Lake Como

Itinerary

Day 1

Fly to Italy, meet your tour manager and transfer to your hotel on Lake Como.

Day 2

Today introduces you to Como’s most sparkling jewel, stunning Bellagio, often described as Italy’s most beautiful town, as you cross by ferry to discover its elegant villas and glorious gardens. Following a short walking tour, you are free to enjoy Bellagio’s wondrous surroundings, perhaps taking a seat in a cafe, enjoying a delicious gelato, or simply strolling the lakefront promenade before returning across the water at your leisure.

Day 3

Take a second boat trip on Lake Como's still waters. Relax as the wooden shoreline slips by, revealing the elegant villas and grand hotels that shelter along the water's edge, on a day that also includes a visit to the pretty gardens of Villa del Balbianello.

Day 4

Milan is not merely a centre of worldwide fashion; it is also home to some excellent collections of art and architecture. The Sforzesco Castle, the famous shopping Galleria, La Scala - one of the world’s greatest opera houses - and the great cathedral, Il Duomo (the world’s second largest Gothic church) are among the breathtaking sights on your guided tour.

Day 5

Board the Bernina Express to travel from Tirano across viaducts, via Brusio, and across the Bernina Pass to St Moritz. Window-shop or enjoy a coffee in a choice of cafes, before returning to Como by coach, arriving in time for dinner at the hotel.

Day 6

Lugano is one of Switzerland’s most stylish lake-side resorts. Around the lake, pretty villages nestle amidst luxuriant vegetation, and the shoreline is dotted with villas and summer homes. After a short sightseeing tour, explore under your own steam, or to take the funicular ride up Monte Bre for a panoramic view.

Day 7

In the twin city of Bergamo, the 16th-century walls of Alta (the upper city) shelter the grand Palazzo della Ragione, churches and colonnaded library that surround Piazza Vecchia, and overlook the Neoclassical buildings of Bassa (the lower city). Don’t miss the chance to enjoy a meal - or at least a snack - here, in a city famed for its food and fondly championed by the late, great Antonio Carluccio.

Day 8

You'll return to the UK today. Back to top

Further Information

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately one hour 30 minutes from Milan Malpensa and two hours from Bergamo.

Combining hotel transfers

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Meals and dining in Italy

Guests on half-board arrangements will be served a three-course evening meal, and can expect a first course of traditional pasta or soup, a main meat or fish course accompanied by one or two types of vegetable, and a simple dessert of fruit, cake or Italian ice cream. Breakfasts will usually consist of bread rolls, jam, cereal, ham, cheese, fruit juice, tea and coffee. Menus will vary from hotel to hotel, but choice will be more limited than in a normal restaurant. In some instances, individual guests who have booked with the hotel independently may be offered a different menu from those who are staying at the hotel as part of a package tour. An authentic dining experience in Italy can often be a bit different to the Italian food that international tourists might be used to, but it’s one of the best ways to truly appreciate the finer cultural differences of this tourist hotspot. From simpler, but more frequent, courses to regional dishes, here are some points to note when dining in Italy.   The first major difference you’re likely to notice is that the dining experience as a whole is much longer; you’ll enjoy a much more social experience than the average dinner back home with multiple smaller courses spread across a longer period of time. While each meal will be prepared to order, you may notice that dishes are served cooler than you might be used to – Italian dishes are rarely served piping hot to preserve the more delicate flavours of each ingredient and to provide a more enjoyable dining experience. The final thing to bear in mind is that it may be tricky to find Italian classics in the same form as they are at home. For instance, while Spaghetti Carbonara is a staple in historic Rome – and made traditionally using egg yolks rather than cream – you’ll often find it replaced with a wild boar ragù in Tuscany. 

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Italian hotel room tax

Some regions of Italy have introduced a room tax of between 1 € and 3 € per person per night, payable directly by the guest to the hotel on check-out. You will be advised by your Tour Manager in resort if a particular hotel is implementing this charge.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.Passengers travelling on tours departing after September 2018 will be offered different excursions on Days Four, Six and Seven. Please see the itinerary for further details.

Foreign Office Travel Advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

Airport development fees

An Airport Development Fee has been introduced at a few UK Airports. You will be required to pay this charge at the following airports prior to checking in for your flight: Blackpool, Newquay and Norwich. The amount varies from airport to airport, but it is generally between £5 and £10 per person. Please visit the airport's website for further information.

Travelling to Europe

Rules may have changed since you last travelled to European Union countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The following are useful guidelines which will help you prepare for your next adventure. You do require government issued passport to travel. Names - It is very important that all passenger names are exactly as per your passport although we do not require middle names. Passport - Your passport must meet two requirements to travel to an EU country and to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It must be: Less than 10 years old on the day you return home (please check the "date of issue") and valid for at least 3 months after the day you return home (please check the "expiry date"). Visa - You do not need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You’ll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS) - Due to commence in 2025, all citizens of the United Kingdom will require a ETIAS electronic form completed prior to their arrival into the EU and Schengen member countries. The cost for this travel authorisation will be €7.00 per person with exceptions for under 18’s and over 70’s. The latest information and further details can be found at www.etias.com. Back to top