The centuries-old town square of Vernazza in Cinque Terre. © TheRealDestinations 2009
While Venice takes the spotlight for Italy's north—and rightly so, the less widely known destinations of Lake Como and Cinque Terre offer amazing sights—and an escape—from the sometimes overwhelming tourism that flows into the canals. Seasoned travelers have polarizing experiences of Venice, and I suspect this is very much due to this. Pick the right time of year to visit here. See below.
Cinque Terre consists of 5 small coastal towns tucked away on Italy's northwest coast, not far from Genoa. It's like the Amalfi Coast in the south, on a smaller, more quaint scale. A bit off the beaten path, these small towns offer a more authentic version of traditional Italy while still offering some great sights. Still...it doesn't quite match the sheer scale and spectacular scenery of the Amalfi Coast (see Southern Italy).
Lake Como, just a short train ride north from Milan, sits in the foothills of the Alps. The lake, surrounding mountains, and very pretty nineteenth century architecture make it another lesser known destination that is worth every bit of time spent detouring here.
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The Good:
Venice lives up to the hype. You will never see another place anywhere like it. A perfectly preserved, medieval metropolis built on the riches of silk road trade. All sitting right on the water, where the canals are your only streets. Your only two options to get around: sidewalks or a boat.
Lake Como is equal parts relaxing, charming, and very pretty. The lake + mountains aesthetic is hard to beat here, while centuries of affluent vacationers have left their mark: lakeside palaces and villages that only add to the atmosphere.
Cinque Terre gets you off the beaten tourist path, to experience a taste of authentic Italy on the craggy coast.
The Bad:
Venice is notorious for an over-abundance of tourists. Remember, there are no streets, only narrow medieval sidewalks. Unless you have the serious $$ for private boat service, you're only other option to cover long distances is public ferry, where each boat can only fit so many passengers. Bottom line: Do NOT pick the summertime to visit here.
In contrast, Lake Como is less well known on the tourist circuit and located in the foothills of the Alps. You DO you want to visit here in the summertime, where hills and gardens come alive.
Apart from Cinque Terre, nothing about this area will be remotely cheap.
La Serenissima. The Most Serene Republic of Venice, as it was once known. © TheRealDestinations 2014
the Summary:
You may want to split this region into two trips. It's centrality located and well connected by train anyway, not some remote corner of the Italian peninsula. Lake Como and Cinque Terre in the summer, Venice in the off season. But let's be clear, both Lake Como and Venice are definitely worth visiting at some point.
Italy is probably still one of my very top favorite countries to visit, and the North shows why. Even with the amazing sights of the South, and the famous attractions of Rome and nearby Florence and Siena, there still yet more to see in this mainland portion of the country. Combine that with excellent food and surroundings that feel like you’ve stepped out of a time machine.
It's easy to forget that Venice was an independent naval and trade power for most of history prior to Napoleon's tornado through Old Europe at the dawn of the nineteenth century. During the Middle Ages, Venice grew rich as the gateway to the East. After it was sidelined by the Atlantic trade in the colonial era, it basically fell into obscurity and grew increasingly dependent on tourism. That's reflected in both the incredible attractions still preserved in the city, and also just the sheer scale of this medieval city
A rare spell of snow in Venice, during the winter. © YC 2014
Varenna, one of the picturesque towns on Lake Como. © TheRealDestinations 2009
Modern mass tourism can easily overwhelm Venice, leading to a less-than pleasant experience by many seasoned travelers. Yes, there is the jostling through crowds in narrow spaces while weathering hot summertime temperatures. But without streets of any kind (only canals) your only choices to cover longer distances are walking (through said narrow spaces) and the public ferry. With only limited space on each ferry boat and crowds of visitors lined up, you can see the simple logistical problem here.
What to do? Visit in the winter! The fog just adds to the atmosphere of the city. You'll likely still get some sunny days...hopefully. Hotels will be cheaper. But most importantly, there will be FAR fewer tourists there. It'll feel like a real city again, where you can wander freely and explore quiet, empty side canals. Spring and Fall could also be good bets, but I'd play it safe and go on the earlier/later end.
When to Visit
Winter or early Spring/late Fall for Venice. Not winter for Lake Como and Cinque Terre.
Language Barrier
With all the visitors, you'll likely find others who can speak at least some English anywhere you go.
Price Level
Comparable to home.
Getting There
~$650 Roundtrip or 60K miles on Star Alliance or OneWorld carriers.
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The Grand Canal in twilight.
© TheRealDestinations 2014