Wondering how many days in Northern Italy you actually need? Honestly, it depends on how much you want to see and how quickly you like to travel.
Northern Italy has everything from huge lakes and historic cities to coastal towns, mountains and some seriously good food. You could easily spend several weeks here without seeing everything.
Personally, I think 7–10 days is a great amount of time for a Northern Italy trip, while 10–14 days gives you enough time to combine several destinations without constantly feeling like you’re packing your backpack again.
And one thing before we start: I wouldn’t spend more than one day in Milan. I know Milan is often given two or three days in standard Italy itineraries, but I personally don’t love the city. It’s a convenient arrival point and there are definitely some beautiful things to see, but I’d much rather spend those extra days somewhere else in Northern Italy.
How Many Days Do You Need in Northern Italy?
My quick answer:
→ 5 days: Milan + Lake Como
→ 7 days: Milan + Lake Como + Turin + Genoa
→ 10 days: Lake Como + Turin + Genoa + Florence
→ 14 days: Lakes + cities + coast + Florence + Venice
→ 2–3 weeks: Add Bologna, Cinque Terre, the Dolomites or more time in your favourite places
If this is your first trip, I’d personally aim for 10–14 days.
That gives you enough time to experience different sides of Northern Italy instead of spending your entire trip moving between train stations.
And if you’re backpacking, don’t make the mistake of thinking that more destinations automatically means a better trip. Sometimes one extra day somewhere you love is much more valuable than adding another city just to tick it off.
For a broader look at Italy as a whole, check out my How Many Days in Italy Do You Need? guide.
Personally, I think 7–10 days is a great amount of time for a Northern Italy trip, while 10–14 days gives you enough time to combine several destinations without constantly feeling like you’re packing your backpack again.
If you’re planning a longer backpacking trip rather than a short holiday, I’ve also put together a Northern Italy Backpacking Guide with more practical tips on hostels, budgets, transport and travelling solo.
The Northern Italy Route I Actually Did
If you’re looking for a Northern Italy itinerary that I know works well without a car, this is the route I personally travelled:
Milan → Lake Como → Lake Maggiore → Turin → Genoa → Florence → Verona → Venice
And honestly, I really liked this route.
It gave me a bit of everything: big cities, beautiful lakes, the coast, historic Italian cities and, obviously, plenty of good food and aperol along the way.
But one of the biggest reasons I liked this route is that it was very doable by public transport.
I mainly travelled by train and FlixBus, with local buses and ferries where needed. FlixBus was often the cheapest option, while trains were generally more comfortable and convenient for longer journeys.
My route at a glance
→ Milan: 1 day
→ Lake Como: 3 days
→ Lake Maggiore: 1 day
→ Turin: 1–2 days
→ Genoa: 2–3 days
→ Florence: 2–3 days
→ Verona: 1 day
→ Venice: 1 day
You obviously don’t have to copy this exactly.
Lake Maggiore is an easy stop to skip if you’re short on time, for example. You could spend those extra days around Lake Como instead. You could also stay longer in Genoa if you want to explore more of the Ligurian coast.
But as a general Northern Italy backpacking route, I really liked the flow of this one.
If you’re wondering when to do this route, I’ve also written a guide to the best time to visit Northern Italy, including weather, crowds and what each season is like.
Why this route works well without a car
Most of these destinations are connected by train or bus, and once you’re there, you can generally get around using local public transport, ferries and your own two feet.
That makes it a really good option if you’re travelling solo, backpacking or simply don’t want to deal with renting a car.
There is one important exception, though: the Dolomites.
The Dolomites are absolutely beautiful, but I wouldn’t pretend they’re as easy to reach and explore by public transport as the cities and lakes on this route. Depending on where you want to hike or stay, getting around can involve several buses and much longer travel times.
So if your priority is an easy Northern Italy trip by public transport, I’d stick closer to the route I actually did.
If the Dolomites are one of the main reasons you’re coming to Italy, I’d build your itinerary around them instead of trying to squeeze them into this route.
For more detail about all these destinations, check out my Northern Italy Travel Guide.
5-Day Northern Italy Itinerary
If you only have five days, I’d keep it simple.
Route: Milan → Lake Como → Milan
Day 1: Milan
Use Milan as your arrival day and see the main highlights:
→ Duomo di Milano
→ Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
→ Castello Sforzesco
→ Navigli in the evening
You can see the main sights in one day without rushing too much.
And honestly? I’d leave the next morning. There is no reason to force yourself to spend three days in a city you don’t particularly enjoy just because it is Milan.
