3 or more nights in 1 destination. Requires 1-2 miles of walking per day to participate in top sites primarily flat surfaces and with some stairs.
After a warm welcome at Milan’s Malpensa Airport, transfers depart for your hotel. Later meet your Travel Director and join a local historian to naviguate through Milan's history and the life of Leonardo da Vinci. See the impressive facade of Milan Cathedral and the world famous La Scala Opera House. Linking the two is the elegant glass vaulted shopping arcade of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, lined with luxury boutiques. Mingle and get to know your fellow travelers during your Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant.
Cross the fertile plains of Lombardy to fair Verona, the home of Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers. Explore its maze of elegant squares and visit the well-preserved Roman Arena, still used for opera performances. Explore Verona with Insight Choice. Choose a walking tour through the grand piazzas, see the statue of Dante and admire the Gothic tombs of the Scala family. Alternatively, embark on a Shakespeare-themed walk to recount famous moments from the story of Romeo and Juliet. Continue on to Trento, regarded as one of Italy's most appealing cities to live in.
Follow the Adige River north into the magnificent mountains and the distinctive limestone peaks of the Dolomites. Arrive at the town of Bolzano, where Italy and Austria culturally collide and you are at leisure to explore the arcaded streets and squares. Continue along the zig-zagging scenic route to Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy’s most exclusive ski resort and a beautiful alpine haven during summer.
Enjoy a day at your leisure in this fashionable playground of the rich and famous, surrounded by towering cathedrals of rock. Take in the fresh mountain air as you stroll the pedestrianized Corso Italia, lined with designer stores and backed by the impressive green and white bell tower of the parish church. Why not ascend to the summit of one of the nearby peaks for magnificent panoramic views of the Dolomites?
Travel down through more majestic Dolomite scenery to one of the world’s most breathtaking wine regions. Protected by the Alps to the north and caressed by the warm breezes from the Adriatic, the vineyards around Conegliano Veneto produce Italy’s most prized sparkling wine. Stop in Conegliano, where great care is taken to ensure these hand-picked grapes produce the world's finest prosecco. See how production differs from its more famous French counterpart, champagne. Be tempted with a taste of the crisp and aromatic flavors. Continue on to the unique and remarkable island city of Venice, Queen of the Adriatic and check into your hotel.
Wake up ready to embrace this romantic city. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience during a visit to a traditional arts center, where you can see how beautiful handcrafted glass is made by expert glassblowers, safeguarding traditional skills. What better way to see Venice than from a private boat, cruising past palazzos and churches to St. Mark’s Square? See the gilded basilica, the Doge's Palace and Lord Byron’s Bridge of Sighs. No visit to Venice would be complete without a gondola serenade through the myriad of beautiful canals. Relax and enjoy traditional local songs, as you drift along in romantic awe. Spend the afternoon as you wish. As night falls, why not savor the magic of St. Mark’s Square with its orchestras and al-fresco cafes?
Depart enchanting Venice journey to Lake Garda. Admire the castle and views over Lake Garda from the stylish resort of Sirmione perched on the tip of its peninsula. Cross the fertile lands of Lombardy to Lake Maggiore where Baveno beckons. Later you have a choice of cuisine and ambience from a hand-picked selection of local restaurants for your Dine-Around Evening.
Nestled in the foothills of the Alps, enjoy the glamour of the Italian Lakes, a prime people watching spot where Europe's rich and famous spend time too. Revel in the ambiance of Como town, renowned for its celebrity clientele, beautiful silk scarves and lakeside location, which you can admire during your orientation.
Relish a full day to relax and enjoy this popular resort and beautiful lake. Napoleon came here to plan his Italian Campaign, and Mussolini and Chamberlain met here before World War II to sign the Treaty of Stresa. Perhaps take a cruise out to the lovely Borromean Islands? Isola Bella is where Carlo Borromeo built his charming Palace.
Savor delicious Farm-to-Table cuisine during your Celebration Dinner, accompanied by some exquisite Italian wines. Raise a glass to your travels and newfound friends.
