Sam J. 2023

7 Days Northern Italy from Milan with Optional Switzerland

Group Size: 42 people 

  NOTE  - I am providing you with 2 options for tours as there is a big difference in price if we take most tours by bus from Milan compared to taking similar tours by private chauffeur without the  walk along guide, from the lake hotel in Malgrate.

I am also going to price another option that will include all private tours but from an hotel in Milan. The driver told me that it  would reduce the tours costs as well as driving time. Let's see by how much and if it is worth it. As soon as I have the cost from Milan I will add that information.

RULES and PAYMENTS

• 33% Nonrefundable booking deposit is required in advance

• 33% payment is due at delivery of first plan draft 

• The remaining 34% of the tour cost is due within 30 days from travel time.

• All clients are advised to purchase travel insurance if they think they may need to cancel their trip.

Preliminary Prices

Private tours option: Preliminary price EUR ____  + Malgrate hotel per person includes everything listed below except: hotel in Malgrate, meals and gratuities (optional).

NOTE removing St Moritz day the price would be EUR ____ + Malgrate hotel per person

In this case you would stay at the **** Hotel Griso on the Como lake. The schedule would be the following (for full tour details see below):

Itinerary at a glance

First Option

• • Oct 16: arrive in Milan pick up by private chauffeur. Milan 4h private city tour and transfer (1h drive) to Malgrate (Lecco) at Hotel Griso (****) overlooking Lake Como. (details below).

  • Oct 17: Verona and Sirmione (Garda Lake) private chauffeured tour (details below).

  • Oct 18: Lake Como  private chauffeured tour (Como, funicular to Brunate, lake cruise to Bellagio, drive to Cernobbio to visit Villa D'Este). Details below.

  • Oct 19: Bernina Express and St.Moritz Day  private chauffeured Tour. (details below)

  • Oct 20: Transfer from Milan hotel to Hotel in Civitavecchia (1h private chauffeured transfer to Milan train station + Train from Milan to Rome + Private chauffeured transfer from Rome to Alibrandi hotel in Civitavecchia). See below for details.

  • Oct 21 Private Day tour from Civitavecchia Bracciano lake Castle, stop for lunch overlooking the lake and visit Cerveteri, stop to see the Santa Severa's castle.

  • Oct 22: Taxi transfer from Alibrandi to Celebrity Cruise Ship.

Private tours option: Preliminary price EUR ____ Milan hotel per person includes everything listed below except: hotel in Milan, meals and gratuities (optional).

NOTE removing St Moritz day the price would be EUR ____ Malgrate hotel per person

For Milan city tour see details below. I suggest the **** Hotel Windsor, it is centrally located, very nice, has king size or large single beds, and the price is comparable to the Hotel Griso. I do not have direct experience with the hotel but Alberto has been in it and says that it is great.

Second Option

• • Oct 16: arrive in Milan pick up by private chauffeur. Milan 4h private city tour and transfer (1h drive) to Milan Hotel ------

  • Oct 17: Verona and Sirmione (Garda Lake) private chauffeured tour (details below).

  • Oct 18: Lake Como  private chauffeured tour (Como, funicular to Brunate, lake cruise to Bellagio, drive to Cernobbioto visit Villa D'Este). Details below.

  • Oct 19: Bernina Express and St.Moritz Day  private chauffeured Tour. (details below)

  • Oct 20: Transfer from Milan hotel to Hotel in Civitavecchia (1h private chauffeured transfer to Milan train station + Train from Milan to Rome + Private chauffeured transfer from Rome to Alibrandi hotel in Civitavecchia). See below for details.

  • Oct 21 Private Day tour from Civitavecchia Bracciano lake Castle, stop for lunch overlooking the lake and visit Cerveteri, stop to see the Santa Severa's castle. 

  • Oct 22: Taxi transfer from Alibrandi to Celebrity Cruise Ship.

DETAILS - MILAN: 5 Days Package: Lakes, Milano and Verona                                                 

DAY 1:

• Pick up at Malpensa airport by private chauffer and transfer to Milan (1h drive)

• take a 4h private tour of Milan (your luggage will stay with the driver). During the 4h Milan tour you can visit :

  • The Duomo di Milano and it's square

  • Galleria Mall (La Rinascente) see pictures

  • Sforzesco Castle and Square, see pictures

• IF GOIN TO MALGRATE ADD

  • 1h drive transfer from Milan to hotel: Hotel Griso Lecco, Malgrate (link hotel). We have identified this hotel for it's location being in the middle of the most interesting places and also providing a great view of the lake at a reasonable price. I do not have specific experience with the hotel, but I reviewed it both on booking and Tripadvisor.

