Camping in Nothern Italy

When you think of northern Italy, the first thing that comes to mind are the popular lakes on the edge of the Alps. Lake Garda, Lake Maggiore and Lake Como offer something for every taste. From here, it is not far to the lively historic centre of Verona or the fashion metropolis of Milan. The fine sandy beaches along the Adriatic are easy to reach from the lagoon city of Venice. Charming little bays and picturesque seaside resorts beckon in the west on the Ligurian Riviera.

Special features of camping in northern Italy

Summer, sun and water go hand in hand for Italy fans. Campsites in northern Italy are almost always located by a lake or the sea. An additional pool often promises swimming fun whatever the weather.

Camping in northern Italy is particularly enjoyable from May to September. The weather is good and the country and its people are at their best. The campsites are generally very well equipped and offer a wide range of leisure activities.

As far as opening times are concerned, the warmer the region, the longer the season. It starts on the coast and lakes in March at the earliest and in the mountains sometimes as late as May. The season ends at the end of October at the latest. Exceptions are some campsites that operate all year round.

Travelling to Italy

Travelling to Italy means crossing the Alps. This is possible via various passes and tunnels. There are some well-developed main routes. Smaller crossings with winding roads and steep passages are not recommended for caravans.

The best developed route with relatively low gradients is the motorway over the Brenner Pass. It leads from Munich via the A8 and A93 motorways to Austria, from there via the A12 to Innsbruck and via the A13 to the Brenner Pass to Bolzano in Italy. At 250 kilometres from Munich to Bolzano, this is also the most direct route to the south.

If you are coming from the south-west and want to get to Lake Maggiore or Liguria, travelling via Switzerland is a good alternative. From Lake Constance, take the A13 motorway via Bregenz in Austria through the San Bernardino Tunnel to Italy. From Lindau it is 280 kilometres to Varese.

From Lörrach, the route follows the A2 motorway via Basel, Lucerne and through the St. Gotthard Tunnel. The distance from Lörrach to Varese is 300 kilometres. Tolls are charged on the motorways in Switzerland and Austria, as well as in most tunnels.

Destinations in Northern Italy

Lombardy

The central region is Lombardy. It stretches from Lake Maggiore to Lake Garda. It is also home to the metropolis of Milan. It is not only known for fashion and design, its inhabitants have always had a passion for art and culture. The famous opera house, La Scala, and Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper are just two examples. Other highlights include the violin-making city of Cremona and Brescia, which is steeped in history.

Veneto

Veneto, with its fine sandy Adriatic beaches and the visitor magnets of Verona, Padua and Venice, borders on the east. Everyone should experience this lagoon city on the water; stroll across St Mark's Square and take a gondola ride on the Grand Canal. In Verona, the Roman amphitheatre is the perfect backdrop for classical opera performances. With a bit of luck, tickets are still available at short notice.

Piedmont and Trentino-Alto Adige

In the mountainous regions of Piedmont with the Aosta Valley and in Trentino-Alto Adige there are a few select campsites. These are more geared towards mountain hikers and climbers. There is also the glacier region where "Ötzi", a 5,000-year-old glacier mummy, was found. It can be seen in the archaeological museum in Bolzano and you can also learn interesting facts about life back then. Merano with the "Sissi Castle" Trauttmansdorff, surrounded by unique gardens, is also definitely worth a visit.

Activities and excursions

Whether as a family or as a couple: beach holidays are possible almost everywhere when camping in northern Italy. Guests can also choose from many other activities, from cycling and boat trips to golf.

On the coasts

On the Adriatic, there are well-maintained, paid beaches (bagni) with parasols, sun loungers and everything else you need for a beach holiday. In Liguria there are smaller bathing bays, colourful fishing villages and fashionable seaside resorts. Holidaymakers can enjoy a wonderful hike along the famous Cinque Terre or take a tour of the coast from a fishing boat. There is also a fascinating underwater world for divers or those who would like to learn the sport.

On the lakes

Surfing on Lake Garda, paragliding from the surrounding mountains or experiencing a guided canyon tour: The possibilities are wide-ranging. If you prefer something a little quieter, take a trip across the lake or hire an e-bike to explore the surrounding area. Of course, you can also explore the landscape in hiking boots on well-marked trails or on the back of the beautiful Haflinger horses. Golf enthusiasts will find some very picturesque courses in Northern Italy.

Gastronomy

Pasta and ham, wine and espresso - it's easy to get carried away. There are 1,000 reasons to leave the camping kitchen cold and indulge in regional flavours in a nice restaurant. Culinary tours are also often offered, be it to an Alpine cheese dairy, a local winery or a cycle tour to selected restaurants.

Eel is a speciality around Venice and fresh fish and seafood are available on the coast. Otherwise, meat dishes are often on the menu, tender and subtly flavoured and quite reasonably priced in the trattoria. They are served with pasta or risotto and fresh vegetables. Something sweet (dolce) to round off the meal. In addition to wine, spiced olive oil or lemon liqueur from Lake Garda are also suitable take-away holiday souvenirs.

Best time to travel

In northern Italy, the weather is Mediterranean in character, right down to the valleys of the mountain regions that are open to the south. Even at the large lakes, the temperature is regularly above 20 degrees Celsius from May to September. In March and April it is rather cool with average temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius and the mountains are still covered in snow. A good time for city trips.

The hottest months are July and August, when the 30 degree mark is often broken. The proximity to the mountains offers the advantage of being able to escape to cooler altitudes. It tends to be warmer and sunnier on the coasts. There can be up to 15 days of rain across the region in May and 10 in July, but it rarely rains all day and the sun dries everything quickly.