There’s no denying that Italy is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. It’s a perfect destination to explore by car, especially iconic places like Tuscany, Campania, and the Italian lakes, the latter being the focus of my one-week north Italy road trip itinerary.
Visiting this area is one of the best things to do in Italy for travelers who love charming small towns, picturesque views, excellent Italian drinks and food, and scenic hiking trails.
To help you make the most of Lake Garda, Lake Como, Lake Maggiore, and Lake Orta in just 7 days, here’s my full itinerary.
*This post may contain affiliate links from which I earn a commission (for more info, read my disclosure). As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may show pop-ups.
*I try to keep the information on this blog as updated as possible, but I still recommend consulting the latest prices, opening hours, and other details on the official website of each site, hotel, and tour, as well as checking the updated public transport routes and timetables.
North Italy Road Trip Itinerary Summary and Map
Here’s a quick summary of my road trip (fly to and back from Milan, and pick up and return the car at the airport):
Click here to access the My Maps interactive map of this road trip.
Suggested hotel: 3 nights at Casa L’Andrunèl in Limone sul Garda, Lake Garda.
Half day 1 – Lake Garda: Tremosine sul Garda + Limone sul Garda.
Day 2 – Lake Garda: Bardolino + Borghetto sul Mincio + Peschiera del Garda.
Day 3 – Lake Garda: Tenno + Riva del Garda + Malcesine.
Day 4 – Lake Garda: Sirmione.
Suggested hotel: One night at Appartamenti 1 near Varenna, one of the most beautiful towns of Lake Como.
Day 5 – Lake Como: Varenna and Bellagio
Suggested hotel: 2 nights at Da Meggy in Stresa, Lake Maggiore.
Day 6 – Lake Maggiore: Stresa and the Borromean Islands.
Day 7 – Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta: Cannobio and Orta San Giulio + flight back from Milan.
If you have one more day, want to spend the night in Orta San Giulio, and don’t mind splurging, you can stay at the highly-rated Villa Crespi, a 19th-century villa turned into a 5-star hotel and restaurant.
Optional Changes
If you want to change this itinerary a bit and visit some more places in northern Italy (while still basing yourself on the lakes and without driving), here are a few highly-rated day trips you might find interesting:
- To see the best of Venice in one day, take a full-day tour from Lake Garda to Venice
- A full-day tour from Lake Garda to the Dolomites, the perfect area for nature lovers
Day 1 – Getting to Lake Garda
We picked up our car at Milan’s airport and hit the road at about 4:00 PM. We had landed three hours before, but the lines at the passport control and the car rental company were crazy, so our first day was only a half-day.
Getting to Lake Garda from Milan took us about two hours, but the road got strikingly beautiful very quickly.
Where to Stay
Our accommodation was actually in the town of Tremosine Sul Garda, located on the western side of the lake (which is also home to one of the best motorcycling roads in Europe – Strada Della Forra). But if possible, I suggest finding a place to stay in Limone sul Garda, which has a much more convenient location.
A highly-rated B&B in Limone sul Garda is Casa L’Andrunèl, housed in a historical building and offering spacious rooms, suites, and apartments for 2-4 people, an on-site restaurant, and free parking.
Limone Sul Garda
I would have liked to see more of Limone Sul Garda in the daylight, but even when it got darker, it still looked like a postcard.
We took advantage of what was left of our day and spent some time eating dinner and strolling around town.
Day 2 – Southern Lake Garda
Bardolino
Bardolino is one of the sweetest towns on Lake Garda, located on its southeastern shore.
Apart from its colorful streets, it is famous for its Thursday open-air market stretching along the promenade. Amongst the different stalls, you can find local food and wines, souvenirs, and clothing.
For more info on other markets around Lake Garda, read here.
The area of Bardolino is also famous for its wines, so you can book a wine tour and tasting at a local cellar.
Borghetto
Since Borghetto sits on the River Mincio (only a few km away from Lake Garda but not on the lake itself), it remains an underrated village that many travelers skip out on, and that’s why I loved this place.
It is a small village, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in beauty. With ancient watermills, a medieval bridge, colorful houses, and the river passing through it, the charming Borghetto is well worth a visit.
If you’re looking for the best food in Italy, it’s also a fantastic place to devour local tortellini called Nodo d’Amore (translated to ‘Love Knot’ and connected to a legend about an impossible love story).
Peschiera Del Garda
At first sight, Peschiera del Garda might seem similar to other Italian towns in this area, but it has great historical importance.
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its impressive defense walls and fortress are well-preserved works of the Venetian Republic, making you feel like stepping back in time.
After spending some time exploring this town, we had the most amazing gelato at La Gelateria HomeMade (Via Rocca, 4). I recommend trying the Nutella-flavored gelato as it was heavenly!
