Best of Northern Italy by Rail | 9 Days

Day 1:                   VENICE

Upon arrival, make your own way to the hotel. Day is at leisure. Overnight Venice.

Day 2:                   VENICE

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a guided tour exploring the history of Venice in the 1600 years since its foundation. You will be taken through palaces on a journey through the secrets of Casanova, discovering treasures stolen from Constantinople, relations with the Orient and the legend of St Mark, and unveil the many mysteries about Marco Polo and the Silk Road. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Venice. (B)

Day 3:                   VENICE – VERONA

After breakfast, make your own way to the train station for your train to Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet. Upon arrival, make your own way to the hotel. Afternoon is at leisure to see monuments such as Juliet’s balcony, Piazza delle Erbe, Castelvecchio, the Lamberti Tower or visit the famous Arena di Verona. Overnight in Verona. (B)

Day 4:                   VERONA – LAKE GARDA – VERONA

Make your own way to the train station. Travel from Verona to Desenzano and embark on a public boat that connects the various towns on the southern shore of Lake Garda. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit Sirmione, a small town in the province of Brescia that enchants its visitors with the beauty of its breathtaking scenery and architecture full of history, so much that it has gained the deserved title ‘Pearl of Lake Garda’. However, Lazise, Garda, Bardolino on the eastern side of Salò and Gardone on the western side are no less impressive. Your ticket will allow you to navigate between these villages, getting off and on as you please, within the boats’ sailing hours. Return to Desenzano and take the train to Verona. Make your own way to the hotel. Overnight in Verona. (B)

Day 5:                   VERONA – LA SPEZIA (CINQUE TERRE)

After breakfast at the hotel, make your own way to Verona station and depart for the next destination of our trip: the Cinque Terre and the city of La Spezia. La Spezia is the starting city to explore the famous Cinque Terre, the stretch of coast with 5 fishing villages perched over the sea: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. The two-day Cinque Terre Train Card is included, which allows access to the National Park area and the use of regional trains that connect the villages and local buses. Overnight stay in the Cinque Terre area. (B)

Day 6:                   LA SPEZIA (CINQUE TERRE)

Breakfast at the hotel, then free day to continue the visit to the Cinque Terre. We recommend a wine tasting in Manarola or Monterosso to taste local wines or a Pesto experience to discover the secrets of authentic Italian cuisine with this homemade pesto. Overnight in the Cinque Terre area. (B)

Day 7:                   LA SPEZIA (CINQUE TERRE) – MILAN

After breakfast at the hotel, make your own way to La Spezia station and take the train to Milan, the ‘capital of the North’. Arrival in Milan and check-in at the hotel. Rest of the day free to explore the beauty of the fashion city: the Duomo with its terraces, the Sforzesco Castle, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and the famous fashion and shopping streets. Overnight in Milan. (B)

Day 8:                   MILAN – LAKE COMO – MILAN

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, discover the beauty of Lake Como. Make your own way to Milan train station, reach Como by train and board one of the public boats that navigate the lake. Your ticket allows you to get off at each stop and visit the various villages on the western shore. Once you arrive to Bellagio, situated exactly between the two arms of Lake Como, be sure to dedicate some time to explore this romantic village known for its cobbled streets, elegant buildings and the Villa Serbelloni Park, an 18th-century terraced garden overlooking the lake. Be careful not to be distracted by such beauty and be sure to check the ferry return times to Como! On the way back to Como, you can admire the changing colours of the lake in the late afternoon light. Return to Milan by train. Make your own way to the hotel. Overnight in Milan (B)

Day 9:                   MILAN

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, before checking out. End of our services. (B)

Accommodation (or similar):

SUPERIOR CLASS:

VENICE: Hotel Amadeus

VERONA: Hotel Leon D’Oro

LA SPEZIA (CINQUE TERRE): Hotel the Poet

MILAN: NYX Hotel Milan

Includes:

• 8 nights accommodation with daily breakfast in 4* hotels (2 nights in Venice, 2 nights in Verona, 2 nights in Cinque Terre area, 2 nights in Milan). Accommodation is in Standard rooms.
• 8 breakfasts at the hotel
• 2nd class^ high speed train ticket from Venice to Verona
• 2nd class^ return train ticket from Verona – Desenzano del Garda – Verona – local train
• 2nd class^ high speed train ticket from Verona to La Spezia – high speed train + intercity or regional train (with change in Milano Centrale or Florence Santa Maria Novella)
• 2nd class^ train ticket from La Spezia to Milano Centrale – intercity or local train
• 2nd class^ return train ticket from Milan – Como – Milan – local train
• Half day Walking Tour of Venice (multilingual group tour)
• 1 x daily ticket for public ferry on the Lake Garda (southern lake basin only)
• 1 x daily ticket for public ferry on the Lake Como (Como – Bellagio – Como)
• 1 x 2-Day Cinque Terre Card

Excludes:

• Transfers from/to the rail stations unless specified under ‘Includes’. Note: The hotels are located walking distance from the rail stations
• Tourist city tax, to be paid on the spot
• Lunches and dinners
• Optional tours and experiences
• Extras, tips, porterage, and everything not expressly listed as inclusion is not included and to be paid on the spot

Things to Note:

• Accommodation is subject to change without notice.
• Hotel rooms may not be available for check-in before 2:00 p.m.
• City taxes are not included and are to be paid directly to the hotel.
• ^Class of rail ticket is based on 2^ndclass unless the optional upgrade to 1^stclass has been selected at the time of booking.