The north of Italy is some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. The vibrant cities, the mountains, and the incredible lakes make a north Italy road trip a special journey. If you’re a foodie, love lush landscapes, or just want to learn more about north Italy, then read on!
We have driven over to Italy (from France) a number of times, and each time we have discovered new and interesting areas. I have detailed some our favourite stops below, and included a bunch of useful information about road-tripping in Northern Italy.
I have split the itinerary ideas into 5 days, 7 days and 10 day options for exploration of the north part of Italy; to give you a taste of what ground you can cover in those periods. This is a taster tour, and will leave you wanting to come back or stay longer!
Roads in Northern Italy
The highways in northern Italy are wide and well maintained, with tolls being reasonable for the distances covered. The roads around the lakes can be narrow and winding, so campers may find it slow going. Read more road trip tips for Italy…
North Italy Itinerary Stops
5 Days in Northern Italy
Venice
Venice, the one and only. I have been to Venice before, but there is something special about showing someone else around this stunner of a city.
Sitting on the Adriatic coast of north Italy, Venice is as magical as the guidebooks say. But it is also hugely popular, so can get very busy. Therefore, if you’re looking to spend a weekend in Venice, I recommend going in the shoulder or off seasons.
You could spend all 3-5 days of your itinerary in Venice, but if you are just taking a taster-tour, then 1 day will allow you to see the highlights. Piazza San Marco, the Rialto Bridge, Peggy Guggenheim’s museum, a wander of the canals, and an Aperol Spritz and some cicchetti on Campo Santo Stefano.
Where to stay in Venice on a road trip
Venice isn’t a place for cars, so I recommend you stay in Mestre, which is just over the bridge from Venice. There are quick buses and trains that run over the bridge in under 10 minutes, so it’s a really convenient option for road-trippers.
We stayed at the dog-friendly Four Points by Sheraton near the Mestre hospital. It is near a large supermarket, restaurant and shopping area; and is only 5 minutes walk from the hospital train station. It also has a secure parking area.
The Leonardo and the Plaza are also great options, as they are right next to Mestre’s main train station.
Verona
Driving time between Venice and Verona: 1 hour 20 minutes
Verona is an absolute diamond, and you simply can’t visit northern Italy without paying the city a visit. And while people flock to Juliet’s balcony and the roman arena, there is much more to discover.
The delightfully wonky Piazza del Erbe, salami and liquors from Salumeria Albertini, the beautiful gothic Basilica di Santa Anastasia; and the marvellous climb up to Castel San Pietro. Verona has a very manageable centre – although be sure to bring your walking shoes.
You can experience many of the initial delights of the city of Verona in 1 full day, but I suspect you’ll want to stay longer.
Road Trip Friendly Accommodation in Verona
Verona is a far more car-friendly city than many in Italy. Most hotels will offer paid parking (either onsite, or discounted public parking nearby). We stayed at the Leonardo Hotel, about half a mile outside of the old town – which came with free parking.
For a central option, but still slightly removed from the tiny central streets – try the B&B Il Relais dell’Abbazia, or the Residence Antico San Zeno; both of which are near the convivial restaurants of the Piazza Corrubbio.
Lake Garda
Driving time between Verona and Lake Garda: 45 minutes
Lake Garda is somewhere I keep going back to – it has something for everyone. There is a great mix of calm and beautiful areas for relaxation, and historic cities and castles.
Our favourite areas include the city of Desenzano, Garda, Sirmione and the quiet bay of Padenghe sul Garda. If you ensure you stay at one of the many ferry ports around the late, it means you can explore easily. I recommend spending 2 days out of a 5-day itinerary around Lake Garda.
See more about things to do in Southern Lake Garda
Where to stay in Lake Garda with a car
Our favourite places to stay in Lake Garda are:
In Sirmione, at the bang for your buck Hotel Marolda, which is 1.5 miles walk / bus along the waterfront to Sirmione centre; and has free parking.
And the Hotel Piccola Vela on the waterfront in Desenzano del Garda – right by the ferry station, and 5 minutes walk from town.
Bologna
Driving time between Lake Garda and Bologna: 2 hours
Bologna really does epitomise the best that northern Italy has to offer. The ‘red city’ has 62 miles of porticos, grand squares, ancient churches, and an excellent foodie culture.
Climb a tower or two, walk the 666 porticos up to the sanctuary on the hill, eat as much tagliatelle bolognese as you can; and enjoy a negroni or two on one of the many cafes spilling out onto the squares.
If you have an extra day, spend it here.
Where to stay in Bologna when driving
Like any major city, driving in Bologna can be a challenge. I recommend staying on the edge of the centre, making parking a little easier. The AC Hotel by Marriott is not only a great brand of stylish hotels, but this one has parking at a reasonable rate; and is located on the other side of the train station from the main centre.
7 Day Itinerary for North Italy
Lake Maggiore
Driving time between Bologna and Lake Maggiore: 3 hours 30 minutes
Lake Maggiore is so laid back and relaxing – it’s a wonderful place to escape towards the end of your busy road trip. It’s in stark contrast to the cities mentioned, time in Lake Maggiore is spent tootling around between the shoreline towns, the idyllic Borromean Islands, and various lakeside bars.
