Travelling Through North Italy by Train: A Full Travel Guide

The region of Northern Italy is without a doubt one of Europe’s most premier tourist destinations. With it’s easy access to the Alps, crystal clear lakes, unique coastlines, rich cuisine, deep history & gorgeous architecture. It’s no wonder that thousands of people choose to holiday here each year.

Whilst renting a car or Vespa is still a popular way to explore this region of Italy. Have you ever thought about utilising the incredible public transport system that Italy is lucky to have?

We recently (May – June 2023) spent six weeks travelling on trains across Europe, visiting eight countries in total. Including Italy! Furthermore, we have been totally convinced that train travel is undeniably one of the most convenient, more sustainable & affordable ways to travel.

So if you’re anything like us & like to save a few bucks when you travel. Keep reading, because we’re going to explain everything you need to know to make the most of your train adventure in Northern Italy. In this blog we are going to cover the 4 destinations we visited: Venice, Bologna, Florence & Verona.

Let’s get into it…

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Which train company should I use?

Firstly, there are a couple main train companies that operate in Italy. However, we decided to use Italo Treno for the duration of our visit & found them to be reliable & affordable. Italo have over 50 high speed trains & 100 buses that are operated by Itabus. Meaning, you can pretty much get to anywhere you want to go in the country with them.

There is a lot that we loved about these trains, but firstly they had wi-fi. This may only be a small thing to some, but for us who work online, it was a blessing. As many other trains we have travelled on across Europe do not have this luxury.

In addition, they also have charging points on all their trains, which is really handy after a big day of exploring & taking photos. Or perhaps you forgot to bring your portable charger.

Lastly, these trains also have vending machines, which is something we have never seen on a train before. They are usually stocked with some snacks & drinks, which again is very handy for when you just need it.

Anyway, let’s get into the cities we were able to visit in Northern Italy & why we think you should definitely check them out too.

Venice

What a city to start in! This unique floating metropolis, has a reputation for being one of the most popular cities to visit in the whole world. Which originally had us worried that we wouldn’t enjoy ourselves. However, as soon as you arrive here you’ll feel the magic in the air & suddenly you understand what all the hype is about.

Venice really is one of the most speical & picturesque cities we have ever explored. Every corner holds it’s charm & there is a hell of a lot to see. Here’s some top things to do below:

Walk the canals – We spent a lot of time just walking around the canals, it’s an easy & free way to experience the city & some of it’s famous landmarks.

Take a ride on a Gondola – An iconic Venice activity, but one that comes with a heavy price tag. Starting at around 80 Euros for a 40 minute ride (this may change seasonally).

Visit the Piazza San Marco & St Mark’s Basilica – You must make time to check out this iconic square, in the heart of the city. If you want the square relatively quiet, we suggest that you visit early in the morning to beat the crowds.

Venice Grand Canal – Is where you’ll find some iconic spots to grab some photos & admire the bustling waterways. It cuts right through the centre of Venice & you’ll never be too far away from it.

Rialto Bridge – This infamous bridge, connects either side of Venice with one another. It is also a popular tourist spot to grab photos & stand on the bridge admiring the views.

Do a day trip to Burano – Burano is another small island within the Venetian Lagoon, it is a popular spot for a day trip to see the beautiful coloured houses & get away from the hustle & bustle of the city centre. You can catch a Vaporetto (ferry) to the island, from Fondamente Nove, a single ticket is 8 Euros.

Where to stay?

Venice can be notoriously expensive for accommodation, but we have a great way to save you a few pennies. Instead of choosing to stay right on the island of Venice, where it will be expensive.

Consider finding a hotel in Venice Mestre, which is just outside of Venice on the mainland. You can take a train to the centre of Venice very easily from here & it’ll only cost you 1.45 Euros each way.

We chose to stay at MEININGER Venice Mestre. Private rooms start at £50 in low season & around £150 in high season, which is a great price for Venice! They also offer dorm rooms for less. What’s more, the hotel is located only a 5 minute walk from the train station, making it very easy to access Venice city centre.

The hotel also has great facilities, such as a kitchen so you can do all your own cooking. But also a comfortable common area, a provided breakfast & a bar. Highly recommend it, we’ve stayed in a few of their hotels across Europe & this was our favourite one.

