Northern Italy is a region of extraordinary variety — a place where fashion capitals and Renaissance cities sit alongside glacier-fed lakes of almost impossible beauty, where Swiss mountain railways descend into vineyard-covered valleys, and where a river cruise through the Veneto countryside delivers you into the heart of one of the world's most magical cities. It is a part of the country that rewards travellers who venture beyond Rome and the south, offering a depth and diversity of experience that can fill many visits without ever feeling exhausted. Our range of packages covers the full breadth of this remarkable region, from the design houses and galleries of Milan and the shimmering shores of Lakes Como, Garda, and Maggiore to the Roman amphitheatre of Verona, the frescoed chapels of Padua, the clifftop villages of the Cinque Terre, and the glamorous mountain resort of St. Moritz — with flights from Canada, hotel accommodation, and in many cases train tickets and select meals included throughout.

The Destinations

Milan is the natural gateway to northern Italy and a destination of genuine substance in its own right. Italy's most cosmopolitan city is the global capital of fashion and design, home to some of the finest shopping in Europe, a world-class contemporary art scene, and one of the greatest paintings ever created — Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper, which requires advance booking and rewards every effort to see it. The magnificent Gothic Duomo, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the Brera art gallery, and the legendary La Scala opera house are among the essential stops, but Milan also has a neighbourhood character that reveals itself slowly — the Navigli canal district with its bars and vintage markets, the Isola neighbourhood with its street art and independent restaurants, and the quiet courtyards behind grand Renaissance facades that you stumble upon by accident and never forget. Several of our packages use Milan as a base for excursions across the lakes and into the surrounding region, making it both a destination and a starting point.

Lake Como is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, full stop. Its deep, glacier-carved waters reflect the mountains above, and the shores are lined with some of the most celebrated villas and gardens in Italy — the Villa del Balbianello, the Villa Carlotta, and the Villa d'Este among them. The town of Como at the southern end of the lake is elegant and historic, while Bellagio, perched on the headland where the lake divides into its two branches, is widely considered the most beautiful lakeside village in Europe. A boat trip between the towns and villas of the lake is one of those travel experiences that stays with you indefinitely.

Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy, stretches from the plains of the Veneto in the south to the dramatic mountain scenery of Trentino in the north and has a character quite distinct from Como — wider, more varied, and with a different atmosphere in each of its towns. Sirmione, on a narrow peninsula jutting into the southern lake, is one of the most romantic and historically layered small towns in the country, with Roman ruins, a medieval castle rising from the water, and thermal springs. The northern lake, around Riva del Garda and Torbole, has an almost Alpine character with strong winds that make it a world-class destination for sailing and windsurfing. The towns of the western shore — Gardone Riviera, Salò, and Limone — are gentler and more classically Mediterranean in feel.

Lake Maggiore straddles the border between northern Italy and Switzerland and has a grandeur and a slightly more aristocratic character than the other lakes. The Borromean Islands — Isola Bella, Isola Madre, and the fishing village of Isola dei Pescatori — are among the most visited attractions in northern Italy, and the baroque palazzo and terraced gardens of Isola Bella are spectacular. The town of Stresa on the western shore is the classic base for exploring the lake and the surrounding region, and its belle époque hotels and lakefront promenade have a timeless elegance.

Verona is one of the most beautiful cities in northern Italy and deserves more than a quick visit. Its perfectly preserved Roman amphitheatre, the Arena di Verona, is one of the largest and best-maintained in the world and hosts a celebrated summer opera festival. The medieval centre — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — is full of extraordinary architecture, including the Piazza delle Erbe, the Castelvecchio, and the Romanesque churches of Sant'Anastasia and San Zeno Maggiore. The city is famously associated with Romeo and Juliet, which adds a layer of romantic mythology to an already deeply atmospheric place.

Venice needs little introduction, but arriving by river cruise from the Veneto mainland — gliding through the waterways of the lagoon as the city's domes and campaniles rise from the water ahead of you — is one of the most memorable ways to arrive anywhere in the world. Several of our northern Italy packages include Venice as a highlight destination, either as part of a broader Veneto exploration or as the dramatic conclusion to a river cruise from Padua. The city's extraordinary concentration of art, architecture, and atmosphere makes it an essential component of any northern Italy journey.

Padua, just thirty minutes from Venice by train, is one of those Italian cities that visitors sometimes overlook in the rush to reach its famous neighbour, which is a genuine shame. The Scrovegni Chapel, whose ceiling and walls are covered entirely in Giotto's extraordinary frescoes, is one of the greatest works of art in Europe and an experience that moves virtually everyone who sees it. The city's historic arcaded streets, its vast medieval Prato della Valle — one of the largest squares in Europe — its ancient university, and its magnificent Basilica of Sant'Antonio make it a destination of real substance.

The Veneto countryside between Padua and Venice passes through some of the most quietly beautiful landscape in northern Italy — the walled medieval town of Castelfranco Veneto, birthplace of the Renaissance painter Giorgione, and the town of Bassano del Grappa, known for its famous covered bridge, its grappa distilleries, and its position at the foot of the mountains. Our river cruise package moves through this landscape by boat, which gives it a wholly different and deeply memorable quality.

The Cinque Terre, five clifftop fishing villages on the Ligurian coast linked by spectacular hiking trails and accessible by train, are among the most visited and most photographed places in Italy — and they earn every superbity. Vernazza, Manarola, Riomaggiore, Corniglia, and Monterosso each have their own character, and the trails between them offer views over the Ligurian Sea that rank among the finest coastal scenery in Europe. The nearby towns of Santa Margherita and Portofino — the latter one of the most glamorous and picturesque small harbours in the Mediterranean — round out what is an exceptionally beautiful stretch of coastline.