Days 2–4: Lake Como
Lake Como is completely different from Milan and, personally, much more my kind of place.
I’d spend around three nights here if you have the time.
You could split your time between:
→ Como
→ Bellagio
→ Varenna
Como is a good base for exploring the lake by public transport and ferry. Bellagio is beautiful but quite small, so I wouldn’t necessarily spend several nights there. Varenna is another lovely stop and has some of the best lake views.
Lake Como genuinely feels a little like Pinterest in real life. It’s calmer and slower than the cities, which is exactly why I like it.
If you’re still deciding whether Lake Como deserves a place on your itinerary, I’ve also shared my honest opinion on whether Lake Como is worth visiting.
Day 5: Back to Milan or continue travelling
Depending on your flights or train connections, you can return to Milan or continue towards your next destination.
7-Day Northern Italy Backpacking Itinerary
With a week, you can start moving around a little more.
Route: Milan → Lake Como → Turin → Genoa
Day 1: Milan
Again, I’d keep Milan to one day maximum.
See the main sights, eat something good, have an aperol and move on.
Days 2–3: Lake Como
Spend two nights around Lake Como.
You won’t see absolutely everything, but you can comfortably visit Como and make a day trip to Bellagio or Varenna.
Days 4–5: Turin
Turin was actually one of my biggest surprises in Northern Italy.
It has some of the same grand-city feeling as Milan, but I found it more relaxed, less touristy and generally cheaper.
Things worth seeing include:
→ Piazza Castello
→ Palazzo Reale
→ Galleria Subalpina
→ Palazzo Carignano
→ Galleria San Federico
→ Duomo di Torino
→ Porta Palatina
→ Porta Palazzo market
It’s also a great city for simply walking around, sitting down for an aperol and finding somewhere random to eat.
Days 6–7: Genoa
Finish your week in Genoa.
Genoa is particularly nice if you want a mix of city + coast.
Don’t miss:
→ Porto Antico
→ Piazza delle Erbe
→ Boccadasse
→ Nervi
Genoa is also a really good base for day trips along the Ligurian coast.
If you’re only spending a short amount of time there, I’ve also put together a 1-Day Genoa Itinerary with ideas for what to see and do.
10-Day Northern Italy Itinerary
Ten days is probably my favourite amount of time for a Northern Italy backpacking trip because you can combine several completely different places.
Route: Milan → Lake Como → Turin → Genoa → Florence → Venice
You can adjust this depending on what you personally like most.
Day 1: Milan
One day. That’s enough for me.
Days 2–3: Lake Como
Spend two nights around the lake.
If you want a slower trip, make this three nights and remove one of the city stops later.
Days 4–5: Turin
Give Turin one or two nights depending on your interests.
This is one of those cities I think people overlook when planning Italy trips, which is exactly what makes it more enjoyable.
Days 6–7: Genoa
Spend two nights in Genoa and use the city as a base for the coast.
If you have enough time, you can also look into day trips towards Portofino or Camogli.
Days 8–9: Florence
Florence is technically not always grouped with Northern Italy, depending on how you define the region, but geographically it makes perfect sense to include it in a broader Northern Italy itinerary.
I’d give Florence two nights / around three days if possible.
It is extremely touristy, but I still think it is 100% worth visiting.
If you’re planning to spend a little longer in Florence, check out my guide to the 10 Best Things to Do in Florence.
Day 10: Venice
Finish your trip in Venice.
I personally think one full day is enough for Venice, especially if you are travelling on a budget. The city is incredibly unique, but it can also be overwhelming and expensive.
If you love it, stay longer. If not, you’ve still experienced one of the most unusual cities in Europe.
14-Day Northern Italy Itinerary
If you have two weeks, you can slow things down and add more variety.
Route:
Milan → Lake Como → Lake Maggiore → Turin → Genoa → Cinque Terre → Bologna → Florence → Verona → Venice
You obviously don’t have to visit every single place. This is more of a maximum-variety itinerary.
Day 1: Milan
Use your first day to arrive and see the highlights.
Days 2–4: Lake Como
Three nights gives you enough time for:
→ Como
→ Bellagio
→ Varenna
You can also simply take a slower day by the lake rather than trying to tick off another attraction every two hours.
Day 5: Lake Maggiore
Lake Maggiore is an optional addition, but I really enjoyed staying in Stresa.
It’s quieter than Lake Como and works well if you want a more relaxed lake experience.
I stayed at Residence La Luna Nel Porto, which had incredible lake views and was one of my favourite stays in the area.
