TRIPS

Best of Italy & Switzerland – 16 Days

$ 5,750.00

Italy and Switzerland are well known for its landscape, artistic heritage and standout cities. This tour combines the best of Italy and Switzerland with iconic cities and magnificent natural wonders.

16 days itinerary showcase Rome, Assisi, Siena, Florence, Bologna, Padua, Venice, Lake Como – Milan, Zurich, Lucerne, Interlaken, Bern, Gruyeres, Geneva, Montreux and Zermatt.

Description

DAY 1 ROME
Welcome to Rome! After meet at the airport your driver, you will be transferred to your hotel.

Bettoja Hotel or similar

DAY 2 ROME (B)
Between 7:45 – 8:00 am, after breakfast, departure from the hotel for the included tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peters’s Basilica with our exclusive “Skip the Line” access! No stress to reach the area: upon arrival, your guide will lead you into the museums where you’ll visit one of the most important art collections of the world. Walk along the beautiful Galleries of Tapestries and Geographical Maps before admiring Raphael’s Rooms and, then, the amazing Sistine Chapel.

After this incredible masterpiece, you will be taken by a privileged door to St. Peters’s Basilica: the biggest church in the world! The tour ends on St. Peter’s Square.

This afternoon, enjoy a complete tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
Access the Palatine Hill with no line and discover the hill where Rome was founded at the beginning. Then reach the Colosseum and be amazed by this monument that is the symbol of Rome in the world.

The Amphitheater created to entertain ancient Roman citizens with bloody shows of gladiators, animals and cruel games, is now one of the most fascinating landmark of the City. Then, walk on the original path of ancient Rome along the Via Sacra and see the Temples of Vesta, Antonino and Faustina, the ancient Basilica Julia and Aemilia and dream about the glorious past of the Roman Empire.

DAY 3 ROME (B)
Enjoy a free day to explore the city at your own leisure or get any one of our optional tours.

DAY 4 (B) ROME > ASSISI > SIENA > FLORENCE (B/D)
Departing at 7:15 am from your hotel by a deluxe coach, you will arrive in Assisi, ready to explore, at your own leisure, this tiny town surrounded by walls, built in the Middle Ages. Take your time to visit the basilica of St. Francis, where you will see masterpieces by Giotto and Cimabue and, then, have free time for lunch (not included).

Board on the bus to reach Siena, a Unesco World Heritage Site, world-known for the Palio, the historical horse race around the shell-shaped town square: Piazza del Campo. Next, you will continue on to Florence, where you will check in at your hotel before enjoying dinner and a well-earned night of rest.

Raffaello or similar

DAY 5 FLORENCE (B/L)
After breakfast, you will spend the day venturing around beautiful Florence, the “Cradle of Renaissance, where, with the help of Michelangelo, Italian art reached its pinnacle. Based on etruscan-roman origins, the city flourished in the Middle Ages as a free “Comune” and was further refined during the Renaissance. You will be fascinated by the uncountable monuments, churches and buildings as Santa Maria del Fiore, more commonly referred to as the Duomo.

On your visit, you will be amazed by its magnificent dome built by Filippo Brunelleschi. Cross a small piazza to see the “Campanile” tower (partly designed by Giotto) and the Baptistery, with its bronze doors where Michelangelo imagined the “Gates of Paradise.” In the heart of the city, you will see Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo della Signoria (also known as Palazzo Vecchio), and the Basilica of Santa Croce.

Lunch in a typical Tuscan restaurant in Piazza Santa Croce.

Spend the afternoon strolling the cobblestone streets of Florence on your own or take a short trip to Pisa (optional), one of the four main historical Marine Republics of Italy. There, you will tour the Piazza dei Miracoli with the Duomo, Pisa’s symbol “the Leaning Tower” and the Baptistery.

Dinner at leisure, overnight stay in Florence.

