I am planning a holiday for three family members and looking for advice on how to spend seven days in Northern Italy in early September. We'll be arriving by train from Lyon, France on a Monday and flying out of Milan Malpensa the following Monday. We will not have a car. We recently spent time in Milan and Venice, so we are skipping them this time. We are in our sixties and enjoy exploring historical sights and museums, moderate hikes/walks, natural beauty, and good food and wine. I am thinking three days in Brescia or Desenzano del Garda (day trips to Bergamo and Lake Garda towns?) and then three days in Verona, before making our way back to Malpensa. Any advice, suggestions, or tips are appreciated!
Posted by
1280 posts
Consider Turin! It is a wonderful city itself, and there are several smaller towns around Turin (Bra, Alba ... and even Aosta valley 90min away) reachable by bus. It's also much less touristed than the area you are talking about (between Verona and Milan), so while I also very much enjoyed that stretch, the Turin area offers a feeling of being off the beaten path. If you do stay in Verona, plan a trip to Padua for the Scrovegni chapel.
Posted by
403 posts
I would go higher up on Lago di Garda. Consider Limone or Malcesine for a couple of days before Verona.
Stresa on Lago Maggiore is nice as well. Lugano adds a different flavor as well.
The previous poster is spot on about Alba, Bra, etc… in the Peidmont for wine and food. Exceptional. PM me if you want a referral for a wine guide there. As you are in Verona, spend a day or so touring the Valpollicella and Soave regions.
Posted by
North Italy
551 posts
Brescia is worth a day trip but I would base somewhere on Lake Garda - Desenzano would be fine, you can easily get to Brescia by train. The centre of Brescia is nice but for strolling in the evenings in early September after a day's sightseeing, the lake will be nicer
Posted by
Massachusetts, USA
2000 posts
While in Verona recently, we did a half day vineyard tour and wine tasting with Pagus Tours. They specialize in wine tours. Up to 8 people. We lucked out. It was only me and my husband and our wonderful driver and guide. We visited the Valpocelli region. A great afternoon!
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
8242 posts
Arriving to where ( from Lyon)?
6 nights?
Not clear
Posted by
OP
Philadelphia, PA USA
2 posts
We don't have an exact train yet. We will be in Lyon through Mon, Sept 8 and have a flight out of Milan on Mon, Sept 15. We are staying at the airport the night before our flight at Hotel Villa Malpensa (a great airport hotel). Everything else is up in the air at the moment -- so we have six nights to fill between Lyon and Milan airport.
Thanks for the suggestions above! We are considering Turin in lieu of the Lake Garda plan. All the tips so far have been helpful, and additional suggestions are welcome!
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
8242 posts
You could stay in Stresa night before departure from Malpensa for a lake visit ( unless flight super early)
Direct bus to airport
Haven’t been to Turin but it is appealing
Posted by
Vancouver, BC
846 posts
Another vote for Turin. We spent a week there last October and didn’t get to everything we hoped to; we loved it. We are planning a return visit. It is an elegant city with a range of activities and not busy with tourists which is a nice change.