Honestly, if this is your first trip to these countries, youll really get the most bang for your buck by adding extra days in Paris or Florence or both. The down side, however, is that Milan is mostly a business/financial city that isnt as charming as the rest on this list. But if you have three weeks you will be adding days to these cities or adding new cities altogether. You can easily do day trips to Naples, Pompeii, Capri, and the rest of the Amalfi Coast. Looking at the plan I have, I am curious what location would you consider cutting out and where would you stay longer? Suggested Itineraries in France Florence to Rome by train: About 90 minutes. We took a bus that goes around to the small towns around the lake. The choice fell on Alassio, a Ligurian seaside resort west of Genoa. We stayed at the Pullman because of the huge pool, as I wanted to make sure to go for a swim after sitting for hours on the bus and train The next morning we had to leave early for our flights back home. Verona 2 Nights. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Next was a typical Piedmont destination, a resort near Santo Stefano Belbo. France Gondola ride for two? Especially since you only have 2 nights stays after Provence. complete with the Restaurant Guido da Costigliole, a Michelin star dining-spot. You definitely need to consider it for your next trip. We enjoy walking, dining, exploring, and just being at places that takes you away from it all. Its 45 minutes away by highspeed rail and the town has a lot more to see including a major cathedral. English is also more widely spoken there than most other Italian cities, so its less stressful in some ways. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Nights 4, 5 in Saint-Roquette-sur-Siagne: We went hiking at Pont-du-Loup/Gorge du Loup. Pompeii really IS an amazing place that is worth going out of your way. I think Ill be nervous about getting to the airport on time, so I think Id be most comfortable with that. There will be options and decisions youll have to make based on your own tastes, but no matter how you do it this should be an unforgettable trip. Bologna 2 Nights. While in Paris we will stay 4-5 nightswhat are your thoughts on an airbnb vs a hotel? possible route via Orange and Sault (Lavender fields); or just The most famous among the latter is probably Les Baux-de-Provence. It will probably also be too cool for sunbathing until May or so, in case that matters. Generally speaking, I recommend skipping Milan at least on your first trip. Italy does not have a national bus line, so most buses are only regional or city. My impression was that it was a pretty busy place with a lot of groups in for wine tastings and such. The Provence is known for its stunning landscapes full of river valleys, gorges and old villages. The great thing is that even this itinerary is worthwhile for people who arent nature lovers but love the mountain landscape. I will not go into it in this overview article. I would love do my shopping at the outlets -which should I visit for the outlets? If you need to be at the airport by 8h00 and it takes around 1h to get there, being such an early departure, you should chose your last hotel in accordance. These two countries contain several of what I consider to be the best cities in Europe to visit for anyone, so its just a matter of narrowing down where to go and how much time to spend in each place. I will do some more internet research before deciding, thank you all again for your suggestions. But (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? To reachSorrentoyoull take a train to Naples and then change for a one-hour local train (known as the Circumvesuviana) to its final stop. And being honest, the Field of Miracles (which includes the Leaning Tower) is definitely worth a look, but the rest of Pisa doesnt really stand out. My friend mentioned it is better to go with inclusive package and I feel that will be too expensive. It comes from Valtellina, a valley in Lombardy bordering Switzerland. The trick is to stay at least one night, if not two,on the main island itself. If youre someone whos embarking on their once-in-a-lifetime trip to Italy, this itinerary is for you. You can pretty much walk into any bakery in Liguria and get an amazing piece of focaccia. On our way back from the south of France we had been looking for lodging to stay and dine in style. There isnt much else to see in Pisa. But the true draw is the landscape. Do you have any suggestions? Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. It used to be that round-trip tickets were always much cheaper than two one-way tickets, but often that is no longer true. No one regrets their first visit to Rome, but many swear that itll also be their last. The flights on low-cost carriers can certainly be cheap, but most major cities are only 2 to 5 hours apart by train, so riding the rails is faster, more pleasant, and far more scenic. Worst of all, accommodation in Milan can be insanely expensive if there is a trade fair or event in town. Northern Italy My question is to kick off the trip, which city should I start with from your itinerary (flying to Europe from Los Angeles)? While the drive from Annecy to Barolo is long, two of viaMichelin's suggested routes are quite scenic. The drive across the Alps via the Col de Lar Of the 5 towns, Vernazza is probably best for a short visit and its definitely the most scenic. Many of them stay in hotels nearby on the mainland, while many others just come in for the day on part of a bus tour. Glad I found this article- Planning to visit Italy and France for 2 weeks- would like to visit Paris, Nice, Venice, Florence, Pisa and Rome. Train to Positino 5 nights I live in northern Italy, so the area not only has a special place in my heart, but Ive also happened to travel all around it! Theres not much I need to explain as to why Venice is a good city-break: the uniqueness of its landscape and how it affects every aspect of life from transportation to food. Here are the most romantic places in northern Italy: Portovenere is an underrated, hidden gem on the coast of Liguria. I havent flown out of Naples and Id think youd have way more options and better fares out of Rome and I think there is now a high speed train from the Rome Airport to Naples if you need it. If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out again! Qantas Money/Cash card, what do you think? I hope this helps and let me know if you have any other questions. So one option could be to leave Italy for another trip to be able to give it the time it deserves. As we live in times of Corona, we only opted for lodging that comes with foodie hotspots, too. Notwithstanding that, I have never seen a more beautiful vineyard landscape on my Piedmont trips than here in the Langhe wine-growing region east of Alba. I use Omio for purchasing train tickets or go straight to the Trenitalia website. I just wanted to come back and thank everyone on the forum for their helpful replies. Of the two, Italy is a bit more straightforward because it has a Big 3 of tourist cities consisting of Rome, Florence, and Venice. Then off to the Riveria - perhaps 2 days in St Tropez, and 4 days in the Nice area. Nice has a famous beach (made of pebbles rather than sand), but its also an important cultural capital with great museums and a thriving food scene. Both these cities will be your home base on this kind of itinerary. Italy in Spring guide coming soon!). Comment*interested in this itinerary however I would like to include 1-2 nights in Tuscany? I love creating free resources for your travels and personally responding to your questions over chat and email. Verona 2 Nights. I hope this helps a bit and let me know if you have any questions. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-116190854', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Europe for my husband and I, and we had an amazing time on this trip. Not only is Sorrento the perfect base for a visit to Naples and Pompeii, but its also the gateway to the Amalfi Coast and a short ferry ride from the touristy island of Capri. Having said that, it may happen that there are certain establishments beingon my wish list a long time. However, the travel time is the longest. It probably is reasonable for me to be able to go back to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Finally, my husband and managed to do a longer trip abroad after a forced break due to Corona of more than one and a half year. We stayed in the old town in Annecy and really liked it here a lot. My husband and I will be traveling to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Luxury hotels, Michelin dining & things to do along the route: Northern Italy & Southern France 11-day road trip itinerary, From place to place in northern Italy and southern France, 5. We walked around the area, and out to the point on this huge rock where there were steps going down so you could go for a swim. The point is, Venice is very frustrating during those hours, so to appreciate the city its important to work around them at least a bit. They arent as cheap as buses, but theyre less expensive than renting a car. Its also the cheapest city on this list so lingering here will be more affordable in addition to relaxing. In reality, any daytime visitor who uses the typical precautions will be fine. I concur that 3 h after your arrival time is the minimum amount of time recommanded for taking a train in CDG. When arriving, we were pleasantly surprised to learn that this town overflows with Roman history. Train to Nice 2/3 nights And Ill be happy to help. After that its probably easiest to fly from Nice to Rome or Naples