Do you have any suggestions? Unless you are starting from elsewhere in Europe, youll want to carefully choose which airport to fly into. Lots of time and effort goes on behind the scenes to keep the free resources coming, so, if you have found my website or personal help useful and want to support me. Yet it was such a great experience after so many Switzerland staycations! No regrets. Id do 3 or 4 nights in Paris, 1 or 2 nights in Venice, 2 or 3 nights in Florence, and 3 nights in Rome. 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. 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. Bergamo is big in size, but quaint in spirit. Italy and Switzerland in 2 weeks Check out the map to see this sample itinerary and extra suggestions on where to visit: Some travelers cant get enough of a historic, bustling European city and Italy is rich with them. We are coming from the West Coast of the US (California). But I quickly began to experience little frustration or rather a little disappointment each time I learned about something interesting near by that I didn't have enough time to go see. But (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Any of these itineraries can be turned into a road trip itinerary like I said, the country is best experienced by road trip! The great thing is that even this itinerary is worthwhile for people who arent nature lovers but love the mountain landscape. Keen to get your thoughts on this itinerary: I loved it in Eze, it was so beautiful in the morning as it was quiet and not crowded and the Jardin Exotique was amazing, with unforgettable views. 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! Its no secret Lake Como is one of the most luxurious destinations in Italy and its exclusivity, plus the incredible views of villas and alpine peaks, makes it an intimate retreat. I wasnt even aware that outlet shopping had spread to Europe, but according to the internet, it has! Thank you both for the suggestions, tradeform and Planner. 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. 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). Bologna is the origin of many Italian food favorites: Parmigiano Reggiano, Mortadella, Rag Bolognese, Balsamic Vinegar and Lasagne. Looking at the plan I have, I am curious what location would you consider cutting out and where would you stay longer? Rushing around for two weeks can be exhilarating, but rushing around for three weeks can really start to get exhausting. 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. I thought maybe with not sleeping much on the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? This was so helpful. For your itineray it won't be a real problem as most will be in nice surrondings. I know you wanted to go to Italy. Before coming to it, there is one more thing to add. Suggested Itineraries in France 10 Day Northern Italy Itinerary Breakdown. If the two one-way flights are within US$150 or so of either round-trip, then they are your best option. The day we checked out we were headed back to France, on our way we made a stop on the way for a couple of hours in Aosta, Italy, before driving through the Mont Blanc tunnel. But the true draw is the landscape. France Bus can also be a flexible and inexpensive option for airport transfer. More details follow in a separate blogpost (stay at Villa Crespi). Im planning a 2 and half (possibly 3 weeks) week trip for next summer (or September); based off of your Itinerary, I basically would be going to all the cities except Provence, Milan, and Cirque Terre. Pizzoccheri are a mix of short buckwheat tagliatelle pasta, potatoes, cheese, and greens. Thank you for suggestions. Later on, I have also discovered that Orta San Guilio is a truly splendid village. 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. They are all just so filled with Europeans during July and August that it can be frustrating, so going just before or after those months is ideal. Do I need an international driver's licence for car hire? Required fields are marked *. Ok, I will plan for 3-4 hrs from the arrival time at CDG to the time for the departure with the TGV. Of course, we also explored the area, whenever possible by foot. Bergamo 2 Nights. 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. Id consider basing yourselves in Sorrento, which youve probably been through on your way to Positano. Book your stay in Milan and spend time exploring the city, while using the next few days to visit Cinque Terre and Lake Como. A Foodies Northern Italy Itinerary. The Eternal City is also quite expensive, especially by Italian standards, which is another reason to save only a few days there rather than a full week. Its the traffic and general sense of chaos (multiplied by the summer heat) that wear on visitors. As with most things, the best answer probably lies somewhere in between. Days 9 10: Bernina Express and Milan, Italy. Paris4 nights 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. Im so excited to look into Hotel Cler! Love planes & trains so both total options! Next was a typical Piedmont destination, a resort near Santo Stefano Belbo. 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. Whats more exciting than an Italy road trip? 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 would love to hear your suggestions for an itinerary and how long to spend in each place. And the village of Vence here in these hills above Nice and Antibes is a truly picturesque place. 