Northern Italy Itinerary from Dublin: Milan, Rome and Venice

Arrival and transfer

Fly from Dublin Airport to Milan today, allowing roughly 2–3 hours in the air plus check-in, baggage and the transfer into town. From Milan Malpensa, take the Malpensa Express to Milano Centrale—about 50 minutes and roughly €13; trains usually run every 20–30 minutes. From Milan Linate, the M4 metro reaches the centre in around 12 minutes, with San Babila the most useful stop for central Milan. Leave your bags at the hotel before exploring; February evenings are cold, and comfortable waterproof shoes will be useful on the cobbled streets.

Late Afternoon: Brera

Once settled, spend about 90 minutes wandering Brera, one of Milan’s most atmospheric neighbourhoods. Follow Via Brera, Via Fiori Chiari and the smaller lanes around Via Madonnina, where you’ll find art galleries, old courtyards and smart cafés. If you arrive early enough, the Pinacoteca di Brera is worth a focused visit, though it generally closes around 19:15 and requires a timed ticket; otherwise, save the museum for another day and enjoy the district at street level.

Evening: Castle and park

Walk north-west from Brera—roughly 15 minutes—to Castello Sforzesco. The castle courtyards and exterior are free and usually accessible into the evening, making them ideal after the museums have closed; allow about an hour to look around and see the imposing towers and red-brick walls. Continue through Parco Sempione, which is especially peaceful in winter, following the broad paths towards the Arco della Pace. Allow 45 minutes, but keep to the better-lit routes after dark and expect the park to feel quiet outside daylight hours.

Dinner

Finish at Trattoria Torre di Pisa in Brera, a traditional, characterful choice for Milanese cooking. Reserve ahead—especially for a Tuesday evening—and expect around €35–€55 per person before drinks. Look for local specialities such as risotto alla milanese, ossobuco or cotoletta, and keep the evening unhurried after the flight. From Parco Sempione, it is a pleasant 15–20-minute walk back through Brera; a short taxi ride is simpler if you are carrying luggage or the weather turns wet.

Morning

Start early at the Duomo di Milano, ideally with a timed ticket for around 9:00. Allow about two hours for the cathedral interior and rooftop terraces; the rooftop visit is the highlight, with lifts available for an easier ascent and stairs usually cheaper. Tickets commonly range from €15–€25 depending on access, and modest clothing is required. Afterward, step straight into the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II for half an hour beneath its glass-and-iron roof. It is free to enter, though the cafés are expensive; look for the bull mosaic on the floor, where locals traditionally spin on the heel for luck.

Continue on foot through the centre to Piazza della Scala, about five minutes away. Take in the exterior of Teatro alla Scala and the square, then pause for lunch nearby rather than eating directly beside the Duomo, where prices are highest. From here, Pinacoteca di Brera is roughly a 15-minute walk through the elegant Brera district, or a short tram ride. Reserve an entry slot in advance if possible; allow two hours for its Raphael, Mantegna and Caravaggio works. Standard admission is generally around €15, with reduced prices and occasional temporary exhibitions varying by date.

Late Afternoon and Evening

Head toward Pavé in Porta Venezia for coffee and something light—its pastries, brioche and cakes are particularly good, with €8–€20 enough for a drink and snack. From Pavé, take the M1 or M3/M2 combination toward Porta Genova, then walk into the Navigli area; allow roughly 25–30 minutes. Finish with an unhurried stroll beside the canals, especially around Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese, then choose an aperitivo bar for a drink and small buffet or snacks, usually around €12–€20. The canals become livelier after 18:30, but arriving slightly earlier gives you better photos and a calmer walk.

Morning arrival and market lunch

Take an early Italo or Trenitalia Frecciarossa from Milano Centrale to Firenze Santa Maria Novella, ideally departing between 07:30 and 08:30. The journey takes just under two hours; allow another 30–45 minutes to walk to your accommodation and leave luggage, or use the staffed luggage facilities at Firenze Santa Maria Novella if your room is not ready. From the station, Mercato Centrale Firenze is about a five-minute walk through the San Lorenzo district. Spend an hour browsing the food stalls and Tuscan produce, then choose something informal for lunch—lampredotto, fresh pasta, crostini or a plate of cured meats. The market’s ground floor generally operates from morning into the afternoon, while the upstairs food hall usually stays open later, but individual stalls vary.

