Venice, Lake Garda & Verona

Itinerary

Venice, Lake Garda & Verona

Fall under the spell of northern Italy’s most romantic landscapes on this enchanting ten-day journey. Drift through the timeless beauty of Venice, where gondolas glide beneath stone bridges and the golden light shimmers across the water. Let Lake Garda captivate you with its elegant villas, lemon groves and alpine horizons. Wander the fairytale streets of Sirmione, poised on the water’s edge, and pay a visit to Verona, where love and legend linger in every square. With a blend of free time and optional tours, join us on this unforgettable escape into Italy’s heart of beauty, poetry and romance.

Venice, Lake Garda & Verona

• Return coach travel & LeShuttle crossings
• First & last night on a bed & breakfast basis in France (last night with a light evening meal)
• Additional overnight stay on outward journey on a half-board basis in France
• 6 nights at the Hotel Royal, Garda (JG3 rating) with dinner & breakfast
• Welcome drink
• Excursions to Venice, Sirmione & Verona
• En-route visits to Troyes & Lugano
• Services of a tour manager

Optional guided walking tour of Verona (£19pp)

Optional scenic tour of Lake Garda (£25pp)

Venice, Lake Garda & Verona

Day 1LeShuttle to Calais and overnight stay in France on a bed and breakfast basis.

Venice, Lake Garda & Verona

Day 2After breakfast, we spend some time in the charming city of Troyes, known for its beautifully preserved medieval architecture. Be sure to take a stroll through the historic centre, passing half-timbered houses, Gothic churches and the impressive Troyes Cathedral. The city is also a fabulous place for a spot of retail therapy. Later, we continue to our overnight hotel in eastern France, with dinner included.

Venice, Lake Garda & Verona

Day 3Sit back, relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery on today's drive through Switzerland. Along the way, we stop in Lugano, a beautiful town of Swiss and Italian architectural styles with a lovely lakeside promenade, set against the backdrop of surrounding mountains. We then continue to the Royal Hotel in the lovely town of Garda, where we stay for the next six nights.

Venice, Lake Garda & Verona

Day 4Today, enjoy time to explore the local area at leisure or relax at the hotel. Garda is one of the main resorts on the eastern side of the lake, and with a day to yourself you can stroll its lovely lakefront promenade, explore the historic Old Town filled with Venetian architecture or take a fairly steep hike to the summit of La Rocca di Garda for panoramic views over the lake.

Venice, Lake Garda & Verona

Day 5Today we explore the unique city of Venice, a floating work of art replete with locals lounging back in sunny piazzas with a spritz in hand. Lining the canals are grand palazzos, many of them dating back to the 14th century, while other attractions include St Mark’s Square, the Bridge of Sighs and of course the gondolas that ply their trade up and down the waterways. After arriving by boat, we enjoy a walking tour with commentary from an expert local guide, who helps us get our bearings before an afternoon at leisure to explore Venice's maze of narrow streets.

Venice, Lake Garda & Verona

Day 6Our tour manager escorts us to the ferry port, where we join a public ferry and cruise to one of the most postcard-perfect towns in the area. Set on a picturesque peninsula on the southern shore of Lake Garda, Sirmione is a beautifully preserved town with a turreted 13th-century castle and a maze of narrow, cobbled streets full of lovely shops and cafés.

Venice, Lake Garda & Verona

Day 7We head to Verona, one of Italy’s oldest and most romantic cities, beautifully set on the banks of the River Adige. Forever linked with Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, Verona offers far more than just the famed balcony that draws lovers from around the world. Explore the impressive Roman amphitheatre, still used for opera today, and soak up the atmosphere in Piazza Brà, the grand central square lined with elegant cafés and historic buildings. There's also the option to join a guided walking tour to learn more about the city's history and famous sights.

Venice, Lake Garda & Verona

Day 8Choose to spend the day as you please or join our optional tour of scenic Lake Garda, where elegant villas, olive and lemon groves and dramatic Alpine backdrops line the sparkling shores. Highlights include Malcesine, a picture-perfect town with winding cobbled lanes and a striking medieval castle, and Riva del Garda, a stylish resort at the northern tip of the lake. There’s free time in Riva to stroll the promenade, browse local shops or simply unwind by the water with a coffee or gelato.

Venice, Lake Garda & Verona

Day 9After breakfast, we depart our hotel in Lake Garda and head north, enjoying a scenic drive through stunning alpine landscapes before arriving at our overnight hotel in eastern France.

Venice, Lake Garda & Verona

Day 10After breakfast, we check out of the hotel and head to Calais for our journey home on LeShuttle. Back to top

Accommodation

Hotel Royal, Garda, Italy JG3

Surrounded by gardens, the Hotel Royal is just a short walk to nearby beaches and the Old Town in Garda, a pretty resort located on the south-east shore of Lake Garda. You can expect en-suite bedrooms with a TV, hairdryer and satellite TV plus a restaurant, bar, outdoor swimming pool and free Wi-Fi.

Hotel Rating

Hotels with a JG3 rating tend to be a more formal style of hotel, often part of a hotel chain, or are very-welcoming family-owned properties. Generally, they offer a greater range of facilities and services, and bedrooms tend to be a little more spacious with additional features. Public areas are larger and include lounge seating, bar and restaurant with good quality food served either buffet style or waiter service.

Selected hotels, France JG3

We’ll stay at comfortable hotels (JG3 rating) during our outward and return journey. All rooms are en suite and other facilities include a bar and restaurant.

Hotel Rating

Hotels with a JG3 rating tend to be a more formal style of hotel, often part of a hotel chain, or are very-welcoming family-owned properties. Generally, they offer a greater range of facilities and services, and bedrooms tend to be a little more spacious with additional features. Public areas are larger and include lounge seating, bar and restaurant with good quality food served either buffet style or waiter service. Back to top