Austin Liu's Northern Italy trip

Travel day — land, drop bags, get moving.

Climb the Duomo roof, walk the Galleria, then wander the city center.

Aperitivo along the canals, then dinner and drinks.

Head north into the Dolomites. Train to Bolzano then bus, or rent a car for the switchbacks.

Arrive and explore the village and the surrounding peaks.

Sleep in the valley before the hike.

Trail up from Selva — steady climb, big views the whole way.

Lunch at the hut, then more hiking around the plateau.

Stay in the mountain hut — book ahead, it fills up.

Early descent to Selva to make the trains.

Bus + train down to Venice Santa Lucia.

Get lost on purpose, cross the Rialto, dinner near the water.

Go early before the square fills up. The Basilica line moves fast if you pre-book.

One more wander, then Venice → Florence on the high-speed train.

Walk the center, dinner near the Duomo.

Duomo first, then the piazza and the city center.

Cross the Ponte Vecchio, then Vivoli for the famous affogato. Wander from there.

Bought €3 wine and hung out overlooking Florence for sunset. Dinner and went out afterward.

Stop in Pisa for the Leaning Tower + Piazza dei Miracoli. An hour is plenty.

Explore Riomaggiore, Manarola, and Vernazza. One train covers all five villages — you can also hike between them.

Pick a village, find a terrace, stay for the light.

Beaches and the villages you skipped yesterday.

Train via Milan up to the lake.

Walk the waterfront, dinner by the lake.

Take the ferry across and explore both towns.

Where they filmed Star Wars. Then explore the small towns along the lake.

Back to Milan for the flight home.