Experience the most authentic side of northern Italy with this ultimate luxury Italy tour. Discover the hidden gems of Venice and treat yourself to a romantic dinner in a secret and stunning location; stroll the romantic streets of Verona and Milan; discover the picturesque lakes of Garda, Como and Maggiore and explore the charming Borromean Islands – favourites of Ernest Hemingway. Along the way, you'll learn the secrets of Italian cuisine in a cooking class, enjoy the flavours of the north in a wine tasting, and enjoy exclusive visits to some top locations: all of this, and much more in just 12 days.
2 night at Grand Hotel Des Iles Borromees (5-star)
11 nights accommodation
11 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 1 dinner
11 activities
Venice Walking Tour
Milan City Tour on a Historical Tram
Lake Como
Verona Private Walking Tour
Handmade Pasta Cooking Class
Lake Garda Tour
Valpolicella Wine & Food Tour
Aperitif on Rooftop Terrace overlooking the Duomo
Lake Como Boat Tour with Bellagio
Borromean Islands Boat Tour
Juliet House
Airport transfer
Ground transportation
Licensed English speaking guides
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Venice
Built on over 100 islands, Venice is one of the most famous cities in the world. A winding route of canals and bridges accessed by long-tail boat, its creativity, history and architectural beauty will charm you into discovery. From museums and art collections to bridges, piazzas, basilicas and even just houses, Venice is bursting with an artistic heritage that is very much still the foundation of the city today.
Day 2: Hidden Venice Private Tour and Exclusive Dinner at Venissa
Take a morning private tour with our local guide to discover the most authentic side of Venice, from Jewish Ghetto to Cannaregio. You can taste some of the famous Cicchetti tapas as a true local. Finish the day with a romantic gourmet dinner on the secluded island of Mazzorbo. You will be welcomed by a tasting of locally produced wine, which has a very particular and unique flavour as it comes from the vineyards located right in the lagoon.
Day 3: Verona by Train and Private City Tour
After breakfast, the boat will take you to Venice railway station for the high-speed train to Verona. In the afternoon, meet our local guide for a private discovery of Verona highlights. Exploring the old town and medieval castle, admire the first century B.C Roman ‘amphitheatre’ from the outside and learn of the games of the gladiators as well as facts, myths and legends of the arena, then walk along the cobblestone streets to Juliet's balcony.
Day 4: Pasta Cooking Class and Lake Garda Tour
You will learn how to cook real Italian homemade pasta with our local chef and enjoy a social lunch with your classmates. In the afternoon, depart for Lake Garda to visit Peschiera del Garda and Sirmione with its famous castle. Return to Verona for dinner.
Day 5: Valpolicella Food & Wine tour
Start your visit at a local Bottega farm with panoramic views and taste traditional salami and cheese. Enjoy a traditional Veronese lunch with Amarone, a local wine, in a typical tavern of Valpolicella. Depending on the season, you can find the Lessinia truffle or the traditional cured meats prepared by a farmer from the hills. After lunch, visit a small family-run winery to explore the wine production, the history of the old cellars and enjoy a wine tasting. Return to Verona.
Day 6: An Aperitif on a Rooftop Terrace of Milan
Have breakfast, check out and transfer to Verona by high-speed train. Arrive in Milan to find your accommodation in a centrally located hotel and have some free time. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of the city on the historical tram no.1. You will see the main sites of Milano from Brera quarter to Duomo and La Scala Theatre. Finish the day with an aperitif on the rooftop terrace overlooking the Duomo.
Day 7: Milan Free Time
Have breakfast and enjoy some free time. You can book a tour to Pinacoteca di Brera. This art gallery, founded in 1809 by Napoleon I, is one of the most important museums in Milan, if not Europe. It houses more than 400 works from the 14th to the 20th century by master painters.
Day 8: Your Luxury Italy Tour Takes You to Lake Como
After breakfast, check out and transfer to your hotel on Lake Como. Having inspired artists for centuries, Lake Como is a spectacular sight. Winding like a silky snake through the mountains and sparkling in the sunlight, the lake is somewhat of a celebrity among celebrities, a name to drop that is still frequented by the elite today. To the north, there is the only island in the lake, Isola Comacina, home to Sacro Monte, the Sacred Mountains, which attract many pilgrims.
Day 9: Lake Como Boat Tour with Fish in Bellagio
After breakfast, meet our local guide for a private discovery of the beautiful Lake Como. Embark on a public ferry boat and start exploring the lake and its beautiful villas. Arrive at Bellagio, where you will enjoy lunch in a local fish restaurant. Return to your hotel and relax and enjoy the lake's beauty.
Day 10: Maggiore Lake and The Borromean Islands
After breakfast, check out and transfer by boat taxi to the magnificent palace of the Borromeo family, Isola Bella to see it's art collection and stunning garden. Have a break at the lakeside cafè then head to another island, Isola Madre. Here you can walk in the immense botanical garden with rare species of plants and trees, explore the palace and the Puppet Museum. Lunch will be served in a family-run restaurant on Pescatori island, tasting the local fish while admiring the calm waters.
Day 11: Stresa Free Time and Lake Orta Tour
After breakfast, enjoy some free time on the lake or take optional excursions to Orta Lake or Mottarone Mount. Stresa, a resort town, still has an air of elegance and bygone decadence with easy access to Milan for artists and writers. Meander along its promenade and explore the cobbled streets in its old centre, marvel at the landmark buildings, including Villa Pallavicino, with its gardens and zoo and the Grand Hôtel des Îles Borromées, where Hemingway once stayed.
Day 12: Transfer to Milan Airport
Your luxury Italy tour comes to end. You'll be privately transferred to Malpensa Airport for your departure.
