EuropeSeptember 20195 min read
5 Highlights of a Visit to Northern Italy and Slovenia
In short
In July 2019, our family of four spent 5 days in northern Italy and Slovenia, based in Vicenza and Novara, on a road trip to and from Croatia. Our highlights were Verona, Venice, Trieste, Milan and Ljubljana. The stay cost 851 EUR (about 954 USD at 2019 rates), including easyJet flights at 21 and 28 EUR per person.
- Dates
- 2019-07-08 to 2019-07-10; 2019-07-20 to 2019-07-22
- Number of days
- 5
- Cities we visited
- Verona, Vicenza, Venice, Trieste, Milano, Ljubljana
- Inbound
- Morocco by plane
- Outbound
- Spain by plane
- Mode of transport
- Rental car
- Distance travelled (car & foot)
- 1351 km
- Number of photos taken
- 2180 (436 per day)
- Currency
- The Euro (1,00 EUR = 1.14 USD)
In July 2019, we spent 5 days in northern Italy and Slovenia, based in Vicenza and Novara, on our way to and from Croatia. Our five highlights were Verona, Venice, Trieste, Milan and Ljubljana. The whole stay cost our family of four 851.00 EUR (954.25 USD), including easyJet flights at 21 and 28 EUR per person.
We love Italy for its history, its culture and its food, and we go back whenever we get the chance. This time, our Canadian friends the Malicki family joined us for 14 days of pure joy: a road trip along the Adriatic coast, with stops in Slovenia and Croatia.
Our 5 Highlights in Northern Italy and Slovenia
Verona
Verona was a must. This romantic city is where Shakespeare set the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet, and you can still see Juliet’s house and her balcony. But Verona has far more real history to offer than a fictional love story: it has the richest collection of Roman remains in northern Italy. Its Roman amphitheatre, built 2,000 years ago to hold 30,000 spectators, is among the best preserved anywhere.
Venice
Since the start of our world tour, we had visited the “Venice of the North” (Amsterdam and Bruges), the “Little Venice” (Colmar), the “Venice of the East” (Udaipur) and the “Venice of Asia” (Bangkok). We also knew the “Venice of the Alps” (Annecy), Venice in Los Angeles and The Venetian in Las Vegas and Macao.
But the real Venice has no equal. The Serenissima, the City of the Doges, the Queen of the Adriatic, the Floating City: does it need an introduction? The Grand Canal, the Rialto, St. Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, the gondolas, the vaporettos and the carnival. We came for the day from our base in Vicenza, and a ride along the Grand Canal by vaporetto is a must. That says it all.
2026 update: Since 2024, day-trippers to Venice’s historic centre pay an access fee on peak days. In 2026 it applied on 60 days from April to July, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.: 5 EUR if booked at least 4 days ahead, 10 EUR otherwise. Visitors staying overnight are exempt (source).
Trieste
On our way back from Croatia, we discovered the quiet port city of Trieste. Living in the shadow of its neighbour Venice, Trieste is not particularly touristy, but it deserves a short stop. Its atmosphere is both Italian and Central European.
Milan
We spent a day in Milan, a city we already knew well. We kept it simple: a stroll around Milan Cathedral and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, with a gelato and an espresso. The cathedral, which I consider the most beautiful Catholic church in the world, is as impressive as ever. This mountain of marble is one of the largest churches in the world, and it took 6 centuries to complete!
Novara, where we spent two nights, has a large and beautiful cathedral whose dome reminded us of the Capitol in Washington.
Ljubljana
To reach Croatia from Italy, we had to cross Slovenia: the perfect opportunity to explore Ljubljana, the capital of this small country. A ride on the tourist train gave us a good first taste of the city. According to Greek legend, Jason and his Argonauts killed a dragon in a marsh near what would later become Ljubljana, and the dragon is now the city’s symbol. The Dragon Bridge and Ljubljana Castle are its main attractions.
Unfortunately, we hadn’t planned to spend more time in the country. Too bad, because the landscapes we drove through were stunning!
