace views the three top choices would be T Fondaco Rooftop Terrace, Hotel Danieli Rooftop Restaurant, and Scala Contarini del Bovolo. Two extra places that are worth mentioning are the Libreria Aqua Alta and Gelatoteco Suso. The Libreria is a bookshop famous for storing their books in gondolas due to the floods. Gelatoteca Suso is simply the best gelato shop in all of Italy and is therefore a must-visit stop. 

Afternoon

Take a short day trip to the colorful island of Burano. This beautiful Fisherman island is less than an hour away from Venice and makes for the perfect afternoon getaway. 

Getting to Burano is rather easy as there is a direct water bus from Venice. It takes around 45 minutes with line 12 to Treporti departing from Fontamente Nove A station. I highly recommend buying a day ticket, it costs around 21 euros, whereas a one-way ticket anywhere costs 7.5 euros. This means that just getting to Burano and back will be 15 euros and for 6 more, you can take as many water buses (Vaporetto) as you’d like for 24 hours.

I have a whole blog post written on how to get to Burano and things to do here, so make sure to check it out for more information. 

Read more: Day Trip from Venice: the Colorful Village of Burano

That concludes the itinerary for your one week in Northern Italy. I recommend booking flights out of Venice, to save you the trouble of having to travel to a faraway airport. I have really tried to make this 7-day Northern Italy itinerary as packed and eventful as possible. If you feel like it is too crowded of an itinerary then feel free to customize it to your own needs and take inspiration from the guide above. What do you think of this one-week in Northern Italy itinerary? Let me know in the comments below!

This post was all about one week in Northern Italy – the perfect 7-day itinerary.