7 Days in Northern Italy: Milan Style, Venice Magic, and Classic Italian Food & Culture
Northern Italy has a flair for the dramatic: Gothic spires, Renaissance genius, and canals that turn every stroll into a scene. In a single week, you can explore Milan’s design-forward pulse and Venice’s water-bound beauty, traveling effortlessly by high-speed train.
Historically, this region helped shape Europe—from Venetian sea power to Milan’s patronage of Leonardo da Vinci. Today it’s a tapestry of art, fashion, slow-cooked risotti, and cicchetti (Venetian tapas). You’ll see the Duomo’s marble forest, marvel at The Last Supper, and glide past palazzi on the Grand Canal.
Practically speaking: book key tickets in advance (The Last Supper, St. Mark’s, Doge’s Palace) and pack comfortable shoes for cobblestones. Trains link cities in under three hours, espresso bars fuel mornings, and aperitivo softens sunsets. Food ranges from Milanese saffron risotto to lagoon-fresh seafood—always seasonal, always worth lingering over.
Milan
Italy’s fashion capital is also a powerhouse of art and architecture. The Duomo’s rooftop is a stone lacework in the sky; the Galleria glitters with Belle Époque grace; and in Santa Maria delle Grazie, Leonardo’s The Last Supper quietly upends expectations.
- Top sights: Duomo & terraces, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Sforza Castle, Brera district, Navigli canals.
- What to eat: cotoletta alla milanese, saffron risotto, panzerotti at Luini, and seasonal gelato from artisanal shops.
- Vibe: polished and creative—aperitivo culture thrives, design is a daily ritual.
Where to stay: Browse well-located apartments and hotels near the Duomo, Brera, or Navigli for easy walks and great dining.
How to get there and around: Fly into MXP or LIN; compare flights on Omio. The Malpensa Express connects MXP to Milano Cadorna/Centrale in ~35–50 minutes. Milan’s metro and trams are fast; Navigli and Brera are best on foot.
Venice
Venice is a masterpiece afloat: Byzantine domes, Gothic lacework, and narrow calli opening onto sunlit campi. Boats replace buses; dawn light gilds the lagoon; evenings are for prosecco and cicchetti at crowded counters.
- Top sights: St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Rialto Market, Peggy Guggenheim Collection, island-hopping to Murano & Burano.
- What to eat: lagoon seafood (spider crab, razor clams), sarde in saor, bigoli in salsa, and tiramisu born nearby in Treviso.
- Vibe: photogenic and historic—wander beyond San Marco into Dorsoduro and Cannaregio for a more local rhythm.
Where to stay: Base near San Polo/Dorsoduro for easy access to sights and fewer crowds after dark.
Travel between cities: Milan to Venice Santa Lucia by high-speed train is ~2h 25m. Book on Omio Trains from about €25–€55. In Venice, ride vaporetti (public boats) or walk; keep rolling luggage light for bridges.
Day 1: Arrive in Milan
Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Stretch your legs under the Duomo’s spires; step into the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II for a first espresso at Camparino’s historic bar and to admire the mosaics.
Evening: Aperitivo in Navigli—try Rita or MAG for polished cocktails. Dinner at Trattoria Milanese (old-school veal cutlet and ossobuco) or Osteria del Binari (garden setting, classic Milanese). Finish with gelato at Pavé Gelati & Granite.
Day 2: Duomo Rooftop, Brera, and The Last Supper
Morning: Breakfast at Marchesi 1824 (pistachio croissants are a local favorite). Ride the elevator to the Duomo rooftop for city panoramas and a close-up of marble pinnacles. Stroll to Brera for cobbled lanes, indie boutiques, and the Pinacoteca if you love art.
Afternoon: Join a skip-the-line small-group tour to see Milan’s essentials, including guaranteed entry to Leonardo’s masterpiece.
Milan Duomo & The Last Supper Skip-the-Line Small Group Tour
Evening: Aperitivo at Camparino or Terrazza Aperol with Duomo views. Dinner at Trippa (nose-to-tail trattoria—book far ahead) or Miscusi for fresh, affordable pasta. Nightcap along Corso Garibaldi.
