Northern Italy & Cinque Terre 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. Dont 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 – MILAN

Make your own way to Verona train station and take the train to Milan, the ‘capital of the North’. Arrival in Milan and make your own way to the hotel. The rest of the day is 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 6:                   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 7:                   MILAN – MONTEROSSO AL MARE (CINQUE TERRE)

After breakfast at the hotel, make your own way to Milan station and depart for the Cinque Terre and the town of Monterosso al Mare. Upon arrival, make your own way to the hotel. Monterosso 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, and local buses that connect the villages. Overnight in Monterosso al Mare. (B)

Day 8:                   MONTEROSSO AL MARE – CINQUE TERRE – MONTEROSSO AL MARE

Breakfast at the hotel, then day at leisure to continue exploring the Cinque Terre. Overnight in Monterosso. (B)

Day 9:                   MONTEROSSO AL MARE

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

Accommodation (or similar):

SUPERIOR CLASS:

VENICE: Hotel Carlton on the Grand Canal Or Hotel Amadeus

VERONA: ARK Hotel

MILAN: NYX Hotel Milan

MONTEROSSO (CINQUE TERRE): Hotel Palme

Includes:

• 8 Nights accommodation with daily breakfast in 4* hotels (2 nights in Venice, 2 nights in Verona, 2 nights in Milan, 2 nights in Cinque Terre area). Accommodation is in Standard rooms.
• 1x One way ticket / 2nd class^ / from Venice to Verona – high speed train
• 1x Return ticket / 2nd class / Verona – Desenzano del Garda – Verona – local train
• 1x One way ticket / 2nd class^ / from Verona to Milan – high speed train
• 1x Return ticket / 2nd class / Milan – Como – Milan – local train
• 1x One way ticket / 2nd class / from Milan to Monterosso al Mare – local train
• 1x Half day Walking Tour of Venice (multilingual group tour)
• 1x daily ticket for public ferry on the Lake Garda (southern lake basin only)
• 1x daily ticket for public ferry on the Lake Como (Como – Bellagio – Como)
• 1x 2-Days Cinque Terre Card

Excludes:

• Transfers from/to the rail stations except where specifically mentioned. 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. Every effort is made to avoid hotel changes, but should a mid-tour hotel change become necessary after this list has been printed, contact details of the new hotel will be supplied to you by your Tour Director.

–          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^nd class unless the optional upgrade to 1^st class has been selected at the time of booking.

–          The itinerary of the tour and the days of excursions may be modified for technical reasons. In any case, all visits and excursions mentioned on the itinerary will be guaranteed or replaced by similar ones.