Bologna

Have you ever wondered where Spaghetti Bolognese comes from? Well it’s right here in Bologna. The city is a real foodie capital, so make sure you stop by some local eateries to try out some delicious Italian cuisine.

We decided to base ourselves in Bologna during our time in North Italy & we think it was a great decision. The city is really close by to all the other cities we will mention in this post. & you can easily hop on an Italo Treno train to reach them. Moreover, Bologna is slightly cheaper in terms of accommodation, than other Northern cities.

Whilst there’s not a vast amount to do in Bologna in comparison to other cities, we found it to be a bit of a hidden gem. Here’s some ideas for things to do here:

Piazza Maggiore – This is the central square in Bologna & is an important historical place. Inside the square you’ll find many significant buildings to admire & restaurants to tickle your fancy.

Piazza del Nettuno – This square holds the famous ‘Fountain of Neptune’. Stop by here for a photo opportunity.

The leaning towers of Bologna – Pisa isn’t the only Italian town with leaning towers, Bologna has it’s own pair in the heart of the city. You can climb up the twin towers for astonishing views out across Bologna.

Bologna National Gallery – If you are into art, then this could be worth a visit. The gallery contains works that are related to the Emilian region, in which Bologna sits.

Stroll the streets – We absolutely loved doing this in Bologna. Always a great way to explore a new city. We particularly enjoyed admiring the unique architecture, with it’s iconic burnt orange buildings. & getting lost down the back street food markets, just off the main squares.

Dine in a restaurant – Of course, you can’t come to Bologna & not try some of it’s well known local cuisine. The city is full of bustling restaurants, so you’ll never be stuck for choice.

Where to stay?

Unfortunately, we cannot recommend the apartment we stayed in as we didn’t end up having a very good experience with it. However, what we will say is that there are plenty of affordable hotels & Airbnb’s dotted throughout the city. We paid 156 Euros for 4 nights, which is amazing value. But again, we had some issues.

The best place to book your accommodation is through Booking.com we use this platform every where we travel to & always manage to find affordable & comfortable stays.

Florence

Nestled in the heart of Tuscany, you’ll find the ever so enchanting city of Florence. An absolute must stop on a North Italy trip & probably one of our favourite cities in Europe.

Often hailed as the cradle of the Renaissance, this Italian gem portrays an unparalleled charm, that captivates every traveller fortunate enough to tread its cobbled streets.

Florence is the ideal place to stay a few days to soak in the city, however if you are short on time, it’s a popular day trip from nearby Bologna. With Italo Treno you can even get up to 60% off day return tickets, here.

There is plenty to do in Tuscany’s capital, here are some ideas below:

Piazzale Michelangelo – Situated high above the city, you’ll find this stunning square & lookout. With unparalleled view across the whole of Florence, the Duomo & out to the Tuscan countryside. It is a popular spot to grab a few photos, & likely one of the best views in the city.

Giardino del Rose – You’ll find this stunning Rose garden on the hill on the way up to Piazzale Michelangelo. It is a lovely spot to get some peace & quiet away from the bustling metropolis. With classic Tuscan scenery surrounding it, it would be the perfect place for an afternoon picnic, overlooking the city.

The Ponte Vecchio – Florence’s most famous bridge. Not many bridges have buildings on top of them, but the Ponte Vecchio does! This medieval stone bridge is lined with little boutique shops & is one of the most photographed attractions in all of Florence.

Duomo Florence (Santa Maria de Fiore) – The Duomo is the jewel of Florence, standing proud in the heart of the city this 15th century cathedral has the most breath taking design from the outside. It is well worth your time to stop by here & admire this master piece.

Munch on a traditional Florentine sandwich – Just about any café or sandwich shop will sell one of these on any corner in Florence. Do yourself a favour & grab one for lunch, you won’t be disappointed.

Grab a glass of wine from a wine hole – Florence is known for it’s ‘Buchette del vino’ or ‘wine holes’ which are small windows or doors in the walls of grand palaces & buildings. They’ve been used for hundreds of years to sell wine & have become quite the tourist attraction.

Where to stay?