and book a transfer from either of those airports to the Amalfi Coast town of your choice. When you see a photo of these villages its hard not to be drawn in so if you are in that group you could add a day or two in this area either before or after Florence. The Ultimate Northern Italy Road Trip Itinerary for 2 Weeks Play with the http://www.viamichelin.com chosing prefered route and discovery route and see what it offers you. Your last stop on this itinerary is tapping into a bit of central Italy territory, but it is a must stop for foodies. Days 9 10: Bernina Express and Milan, Italy. We are considering a trip to France and Italy. Arrive on an empty stomach! As a plus, you can walk to it from our hotel in Vence! Make Avignon a day trip from there. So we did not have to venture further to indulge in culinary highlights. You cant take a romantic trip to Italy without enjoying the swoon-worthy, picturesque atmosphere of Venice. We are trying to plan a trip for 6 to Paris 4-5 days, then Lake Como for 2/3 days, then Amalfi Coast If you head out on your adventure using one of these itineraries or have questions for curating a totally customized itinerary, share with me Id love to hear how your trip has gone or help you further plan your dream northern Italy itinerary! 3 hours is the the recommended time to allow between flight arrival and train departure. Not only on this thread, but also having read so many other conversations on this forum, I came across many helpful tips. WebFrance is so treasure-filled that you could barely do more than skim the surface in a week. I prefer nearby la Morra, and there are other nice villages too. I just find that you will be doing a lot of driving in a short amount of time passing by so many great places along the way. The other dish I ordered at every restaurant in Liguria: Trofie al Pesto. Rognonas is about 10 minutes by (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? I start my first trips doing road trips. If youre hoping to visit many places that arent major cities or tourist spots, then I would absolutely recommend renting a car. At the castle we took a tour and visited the grounds. Let me know if you have any other questions and Ill be happy to try to help. Franciacorta. Perhaps surprisingly, Venice shuts down early, with most restaurants and bars closed by around 10pm. Days 2 4: GoldenPass and Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. Milan 2 Nights. Paris is always great, but for Lake Como it really depends on the time of year. We returned the rental car on arrival and walked to our accommodation which was very close by. Trains are generally easy to navigate, so tourists shouldnt be intimidated. Italy There aremany reasons why fast travel might be your best option, but only up to a point. Day 1: Milan Day 2: Lake Como Day 3: Verona Day 4: Lake Garda Days 5 & And this time, you encounter here the gentle hills full of vineyards. Coming back to Santo Stefano Belbo, you find here the hotel of our choice not far from it. Days 5 6: Zermatt, Switzerland. This was the first time in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Bus can also be a flexible and inexpensive option for airport transfer. havent decided. Stay in Avignon (1 nt), Aug 22-26 car rental Avignon, stay at a mas south of Avignon (booked) (4 nts), -explore some of the small towns around the Vaucluse region, Aug 26-28 drive to Piemonte region in Italy, stay in Barolo (2 nts), Aug 30-Sep 1 drive to Annecy, ?return rental car, stay in Annecy (2 nts), Sep 1 - ? People. Your insight is so much appreciated! We cooked our dinners at our accommodation and swam in the pool. Nights 6, 7: Camogli, Italy (specifically we stayed in Ruta di Camogli which was just above Camogli). Train (TGV) at ? A view of the village of Manarola from the Cinque Terre hiking trail Region covered: Occitanie and Provence-Alpes-Cte dAzur. On our way home, we made a stop south of Lyon (Vienne), too. Those beaches should be great in June and September. Driving in France is such a pleasure. For those adventure seeker and outdoor sportsmen, you may also enjoy traveling through the Italian Alps in winter during peak ski season. Aug 20 Flight from Ottawa to Paris overnight. -Roger. You can go more off-the-beaten-path and deep dive into the culture, taking the slow travel route. Itinerary #3: Cinque Terre and the Italian Riviera On this coastal itinerary, you'll hike between the scenic villages of the Cinque Terre, stopping to relax on the beach and taste locally produced wines along the way. We had favored a place near Lyon, probably the countrys gastronomic capital. more, Reply to: Rough Itinerary: Southern France, Northern Italy. In general, your itinerary looks fine. The great news is that Naples is very easy to visit from nearby Sorrento, which is a lovely and friendly place where most people know English. If Do you think 2 weeks will be sufficient enoug? Paris4 nights Then either take trains or fly (flying is faster because the trains in that area are fairly slow) to Venice for 2 nights or even 1 night (spending 24 hours in Venice is plenty for many people because its so small and so crowded). Be prepared for a small hotel room, even if you pay a lot, so its more about paying for the location rather than for a luxurious and large place to sleep. 