Northern Italy lakes trip

Select Month

start planning

Turn a dream into a personally crafted Northern Italy lakes trip that celebrates slow travel, local flavor, and unforgettable alpine vistas. Work with our specialists to shape every detail and secure unique experiences that speak to your tastes.

Let us design a sincere, tailored Italy trip so you arrive feeling like a welcomed guest instead of a tourist. Start planning today to claim a travel experience as individual as you are.

Northern Italy lakes trip highlights

  • Private Lake Como and Bellagio cruise: Glide on a tailored private boat past villas and gardens, capturing intimate views and hidden coves.
  • Hands-on local food and wine: Savor artisan cuisine with private tastings and market tours.
  • Bernina Red Train scenic journey: Ride the UNESCO Bernina Red Train through dramatic alpine panoramas.
  • Hidden villages and tailored walking routes: Explore charming lakeside villages with a local guide.
  • Boutique stays and personalized service: Stay in handpicked boutique hotels or private villas.
DayLocationActivityOvernight
1Stresa (Lake Maggiore)

• Arrival in Milan and private transfer to Stresa

• Free time to explore Lake Maggiore

• Lakeside dinner or a relaxed evening walk

Stresa
2Stresa / Borromean Islands

• Private boat tour of the Borromean Islands

• Visit Isola Bella and Isola Madre; lunch on one of the islands

• Return to Stresa and unwind

Stresa
3Desenzano / Franciacorta

• Transfer to Desenzano with scenic stops

• Franciacorta wine tasting and cellar tour

• Settle in and dine locally

Desenzano
4Milan

• Private transfer to Milan

• Guided city tour including The Last Supper and the Duomo rooftop

• Optional aperitivo or dinner in Milan

Milan
5Bellagio (Lake Como)

• Transfer to Bellagio via the alpine foothills

• Free time to explore Bellagio

• Relaxed evening by the lake

Bellagio
6Lake Como / Varenna

• Guided villa boat tour: Villa Melzi and Varenna

• Visit Villa Monastero and Villa Carlotta

• Optional sunset cruise or lakeside dinner

Bellagio
7Bernina Line / St. Moritz

• Scenic Bernina Red Train to St. Moritz

• Lakeside stroll and free time in the Alps

• Return via the Maloja Pass; final dinner with alpine views

Bellagio
8Bellagio → Milan Airport

• Private transfer to Milan Airport

• Departure

Places you'll visit

Click to activate the map
Day01

Arrival in Milan and transfer to Stresa

Arrive in Milan and enjoy a smooth, private transfer to Stresa in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle. Your professional driver handles the details, so you can sit back and settle into the pace of your Italy travel.

Once in Stresa, unwind on the shores of Lake Maggiore. Choose how you explore: lakeside dining, a private boat tour, or a scenic walk tailored to your interests.

Italy
Day02

Borromean Islands tour

Meet your local licensed guide in Stresa for a private boat tour of the Borromean Islands. Explore Isola Bella's magnificent palace and terraces and stroll through the rare botanical collections on Isola Madre.

Your full day includes stops at two islands, so choose lunch on Isola Bella, Isola Madre, or Isola dei Pescatori with our guide's restaurant recommendations to taste Lake Maggiore cuisine. After lunch, explore the second island before returning to Stresa at about 3:30 PM.

Isola Maggiore
Marianne

Tips from Marianne

Italy Travel Expert

quotes

Want the islands (almost) to yourself? Catch the earliest ferry from Stresa and go straight to Isola Madre first. Most visitors head to Isola Bella right away, so flipping the order means you’ll have the peaceful gardens and exotic birds of Isola Madre with barely a soul around.

Day03

Franciacorta wine tasting

Take a private transfer from Stresa to Desenzano, enjoying lakeside views and flexible timing along the way. It’s a gentle shift from Alpine scenery to southern shores, the kind of contrast that defines an Italian peaks and lakes trip. Your driver shares local tips to help you make the most of your Italy trip.

Stop in Franciacorta for a guided cellar tour and taste at least three signature wines, Brut, Brut Nature, Pas Dosé, and Satèn Millesimato, paired with local breadsticks, cured meats, and cheese.

Franciacorta
Day04

Day trip to Milan

Travel in comfort with a private driver for a tailor-made day in Milan. Join a small-group guided tour that dives into the city’s stories and local secrets, ideal if you're after real art and culture, not just the highlights.

Visit Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, then head to the Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano), where rooftop views steal the show.

Milan
Day05

Free day in Bellagio

Enjoy a relaxed transfer from Lake Garda to Bellagio, passing through scenic alpine foothills and quiet villages as you move between two of Italy’s most iconic lakes.

Spend the day exploring Bellagio at your own pace. Wander cobbled lanes, sip an espresso in Piazza della Chiesa near the Basilica of San Giacomo, and take in panoramic views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Visit the Villa Melzi Gardens for rare plants, sculptures, and a peaceful lakeside stroll. For even bigger views, join a guided tour of Villa Serbelloni’s hilltop grounds.

Bellagio
Day06

Lake Como's villas, guided boat tour from Bellagio

Start your day with a stroll through the lakeside Gardens of Villa Melzi, then hop on a public boat to Varenna. The quiet pathways and water views capture the atmosphere people imagine when dreaming up an Italian Lakes tour, without changing the easy rhythm of your morning. Explore Villa Monastero’s house museum and botanical gardens, set right on the water.

Continue by boat to Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo, known for its lush terraces, art-filled halls, and sweeping views of the Alps across Lake Como.

Lake Como
Day07

Bernina Train tour

Travel by private minivan to Tirano, where you’ll board the iconic Bernina Red Train for a ride through the Alps, reaching heights of 2,253 meters. Arrive in St. Moritz to stroll along the lake and explore its historic center.

On the return, stop at Lake Silvaplana to watch kitesurfers skim the water, then take the scenic route over the Maloja Pass, an unforgettable drive through the Italian and Swiss Alps.

Red Train
Day08

Transfer to Milan airport

A private driver picks you up in Bellagio for a comfortable transfer to Milan Airport, with time to take in the final lake views or stop for one last taste of local flavors.

Arrivederci, your Italy trip wraps up with unforgettable memories. When you're ready, we can design your next tailor-made journey to match your travel style.

Airport