Day by day, with prices. Each one is reshaped around you.
Six nights from Milan to Zurich by private transfer and train: the Borromean Islands, Lake Orta, a grotto lunch above Lugano, a cheese day in Appenzell and the Bürgenstock spa. Four 4-star hotels; an easy pace for food lovers.
From €2,999 per person
Our designers’ take
One week in Italy is best spent in one region, and the region we know from the inside is the north: Milan and the lakes, where the Alps come down to the water and Switzerland is an hour away. Emilie, who designs our Italy trips, goes back every year; her proposal with hotels, boats and trains arrives within 48 hours.
1 night in Milan (Duomo terraces, aperitivo on the Navigli), 1 night in Stresa on Lake Maggiore with a private boat to Isola Bella, Isola Madre and lunch on Isola dei Pescatori, 1 night in Lugano after a morning on Lake Orta and San Giulio island, then 3 nights in Zurich with the Olive Road walk to Gandria, an Appenzell cheese and chocolate day and four hours at the Bürgenstock spa. Published as Italy and Switzerland in 7 Days, from 2,999 € per person in 4* hotels.
2 nights in Milan (the Last Supper with timed tickets, the Duomo, the Brera quarter), 3 nights on Lake Como at Bellagio or Tremezzo with a private water taxi day to Villa Carlotta and Villa del Balbianello, 2 nights in Stresa for the Borromean Islands and Lake Orta. The Como and Maggiore days of our 14-day Switzerland to Italy trip show the exact experiences.
3 nights in Milan with a Lake Como day, Frecciarossa to Venice in 2 h 30, 3 nights in Venice with a Murano and Burano boat day. Built to order.
With 10 days you can add Venice or Piedmont to the lakes. With two weeks, pair the lakes with the Swiss Alps: see Switzerland in 14 days. The Italy guide covers seasons and boats.
The Bernina Express from Chur or St. Moritz to Tirano: 2026 timetable, fares, CHF 32 to 44 reservations, Pullman Class, regional trains, luggage and access.
The most scenic train rides in Europe, from the Glacier and Bernina Express to the Orient Express: 2026 prices, seasons, best seats and how to link them.
French Riviera or Italian Riviera? Compare Nice, Antibes and Monaco with Portofino and the Cinque Terre: style, beaches, food, access and combining both.
Yes. Milan needs one or two nights, and each lake rewards two or three. Maggiore and Orta are neighbors, so one base in Stresa covers both. Como is an hour from Milan by train. Our 7-day route gives you three lakes and Milan with private boats on each, plus a Swiss finish.
Como for villas, Bellagio and the most dramatic shoreline; Maggiore for the Borromean Islands and gardens, at gentler prices; Orta for quiet and a perfect small island; Garda for families and a Verona pairing. In seven days, Como and Maggiore together are the best combination; Orta slips in as a half day.
No. Milan to Stresa is an hour by train, Milan to Como 40 minutes, and on the lakes the right transport is a boat. We book private boats with a captain and a driver for lake-to-lake transfers. Driving the shore roads of Como is slow and parking is scarce; leave it to us.
From 2,999 € per person for our published Italy and Switzerland week with 4* hotels (Manzoni in Milan, Regina Palace in Stresa, Lido Seegarten in Lugano, Glockenhof in Zurich), private boats, transfers, guided days and a spa afternoon. An Italy-only Milan and lakes week with similar hotels runs around 2,600 to 3,200 € per person, flights excluded.
Two minutes, three steps. Free and without obligation.