7 Days in Italy Itinerary - a guide to what not to miss in We enjoyed the peaceful walk up to the castle with great views of the town, the lake, and mountains. And it delivered in this respect. So I have gradually reduced the extent of the distances I travel. Milanis famous, though that alone is not enough of a reason to stop there. We chose to take on Northern Italy by train and it was super easy and comfortable! Similar to Paris, Rome is crammed with amazing sights too numerous to mention, but unlike Paris, Rome can be a frustrating place to visit. Find here my Google Map of our journey. Let me know if you have any other questions. The Statue of David in Florence: A Simple Guide to Planning Your , Where to Stay in Florence, Italy for First-Timers: Best Neighborhoods & Accommodations, Mid-range price compared to bus and rental car travel, Well-connected between cities and towns (regional trains), Can be super cheap & is overall less expensive, Takes time to understand routes of regional or city buses. The ferry from Sorrento only takes 20 minutes each way and leaves hourly most of the day. I considered this northern Italian spot as the ideal one to start our trip. Depending on your budget, spend one or two nights on the main island and youll be quite satisfied by the time you leave. And another good point from tradeform about your arrival in Paris. However, there is a lot more to unpack when deciding which Italian region to visit. But you also said that there were other destinations in Italy that you were interested in. Nights 10-11: Annecy, France. I would love to hear your suggestions for an itinerary and how long to spend in each place. As for other places in December, Nice is about as good as it gets, although itll be fairly quiet as well. After crossing the boarder between Italy and France, we arrived on the famous Cte dAzur, also called French Riviera. And we came upon Hotel and Restaurant La Pyramide. Comment*Kate- We are trying to plan a similar itenerary to yours! That might be a bit hurried for 12 days. The big question when planning a trip is always: how long you should spend in northern Italy? This will be our first time in Europe. On the plus side, Milan has one of Europes most photogenic gothic domes at its heart, and its the home to Da Vincis Last Supper (if you make reservations well in advance). My site is mainly to help people plan and travel independently and for a trip like the one you are considering I think you can do it easily on your own. If you only have two weeks per year it would take a lifetime of trips to explore even half of Europe at the slow pace, so it makes sense for newer travelers to move at a good clip. We would really like to visit Bologna and Florence again and have to add Verona for sure due to business (just 1 day business meeting). The cheaper hotels in Nice are near the train station anyway, so thats something to consider if you want to visit all 3 places in one short trip. As to that, learn about things to do in the area in my blogpost to follow. Any of these itineraries can be turned into a road trip itinerary like I said, the country is best experienced by road trip! If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. It is a fascinating medieval village, enveloped by woodland and backed by mountains. Train to Florence 2 nights On site there is also a sister hotel where you find the Restaurant Nancy Bourguignon. Renting a car in Italy is the most flexible yet most expensive option for traveling around northern Italy. Bologna is the origin of many Italian food favorites: Parmigiano Reggiano, Mortadella, Rag Bolognese, Balsamic Vinegar and Lasagne. Driving time: 2 hours (190 km/118 miles) from Note that the scenic footpaths connecting the towns are partly closed down at times due to instability, so a quick tour by train or even by boat might be a better option. Depending if you have the intetion on taking the RER to CDG or taking a taxi. -Roger, Paris (minimum 3 nights but even that is rushing it), Venice (1 night minimum, 2 nights maximum), Florence (2 nights minimum, plus side trips), Naples/Pompeii/Sorrento/Amalfi Coast (optional up to 4 nights), Should you buy European train tickets in advance: Yes, and here's how to save, How and why to plan a (cheap) splurge on your next trip, How long to stay in each city? Nice is the most convenient for visiting Monaco and other towns in