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 Its about an hour by train or bus from Florence, so you can literally do it in half a day there and back. My question is to kick off the trip, which city should I start with from your itinerary (flying to Europe from Los Angeles)? At last, my husband and I set to a first longer trip abroad after the imposed Corona time-out. Also is it a good time to go to Nice, etc other places beside Paris while I am there until January 8. Nice to Milan by train: About 5 hours September there should be nice as well. We stayed in the old town in Annecy and really liked it here a lot. 4 of us (2 couples) heading to France next september.Paris mid september and have 5 weeks touring before returning to Paris mid October. The other dish I ordered at every restaurant in Liguria: Trofie al Pesto. Train to Cinque Terre 3 nights I havent had a chance yet to delve into the details of the trip yet, but have a rough itinerary. And I found out that this is an offshot of Villa Crespi in Orta San Guilio, a high-end accommodation with a two Michelin star gourmet temple. -Roger. I hope this helps and Im happy to answer other questions if you have them. That is interesting and I wish I could offer some advice. I really love champagne and want to do some tastings, do you have any recommendations? Driving in France is such a pleasure. 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 hope this helps and let me know if you have any other questions. 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. Many do advise against driving a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? We enjoy walking, dining, exploring, and just being at places that takes you away from it all. Just a couple of comments - we LOVED this trip, we enjoyed each of the places we went. Sometimes the one-way flights are exactly half the round-trip fare, sometimes a bit more than half, and other times they are double. 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. When planning your itinerary, I highly suggest planning at least 2.5 days at Lake Garda. It truly is the best way to visit the country and enjoy just how vastly different the landscapes are across the peninsula. But you also said that there were other destinations in Italy that you were interested in. Days 1 2: Lucerne, Switzerland. I will not go into it in this overview article. Youll see all the famous and amazing Amalfi Coast views, and you can return either by bus or boat for an ideal day out. The most famous among the latter is probably Les Baux-de-Provence. Im trying to plan a graduation trip for my family of 5 for our daughters graduation. It is known for its long sandy beaches. If you have less time and want to see a lot, plan out your transportation well and get ready for days jam-packed with things to do and breathtaking places to see! Which itinerary is on your bucket list? It is a fascinating medieval village, enveloped by woodland and backed by mountains. As to your itinerary, I wouldn't do so much driving in such a short time either. (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). >>>Going just to Italy? This sounds OK? Book trains on sncf-connect/en-en . possible route via Orange and Sault (Lavender fields); or just Check out the map with extra suggestions: I could go on and on about all of the beautiful places to visit in northern Italy, but this post would then be at least 10,000 words. Thank you! Itinerary for Italy and Southern France - Italy Forum At the castle we took a tour and visited the grounds. So you won't really have time to explore small towns and countryside. I was thinking of flying into Rome due to convenience and cost and flying out of Milan mostly due to convenience. 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. Take a train from CDG to Avignon from 13.00 onwards. 3 hours is the the recommended time to allow between flight arrival and train departure. Book Northern Italy/Southern France/Switzerland Itinerary An Epic Northern Italy Itinerary (10 Days) - Every Steph 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 We used flight credits from previously canceled trips (during pandemic) for the flights to and from Paris. Perfect France, Spain And Portugal Road Trip Its better to plan to go slower and if you are getting bored you can do a day or overnight trip to something nearby. On our way home, we made a stopover south of Lyon, Frances third largest city. Itinerary help please Southern France to Northern Italy 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. 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. And the Italian lakes regions really deserve more time then 2 nights. Here you can have breakfast and dinner in this Michelin restaurant. WebNormandy, Brittany, Paris & the Loire Valley Provence Savoring France: Paris, Lyon & Provence Cruising the Seine, plus Paris & London 01 04 Traveling With Tauck Never Settle For Ordinary Travel Experiences that are as memorable as the places Read More Leave Your Worries At Home Bus travel is also an option, but comes with its own challenges: one, understanding regional bus routes in a short period of time, and two, using coach buses means youll get dropped off in one spot and you dont have much freedom to travel around. ): 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. Before I go any further, Id love to hear whether you feel any parts of this potential plan do not make sense! 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. 