26 days in Northwest Italy Itinerary

Virtually unchanged for the last six centuries, Venice is actually a group of islands made famous by a series of canals, bridges, monuments, piazzas, and narrow pedestrian lanes.

Get out of town with these interesting Venice side-trips: Padua (Padua Botanical Garden - World Heritage Site, Basilica of St. Anthony, &more). And it doesn't end there: contemplate the waterfront views at Canal Grande, pause for some serene contemplation at San Giorgio Maggiore, admire the masterpieces at Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and admire the landmark architecture of Basilica di San Marco.

To see other places to visit, reviews, and other tourist information, refer to the Venice trip planning tool.

Sydney, Australia to Venice is an approximately 24.5-hour flight. Traveling from Sydney to Venice, you'll gain 9 hours due to the time zone difference. In May, plan for daily highs up to 26°C, and evening lows to 15°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 14th (Sun) to allow enough time to drive to Verona.

The famous setting for Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, Verona is one of northern Italy's main tourist destinations, largely owing to its incredibly rich artistic heritage.

Kick off your visit on the 15th (Mon): don't miss a visit to Piazza Bra, contemplate the long history of Arena di Verona, then steep yourself in history at Verona's Cathedral (Duomo), then admire the striking features of Arche Scaligere, and finally learn about winemaking at Recchia Vini. On the 16th (Tue), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: snap pictures at Ponte Pietra, contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore, step into the grandiose world of Museo di Castelvecchio, take a stroll through Piazza delle Erbe, then take in panoramic vistas at Torre dei Lamberti, and finally see the interesting displays at Casa di Giulietta.

To find more things to do, traveler tips, ratings, and more tourist information, refer to the Verona trip planner.

Getting from Venice to Verona by car takes about 1.5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a shuttle; or take a train. May in Verona sees daily highs of 27°C and lows of 13°C at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 16th (Tue) early enough to go by car to Milan.

In many ways the most modern of Italian cities, Milan is a busy, elegant metropolis with an impressive list of grand palaces, fine churches, and important museums.

Kick off your visit on the 17th (Wed): pause for some serene contemplation at Basilica San Lorenzo Maggiore, then take in the spiritual surroundings of Duomo di Milano, then step into the grandiose world of Castello Sforzesco, and finally admire the landmark architecture of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 18th (Thu): stroll the grounds of Monumental Cemetery, admire the masterpieces at Pinacoteca di Brera, then admire the masterpieces at Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, and finally get engrossed in the history at Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio.

For maps, other places to visit, more things to do, and other tourist information, refer to the Milan trip planning website.

Getting from Verona to Milan by car takes about 2 hours. Other options: take a train. In May in Milan, expect temperatures between 26°C during the day and 15°C at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 18th (Thu) early enough to go by car to Pisa.

Known worldwide for the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the city of Pisa historically served as a maritime power in the heart of Tuscany.

Kick off your visit on the 19th (Fri): admire the striking features of Leaning Tower of Pisa, don't miss a visit to Piazza dei Miracoli, then see the interesting displays at Museo Aviotruppe Esercito Italiano, then pause for some serene contemplation at Duomo di Pisa, and finally admire the landmark architecture of St Martin Cathedral.

For where to stay, traveler tips, reviews, and other tourist information, go to the Pisa trip itinerary builder app.

You can drive from Milan to Pisa in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or fly. In May in Pisa, expect temperatures between 25°C during the day and 13°C at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 19th (Fri) so you can go by car to Florence.

Considered a cultural, artistic, and architectural jewel of Italy, Florence is the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance.

Florence is known for sightseeing, museums, and historic sites. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: admire the masterpieces at Florence Academy of Fine Arts, contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, contemplate the long history of Basilica of Santa Croce, and appreciate the extensive heritage of Piazza del Duomo.

For where to stay, more things to do, maps, and tourist information, read our Florence planner.

Getting from Pisa to Florence by car takes about 1.5 hours. Other options: drive; or take a bus; or take a train. In May, plan for daily highs up to 25°C, and evening lows to 13°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 23rd (Tue) so you can drive to Siena.

Siena, a medieval Tuscan city, features numerous attractions, including a historic town center, alleyways, towers, and well-preserved buildings.

You'll find plenty of places to visit near Siena: Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona (in Castelnuovo dell'Abate) and il Cocco (in Montalcino). There's much more to do: awaken your taste buds at some of the top wineries in the area, explore the galleries of Palazzo Pubblico and Museo Civico, contemplate the long history of Centro Storico di Siena, and make a trip to Piazza del Campo.

To find more things to do, reviews, ratings, and other tourist information, use the Siena itinerary planner.

Traveling by car from Florence to Siena takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus; or take a train. May in Siena sees daily highs of 27°C and lows of 13°C at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 26th (Fri) early enough to go by car to Assisi.

Rich in culture and religious tradition, Assisi is known as the birthplace of St.

Start off your visit on the 27th (Sat): do a tasting at Tili Vini Societa Agricola, examine the collection at Museo della Porziuncola, then stop by Assisi Jewels, then pause for some serene contemplation at Basilica Papale e Sacro Convento di San Francesco d'Assisi, and finally do a tasting at Azienda Agraria Saio. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: pause for some serene contemplation at San Damiano, then contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Eremo delle Carceri, then step into the grandiose world of Rocca Maggiore, and finally pause for some serene contemplation at Cattedrale di San Rufino.

For reviews, traveler tips, maps, and more tourist information, read our Assisi travel planner.

Traveling by car from Siena to Assisi takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus; or take a train. In May, daytime highs in Assisi are 26°C, while nighttime lows are 13°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 28th (Sun) so you can drive to Rome.

Aptly nicknamed the Eternal City, Rome is the birthplace of the Roman Empire, one of the world's greatest civilizations ever.

Rome is known for historic sites, sightseeing, and nightlife. Your trip includes some of its best attractions: explore the ancient world of Pantheon, explore the galleries of Vatican Museums, contemplate the long history of Colosseum, and savor the flavors at Food & Drink.

To see photos, ratings, reviews, and more tourist information, read our Rome trip planning app.

You can drive from Assisi to Rome in 2.5 hours. Other options are to take a train; or take a bus. Plan for somewhat warmer nights when traveling from Assisi in May since evenings lows in Rome dip to 17°C. Cap off your sightseeing on the 3rd (Sat) early enough to catch the flight back home.