Midday and afternoon in the historic centre

After lunch, walk a few minutes to the Basilica di San Lorenzo, one of Florence’s most important Renaissance churches. Allow around 45 minutes to see the sober Brunelleschi interior and the Medici connections; check the official opening hours before setting out, as church hours can change around services, and expect roughly €8–€10 for standard admission. Continue south-west towards the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, taking in the marble façade and the immense dome, then pause outside Giotto’s Campanile. This afternoon visit is deliberately exterior-focused, so you avoid squeezing in a timed dome or museum booking after the train journey; if you want to enter the cathedral, admission is usually free but queues can be lengthy, and shoulders and knees should be covered. Continue through the narrow streets to Piazza della Signoria and Loggia dei Lanzi, where the open-air sculptures are best appreciated in the late afternoon light. It is only about a 12-minute walk from the cathedral, with plenty of opportunities to wander via Via dei Calzaiuoli.

Evening

For dinner, walk back towards Santa Maria Novella and settle in at Trattoria dall’Oste, a popular choice for Florentine steak, ribollita and other Tuscan specialities. Reserve ahead—especially for a Friday or Saturday—and expect approximately €35–€60 per person depending on the steak and wine. The restaurant is conveniently close to your accommodation and the station, so keep the evening relaxed after the early start. Florence is compact enough to explore on foot, but if your luggage or hotel is farther out, local buses and trams accept contactless payment; avoid taxis for short central journeys unless the weather turns poor.

Morning: Florence to Rome and the historic centre

Take an Italo or Trenitalia Frecciarossa Firenze Santa Maria Novella around 07:30–:00, arriving at Roma Termini after roughly 1 hour 30 minutes. With station time and a quick luggage drop, you should be ready to explore by late morning. Head first to Piazza Navona, around 15–20 minutes from Termini by bus or taxi, and spend about 45 minutes taking in Bernini’s Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, the church of Sant’Agnese in Agone, and the square’s Baroque atmosphere. February is usually quieter than the warmer months, but cafés around the piazza charge a premium—better value is found on the surrounding streets.

Walk roughly five minutes to the Pantheon, checking the official ticketing arrangements before travelling; entry is generally around €5, with reduced or free admission occasionally applying to certain visitors. Allow 45 minutes inside, and dress respectfully as it remains a functioning church. From here, take a taxi or public transport west towards Prati—allow about 20–30 minutes depending on traffic—for lunch at Pizzarium Bonci. Choose several rectangular slices of pizza al taglio, priced by weight; €10–€20 per person is usually enough. It is a standing, informal stop rather than a long meal, which suits the match-day schedule.

Afternoon and evening: rugby in Rome

Leave Pizzarium Bonci with plenty of time for the match venue: allow at least 90 minutes for security, ticket checks and finding your entrance, and confirm the official kick-off time and stadium instructions when the fixture details are released. Rome’s rugby crowd is friendly but the approaches become congested, so use public transport and avoid driving; carry only a small bag and check the stadium’s restrictions in advance. After the Ireland v Italy match, make your way towards Testaccio for the evening. Depending on the venue and crowds, this may take 25–45 minutes by metro, bus or taxi. Settle into a busy neighbourhood bar around Via di Monte Testaccio or Piazza Testaccio for a celebratory drink and something casual to eat—keep the evening flexible, as post-match transport can be slower than usual.

Morning: Colosseum and Ancient Rome

Start at the Colosseum with a timed entry around 8:30–9:00, before tour groups fill the arena. Allow about two hours for the amphitheatre, including security; bring photo ID if your ticket is nominative, and expect the official combined ticket covering the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill to cost roughly €18–€25 depending on the booking option. From the Colosseum, continue on foot through the archaeological area—there is no need to retrace your steps, and comfortable shoes are essential on the uneven stone paths. Give the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill another two hours, taking time for the viewpoints over the Forum and Circus Maximus. February can be chilly and exposed here, so carry water and a light extra layer; the sites generally open around 8:30, but confirm the seasonal closing time when booking.

Lunch and the Centro Storico

Walk west towards Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina—roughly 25 minutes, or take a short taxi if your legs are tiring—and book well ahead, particularly for a Saturday. This is a proper sit-down lunch rather than a quick deli stop: expect around €45–€70 per person, with Roman classics such as carbonara and amatriciana alongside excellent cured meats and cheeses. After lunch, stroll to Campo de’ Fiori, usually about five minutes away. The market is liveliest earlier in the day and is quieter by afternoon, but the square remains a useful starting point for wandering through the lanes around Via dei Cappellari and Via dei Giubbonari. Keep an eye on bags in crowded areas and avoid buying heavily marked-up souvenirs directly around the square.

