I was born in the north of Italy , under the shadow of the Alps, surrounded by hills and stone villages. That's what it's like to be from Friuli Venezia Giulia :-p And yes, I'm lucky enough to have visited and walked around that part of the Belpaese quite well. So you wouldn't believe how hard it was for me to choose what, for me, are the best places to visit in the north of Italy :-p
Buuuut we finally have seats! 10 to be exact. Although I swear to God thatI will never go hungry againIt could have been 20, 50, 100 or even billion . Come on, there is no shortage of nice things in Italy (except for Berlusconi's face, may he rest in peace).
If you are planning a trip here, first of all: welcome! And second: we have excellent news, because we are going to tell you which are the 10 places you absolutely must visit in northern Italy , the most beautiful places that you should see at least once in your life. Ready? Andiamoooo!
1. Venice
There may be a billion Venices spread around the world (the Venice of the North, the Venice of Portugal, etc.) but there is none like Italy! It is the most romantic city in the whole country, and we Italians are extremely lucky to be able to enjoy it. We have walked through its streets between canals countless times, but each time, Venice surprises us and we like it more.
Getting to know the little corners of the Jewish quarter, crossing the Rialto Bridge, having a spritz and a sandwich at our favourite bacaro , going to Piazza San Marco and coming across one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world or strolling through the colourful streets of the island of Burano are some of the plans that Venice has to offer. So if you travel to the north of Italy… make a note of this curious island-city as a must-see.
→ Venice travel guide, all the information you need
2. Milan
Those who dare to go around saying that Milan is not cool, either have never been to Milan in their life or have simply arrived at the central station, visited the Duomo and left again. I must confess, I was one of those people… The first time I went to Milan, it seemed like a grey, industrial city with little to offer beyond the Duomo and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele.
Big mistake! Milan is a cosmopolitan city , intense, lively, with a cultural side that many destinations should envy. Elegant, but with alternative areas, chic, but with a mischievous side. If you give it a chance, we are sure that you will NEVER say that Milan is not cool 😉
→ Milan travel guide, all the information you need
3. Lake Como
Unlike Milan, Lake Como has very good marketing. And we are not surprised at all: it is one of those places that sells itself, but even so, celebrities from all over the world decided to buy mansions here and enjoy one of the most beautiful corners of northern Italy. There must be a reason for that…
The ideal thing is to rent a car and stay overnight at least one night in a little house on the shores of the lake. As a weekend plan, it doesn't sound bad, right?
→ Travel guide to Lake Como
4. Cinque Terre
A few years ago, very few tourists knew about these five colorful little villages perched on the Tyrrhenian Sea . Then Instagram came along and Cinque Terre became more popular than Pizza Margherita. Why are we telling you this? Mostly so that you avoid visiting Cinque Terre in the middle of summer.
If you can't choose a date, even at the risk of being surrounded by hordes of tourists (of which, obviously, you are and we are part), it is worth stopping by Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare.
Come on, don't forget to stop by here... Cinque Terre is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places to visit in northern Italy 🙂
→ Tips for traveling to Cinque Terre
5. Padua
We have a soft spot for Padua and we met there ! I had been studying for a couple of years in this Venetian city when Rober showed up there on Erasmus. So it was the scene of our love XD
Beyond personal and romantic motivations, Padua is undoubtedly one of the most attractive cities in northern Italy. Not only for its cultural heritage, but for its long history and its contribution to universal knowledge (at its university , the second oldest in Italy, Galileo and Copernicus studied, among other things). Some of the things that await you here are Prato della Valle (one of the largest squares in Europe), the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua, Piazza delle Erbe or the frescoes by Giotto in the Chapel of the Scrovegni.
→ Everything to see and do in Padua
6. Bologna
But if we talk about universities, we cannot forget the University of Bologna , founded almost 1,000 years ago and considered the oldest in the world . However, Bologna is not only one of the most lively and interesting university cities in Italy, but it also has a beautiful historic centre full of attractions, such as Piazza Maggiore or the Torre degli Asinelli.
Extra point: if you have a good appetite, you can eat a lot and well here . Oh, those delicious tortellini and those tagliatelle with ragout, what a mother of God could eat 62 kilos without any problem, without fear, without guilt, without shame. Well, maybe a little shame, yes.
→ Everything to see and do in Bologna
7. Verona
It is popularly known as the city of Romeo and Juliet , but also for its “Arena”, one of the most beautiful and best preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world. The Adige River caresses Verona with respect and affection, and the cobbled streets that surround it form a small but very charming historic center, where walking is a delight. Not to mention the panoramic views from Castel San Pietro!
And here too, the restaurant tables are always ready to welcome locals and tourists and spoil them with some typical Venetian cuisine.
→ Everything to see and do in Verona
8. Dolomites
The same thing happened with the Italian Dolomites as with Cinque Terre: a few years ago only mountaineers and trekking enthusiasts came here, but today it is literally overrun by thousands of travellers. Hey, anything to get a good breath of fresh air! The bad thing? The crowds. The good thing? Mass tourism is concentrated in the same places, so there are many others that you can enjoy alone (or almost) if that is what you want.
This imposing mountain range , which is part of the Eastern Alps , hides much more than peaks and valleys. Some of the most popular stops here are Lake Braies, the Three Peaks of Lavaredo, the city of Bolzano, the Alpe de Siusi plateau or Lake Carezza… But the best advice is to take your time: a week (or even better 10 days) is perfect to discover the true soul of this incredible place in northern Italy. And yes, without a doubt it is another place to visit in northern Italy without a doubt.
→ The best tips for travelling to the Dolomites on your own
9. Bergamo
Bergamo was a real surprise for us: we had been there several times (you can imagine the reason: Ryanair ) but we always underestimated it. Until we gave it a chance, and Bergamo turned out to be an immense gem . If you decide to visit it, you will see one of the most beautiful medieval squares in Italy, you will take a funicular that connects the old city at the top with the new city, or you will be able to try a stracciatella ice cream in the place where it was invented.
Also, one of our best friends lives here, and of course, pizza was guaranteed 😛
→ Everything to see and do in Bergamo
10. Turin
It is, with Milan's permission, the most elegant city in Italy , although in some ways it may be too "ladylike". But don't expect a boring place: Turin has an ace up its sleeve for every occasion. The Mole Antonelliana is, without a doubt, its great pride. Symbol, emblem and heart of Turin. Then there is the Egyptian Museum (only the one in Cairo has more archaeological remains), the squares, the basilicas and, of course, the FIAT.
Because if the Mole is the soul of Turin, the FIAT is its heart, its engine. And well, it may not be the Ferrari but you only have to go around Italy to understand that for us FIAT is like Barilla: a safe bet 🙂
→ Everything to see and do in Turin
We have left out of our list some beautiful and interesting cities such as Treviso , Mantua or our beloved Trieste . But you have to start somewhere, and the places we recommend may fit in with the best places to visit in northern Italy .
Do you want to visit the centre and the south? No wonder: all of Italy deserves one, ten, a thousand trips 😉 and don't worry, we'll tell you about the rest of the country soon. Have we forgotten any places to visit in the north of Italy? We're sure we have :-p Don't get mad and tell us about it...
