Northern Italy, Fall '23, 8-days

Hi, it would help to know what you’re wanting to do for activities (or your hobbies) in Italy, so we can suggest cities that fit your wishes.

If you’re flying roundtrip to Milan, I suggest heading direct to one of your other destinations and leaving the one night in Milan as your last night. Bergamo or Torino would both be easy to reach as your first night stay.

Hi Jean,

When it comes to activities, we're pretty open ... it's part of the issue narrowing things down. ; - )

We wouldn't blink if you said you'll be walking, or hiking, for 5+ miles doing something like a nature trail or city walking tour.

Enjoy art, art history, and history in whatever form it presents itself (museums, churches, battlefields).

Foodies, perhaps, but just as happy with delicious street food as a sit down meal.

What we aren't are shoppers. We could not care less about seeing a Gucci store or a Ferrari factory.

I like your suggestion of heading direct to one of the other destinations, I will need to investigate the transportation options.

Thanks!

I'd do that trip. I've been to Italy 6 times, but those are all new places for me I think it sounds great

In 2019 I did a circular route from Milan to Verona, Padova, Bologna, Florence, Modena, Parma and back to Milan. All via train. Usually spend 3-4 nites each stop, to avoid chaos. Ravenna is an excellent day trip from Bologna. Ferrari museum an excellent day trip from Modena, and Vicenza and excellent day trip from Verona. You’ve been to Padova, but Venice is a very short day trip there. Smaller cities offer lower prices, and less crowds. And fresh sights, and good food also less expensive.

Thanks goldie69 ... Agree totally, time permitting 3-days is always ideal.

Since you've been to Milan do you really want to spend 4 of your 8 nights there?
Is Turin a must?

I'd head to Bergamo first- 2 nights- train from MXP to Milano Centrale then regional to Bergamo- stay in the upper town.

Bologna 3 nights- if you stop over in Verona you will get to Bologna late so if you only have 2 nights there it's really just 1 day.
If you like food, Bologna is the place to be.
3 nights allows for a day trip to Ravenna which is so worth it.

That leaves 3 nights. You could stay 1 or 2 nights in Parma or Modena then on to Milan for last night.

Another option is to go to Stresa (Lake Maggiore) on arrival or night before departure. Easy to get to from MXP- closer than Milan. There is a direct bus to/from MXP.
We had a lot longer than your trip but covered Stresa, Bergamo, Bologna, Ravenna, Verona and Milan.
Enjoyed every place we went.

We spent two weeks in Northern Italy this past spring (late April/early May) and spent two nights in Bergamo and loved it. We stayed at a wonderful hotel that is a lovely 10 minutes or so walk to Citta Alta. I highly recommend it and would recommend the room we had which was the Junior Suite which is roomy and has a terrace. The hotel is close to town but has a country feel to it and pretty views. it also has parking for anyone driving. They also offer a shuttle service to and from Citta Alta which we took for the return trip because it was 10 p.m. and uphill!

We spent all of our time in Citta Alta which is unfortunate because we never got to Citta Basso. We would go back to Bergamo in a minute.

The hotel is La Valleta Relais. Family owned and operated. Great breakfasts. Very very clean. i don't know where it is in regard to the train station because we drove and did not take trains. However, I'm pretty sure the hotel has a shuttle service for that also.

https://www.lavallettabergamo.it/en/home.php

tracy