Day 3 – Northern Lake Garda
Lake Tenno
I am obsessed with lakes, lagoons, seas, and oceans with dreamy colors. Luckily, not too far from the north shore of Lake Garda, hides this magical turquoise gem.
To thoroughly enjoy it, try to visit Tenno in the morning for the best weather and before the crowds arrive.
Borgo Medievale DI Canale DI Tenno and Castello DI Tenno
If you’re looking for hidden gems in Italy and you love medieval villages as much as I do, then Borgo Medievale di Canale di Tenno will steal your heart!
Only a few km away from Lake Tenno, you’ll find cobbled alleys, stone houses, and archways that will take you back in time. It also houses a museum dedicated to the painter Giacomo Vittone who fell in love with this adorable hamlet and included it in some of his artworks.
Make another stop at Castello di Tenno (right next to the hotel and restaurant Antica Croce), a castle that hides a few more charming medieval alleys behind it.
I have to say that as tiny as these places are, they are seriously some of the most enchanting spots I’ve ever had the pleasure to visit. Not too far from there, you can also visit the Varone Waterfall.
Riva Del Garda
Riva del Garda is famous for being a perfect spot to enjoy all sorts of water sports, but it is also great for a casual stroll, so visiting it is definitely one of the best things to do in Trentino, one of the two provinces of the Trentino-Alto Adige region.
It has a few historical points of interest like Torre Apponale and Porta di San Michele, incredible views, and a vibrant yet laid-back atmosphere.
Malcesine
Of all the towns on Lake Garda, Malcesine has to be my favorite one. Of course, they are all colorful and beautiful, but Malcesine is off the charts!
You’ll inevitably fall in love with its port and maze of colorful narrow cobbled streets filled with restaurants, cafes, and shops.
Go souvenir shopping, grab a cup of coffee, or eat some gelato, and wander around to enjoy a pleasant afternoon in this magnificent place.
Day 4 – Lake Garda’s Pearl
Sirmione
1 week in northern Italy would not be complete without visiting Sirmione, one of the main reasons why Garda is one of the best lakes to visit in Italy.
Besides being a famous resort town and home to some of Lake Garda’s best thermal baths and water sports facilities, it’s full of enchanting alleys and stunning views and has a rich history.
It is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful places to visit in northern Italy, especially in the region of Lombardy. You might have already seen the photos of the Scaligera Fortress and the views seen from it.
The fortress that dates back to the 13th century; the Grottoes of Catullus, the remains of an ancient Roman villa; the old churches; all these landmarks prove that Sirmione is more than just another pretty town and why it’s called ‘the pearl of Lake Garda.’
Bonus tip: Challenge yourself, and try to pick a few gelato flavors out of 120 at Gelateria Mirkoz (Via Vittorio Emanuele, 26).
In Sirmione, you can also take a sunset boat tour (with wine).
Optional: IL Leone Shopping Center
Before continuing to our next accommodation on Lake Como, we made a stop at Il Leone Shopping Center, where we had some shopping time and a quick meal. I dedicated one day to Lake Como, but you can spend 1-2 extra days there.
Day 5 – Lake Como
Where to Stay
You’ll find plenty of amazing places to stay in Lake Como, but it’s important to choose the right town for you.
We stayed at a bed & breakfast in a village called Dorio (which was very close to the famous and popular town of Varenna), but unfortunately, it is not available at the moment.
A highly-rated alternative is Appartamenti 1 in Dervio, also near Varenna, a spacious fully-equipped apartment suitable for up to 6 people.
Varenna
Being one of the most picturesque towns on Lake Como, Varenna is more than worth the visit.
I recommend getting here early in the morning before the crowds arrive. You’ll have Varenna all to yourself, and you’ll be able to explore and photograph it quietly and without interruptions.
Some of the best things to do in Varenna include walking freely through its picture-perfect alleys, visiting Villa Monastero and the nearby Castello di Vezio, and strolling along the promenade known as the Lovers’ Walk.
Extra tip: You can also hire a boat on Lake Como (in Varenna for example) if you want to see more of the lake without driving around it.
Bellagio
Being a popular tourist town and famous for its villas overlooking the lake, Bellagio has both a luxurious and cozy atmosphere. This bustling small town offers countless cafes, restaurants, and shops, flower-adorned alleyways, and perfect lake views.
Lake Como in its entirety is known for its villas, some of which can be partially visited (usually only the gardens) like the nearby Villa Melzi while others turned into hotels or event venues. We spent our afternoon and evening sitting on the waterfront and exploring its streets.