Day 3: Lake Como Day Trip from Milan
Morning: Take a regional train from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino (~1h; check schedules and prices on Omio Trains). Wander Varenna’s walkway of lovers, then ferry to Bellagio (~15 minutes).
Afternoon: Explore Bellagio’s steep alleys and lake views. Lunch at Trattoria San Giacomo (simple lake fish, good local wines). If in season, stroll Villa Melzi’s lakeside gardens. Return via ferry and train to Milan.
Evening: Pizza at Piz (fast, joyful, Neapolitan-style) or gourmet pies at Dry Milano. Try a saffron risotto at Ratanà if you skipped pizza. Toast the day with a Negroni Sbagliato, born in Milan.
Day 4: Train to Venice, St. Mark’s Square at Dusk
Morning: Depart Milan for Venice Santa Lucia (~2h 25m; Omio Trains). Board the vaporetto down the Grand Canal—treat the ride like a moving museum of Gothic and Renaissance facades. Check in near San Polo or Dorsoduro.
Afternoon: Lunch near Rialto at Rosticceria Gislon (fried seafood cones, lasagna al forno). Explore St. Mark’s Square: admire the Basilica’s Byzantine mosaics and the Campanile’s brick tower.
Evening: Start a cicchetti crawl: All’Arco for crostini topped with baccalà mantecato; Do Mori for history-steeped counters; finish at Cantine del Vino già Schiavi with a spritz by the canal. Seafood dinner at Antiche Carampane (book ahead; “no pizza, no lasagna” and proud of it).
Day 5: Dorsoduro Art and Cannaregio Evenings
Morning: Coffee at Torrefazione Cannaregio (fresh-roasted blends), then the Gallerie dell’Accademia for Bellini and Titian. If modern art calls, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection’s sculpture terrace overlooks the Grand Canal.
Afternoon: Snack at Osteria al Squero—stand at the canal across from a traditional gondola workshop while nibbling cicchetti. Browse artisan mask-makers and paper marblers in backstreets.
Evening: Dinner at Al Covo (market-driven Venetian cooking) or Osteria da Alberto (hearty classics). For music, see what’s on at La Fenice (check schedules in advance); end with gelato at Suso or Nico (try gianduiotto con panna).
Day 6: Icons of Venice—St. Mark’s, Doge’s Palace, and a Gondola
Morning: Join a guided experience that strings together the city’s essentials—including the ultimate gondola ride—so you spend less time in lines and more time inside.
Best Of Venice: Saint Mark's Basilica, Doges Palace with Guide and Gondola Ride
Afternoon: Browse for Murano glass at reputable shops (look for artisan signatures). Cross the Rialto Bridge and dive into the market’s produce and fish stalls if open.
Evening: Celebrate with Venetian classics: bigoli in salsa and fritto misto at Vini da Gigio or Paradiso Perduto (live music some nights, lively canal scene). Try a local dessert wine such as Recioto with biscotti.
Family alternative: If traveling with kids, consider a storytelling tour designed for young explorers.
Venice' St Mark Basilica Wonders Guided Tour for Kids & Families
Day 7: Murano & Burano, Farewell to the Lagoon
Morning: Vaporetto to Murano to watch master glassblowers (arrive early for fewer crowds). Continue to Burano for rainbow-hued houses and lace-making heritage.
Afternoon: Lunch at Trattoria al Gatto Nero (Burano; seafood risotto, lagoon crab when in season). Return to your hotel, collect bags, and head to Venice Marco Polo Airport. Compare flight options on Omio.
Evening: If time remains, one last stroll along Zattere for sunset over Giudecca—gelato in hand, the Venetian way to say arrivederci.
Getting between Milan and Venice: Plan a morning departure on a Frecciarossa or Italo (~2h 25m, often €25–€55) via Omio Trains. Book a window seat for views of Lombardy’s plains transitioning to the Veneto.
Optional add-ons if you extend: Verona’s Roman arena and Romeo & Juliet lore; Padua’s Giotto frescoes; or a Brunello- and Chianti-focused day south from Florence (if you add a third city).
In one concise week, you’ll span Northern Italy’s greatest hits—Milan’s soaring Duomo and da Vinci’s genius, Venice’s gilded basilicas and quiet canals—linked by easy trains and long, delicious meals. The balance of icons and local haunts makes every day feel both essential and personal.