Visit Italy in 8 days: road trip in the north

Road-trip in Italy: discover our idea of itinerary to visit Northern Italy via Turin, Venice and Florence. Stay Al dente guaranteed!

Italy is a country whose history is no longer to be told. Over the centuries, it has been transformed and has been invaded, disputed and released. Visiting Italy today allows to travel in time, thanks to an anchored culture and recognized for its inevitable charm...

For a successful experience, we offer you a road trip in Italy, from the region of Piedmont to Tuscany through Veneto, to you to visit Italy, the bella vita !

Day 1: Arrival to Turin

When you arrive in Turin, we advise you to park as quickly as possible and to do everything on foot.

Discover the historic centre and its magnificent squares (San Carlo, Castello...). You can also visit Turin by walking on the banks of the Po River or by visiting the Royal Palace and its gardens, guaranteed. Don’t forget the Automobile Museum! On-site dining is not a problem: the capital of Piedmont, Turin is recognized for its gastronomy (among others). Time happy-hour , offer a drink in a trattoria And continue your evening!

Day 2: Turin – Milan (road time: 2H)

The route between Turin and Milan is not very long. With departure in the morning, you will enjoy the maximum.

The Duomo (or Dôme) is an inescapable, and especially an unreatable. Just like the Fresque de Vinci, the impressive gallery Victor-Emmanuel II, the streets lined with shops as luxurious as the others (Quadrilatère de la Mode), the Scala theatre ... Visit Milan surprises because it is both very traditional and extremely modern. Anchored in its time, it is a city that lives a hundred per hour and visit Italy without passing through the city of art and culture would be a mistake.

Do not hesitate to stop in a gelateria And offer you an ice cream...

Day 3: Milan – Verona – Venice (road time: 3H30)

The road between Milan and Venice will allow you to make two different stops: the first to the Lake Garda , and the second in Verona. At Lake Garda, you will be able to see the town of Sirmione, particularly impressive, lying on the lake.

In Verona, take the time to stroll and play the Romeo and Juliet, as a dedication to Shakespeare, where there are many places available (Place aux Herbes, des Seigneurs...).

Finish your romantic day with the city of love par excellence: Venice! Arriving in the evening, you can discover the city by night . Enjoy this moment to enjoy a Venetian dinner.

Day 4 and 5: Venice – Bologna (road time: 2H)

Enjoy your day to explore the city of romantics, Venice. Rich in history and classified as a UNESCO heritage since 1987, this city will offer you a panorama of life in Italy. The canals that cross the city give it this particular aspect. If the weather allows, opt for a gondola ride, and make a stopover gallery Ca’D’oro . Stop it Basilica of Saint Mark and its place, or to the famous Basilica Santa Maria della Salute, architectural treasures.

For the second day on the spot, discover the islands of Lagunes: Murano, Burano and Torcello. This is another way of visiting Venice, and taking your eyes full. Then direction the capital of Emilia-Romagna, Bologna.

Day 6: Bologna – Florence (road time: 2H)

Bologna is an unknown city, yet it protects many architectural and gastronomic treasures in its heart. Considered as the largest university city, this city, nicknamed “The Red” because of its brick buildings offers a wide choice of monuments: the Neptune fountain, the medieval towers like that of Asinelli or Garisenda,... No way to visit Bologna without seeing its gastronomic aspect! Stop lunch in one of the many restaurants you will find in the city.

Then head to Florence. The road will offer you a view of the wine landscapes and the typical Tuscan valleys of which Florence is the capital.

Day 7: Florence

City of the Renaissance, bordered by the Arno River, Florence has a lot to offer. The most famous monument in Florence is its Dôme (the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Flore). A symbol of the whole city, it is not the only point to be missed.

Indeed, we advise you to stop to observe and cross the Ponte-Vecchio another Florentine emblem. There is also the Michelangelo esplanade that is worth a visit, as it will offer you a panorama of the Tuscan capital. A way of visiting Florence quite interesting, because from a high point of view, we are more easily aware of the extent and power of a city. For a high trip, the Campanile de Giotto , bell tower of the famous Cathedral of Florence, in turn promises to remember a superb Florentine Gothic testimony.

At lunchtime, enjoy your visit to Florence to taste a Chianti wine, produced regionally, and to consume with moderation, always. During your strolls, why not visit the Boboli Garden and spend a moment in a bucolic setting of all beauty? As promised, Florence has a lot to make you discover.