Days 6–7: Turin
Spend one or two nights exploring Turin.
Days 8–9: Genoa
Two nights in Genoa gives you enough time to explore the city and potentially take a day trip.
Day 10: Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre can be visited as a day trip, although staying overnight would obviously make the experience less rushed.
Days 11–12: Bologna
Bologna is a really good addition if you’re interested in food, university-city atmosphere and a slightly less touristy Italian city.
It’s also a useful stop between Northern Italy and Florence.
Spend around one or two nights here.
Day 13: Florence
Use one full day for Florence’s highlights.
Day 14: Venice
Finish in Venice, or switch Venice and Florence depending on your transport connections.
Northern Italy Itinerary With the Dolomites
If mountains and hiking are more your thing, I’d actually change the itinerary quite a lot.
The Dolomites deserve several days, so I wouldn’t try to squeeze them into a route where you’re already visiting ten cities.
Route:
Milan → Lake Como → Dolomites → Verona → Venice
Day 1: Milan
One day to see the main sights.
Days 2–3: Lake Como
Two nights around the lake.
Days 4–7: Dolomites
Give yourself at least four days here.
If hiking is a major reason you’re travelling to Northern Italy, I’d even stay longer.
The Dolomites are one of the places where I think it makes more sense to slow down rather than constantly changing accommodation.
Day 8: Verona
Verona is perfect as a short stop.
See the Arena, Piazza delle Erbe, Casa di Giulietta and walk towards Ponte Pietra for the views.
I personally wouldn’t spend more than one night here.
Days 9–10: Venice
Spend one or two days in Venice.
Days 11–14: Extra time
If you have four additional days, I’d use them for whichever part of the trip you enjoyed most:
→ More time in the Dolomites
→ More time around Lake Como
→ Bologna
→ Florence
→ Genoa and the coast
This is much better than adding four completely new destinations just because you technically have the time.
Northern Italy Itinerary With Bologna
If food is one of your main reasons for travelling around Italy, I’d definitely consider adding Bologna.
A route could look like:
Milan → Lake Como → Turin → Bologna → Florence → Venice
This works particularly well for around 10–12 days.
Milan – 1 day
Use it as your starting point.
Lake Como – 2–3 days
Give yourself time to explore the lake.
Turin – 1–2 days
A great city stop that feels different from Milan.
Bologna – 1–2 days
Eat. Walk. Eat again.
Bologna is known for its food culture and is also a lively university city, so it can be a fun stop if you are travelling solo and like a younger atmosphere.
Florence – 2–3 days
Give yourself enough time for the historic centre, viewpoints and food.
Venice – 1–2 days
Finish your trip in Venice.
A More Relaxed Northern Italy Route
If you hate constantly packing and unpacking, I would simplify everything.
Route:
Milan → Lake Como → Genoa → Florence → Venice
For around 10 days, this gives you a really nice balance.
→ Milan – 1 day
→ Lake Como – 3 days
→ Genoa – 2–3 days
→ Florence – 2 days
→ Venice – 1 day
You get cities, lakes, coastline and historic Italy without changing accommodation every night.
And honestly, this is probably closer to how I’d travel myself.
Northern Italy Backpacking Route for 2–3 Weeks
If you have more time, don’t feel like you need to create a completely new itinerary every day.
A longer backpacking route could be:
Milan → Lake Como → Lake Maggiore → Turin → Genoa → Cinque Terre → Bologna → Florence → Dolomites → Verona → Venice
With two or three weeks, you can finally start giving places the amount of time they deserve.
For example:
→ Milan – 1 day
→ Lake Como – 3 days
→ Lake Maggiore – 1 day
→ Turin – 2 days
→ Genoa – 2–3 days
→ Cinque Terre – 1–2 days
→ Bologna – 2 days
→ Florence – 2–3 days
→ Dolomites – 4 days
→ Verona – 1 day
→ Venice – 1–2 days
You will probably still have to make choices, but that’s the point: Northern Italy is too big to properly see everything in one trip.
How Many Days Should You Spend in Each Place?
Here’s roughly how I’d divide your time:
| Destination | Recommended time |
|---|---|
| Milan | 1 day |
| Lake Como | 2–3 days |
| Lake Maggiore | 1–2 days |
| Turin | 1–2 days |
| Genoa | 2–3 days |
| Cinque Terre | 1–2 days |
| Bologna | 1–2 days |
| Florence | 2–3 days |
| Dolomites | 4–7 days |
| Verona | 1 day |
| Venice | 1–2 days |
These aren’t rules. They’re just a realistic starting point based on how much there is to do and, more importantly, how I personally experienced these places.
