Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about Northern Italy travel and the best places to visit in Northern Italy. Italy is such an amazing country, and there are thousands of cool places to visit. To help you build out an Italy itinerary, I’m going to help you narrow down some of my favorite North Italy cities and towns.
Venice
Venice is one of the most-visited cities in Italy, for good reason! With the canals and bridges, it’s unlike any other city in Italy. Or Europe for that matter! You cannot visit Northern Italy without stopping in Venice. Here is my list of top ten things to see in Venice:
- Wander the streets and canals of Venice. Get lost!
- Visit Piazza San Marco, the Basilica San Marco and climb the bell tower.
- Visit the Ducal Palace
- Walk across the Rialto Bridge over the Grand Canal
- Take a gondola ride, or opt for a more budget-friendly Vaporetto ride
- View the art collection at Gallerie del Accademia
- Take in the contemporary art collection at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum
- Take a day trip to Murano to see the glassmakers in action
- Visit the St. John & St. Paul Church and the surrounding piazza
- Attend the Carnival festivities in the Spring.
11 Things You Should NOT Do in Venice
Cinque Terre
Along the rugged coastline of the Italian Riviera, there are five small towns nestled between steep cliffs and rocks. The villages have colorful buildings perched above the sea, and you can hike between them. Every step you take is like walking into a postcard.
Lake Como
This is where the rich and famous people vacation. George Clooney has a residence here, for example. You don’t have to be rich to visit Lake Como, though. There are plenty of outdoor activities in and around the lake. It’s the perfect spot for an active or relaxing vacation.
Bolzano (Bozen)
In the Tyrol region near the Austrian border, Bolzano is another great town in Northern Italy. They have a fantastic archeological museum which houses the famous “iceman” that was found in this region in the 1990s. The town has a distinct Austrian feel, so you get to experience a new culture here.
Verona
Located in Veneto, Verona is halfway between Milan and Venice. It’s a great place to visit a smaller town in Northern Italy, with some worthwhile sights. It also happens to be on the train route from Munich to Rome, so it’s a great place to stop off. Some of our favorite things to do in Verona include the following:
- See Juliette’s Balcony (from Romeo & Juliet)
- Visit the Arena; an original Roman arena that’s still used for concerts today
- Go to Piazza delle Erbe, the main square of Verona
- Visit the Castelvecchio and get a family photo on the bridge
- Try “Cavalo,” better known as horse meat
- Go to Basilica di San Zeno and the Cathedral
- Go to the Piazza dei Signori
- Hike up to the San Pietro Castle for great views of the city
Dolomites
The Dolomites are a large mountain range in Northern Italy. The dramatic peaks offer hiking opportunities for every level, from a family day hike to mountain climbers scaling the peaks. This area was very important during WWI, so there are also many monuments in the region.
Bergamo
Located in the foothills of the Italian Alps, Bergamo is widely known as a city of culture and wealth. The city is full of museums, so a visit to Bergamo is a great educational experience.
Trento
Another city near the mountains is Trento. The castle here is pretty famous, and it’s also known for the frescoes painted on the buildings in town. If you like public art, Trento is a great place to visit. Trento is also a great place to stay for exploring the Dolomites.
Torino
Also known as Turin, this city is famous for housing the Shroud of Turin, which many believe is the cloth Jesus was wrapped in after the crucifixion. The city also hosted the Winter Olympics in 2006, so it’s a popular winter sports destination.
Genoa
Also called Genova, Genoa is a coastal city just a few hours from Monaco. It’s an important port city and is the hometown of Christopher Columbus. They also have one of the largest aquariums in Europe. Pesto originated here, so you definitely want to try some here.
Milan
Milan is not one of our favorite towns in Northern Italy, but it’s typically where you will fly in and out for this trip. As the fashion capital of the world, there are some worthwhile things to see in Milan. Here are my top things to see and do in Milan:
- The Duomo. A stunning building with beautiful stained glass and you can go up to the roof and walk around!
- Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele II is a shopping mall with amazing architecture
- La Scala Opera House, one of the most famous opera houses in the world
- See the original painting of the Last Supper (you have to make a reservation!)
- Visit Castello Sforzesco and the museums within
- Visit St. Maurizio’s Church
- Eat a Panzerotti at Luini’s; it’s so good!
- Visit the Gold District for shopping (or window shopping!)
- Visit the Science & Technology Museum; even kids will love this one!
- Visit the Poldi Pezzoli Museum, an expansive art collection organized by time period
- Visit the Museo del Novecento, the 20th Century Art Museum for modern art
Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Visiting Milan, Italy
Padua
Also known as Padova, this town is located halfway between Vicenza and Venice. Padua has one of the most cool-looking basilicas, dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua. There are also some beautiful frescoes around town, particularly at the Scrovegni Chapel near the train station.
Bassano del Grappa
This Northern Italian town is the home of grappa, a very strong grape liquor. Bassano del Grappa has some beautiful squares and is also famous for the 13th-century wooden bridge, Ponte Vecchio. It’s only an hour from Vicenza by bus, but I like to spend the night in Bassano as it’s a very quiet town. Some of my favorite things to see in Bassano del Grappa include:
- Check out the Ponte Vecchio, the most famous bridge in town
- Sample the local grappa in a small shop at the end of the bridge
- Visit Piazza Liberta and Piazza Garibaldi
- Visit the Museum of the Alps
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
There are so many more North Italy cities worth visiting, but we’ll leave some to be discovered by surprise. I think these are some of the best places to visit in Northern Italy, and I think you’ll enjoy them if you decide to plan a trip to this region. Looking for more tips on travel in Italy? Check out these other blog posts: