I will not go into it in this overview article. I will go into it in more length at a later point of time (what to do in Orta San Giulio). 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. Here we chose Vienne, a town known for its Roman heritage. ): Piedmont: at least 2 nights (Piedmont is a large region, so depending on how much you want to see, you could easily extend this a couple of nights) Lake Como: at least 1 night Bologna: at least 1 night Florence: at least 2 nights Verona: at least 1 night Lake Garda: at least 1 night (or even a day trip from Verona & you stay in Verona 2 nights) Dolomites: at least 2-3 nights. Love planes & trains so both total options! 4 of us (2 couples) heading to France next september.Paris mid september and have 5 weeks touring before returning to Paris mid October. Not sure if buying a package or just make our plan since we have budgets to meet. The entire area is made up of the Western Alps. Here youll find two specialties: polenta and pizzoccheri. Something like this might be better for a second or third trip to France unless youve got weeks to spend here. 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. Either option is great for a road trip of Italy. Without doubt there are other spots in the Piedmont more worthwhile visiting. September there should be nice as well. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. I love simple focaccia, made with just oil, but the bread is so versatile that youll find many different versions. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. As to your itinerary, I wouldn't do so much driving in such a short time either. Spend at least three nights in Paris itself and if you have extra days you might do a day trip (tour buses are a great choice) of the nearby Loire Valley. Gondola ride for two? On a quick visit you can hop on the local bus in Sorrento that takes you through Positano and Amalfi to Salerno. So we had decided to opt for a luxury hotel a bit further away from the sea but with views of it. We walked down little streets and paths and steps all the way down to Camogli where we took a short but sweet passenger ferry ride- you could go to further locations but we got off at Punta Chiappa. My question is to kick off the trip, which city should I start with from your itinerary (flying to Europe from Los Angeles)? The towns are all fairly similar and in April or May they will still be rather quiet, especially in April. I prefer Lake Garda over Lake Como (which I visited twice) because the towns of Lake Garda are prettier, and it is more affordable and Set on a low range of hills covered with these wonderful vineyards, it offers everything a demanding traveler could wish for. Hello again! 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. Breakfast in Paris tends to be a small baguette, jam, butter, and coffee at some hotels, while other hotels have a nice buffet with eggs and meats as well. 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. Therefore, when looking for places to spend our vacations, we make sure that there are upscale hotels and gourmet dining-spots around. It is doable without any problem. Train to Nice 2/3 nights Youll see all the famous and amazing Amalfi Coast views, and you can return either by bus or boat for an ideal day out. More about the accommodation (my post) and the activities to take here can be found soon on my blog. A Foodies Northern Italy Itinerary. 10 Day Northern Italy Itinerary Breakdown. (note to Perilizia, Im not stuck on Barolo, just used it as an example as I was looking at accommodations in other towns sort of near there, including La Morra). In general, visit Northern Italy if youre interested in art history, fashion, mountain vistas and fast-paced cities. We had favored a place near Lyon, probably the countrys gastronomic capital. 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. Manage Settings Here are some foods to try in every region on this itinerary: Starting in Piemonte, the speciality is one of the most expensive and luxurious foods in the world: truffles! Have you already been to Nice and other places on the cote d'azur? Comment*interested in this itinerary however I would like to include 1-2 nights in Tuscany? Ill cut out the Lake Como part as you suggested Planner, and get there hopefully as part of a future trip to Italy. Northern Italy/Southern France/Switzerland Itinerary Let me know if you have any other questions. And Nice has great museums and food as well. Whether you like hiking in the summer or skiing in the winter, the mountains are paradise. Do you have any suggestions? (Psst! And it delivered in this respect. Southern France and Northern Spain itinerary - Road Sometimes just putting 2 destinations will give you more options then putting the entire itinerary at once. Rognonas is about 10 minutes by car from Avignon TGV station. I'm usually the first to warn people of driving when jet-lagged, but for such a short This is about Relais San Maurizo, an impressive resort in a former monastery. Make Avignon a day trip from there. You can go more off-the-beaten-path and deep dive into the culture, taking the slow travel route. If you are over 25 you have to buy a 1st Class Eurail Pass, and those are probably only best for those with a bit more money to spend. Its about an hour by train or bus from Florence, so you can literally do it in half a day there and back. Or you could fly down to Sicily for a few days. Nice to Venice by train: About 7.5 hours. possible route via Orange and Sault (Lavender fields); or just Before I go any further, Id love to hear whether you feel any parts of this potential plan do not make sense! Of course there are many ways to travel. And long road trips are indeed possible. But Europe and France in particular has such a concentration of t No one regrets their first visit to Rome, but many swear that itll also be their last. It might be best to just consider any of them and look for a hotel or resort that you like the look of and that fits your budget. Between wine, fairytale villages, and intimate vistas, youll be feeling the Italian romance. Italian Riviera 2 nights. Let me know if you have any other questions. I think we made the perfect choice, and this with ChteauSaint-Martin in Vence. which months would you recommend? The drive from Avignon to Barolo is very long - see http://www.viamichelin.com for itineraries, driving times and costs. That is up to you and the flexibility of your travel dates! Perfect France, Spain And Portugal Road Trip The beach weather in southern Italy usually goes into early October or so. WebItaly has Europe's richest, craziest culture. That might be a bit hurried for 12 days. The most famous among the latter is probably Les Baux-de-Provence. We had not checked out the town of Vienne, where this establishment is located, in detail. The whole Italy portion just seems too much like a stretch. The car was our chosen mode of transport. Train to Venice 4 nights My friend mentioned it is better to go with inclusive package and I feel that will be too expensive. There aremany reasons why fast travel might be your best option, but only up to a point. The areas you are planning to visit are all obviously very well established and there arent many pitfalls to worry about if you plan it yourself. Its also the cheapest city on this list so lingering here will be more affordable in addition to relaxing. Luxembourg, St-Michel-Notre-Dame or Chtelet-les-Halles would be my first pick. This is a very nice small town on the Portofino peninsula and I loved the relaxed atmosphere and the views of the sea. Naples is kind of gritty and the two top things there are the National Archaeological Museum and the amazing pizza. If you have only two weeks total then the above minimums will also pretty much be your maximums, give or take a day. Find a detailed review about it in the time to come on my blog. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Id consider basing yourselves in Sorrento, which youve probably been through on your way to Positano. My favorite hotel in Paris is called the Hotel Cler, which is on a small market street called Rue Cler, just a few blocks from the Eiffel Tower. We used flight credits from previously canceled trips (during pandemic) for the flights to and from Paris. Quite the contrary, it makes part of the Italian lake region. Planning the best order of visiting these places will depend on what airport you end up flying into, as well as what day your business meeting falls on! 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. France to Italy, an epic South European roadtrip I hope this helps and Im happy to answer other questions if you have them. This will be our first time in Europe. Of course, we also explored the area, whenever possible by foot. 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. The Hotel b design & Spa was the hotel of our choice in the Provence. After all, this nation is the cradle of European civilization established by the Roman Empire and carried on by the Roman Catholic Church. >>>Going just to Italy? 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. It's a pity Lake Como may be too much for this trip. Any advises you can share- I appreciate it. Similar to Paris, Rome is crammed with amazing sights too numerous to mention, but unlike Paris, Rome can be a frustrating place to visit. WebRe: Rough Itinerary: Southern France, Northern Italy 1 year ago Save Take a train from CDG to Avignon from 13.00 onwards. Thank you. 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. 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. We have a total of 12 nights. I'm usually the first to warn people of driving when jet-lagged, but for such a short distance I'd risk it. Thank you both for the suggestions, tradeform and Planner. The itineraries here take you to some major attractions and some charming off-the-beaten-track towns. Lake Como is a must stop also for mountain lovers: the peaks soaring above the lake are breathtaking. 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. Northern Italy Itinerary Not sure of best way to fit Venice in the plans. But you wont get bored, and if you do you are probably doing it wrong. I think the hiring a car for a village near Siena sounds great. The big 3 in Italy are Rome, Florence, and Venice, and if you have time for only 3 cities those are the obvious ones to choose. Part of the reason we chose this area was so it would be do-able to spend a few hours in Eze on the morning of check-out on our way to Italy. The cuisine here is, of course, world famous, and it can get even better and cheaper if you spend a day or two in one of the many scenic villages in this part of Italy. We chose to take on Northern Italy by train and it was super easy and comfortable! 10 Day Northern Italy Itinerary Breakdown. As to that, learn about things to do in the area in my blogpost to follow. Paradou near Les-Baux-de-Provence, Provence, https://swisstraveler.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/4F320ED5-66D7-4C66-9371-88CEE660F749_1_201_a.jpeg, https://swisstraveler.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/8E4C591F-C653-4310-9E66-3A9C0E1422AA-1030x343.png, Northern Italy & southern France in style, a 11-day road trip itinerary. I hope this helps a bit and let me know if you have any questions. English is also more widely spoken there than most other Italian cities, so its less stressful in some ways. 