To finish off our visit to Bellagio, we had a great dinner at the rooftop restaurant Bilacus (
From there, we continued our journey to our accommodation near Stresa on Lake Maggiore, which is not only a part of Italy – it’s also one of the best lakes to visit in Switzerland.
Day 6 – Lake Maggiore
Where to Stay
We stayed at an apartment in Stresa, but apart from the incredible lake views, our stay could have been much better.
Stresa itself is still a good place to find accommodation on Lake Maggiore, so a highly-rated super central option to consider is the apartment of Da Meggy.
THE BORROMEAN ISLANDS – ISOLA BELLA, ISOLA MADRE, AND ISOLA DEI PESCATORI
The Borromean Islands are a must-visit when you only have 7 days in northern Italy. They are a group of islands and islets near the town of Stresa. Their name comes from the Borromeo family, who started owning them in the 16th century.
The islands that are open for visits are:
Isola Bella
Once a deserted piece of rock, Isola Bella has become home to a luxury Baroque summer palace and impressive wide gardens where you’ll also see some white peacocks wandering around.
Touring the palace and gardens, along with the surrounding lake views, provided some enchanting and memorable moments.
Isola Madre
This is the largest of the islands and is also known for its palace and gardens which date back to the 16th-19th centuries.
After paying for the entrance to the palace and gardens on Isola Bella which were magnificent, we decided not to spend money to enter the gardens at Isola Madre, so our stop there was unnecessary.
Isola Dei Pescatori (Or Isola Superiore)
As tiny as this island is, it houses quite a few hotels, shops, and restaurants. It is charming and picturesque and makes a nice extra stop.
Getting there: The access to the islands is by ferry/boat. You can either book a hop-on hop-off boat tour (that doesn’t include tickets to the palaces) or purchase ferry/boat tickets directly at Stresa’s ferry terminal (like I did).
Palace tickets: Get them at the ticket offices on the islands or in advance online (recommended). Note that you can purchase a combo ticket that includes both Isola Bella and Isola Madre.
Visiting season: The islands are open to the public from March to October. You don’t have to visit all three islands, and you can buy tickets according to your preferences.
Stresa
After a long day of island hopping, we spent a couple of hours walking the beautiful streets of Stresa’s city center.
Like all towns in the Italian lake district, Stresa also flaunts its cobbled streets, cute shops, and little cafes and restaurants. However, each town has its unique flavor and rhythm.
Not too far from Stresa, you can also visit the gorgeous Botanical Gardens of Villa Taranto, which are open to the public from mid-March to October.
Day 7 – Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta
We had some spare time, so we decided to visit two unique places before heading back to Milan to return the car.
Cannobio
Cannobio sits on Lake Maggiore in the Piedmont region, quite close to Italy’s border with Switzerland. After wandering a bit through its streets, we walked along the colorful promenade, enjoying both the breeze and the views around us.
Bonus tip: Stop at Pasticceria Castello (Via Francesco Magistris, 30) for the perfect little tiramisu (and other delicious Italian desserts)!
Orta San Giulio
Sitting on Lake Orta, Orta San Giulio is a small medieval town you do not want to miss in the region of Piedmont and a northern Italian hidden gem. Besides its undeniable beauty, it has a relaxed and authentic vibe that will make you want to stay forever.
It also overlooks the Island of San Giulio, a cute little island whose main attraction is the Basilica di San Giulio. We have not visited the island, but it is accessible by boat.
Northern Italy Road Trip Itinerary – General Tips and Notes
Car Hire
We found a great one-week deal on Avis, but I always start by comparing multiple car rental companies’ prices on RentalCars.
I’ve planned a circular road trip from Milan, so the starting point was the city’s airport. As for picking up the car, you need patience. The guys working in those car rental companies (not only in Avis) can drive you nuts sometimes.
They work slowly and try to find problems instead of making this process easy for you, and it can be frustrating, so patience is key. On the other hand, returning the car went smoothly. Also, be sure to bring your driving license as well as an international driving permit.
Tip #1: Many car rental companies offer deals on one-week bookings, so sometimes it’s cheaper to have a car for 7 days instead of 6 (and even one hour beyond the six days counts as the seventh day).
Tip #2: If possible, go for a small car because you’ll be driving through the lakes’ narrow roads.
Driving in Northern Italy
In addition to figuring out how to plan a road trip in this area, I know that driving in Italy can seem intimidating (thanks to the stereotype of crazy Italian drivers, which is sometimes true, especially in the south), but driving in northern Italy was actually okay for me.
On highways, they just go faster than you, and on the winding roads of the lakes, they usually honk to let you know that they’re about to pass you.
As long as you’re in the right lane, it really is fine (though you should always be extra cautious when driving in a foreign country).