Day 8: Pisa - Genoa (road time: 3H30)

In the morning, take the road from Florence and go to Pisa (1H20). Visit the Miracles Square and its monumental set: the cathedral, the baptistery and the famous Penché Tower who made the city famous. Just three kilometers further, you will be able to observe the magnificent Citadel of Pisa, a 15th century vestige located on the edges of the Arno.

For the purpose of your road trip in Italy, we suggest you go north and stop in Genoa, the capital of the Liguria region. Facing the sea of the same name, Genoa was and is always a great port. But it is not only limited to its maritime function: to visit Genoa, it is also to face centuries of history through its historically religious or religiously historical monuments: the San Lorenzo Cathedral, the medieval San Matteo Square or the Ducal Palace. Also, as in all other cities travelled to visit Italy, let us not forget the gastronomic dimension of Genoa. Know one of its most gourmet specialties, the Genoa bread ? What a pity to visit Genoa without tasting this world-renowned cake... To enjoy his tasting, go to the house of Christopher Columbus and then to the historic centre where the narrow streets will impregnate you with their atmosphere.

Eating in Italy

A road trip in Italy is to discover many centuries of history, but also to meet what the Italians have more beautiful: their generous gastronomy. We know them pizzy , pastas , formaggi , risotti and others antipasti ... To be stated, the list would be long! And to visit Italy in good shape, you must also go through the kitchen! Each region of Italy has a strong identity, whether on its specialties or on how to prepare national dishes.

Eating in Italy is no more complicated than elsewhere: restaurants are easy to access, very numerous and financially, it is very affordable (unless going to the restaurant of high gastronomy). That said, if you are looking for a bit and avoiding tourist areas, you will easily find a small restaurant (which, often, does not pay a mine) at absolutely incredible prices. It is possible, for example, to eat two for one total of 15 euros , meal including dishes and drinks. Still expect a substantial budget for the restoration: you will not resist the charm of Italy.

Accommodation in Italy

The accommodation in Italy is roughly the same as in France: there is everything. According to the budgets, you can prefer to sleep at the high or small standing hotel, in a youth hostel or as it is now quite often, in AirBnB . You will have very easy access to downtown hotels, hotel comparisons will help you find what you need. However, it is important to know that the hotel rooms in Italy, with equal comparison, have a smaller area than in France and offer less comfort (no hygiene products provided, average bedding...).

The last solution is to sleep in the car if it lends to it (special arrangements, necessary space,...). However, even if it is a great way to play the road-trip map in Italy, it remains a very less comfortable solution, not always very careful, requiring information on the regulations in force. Otherwise, if you have the traveling soul and want to experience a full experience, why not opt for a road-trip in camping-car ?

Drive to Italy

The roads in Italy are, in the vast majority, in very good condition. Rapid roads are well maintained and pleasant. Of course, since it is about visiting Italy, it will be natural for you to observe the landscape more than when you ride in France. There is logically a lot of similarities with the south of France, although over the course of the journey, village architectures, flora or topology change.

By plane, rent a car

To realize your road trip, several solutions are available to you. You can arriving by plane in one of the many airports in the country. Then, on site, you can easily rent a car .

Get in the car

In case you live (ideally) in the south or south-east of France, you are not forbidden to go directly from home without passing through the airline. If you live further, don’t forget that France is a beautiful country, and that a few more days of visits offer an additional experience to your road trip in Italy.

There are three ways start your road trip in Italy: via Nice, Lyon or Chamonix. There are three to four hours of roads from these three cities. In any case, you will take the French motorway and its Italian equivalent. The landscapes on the road will allow you to enjoy a little more the sometimes a little monotonous.

The border crossing is not paid or systematically checked, so even if it remains rare (thanks to the Schengen area), always have your identity papers or passport in your vehicle.

Gasoline, how is it going?

Making gasoline in Italy is as simple as in France. The stations are numerous and accessible. However, the rates are a little higher. For one stay of 8 days and almost 1800 km (in Italy, the route France-Turin is not taken into account), it is good to foresee between 170 and 250 euros budget dedicated to transport. This package also includes possible tolls that you might encounter on the road, but what will play above all is the car model and the driving involved. In any case, stay careful on the road!