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. You are spending a relatively large amount of time on the road vs seeing things. Now to some information about the individual places visited on our northern Italy and southern France journey and where to stay and dine in style. Train from Annecy to Paris, stay in Paris (?what area) (1 nt), Sep 2 - flight leaves from Paris at 11:00 am. Just one thing to consider. 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. Maybe you'll catch 40 winks on the train, even if I think it's better to try to stay awake as long as possible on arrival day. WebFrance is so treasure-filled that you could barely do more than skim the surface in a week. All to say, for me, although this trip was wonderful, next time I would go with fewer locations and stay longer at each one. Best for: history, sightseeing, nature, small towns, food & wine. So expect suggestions for high-end accommodations, gourmet dining-spots and things to do, especially short walks (details on the latter in separate posts to follow). But it takes a lot longer to reach your destination that way. They are on the west coast a bit north of Florence, so they are a bit out of the way if you are headed to Rome. Train to Cinque Terre 3 nights Its 45 minutes away by highspeed rail and the town has a lot more to see including a major cathedral. As we live in times of Corona, we only opted for lodging that comes with foodie hotspots, too. Hopefully all these options make clearer what is at the top of your northern Italy bucket list! Great website. WebThe plan would be to fly into Venice for 3 nights, then Courmayeur for 2 nights, then proceed with the original trip (2 nights in Manarola, 4 nights in the Tuscany area, then 3 We want to make this more of a romantic trip rather than a tour type trip. Then take a train to Rome for 3 or 4 nights and fly back to Paris and then home or straight back home if you can get a cheap enough ticket that way. This sounds OK? If youre someone whos embarking on their once-in-a-lifetime trip to Italy, this itinerary is for you. Or I might just stick with France only on this trip. :Here are the best first-time Italy itineraries for 3 days to two weeks. Venice to Florence by train: About 2 hours. Italian food is in a league of its own, but youll soon find WebYou could go from there to Andorra la Vella, then cross into France and visit Tarbes and Pau before heading toward Biarritz, San Sebastin, and Bilbao, then over to Santiago de Compostela and A Corua before heading back through, say, Len and Zaragoza. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-112612320', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Europe again in a few years, so I will resist the urge to try to cover too large a geographical area! I concur that 3 h after your arrival time is the minimum amount of time recommanded for taking a train in CDG. Obviously youll want to visit Paris, and it makes sense to either start or end your whole journey here. We walked back down and went to the municipal beach where we enjoyed a swim in Lac DAnnecy. So I have gradually reduced the extent of the distances I travel. For many of us, the travel research is part of the fun, especially when you know that you can make all of the choices yourself. We did not stay directly by the sea, but headed to the hills high above Nice, to the picturesque village of Vence in the region of the Mtropole Nice Cte dAzur. Your email address will not be published. Milan 2 Nights. They arent as cheap as buses, but theyre less expensive than renting a car. more, Reply to: Rough Itinerary: Southern France, Northern Italy. Positano and Amalfi itself are the two most famous ones, but there are others. Here you can have breakfast and dinner in this Michelin restaurant. 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! The main city is Arles and that is probably the best base, although Avignon (where the Popes lived) is also very tourist friendly and could be a good choice. However, there is a lot more to unpack when deciding which Italian region to visit. 3 hours is the the recommended time to allow As a plus, you can walk to it from our hotel in Vence! And it brought us to northern Italy (Piedmont and Liguria) as well us to southern France (Nice metropolis Cte dAzur and Provence). If taking the RER I would probably opt for an hotel close to one RER B line station. Going in, say, April would probably be better, but if your choices are staying in Paris the whole time or also going to Nice for a couple days, I would go to Nice. Northern Italy & southern France in 11 days: luxury hotels Id say flying into and out of Paris would be ideal, but you could also start in Rome and do it in the other direction. In addition, I will go into what to do in the particular places. I think Id do that and fly out of Rome. I would love do my shopping at the outlets -which should I visit for the outlets? We also visited a small town called St-Quentin-de-la-Poterie. At the castle we took a tour and visited the grounds. This was followed by a stop in the Provence, precisely Paradou, aneighboring village of the famous Les-Baux-de-Provence. Book trains on sncf-connect/en-en . Many do advise against driving a car right after a long flight. I have done it plenty of times for both personal and business trips. I find that I If you are having trouble narrowing down which places are the top to visit for you or youre starting from scratch seeking inspiration, youll find the perfect northern Italy itinerary for you in this post, along with tips for visiting this part of the country. We are coming from the West Coast of the US (California). Driving in France is such a pleasure. featuring the one Michelin starred Restaurant Le Saint-Martin. 