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. The best things to do in France; A summer guide to Chamonix, France; My first Via Ferrata in Nax, Switzerland and a night at Hotel DAngleterre in Geneva; The best things to do in the Dolomites, Italy document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); My wife and I will be celebrating our 35th anniversary next year. I found it hard to narrow down the areas that we want to go to. Head west to Turin, a financial and cultural hub like Milan, stylized by Baroque-style architecture and the famed Mole Antonelliana. Driving probably as much but on a smaller area. Your email address will not be published. When arriving, we were pleasantly surprised to learn that this town overflows with Roman history. This is a hilltop stone village below the ruins of an old castle. However, if youre flying from within Europe, you may want to consider flying into Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport, which is a hub for Ryanair flights. Don't get too stuck on Barolo. We have a total of 12 nights. This was the first time in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Make Avignon a day trip from there. The ticket machines are in English and easy to navigate. Bologna 2 Nights. Head east and end your itinerary in Venice. So I have gradually reduced the extent of the distances I travel. The whole Italy portion just seems too much like a stretch. -Roger. I find that I get exhausted easier as I got a bit older. Coming back to Santo Stefano Belbo, you find here the hotel of our choice not far from it. This was followed by a stop in the Provence, precisely Paradou, aneighboring village of the famous Les-Baux-de-Provence. 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. It was very pretty and the stores and streets were interesting to walk around. Before going into details about the places we visited, here is the itinerary of our trip. We only had one night available and had not planned to do longer activities in town. Verona 2 Nights. The ferry from Sorrento only takes 20 minutes each way and leaves hourly most of the day. Northern Italy & southern France in 11 days: luxury hotels They had a shuttle bus that took us down to Eze). -Roger. Or I might just stick with France only on this trip. Of the 5 towns, Vernazza is probably best for a short visit and its definitely the most scenic. Of the two, Italy is a bit more straightforward because it has a Big 3 of tourist cities consisting of Rome, Florence, and Venice. 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. Rognonas is about 10 minutes by (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Days 2 4: GoldenPass and Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. Between wine, fairytale villages, and intimate vistas, youll be feeling the Italian romance. Ultimate Two Week Northern Italy Road Trip Itinerary The down side, however, is that Milan is mostly a business/financial city that isnt as charming as the rest on this list. Prepaid French 3G micro-SIM for iPad - it's not a problem! WebThis itinerary takes you to the following destinations in Italy and Switzerland: Day 1: Zurich, Switzerland. We did not venture far, to neighboring Italy and France. Route Napoleon is faster but they are both scenic drives. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. If you were to be spending all 2 or 3 weeks in Italy and saving France for another trip, then youd want to considering spending at least a day and perhaps a night in this stunning little group of 5 towns perched on rocky cliffs overlooking the sea. I love creating free resources for your travels and personally responding to your questions over chat and email. -Roger. 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. Also, I would like to catch some nice beach weather, how is the weather in June or early September in France and Italy? Paris is always great, but for Lake Como it really depends on the time of year. 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. 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. Just one thing to consider. 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. You cant take a romantic trip to Italy without enjoying the swoon-worthy, picturesque atmosphere of Venice. The trick is to stay at least one night, if not two,on the main island itself. Itinerary tips and tricks, Affordable safaris in Kenya & Tanzania: Tips from a pro. featuring the one Michelin starred Restaurant Le Saint-Martin. Italian Riviera 2 nights. Milan is bustling, crowded, the energy is always high. Having said that, it may happen that there are certain establishments beingon my wish list a long time. Days 7 8: Glacier Express and St Moritz, Switzerland. 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. Find here my Google Map of our journey. Venice is also quite compact so seeing the main highlights in 24 hours isnt difficult. So in a way its a bit like visiting a theme park, and four nights is a long time in a theme park. I will go into it in more length at a later point of time (what to do in Orta San Giulio). 11 days itinerary for Southern France and Italy - Sherbakes Lake Como is a must stop also for mountain lovers: the peaks soaring above the lake are breathtaking. In reality, any daytime visitor who uses the typical precautions will be fine. I would actually recommend the slower pace to most people on their first trip because travel days (checking out of a hotel in one city and into a hotel in the next city) are rarely good sightseeing days and they can be a bit stressful, so minimizing them is good in some cases. 