Best towns in northern Italy

Northern Italy is mountainous, and residents still speak German in much of the area.
Sorry, but you'll have to drive a long way south of Innsbruck to hit a city like Lucca or a hilltown like Volterra. It may not be worth the effort. There are a number of quaint villages in Northern Italy that are more like Switzerland or Austria's Tirol region, however.

If you tell us your expected last stop in Germany and approximately how many extra hours you're willing to spend in getting to a nice little Italian town (beyond the time needed to drive directly to Zurich), someone may be able to make a suggestion.

Bergamo seems like a good possibility.

julia,

One minor detail to mention is that if you drive into Italy, you'll need to have the compulsory International Driver's Permit, which is used in conjunction with your home license. You'll also need to be vigilant to avoid the ZTL (limited traffic) zones, which come with hefty fines.

As you'll be driving through Austria, you must also ensure that you have the Highway Tax Vignette (hefty fines if you're caught without it, which will be collected on the spot).

In order to suggest towns in Italy, it would help to know how much time you'll have for the Italy portion of your trip. Are you planning to stay for a night or two? There are lots of possibilities between Germany and Zürich.

Finally are you renting the car in Germany and dropping in Switzerland?

The plan is to rent the car in Zurich, drive up to Munich (to visit Dachau), and then make a loop around back to Zurich. I am aware of the hassles of driving, but have spoken to several families who have driven in that area, and we want the freedom of having a car.

Our "dream" is to stay at an Agritourismo in both Germany northern Italy that is near-ish to several towns/hiking areas for several days. I realize Germany doesn't have many of them, and maybe they're not as plentiful in northern Italy as well. Then, we'd make the drive back up to Zurich (area) for just a night, before our flight home. Any suggestions based on that info? I'd say the furthest south we'd want to go is Parma...

It is about 3 hours by car from Munich to Bolzano. I do not recommend staying in Bolzano. Just using that for timing. Take a look at RedRooster for farm stays in the Sud Tirol of Italy. Here you will find many charming small towns, which as mentioned are a bit more like Switzerland or Austria than The Italian towns you have visited.

You have. 4.5 to 5 hour drive to Zurich from Bolzano.

How about Riva del Garda? Continue past Bolzano to Trento and turn off the motorway onto the smaller road toward the north end of Lago di Garda.

Or better yet, drive down the lake a bit from Riva to Malcescine. A beautiful small town with a castle and cobblestone old town area, and a cable at up Monte Baldo for wonderful views and hiking.

https://www.visitmalcesine.com/en/malcesine

I was going to suggest Mantua, since you're willing to go south. It's a larger town, but staying near the old town feels like Volterra, with a larger and more interesting palazzo than seems likely in a smaller town. And you can join the passeggiata evening stroll if you're there on Sunday evening. Lots of people hanging out in the main squares as one would expect in Italy. The only problem is you'd have to leave your car at a lot outside the main area and walk in. ZTL.

But that Malcescine looks like a great option, especially with a car. Might as well go somewhere you couldn't otherwise get to by train.

How about Cittadella, a small fully-walled town near Vicenza. A number of sites, including climbing/walking the walls, lots of restaurants, a number of inns. Easy daytrips to Vicenza, Bassano del Grappa, even Verona, Padua, or Venice.

Here's another vote for Bergamo, a charming hilltop town. When we were there in 2013 we were the only American tourists as far as I could tell.

It's quite a hike to get to any of the places mentioned. If Italy is a must, I'd stump for something closer to Germany, around the Dolomites. Vipiteno is a lovely little spot.

"I realize Germany doesn't have many of them, and maybe they're not as plentiful in northern Italy as well" (Agritourismos) - there's plenty of them and their German equivalents.

Merano, Vipiteno, Bressanone, even Ortisei.
From Munich to those it’s at least 3 hours. Then from there back to ZRH another 5 hours.

Interesting comment up thread about the necessity of the International Drivers Permit. I've heard that before, but we rented a car in Italy in 2000, 2009 & 2017 without it and had no problems or issues (we've also rented cars elsewhere in Europe without it too).

Nickelini, It’s all fine until it’s not. The IDP is required and if you are stopped by the police, you may have a bigger problem than any infraction they stop you for. We have been waived down in a small town as part of an effort to control drinking and driving, and having the IDP was important. We had not been drinking but they checked ID, which the IDP is, essentially as it is a translation of your driver’s license.

My vote goes to Aosta, our favorite place.

Bressanone (Brixen) is a very pretty place in the same valley as Bolzano. I don't know what time of year you'll be making this trip, but if it's in the summer, be aware that the valley can be seriously hot. Alas, most of the budget lodgings are not air conditioned. So proceed with caution. You'd be highly unlikely to need a/c if you stayed in one of the mountain towns.