Bergamo, set dramatically on a hilltop above the Lombardy plain, is one of the great undiscovered cities of northern Italy. Its upper town, the Città Alta, is encircled by magnificent Venetian walls — themselves a UNESCO World Heritage Site — and contains some of the finest medieval and Renaissance architecture in the region. It is also an exceptional place to eat and drink, with a strong tradition of Lombard cuisine and some excellent local wines. Several of our packages include Bergamo as part of a broader northern Italy itinerary, and it consistently surprises visitors who have not known quite what to expect.

St. Moritz and the Bernina Express represent the Swiss dimension of several of our packages, and they are among the most spectacular travel experiences in the Alps. The Bernina Express is one of the great scenic train journeys of the world, crossing the Alps from the Italian lakes through the high mountain passes of the Engadine to the resort town of St. Moritz. The scenery — glaciers, mountain lakes, viaducts crossing deep gorges — is extraordinary, and the journey itself is as much the destination as the towns at either end. St. Moritz, with its combination of world-class skiing, luxury hotels, and mountain scenery, adds a glamorous and distinctly different chapter to what is already a varied northern Italy journey.

Sabbioneta, a small Renaissance town in the Po Valley between Mantua and Parma, is one of the most remarkable and least-visited UNESCO World Heritage Sites in northern Italy. Built in the 16th century as an ideal Renaissance city by Vespasiano Gonzaga, it remains largely unchanged and retains an extraordinary atmosphere — a perfectly proportioned grid of streets, a ducal palace, a theatre, and city walls that feel like a stage set for a Renaissance drama. Combined with Mantua, one of the most beautiful cities in the Po Valley, it forms a deeply rewarding cultural itinerary for travellers who want to see a side of northern Italy that few visitors reach.

The Packages

For those drawn to the lakes and design culture of Lombardy, the Milan and Northern Italian Lakes package offers seven nights based in Milan with excursions to Como, Bellagio, Verona, Sirmione, and the Swiss Alps — an ideal introduction to the region's most celebrated destinations. The Northern Italy and Bernina Express and Northern Italy's Charm packages build on this foundation, adding a scenic Lake Como cruise, wine tastings in Bergamo, and the legendary Bernina Red Train journey to St. Moritz for a journey that combines Italian elegance with Alpine grandeur.

For those drawn to history and the arts, Lake Como and the Pearls of the Po Valley covers nine days by train through Milan, Mantua, Lake Como, and the extraordinary Renaissance town of Sabbioneta — a journey that reveals a quieter, less-visited side of northern Italy that is deeply rewarding. Milan, Padua, River Cruise to Venice takes a different approach, moving through the Veneto by train and boat, visiting Padua's Giotto frescoes, the medieval towns of Castelfranco and Bassano del Grappa, and arriving in Venice by river cruise.

For the lakes and cities of the Veneto and beyond, Lake Garda, Venice and Verona brings together three of the most iconic destinations in the north — the natural beauty of Lake Garda, the Roman romance of Verona, and the extraordinary art and architecture of Venice — in a single guided journey through the heart of the region.

For those who want to combine the Italian lakes with the drama of the Ligurian coast, Northern Italy: Stresa and the Italian Riviera uses the elegant lakeside town of Stresa on Lake Maggiore as a base for day trips to Santa Margherita, Portofino, the Cinque Terre, and the lake itself — a wonderfully varied itinerary that covers some of the most spectacular scenery in northern Italy.

Getting Around

Travel between destinations in northern Italy is seamlessly handled across our packages, with train journeys, boat cruises, and in some cases the iconic Bernina Express all included as part of the experience. Italy's intercity rail network is excellent, and travelling by train through the northern lakes and cities is a pleasure in its own right — the views from the window as you pass through the Veneto countryside, along the shores of the lakes, or up into the Alpine passes are consistently spectacular. Within the lake districts, ferries and boat services connect the towns and villas of each lake comfortably and are the most enjoyable way to move between stops.

When to Go

Northern Italy is a year-round destination, but spring and autumn are the seasons that most experienced travellers favour. From April through June the lakes are at their most beautiful — the gardens of Como and Maggiore are in full bloom, the mountain snow is still visible on the peaks above the water, and the towns are lively without the full weight of summer tourism. September and October are equally wonderful, with warm golden weather, harvest season in the vineyards, and a gradual return of the lakes and cities to their quieter, more local rhythm. Summer is spectacular but busy, particularly on Lake Como and in Venice and the Cinque Terre, where popular spots can feel overwhelmed in July and August — early starts and advance bookings for key sights are essential. Winter brings snow to the Alpine areas and the northern lake shores, and while some lake services operate on reduced schedules, Milan and the major cities are vibrant and excellent value in the cooler months. The Bernina Express is magnificent in winter, when the Alpine scenery takes on an entirely different and equally dramatic character.

A Final Note

Northern Italy is a region that rewards curiosity and generosity of spirit — the willingness to follow a road that looks interesting, to linger over a meal longer than planned, to take the slow boat across the lake rather than the fast one. Whether you are riding the Bernina Express through the Alps with the mountains rising on every side, standing in the Scrovegni Chapel looking up at Giotto's blue heaven, watching the sun set over Lake Como from a terrace above the water, or arriving in Venice by river as the city emerges from the morning mist, this is a part of the world that gives extravagantly to those who come to it with open eyes. Our packages are designed to make the journey as effortless as possible, so that your energy can go where it belongs — into the experience itself. Speak with one of our Travel Agents who's been to Northern Italy - you can chat online with one of our agents or call 1-800-665-4981.