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. havent decided. Im going to re-think the middle portion of this trip. Second, I became aware of a hotel with restaurant here on our Turin journey in 2019. The drive across the Alps via the Col de Larche/Colle della Maddalena is pretty, unless you're the sort of person who gets very annoyed if stuck behind trucks for long periods, while the drive along the Riviera coast offers good sea views from many high viaducts once you're past Menton. There isnt much else to see in Pisa. Something like this might be better for a second or third trip to France unless youve got weeks to spend here. After crossing the boarder between Italy and France, we arrived on the famous Cte dAzur, also called French Riviera. Night 12 - Hotel at Paris CDG airport. Arrive on an empty stomach! The Tuscany of northern Italy? Do you think 2 weeks will be sufficient enoug? This epic northern Italy itinerary begins in Valle DAosta, the smallest and most underrated of the regions. My experience in Italy is that some people with limited English speak good French, so you might be able to use your French there. I have been to Ba If you can afford another 3-4 days, then the plan looks much more sensible. This is our second trip. As for other places in December, Nice is about as good as it gets, although itll be fairly quiet as well. Here are the most romantic places in northern Italy: Portovenere is an underrated, hidden gem on the coast of Liguria. There will definitely be champagne tastings (obviously meant for tourists) in Paris on any given day, but you could also visit the nearby town of Reims, which is the main tourist center of the Champagne region. Milanis famous, though that alone is not enough of a reason to stop there. But if the price is better in Rome, you could always take a train to a major northern Italian city or find a cheap flight with RyanAir, for example. We chose to take on Its a really nice uncrowded town with an amazing location. Train to Nice 2/3 nights Thanks sooo much for the above itinerary you have created! But for a quick trip where you are trying to include as much as possible, Pisa is best for a day trip. -Roger. Hello again! This means if you make a purchase through that link, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Here youll find two specialties: polenta and pizzoccheri. 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. On our way home, we made a stop south of Lyon (Vienne), too. Quite the contrary, it makes part of the Italian lake region. In other words, you can spend a whole day on Capri and then have many other options on other days. So one option could be to leave Italy for another trip to be able to give it the time it deserves. This is not our first trip to Europe. And this time, you encounter here the gentle hills full of vineyards. No one regrets their first visit to Rome, but many swear that itll also be their last. Ill be recommending the stops on the itineraries in a certain order, but not necessarily saying you should be spending one day here and two days there. Italy does not have a national bus line, so most buses are only regional or city. We returned the rental car on arrival and walked to our accommodation which was very close by. 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. 7 days in Italy Option 1: the Northern Italy itinerary bucket list destinations First stop: 2 nights in Venice. In fact, Avignon is the beginning of the famous Ctes du Rhone wine road, which connects a series of hill towns with amazing scenery and of course wine tasting. After heading to the sea, return to the mountains around the area of Bergamo. Hit the 5 major areas on everyones northern Italy bucket list. It belongs to the I Borghi pi belli dItalia (the most beautiful villages in Italy). I have done it plenty of times for both personal and business trips. WebFrance is so treasure-filled that you could barely do more than skim the surface in a week. Renting a car in Italy is the most flexible yet most expensive option for traveling around northern Italy. -Roger, Hi Roger. 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. You could engage in sports or you could visit to admire the views and the alpine culture! 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. And Nice has great museums and food as well. 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. :Here are the best first-time Italy itineraries for 3 days to two weeks. If its your first stop you should add at least one extra day to help deal with jet lag, but you should plan on staying as long as possible because the French capital is one of the worlds great (and most beautiful) cities by any definition. Nights 1,2,3 in Rognonas at Mas Saint Antoine: Here, we visited the town of Rousillon where we walked on the ochre trail, had gelato, wandered and explored the streets, and had delicious pizza at a local place with a patio overlooking nature. To reachSorrentoyoull take a train to Naples and then change for a one-hour local train (known as the Circumvesuviana) to its final stop. In the time to come, you will find reviews of the luxury hotels we stayed and the Michelin (starred) restaurants we dined. A view of the village of Manarola from the Cinque Terre hiking trail First, it is close to Switzerland near the Lake Maggiore. Venice 2 Nights. Not only on this thread, but also having read so many other conversations on this forum, I came across many helpful tips. Then off to the Riveria - perhaps 2 days in St Tropez, and 4 days in the Nice area. 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! Were hoping to stay very near to the Eiffel Tower. While in Paris we will stay 4-5 nightswhat are your thoughts on an airbnb vs a hotel? As to that, learn about things to do in the area in my blogpost to follow.
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