Please sign in to post.

Northern Italy itinerary ideas (~13 days)

Hi, wanted to get pointers on a rough itinerary I'm trying to come up with for the end of May. Flying into Milan on Monday, May 28. My parents arrive the next morning. So I'll stay in Milan two days (they'll have to manage with one haha). Day 3, day trip to Lake Maggiore. Day's 4-5: Como, two nights in Varenna. Day 6-7: Lake Garda (spend the night in Verona). Day 8: train to Cinque Terre and spend a good two days here. Days 8-10: Cinque Terre. Then on Day 11 train to Florence. I've been to Florence, but wouldn't mind spending a part of a day here. I want to show my parents Sienna on one day and would also like to possibly rent a car and drive around the Tuscan Hillside towns on another day.

I've already exhausted my 13 days and am trying to figure out what to cut out. I have to fly out of Milan, so that adds another hurdle. I suppose I can cut out Garda, but the thought of going to Monte Baldo sounds exciting, and the views of Malcesine look breathtaking. I know that the lakes all have a similar look, so maybe it's best to cut out Verona/Garda? I'm also fiddling with Cinque Terre. Although it's somewhere I've wanted to go, reading about crowds there makes it a little unappealing. And I don't think my parents will be able to do many of the hikes. Still though, if I should leave it in the itinerary please advise.

As for Florence, Sienna, and Tuscany, somewhere I definitely want to go. So yeah I'm a bit at a loss here as to how to organize this trip. I really wish I can add more days, but I'm limited with vacation time. Another day could be doable. As for my parents, they will remain another week to explore Florence and Venice, then also fly out of Milan.

Posted by
11679 posts

As far as the views from Malcesine, they are very pretty but not breathtaking. For breathtaking, continue driving north to the Dolomites! But you don't have enough time for them this trip. The Italian Lakes are each different but Lake Como is the most beautiful with mountains coming down to the water creating a fjord like experience. Mountains are set farther back on Lake Maggiore. I would drop Lake Garda and Verona for this trip. Save it to combine with Venice in the future.
You have many wonderful locations in your itinerary. Go to fewer places to have a better travel experience with your parents.

Posted by
594 posts

So, I'm thinking of maybe coming a day earlier and doing Garda as a day trip on my own before my parents arrive. Can a day at Garda be done well in one day using only public transport? Or is a car preferable? If car, then I'll drop it. I've been to Lake Como before on a quick day trip. I want to relax here. Some towns will be repeats for me (Florence, Sienna), but that's ok (the food is the main reason I want to go back to familiar places). I've also already been to Venice three times, so I'm done with that place haha. My parents have gone, but on rush trips so they want to linger there for a change.

Posted by
11679 posts

Lake Garda as a day trip from Milan? Perhaps a train, then taking a ferry boat up the would do it. We had a car when we visited there but were coming and going from the Dolomites. Stayed in Salò on the way up, and. Malcesine on the way back down.

Posted by
11679 posts

Lake Garda as a day trip from Milan? Perhaps a train, then taking a ferry boat up the would do it. We had a car when we visited there but were coming and going from the Dolomites. Stayed in Salò on the way up, and. Malcesine on the way back down.