Your journey draws to a close in the morning and transfers arrive at Milan's Malpensa Airport.
Optional Experiences are subject to change. Your Travel Director will supply you with a final list of Optional Experiences available on your trip. Optional Experiences cannot be booked online; they can be purchased during your trip through your Travel Director.
Bolzano Visit and Ötzi the Iceman (Available on Day 3)With our Local Expert, we'll discover some of the spectacular highlights of Bolzano, including the Archaeologic sensation, media star, research topic and museum object: Ötzi in the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. Ötzi is a glacier mummy from the Copper Age, who, thanks to extraordinary circumstances, has been preserved to the present day.
Adult Price: €44 Grand Tour Of The Dolomites (Available on Day 4)Explore the colorful peaks and sheer valleys of the Dolomites – one of the most impressive mountain ranges in the Alps. Your full-day of discovery includes a thrilling cable car ride to the summit of one of the peaks for breathtaking 360 degree views. In a unique combination of nature and history, learn about the incredible war waged in the mountains with a visit to a WWI museum. Complimentary coffee and strudel is included.
Please note this optional is weather and season dependent.
Adult Price: €72 Dinner in the Mountains (Available on Day 4)This evening we'll drive through the countryside to the foot of the Tofane Mountain in the heart of the Dolomite Ranges, where we'll enjoy fantastic cuisine in a superb setting. We'll soak in the atmosphere of a popular local restaurant while enjoying traditional Northern Italian hospitality and sampling delicious regional specialties and local wine.
Please note this optional is weather and season dependent.
Adult Price: €75 Burano Excursion & Meal (Available on Day 5)Leave the hustle of St Mark's Square behind on a delightful private cruise around the islands of the Venetian lagoon. Alight at the island of Burano, a photographer's paradise, famous for its candy colored houses, artisan lace makers and leaning bell tower that would give Pisa a good run for its money. Enjoy a superb meal sampling the local specialties with wine included. An excursion not to be missed!
Adult Price: €82 Hidden Venice (Available on Day 6)To only experience Venice's big set pieces - St Mark's Square; the Rialto; the Grand Canal - is to miss out on a hidden world full of surprises! Join a Local Expert for a fascinating walk through some of the lesser known quarters of Venice. The back lanes and ‘campi’, small squares, where tourists seldom tread are full of history and great places to sample local life.
Adult Price: €37 Venetian Splendor (Available on Day 6)Venice is one of the most unique cities in the world and, after the crowds have left, it's at its most beautiful. We board our private water taxis and are whisked down the most famous canal in Venice - the Grand Canal! We witness the beautiful and spectacular palazzi adorning the most famous ‘street’ in Venice then travel under the remarkable Rialto Bridge to arrive in the center of it all, Piazza San Marco! There we have seats reserved outside a famous Venetian cafe, in front of a live orchestra! We enjoy a drink and gaze out at illuminated St Mark's sights while being serenaded. This is Venice at its most unique and magical An evening not to be missed, with images and sensations you'll never forget!
Adult Price: €65 Lake Orta Cruise (Available on Day 8)With our Local Expert, we'll experience the historical and spiritual heart of Lake Orta, one of the hidden gems of the Italian Lake District. From the comfort of our private launch, we'll enjoy the natural beauty of the lake, its backdrop of wooded hills and the mystical sacred island of San Giulio.
Adult Price: €48 Lake Como Cruise (Available on Day 8)Enjoy a scenic cruise on Italy’s most famous lake. See some of the most beautiful villas in Italy – homes to the rich and famous where many have stayed including Gianni Versace, Sophia Loren, George Clooney, Mussolini and Churchill just to name a few. Afterwards there is free time to enjoy shopping in the boutiques of Como, famous for its silk products.
Adult Price: €55 Isola Bella (Available on Day 9)The premier attraction of Lake Maggiore is the Borromean Islands. We'll take a private boat over to Isola Bella, the most famous island, renowned for its incredible palace and stunning Botanical Gardens. Our Local Expert will take us on a guided tour of this privately-owned palace, with free time to admire the gardens. A must!
Adult Price: €54