Scenic and Scintillating Northern Italy

Itinerary

1. Day 1 Arrival in Milan

   Italy’s fashion and business hub, Milan fizzes with energy. But don't let the city's professional side fool you: this is a place that prides itself on history and culture, and the locals always seems to be having a good time. Milan's signature building is the Duomo, an imposing Gothic cathedral that sits in the heart of this former Roman capital. The combination of its size and beauty make it a must-see sight. You can also look forward to elegant evenings at the legendary La Scala opera, charming cafes and restaurants, great shopping opportunities, and breathtaking art and architecture. Home to Da Vinci's Last Supper, Milan is also rich in art galleries, from the old masters to contemporary art. This being Italy, you'll find delicious cuisine here too, and the "aperitivo" is one of the most interesting traditions of Milan gastronomy. At many of the city's cafes and bars in the early evening you can pay a slightly higher price for a drink and get your pick from a free buffet. It's one of the best ways to experience the different flavors of Milanese cooking. The compact city center means that one or two days should be enough to satisfy your curiosity.

   Upon your arrival to Milan Malpensa Airport, our driver will be waiting for you at the arrivals to pick you up and take you to your centrally located accommodation.

   

   Shop in the Fashion Quarter and the Navigli Neighborhood

   Milan is home to the most prestigious designers and renowned fashion labels in the world. There's a bedazzling concentration of luxury shops around via Montenapoleone. If you like shopping, you've come to the right place. The "quadrilatero" is the heart of the shopping area, and consists of four streets: Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga, Via Manzoni and Corso Venezia. Your local JayWay contact will recommend several places to visit in this area, both shops and eateries, and can also recommend places in another area known for its vintage fashion.

   Suggestion to explore on your own

2. Day 2 Your First Full Day in Milan

   

   Best of Milan: The Last Supper, Duomo & City Small Group Tour

   Visiting The Last Supper is a complicated affair. Located on a wall inside a convent, the mural was long neglected, leading to some damage that authorities are now attempting to undo. As a result, limits have been set on visitors. Only 30 people are allowed inside the climate-controlled room at any time and they may only stay for 15 minutes, after waiting in an air-locked room beforehand. This has made Last Supper tickets highly sought after to say the least! With this tour, you don't have to worry about securing tickets in advance - we've taken care of that for you!

   With pre-reserved, skip-the-line tickets we guarantee that you’ll visit The Last Supper on our Best of Milan tour and you’ll do so with a highly knowledgeable guide at hand to help you get the most from this special visit. You’ll get a rundown on the painting before you enter, so you’re ready to make the most of your time.

   As you move around the room with your guide and small group, admiring its incredible depth and perspective, you'll learn about the characters in the painting and how Leonardo da Vinci became one of the most renowned painters in history. You’ll probably only see this masterpiece once in your lifetime (particularly since it’s disintegrating at such an alarming rate) so make it count!

   The last stop of the day is a special one – the Duomo. The largest church in Italy. It took almost six centuries to complete, but it was worth every moment.

   Your guide will teach you about the history of this great structure from the Duomo square; pointing out different architectural features and characters you may not have noticed on your own. Then take you inside to learn more about the space up close.

   Our Best of Milan Tour shines a light on those special places that make Milan a city like no other. With groups of only 15 people or fewer throughout, your experience will be intimate, while your local tour guide will be easy to chat with.

   • Activity Level : Light
   • Duration : 3 hours

   Included in your vacation package price

   

   Find Trendy Aperitifs with a Vintage Fiat 500

   Milan is where the modern Italian obsession with "aperitivo" was born. That's when most of the local bars prepare a rich buffet with finger food to go with their drinks. The out-of-center area of Navigli is a local favorite but your hotel reception can point you in the direction of places closer by too. We recommend venturing around and exploring, or using a local guide for a tasty tour. You could even ride in a cute Fiat 500 to attract the envious eyes of passers-by. Navigli is also an artsy neighborhood with many art studios and little galleries hidden down side streets well worth exploring by day too.

   Please ask your travel advisor for the cost to add this to your package

3. Day 3 Traveling to Como by Private Transfer / Arrival in Como

   Today you'll take a short ride to Italy's most famous lake - Lake Como. Our driver will pick you up from your accommodation in Milan and drive you to Como. The drive shouldn't take more than 1 hour.

