Get in and accompany us on our journey through deserted valleys and Italian villages in our Bull – we assure you'll get those summer feelings back!
First Stop: Camper station Pickup
It’s Friday morning 8 a.m., and we're in the S-Bahn on our way to the airport. We are surrounded by tourists lugging their large suitcases and panicking at the fact that they might have packed more than 23 kg.
We – Niklas, Sandra and Marietta – are carrying our bags, a picnic blanket and a volleyball… We don’t have to worry about the weight of our bags on our road trip to Italy. Nevertheless, we are slightly nervous as we are new to camping and excited about our first Italy roadtrip.
At the CamperBoys site (the rental is called Off Campers now) our worries about having packed too much or how to set up the bed quickly vanished thanks to Paul’s instructions, the co-founder of CamperBoys. He patiently explains everything we need to know on our road trip, from what fuel to get to cooking and to the extending the awning. We are ready to get on the road leaving the bad weather behind.
North Italy in 10 days - our route for the Italy roadtrip:
This is the versatile and recommendable route we came up with for our road trip through Northern Italy:
1st Stage: From Munich to Lake Garda, Italy (1 night)
2nd Stage: Via Verona and Cinque Terre (3 nights)
3rd Stage: Continue to Milan (2 nights)
4th Stage: To Lake Maggiore (3 nights)
5th Stage: Back to Munich via the Gotthard Pass
1. From Munich to Lake Garda
Travel time: 5 hours
Campground: Eurocamping Pacengo in Lazise
Our Italy roadtrip takes us through beautiful South Tyrol, vineyards as far as the eye can see and we could still enjoy the blossoming apple trees at the end of April.
A feeling of hunger arises. This is the right place to sunbathe in the middle of the vineyards and prepare something to eat. Fortunately, our camper van fridge is full, so we simply unpack our chairs and a table and enjoy the beautiful weather.
Homemade sandwiches, cake and the first signs of summer – what a great start to our holiday.
Through valleys, small abandoned villages and along Lake Garda we approach the first destination of our road trip: Lazise. At the shore of the lake we find a nice spot and are overwhelmed by the breathtaking sunset!
We can also directly inaugurate our camping kitchen – with Tortellini and Pesto. After extending the roof and folding down the back seats our camp is ready for the night. This was much easier than expected. Exhausted and content we tuck ourselves into bed, loving our new home!
2. Via Verona to Cinque Terre
Travel time to Verona: 40 min
Travel time from Verona to Deiva Marina (Cinque Terre): 4 h 30 min country roads
Early in the morning we follow the footsteps of Shakespeare to Verona. Problems finding a parking space? Not with our camper van. Our sightseeing tour can start! The history of Romeo and Juliet is present in the whole city. We like the Italian flair of this small town.
Our insider tip for tired legs: a stop at the Duchi Café – there you can get inspired by the Italian serenity with cappuccino and aperitif.
Mountains and Sea
Why take the highway when you can enjoy Italy’s unique landscape and nature? Thanks to hilly pass roads we are rewarded with breathtaking views of green valleys and raging rivers. As the feelig of hunger starts kicking in again – you will notice that food is important to us - we are flexible in our camper van and enjoy a snack right in the middle of nature. #lunchwithaview
A Campsite with a Certain Something
In the evening we arrive at our campsite which is located in plain nature. Definitely a secret tip for this region! With insider tips from the campsite owners the next three days will be unforgettable. We are overwhelmed by the hospitality, the clean sanitary facilities and the gravel floor which saved us from a battle with the mud after a rainy night.
A day in Cinque Terre
Strengthened by fresh baguette from our campsite bakery we start our trip to Cinque Terre – UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, we give our camper van a break and take the train. We recommend that you buy the Cinque Terre Card which allows you to use the walking paths between the five villages and unlimited train rides between La Spezia and Levanto.
Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore – each village has its own unique way of charming us. Especially the little village Manarola is fascinating with its colorful house facades, Italian charm and houses on the steep coast.
After 1,000 steps, 20 photo stops (we almost lost an influencer…) and wide eyes we end our evening with Pizza Parma and wine outside of our camper van.
Tips around Cinque Terre
Enchanting villages, picturesque views – but there is one disadvantage: tourist masses. If you go to the Cinque Terre be aware that you won’t be alone. Therefore, our tip is: visit in the low season and continue on a crossroad away from the famous Instagram motif. Despite mass tourism one thing is certain: Cinque Terre is an absolute must see on a roadtrip through Northern Italy!
Between Porto Fino and La Specia
Does Liguria sound familiar to you? Don’t worry, we haven’t heard of it either until embarking on our Italy roadtrip. The region in the northwest of Italy is captivating with its beautiful coastal villages, hiking trails and relaxed lifestyle – we will definitely come back!
Portofino – Jet-Set Life on the Italian Riviera
Today, we travel by train and bus to Portofino, a small fishing village with jet set character. Here you will find everything – from colorful facades, fishing boats to yachts. After a cappuccino at the main square - which is very expensive for Italian standards - we stroll through the village and enjoy the view on the Mediterranean sea. We have to admit that we expected a bit more from Portofino so we decided to continue to Santa Margherita Ligure.
Santa Margherita Ligure – The World Can Be So Small
In Santa Margherita the many small Italian shops inspired us to do a little shopping. After the successful shopping trip we visited our friend Simon who happened to be in the area just north of Santa Margherita. Time for an Italian aperitif with a view of the sun setting over the sea – what a day!
You also want to go on an unforgettable road trip through Italy? Rent your camper now!
Deiva Marina and the Cinque Terre were the southernmost points on our Italy Roadtrip. Our thoughts thus far: we love how flexible and spontaneous the camper van allows us to be, the stops in nature, the luxury of a kitchenette, a comfortable bed and some of the best views. We recommend the Kitchen-Hacks blog for all camping newcomers. You will find tips on what to bring and what to cook on your holiday!
Get excited for the second part of our trip to Milan, beautiful lakes and mountains.
