13 days in Northwest Italy Itinerary

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

You'll visit kid-friendly attractions like Colosseum and Trevi Fountain. Get outdoors at Scuba & Snorkeling and Passeggiata di Gianicolo. Next up on the itinerary: steep yourself in history at St. Peter's Basilica, delve into the distant past at Palatine Hill, appreciate the extensive heritage of Piazza Navona, and explore the world behind art at Vatican Museums.

To see reviews, other places to visit, maps, and other tourist information, use the Rome trip planner .

Paphos, Cyprus to Rome is an approximately 8-hour flight. You can also do a combination of bus and flight; or do a combination of bus, car, and flight. You'll gain 1 hour traveling from Paphos to Rome due to the time zone difference. Expect a daytime high around 38°C in August, and nighttime lows around 24°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 11th (Sat) early enough to take a train to Florence.

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

Kick off your visit on the 12th (Sun): get to know the fascinating history of Piazza del Duomo, then contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, then explore the world behind art at Uffizi Galleries, and finally relax and float downstream with a rafting and tubing tour. On your second day here, enjoy breathtaking views from Campanile di Giotto, take in the views from Ponte Vecchio, then admire the natural beauty at The Boboli Gardens, then get great views at Piazzale Michelangelo, and finally examine the collection at Galleria dell'Accademia.

Find out how to plan Florence trip without stress by asking Inspirock to help create an itinerary.

You can take a train from Rome to Florence in 1.5 hours. Other options are to drive; or fly. Traveling from Rome in August, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be little chillier in Florence, with lows of 20°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 13th (Mon) early enough to take a train to Venice.

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.

Kick off your visit on the 14th (Tue): steep yourself in history at Scala Contarini del Bovolo, admire the striking features of St Mark's Campanile, snap pictures at Ponte dei Sospiri, then hit the best photo ops around with an inspiring photography tour, and finally contemplate the waterfront views at Canal Grande. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: admire the striking features of Basilica di San Marco, then admire the striking features of Doge's Palace, then appreciate the extensive heritage of St. Mark's Square, and finally snap pictures at Ponte di Rialto.

To see traveler tips, where to stay, ratings, and other tourist information, go to the Venice road trip planning site .

You can take a train from Florence to Venice in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. In August in Venice, expect temperatures between 34°C during the day and 22°C at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 15th (Wed) so you can catch the train 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 16th (Thu): wander the streets of Quinzano, see the grandeur of opera at Arena di Verona, then wander the streets of Piazza delle Erbe, and finally identify plant and animal life at Parco Naturalistico delle Cascate-Family.

To find reviews, maps, photos, and other tourist information, you can read our Verona attractions planning tool .

You can take a train from Venice to Verona in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. In August, plan for daily highs up to 35°C, and evening lows to 20°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 16th (Thu) early enough to travel to Dongo.

Dongo is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy. Start off your visit on the 17th (Fri): enjoy the sand and surf at Spiaggia Tranquilla and then kick back and relax at Riva Bianca Beach. Keep things going the next day: make a trip to Museo della fine della Guerra, tour the water at your own pace with AC Boat, and then kick back and relax at Al Puunt-Snack Beach Bar.

To see where to stay, traveler tips, more things to do, and tourist information, read Dongo travel itinerary planner.

Traveling by car from Verona to Dongo takes 3 hours. Traveling from Verona in August, expect nights in Dongo to be about the same, around 20°C, while days are a bit cooler, around 31°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 18th (Sat) early enough to travel to Como.

Known for its idyllic location on the shores of Lake Como and at the foot of the Alps, Como is one of northern Italy's most popular tourist destinations.

On the 19th (Sun), explore the landscape on two wheels at Sentiero 6 - Valbasca, then look for all kinds of wild species at Oasi WWF del Bassone, and then enjoy the sand and surf at Spiaggia di Onno. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 20th (Mon): identify plant and animal life at I Falconieri del Feudo.

To find photos, reviews, where to stay, and more tourist information, you can read our Como trip itinerary tool .

Traveling by car from Dongo to Como takes 1.5 hours. Expect a daytime high around 33°C in August, and nighttime lows around 20°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 20th (Mon) to allow enough time to travel back home.