   Surrounded by stunning green hills, Como is the famous lake's main town. Dotted with charming squares, imposing churches, and gorgeous historical buildings, Como's Old Town overlooks the mesmerizingly beautiful Lake Como. For theater lovers, the Teatro Sociale di Como, the town's opera house, has hosted world-renowned musicians, such as Liszt and Paganini. Combining the magic of a typically Italian town with the utter beauty of the scenery that engulfs it, Como serves as the perfect base to explore the extended area of Lake Como and its charms.

   The driver will take you to your accommodation by Lake Como.

   

   Don't Forget Your Bathing Suit!

   Swimming in Lake Como is a very popular activity for locals. Every village has a favorite spot, sometimes equipped with showers and a snack bar. We recommend avoiding the southern shores of the lake, where the water is more stagnant. Instead you can use a local “lido,” which generally has private swimming pools and a bar or restaurant. Your local JayWay contact will recommend several places to visit.

   Suggestion to explore on your own

4. Day 4 Your First Full Day in Como

   

   Lake Como Sightseeing Hike

   What better way to enjoy the sights of the wonderful Como Lake than with this moderate yet stunning hike? You will start and end your adventure from the town of Cernobbio. Once crossing the citadel, you will visit the secluded "Valley Garden" near the famous Villa D'Este mansion. Hiking uphill from there on the old mule track, you will enjoy the stunning views of the lake while heading to the Moltrasio stone quarry. After a stop at a breathtaking panoramic point, you will continue to Ravenna, a typical settlement village where the buildings almost all made out of stones. From here, your walk will continue downhill on secluded woods with chestnut trees and creeks before returning to the starting point back in Cernobbio. You can take an optional break halfway through or near the end of the tour for lunch and snacks. Don't forget to bring your camera to capture the many panoramic views along the way!

   Distance: 5-8 km (3-5 miles)

   Elevation gain: 250 to 400 meters

   Intended for those who are comfortable walking these distances at a moderate pace with an inclination of around 18%.

   • Activity Level : Moderate
   • Duration : 2 - 3 hours

   Included in your vacation package price

5. Day 5 Your Second Full Day in Como

   

   A Gourmet Day on the Northern Shores of Lake Como

   For those interested in the many tasty traditional delicacies and robust wines from this region, we recommend a tour with an expert local guide combining tastings with a visit to the less-frequented (but truly magnificent) northern shores of Lake Como.

   • Activity Level : Easy
   • Duration : Up to 8 hours

   Please ask your travel advisor for the cost to add this to your package

   

   Hop Across the Border

   Lake Como is very close to Lugano and the scenic Swiss Alps, which you can explore in a splendid day trip with a private driver. En route to meet with your driver, you'll ride the Bernina Express, which follows the highest train route in Europe, past alpine glaciers.

   • Activity Level : Light
   • Duration : 9 hours

   Please ask your travel advisor for the cost to add this to your package

6. Day 6 Traveling to Venice by Private Transfer / Arrival in Venice

   Today it's time to get to the most unique city of Italy: Venice. We'll arrange for our driver to pick you up from your accommodation in Como and take you to the Milan Train Station, where you'll catch a direct train to Venice. We've included Standard Class Train Tickets but for an extra fee we can upgrade you to Business/First Class. The whole journey will take approximately 4 hours. For an additional fee, you could have a driver take you all the way to Venice, stopping on the way in Sirmione on Lake Garda or in Verona.

   Venice is a legendary city with a charm and atmosphere all its own. The city was constructed on more than 100 islands connected by a series of canals, most of which are lined with gorgeous palaces, beautiful churches, and all sorts of impressive architecture. While the city isn’t huge, it is packed with pedestrian-only streets and quaint, winding alleys that will keep you exploring for days. The city is very popular with tourists year-round, so you certainly won’t be the only travelers walking through the streets with camera in hand. This being Italy, the cuisine in Venice is delicious, and we can especially recommend the Cicchetti of Venice tour. Cicchetti are Venetian tapas, and this tour will introduce you to some of the city’s most iconic eateries and its most delicious recipes. If it’s your first time in Venice, we can organize a tour to show you all the most important sites. And since no trip to the city of canals is complete without a boat ride, we offer a number of ways for you to get a new point of view of the city and its magnificent architecture. It’s easy to while away your time in Venice, discovering new secrets around every corner.

   Start your Venetian experience off in style by arriving in a private water taxi. We'll arrange a transfer by boat from Santa Lucia train station to the closest possible point to your hotel in Venice. Please note that porter assistance from the water taxi to the hotel is not included but can be arranged at extra charge.

   Our representative will then meet with you to answer any questions you have and to get you settled for the rest of your trip.

   

   Welcome to Venice!

