Milan, Lakes & Alps by Train

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 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 14:00 for our tour of Milan, so we strongly recommend arriving in Italy the day before your holiday starts, to avoid missing the tour!

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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

Today our tour comes to an end after breakfast at the hotel. Ciao!