Late afternoon and evening

From Campo de’ Fiori, walk for approximately 20 minutes towards the Trevi Fountain, passing through the atmospheric streets of the historic centre. Arrive around 16:30–17:00, when winter light is fading and the worst daytime crowds often begin to thin; the fountain is free and open around the clock, though the surrounding barriers and pedestrian flow can change. Continue for 10 minutes to the Spanish Steps for early evening. The steps themselves are a place to pause rather than sit for a long picnic—local rules prohibit eating and drinking on them—and the nearby Via Condotti and Via del Babuino make a pleasant final walk. For dinner, stay in the surrounding streets or use Rome’s Metro A from Spagna, but check the last service and expect occasional evening closures; a taxi is the simplest option back to your accommodation.

Morning: Arrive beside the Grand Canal

Take an early high-speed train from Roma Termini to Venezia Santa Lucia, ideally departing between 07:00 and 08:00. The journey takes roughly four hours, so you should reach Venice around midday; allow a little extra time for disembarking and storing luggage. Santa Lucia station opens directly onto the Grand Canal, and Venice is almost entirely pedestrian, so comfortable shoes and a small day bag are far more useful than wheeled luggage. Walk or take a vaporetto towards San Polo, checking into your accommodation or using luggage storage before lunch.

Early afternoon: Rialto and the market

Head first to Rialto Market, where the produce and seafood stalls give you a much better feel for working Venice than the grand sights do. The market is liveliest in the morning and usually winds down by early afternoon, so arrive as soon as you can after settling in; the main market area is generally closed on Sundays and Mondays, so check the 2027 schedule if your date falls on one of those days. From here, it is only a few minutes to Rialto Bridge. Take your time on the steps and upper walkway for the classic view along the Grand Canal, then wander through the narrow lanes of San Polo rather than following the busiest signs. A vaporetto ride is about €9–€10 for a single ticket, while a 24-hour pass is worthwhile if you expect to make several crossings.

Mid-afternoon and evening: Frari, seafood, and St Mark’s

Walk south-west through San Polo to the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, one of Venice’s most atmospheric churches. Allow about an hour for the Gothic interior and its major Titian works; opening times vary with services, but it is commonly open in the afternoon with a modest entry fee of roughly €5. Afterwards, make your way across to Osteria alle Testiere in Castello for dinner—allow around 20–25 minutes on foot, or use a vaporetto if your feet are tiring. This tiny seafood restaurant is popular for good reason, with dinner typically costing €50–€80 per person before drinks, but it has very few tables, so reserve well ahead and confirm the February opening days. Finish at St Mark’s Square, reached in about 10 minutes from the restaurant. The illuminated Basilica di San Marco, Doge’s Palace exterior and surrounding arcades are especially beautiful after the day-trippers have gone; stay for a quiet circuit around the square, then walk back through the lantern-lit lanes or take a vaporetto towards Santa Lucia.

Morning: Venice’s grand centre

Begin at Doge’s Palace around 8:30–9:00, before San Marco becomes busiest. Allow about two hours for the Gothic halls, monumental paintings and the Bridge of Sighs; the standard ticket is usually around €30 and is best booked through the official Venezia Unica website. From there, walk straight into Basilica di San Marco for about an hour. Entry to the basilica is generally free, though timed access and the museum or upper galleries cost extra; shoulders and knees should be covered, and large bags must be left at the nearby luggage deposit. Venice is quietest early, so resist rushing—take a few minutes in the piazza to look up at the mosaics and façades.

Afternoon: Dorsoduro art and cicchetti

Cross toward Dorsoduro via Ponte dell’Accademia, a pleasant 15-minute walk, or take a vaporetto if your legs need a break. Spend around 90 minutes at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, open roughly 10:00–18:00 and typically costing about €16–€18; it is compact enough for a relaxed visit and has one of the city’s best Grand Canal settings. Afterwards, settle into a cicchetti lunch in Dorsoduro—Cantine del Vino già Schiavi on Fondamenta Nani is a local favourite for inexpensive small plates and an ombra of wine, while Osteria Al Squero opposite is handy for a casual spritz and snacks. Allow €15–€30 per person, and expect standing or limited seating rather than a conventional restaurant meal.

Late afternoon and departure

Finish with a 45-minute walk along the Riva degli Schiavoni, heading east from San Marco toward Castello. The lagoon views are especially good in winter light, and this is an easy final stretch without another museum or booking. For Dublin, allow at least two hours before departure at Venice Marco Polo Airport. From Venezia Santa Lucia, the Alilaguna boat is scenic but can take around 75 minutes; the ATVO coach from Piazzale Roma is usually quicker at roughly 20–25 minutes, with city buses also available. Check your airline’s terminal and bag-drop deadline, and leave extra time to return to the station, collect luggage and cross Venice on foot—there are no taxis through the historic centre.