Northern Italy's Highlights & Cinque Terre — Self-Launched
10 days · Northern Italy
Globus charges £2,250
No-markup version: ~£985 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 10-day independent version of Globus's Milan-to-Milan loop through Emilia-Romagna, Liguria and Piedmont — Duomo and Sforzesco Castle in Milan, Parma ham and parmesan country, balsamic vinegar in Modena and the Ferrari Museum at Maranello, Lucca's walled old town, a boat along the Cinque Terre coast, Genoa's caruggi and pesto, wine at a Piedmontese castle, Turin's Mole Antonelliana, and a rice-country lunch in Vercelli. Same places, same tastings — done by regional train and bus, with self-bookable tours and tastings replacing the coach and tour director. Costs are rough backpacker/mid-budget estimates in GBP, excluding flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Milan — Duomo, Galleria and welcome aperitivo
Milan
Land at Malpensa or Linate and take the Malpensa Express or the M4 metro into the centre (~£11-13). Check into a hostel or budget guesthouse near Porta Venezia or Centrale, then walk the classic circuit: Piazza del Duomo, the glass-roofed Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and the outside of La Scala and Sforzesco Castle (free to wander the courtyards and Parco Sempione). Instead of the tour's hotel welcome dinner, do a self-guided aperitivo crawl in the Navigli canals — one drink usually comes with a buffet (~£10-14).
🚌Malpensa Express or M4 metro from airport (~£11-13); walking and metro in town
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Milan (~£30-38)
- →Duomo & Galleria self-guided walk
- →Sforzesco Castle courtyards
- →Navigli aperitivo
Milan guided walk, then train to Parma via Busseto
Milan / Busseto / Parma
Join a GetYourGuide or Walks of Italy small-group Milan walking tour covering the Duomo, Galleria, La Scala and Sforzesco Castle (~£30-40, 2.5-3 hrs), or DIY with a Duomo rooftop ticket (~£15) if you'd rather climb the terraces. Take a regional train Milan–Parma (~£10-14, 1h45) and break the journey at Busseto for Piazza Verdi, the Giuseppe Verdi Theatre exterior and the Rocca dei Marchesi Pallavicino. Book a parmesan dairy visit directly with a local caseificio near Parma (many run morning tours with tasting, ~£12-18; ask your guesthouse to call ahead). Evening in Parma's Oltretorrente for cheap torta fritta and salumi.
🚌Regional train Milan–Busseto (~£8-10), local bus Busseto–Parma (~£3), or direct train Milan–Parma (~£12)
🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse in Parma centre (~£30-38)
- →Guided Milan walking tour (GetYourGuide)
- →Busseto Verdi sites
- →Parmesan caseificio tour & tasting
Parma sightseeing, Modena balsamic and Maranello
Parma / Modena / Maranello
Morning self-guided loop of Parma's Cathedral, the octagonal Baptistry (combined ticket ~£10) and the bell tower. Afternoon: train to Modena (~£6) and either book the Acetaia Leonardi tour and tasting directly (~£15-20, reserve online by email) or join a Modena balsamic-and-food walking tour on GetYourGuide. From Modena take the shuttle bus to Maranello for the Ferrari Museum (~£17-22 entry, book online) — bus from Modena station ~£5 return. Return to Parma by evening regional train.
🚌Regional trains Parma–Modena (~£6 each way), Maranello shuttle bus (~£5 return)
🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse in Parma (~£30-38)
- →Parma Cathedral & Baptistry
- →Acetaia Leonardi balsamic tasting
- →Ferrari Museum Maranello
Train to Lucca — walls, towers and amphitheatre piazza
Lucca
Regional train Parma–Lucca via Pisa or Viareggio (~£12-16, 2-2.5 hrs). Lucca needs no guide: rent a bike (~£4-5/hr) and ride the tree-lined Renaissance walls, then tick off Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, San Michele in Foro, the Clock Tower (Torre delle Ore) and the Guinigi Tower with its rooftop trees (~£5-7 each, combo tickets available). Grab a slice of torta co' becchi and a glass of Montecarlo wine, and stay inside the walls for the evening atmosphere.
🚌Regional train Parma–Lucca (~£12-16); bike hire (~£5)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Lucca's historic centre (~£32-40)
- →Bike ride on Lucca's walls
- →Guinigi Tower & Torre delle Ore
- →Piazza dell'Anfiteatro & San Michele
Cinque Terre by train and boat — overnight Genoa
Cinque Terre / Genoa
Train Lucca–La Spezia (~£7), then buy the Cinque Terre Treno Card (~£18-25 for a day pass with unlimited village trains) and hop between Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. Replace the tour's group boat with the public ferry along the coast (Consorzio Marittimo Turistico 5 Terre, ~£15-25 one-way, weather permitting) — best views of the villages from the water. Free time and a swim at Monterosso. Late afternoon train to Genoa Brignole (~£8, 1h15) for two nights.
