Planning a self-driven road trip from North to South of Italy means cruising through many picturesque towns with their marvellous landscapes, blue coastlines, epic renaissance structures, delicious Italian delicacies, narrow ancient medieval streets, magical vineyards and rich history with Piazzas, Basilicas and Chateau while enjoying the Italian roads connecting one commune and city to another.
But the questions are how to plan a north to south trip, what to cover and where to begin. On one hand, you want art and history, but one other hand the trip should be fun with shopping and family entertainment, keeping that mind, here’s 8-10 days long north to south Italy road trip chart that can be squeezed to 7 days depending upon how you manage your pit stops. There are many irresistible scenic routes and communes all around, so you are free to add more destinations in your journey.
The best part about modern era road-trips are they come with the luxury of Google Maps on phone and GPS in a rental car but always. If you have your car tank filled, map set and cameras ready, this good long road journey is bound to throw you on a remarkable adventure in a country filled with UNESCO sites, soul nourishing cuisines and heavenly views.
Milan
- Recommended days: 1-2
- Famous for: Fashion, Shopping, Galleries, Museums, Art
Home to the fourth largest cathedral in the world, Milan is the Italian gem that cannot be missed in any road trip. There is fashion, art, architecture and cuisines that just blends so perfectly turning your stay into an extraordinary experience. Pinacoteca di Brera with renaissance and Museo del Novecento with its contemporary artworks are the highlights of Milan’s many galleries and museums. While a large number of tourists find them attracted to the majestic Duomo, the 15th century-old Santa Maria delle Grazie displaying Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’ masterpiece is Milan’s one of the most cherished UNESCO sites. That said, there is no shortage of historical places, statues and paintings in this Italian city.
Football fans and art lovers need no convincing when it comes to reasons to explore Milan, with its legendary San Siro Stadium and famous Opera venue La Scala. Largely known as one of the fashion and industrial capitals, Milan is where shoppers have time of their life. Who hasn’t heard of the much-celebrated Milan Fashion Week?
Shopping in Milan
Shopping in Milan
Milan is every shopaholic’s dream come true. From independent brand stores, mesmerising shopping avenues and the vibrant flea markets, a good shopping day in Milan is all about cute cafes, fine cuisines and more while enjoying view of renaissance buildings around and bustlingEuropean streets. Here’s a list of popular shopping streets in Milan:
- Corso Vittorio Emanuele II
- Corso Buenos Aires
- Corso di Porta Ticinese
- Via Montenapoleone
- Corso Venezia
Milan to Venice via Road
When you are done capturing Milan and its richness of attractions, its time to get that car ready for a Milan to Venice road trip. While Venice is 3 hours away via route A4, we recommend few pit stops.
- Take E64 to pass through Monza and pause at Bergamo, which is a must with its narrow medieval streets, delicious cuisine and hill town upper town views.
- A4 highway straight drive from there will give you the scenic beauty of driving alongside Lake Garda and its picturesque peninsula experience through a short stay at the historic town Sirmione.
- Further along, A4 route would bring you to Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet setting and magical Roman Amphitheatre from the 1st century.
Venice
- Recommended days: 1-2
- Famous for: Architecture, Canals, Gondola & Carnivals
One of the most romantic and picturesque cities, Venice hardly needs any introduction as this seaport city with serene Adriatic Sea view and Canals has its own reputation among travellers and those who are still busy making a travel bucket list. Venice is where couples go to ignite the love but that not all that it is. The commercial, historical, cultural and architectural richness to this city with its contemporary adjustments is where Venice becomes more than a postcard city. A true UNESCO World Heritage Site, Venice is all about gorgeous lagoons, gondolas, extraordinary landscapes, historic monuments and brilliant coffee shops and restaurants offer wine with water view.
The labyrinth of narrow canals with the gondola rides surrounded by charming Italianstructures on the left and right is exactly where you have to be at least once, if Italy is your destination. Venice is the floating city that is also famous for its feasts, cuisine and local markets. And if you are in Venice in the month of February, dare not miss the sparkling and lively Carnevale or the Mardi Gras carnival. It’s the only time, you get to enjoy the Venetian costumes, fancy masquerade balls, the exotic parade masks, exquisiteItalian food and canal-side parties.