that area, but most of them are on the same local train line and you can go from one to any other pretty easily. Regardless, these two sister cities are only 40 minutes apart by car, but exhibit completely different landscapes. Ultimate Two Week Northern Italy Road Trip Itinerary I had wanted to also visit the Portofino peninsula area and even Cinque Terre, but quickly realized I had too many places and not enough days of vacation!! Bergamo 2 Nights. All about our stay here later on my blog. But first and foremost, we think of a specific region to go. Franciacorta is a territory between Bergamo and Brescia that produces sparkling wine or spumante, mostly Prosecco, Italys version of Champagne. We want to make this more of a romantic trip rather than a tour type trip. There is an airport in both Venice and Milan so you could start your itinerary in either place. Instead the meals are heartier, which reflect the lifestyle of people living here: industrial workers or those living in the Alps having to face long winters. This was followed by a stop in the Provence, precisely Paradou, aneighboring village of the famous Les-Baux-de-Provence. Those little villages along the lake are basically summer homes for wealthy people who live in Milan, so they are pretty dead during the winter months. However, yes, the mas is not far (in Rognonas - Mas Saint Antoine) so we may consider getting a car same evening and heading there the same day, if its available. Our first stop was the Lake Orta region Nice itself is quite nice, but there are dozens of small towns to choose from including Cannes, Antibes, or even Saint Tropez. If you skip it you wont be missing much, or you might stop for one night just to break up the journey a bit. Obviously you could go to an offline travel agent and have them put something together for you, and if youve done that in the past with success then it might be fine to do it again. If you are fine with this, then no problem. This area also goes under the name of the French Riviera. Also take advantage of the linked posts within this article to discover individual destinations in depth and ultimately allow you to plan your trip better. Will be Visiting a Hair Salon in Paris. As to your itinerary, I wouldn't do so much driving in such a short time either. That sounds amazing. Your trip looks amazing and I wish I was going along! I find that I get exhausted easier as I got a bit older. -Roger. ?time to Avignon. Milan is bustling, crowded, the energy is always high. Since they are very concentrated in northern Italy, I would suggest flying roundtrip in and out of Milan. -Roger. Roughly said, most of Italy's "classics", including Venice, Milan, Florence, Cinque Terre, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, are all located in the north (see the Northern Italy map on the right), whereas the sunny gems such as Naples, the Amalfi Coast and Sicily, are in the south. Before taking the ferry back to Camogli, we stopped for a drink and a snack at a tiny little place right near the ferry stop that was so laid back and friendly, with tables outside and music playing. If youre thinking of using regional or city buses, the real challenge is understanding the routes and planning your itinerary around the timetables. Last stop for lovers: Venice! https://provence-alpes-cotedazur.com/en/alpes/things-to-do/road-trip/route-des-grandes-alpes-tour/, https://www.fortravelovers.com/en/roadtrip-on-the-route-des-grandes-alpes-the-must-see-stages. Our first trip we visited Rome, Florence, Bologna, Venice, Genoa/Cinque Terre. And of course I will also let you know how it is staying and dining at Chteau Saint-Martin. The girls really want to spend time on the coast, maybe rent a boat one day. We had checked out the high-end accommodations directly by the sea, but we came to the conclusion that they are not worth the super high prices. I was wondering if you had any travel agent or agency recommendations that could best assist with booking the itinerary you laid out for France and Italy? That meant spending the nights at luxury hotels and having meals in Michelin restaurants, as long as they are worth the money. Therefore, when looking for places to spend our vacations, we make sure that there are upscale hotels and gourmet dining-spots around. Train travel in Italy is the perfect way to get between all of the locations in this Northern Italy travel itinerary. Northern Italy is the most developed part of the country, so transportation is easy-to-access and can take you just about anywhere. Those in a hurry can spend half a day in Naples and a couple hours seeing Pompeii and be safely back in Sorrento for an unforgettable dinner. and with a nice historic alleyway parallel to the sea. We rather wanted to enjoy the vibes coming with being by the sea and of course we were eager to explore the region, above all by walking. Read my guides to Italy in Summer, Italy in Fall, and Italy in Winter to dive deeper into which season may be a better fit for you. And it's that way in every direction. I will be visiting Paris in December 2022. If you have only two weeks total then the above minimums will also pretty much be your maximums, give or take a day. I know you wanted to go to Italy. 