Northern Italy in late September/ early October 2026 - solo trip

Susan- So sorry about your mom, I lost mine earlier this year as well. :(

We took a similar trip in 2023- it was one of our favorite itineraries. We flew in and out of Milan (have been to Venice a few times so skipped that trip).
On arrival we went right to Stresa which we loved and will return. Then took train to Bergamo (delightful) then to Bologna for 3 nights where we met up with my sister and her husband. After that Ravenna for 2 nights- don’t miss this- the mosaics are fantastic and it is lovely little town. After Ravenna we spent 3 nights in Padova then 3 nights in Verona.
Loved every one of those towns.
Ended in Milan for 2 nights- didn’t care much for Milan but the Duomo rooftops were a highlight. We did see the Last Supper- didn’t think I would care much about it but am very glad we did see it- it was super interesting.

Anyway I think your plan is a good one.
Plan your food tour in Bologna.
Do try to get to Ravenna and if Milan is just not a priority maybe end your trip in Stresa- direct bus to MXP from there- just as easy as from Milan.

We enjoyed Milan very much. The roof top tour of the Duomo is amazing! We explored the Brera district which is very pretty and interesting with lots of restaurants and cafes. There is an art museum in this neighborhood, too, but we weren't able to get in because it was the first Sunday of the month when admission is free. But you still have to reserve advance tickets online, which we didn't do. They only allow a certain number of people into the museum. We spent 3 nights in Milan.

We love, love Venice. Venice is like no other with its canals, bridges, gorgeous architecture, museums, St. Mark's Basilica. I recommend a minimum of 4 nights especially since you will be jetlagged when you arrive.

I would allow a minimum of 3 nights in Bologna including a daytrip to Ravenna.

I suggest 2 or 3 nights in Verona, which we loved. The art museum in the Castelvecchio Castle is amazing. We also did a wine tour in the Valpolicella region just outside Verona. Used Pagus Tours. Highly recommend.

Did not go to Padua so can't comment, but overall you have a good itinerary planned.

And I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your mom. I understand how difficult it is to travel when you have elderly parents at home. My mom passed away several years ago when we were in Athens. We had only 2 days left of our trip so it didn't make sense to try to come home a day early.

Sorry about your mom.

If you like music/opera check out the offerings at the Verona Coliseum which runs mostly through September. It is a lot of fun! We loved seeing Carmen there, although it is not my favorite opera.
https://www.arena.it/en/calendar/

Also from Verona Lake Garda is an easy bus or train ride to the west and there are great hikes in the area.
https://www.gardaitaly.com

Gillian Price is a travel author and photographer who has lots of guidebooks for Italy. One might be of interest to get off the beaten path. There is one for Lake Garda too.
https://gillianprice.eu

I second the suggestion about Ravenna - it is a very worthwhile stop, and it really isn't that "Touristy" (when we went) because it is not actually easily "between here and there."

As for hotels with breakfast possibilities, I always start with RS guidebooks and Booking.com for the places I am interested in to get a feeling for what kinds of things are available (even if planning to book with individual venues as RS recommends).

In Padova, visit the Prato della Valle, the second largest piazza in Italy where a market takes place on the perimeter. And right next door is the University of Padua Botanical Garden. Both are very interesting and relaxing. I have visited Bologna and it’s not one of my favorite cities. I’d opt for Parma which is a much smaller and laid back city with excellent food and some very interesting sites to explore. Or you could choose Ravenna for it’s beautiful mosaics .

September is usually just the end of the warmer weather in northern Italy and can still be pretty much in season. Getting into October with kids in school and weather turning can cut down on this some.

Venice is an amazing place to wander but is the only Italian city where it is possible to eat badly. There are many good places but it takes a bit more research given the pervasiveness of tourism. Embrace the local bar cicchetti small bites tradition if big meals aren't your thing. Get the "museum" upgrade on your SM Basilica ticket because not only is it interesting it will give you access to the roof views over SM and the Grand Canal. Dodge's Palace is impressive but a history into the bizarre world of the Dodge and Senate really adds flavor to both the palace and Venice.

Bologna is 100% your best market/food destination.

Verona is a great walking city with a mostly pedestrian core and an arty cafe culture feel. Don't miss the Roman Theater across the river. The Theater includes the Archeological Museum which is small but also gives you access to the rambling remains of old religious sites there. If you like modern art check out the small Palazzo Maffei Casa Museo which mixes ancient and modern art, a palazzo and rooftop tour all into one place overlooking piazza Erbe and is underadvertised. I think Piazza Erbe (looking past the market stands) is one of the prettiest piazzas in Italy. Verona has the 'elegant decay' feeling with faded murals on medieval buildings that the Veneto does so well. All four of Verona's big churches are on one ticket if that interests you.

Al Grottino - Osteria e Sbecoleria is a great hole in the wall place off Piazza Erbe for a drink and cicchetti. Cafe Monte Baldo nearby also has great cicchetti and more serious food if you want that. Right near the cafe there is Arcivio a super small, super hip cocktail bar. There is no lack of good restaurants in Verona but read the menu carefully at the older places because the cuisine can be very "traditional".

All this travel is easily doable by fast train. Canadians report not being able to get the Trenitalia app for tickets, but I have no idea why. I don't know about the add for .italo privately run fast trains company. Fast trains can be purchased ahead of time at - sometimes steep - discounts by trading price for flexibility and committing to a specific train.

If you want a dark horse additional city that is right along this line of the train check out Brescia. Amazing Roman ruins, a series a great piazzas strung together through the city, a castle on top of this hill to top it off and not a tourist in sight. I personally preferred Brescia to Padua (an opinion I'm apparently alone in here) but the Scrovengni chapel is an amazing thing to see. If you want to move less you could base in Verona and day trip to Padua and/or Brescia easily on the train and not move around so much. Lake Garda is also along this line if you wanted to do some lakeside or ferry trips. You need to take a bus to get up either side of the lake as the train serve only the southern tip.

Have a great trip!
=Tod

You will eat very well in Bologna! From Bologna it is an easy train ride for a daytrip to Parma or Modena. From either you should be able to take food tours, there may also be tours departing from Bologna. Friends who recently stayed in Parma did a food tour and they loved it.

Venice: San Georgio Maggiore Basilica And Campanile (elevator) for gorgeous views of the city of Venice. This was a suggestion from our BnB hostess and I’m so glad we did this. It brought some much needed relief from the summer heat. We also had a nice time on Murano, enjoying a glass blowing demonstration

Verona: agree with seeing the arena (we took a tour) and Basilica of San Zeno and wondering over the bridges through parks was a nice highlight of our Verona visit

Here is a link to my TR for the trip to Northern Italy - it might help with planning

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/italy-venice-verona-w-granddaughter-june-27-july-2-2025