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. And of course I will also let you know how it is staying and dining at Chteau Saint-Martin. 13 Days Itinerary to Italy, Switzerland and France for a While it is part of the Piedmont, it is not necessarily known as an area where they grow vines. Paris is always great, but for Lake Como it really depends on the time of year. Let me know if you have any other questions. I found it hard to narrow down the areas that we want to go to. I start my first trips doing road trips. Enjoy incredible beaches, immerse yourself in the local culture and discover the history of these beautiful places. Before going into details about the places we visited, here is the itinerary of our trip. I just wanted to come back and thank everyone on the forum for their helpful replies. Not only on this thread, but also having read so many other c Its one of Europes fashion capitals as well, but the casual visitor wouldnt notice. Italy and Switzerland in 2 weeks Sometimes the one-way flights are exactly half the round-trip fare, sometimes a bit more than half, and other times they are double. Leave a comment! This is a hilltop stone village below the ruins of an old castle. Depending on your interests in Naples and Sorrento, you could spend one more day in Rome and do a day trip to Naples and/or Pompeii from there. This is the enchantingVilla della Pergola, located a bit above town in a gorgeous botanical garden. Because at this point going to the Lago di Como is a little out of the way from the rest of your itinerary. You definitely need to consider it for your next trip. For this trip we are interested in exploring mainly small towns, countryside, mountains. 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. The down side, however, is that Milan is mostly a business/financial city that isnt as charming as the rest on this list. Ive actually been to Nice in early December and the weather was chilly and it even snowed a bit one day, but overall it was nice and most things are open. The stops on this north Italy itinerary include: Youll probably start this itinerary in Milano, given that the most major airports are located just outside the city. You could do it in a day, but you might be more Halfway back on the Circumvesuviana you can jump off in front of the stunning Pompeii Ruins. And we wanted to stay and dine in style. Or cut the Lago di Como and stay longer along the Mediteranean and around Barolo and cut to Annecy through the Aosta Valley or come back to France near Brianon and continue your journey. So we did not have to venture further to indulge in culinary highlights. Again, it makes the most sense to start and end your visit in Paris and Rome, and if you are starting inRomeyou should add an extra day just to get your footing. Ive yet to make it there myself and I imagine itll be somewhat quiet in December, but Im sure there will still be tastings and tours and such. Im so excited to look into Hotel Cler! 10 Day Northern Italy Itinerary by Train: Fun Guide From 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. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-112594817', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');car from Avignon TGV station. And Ill be happy to help. Required fields are marked *. Really appreciate any comments/suggestions you have. Italy in Spring guide coming soon!). Bologna 2 Nights. Northern Italy Itinerary Nights 6, 7: Camogli, Italy (specifically we stayed in Ruta di Camogli which was just above Camogli). My husband and I walked to it while staying at the nearby Paradou. And I think a canal trip around Paris would be great. 13 Days Itinerary to Italy, Switzerland and France for a Good Mix of Europe Italy, Switzerland and France are the classic must-visits for Central Europe, each with its If you are going to France and Italy for sure then start with Paris and Rome as the foundation and add cities in between to the degree youll have time. Check out more in-depth locations for the perfect city-break itinerary to northern Italy on the map: Its no secret Italy is one of the most romantic countries in the world to visit, so Ive also curated a North Italy itinerary perfect for couples, whether on honeymoon, anniversary, or simply a romantic trip. and with a nice historic alleyway parallel to the sea. Milan is bustling, crowded, the energy is always high. Im glad it was helpful. If you wish to see mountains, you could drive your way up to Annecy on the French side of the Alps either by the Route des Grandes Alpes or by the Route Napoleon for example. in Italy - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas Keen to get your thoughts on this itinerary: The post Northern Italy & southern France in style, a 11-day road trip itinerary first appeared on Swiss Traveler, Your email address will not be published. I highly recommend booking a tour with a local guide for the unique experience of hunting for truffles and do a Barolo wine tasting. We enjoy walking, dining, exploring, and just being at places that takes you away from it all. Itinerary for Italy and Southern France - Italy Forum ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-112591753', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');plane and then the travel by train, by the time we make it as far as Avignon wed be exhausted and just want a bed to lie on! France and Italy make for a perfect first visit to Europe, but there are so many potential places to visit that planning well is extremely important. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-112592618', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');car right after a long flight.