We didn’t spend the night in Florence, as we visited on a day trip from Bologna. However, the city is vast & has many different options for accommodation. However, we did notice that especially nearing peak season (June – August) accommodation can get booked out well in advance, so make sure you plan for this when booking your trip.

Once again, we always use Booking.com to search for accommodation, & if we need something a little cheaper such as a hostel, then our go to is Hostelworld.

Verona

This magical city was perhaps our all time favourite on this tour of North Italy. We weren’t sure what to expect but Verona effortlessly enchants visitors with its blend of medieval architecture, charming piazzas, & touch of Shakespearean magic.

You may know Verona as the setting of the famous Shakespearean play ‘Romeo & Juliet’, but this city has so much more to give. Had we have had more time, we would have chose to stay here a couple of days. However, you can still cram as much into your day on a short trip.

You can find some ideas on what to in Verona, below:

Arena di Verona – Is Verona’s very own amphitheatre, built in the first century it is older than Rome’s Colosseum. Whether you admire it from the outside or choose to step inside, you can’t miss this masterpiece on a trip to Verona.

Juliet’s Balcony – Yes apparently her actual balcony does exist. Well, allegedly this is the place where Romeo proclaimed his eternal love for her. It is one of Verona’s most popular tourist attractions, so it does get very busy. It is free to visit the courtyard & look at the balcony, but will cost you 6 Euros to go inside the house & stand on the famous balcony. However, we do have to tell you that this site is incredibly overrated & there are far better things to see/do in Verona.

Wander through the historic centre – The heart of Verona is beautiful, with its historical treasures, vibrant local life, and an atmosphere that exudes the essence of Italy, Verona’s historical centre is a real journey through time, that leaves it’s mark on every visitor.

Walk along the riverside – We found this area along the river to be one of the most picturesque parts of the city. Great opportunity for some photos & the views across the city are simply beautiful. Wander up the adjacent streets & get lost in the atmosphere of Verona.

Torre dei Lamberti – This is one of Verona’s most epic viewpoints. This wonderful viewpoint can be found at the top of an 84 meter tower that offers sweeping views of Verona. From here, you’ll be able to see the historic centre, the Arena di Verona & the meandering Adige River, that curves it’s way thorough Verona.

Things to know before you go

Now you know all about the places you may be visiting. There are a couple of things we reckon you need to know before you go, that will likely help you plan, but also prepare for some hidden costs along the way.

• Firstly, if you can avoid travelling to Italy in peak season (mid June – August) then we would recommend that you do. During these months Italy becomes a lot busier, hotter & more expensive. We find that travelling during shoulder seasons, is a much more pleasant experience, not to mention cheaper!
• Secondly, as you’ll have found out from reading this blog it is quite easy to base yourself in one city/town & travel to others on day trips via train. Accommodation can be expensive in Italy, especially during peak season. Therefore, you could consider basing yourself in a more affordable city, such as Bologna.
• Be aware that if you choose to eat in restaurants most places will charge you an additional ‘coperto’ on top of your meal. This pays for any bread & oil you may have been given. It is definitely not a scam like we originally thought.
• Italy is a huge country, it would be wise to focus on one section of it if you are short on time. A road trip or inter train adventure across the country would be great, if you are there for a longer period.
• If you do end up travelling during the summer months, it is imperative that you book your accommodation in advance if you want to secure somewhere decent. This goes for attractions too, they sell out FAST! (Our spontaneous travel minds could not compute).
• It is important to know that all cities & municipalities will require you to register your stay with the local authority. As well as pay a tourist tax (usually around 1 – 7 Euros per person). You can either pay online before you arrive if your accommodation sends you a link. Or on arrival at your accommodation.
• Finally, Italy is a very safe country to visit. However, you should always be cautious of pick pocketers. Especially when you find yourself in crowded tourist hotspots, always hold onto your bag!

We thoroughly enjoyed our time travelling through some of North Italy’s most historic & beautiful cities. Moreover, we were so pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to visit them all via train. Make sure that if you are wanting to pre book your trains for peace of mind, you can book through Italo Treno. You can also get up to 75% off your train tickets, when you book here. By booking through this link, you’ll also be supporting our blog, which we are always grateful for.

If you enjoyed reading this blog, you can find more articles from our time in Europe right here.

Happy exploring 🙂