Highlights of Italy & Switzerland 2024/2025

• Stroll through the endless porticos of Bologna
• Gaze into the detailed mosaics of Ravenna

Today, you can join a half day trip to Ravenna in the morning. Ravenna is a maze of mosaic masterpieces, a unique blend of early Christian and Byzantine architecture with eight sites on the UNESCO list. This unforgettable North Italian destination is also the town where Dante Alighieri is buried.

After lunch, you return from your half-day trip and have the rest of the day to explore Bologna your way. During the Renaissance, this fascinating city was blooming with art and was a centre for intellectual innovation. Its famous university is the oldest in the western world and saw great minds like Petrarch, Dante Alighieri, and Copernicus.

There’s plenty to do here. You can stroll through the beautiful, kilometres-long UNESCO porticos, unravel the mysteries of the university, or tantalise your taste buds with Ragu alla Bolognese. (B)

Accommodation: Zanhotel Tre Vecchi, or similar, Bologna

• Discover the wonderful wildlife of the Po Delta
• Take in the Gothic and Baroque architecture of Este

It’s time to slap on some sunscreen, charge up your camera, and head deep into nature. Your first stop is Porto Tolle, where you can join an optional boat trip along the Po Delta. This is the longest river in Italy, and its wetlands give you a chance to spot rare migratory birds. There’s also a lunch box for you to enjoy.

Once you’re back on dry land, you travel to Este, a picture-perfect town with a history that spans over 3000 years. Here you have free time to amble along the city walls or visit the town’s moated Medieval castle.

You then venture to Padua*, allegedly the oldest city in Italy and your home for the next three nights. This fascinating place sits at the crossroads of science and religion. This is where venerated St Anthony is buried, and where the ground-breaking scientific discoveries were made at the height of the Renaissance.

* In 2025, you will stay for this night in Venice.

Optional Activities: Boat trip along the Po Delta

Accommodation: Hotel Al Prato or similar – Padua*

* In 2025, you’ll stay in Venice in one of the following hotels depending on your date of travel: Hotel NH Rio Novo, Santa Lucia, Carlton, Principe, Amadeus (or similar)

• Lose yourself in the canal-lined vistas of Venice

177 canals, 350 gondoliers, and the most idiosyncratic cityscapes in the world: Venice, ‘the Floating City’, is your destination today.

With its wealth, trade, and power; Venice has always been bold.

It’s been built on over 118 islands, hosts one of the most famous festivals in the world. And its unique painting style and architecture classifies Venice as one of the great centres of the Renaissance, equal to Rome and Florence.

Once you arrive, you enjoy an included two-hour guided walking tour of the city. From people-watching in Piazza San Marco to frequenting the famous galleries, it’s up to you how you spend the rest of your day in Venice.

In the early evening, you head back to Padua* in time for dinner. (B)

* In 2025, you will stay for this night in Venice.

Included Activities: Two hour guided walking tour of Venice

Optional Activities: Gondola ride

Accommodation: Hotel Al Prato or similar – Padua*

* In 2025, you’ll stay in Venice in one of the following hotels depending on your date of travel: Hotel NH Rio Novo, Santa Lucia, Carlton, Principe, Amadeus (or similar)

• Explore Villa Pisani, an exuberant 18th-century palazzo
• Sip on Prosecco and Grappa at the foothills of the Dolomites

The traditional flavours of Italy are yours to explore today.

First, you go to Villa Pisani. This included attraction boasts awesome art exhibitions and is the epitome of late baroque architecture. Napoleon once owned this huge holiday home and presented it to his stepson as a gift.

You say bye to the excesses of the aristocracy and venture to Valdobbiadene for a chance to indulge in something a little sweeter. This rolling landscape is home to the best prosecco, and you have the option to enjoy an exclusive tasting. We promise it’ll be the freshest prosecco you’ve ever tasted.

The indulgence continues as you travel to Bassano del Grappa, where you have the chance to sample sweet and intoxicating Grappa. If you’ve had enough tipple for the day, you can spend your time admiring the castle and the town’s famous old bridge instead.

