We will be spending approximately 9 days travelling in northern Italy on our way to Venice. After leaving Lake Como, any suggestions to see on the way to Venice. We will have a car. The plan is to spend the last 3 nights in Venice (maybe 4). We were thinking of the Val Gardena area. How about the Bolzano area? Any help is much appreciated!
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32404 posts
greg,
There are LOTS of possible choices - Lago di Garda, Verona, Padova, Bolzano, Castelrotto and area, or Ravenna. What are you most interested in seeing?
What time of year will this trip be taking place? Does the nine days also include your time in Lago di Como and Venice, or is that for the other places?
Cheers!
Posted by
OP
Courtenay, BC
50 posts
Ken,
this trip will be in May. The 9 days do not include Como or Venice. We want to get into the mountains. We will probably do a day trip to Padova from Venice.
Posted by
Alta Loma, CA, USA
1446 posts
Greg, we visited the Dolomites for 2 days after leaving Venice this past August and fell in love with the area. I want to visit that area for longer next time. A car is the best way to see the area and since you'll already have a rental car, it's perfect. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking. Not sure how cold it will be in May and if there might be snow so you might research the weather but I don't think you'll be disappointed by a visit to the area. We stayed one night in Alta Badia and one night in Castelrotto and enjoyed both areas. We didn't visit Bolzano so I can't comment on it. Have a great trip.
Posted by
San Diego
1540 posts
I stayed in Padua and really enjoyed the town. Several things to see including the famous Scrovgini Chapel (not sure of the spelling.)
I also stayed in Bologna on another trip.
Visited Verona for a day another time.
There are several places to enjoy in the north.
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3398 posts
Absolutely go to the Dolomites! Bolzano is a very nice town but it just teases you with a view of the mountains. Drive up into the Val Gardena, go to Kastelruth, the Drei Zinnen, the Marmolata, Cortina, and see everything else you can depending on weather and road conditions. We have only been there in summer but have been back several times and LOVE it!
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11851 posts
Greg, The Val Gardena is lovely! We have stayed twice in Ortisei and also a couple of nights up in the Alpe di Siusi. You can read about our last trip here and also here. Bolzano is a good stop -- for the day -- to see Otzi the Iceman, but I would not stay there. Similarly, Castelrotto is really on the edge of the Dolomites. The Val Gardena is really "in" the mountains. We do it without a car, but with a car you can access more of the area. A Val Gardena Pass is an excellent purchase if you are going to ride the various lifts.
We stayed 6 nights last trip and wish we'd had one more day. Going back in 2014!
Posted by
Wiesbaden, Germany
791 posts
If you've got a car, a great day trip would be Marostica and Bassano Dal Grappa. Both are close together and can easily be done in a day.