Northern Italy Itinerary: Lakes, Cities, and the Dolomites

Northern Italy is a different country from the south — wealthier, cooler, more Germanic in its architecture and food culture, and containing some of Italy’s greatest diversity. This 10-day itinerary covers Milan, Lake Como, Verona (with the Arena if opera season), Venice, the Dolomites, and Bologna. It works best with a combination of trains and one or two days with a hire car.

Before you go: key bookings

• Last Supper (Leonardo’s Cenacolo) — book months ahead at cenacolovinciano.vivaticket.com
• Verona Opera (July–August) at arena.it
• Venice accommodation — book 3–6 weeks ahead in spring and autumn; much further ahead for summer

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Days 1–2: Milan

Day 1 — The Duomo and Brera: The Duomo di Milano (free exterior, paid roof terrace and interior) — the third-largest cathedral in the world. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II adjacent — a 19th-century shopping arcade with a dome. Walk to the Brera neighbourhood: the Pinacoteca di Brera (major painting collection — Mantegna, Caravaggio, Raphael) and the Brera street network. Aperitivo in the Navigli canal area in the evening.

Day 2 — Last Supper and Castello: Leonardo’s Last Supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie (pre-booked 15-minute entry — absolutely essential). Walk to the Castello Sforzesco — the Visconti-Sforza castle with good museums, particularly the Michelangelo room with the Rondanini Pietà (his final, unfinished work). The Quadrilatero della Moda (fashion district) if interested.

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Day 3–4: Lake Como

Train from Milano Centrale to Varenna (1 hour) — the most scenic approach to the lake.

Day 3 — Varenna and Bellagio: Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi in Varenna. Ferry to Bellagio (15 minutes) — the classic Como town with views of all three reaches of the lake. Walk to the Villa Serbelloni gardens. Ferry back to Varenna for the night (or stay in Bellagio).

Day 4 — Lenno and Villa del Balbianello: Ferry to Lenno or Tremezzo on the west shore. Villa del Balbianello — the most beautifully sited villa in Italy on its forested promontory. Villa Carlotta (botanical garden). Return to Varenna and train south toward Verona.

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Days 5–6: Verona

Day 5 — The ancient city: The Roman Arena. Piazza Bra. Walk to the Piazza delle Erbe and the adjacent Piazza dei Signori. The Arche Scaligere (Gothic Scaligeri tombs). Castel San Pietro for sunset views.

Day 6 — Basilica di San Zeno and wine country: San Zeno Basilica in the morning. Afternoon: drive or take a bus to the Valpolicella wine zone (30 minutes north) — the Classico villages of Fumane, Negrar, San Pietro in Cariano. Wine tasting at estates. Or: if opera season, an evening at the Arena.

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Days 7–8: Venice

Train from Verona to Venice (1h 15min).

Day 7 — St Mark’s and Dorsoduro: Arrive and check in. St Mark’s Basilica (book at veniceconnected.com), the Doge’s Palace, the Campanile. Accademia Gallery (pre-book). Dinner in Dorsoduro.

Day 8 — The lagoon: Vaporetto to Murano (glass factories), Burano (coloured houses and lace), Torcello (7th-century cathedral in the original island of the lagoon, the most important structure in Venice’s history). Return via Cannaregio — the most genuine Venetian neighbourhood.

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Days 9–10: The Dolomites (summer/autumn) or Bologna (year-round)

Option A — Dolomites (June–October):

Train from Venice to Bolzano (2.5 hours). Bolzano is the German-speaking capital of South Tyrol — a Tyrolean town with Italian food, excellent for the Dolomites.

Day 9 — The Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm): Europe’s largest high-altitude meadow, reached by cable car from Ortisei or Siusi allo Sciliar. Walking among the Dolomite peaks in the afternoon light is as close to an Alpine classic as Italy offers. The Sella group and the Langkofel dominate the view.

Day 10 — Val Gardena or Fanes-Sennes-Braies: The Val Gardena (connected by road from Bolzano) has the most accessible Dolomite walking with the best infrastructure. The Fanes-Sennes-Braies nature park is wilder and less visited. Train back to Milan or Venice from Bolzano.

Option B — Bologna (year-round):

Train from Venice to Bologna (1h 35min).

Day 9 — Bologna: Piazza Maggiore, the two towers, the covered porticoes, the Quadrilatero market for lunch. The university quarter in the afternoon.

Day 10 — Modena or Ferrara: Modena (30 minutes) — the Este ducal city, the Romanesque Cathedral (UNESCO), the Ferrari Museum at Maranello (15 minutes from Modena), and the Acetaia Giusti (the world’s oldest balsamic vinegar producer, tours available). Or Ferrara (30 minutes) — the perfectly preserved Renaissance court city.

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Practical notes

Transport: High-speed trains cover Milan–Venice efficiently. For the Dolomites, a car from Bolzano or a rental from Venice gives the most flexibility.

Summer timing: June is the ideal month for this itinerary — Lake Como is at its best, Verona opera starts, the Dolomites are hikeable.

Driving: Lake Como roads are narrow and busy in summer; the train and ferry to Varenna is a better approach than driving to Bellagio. The Dolomites require a car for anything beyond the main valley.