You then travel to Padua for your final evening in the historic town. (B)

Included Activities: Entrance to Villa Pisani

Optional Activities: Prosecco tasting at Valdobbiadene and Grappa tasting in Bassano del Grappa

Accommodation: Hotel Al Prato or similar – Padua

• Weep for the romance of Romeo and Juliet in the play’s setting, Verona
• Get inspired by the fresh views of Lake Garda
• Sample excellent Franciacorta wines

Say ‘ciao!’ to the romance of Italy, because your first stop today is the setting of Romeo and Juliet, Verona. You have time here to reminisce about past lovers at the famous balcony, admire a grand Roman Colosseum, and amble through the ancient piazzas at your own pace.

You then travel to Lake Garda. This lake’s crystal-clear waters and views of the Dolomites have made the place a favourite destination for artists, poets, and travellers since the Roman ages. You’ll adore exploring the stunning town of Peschiera del Garda.

You arrive in Milan in the evening. (B)

*Please note: This Best of Northern Italy (Starts Rome) tour is a combination of two tours: Venice, Garda & Romantic Northern Italy, and The Italian Lakes & Swiss Alps Explorer. Today you finish the first part.  

Accommodation: Business Palace Milan or similar, Milan*

• Stand face to face with Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper
• Get your fashion fix in one of many designer shops

In Milan, life revolves around art, fashion, and delicious cuisine, so make sure to indulge in them on your free day.

When it comes to art, seeing da Vinci’s Last Supper is a must. This enigmatic piece of work attracts many visitors, so book your tickets in advance.

Next, there’s the Duomo, the Cathedral of Milan. This tremendous tribute to Gothic architecture is one of the biggest churches in Italy and will mesmerize you with its intricate design.

In a city obsessed with fashion, even window shopping feels like a unique experience. Visit the flamboyant Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II or Quadrilatero della Moda, the home of the most luxurious brands.

Then, follow in the footsteps of Milanese and partake in aperitivo, the pre-dinner ritual. Savour that moment of relaxation after the day and get ready for the next stage of your journey. (B)

*Please note: This is a free day for you to explore the city at your own pace and there will not be a guide on hand. The second part of the tour begins tomorrow (day 8) – please see tomorrow for more details.

Optional Activities: Ticket for a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus

Accommodation: Business Palace Milan or similar, Milan*

* If your tours departs after 1st April 2025, you will stay in hotel AC SESTO 4* or similar, Milan

• Experience Lake Como from the water on an included boat trip
• Marvel at the Mediterranean feel of Lugano

*Please note: This Best of Northern Italy (Starts Rome) tour is a combination of two tours: Venice, Garda & Romantic Northern Italy, and The Italian Lakes & Swiss Alps Explorer. Meet your new guide and group in the hotel lobby at 8:15am, to begin the second part of the tour.

You travel directly from the metropolis of Milan to Lake Como, the most stunning lake in the region. Framed by the Rhaetian Alps, this Italian slice of heaven’s crystal-clear waters seduced the most famous writers of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Admire the mountainous vistas and colourful villas from the unique perspective of the water, as you hop on an included boat trip across to Lenno.

Once you’re on dry land, you can grab lunch in Lenno. The town boasts an 11th-century octagonal baptistry, a Romanesque-style crypt, and enough lovely lakeside views to last a lifetime.

You then cross the border into Switzerland and visit Lugano. You have a couple of hours here to explore however you please. People watch over a coffee in Piazza della Riforma, pour over the frescos at the Church of S. Maria degli Angioli, or feast your eyes on more waterside scenes on the shores of Lake Lugano.

You travel to the quaint and cultural town of Locarno for your evening and overnight stay.

Included Activities: Boat trip across Lake Como

Accommodation: Home Hotel Locarno or similar, Locarno

• Admire Lake Maggiore from the promenade in Stresa
• Stroll through the old town of Varese

Wake up, eat a scrumptious breakfast, and get ready for more lakeside adventures.