Top 5 things to do in Venice
Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto)
- Built by Antonio da Ponte
- No admission fees
- Can be explored in less than an hour
Grand Canal
- 2-mile-long main street of Venice
- Offers Gondola rides
- Sightseeing takes 1 to 2 hours
St. Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco)
- Located on very popular and busy St. Mark’s Basilica square
- Offers museums & a church
- Keep 1-2 hours for this attraction
Teatro La Fenice
- Italy’s one of the most renowned Opera houses also known as Theatre the Phoenix
- Has magnificent architecture with gold interiors and plush velvet chairs
- Five-minute walk from the famous Piazza San Marco
- Entry charges are around 10 Euro
St Mark’s Campanile or Campanile di San Marco
- A Bell tower and the tallest structure standing in Venice
- Offers panoramic view of Venice’s majestic canals
- Tour charges are around 8 Euros
Venice to Bologna via Road
There is enough entertainment and beauty in Venice to not want to leave but if the rules of a road trip are to be followed, you must move ahead towards more landmarks, attractions and picturesque routes. Though Venice to Bologna road trip is of around 2 hours but if you have enough time or days, here are few pit stop suggestions:
- Take route A4/E70 to the Padua, to witness the vibrant student city where Galileo taught
- Route A13 from Padua will get you to Ferrara, the renaissance city known for its arts, politics, culture and food apart from the fact that it is also known for its artistic and intellectual contribution to country’s past and present
- Just an hour drive from Ferrara on same route of A13, lies the lively and historic destination Bologna.
Bologna
- Recommended days: 1-2
- Famous for: University, Cuisine, Monuments, Music, Culture
Bologna is a University city with its large young urban student population and also the fact it is home to the University of Bologna, the oldest universities in the world. But what really makes it a city worth halting on a trip is its street music culture; if a beautiful summer o or winter stroll on a street filled with Jazz music is your scene then Bologna with its City of Music title from UNESCO is where you ought to be. Art, music and students make this Italian city as vibrant, lively and cheaper as possible.
For the food crazies, Bologna trip is incomplete if you do not cherish local cuisines like Ham, Ragu, lasagne, Mortadella and the exotic Bolognese Spaghetti. Tagliatelle is one of the most scrumptious Bolognese specialties. A little farther but within the province of Bologna lies many legendary wineries and vineyards that the Italians have to offer. If for nothing, visiting Bologna for the wine, food and the hill views is a must. A wine tour in Bologna has to be the highlight for many.
Top 5 attractions in Bologna
Torre degli Asinelli or The Two Towers
Leaning medieval towers Torre degli Asinelli (97.2m) and Torre Garisend (47m)
Piazza Maggiore
13th century square surrounded by Renaissance palazzi and a Basilica di San Petronio, it offers great Bolognese nightlife
Neptune Fountain
Walking distance from basilica of San Petronio lies 16th century old Italian fountain.
The Portici
Potrici in Bologna long walkways with red terracotta arcades for a beautiful stroll on a sunny day
Museo Ferrari
Located at 50 km driving distance form city, this is a Ferrari company museum giving an insight into the brand and its cars.
Bologna to Rome via Road
Bologna to Rome road trip via A1/E35 takes up to 4 hours in straight line, but what would be the fun in that. Here are a few off road suggestions on your drive to Rome, to add some magnificent scenic view, gorgeous Italian towns and must-see attractions:
- A one and half hour drive via route A1 var and A1/E35 takes you to Tuscany’s capital Florence known for its architecture, terracotta tilted domes, galleries and culture. A 4-hour pit stop would be good enough to cover this city.
- A 57-minute drive from Florence to Arezzo via A1/E35, will bring you to a city with history that spans from world war to Etruscan times. The captivating Renaissance art and Romanesque buildings through its Piazzas, Churches and Cathedrals can be quickly explored in around an hour or two.
- Only 53 km away, a small drive of an hour via A1/E35, stands Montepulciano. Largely popular as Renaissance hill town with medieval attractions, this Tuscany city should be given an hour or two to enjoy its local cuisine and special Italian red wine.
- As you continue on A1/335, 69.3 km long drive will bring you to Orvieto (in Terni) in around an hour. A gorgeous Italian hill town, Orvieto is a city standing on a big volcanic stone with cathedrals, underground tunnels, deep wells and ancient tombs.
