Ready to experience the best northern Italy tours and holiday options? We know you are. Who wouldn’t want to see the rolling green hills, the mountains, and the colorful little coastal towns? There is also a treasure trove of culture and history to experience here, from the city of Venice and its famous canals to the snow-capped Mont Blanc and the Apennine Mountains, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Cinque Terre, and the old world environs of Tuscany. And that list barely scratches the surface of North Italy’s attractions.
When you’re planning your trip to North Italy, you may start feeling a bit overwhelmed. There really is a lot to do and see, and it’s hard to plan a step-by-step journey to a place you’ve never been. That’s why we recommend you book a tour. On a guided tour to Italy, everything is planned and prepared for you before you even arrive, so you don’t have to worry about anything. Even if you prefer to chart your own destiny, there are tours for that, too, in which your journey is self-guided.
To help you get started planning the trip of your dreams, we made a list of the best northern Italy vacation packages. We’ll talk about what each tour offers and pay special attention to its duration, accommodations, and level of physical activity you’ll have to do to enjoy it. Keep an open mind, and you’ll discover an adventure that you’ve only dreamed of until now.
Best Tours to Northern Italy for Cultural and Adventure Travelers
Hidden Treasures of North Italy By Flag Travel Holidays
This 7-day tour will take you to some of the most famous historical cities and countryside. You’ll start in Bologna and travel all the way to Milan, passing through places like Ferrara and its medieval-era architecture, the Byzantine city of Ravenna, Verona where Shakespeare put on his famous Romeo and Juliet play, and much, much more. Along the way, you’ll sample incredible local cuisine, some from traditional North Italian farms.
The Hidden Treasures of North Italy tour comes with 6 nights in hotels and a daily breakfast. There is a fair amount of walking involved in this venture, but most of it will take place in cities and not in the rough countryside.
Treasures of North Italy & Food Culture – 7 Days By Click Tours
Beginning with one day in Bologna and ending in Milan, the Explore the North Italy & Food Culture tour will take you on a wonder-filled, gastronomic journey through North Italy. You’ll experience local cuisine and cooking styles (as well as learn how to cook traditional Italian dishes yourself!) in several different cities, including Bologna, Ravenna, Velona, Franciacorta, and more.
These locations are bastions of culture, history, and, of course, cuisine in northern Italy. You’ll even visit Mantua, which is considered a UNESCO World Heritage site and is surrounded by three lakes. But you’ll see that it’s not just the urban areas in Italy that offer great food: one of the days, you’ll visit a farmhouse for a balsamic vinegar tasting.
For 6 nights, you’ll stay in hotels and eat and drink your way across northern Italy. On the 7th day, the tour will end. Due to the nature of the trip, you will be eating a wide variety of foods. Before booking, consider any food allergies you or anyone traveling with you might have. You will also have to do some walking on this trip, but think of it as a blessing in disguise: this Italy food tour will give you the chance to walk off all those amazing North Italian meals!
Cinque Terre: Hike, Bike & Kayak By Intrepid Travel
Ah, Cinque Terre: one of the best areas to experience the northern Italian region and one of the favorite places if you are looking for scenic hiking trips in Italy. This beautiful coastal region is marked by groups of buildings painted in bright colors, sheer cliffs, and endless expanses of blue sky and blue sea. This tour by Intrepid Travel allows you to get up and personal with all these beautiful sights by hiking, kayaking, and biking. You’ll be up in and around all over Cinque Terre before the end of the venture.
One of the favorite northern Italy tours, this 8-day experience involves a lot of physical activity; in fact, physical activity is the main point of it aside from experiencing the beauty of Cinque Terre. You’ll stay 7 nights in a hotel. Be forewarned: you may have to share a room with a fellow tourist of the same sex. If this is a problem, you can pay an extra fee and get your own private accommodation. You’ll be provided with 7 breakfasts. Lunch and dinner can be served from the coastal towns.
Ultimate Dolomites Adventure By Active Adventures
The Ultimate Dolomites Adventure tour by Active Adventures is perfect if you’re an active individual who wants to immerse yourself in the North Italy landscape. This tour involves hiking and biking your way from Venice to and through the Dolomites – an impressive trio of beautiful mountain peaks. At the end of the 9-day tour, you’ll find yourself back in Venice, probably with a good tan and a refreshed spirit.
During this 9-day tour, you’ll stay in local lodges and receive breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day as part of the package. You’ll be hiking and biking every day on your journey, so make sure you’re physically ready for the challenge before you book.