You first travel to elegant Stresa. Here you have the option to take a boat ride to Isola Bella. This island sits in Lake Maggiore and offers visitors a chance to wander through gorgeous gardens and admire the exuberant extravagancies of a wealthy 17th-century family in Palazzo Borromeo.

In the afternoon, you venture to Varese, also known as the ‘Garden City’. Grab a snack here and enjoy a guided stroll through the old town centre to find out how this town earned such a nickname.

You travel via the lush Campo dei Fiori landscapes back to Locarno for your second night on the shores of Lake Maggiore. (B)

Optional Activities: Boat ride out to Isola Bella and admission to Palazzo Borromeo

Accommodation: Home Hotel Locarno or similar, Locarno

• Feel like an age-old smuggler as you go over the Simplon Pass
• Be awed by up-close views of the Matterhorn in Zermatt

You leave Locarno and head deep into the Alps.

Your first stop of the day is Santa Maria Maggiore. You have time to grab a coffee and snap a few pictures of this stunning town before taking the winding roads up to the Simplon Pass. This is a historic location that’s been used as a key route through the Alps by Stone Age dwellers, Romans, and smugglers of the Middle Ages.

Now, it’s time to discover one of the most admired peaks in all of Europe, the Matterhorn. You arrive in Täsch and take a round trip on a train to car-free Zermatt, a “base camp” for aspiring mountaineers, to enjoy the views and grab lunch.

Back on our coach, you travel to Lausanne. Overlooking Lake Geneva, this town is home to the Olympic Museum, grand mountain views, and your bed for the next two nights.

Included Activities

• Return train tickets from Täsch to Zermatt

Accommodation: Hotel Des Patients or similar, Lausanne

• Savour the quintessential flavours of Gruyères
• Go celebrity-spotting in glamorous Gstaad
• Admire the iconic Chillon Castle on Lake Geneva

We hope you have an appetite, because your first stop of the day is the home of Gruyère cheese, Gruyères. You have time here to go beyond the dairy delights and discover the Medieval town and its views of the Saane Valley.

You then travel alongside Alpine peaks to Gstaad. This glamourous Alpine village is a favourite hangout spot for ski-loving celebrities; see who you can spot.

Near Montreux, you have the option to visit Chillon Castle, an unbelievably idyllic stronghold that deserves its claim as Switzerland’s most visited castle.

You arrive back in Lausanne in time for dinner. (B)

Optional Activities: Chillon Castle

Accommodation: Hotel Alpha Palmiers by Fassbind or similar, Lausanne

• Experience Switzerland’s most inspirational views
• Walk the trail of waterfalls in Lauterbrunnen

The valley of 72 waterfalls, an outdoor pursuits paradise, and your first stop today.

You spend time in Lauterbrunnen any way you choose today. There are lovely walks, trains to mountain peaks, and more. You’re spoilt for choice, so ask your guide for advice on what you should do.

Once you’ve gratified your senses with Lauterbrunnen’s imposing mountain views and pastoral Swiss splendours, you travel to Interlaken. This small resort town, nestled snug between the mountains, is your home for the evening. (B)

Accommodation: Hotel Weisses Kreuz or similar, Interlaken

• Meet William Tell
• Enjoy the typical Swiss landscape of Biosphere Entlebuch
• Be impressed by the defences of Bellinzona

You leave Interlaken and head through the bucolic landscape of the UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch. Stroll through typical sound-of-music style scenes of cows chomping through fields of green grass and along mossy paths to Chessiloch Falls.

Nature may rejuvenate the senses, but it doesn’t fill your belly; so your next stop is for lunch in Altdorf. This historic town is famous for being the place where William Tell shot an apple off his son’s head.

You then descend from the heights of the Alps to Bellinzona. Since Roman times, grand castles, now UNESCO heritage sites, have stoically guarded the access to northern Italy. You have the choice here to visit the castles or relax in the town.

You arrive back in Milan in the evening. (B)

Optional Activities: The castles of Bellinzona