Now Is the Time for Northern Italy

As I tuned into the Winter Olympics taking place across northern Italy, my eyes were repeatedly drawn not to the superhuman feats but to the gorgeous backdrops: jagged mountain peaks, pine forests, Verona’s Roman amphitheater repurposed to host the closing ceremony…. It looked like an ideal vacation spot.

If you too found yourself distracted by the beauty of northern Italy, know that the rest of 2026 is likely an optimal time to visit. The roads up into the mountain villages were improved for the Olympics, and Milan, now buffed and shined, is ready to play host to Design Week in April and Fashion Weeks in June and September. The Games also ratcheted up the level of accommodations in the region: Rocco Forte opened The Carlton in Milan, and the renovated Aman Rosa Alpina brings a new standard of hospitality to the Dolomites. Based on what we saw in Paris after the 2024 Olympics, and given the improvements made in Italy for the 2025 Jubilee Year, the coming months should offer an upgraded experience of northern Italy, with fewer crowds and considerably lower prices than during the Games.

Beyond Milan and Cortina, there is so much to explore across northern Italy, from Liguria and Piemonte to the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Use our Insider’s Guides below, and the additional Italy Guides here, to inform your next journey. If you’re not sure which locales best suit your personal wish list, just ask us:

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The Lakes Region: The Best of Lake Como and Beyond

The Dolomites: An Outdoor Playground in Winter and Summer

The Cinque Terre: Insider Tips for the Italian Riviera

Venice: Hidden Gems Along the Storied Canals

Umbria: A Less Crowded Alternative to Tuscany

Secrets of Florence: What Not to Miss