   Enjoy Venice from the very start! Depending on your preference, this can be a relaxing or active time. After that, enjoy an aperitif with a view of the Grand Canal at Erbaria (Rialto), where there are many bars with outdoor seating. Finally, dinner in one of the many restaurants in the Rialto area will definitely make your first evening in Venice a perfect one. If you arrive full of energy and ready to explore, head to the Zattere area and enjoy a stroll along the canal up to Punta della Dogana, where you can admire the view of San Marco and the Grand Canal. The walk to Santa Maria della Salute church is pleasant, and you can take the traghetto (a big gondola) to cross the canal.

   Suggestion to explore on your own

7. Day 7 Your First Full Day in Venice

   

   First Time in Venice Private Tour

   Discover Venice with this unique walking tour, which unfolds through the elegant Piazza San Marco, surrounded by the governmental buildings of the ancient Republic. You'll see the beautiful Saint Mark church, then stroll through the Castello district including the large campo Santa Maria Formosa. The square of San Giovanni e Paolo will be your next stop. Before reaching Rialto you'll pass by the Marco Polo house. From the top of the famous Rialto bridge you'll encounter all the splendours of the Grand Canal.

   • Activity Level : Light
   • Duration : 3 hours

   Included in your vacation package price

   

   In the Footsteps of the Doges

   The Doge's Palace is a stunning palace built in Venetian Gothic style and one of the most conspicuous landmarks in Venice. Situated on the Grand Canal, the palace opened as a museum in 1923. The Doges were the rulers of Venice, elected for life by the aristocracy of Venice. As you'd expect the Doge's Palace is sumptuously decorated, as befits the ruler of one of the world's most important powers of the medieval era.

   • Activity Level : Light
   • Duration : 1 hour 15 minutes

   Please ask your travel advisor for the cost to add this to your package

   

   Private Gondola Ride

   A gondola ride is the most iconic and romantic way to experience Venice. Glide through enchanting canals, gently rocked by the water. Admire grand palaces, historic bridges, and hidden corners only visible from the water. Let your gondolier take you through breathtaking views and timeless beauty.

   • Activity Level : Easy
   • Duration : 25 minutes

   Please ask your travel advisor for the cost to add this to your package

8. Day 8 Your Second Full Day in Venice

   

   Venetian Tapas and Wine Tours

   You're in Italy so good food isn't too far away if you know where to look. One of our favorite ways to get to know a city is by taking a food tour. We can highly recommend taking part in these small group tours and getting your culinary bearings set with an afternoon sampling cicchetti, Venetian tapas, accompanied by wine at Venice's best Bacari, traditional wine bars.

   • Activity Level : Light
   • Duration : 3 hours

   Please ask your travel advisor for the cost to add this to your package

   Murano and Burano

   Today we suggest going off the beaten path and onto a boat to cross the water and explore two islands which are not islands at all. Murano and Burano are tiny archipelagos, collections of islands linked by numerous bridges. On Murano, the stately architecture is stunning but the main attraction here is the collection of incredible glassblowers, whose works in progress you can see at Murano’s many ateliers.

   Burano is also an archipelago in northern Venice, consisting of four islands linked by many bridges. What you’ll notice first are the brightly painted houses, which make the island glow with an energy all its own. Largely inhabited by artists, it’s a great place to poke around and explore. We can arrange tickets for a group boat trip or a private one of you would like.

   Suggested activities for an additional cost, depending on your choice

   

   Premium Lagoon Group Tour with Murano Glass Blowing, Burano & St. Erasmo Winery

   Apart from Venice itself, the Venetian Lagoon is dotted with tiny gems of islands and this incredible tour shows you around the charms of the two most known among them: Murano and Burano. In the company of your small group, you'll enjoy a relaxing ride on a private boat and be amazed by a private glassmaking demonstration within the walls of a beautiful old church.

   • Activity Level : Light
   • Duration : 4 hours 15 minutes

   Suggested activities for an additional cost, depending on your choice

   

   Grand Canal Private Tour with Stops at Murano and Burano

   Explore Venice by water with a private boat tour along the Grand Canal, led by a knowledgeable crew sharing insights into the city's history and legends. Immerse yourself in Venetian culture by visiting Murano for a mesmerizing glass-blowing demonstration and Burano to experience its vibrant, colorful streets.

   • Activity Level : Light
   • Duration : 4 hours

   Suggested activities for an additional cost, depending on your choice

9. Day 9 Departure Day

   It's time to bid arrivederci to Venice but you'll get a good last look at the city as your private water taxi captain takes you to the airport for your departing flight. Your private boat will dock at the closest possible point to your hotel.