How to Plan a Trip to Northern Italy and Slovenia
Itinerary: Vicenza, Trieste and Novara
Milan Malpensa was then easyJet’s second-largest base after London Gatwick, so our flight from Marrakech to Malpensa cost only 21 EUR per person, and the flight from Malpensa to Madrid only 28 EUR per person.
Our final destination was Croatia, so we built our itinerary to fit in 5 days in Italy and Slovenia. We spent 2 nights in Vicenza, an easy base for Verona, Venice and Ljubljana (Slovenia) on our way to Croatia. On the way back, we discovered Trieste, then settled for 2 nights in Novara, a few kilometres from Malpensa, for day trips to Milan and Lake Maggiore.
We had already been to Venice, Verona and Vicenza (3 times each for me, once for Jessica and the boys), as well as Milan (3 times for Jessica and me, once for the boys). But going back is always a pleasure!
Accommodation
We spent 2 nights at the AC Hotel Vicenza, a Marriott category 1 hotel, for only 7,500 points a night!
2026 update: Marriott Bonvoy scrapped its award chart and hotel categories in March 2022. The number of points for a free night now varies with demand and the hotel’s cash rates (Afar).
In Novara, we stayed in an Airbnb for 2 nights.
Getting Around by Rental Car
We rented a Renault Clio in Milan for the 14 days we spent in Italy, Slovenia and Croatia.
What to Eat in Italy
Italian food needs no introduction. Here is our recipe for happiness in Italy: two espressos and two gelatos a day.
For us, Italy has the best pizza in the world. My favourite is the capricciosa: mozzarella, Italian ham, mushrooms, artichokes and tomatoes. One tip: don’t order a “pepperoni” pizza, or you may end up with a pepper pizza. Ask for salami instead!
How Much Did 5 Days in Northern Italy Cost?
We treated ourselves in Italy, and our wallet felt it. Of all the countries on our trip so far, Italy ranked first for food costs and second for transport, mainly because of expensive tolls and parking. But when you love, you don’t count! For our family of four, the stay cost:
- 851.00 EUR (954.25 USD) in total;
- 213.00 EUR (238.84 USD) per day;
- 53.00 EUR (59.43 USD) per person per day.
In detail:
| Expense Category | Amount Spent |
|---|---|
| Flights | 86.00 EUR / 96.43 USD |
| Accommodation | 67.00 EUR / 75.13 USD |
| Transport (including gas, tolls, parking) | 381.00 EUR / 427.23 USD |
| Eating out | 192.00 EUR / 215.30 USD |
| Groceries | 67.00 EUR / 75.13 USD |
| Activities | 58.00 EUR / 65.04 USD |
| Total | 851.00 EUR / 954.25 USD |
Amounts were paid in euros. US-dollar equivalents use the average exchange rate during our trip (July 8–10, 2019): 1 EUR = 1.12 USD.
Conclusion
Our short stay in northern Italy is far from everything the country has to offer. Italy has never disappointed us and has always left us with unforgettable memories. As for Slovenia, this short introduction to Ljubljana gave us a taste of the country, and a reason to come back.
Don’t miss our next adventures in Croatia!
Questions travellers ask
How many days did you spend in northern Italy and Slovenia?
5 days in July 2019, with 2 nights in Vicenza and 2 nights in Novara, as part of a 14-day road trip with friends that also included Croatia.
How much did 5 days in northern Italy cost?
For our family of four, 851 EUR (about 954 USD at 2019 rates), including 381 EUR for transport (gas, tolls and parking) and 192 EUR for restaurants.
Where did you stay to visit Venice and Verona?
We stayed 2 nights at the AC Hotel Vicenza, paid with Marriott points. Vicenza made an easy base for Verona, Venice and Ljubljana.
How did you get around northern Italy and Slovenia?
We rented a Renault Clio in Milan for the 14 days we spent in Italy, Slovenia and Croatia. Tolls and parking made transport our biggest expense.
What should you see in Ljubljana?
The Dragon Bridge and Ljubljana Castle are the city's main attractions. A ride on the tourist train gave us a good first taste of the city.