Northern Lakes by Rail | 8 Days

Day 1:                   MILAN

Upon arrival into Milan, make your own way to the hotel. Day is at leisure to explore the city at your own pace. Take this opportunity to visit to the Duomo with its terraces, the Castello Sforzesco, and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Overnight in Milan.

Day 2:                   MILAN – LAKE MAGGIORE

After breakfast at the hotel, make your own way to Milan Central Station and take the train to Lake Maggiore. The shores of this lake are shared between Switzerland and Italy. The name Maggiore derives from the fact that it is the largest of the lakes in the area, but among the Italian lakes, it is the second largest after Lake Garda. The train will take you to Stresa, the most famous resort on the western shore. Make your own way to the hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure, strolling through the beautiful and picturesque streets of this town. Overnight in Lake Maggiore. (B)

Day 3:                   LAKE MAGGIORE

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the famous Borromean Islands, a small archipelago that owes its fame to its three main islands: Isola Madre, Isola dei Pescatori (Fishermen’s Ile) and Isola Bella. The first stop will be Isola Madre, the largest of the three and the most important island on Lake Maggiore. On the island is a 16th-century palace set in a magnificent English-style botanical garden dating back to the late 19th century. Next, visit Isola dei Pescatori which is the only public island of the three and is also the only one permanently inhabited by a small community. Finally, Isola Bella, famous for its paradisiacal Italian garden with the Teatro Massimo at its centre, composed of ten terraces forming a truncated pyramid adorned with statues and fountains; the scenery is of rare beauty! The garden and palace were commissioned by Count Vitalino Borromeo in 1650, but it took a good four centuries to transform a rock into the magnificent work we visit today. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Overnight in Lake Maggiore. (B)

Day 4:                   LAKE MAGGIORE – LAKE COMO

Breakfast at the hotel. Make your own way to the train station and board the local train that will take you to discover the beauty of another famous Italian lake: Lake Como. The train will pass through valleys and landscapes typical of northern Italy, moving from Piedmont to Lombardy, before arriving in the charming town of Como. Upon arrival, make your own way to the hotel and spend the afternoon at your leisure, strolling through the streets of this beautiful town or take the funicular and enjoy the breathtaking views of the lake from above. Como is known for its Gothic style cathedral, the panoramic funicular railway and the pedestrian path along the lake. Other points of interest include the Educational Silk Museum, illustrating the history of Como’s silk industry, and the Tempio Voltiano, a museum dedicated to the physicist Alessandro Volta. Overnight in Lake Como. (B)

Day 5:                   LAKE COMO

After breakfast at the hotel, discover the beauty of Lake Como, on the stretch of the lake that leads from Como to Bellagio. Your included ticket allows you to get off at each stop and visit the various villages on the western shore. Once you arrive in Bellagio, situated exactly between the two arms of Lake Como, dedicate some time to explore this romantic town 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. Overnight in Como. (B)

Day 6:                   LAKE COMO – LAKE GARDA

Breakfast at the hotel. Make your own way to the train station before boarding the train to Milan and then Desenzano. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in Lake Garda. Overnight in Lake Garda. (B)

Day 7:                   LAKE GARDA

Breakfast at the hotel. Day is at leisure to utilise your full day ticket for the public boat on Lake Garda. Overnight in Lake Garda. (B)

Day 8:                   LAKE GARDA

Breakfast at the hotel. End of services. (B)

IMPORTANT NOTE (FROM JUNE 2024): DUE TO MAINTENANCE WORK ON THE RAIL TRACK OF LAKE MAGGIORE, THERE WILL BE INTERRUPTIONS TO THIS ITINERARY.
MILAN-STRESA: WILL BE REPLACED WITH A REGIONAL TRAIN TO ARONA PLUS A REPLACEMENT BUS FROM ARONA TO STRESA.
STRESA-COMO: WILL BE REPLACED WITH A REPLACEMENT BUS FROM STRESA TO ARONA PLUS A REGIONAL TRAIN FROM ARONA TO COMO. 

Accommodation (or similar):

SUPERIOR CLASS:

MILAN: NYX Hotel Milan

LAKE MAGGIORE: Hotel La Palma

LAKE COMO: Hotel Palace

GARDA LAKE (Desenzano del Garda): TBA

Includes:

• 7 Nights accommodation with daily breakfast in 4* hotels (1 night in Milan, 2 Nights at Lake Maggiore, 2 Nights at Lake Como, 2 Nights in Lake Garda)
• 1x One way ticket 2nd class from Milano Centrale to Stresa – regional trains
• 1x One way ticket 2nd class from Stresa to Como – regional trains
• 1x One way ticket 2nd class from Como to Desenzano (Como – Milano – Desenzano) – regional train + high speed train
• One way arrival transfer from Desenzano station to the hotel by private car
• One full day ticket for public boat on Garda Lake
• 1x return ticket for public boat to the Borromean Islands + entrance ticket to Isola Bella and Isola Madre
• 1x return ticket for public boat at Lake Como (Como – Bellagio – Como with possibility of intermediate stops)

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.

–          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.