13 Days Itinerary to Italy, Switzerland and France for a Its quite different from the rest of Italy so it will feel a bit more exotic, and the weather is milder during most of the year as well. But like I said to see more or to discover more, you need to drive on those smaller roads but they take more time. The beach weather in southern Italy usually goes into early October or so. Venice is another interesting one. Several big music hits were released over the last few years singing If you are only staying 1 night in Paris and your flight is at 11.00 - which implies being at CDG by 8.00 I would either stay "at" the airport (not "near" the airport) or near Gare de Lyon where your train from Annecy will arrive. Hello, my husband and I are planning a 2 week trip to Paris and then work our way to Rome in June of 2023. I'm usually the first to warn people of driving when jet-lagged, but for such a short distance I'd risk it. So we had decided to opt for a luxury hotel a bit further away from the sea but with views of it. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Also is it a good time to go to Nice, etc other places beside Paris while I am there until January 8. WebItinerary for France and Italy min. Hi there! I think the hiring a car for a village near Siena sounds great. We do like road trips and are accustomed to doing very long distance drives (in North America). After heading to the sea, return to the mountains around the area of Bergamo. We have a total of 12 nights. France and Italy: Best 2 to 3 week itinerary for first-time visitors, best cities in Europe to visit for anyone, many reasons why fast travel might be your best option, Here are the best first-time Italy itineraries for 3 days to two weeks, European cities that are cheapest to fly into, Buying a France-Italy regional Eurail Pass, Buying individual train tickets in advance, Buying individual train tickets one at a time when you get there. If youre working with a 10 day northern Italy trip, you can make it simple by spending two days in each place, or do as Im suggesting using Milan and Venice as your home bases to explore more with day trips. Venice 2 Nights. 50miles, 1h40. We are thinking at least 2 to 3 weeks and it would be for April or May of 2024. Im glad this has been helpful. Certainly one of the most beautiful and unusual cities on the planet,Veniceis something that everyone should see, though it can be a bit tricky. I usually use Rentalcars.com to compare prices for a rental car and book the best deal. Youll be sick of the crowds by then anyway. I think the general plan would be to fly into Paris and spend 4 or 5 days there, perhaps allowing time for a day trip or two to the Loire Valley or some wine regions. If the round-trips are much cheaper then your best option is to buy one of those as well as a one-way flight between the cities (for around US$100) for just before you fly home. As for Capri, I havent been there yet myself, but I do know its quite small and since its not far from Positano, its going to be pretty similar. It used to be that Paris was one of the cheapest, and its still competitive, but it doesnt rank high on the list ofEuropean cities that are cheapest to fly into. This area is famously where Van Gogh was based and got his inspiration, and also home to a Papal Palace where 7 popes lived during the 1300s. Yes, its a tourist experience, but its also still incredibly unique and wholesome to run away to the city and get lost in its alleys for a few days. Not far from Franciacorta is the region of Veneto, wherein the next half of the itinerary lies. Lake Como is a must stop also for mountain lovers: the peaks soaring above the lake are breathtaking. Yes, extremely helpful! After all, this nation is the cradle of European civilization established by the Roman Empire and carried on by the Roman Catholic Church. :Here are the best first-time Italy itineraries for 3 days to two weeks. France Its about an hour by train or bus from Florence, so you can literally do it in half a day there and back. Tour du Mont Blanc - Day Hike Recommendations. WebTo plan this part of your Northern Italy itinerary in more detail you can read my ultimate Dolomites road trip itinerary for 5 days. But they are small villages and I think 2 nights might be enough there. The thing is, between about 10am and 5pm every day of the year, the main walkways in Venice are a slow-moving parade of more tourists than seem possible or even safe.