Barolo Gastronomic Cycling By Exodus Travel
This bicycle tour of Piedmont, a region in Italy famous for its gastronomical delights, is a perfect choice for people who love food but like to stay active in the outdoors. You’ll start and end your journey in Benevello, Italy, bicycling your way through the Piedmont region and sampling local cuisine from small villages, visiting authentic wine cellars, and trying some of the region’s most famous foods, like the white truffle. You’ll be amazed by the wide green countryside, the sprawling Langhe Mountains, and the variety of food and drink you’ll sample during the tour.
Throughout this 9-day tour, you’ll spend 8 nights in local accommodations and receive a daily breakfast, in addition to the meals you’re served during some of the tour stops. Biking and eating are great fun, but they both require stamina and an open mind, so consider that before booking this Barolo Gastronomic Cycling tour.
Cycling Italy’s Alpine Valleys By ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours
See the best that North Italy has to offer in nature on this Cycling Italy’s Alpine Valleys tour. In 8 days, you’ll cycle from Bolzano in the South Tyrol region and back again stopping in towns and cities such as Merano, Borgo Valsugana, and Bassano del Grappa. Some of the sights you’ll see will likely astound you: towering mountain peaks, wide placid lakes, and verdant valleys. You’ll sample local cuisine and bike through vineyards and orchards. Fresh air, views, food, and wine in northern Italy: what could be better?
For 7 nights, the tour will provide you with nightly accommodations. The tour package also includes 7 breakfasts. On the eighth day, the tour ends. Once again, this is a tour that requires physical strength in order to cycle through to the end of it. But it’s well worth the effort.
Mont Blanc Explorer By G Adventures
Gape at the imposing edifice that is Mont Blanc on the Mont Blanc Explorer excursion by G Adventures, one of the most popular North Italy tours. This beautiful, towering mountain is taller than the Alps and surrounded by gorgeous countryside that you will explore via walking and hiking. You’ll drink in fantastic views, explore caves, and relax in spas. And you’ll need that extra time to soak and unwind in a lovely spa because you’ll definitely get a workout on this tour.
This 8-day tour provides hotel accommodations for 7 nights and 7 breakfasts. There is a lot of walking and hiking involved on the sides of enormous mountains, so make sure you’re prepared in case you’re not used to breathing in high altitude. The great thing about this trip is it balances out the strenuous physical activity with opportunities to relax and get pampered at a spa.
Italian Lakes: Hike, Bike & Kayak By Intrepid Travel
Immerse yourself in the Lake Country of North Italy on the Italian Lakes tour by Intrepid Travel. In this beautiful region, you’ll hike and cycle your way past sparkling lakes, picturesque villages and villas, and mountain views. Along the way, you’ll sample delicious local cuisine and kayak along the shorelines. You’ll also explore the surrounding estates and villas, which are some of the most beautiful abodes in Italy. This tour is food for the stomach and the soul.
The Italian Lakes tour package comes with 7 nights in a hotel, 7 breakfasts, and transportation by train, boat, kayak, and bicycle. You’ll be on the go the whole time, so stay hydrated and make sure you’re ready to be physically active. Given the popularity of the Italian lakes, this is one of the favorite North Italy tours many travelers opt for to enjoy the region without the hassle of planning and logistics.
Venice to Florence – Self-Guided By Cycle Europe
Take yourself on a trip through North Italy with this self-guided bicycle tour from Venice to Florence. Pedal through charming little towns like Comacchio and cities with ancient Byzantine history like Ravenna. Take a boat ride on the canals surrounding Comacchio. Visit cafes and sample local eats. Tour museums like the International Ceramics Museum in Faenza.
Climb your way up and over the Apennine Mountains. Follow the map and roadbook that the tour provides and enjoy the fresh air and color of this beautiful countryside. On this tour, you’ll stay 7 nights in hotels and receive breakfast every morning. Obviously, because it’s an Italy cycling tour, you’ll need to be in good shape to fully enjoy the experience.
Walking in Tuscany By Exodus Travels
See Tuscany, a gorgeous region of old North Italy, the way it was meant to be seen: up close and personal. On this tour by Exodus Travels, you’ll walk up mountain slopes, through forests, charming little villages, and national parks. You’ll visit a hermitage near Campocatino, a 16th-century shepherd’s village. You’ll also have the option to see the Leaning Tower, one of Pisa’s main attractions; the Cinque Terre; or Florence, a center for Tuscan art and culture in North Italy. There is no better way to experience this unique and stunning countryside and local flavor.
The tour package comes with 7 nights in the Agriturismo Braccicorti Farmhouse, a stone building situated on a real Tuscan farm. It also comes with 6 breakfasts, 5 picnic lunches, and 5 dinners. You’ll need to be physically fit for this trip, as you’ll need to do a lot of walking on various types of terrain.
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