There’s an air of grandeur in the lakes of Northern Italy, and Maggiore has it in spades. While sometimes the grandeur is fading, it doesn’t take away from the tranquility and elegance of the place. It’s our favourite of the big lakes because it is less ‘chi-chi’!
I recommend you stay at the Belvedere Hotel on the waterfront at Verbania Pallanza. Situated right opposite a ferry stop, there is free parking along the promenade, cafes and wonderful bistros nearby, and a vibrant market on Fridays.
Turin
Driving time between Lake Maggiore and Torino: 2 hours
Turin impressed on our first visit. We were free-styling our road trip, so arrived in Turin with no plans, but almost immediately found a hotel and booked it because we loved it so much. We have returned twice since then!
Known for being the home of the Shroud of Turin, and for hosting the 2006 Winter Olympics. Oh, and it was the first capital of Italy, so is full of grand squares, boulevards and monuments.
But what really struck me was the diversity, cocktail and food culture, and interesting modernisms within the classical construct. The Fabio Viale exhibition of augmented classical sculptures at the Musei Reali was a delight.
Have dinner at Tre Galli – with modern and regional dishes, this restaurant served one of the best dishes of our Italy trip, and makes one hell of a negroni.
We stayed at the NH Hotel Santo Stefano, which is built behind a beautiful old bell tower. It is in an exceptional location, and there are plenty of public and secure parking facilities nearby. The church with the shroud of Turin is a few meters away, as is the Palatine Gate and many other attractions. Plus, the cool restaurant and entertainment district of Quadrilatero Romano is right nearby.
10 Day North Italy Road Trip Options
Modena
Add Modena into the itinerary after Bologna : Drive time 40 minutes / Onward travel from Modena to Lake Como
If you have time, add a stop in Modena to your itinerary. While I always like to add to the local economy by staying overnight in a place… if you don’t have time, a day trip to Modena will give you a glimpse of the magic of this city.
This hip university town has a great vibe, immensely good food, and great shopping. Have lunch at Osteria di Modena Rossi opposite the palace – the giant tortelloni and bolognese sauce was beyond my wildest pasta dreams.
Lake Como
Add Lake Como into the itinerary after Modena, and before Lake Maggiore : Drive time 3 hours / Onward travel from Como to Maggiore is 1 hour 30 minutes – 2 hours
I’ll admit, Lake Como is my least favourite of the major Italian lakes in the north. There’s nothing inherently wrong with it; but it does attract the rich and famous to its dramatic shores and mansions. I’m not a fan of mansions or famous people, but I did appreciate the landscapes of Como – they are quite remarkable.
We stayed in the sleepy town of Nesso, and it was a great compromise. We enjoyed the soft sunsets and local hospitality; but stayed away from the tourist flux and expensive dinners of the cities.
Take a ferry and explore a few of the towns like Bellagio, and enjoy the views of the grand mansions (coo-ey Mr Clooney) from the boat. Start out early in the day, especially on the weekend, as Lake Como gets easily crowded.
Don’t miss a road trip through the glorious Dolomites too!
North Italy Road Trip Itinerary
A road trip around the north part of Italy is guaranteed to be a few things: inconceivably beautiful, a great mix of calming and stimulating, and very very tasty! Be sure to bring your stretchy trousers, because Italy sure does deliver on the food and drink front. Toast a limoncello for me when you take your road trip in northern Italy – cin cin!
Italy brings me a lot of joy, and has done since first visited in 1999.
Read more about my adventures in Naples!
All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM; and an iPhone.
I’ve done a southern Italy road trip, but looks like I need to go back and visit northern Italy on a road trip! So many beautiful places to stop on a trip, you really can’t go wrong. I love how you gave options based off how many days people have too – so helpful!
You definitely need to return and explore the northern part of Italy – it’s absolutely stunning!
You can’t go wrong with Northern Italy. The only problem is what to choose among the endless options, if you are short on time. So it really helps that the itineraries are different lengths.
Italy is my happy place. Any destination on your list would be awesome.
I have been to several of these locations. I loved Lake Garda, as well. So tranquil and beautiful. I would love to visit Bologna. So much to see there. The bolognese tagliatelle looks delicious. I would love to do a food tour there!
I fell in love with Venice and Verona. I would love to explore more on your northern Italy road trip itinerary. Looks perfect!
Hey! So, Garda, Desenzano, Simione and the bay are all different towns? and you are saying we could fit them into 1 day? We were going to make our base Lake Como, can that be a day trip from Como? Thank you xx
Hi Natalie, Lake Garda isn’t really day-trippable from Como – they are 2 hours apart. Are you travelling by car or train? Either way, it’s around 2 hours minimum. You can explore the southern part of Lake Garda in a day using the ferries, but I would recommend you stay overnight in a town like Sirmione or Desenzano – because the travel to and from Como would take too long. Garda and Maggiore are actually my preferred lakes over Como. So depending on what vibe you are after / what you want to see, you may choose to split your time 🙂