Milan, Liguria & Venice - 8 Days

Welcome to Milan! On arrival, you will be collected at the airport and transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore Italy's fashion capital.

Milan - St Moritz (Switzerland) - Tirano (Italy) - Milan. After breakfast, we meet our driver and travel to the Swiss resort town of St. Moritz, where you have some free time to explore at your own pace.

Later, we board the Bernina Express for one of the world’s most scenic train journeys through the Swiss Alps. Along the way, we pass charming alpine villages, dramatic tunnels, and stunning mountain views as we cross the Bernina Pass towards Tirano. On arrival, our driver will be waiting to take us back to Milan.

Enjoy some free time this morning to explore Milan at your own pace. In the afternoon, we meet our local guide for a three-hour walking tour through the heart of the city. We begin at Porta Venezia, a historic gate with medieval and Roman origins, before continuing along Corso Venezia. Our walk takes us through the Giardini Indro Montanelli, past the Galleria d’Arte Moderna, and along Viale Manzoni. From the outside, we see the world-renowned Teatro alla Scala before admiring the striking façade of Milan’s Cathedral (Duomo).

The tour concludes at Castello Sforzesco, a medieval fortress, where we finish with a relaxing aperitivo. You then have free time before returning to the hotel.

Milan - Santa Margherita Ligure - Portofino - Sestri Levante - La Spezia. Leaving Milan, we begin our journey by coach towards the Ligurian coast. Our first stop is Santa Margherita Ligure, known as La Perla del Tigullio – the Pearl of Tigullio – framed by sea and mountains. Here we take in the harbour and its elegant hotels.

From Santa Margherita we continue by boat to Portofino, a glamorous fishing village renowned for its designer boutiques, colourful houses and literary admirers, including Guy de Maupassant. In the afternoon we travel on to Sestri Levante for a tasting of local food and wines, before reaching La Spezia for our overnight stay.

La Spezia - Cinque Terre - La Spezia. After breakfast at the hotel, we set out for the Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Mediterranean’s most unspoilt stretches of coastline. The five villages – Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore – are perched between steep cliffs and terraced hillsides, overlooking waters considered among the clearest in the region. From Levanto we take the local train to explore the Cinque Terre, with free time to enjoy lunch at your leisure. In the afternoon we return to La Spezia.

La Spezia - Maranello - Modena - Venice. Today, we leave La Spezia and journey inland through the Italian countryside. Our first stop is Maranello, home to perhaps the most famous carmaker in the world. We enjoy a guided visit to the Ferrari Museum, a showcase of speed, innovation and Italian design.

We then continue to a traditional acetaia near Modena to learn about Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale. Here we enjoy a guided tasting, paired with regional specialities, followed by a relaxed lunch in a welcoming family setting. In the afternoon we cross the plains of Emilia-Romagna and Veneto, reaching Venice by early evening. After checking in at the hotel, you have free time to explore

We begin our exploration of Italy's iconic canal city in Piazza San Marco, the heart of Venice. Here we visit the Doge’s Palace, once the seat of Venetian power, and walk by the famous Bridge of Sighs. The morning concludes with a Venetian aperitif and cicchetti – the city’s take on tapas.

The afternoon is free for you to explore the canals and hidden corners of Venice at your own pace, and perhaps enjoy a gondola ride. The final night of the tour is at leisure in Venice.

Your tour comes to an end today. Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before check-out and an included transfer to the airport.