When to Visit
To enjoy the lakes without the crowds and have the most amazing weather, plan your trip in late spring or early fall. Note that many attractions (like villas) only operate from March or April to October.
If it’s not raining, this area can be one of the best places to visit in October in northern Italy. That said, the lakes are also a popular Christmas destination.
Other Things to Know
Parking (that doesn’t belong to your accommodation) is never free, so one of my biggest Italy travel tips would be to make sure you have spare change for the parking meters. You should also have some for toll roads.
This northern Italy itinerary also takes into consideration driving times; since the lakes are big and the roads are winding, moving between towns takes some time.
Related Posts
Read more about Italy:
- Best road trips in Italy
- Gifts for Italy lovers
- Italy travel quotes
- Romantic novels set in Italy
- Famous piazzas in Italy
- Places to visit in Italy in winter
Read more about northern Italy:
- Is Turin worth visiting?
- Best things to do in Turin
- A weekend in Turin
- Turin chocolate guide
- Cafes in Turin
- Tips for traveling to Turin
- Where to stay in Turin
- Turin in winter
- Hidden gems in Turin
- Things to do in Vicenza
- 4 days in Milan
- Things to do in Milan in the rain
- Non touristy things to do in Milan
- Day trips from Milan in winter
- Things to do in Milan in December
- Milan or Turin
- Places to visit in Aosta Valley
- Best places to stay in Aosta Valley
- Is Aosta worth visiting
- Northwest Italy road trip itinerary
- Places to visit in Northern Italy in winter
You might also want to read:
- Best road trips in Spain
- Andalusia road trip
- Northern Spain road trip
- Kefalonia road trip
- Best road trips in Portugal
- Lisbon to Porto road trip
- Northern Portugal road trip
If you prefer to avoid driving, here’s how to plan an Italy itinerary using only public transportation!
Thank you so much for sharing this detailed and wonderful itinerary! Your tips and recommendations are incredibly helpful, especially for anyone planning a trip to the Italian Lakes. I love how you highlighted the hidden gems like Borghetto sul Mincio and Lake Tenno. This post has truly inspired me to explore these beautiful areas and experience the charm of Northern Italy.
Amazing! Thank you for the sweet words and it’s great that you found this helpful
Can you elaborate on exactly WHY you chose this itinerary? You have a very curious weighting of spending most of your time on Lake Garda, (the “middle” lake), then heading East to Lake Como but only for 1 day, then backtracking past Lake Garda to Maggiore.. I found this very confusing – why would you not just start on either Como or Maggiore and just head in one direction?? Also, why most of the time around Garda, and little at Como? You didn’t explain any of this above.
Thanks!
Hey David,
I’m not sure why you’re calling Garda the “middle” lake because you can see in the map that the lakes from east to west are Garda, Como, and Maggiore (and Orta), so Como is the “middle” lake and I was headed in just one direction. Garda is also the largest lake and there were a lot of towns I wanted to visit, so I needed 3-4 days. That said, I didn’t want to spend the entire week in Garda, so I chose to spend a bit of time in Como and Maggiore and see their highlights. I hope I answered your questions.
Planning a trip for my husbands 50th this year. Your blog has been incredibly helpful.
Thank you, Heidi! I’m so happy I could help 🙂
Excellent post. I was checking continuously this blog and I am impressed! Very helpful info specifically the last part. I care for such info much.
Thank you, Ezekiel!
Fantastic suggestions – thank YOU! We’ll be going in September after a trip in the Mont Blanc area. So, great tips:))
Thank you, Jeannette! I hope you have a fun & safe trip 🙂
HI, we are planning a trip next year and are looking at our options. We were thinking of doing a week in northern italy so your article is helpful thank you. We are also looking for a similar style itinerary for florence, venice and rome – do you have any any recommendations?
Hi Merrilyn 🙂 I’m happy this post is helpful 🙂
I’ve taken a 5-day road trip through Tuscany with 4 more days in Rome, but it was a while ago so I don’t know how relevant my tips are. Besides Florence, I loved Greve, Pisa, Lucca, San Gimignano, Siena, Pitigliano, and the hot springs of Saturnia (which are free to visit!). Personally, Rome was just OK for me so 3 days might be enough.
Hi,
One question. There are public beaches were you can swim after you walk around?
Hi Trinidad!
Yes, many towns on all three lakes have public beaches (including some of the towns I’ve mentioned like Sirmione and Riva del Garda). As you drive around, you’ll also see a lot of places along the way where you can just stop the car and get in the water. Let me know if you have more questions 🙂
Italy is such a beautiful country. I went there a couple times and there’s so much to see and do! Love the Lake Garda area. Your pictures are beautiful!
Thank you! I could never get enough of Italy 🙂