Discover the heart of the Italian lakes on this magnificent getaway. Your vacation begins in Milan, one of the world’s fashion capitals and home to the splendid baroque Duomo. Heading east, your first stop on Lake Garda is the spa town of Sirmione at the foot of the Alps. Relax at one of the lakeside cafés and try the fabulous gelato. After two overnights in the Lake Garda area, visit Romeo and Juliet’s Verona and beautiful Lake Como, where you’ll spend two nights. Enjoy free time to relax as well as an included boat trip to picture-perfect Bellagio. On the way to enchanting Lake Maggiore, cross the border into Switzerland for free time in beautiful Lake Lugano, which stretches its borders on both Italian and Swiss soil. Stroll along Lugano’s lakeside promenade, shop on Via Nassa, or explore the Piazza Riforma. Once you reach Lake Maggiore, you may choose to join a boat trip to its islands filled with quaint fishing villages and aristocratic villas.
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in Milan, Italy. Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to see some of Milan. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers.
Day #2 Milan–Sirmione–Lake Garda. Start the day with an orientation tour of Milan, stopping to admire the famous gothic-style Duomo. Catch the first glimpses of Lake Garda as you stop in Sirmione, the picturesque spa town on the south shore of Lake Garda. Stroll among the many shops and ice cream parlors that line the narrow cobblestone streets. Continue to your hotel on the shores of Lake Garda. (B)
Day #3 Lake Garda. A whole day at leisure to enjoy this beautiful area, situated at the foot of the Alps and surrounded by mountains to the north and the gentle slopes of moraine hills to the south. Alternatively, join an optional excursion. (B,D)
Day #4 Lake Garda–Verona–Lake Como. This morning, visit the romantic medieval city of Verona. See Juliet’s balcony and enjoy some time at leisure before continuing to Lake Como, where you'll spend two nights. (B,D)
Day #5 Lake Como. Excursion to Bellagio. Inspiring everyone from Roman senators and great composers to Hollywood actors, Como is the romantic image of the lakes, its cobalt-blue waters lined with magnificent mountains, lush gardens, and grand villas. Join the included boat trip to Bellagio, which occupies one of the most scenic positions in all of Italy. (B,D)
Day #6 Lake Como–Lugano, Switzerland–Lake Maggiore, Italy. Leave Lake Como and cross the border into Switzerland, and head towards beautiful Lake Lugano and the stylish city that bears its name. Time to stroll along the lakeside promenade, window shop on refined Via Nassa, or sip an espresso on the Piazza Riforma. Leave Switzerland and cross back into Italy, driving to Lake Maggiore to reach your accommodation in the late afternoon. (B)
Day #7 Lake Maggiore. Set between Piedmont, Lombardy, and Switzerland, Lake Maggiore is a paradise of crystal waters, backed by towering mountains and surrounded by lush countryside. The day is yours to relax or to enjoy some of the many activities available around the lake. Maybe join an optional boat trip to the Borromean Islands of Pescatori and Isola Bella, with time to visit the extravagant Borromeo Palace, built like a ship anchored just off the shoreline. (B,D)
Day #8 Lake Maggiore. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