DAY 6 FLORENCE > BOLOGNA > PADUA > VENICE (B/D)
After breakfast in Florence, departure to Bologna. There, you will discover the elegant city centre with its “porticos”, it’s shopping streets and so on. From Piazza Malpighi you will walk to Piazza del Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore (Neptune square and Major square) in the heart of the city, then King Renzo’s Palace; Palazzo Podestà and the basilica of San Petronio, one of the biggest in the world. Bologna it’s a real gourmet’s heaven…don’t miss a tasty meal at your own leisure!

In the afternoon, continue toward Padova, with Sant’Antonio Basilica: one of the most visited churches by pilgrims of the catholic world.

Later in the afternoon, arrival in Venice: the City of Love, one of the most romantic cities of the whole world and, undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man!

Check in at your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Carlton G. Canal or similar

DAY 7 VENICE (B)
After breakfast, enjoy your private water-taxi transfer to Piazza San Marco, with “Skip the Line” tickets to visit the splendid St.Mark’s Basilica and, after this, check out the most iconic places of the “Floating City”: the Palazzo dei Dogi, symbol of Venice’s glorious past, the legendary “Bridge of Sighs”. Spend the afternoon roaming along Venice’s canals at your leisure and then return to the hotel and overnight.

DAY 8 VENICE > VERONA > SIRMIONE > COMO (B/D)
After breakfast departure heading to the famous city of Verona: the town of Romeo and Juliet.

A walk through its narrow streets will allow you to get in touch with Verona’s varied and fascinating past: traces of its splendid roman origins, as the world-famous Arena and its medieval structures, its magnificent renaissance palaces, as well as the impressive fortifications protecting the city. The combination of art and history will fascinate you. You will proceed to Sirmione, where you will see the Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy.

Enjoy the area, rich in vegetation including lemon trees, oleanders and magnolias. You will see the Sirmione cape, the castle and the ruins.

In the afternoon, we will arrive in Como and enjoy the picturesque view of Lake Como.

Free time to visit Como, one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. After the visit check-in at the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Como Hotel or similar

DAY 9 COMO > MILAN (B)
Breakfast and departure to Milan, on arrival dropped at your hotel.

This afternoon, enjoy a walking tour starting at Square La Scala, where you will meet your guide. Our professional guide will share with you the history of Milan starting from the worldwide known Temple of the music.

Pass through Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the most popular gallery in the world with its fashion boutiques, reaching Duomo Square. Now discover Duomo Cathedral, the symbol of Milan, with priority entrance to avoid long lines!

The Cathedral building began in 1386 was not completed until 500 years later. It is a late Gothic Masterpiece, made more interesting by the fact that this style can’t be seen anywhere else in Italy. Towering over the Piazza del Duomo, the marble building is marked by 135 spires and countless statues.

This walking tour continues through the central streets of the city, arriving to Santa Maria delle Grazie Church, our local guide will explain the history of this church and finally you will see the Leonardo’s masterpiece “Last Supper” with priority entrance to avoid any queue!

Starhotels Ritz or similar

DAY 10 MILAN – ZURICH (B)
A day for shopping. Choose any of the following Outlets that you might be interested.
Foxtown Outlet (Switzerland)
Franciacorta Outlet Village
Serravalle Designer Outlet
Vicolungo The Style Outlets

Later this afternoon, take a train to Zurich. Upon arrival at Zurich Railway Station, you are transferred to the hotel.

Accommodation at the Hotel Swissôtel Zürich

DAY 11 ZURICH (B)
In the morning you enjoy a sightseeing tour of Zurich and its main monuments: take in the fabulous views of the Alps and Lake Zurich from the Höhenstrasse.

We will stop briefly in Rapperswil, the quaint city of roses. On our way back to Zurich you enjoy a lovely cruise on Lake Zurich. Finish your tour at Zürich-Bürkliplatz and spend time to explore more on your own and make your own way back to the hotel.

DAY 12 ZURICH – LUCERNE – MOUNT TITLIS – INTERLAKEN (B)
Departure for Lucerne. Short sightseeing tour and free time to explore Lucerne on your own.