Rome
- Recommended days: 1-2
- Famous for: Architecture, History, Fountains, Cuisine
While the first thing that comes to mind, when talking about Rome is the majestic Colosseum and the Pantheon, there is much to Rome than the giant Roman Amphitheatre. The Italian capital, Rome has a long hospital background and thus the various historical heritage and cultural monuments depicting a mix of multiple architectures from Ancient Rome, Neoclassicism, Medieval, Renaissance to Baroque. The grandness and importance of art, history and roman culture can also be seen in its various roman statues and ancient fountains with their mesmerising beauty; doesn’t everyone in Rome secretly hopes for their wish to come to true when they throw that coin in the famous Trevi Fountain.
Nature lovers have their own reasons to love Rome, as the city offers one of the largest green spaces among other capitals in Europe. The luscious green villas, gardens and landscapes to enjoy for a great family roman holiday include Villa Ada, Villa Doria Pamphili, Villa Borghese and Villa Sciarra which also has children playing area. Orto Botanico and the Roman Hippodrome are other few green areas to explore. With enough social and cultural mix, gastronomy of Rome has evolved and has been exposed so many different tastes and techniques that an evening with Renaissance cuisines, roman Jewish cuisines and the modern age culinary specialties, is a must.
Among all the churches, basilicas, museums, piazzas and other attractions, one of the most popular places to visit when in Rome is the Vatican city. You not need to be religious or on a pilgrimage to be in Vatican, because Vatican more just the city of Pope, bishops and catholic churches, it is also about deep history, gorgeous renaissance architecture, marvellous city squares and the museums. Sistine Chapels and its Michelangelo artwork is one of the major reasons why artists visit Rome.
Top 5 attractions of Rome
- St. Peter’s Basilica
- Trevi Fountain
- Colosseum
- Piazza di Spagna & the Spanish Steps
- Catacombs
Rome to Bari via Road
The 4 Hr 41 Minute Rome to Bari road-trip passes through many beautiful and ancient Italian towns via A1/E45, offering a sneak peek into amazing southern Italy’s marvels. Here’s what we think should be covered on your route to Bari.
- 1 H 26 Min drive from Rome via A1/E45 would pass you through a beautiful commune Arce. An hour-long at this mountain top town lets you enjoy local win, medieval attractions.
- Sant’Agata de’ Goti with its magnificent palace and narrow lanes is perfect pit stop after a drive of an hour and a half.
- An hour-long drive on same route would bring you to Calitri’s unspoiled Italian beauty, offering the finest wines, wonderful local food and a view of over-flowing building structure.
- Just an hour before Bari comes Canosa di Puglia, a small town of archaeological sites and findings offering good food, wine and interesting local monuments.
Bari
- Recommended days: 1-2
- Famous for: Old Port, Architecture, Beaches & Seafood
An ancient port city looking over the Adriatic Sea, Bari is the last leg of this breath-taking road trip. With mix of attractions like 11th century Basilica di San Nicola, 19th century architecture in Murat Quarter, sandiest beaches and promenade shopping culture, Bari is where your tourist soul indulges in both history, landscapes and shopping. The harbour beauty and scenic Italian beaches will leave you to that must needed rest at the end of the roller-coaster Italian road trip. Bari cuisine and street food is mix of traditional Riso, Patate e Cozze with mushrooms, egg plants, tomatoes and plum olives and Panzerotti stuffed fried pastries. Bari offer some amazing food tours on bikes.
Bringing the southern Italian culture into your travel adventure, Bari also offers urban street culture, nightlife and serene yet lively boulevards. Seafood lovers have to get a walking tour of Bari seafood market. Families looking for a sun, sea and crystal blue water swim kind of day often find themselves pulled at Porto Cavallo and Cala Paura. Polognano a Mare in Bari is where you must head if picturesque sea view is your thing instead of architecture, art and history.
Things to do in Bari
- Experience the popular Bari street food bike tour to discover food, wine and Italian gastronomy culture
- Shop in the local street market for second hand souvenirs like local craft items
- Get around the town to see orchards, olive groves and local wineries
- Capture the narrow colourful streets or old town, Bari Vecchia