We are arriving in Venice (mid September), and need to make our way to Bolzano for a hiking trip in the Dolomites. We have 7 days to spend elsewhere, and I’m wondering where others would advise to go. ideally, a direct train connection would be ideal. We are spending 3 nights in Verona (with a possible day trip from there), and am wondering about Varenna, Riva del Garda (or other lake towns), or Trento? Anywhere else? Thank you!
Posted by
Ancaster, Ontario, Canada
44 posts
We will be there for a month this fall. Verona is our base. We are visting Bologna, Modena, Brescia, Florence, Milan, Bolzano, Ortesei, Vicenza and Venice. We rented a car for the Dolomites, otherwise we are training it
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thanks Audrey, I’ll be checking out some of your destinations.
It looks like you have a nice itinerary. Have a wonderful stay!
Posted by
Idaho, USA
7411 posts
From Verona, it’s 90-120 minutes by train to Bolzano, which I would take the bus from Bolzano over to Ortesei to stay for your hiking base.
A day trip option from Verona is Mantova - less than an hour by train. The town has the interesting Gonzaga history to enjoy and several nice piazzas.
Varenna at Lake Como is easy to reach with a train transfer connection in Milan.
In my opinion, I’d skip Trento. We used it as an overnight stop to head to another destination.
Posted by
back in the Americas
681 posts
You are getting lots of good suggestions. Here are a few more.
Daytrip ideas from Verona: Sirmione on Lake Garda (I took local bus from Verona to Sirmione but there is a train to nearby Desenzano del Garda). From either you could ferry to other towns on the lake.
Brescia (35 min by train from Verona - I was just there in April and really considered it a hidden gem. The historical center is very compact, and has a beautiful main piazza with two duomos, the older and the newer, Roman ruins, an interesting museum, a castle. And it as not swarming with tourists.
From Verona other daytrip options - Mantova, Vincenza
Trento was mentioned. I very much liked Trento and have gone there twice and stayed several nights each time. It too is not swarming with tourists. I was just there in April and we used it as a base to then visit Bolzano and the northern towns of Lake Garda. We took a direct train from Trento to Bolzano. To get to Lake Garda we used a car service for a whole day. There were four of us and the price divided among us was quite reasonable. We went to Tremoisine, Limone sul Garda, Riva di Garda and Malcesine, all very beautiful.
Look into Merano, a pretty mountain town. I have not been there but it looks lovely and there is a train there and would also make for a good daytrip from Bolzano or Trento.