COACH TOUR: Take in the highlights of northern Italy on this 6-day coach tour which also visits Switzerland. Enjoy guided sightseeing in Milan and see Juliet's Balcony in fair Verona. Take a boat ride on Lake Como and see the stunning scenery of Lake Garda. Cross into Switzerland as you ride the UNESCO-listed Bernina Express Railway to San Moritz and enjoy exploring beautiful Bergamo independently.
Trip Highlights
Included
Not Included
Itinerary
Exploring Milan
Welcome to Milan! On arrival in the city you will be collected at the airport by our representative and transferred to the hotel.
This afternoon, commencing at approximately 14:30 from the hotel, we enjoy a three-hour walking tour of the city with our local guide. We head first to historic Venice Gate. The present day structure is from the 19th century but the origins of the gate can be traced back to medieval and even Roman times.
We stroll through the Indro Montanelli gardens and past the Galleria d'Arte Moderna. See the iconic La Scala opera theatre and the Duomo, probably the highlight of the city. Construction of this imposing cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete. Our final stop is Castello Sforzesco, a medieval fortress built in the 1400s by the Duke of Milan.
Near the Castello, we visit a bakery for 'happy hour' and enjoy an aperitivo or two. An aperitivo is a pre-meal drink, designed to open the stomach before dining. It is a centuries-old Italian custom. An aperitivo is usually an alcoholic drink but non-alcoholic options are available. After our drink, the rest of the day is free for you to explore Milan further at leisure.
Please note: Pick-up from the hotel is at approximately 14:30 for our tour of Milan, so we strongly recommend arriving in Italy the day before your holiday starts, to avoid missing the tour!
Overnight: Milan
Bernina Express train to Switzerland
Milan - St Moritz (Switzerland) - Milan. Today we ride the famous UNESCO-listed Bernina Express, a heritage 100-year old railway that travels through the Italian and Swiss Alps, boasting some of the most incredible alpine scenery in Europe.
After breakfast at the hotel we transfer to Tirano near the border with Switzerland, and it is here that we board the train. We will be guaranteed seats in the panoramic carriage, the best place to admire the sweeping alpine views! During our two hour train ride we pass through impressive mountain tunnels and chug through quaint alpine towns and villages. See the peaks of the Swiss Alps as we cross the border, before arriving in the exclusive ski resort town of St Moritz. There's free time to explore the Swiss town before we meet our driver and travel by coach back to Milan, where the evening is at leisure.
Overnight: Milan | Breakfast
Lake Como & Bergamo
Milan - Lake Como - Bergamo. Departing Milan, we drive first to stunning Lake Como, the most famous of the Italian Lakes. Boasting shimmering waters and dramatic alpine scenery, it is little surprise that celebrities flock here from all over the world - George Clooney, Donatella Versace and Madonna are just some of the stars known to own houses around Lake Como.
Lake Como is famous for it's Y-shape, and we'll enjoy a boat ride to Bellagio, a small town that sits idyllically where the two southern arms of the lake fork away. There is free time to explore this small town and enjoy the surrounding views before we head back across the lake and journey to Bergamo, a city split between the modern citta bassa (lower town) and the medieval citta alta (upper town). The evening is at leisure.
Overnight: Bergamo | Breakfast, Dinner
Lake Garda
Bergamo - Lake Garda - Sirmione - Riva del Garda - Bergamo. Today we take in another of the Italian Lakes - Lake Garda. We enjoy a panoramic tour of the lake's west coast, admiring the scenery of the UNESCO-listed Brenta Dolomites and the Moraine Hills. There will be time for you to try some of the local olive oil or wine.
Our next stop is Sirmione, on the shores of the lake. We'll enjoy a short boat tour, during which we'll see the lakeside Sirmione Castle and the ruins of Catullus's Villa. Back on land, there is free time to find a quaint local restaurant for lunch. We then return to Bergamo, making a stop in Riva del Garda en route, in order to admire its beautiful Venetian-style historical centre.
Overnight: Bergamo | Breakfast, Dinner
Exploring fair Verona
Bergamo - Verona - Milan. This morning we drive to Verona, where an expert local guide will lead us on a guided tour. Walking down the city's narrow streets you can embrace the fascinating history of Verona, from its Roman origins to its Renaissance palaces.
Two of legendary playwright William Shakespeare's plays were set in Verona: Two Gentlemen of Verona and of course, Romeo and Juliet. We pay a visit to "Juliet's Home" and see the legendary balcony which is said to have inspired the famous "O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?" scene.
Making our way back to Milan, we stop in the winemaking region of Franciacorta for an included lunch and a glass or two of wine. Arriving back in Milan, your final evening is free to relax at the hotel or head out and explore.
Overnight: Milan | Breakfast, Lunch
Milan
Today our tour comes to an end after breakfast at the hotel. Ciao!
Breakfast
Travel in 2023
Please note: This itinerary is for departures in 2024. If booking this tour for travel in 2023, please be aware that it is a 5-day tour, ending in Milan at the end of day 5. In 2024, an additional night in Milan has been added to this trip. Please speak to our Reservations team for further information.
Prices & Dates
Departure dates are guaranteed with a minimum of 2 persons. 'Twin/Double' prices are per person when there are 2 people on the same booking sharing a room. 'Single' prices are applicable to solo travellers and anyone wanting the privacy of their own room. Room sharing is not available on this tour.
Hotels
The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard.