  • Here you can see the rooms options. They do not have a king size bed option (the beds are all 180 cm which is a queen size). They do have rooms with 2 double beds (their family rooms) that may be united but the linens will still be separated

  • Relax at leisure for the rest of the day taking advantage of the hotel features and location (rooftop solarium and hot tub). 

  • The center of Lecco is a 15 minute walk. An external elevator can take you directly to the Lake level and the beautiful promenade. The hotel has also a coffee shop and very scenic restaurant. 

• IF STAYN IN MILAN

  • Drop off at your preferred Milan Hotel. I suggest the **** Hotel Windsor, it is centrally located, very nice, has king size or large single beds, and the price is comparable to the Hotel Griso. 

DAY 2:

Transfer from your Hotel in Malgrate to Verona (2 hours approx driving time). Driving time is the same from Milan.

Chauffeured private Tour of Verona (4 hours including lunch). This is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. Here is a great Wikytravel article. It is fomous for it's:
Verona Arena: perfectly preserved Roman amphitheater and the world's largest open-air opera venue.

• • Walk Verona's most famous shopping area, the Corso Porta Borsari and its adjacent squares.

  • Juliet's House - Romeo and Juliet. Three Shakespeare plays are set in Verona: Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew and The Two Gentlemen of Verona.

  • Optionally visit Juliet’s Tomb: located in the vaults of the Abbey of San Francesco al Corso, not very far from the Arena di Verona

  • Admire the Castelvecchio Bridge: Verona's historic castle was a product of the Della Scala family dynasty during the Middle Ages. 

  • Lunch break

• Reach the town of Sirmione (40 minutes approx driving time). 

  • spend 2h at leisure visiting the unbelievably charming town of Sirmione, a perfect location of one of the most beautiful lakes in Europe: Garda Lake. 

  • visit the amazingly preserved medieval Scaligero Castle in Sirmione (see pictures)

• Return to your Hotel in Malgrate or Milan (1 hours and 40 minutes approx driving time)

DAY 3:

• IF in Malgrate pick up at hotel and  transfer to Como (40 minutes approx driving time)

• IF in Milan pick up at hotel and  transfer to Como (1h 20 m  approx driving time)

• Here you will have a chance to take the Funicular that conncts Como and Brunate for an amazing spectacular view of the lake (about 1.5 hours)

• Public Cruise to Bellagio and visit at leisure (4.5h includes cruise time). Ferry schedule to Bellagio and to Como.

• drive to Cernobbio (15 min) to visit the famous Villa D'Este

• return transfer to hotel (45 minutes approx driving time to Malgrate or 1h 20m to Milan)

DAY 4:

• OPTION 1 Private tour to St. Moritz with the Bernina Express train (picture) (scenic ride through the Alps):

  • transfer to Tirano by car (2h + drive from Malgrate or 3h from Milan), express scenic ride 2.5h (see schedule), 

  • Visit St Moritz at leisure 2h 45 min. 

  • Return by express train + car (4.5h totalto Malgrate or 5.5 to Milan).

• OPTION 2 Private tour to St. Moritz with with driver (no train). This is a much less schenic tour and takes the best part away

  • transfer to Tirano by car (2h + drive from Malgrate or 3h from Milan), express scenic ride 2.5h (see schedule), 

  • Visit St Moritz at leisure 2h 45 min. 

  • Return by Berniana express train (2.5h) and stay Overnight in Tirano

  • Next Morning transfer from Tirano to Milan train station (3h drive)

DAY 5:

• Transfer to Hotel Alibrandi in Civitavecchia:

  • If overnight in Malgrate the trasfer time to the Train station is 1h, If overnight in Tirano transfer is 3h, if Overnight in Milan transfer depends on hotel location but would be 15 to 30 min.

  • Train from Milan to Rome

  • Private chauffeured transfer from Rome to Alibrandi hotel.

• Spend time at leisure in Civitavecchia. Free time for dinner.

DAY 6:

• Private Day tour from Civitavecchia Bracciano lake Castle, stop for lunch overlooking the lake and visit Cerveteri, stop at to see the Santa Severa's castle on the way back to Civitavecchia. 

• Free time for dinner.

DAY 7:

• transfer to cruise ship 11:00 am

Interesting article: Discovering the Lakes of Lombardy