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Milan Explorer, Lakes & Alpine Train

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8 days

COACH TOUR: Take in the highlights of northern Italy on this 8-day coach tour which also visits Switzerland. Enjoy guided sightseeing, a memorable boat tour and lots of free time in Milan, one of Italy's favourite cities. 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.

For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more download our Trip Notes

Tour Overview

Duration

8 days

Starts

Milan

Ends

Milan

Range

Handpicked

Tour Guide

Tour leader escort & local guides for sightseeing

Group Size

Min 2 / Max 25

Minimum age

No minimum age

Departs

Thursdays

Hotel Rating

4-star hotels

Countries

Italy

Arrival Transfer

Yes. NB - Customers on the booking must travel on the same transfer.

Departure Transfer

Yes. NB - Customers on the booking must travel on the same transfer.

Meals included

Breakfast: 7, Lunch: 1, Dinner: 2
Save 20% today
Per Person From
$5,715.00
NZD$4,572.00
Deposit From
Final payment
NZD$1,000.00
$8,144.00

Tour Highlights

Milan - Join a guided walking tour of the city, enjoy a 'happy hour' aperitivo, free time and an included boat tour
Bernina Express - Ride this 100-year-old UNESCO-listed railway through the stunning scenery of the Alps
St Moritz - Disembark the train in this exclusive Swiss ski resort, with free time to explore at leisure
Lake Como - Cruise on this famous Italian lake to Bellagio an idyllic lakeside village
Lake Garda - Enjoy a panoramic tour of the lake's west coast and take a boat tour to see Sirmione Castle
Bergamo - Spend two nights in this city with free time to explore the medieval citta alta upper town at leisure
Verona - Take in the highlights of the city on a walking tour, including Juliet's Balcony, said to have inspired Shakespeare in Romeo & Juliet
Franciacorta - Stop in this rural winemaking area for an included delicious lunch and a glass of local wine or two

Included

7 breakfasts, 1 lunch & 2 dinners
7 nights 4 star hotels
Escorted by an English-speaking Italian tour leader with specialist guides for some sightseeing
Airport arrival transfer on day 1 and departure transfer on day 8
Transportation by deluxe coach with Wi-Fi, audio headsets and onboard toilet
Happy hour experience in Milan
Guided sightseeing in Milan & Verona
Tickets for the Bernina Express Railway from Tirano to St Moriz in the Panoramic Carriage
Boat transfers on Lake Como & Lake Garda
Milan boat tour
Note: Touring is operated in conjunction with other tourist groups, not solely On The Go. You will join travellers who booked through other operators for sightseeing each day, some staying in different hotels, and spend your evenings at leisure. The maximum group size on this tour is 25 persons. Guiding may be in an additional language to English

Not Included

International flights and visas
Additional meals and drinks unless specified
Entrance fees not mentioned in Inclusions
Tipping - an entirely personal gesture
City tax of €1 - 6 per person per night (tax varies by city), to be paid directly to the hotel at check-in/out. See Trip Notes for details. Please note we recommend paying your city tax when checking in or in the evening during your stay to save time on check out!

Itinerary

Day 1 - Welcome to Milan

Welcome to Milan! Meet our driver at Milan Malpensa Airport and enjoy a private transfer to your hotel.

Overnight: Milan

Day 2 - Exploring Milan

This morning is free to relax in the hotel, or head out and explore Milan at leisure. This afternoon, commencing at approximately 14:30 from the hotel, we embark on a three-hour walking tour of central Milan. We head down Via Spallanzani to reach Porta Venezia, one of the city's historical gates with medieval and possibly Roman origins. This gate also lends its name to the surrounding district. There's a local legend that it’s also known as "Porta Renza" because Renzo Tramaglino, a character from Alessandro Manzoni's novel The Betrothed, entered Milan through this gate.

Next, we continue along Corso Venezia, taking a shortcut through Giardini Indro Montanelli, a public garden. Across from the gardens, we pass by the Galleria d’Arte Moderna (GAM). From there, we walk down Viale Manzoni towards the La Scala opera house, which was inaugurated on August 3, 1778, and underwent major renovations between 2002 and 2004. Then, we see the Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano), where our guide will explain its main features. The tour concludes at Castello Sforzesco, a 15th-century fortress built by Duke Francesco Sforza. Nearby, we'll relax at a bakery with a typical aperitivo (happy hour). After the aperitivo, there's more free time to explore or return to the hotel on your own.

Overnight: Milan
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 - 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
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 - 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
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5 - 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
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6 - 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, the evening is free to relax at the hotel or head out and explore.

Overnight: Milan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7 - Milan boat tour

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a free morning to perhaps visit Milan’s Fashion District, the heart of Italian fashion. Explore the Quadrilatero d'Oro (Golden Rectangle), where you'll find prestigious haute couture boutiques like Versace, Prada, and Armani.

In the afternoon, we meet in Alzaia-Naviglio Grande for a boat tour of Milan's beautiful Navigli district, known for its canals and vibrant nightlife. On the boat, we cruise along the Naviglio Grande, enjoying a cocktail and delicious snacks. We pass by old buildings along the canal, with ground floors now housing bars, restaurants, and art galleries. As we continue upstream, we can see San Cristoforo sul Naviglio, one of Milan's oldest churches, the historic Canottieri Olona sports club, and the famous Vicolo dei Lavandai, an open-air wash house used from the 18th century to the 1950s. You can listen to the audio guide for some history or simply enjoy the ride and chat with your travel companions. Our final night in Milan is at leisure.

Overnight: Milan
Meals: Breakfast

Day 8 - Milan

Today our tour comes to an end after breakfast at the hotel. There is an included transfer to the airport. Ciao!

Meals: Breakfast

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.

Our Rating
Superior
Local Rating
4 Star Hotel
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.

Our Rating
Superior
Local Rating
4 Star Hotel

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.

2025
Twin/Double
Single
8 May - 15 May
Save 20%
$5,715$4,572
$8,365$6,692
22 May - 29 May
Save 20%
$5,715$4,572
$8,365$6,692
5 Jun - 12 Jun
Save 20%
$5,715$4,572
$8,365$6,692
19 Jun - 26 Jun
Save 20%
$5,715$4,572
$8,365$6,692
10 Jul - 17 Jul
Save 20%
$5,715$4,572
$8,365$6,692
24 Jul - 31 Jul
Save 20%
$5,715$4,572
$8,365$6,692
7 Aug - 14 Aug
Save 20%
$5,715$4,572
$8,365$6,692
21 Aug - 28 Aug
Save 20%
$5,715$4,572
$8,365$6,692

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