Short trips in Northern Italy: day hikes to experience
You don't always need to travel for many days to feel like you're on a journey. Here are the most beautiful trails in Northern Italy to experience in a single...
Short trips. A few hours in nature, time to walk, breathe, look at a lake from above, or reach a sanctuary suspended between rock and sky.
You don't always need to go away for many days to feel like you're on a journey. Sometimes, a free day, a carefully packed backpack, and a trail that can change the rhythm of your thoughts are enough.
Northern Italy is rich in such paths: short but intense walks, among lakes, mountains, villages, woods, sanctuaries, and alpine landscapes. Day trips, perfect for those who want to take an active break without organizing overly demanding trips.
These routes are ideal for spring, summer, and early autumn, when the climate makes walking more pleasant and the light enhances every detail of the landscape. Perfect for small groups, families, associations, parishes, curious travelers, or simply for those who feel the need to travel light and return a little more refreshed.
Sentiero del Viandante (Wayfarer's Path): Abbadia Lariana – Varenna, Lombardy
On the eastern shore of Lake Como, the Sentiero del Viandante is one of the most picturesque walks in Northern Italy.
The route follows ancient mule tracks and mid-slope paths, passing through villages, woods, lake views, and small stretches suspended between water and mountain. It is a modular path, also suitable for those who only want to cover a part of it and return comfortably by train.
The section between Abbadia Lariana and Varenna is among the most loved: it offers luminous views of Lake Como, passages among olive and chestnut trees, charming villages, and that special feeling of slowly walking through a landscape that is both familiar and surprising.
Curiosity: the Sentiero del Viandante retraces ancient connections between the villages on the eastern shore of the lake, used for travel, trade, and community relations.
Useful info: the complete route can be divided into daily stages. The presence of the railway line along the coast makes it easy to organize shorter walks.
👉 Discover the route: https://www.in-lombardia.it/itinerari/sentiero-del-viandante
Ideal for: those who love lake-view walks, villages, and historical routes.
Lake Braies: lake circuit, South Tyrol
Lake Braies is one of those places that seem to belong to a fairytale imaginary: emerald-colored water, mountains reflected on the surface, woods, and simple but scenic paths.
The lake circuit is a short and accessible walk, perfect for those who want to experience a day immersed in nature without undertaking an overly demanding hike.
The route allows you to continuously change your point of view: at each bend, the lake appears different, sometimes more open, sometimes more secluded, sometimes framed by the peaks. It is a slow, contemplative walk, ideal for those seeking immediate beauty and a simple connection with the alpine landscape.
Curiosity: Lake Braies is considered one of the natural gateways to the Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park.
Useful info: during peak seasons, access to the valley may be regulated. It is advisable to check before departure and, if possible, arrive early.
👉 Discover the route: https://www.suedtirol.info/it/it/esperienze-eventi/natura/laghi-e-piscine-naturali/lago-di-braies
Ideal for: those looking for an easy, panoramic, and very picturesque walk.
Sanctuary of Madonna della Corona: Path of Hope, Veneto
The Sanctuary of Madonna della Corona is one of the most surprising places in Northern Italy. Built into the rock, suspended between mountain and valley, it seems to emerge directly from the wall of Monte Baldo.
The most intense way to reach it is the Path of Hope, which starts from Brentino Belluno and ascends towards the sanctuary. It is a short but challenging walk, made of steps, climbing, and silence, with views that become increasingly exciting as you approach the destination.
Here, the walk has an almost symbolic value: one ascends slowly, step by step, to a place that unites nature, architecture, and spirituality.
Curiosity: the sanctuary is embedded in the rock overlooking the Adige Valley, in a unique and very scenic position.
Useful info: the Path of Hope requires a minimum level of fitness. For those who prefer an easier route, there are also connections and shuttles from some nearby locations.
👉 Discover the route: https://www.madonnadellacorona.it/come-raggiungere-il-santuario/
Ideal for: those seeking a spiritual, panoramic, and meaningful walk.
San Romedio: the path in the rock from Sanzeno, Trentino
The Sanctuary of San Romedio is reached via one of the most unique routes in Trentino: a path carved into the rock, built along the course of an ancient irrigation channel.
The walk starts from Sanzeno and guides the hiker among rock walls, woods, and views of the valley, up to the sanctuary, built on a rocky outcrop and composed of several superimposed churches and chapels.
It is a short but very evocative itinerary, perfect for those seeking an unusual destination: not just landscape, but also legend, history, and spirituality.
Curiosity: according to tradition, San Romedio lived as a hermit in the company of a bear, a figure still associated with the sanctuary's imagery today.
Useful info: the route is generally easy, but it is always good to check if the path is open before departure, especially after periods of bad weather.
👉 Discover the route: https://www.visitvaldinon.it/it/itinerari/il-lez-di-san-romedio-il-famoso-sentiero-nella-roccia
Ideal for: those who love short, unique, and atmospheric walks.
Sacra di San Michele: ascent from Sant’Ambrogio di Torino, Piedmont
The Sacra di San Michele dominates the Susa Valley from above, with an unmistakable and almost legendary profile. Reaching it on foot means slowly entering a landscape of woods, stone, ascent, and silence.
The route from Sant'Ambrogio di Torino is one of the most authentic ways to approach the abbey. The ascent requires some effort, but the reward is great: arriving in front of the Sacra after walking makes the visit even more intense.
It is a place that unites spirituality, architecture, and landscape. A perfect destination for those looking for a short walk that can leave a lasting impression.
Curiosity: the Sacra di San Michele is one of the symbols of Piedmont and is linked to the figure of Archangel Michael.
Useful info: the route has uphill sections. It is advisable to tackle it with comfortable shoes, water, and at a leisurely pace, especially on hotter days.
👉 Discover the route: https://www.comune.santambrogioditorino.to.it/Guidaalpaese?IDPagina=43124
Ideal for: those seeking a historical, spiritual, and panoramic walk.
Cinque Terre: Monterosso – Vernazza, Liguria
The stretch between Monterosso and Vernazza is one of the most famous trails in the Cinque Terre. A walk overlooking the sea, among vineyards, steps, Mediterranean scents, and panoramas that suddenly open onto the Ligurian coast.
It is a short but not trivial route: it requires attention, suitable shoes, and a minimum of walking experience, especially on the steeper or more crowded sections.
The beauty of this itinerary lies in its rhythm: you start from the village, climb among terraces and dry stone walls, then the sea reappears from above, until the scenic arrival in Vernazza.
Curiosity: the terraces of the Cinque Terre tell centuries of human labor on a fragile and extraordinary landscape.
Useful info: access to the trails may vary depending on weather, maintenance, and flow management. Before departing, it is always advisable to consult the official website of the Cinque Terre National Park.
👉 Discover the route: https://www.parconazionale5terre.it/sentieri-outdoor.php?app_v2=true
Ideal for: those who love walking by the sea and passing through iconic villages.
Travel light, return refreshed!
A short trip is an excellent starting point for those with little time or experience: it encourages choosing the essentials, leaving behind the superfluous, and experiencing time with greater awareness.
A light backpack, a water bottle, a hat, a scarf, a small guide, something to share with the group: just a few carefully chosen items are enough to transform a simple outing into a small departure ritual.
Pilgrim's was created with this very spirit: to accompany those who walk, those who travel, those who leave even for just a day, offering what is truly needed.
Because every journey, even the shortest, can become a way to rediscover oneself.
And sometimes, a day, a path, and the desire to slow down are enough to feel already on a journey.
Discover the Pilgrim's Backpack line: https://jubileeofficialstore.com/collections/pilgrims-backpack