Antares Hotel Concorde, Milan
Located just a short distance from Milan city centre, the Best Western Antares Hotel Concorde welcomes guests with an elegant lobby, including a fibreglass fountain by sculptor Aurelio Gentilio. Rooms are bright and spacious, with classic decor, air-conditioning, ensuite bathrooms, bathrobes and satellite TV. The onsite restaurant La Piazzetta and accompanying wine bar are open until 23:00, serving a range of traditional Italian cuisine. Free Wi-Fi is also offered. Other onsite amenities include a fitness centre, and a buffet breakfast is served daily.
Starhotels Ritz, Milan
StarHotels Ritz is a luxurious 4-star hotel located in the heart of Milan, Italy. With its prime location just a few steps away from the famous Corso Buenos Aires shopping district, the hotel offers easy access to some of Milan's most popular attractions, including the Duomo, La Scala theatre, and the fashion district. The hotel boasts 197 stylishly appointed rooms, each featuring modern amenities, ensuite bathrooms and elegant furnishings. Guests can enjoy a range of facilities and services, including a fitness centre, sauna, free Wi-Fi and the Grill Bruschetteria restaurant serving delicious Italian cuisine. The hotel also has a stylish rooftop terrace and bar where guests can relax and unwind with a drink after a long day of exploring the city.
Hotel Cappello D'Oro, Bergamo
This 4-star Best Western Signature Collection hotel is located in the centre of Bergamo, within walking distance of the funicular cable car to the centre of the town. Modern guest rooms offer a minibar, tea and coffee making facilities, ensuite bathrooms, air-conditioning, TV and Wi-Fi. A buffet breakfast is available from 6:30 at the onsite restaurant and the hotel also comes equipped with a small gym. This hotel is part of the 'Stay For the Planet' project, and is committed to sustainable practices and reducing its environmental footprint, for the benefit of guests and the planet.
Starhotels Cristallo Palace, Bergamo
StarHotels Cristallo Palace is a modern 4-star hotel housed in a glass building in the charming city of Bergamo. The hotel is situated in a peaceful residential area, just a short distance from the city centre and its main attractions, such as the historic Piazza Vecchia and the stunning Cittadella. Offering 90 spacious and elegantly designed rooms, each room features one of the brand's famous Starbeds, large windows, ensuite bathrooms and television. Facilities at the hotel include free Wi-Fi throughout the property, a fitness centre, sauna, and onsite restaurant serving a great mix of local and international cuisine. The Perry Bar is a great place to enjoy a drink in the evening.
Reviews
Travellers have rated this tour as 3 out of 5 based on 3 recent reviews
A single room in Milan - a double would have been nice since a single supplement was paid.
The location in NoLo was dreadful - travelling alone, I didn't want to walk around the area. Most eating places were shut. People loitering around hotel to sell things.
The restaurant at the hotel - Concorde - was either closed, or if open, the food was bad.
I ended up eating sushi on my bed, from the supermarket next door. I had to do that for two nights.
The itinerary should be changed to overnight in Verona, after lake garda, rather than returning to Bergano - long days in the bus and big distances.
Hotel in Bergano was excellent.
Tour guides were great - both ladies were informed, and spoke English well. ”
Hotel in Milan was below a 4* rating we would give it a 3*
Breakfasts okay, Included evening meals just okay, Aperitivo and Winery meals good
Itinerary was as stated fast paced, with the trip to St Moritz we need not of returned to Milan possibly staying in Bergamo
The idea of splitting the 2 different language groups was excellent
Our guide Monica was excellent, full of knowledge and enthusiastic about showing us ”
starting with lowlights and finishing with highlights. Marketed as a Lakes AND Gardens tour, there was no opportunity to visit gardens of historical renown during the tour. The lakes aspect was good at Como having time during a ferry ride to enjoy the surrounding estates and villas. Garda was a short boat trip around a promontory with good historic information and enjoyable, however most of the lake was seen driving in the bus. I was disappointed about the number of hours spent in the bus each day driving the same piece of Autostrada because of a deal with Best Western for accomodation in Milan and Bergamo. That directly impacted on any free time to explore the interesting villages and historic sites in several of the places visited. We had 7.30 starts to drive for three hours and then only time to get coffee or lunch before more travel.
Tour guide in Milan answered calls and spent time on the phone during our tour and was effectively offline and the same thing happened in Verona. I thought this was unprofessional as they were both in the middle of a job with microphones to provide information to us tourists.
Sabrina was lovely and did her best. Understandably she could not fill in the repeated hours over the same piece of Autostrada.
The best meal was served at the Winery on the last day. It was authentic Italian food prepared and served with pride.
The other best was the Bernina train which was just amazing.
I would only cautiously recommend this tour to people who dont mind sitting for hours travelling and dont know about good italian food.”
At a Glance
A single room in Milan - a double would have been nice since a single supplement was paid.
The location in NoLo was dreadful - travelling alone, I didn't want to walk around the area. Most eating places were shut. People loitering around hotel to sell things.
The restaurant at the hotel - Concorde - was either closed, or if open, the food was bad.
I ended up eating sushi on my bed, from the supermarket next door. I had to do that for two nights.
The itinerary should be changed to overnight in Verona, after lake garda, rather than returning to Bergano - long days in the bus and big distances.
Hotel in Bergano was excellent.
Tour guides were great - both ladies were informed, and spoke English well. ”
