Lake Como, the Dolomites and Venice

The Last Supper and the Duomo in Milan, the villas of Varenna and Bellagio on Lake Como, the Seceda, the Alpe di Siusi and the Tre Cime in the Dolomites, and St Mark’s Basilica and the canals of Venice.

Day by day Open the itinerary in the app

Milan → Lake Como → Dolomites → Venice · 12–14 days

The route on the map, in the itinerary’s order.

ItalyMilan
Days
1–2
When
Apr–Jun · Sep–Oct
Per person/day
Average 150–220 EURMid-range · per person/day
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. Editorial estimate, not a quote.
ItalyLake Como
Days
3
When
May–Jun · Sep
Per person/day
Explore costsGuide estimate
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. Editorial estimate, not a quote.
ItalyDolomites
Days
6
When
Jun–Sep
Per person/day
Explore costsGuide estimate
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. Editorial estimate, not a quote.
ItalyVenice
Days
2–3
When
Apr–Jun · Sep–Oct
Per person/day
Average 180–330 EURMid-range · per person/day
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. Editorial estimate, not a quote.

Who it is for

For anyone who wants northern Italy with a lake, mountain walking and Venice, and accepts a day on the road between valleys.

Not for anyone travelling outside summer, since the Dolomites section is about walking and depends on snow and on the lifts running, from late June to September.

The strategy

Milan comes first, with the Last Supper booked months ahead, and from Milano Centrale to Varenna the direct train takes about 64 minutes; stay in Varenna, in the middle of the lake, and use the boats for Bellagio and the Tremezzina. The longest leg is from the lake to the Dolomites: a train to Bolzano, with a change on the way, then bus 350 to Ortisei in Val Gardena. Allow half a day or more and plan no hike on arrival. In the Dolomites, split the nights between Ortisei and Cortina, with one day just for the move, and plan the connection on Südtirolmobil and Dolomiti Bus if you travel without a car. From Cortina, the Cortina Express bus runs down to Venice. There, choose a hotel near a vaporetto stop, since the bridges have steps. You fly home from Marco Polo airport. The second half of September falls in the best season at all four stops.

What you will see

Duomo di Milano, Milan. Gothic cathedral begun in 1386 in Candoglia marble, with 135 spires and about 3,400 statues; the golden Madonnina, from 1774, stands at 108.5 m.
Villa Monastero, Lake Como. In Varenna, the house museum and garden reveal an old property transformed over centuries.
Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Dolomites. The group of three large walls can be viewed on walks from Rifugio Auronzo.
Basilica di San Marco, Venice. Ducal church begun in 1063 on a Byzantine Greek-cross plan, consecrated in 1094, with about 8,000 m² of gold-ground mosaics.

Day by day