At noon we continue to Engelberg. Take the rotating Rotair cable car to the top of Mount Titlis and its spectacular glacier. From an elevation of 3.020 m, you will enjoy breathtaking views of the Central Alps.

In the afternoon you visit the lakeside town of Brienz and see the talented wood carving artisans.

Continue to Interlaken, at the foot of Mount Jungfrau.

Accommodation at the Hotel Interlaken

DAY 13 INTERLAKEN – BERN – GRUYERES – GENEVA (B)
From Interlaken we drive along Lake Thun to Bern, located on the Aare River, overlooking the Alps. Visit the city before we continue to Gruyeres, a picturesque village with an impressive medieval castle.

Accommodation at the Hotel Ramada Encore

Day 14 GENEVA – MONTREUX – ZERMATT (B/D)
Sightseeing tour of Geneva. Visit the beautiful parks along the lake, the cathedral and the European headquarters of the UN.

Then you travel to Lausanne and Montreux with its magnificent Chillon Castle. Free time to visit Montreux.

In the afternoon you explore the Rodano river valley as far as Täsch. From here you continue by narrow gauge train to Zermatt, nestled at the foot of mighty Mount Matterhorn.

Dinner at your hotel.

Accommodation at the Hotel Alex

DAY 15 ZERMATT – NUFENEN PASS – ZURICH(B)
In the morning you are free to explore Zermatt at your leisure or undertake an optional excursion to the top of Mount Gornergrat.

In the afternoon you return to Täsch where you board the bus for a spectacular drive over the high Nufenen mountain pass to Airolo.

Return to Zurich. Arrival in Zurich at train station or Swissôtel at 6.30 pm

DAY 16 ZURICH (B)
This morning, after breakfast, transfer to the airport or railway station for your onward journey.


Departures are guaranteed to operate with a minimum of 2 guests

PRICE IN USD
$5750
Land only per person based on sharing

  • Single supplement: $1995

 
PRICE IN CAD
$7475
Land only per person based on sharing

  • Single supplement: $2595

 


DEPARTURE CALENDAR 2019

January:
February:
March:
April:
May:
1, 8, 15, 22, 29
June:
5, 12, 19
July:
3, 10, 17, 24, 31
August:
7, 14, 21
September:
4, 11, 18, 25
October
2, 9, 16
November:
December:

Additional information

OVERVIEW

Italy and Switzerland are well known for its landscape, artistic heritage and standout cities. This tour combines the best of Italy and Switzerland with iconic cities and magnificent natural wonders.

DEPARTURE

Guaranteed Departures with a Minimum of 2 persons

ACCOMMODATION

As stated in the itinerary or similar

INCLUSIONS

Transportation by deluxe motorcoach
Monolingual Tour-escort in English
Meals as per itinerary
Entrance tickets to Vatican Museums,
Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica with “Skip the Line”
Entrance tickets to St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice with “Skip the Line”
Visits with expert local guide as per itinerary (Rome, Florence and Venice)
Train ticket from Milan to Zurich
Transfer in from Zurich airport or train station to your hotel
Transportation by car, minivan or bus during the entire tour (depending on number of participants)
English speaking tour guide (driver-guide for groups of 7 persons or less)
Accommodation at the hotels described or similar
Daily buffet breakfast
Dinner in Zermatt
Visits and excursions as mentioned
Cable car ticket to Mount Titlis
Boat ride ticket on Lake Zurich
Train ticket Täsch – Zermatt – Täsch

EXCLUSIONS

Extra stay pre/post tour
Tips and Gratuities
International or Domestic Flights, Visa Fees and all Personal Expenses such as Drinks, Laundry, Telephone, tips to hotel staff, gratuities to Driver/Guide etc
Travel Insurance – we strongly recommend that comprehensive travel insurance be purchased for the duration of your journey to protect against any missed or delayed flights, illnesses etc that may cause
Any expense not expressly specified above.

QUESTIONS

Should you have any further questions, please call 1888-887-1688 or 647-483-9088 for assistance or chat online with us.

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