Best of Northern Italy - 12 days in Venice, the Lakes & Milan

On a self-drive tour, Nordic Visitor supplies you with a quality rental car and a detailed personal itinerary. You act as your own tour guide and driver, and you get to pick the road trip music!

All your services will be pre-booked by your personal travel consultant at Nordic Visitor. This includes your rental car and accommodation in Italy, along with planned activities, as specified in the itinerary.

As this is a self-guided tour, you’re welcome to stop whenever and wherever you wish along the way. Except for accommodation and booked activities, other highlights we’ve listed in the itinerary are suggestions based on Nordic Visitor favourites.

And rest assured that we’re with you every step of the way. Upon your arrival, you’ll receive personalised information, including an itinerary, hand-annotated map and our very own Italy Travel Guide. Plus, you’ll have access to our 24/7 helpline during your trip should you need to contact us.

During your tour of Italy, you’ll stay in accommodation selected by our local travel experts. We’ve partnered with local businesses and selected hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses based on excellent ratings and comfort.

You can choose from single, double or triple rooms. Please also note that in Italy, room types are based on European standard sizes, which means they are smaller than in North America.

For example, a double bed often consists of 2 single beds pushed together. Twin rooms are 2 separate single beds. Triple rooms include a double bed along with an extra bed, rollaway or sofa bed. And single rooms are often smaller than the standard double.

Due to the historic nature of buildings and sustainability regulations you might find that not all hotels have in-room air conditioning. You’ll notice this in Switzerland, Germany and even Italy, among other destinations. That said, most hotels do offer fans to help you stay cool during warmer periods.

Travelling with your kids? No problem! Just let your travel consultant know during the booking process. We’ll arrange any cots needed at your accommodation.

If you need multiple rooms, please note that we can't guarantee family rooms or interconnecting rooms at all accommodation. You may even have rooms on different floors.

If you'd like us to arrange for a car seat to be provided for your trip, please let us know ahead of time. This will incur a small extra cost.

The minimum age to hire a car in Italy is 19. A small fee will also apply to any drivers under 25.

If you are under 25, you may also be restricted in the size of vehicle you are able to rent. Please contact your personal Travel Consultant if you are unsure about which car to choose.

Pretty straightforward and, at times, immensely scenic. The roads are well-maintained year-round, and you’ll be driving on the right side (left side of the car).

Rural routes can be narrow and winding – that’s part of the charm. And those centuries-old town centres? Often best explored on foot. Your car can take a rest while you wander.

Your travel consultant will prepare a map of your route, marking everything you need. We also recommend downloading Google Maps routes before you set off – signal can be patchy in quieter areas.

Yes, you need to have an international driving permit if you are visiting from a country outside the EU or EEA. This is to rent a car and drive legally in Italy.  

This includes visitors from the United States, Canada and Australia. If you have a driving licence from the UK (except the Isle of Man), you do not need an international driving permit.

Italy has many tolled highways (called "autostrade"). These should be clearly signed on apps like Google Maps but also as you’re driving through the country.

You can pay through the Telepass system or by cash or card. If you’re paying by cash or card, pick up a ticket from the entry gates. You’ll pay at the exit gates.

No – all cross-border fees are included in the price of your tour package.

You might – it depends where you pick up your car.

If you collect your rental in Switzerland, or in Austria, the vignette for that country comes already attached to the windscreen. You’re good to go.

But if you’re driving into Switzerland or Austria from another country, you’ll need to buy a vignette and fix it to your car before you cross the border. (You’ll find them at service stations close to the border – they’re easy to spot.)

Don't worry if this sounds complicated - your personal travel consultant will make sure you know exactly if and when you need to buy a vignette during your trip.

Some rental companies do allow it. But you’ll need to check with them first. Read their policy and ask them in case there are extra fees.

Yes, for popular sites, you should pre-book tickets in advance. This way you can make sure you see the spots on your travel wish-list but also secure the ideal times for you. Your travel consultant will let you know the attractions where this is highly recommended. 

Yes, introduced in 2024, Venice still requests that day visitors pay an access fee to explore the city. This is an effort to preserve the ancient and fragile city.

What does this mean? On certain days between mid-April and the end of July, you’ll need to pay an extra charge to visit Venice.

You can find out more about the dates and fees on the Venezia Unica website.

In the larger cities and at popular attractions, yes you can expect people to speak English. That said, in smaller towns you might find people have a limited knowledge of the language. We recommend having translation apps available such as Google Translate. 

Italy experiences warm and sometimes humid summers.

From June to August, temperatures typically range from 25–35 °C (77–95 °F), with occasional heatwaves. You might find the cities feel warmer because of urban heat. Due to these temperatures, thunderstorms can occur later in the afternoons, particularly near the lakes and mountains.

It’s good to note that not all hotels in Italy have air conditioning. Most do offer fans to try to keep you cool.

For milder weather, consider visiting during the shoulder season. May sees pleasant temperatures around 18–25 °C (64–77 °F) and blooming landscapes. Following summer, September remains warm (20–28°C / 68–82°F) but with fewer visitors. These months are ideal for sightseeing and enjoying al fresco dining without the peak summer heat.