🚌Regional trains Lucca–La Spezia (~£7) and La Spezia–Genoa (~£8); Cinque Terre Treno Card (~£20); ferry (~£20)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel near Genoa's old town (~£28-35)
- →Cinque Terre village-hopping by train
- →Coastal ferry ride
- →Monterosso beach time
Genoa old town, pesto class and maritime history
Genoa
Morning free walking tour of the caruggi (tip-based, ~£8-10) or a GetYourGuide Genoa old-town tour covering San Lorenzo Cathedral, the Ducal Palace and the Christopher Columbus house on Piazza Dante. Book a pesto-making workshop with mortar and pestle at a local cooking school or eatery (~£35-45 with aperitivo) — the direct-bookable equivalent of the Globus Choice. Afternoon at the Galata Museo del Mare (~£16-19, includes submarine Nazario Sauro). Dinner on Via del Molo or in the Porto Antico.
🚌Walking; local bus/metro day ticket (~£4)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Genoa (~£28-35)
- →Genoa old town walking tour
- →Pesto-making workshop
- →Galata Museo del Mare & submarine
Wine tasting in the Piedmont hills, on to Turin
Gabbiano / Turin
The tour's Gabbiano Castle lunch is hard to replicate exactly, but the Langhe and Monferrato hills around Asti and Canelli are full of family wineries and castelli doing cellar tours with tastings — book a Castello di Gabbiano-style winery visit direct (~£25-40 including lunch or tasting) or join a GetYourGuide Langhe wine-tasting day trip from Asti or Alba. Take the train Genoa–Asti (~£10, 1h15) and continue Asti–Turin (~£7, 45 min). Evening stroll Turin's Quadrilatero Romano and try gianduja and a bicerin.
🚌Regional trains Genoa–Asti–Turin (~£17 total); local bus to winery (~£4)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Turin (~£28-35)
- →Piedmont winery tour & tasting
- →Asti old town stop
- →Turin evening food walk (self-guided)
Turin — royal squares and the Mole Antonelliana
Turin
Morning self-guided or GetYourGuide Turin walking tour of Piazza Castello, the Royal Palace exteriors and the Cathedral of St John the Baptist (home of the Shroud chapel). Book the Mole Antonelliana National Cinema Museum ticket online (~£14-17) and take the panoramic lift to the spire (~£8 extra). Afternoon coffee at a historic caffè (Caffè Fiorio or Al Bicerin) and a wander through Porta Palazzo market. Optional day-trip alternative: the Egyptian Museum, Italy's best (~£17).
🚌Walking; tram day ticket (~£4)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Turin (~£28-35)
- →Turin guided walking tour
- →Mole Antonelliana & Cinema Museum
- →Cathedral of St John the Baptist
- →Porta Palazzo market
Vercelli rice country and risotto, back to Milan
Vercelli / Milan
Train Turin–Vercelli (~£6, 50 min). The Vercelli rice plain is Europe's biggest — several aziende risicole (rice farms) run visits and tastings on request, and the Museo della Risiera at Salasco tells the cultivation story (~£8). Better still, time it with the Tenuta Sella or Principato di Lucedio rice-estate tours (~£12-20). Lunch on a proper panissa or risotto alla vercellese in town (~£12-15). Late afternoon train Vercelli–Milan (~£8, 1h) for a farewell dinner of ossobuco or cotoletta in the Brera district.
🚌Regional trains Turin–Vercelli (~£6) and Vercelli–Milan (~£8)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Milan (~£30-38)
- →Vercelli rice estate visit
- →Risotto lunch in Vercelli
- →Farewell dinner in Brera
Last morning in Milan and departure
Milan
Breakfast at a pasticceria (a maritozzo and espresso, ~£4), a final wander through the Castello Sforzesco park or the Bosco Verticale district, then take the Malpensa Express or M4 metro to the airport (~£11-13). If your flight is late, drop bags at the station and do the Duomo rooftop terraces.
🚌Malpensa Express or M4 metro to airport (~£11-13)
🛏—
- →Pasticceria breakfast
- →Bosco Verticale stroll
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Globus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Globus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£985 | £2,250 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,265 per person (56%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Globus-style trips? Check them out here.~£985
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Northern Italy's Highlights & Cinque Terre — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £985 per person for 10 days in Northern Italy. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Globus?+
Yes — Globus charges around £2,250 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £985 — a saving of roughly £1,265 (56%) per person.
How long is the Northern Italy trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Northern Italy.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, foodie, city-breaks trip through Northern Italy, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.