Can You Backpack Northern Italy Without a Car?
Yes.
You absolutely don’t need a car for most of a Northern Italy backpacking trip.
I usually use a combination of:
→ Trains
→ FlixBus
→ Local buses
→ Ferries around the lakes
→ Walking
FlixBus is often the cheapest option and can sometimes cost less than €15. Trains are usually more comfortable and convenient, especially between bigger cities.
For trains, I normally use the Trenitalia app. Just don’t assume you can always book everything at the last minute, especially during busy periods.
The main place where I’d consider a car is the Dolomites, depending on exactly where you want to stay and hike.
Which Northern Italy Route Should You Choose?
It really depends on what kind of trip you want.
If you love hiking
Milan → Lake Como → Dolomites → Verona → Venice
Spend less time in cities and more time in the mountains.
If you love lakes
Milan → Lake Como → Lake Maggiore → Turin
This gives you a much slower trip with plenty of time around the water.
If you love food and cities
Milan → Turin → Bologna → Florence → Venice
I’d definitely add Bologna here.
If you want coast + cities
Milan → Lake Como → Genoa → Cinque Terre → Florence
This is probably one of the best balanced routes.
If it’s your first Northern Italy trip
I’d go for:
Milan → Lake Como → Turin → Genoa → Florence → Venice
You get a bit of everything without trying to see the entire country in one go.
My Honest Advice for Planning Northern Italy
The biggest mistake I see with Italy itineraries is trying to do too much.
Yes, technically you can visit Milan in the morning, Lake Como in the afternoon, Turin the next day and Venice the day after that.
But why?
You’ll spend so much time checking out of hostels, getting to stations, waiting for trains, finding your next accommodation and carrying your backpack around that you barely experience the places themselves.
And especially when you’re backpacking, one extra day somewhere you love is usually worth much more than squeezing in another destination.
For me, that means one day in Milan instead of three, and using those extra days somewhere I actually enjoy more — like Lake Como, Turin, Genoa or the Dolomites.
Northern Italy is at its best when you leave some space in the itinerary.
Sit by the lake. Get another aperol. Walk around without a destination. Take the slower train.
You don’t need to see everything.
You just need enough time to actually enjoy where you are.
Planning Your Trip to Italy?
Planning a trip to Italy can be surprisingly difficult, especially when you’re choosing between huge historic cities, beautiful coastlines, charming smaller towns, mountains, lakes and islands.
That’s why I’ve created my Italy Travel Guide, where I share destination guides, things to do, local tips and my personal experiences from travelling around Italy.
→ START HERE: Italy Travel Guides
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START BY AREA
→ Northern Italy Travel guide
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→ Sicily Travel guide
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FAQ – How Many Days in Northern Italy?
How many days do you need in Northern Italy?
I recommend 7–10 days for a good first trip and 10–14 days if you want to combine several cities, lakes and coastal destinations without rushing.
Is Northern Italy good for backpacking?
Yes! Northern Italy is relatively easy to travel around by train, FlixBus, local buses and ferries. My own Northern Italy route was easy to do without a car, although the Dolomites are more complicated by public transport.
Can you travel Northern Italy without a car?
Absolutely. Most of the cities and lakes on a classic Northern Italy route are well connected by public transport. The Dolomites are the main exception, as reaching different hiking areas can take considerably more planning.
Is one day enough for Milan?
Personally, yes. I would spend one day in Milan to see the main sights and then continue to somewhere I enjoyed more, such as Lake Como, Turin or Genoa.
What is the best Northern Italy itinerary for 7 days?
A good seven-day route is Milan → Lake Como → Turin → Genoa. It gives you a mix of city, lake and coast without trying to fit too much into one week.
How many days do you need for the Dolomites?
I’d recommend at least four days if hiking is one of your main reasons for visiting. If you want to explore several areas without rushing, five to seven days would be even better.
Should you add Bologna to a Northern Italy itinerary?
If you love food, cafés, nightlife and lively university cities, definitely. One or two days in Bologna is enough for most itineraries and it can fit nicely between Northern Italy and Florence.
What is the easiest Northern Italy route by public transport?
My personal route — Milan → Lake Como → Lake Maggiore → Turin → Genoa → Florence → Verona → Venice — is a great option if you want to travel without a car. I did this route myself and found it relatively easy using trains, buses and ferries.