Opening hours for attractions in Italy can vary depending on the season. While many popular sites are open year-round, some attractions may close or have reduced hours outside the summer.

For this reason, it’s always best to look online for information about the specific places you want to visit in advance of your trip.

As you should expect warm weather on a summer trip to Italy, you’ll want to make sure you pack accordingly. This way you can make the most of the cities, lakes and Italian countryside.

Here is a recommended packing list for your trip:

• Comfortable walking shoes (and sandals)
• Light, breathable summer clothing
• Stylish outfit and shoes to go out in the cities like Milan
• Small backpack for daily exploring
• Light scarf or shawl for visiting churches
• Sunglasses, sunscreen and a sunhat
• Swimsuit for lakes, beaches and pools
• Reusable water bottle
• And your camera of course!

On your Italy road trip, you should budget for petrol costs of around €1.50–€1.90 per litre.

As for meals, your breakfast is included at all your accommodation. For the rest of your food, your spending money will depend on the standard of restaurants you decide to go to.

Budget between €15–€25 per person for each day’s lunch. Dinners at casual restaurants might cost between €30–€40. Meanwhile at upscale restaurants, you can expect to pay €50–€70 or more. This does not include the cost of alcoholic beverages.

There are limited laundry facilities in the countryside, though you’ll find laundrettes in the larger cities and towns. Some hotels do offer dry cleaning for an additional cost.

In Italy, tipping is not mandatory but welcomed. It is usually based on the quality of service. Locals often add around 10% or simply round up their bill.

Yes, you can customise this tour online. During the booking process, you can add extra nights to your itinerary as well as optional day trips, excursions and upgrades. 

If you have something specific in mind, please let your travel consultant know at the time of booking. They'll see what they can do to accommodate you. 

If the flights from your home arrive in a different city than where we start our tours, please get in touch with your travel consultant.

Yes! We offer tours in and around many enchanting cities in Central Europe. That means you might be able to begin or end your adventure in a different location than the ones listed on this tour.

If you have another destination in mind, please get in touch with one of our travel consultants who will be happy to help you plan the perfect trip.

By booking with Nordic Visitor, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that there’s always someone there for you throughout your trip.

For support and advice during the day, you can call our office. And if anything unexpected happens outside working hours, you can reach us on our 24/7 helpline.

During your tour, there will always be a regional travel expert on call to handle any unforeseen situations, such as unusual weather or events.

If you’re arriving from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand, you won’t need a visa to visit Italy. 

Visiting from another country? You can find the complete lists of countries whose nationals require visas to visit Italy on the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website.

Your passport needs to be valid for the entirety of your stay in Italy, and for at least 6 months after your departure date. It’s a good idea to check your passport expiry date early in case you need to renew it.

It’s best to book as soon as you can to secure your preferred travel dates. Once you have picked your tour, check the availability calendar to see which months are open for booking. Then, select the date you want and complete your booking. 

Nordic Visitor offers 10–20% deposits so you can reserve your trip as early as it’s convenient for you. The remaining balance is due 30 days before you travel. 

Many tours are also open for the following year if you like to plan well ahead. And if you have any questions or need advice, you can always contact us. 

After booking your tour package online, you will be contacted within 2 business days by your own dedicated travel consultant. They will be your point of contact for all your travel needs before, during and even after your trip. 

At that time, they’ll confirm the availability of your tour. Then the booking process starts, which may take a few weeks. Once this is done, your travel consultant will provide you with all the details of your trip. You will also receive more information about what to expect during your trip.

No need! Nordic Visitor is already working on offsetting the estimated carbon footprint of your package. We’ve partnered with an environmental fund in Iceland to carbon offset all our tours.

Carbon offsetting your international flights is not included, but we highly recommend you look into possibilities with your airline or directly through a local environment fund. 

After you have booked your tour, it will only take a few days to confirm its availability. But it may take a few weeks to create your itinerary and book everything. Once your trip details are finalised, we’ll send you e-copies of your travel documents.

Upon arrival in Italy, you’ll receive a welcome package with hard copies of your itinerary, accommodation and tour vouchers, the Nordic Visitor Italy Travel Guide and more.

So when do you check in? And what can you expect upon landing in Italy?

After picking up your luggage, make your way to your accommodation. Italian cities are well connected to their respective airports.  Simply hop on public transport, catch a taxi or book an optional private transfer.

Check-in times vary between hotels and guesthouses, but it normally starts around 3 PM. You are welcome to request an early check-in for an additional fee. Although this isn’t always available, you’ll be able to store your luggage at the hotel if you have to wait. Please contact your travel consultant well in advance of your arrival if you’d like an early check-in.

When you depart may depend on the time of your return flight. Check out early if you’re heading to the airport for a morning flight. On the other hand, if you’re flying home later in the day, you might like to enjoy a leisurely day or visit one more attraction.

You will need to check out from your room, but will be able to store your luggage at the hotel reception. Simply return later to collect your bags before catching your transfer to the airport.

All bookings are billed in Euros (EUR), the local currency of Italy.

Prices displayed in other currencies are indicative only and based on the daily exchange rate. This means conversions from EUR to other currencies will fluctuate from day to day.