DETAILS
One of the world’s most captivating destinations, northern Italy’s fabled Lake District beckons with its sublime landscapes of shimmering glacial waters, soaring Alpine peaks and coastal villages. The Mediterranean region’s ancient history echoes through towns embellished with lavish Renaissance and Gothic architecture and imbued with the distinct Italian style that has inspired poets, composers, artists and philosophers for centuries. Indulge in the refined culture of the Italian Lake District on this unique program, where you unpack only once in Lake Como, one of Italy’s loveliest settings, and travel to bijou towns, exquisite islands and the vivacious metropolis that is Milan.
- Pricing from
- $4,795
SAVE up to $2,000 if reserved early!
CLICK HERE to book now! - Trip Type
- Group Travel Tour, International Land & Rail Tours
- Departure Dates
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May 8, 2027 - May 16, 2027
ITINERARY
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day 1
Depart the U.S.
Depart your home city on an overnight flight to Milan.
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day 2
Milan, Italy/Lake Como
Arrive at Milan Malpensa Airport. Proceed through the immigration checkpoint to the baggage claim area and retrieve your luggage. After completing a customs screening, meet a representative.
Transfer to the deluxe Palace Hotel Como. This ideally located, classic Belle Époque hotel overlooks Lake Como.
Settle in and unpack for the week. Explore the hotel and the surrounding town, if you wish. Make your own plans for lunch. The Travel Hospitality Desk stands ready with itinerary and restaurant suggestions.
Join your fellow passengers for a Welcome Reception and Dinner tonight at the hotel.
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day 3
Como
Enjoy a delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel each morning.
Lecture: Join a distinguished guest speaker for an informative lecture on the history of Como.
Stroll throughout Old Como and admire magnificent architectural sites such as the Gothic Duomo di Como, the beautiful fresco-adorned Romanesque Basilica di San Fedele, the 13th-century town hall Broletto and the 12th-century gate tower Porta Vittoria. During the walking tour, you will also visit the grand Volta Square, which commemorates the credited inventor of the battery, Alessandro Volta. (Moderate)
Enjoy lunch on your own, and spend the afternoon at leisure, exploring Como independently. Make your own plans for dinner at a local trattoria or ristorante. For itinerary suggestions and dining recommendations, see the Gohagan Travel Hospitality Desk in the hotel.
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day 4
Milan
A Cultural Visit to Milan. Travel to Milan, Italy’s economic powerhouse, whose wealth of cultural heritage is lavished on superb architecture, splendid art and prestigious museums. Visit the museum at the legendary Teatro alla Scala, Italy’s opulent, premier opera house. Pass through the grand buildings of the Galleria on the brief walk to Milan’s centerpiece, the flamboyant 14th-century Duomo, a Gothic masterpiece defended by 2,244 marble saints and nearly 100 scowling gargoyles. The Duomo’s impressive interior houses Europe’s largest sundial, a brass strip decorated with signs of the zodiac embedded in its floor, and the treasury, which houses some of the Duomo’s prized possessions. (Moderate)
Spend time at leisure having lunch and getting to know cosmopolitan Milan. You may wish to explore Milan’s legendary fashion scene while walking along the streets of Quadrilatero d’Oro, one of the world’s most iconic fashion districts. Or perhaps spend more time exploring the Piazza del Duomo and the Galleria. Return to Como and make your own plans for dinner tonight.
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day 5
Stresa/Lake Maggiore/Borromean Islands
Located in the turquoise waters of Lake Maggiore, the Borromean Islands are named after the family who has owned them since the 15th century. This archipelago comprises three lovely islands, each one different from its neighbors. From Stresa, begin your outing with a cruise on Lake Maggiore aboard a private motorboat to Isola Bella, the “Beautiful Island,” graced with elegant villas and striking natural beauty. Explore its 17th-century baroque palace and summerhouse that is home to a mosaic marine-themed grotto and an astounding collection of art and antiques. Stroll the lush gardens, filled with rare flowers and plants, statuary, architectural details and strutting white peacocks. Reboard the boat for the return to Stresa. (Moderate)
Explore Stresa, the setting for Ernest Hemingway’s iconic novel “A Farewell to Arms,” and enjoy the spectacular mountain views. Savor lunch on your own before you return to the hotel.
Lecture: At the hotel, immerse yourself in a lecture on the area’s silk industry by a local expert.
Make your own plans for dinner tonight.
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day 6
Como
Today, delve deeper into Como during your choice of one of the following activities.
Traveler’s Choice | Choose ONE of the following included excursions. Indicate which you prefer on the separate Traveler’s Choice Reservation Form, which follows this itinerary.
- Pasta Fresca Cooking Class.
Join a local Como resident who has a passion for Italian cooking and loves to share it! During this fun hands-on cooking class, each guest will make three kinds of pasta, plus a dessert. After cooking, everyone will sit down together for a lovely lunch and enjoy the fruits of their labor! Prosecco, wine, coffee, and limoncello are included.
Please note: Vegan and gluten-free diets cannot be accommodated. Class requires a three-flight walk up to the resident’s home (no elevator available).
Minimum of 6 and maximum of 8 participants. (Moderate)
- Como Culinary Tour.
Accompanied by a local guide, guests will explore Como’s culinary highlights at three different stops:
- a wine shop to taste three regional wines and sample cold cuts;
- a bistro to taste olive oils, balsamic vinegar, local wine and cheeses;
- a stop for ice cream!
Minimum of 12 and maximum of 16 participants. (Moderate)
- Wine Tasting at La Costa Winery.
Visit a winery located in the region of Montevecchia and the Curone Valley, approximately an hour’s drive from Como. La Costa Winery was founded in 1992 inside a protected regional park, where the vineyards, cellar and refurbished farmhouses are surrounded by local vegetation and fauna.
This informative and fascinating guided tour of the vineyard and cellar includes a tasting of four wines paired with local appetizers.
Minimum of 10 and maximum of 15 participants. (Moderate)
Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, and make your own plans for lunch. For dining and itinerary suggestions, please visit the Gohagan Travel Hospitality Desk at the hotel.
Later, gather with the group to savor the delights of a provided Northern Italian dinner in a local ristorante.
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day 7
Bellagio
Lake Como and Bellagio. Board a private boat to glide on Lake Como’s sparkling, deep-blue water, and delight in views of the opulent villas and colorful villages nestled along the lake’s shores. Vistas of stunning gardens, hidden waterfalls and cypress groves will captivate your senses, while the majestic Alps stand sentry in the background. This spectacular boat ride is sure to be among your trip’s most treasured memories.
Our first stop is a specially arranged visit to Villa del Balbianello, which you may recognize from “Casino Royale” and other films. It was built at the end of the 18th century on the site of an ancient Franciscan monastery. Noble families have lived here over the centuries, filling the gorgeous residence with furnishings dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, unusual paintings on glass, and sculptures. Unique terraced gardens surround the villa, where holm oaks—evergreens native to the Mediterranean—are pruned into a distinctive umbrella shape.
Continue to the celebrated town of Bellagio. Often thought of as the most beautiful town in Italy, Bellagio flaunts a promenade lined with lime trees and oleanders, a quaint city center of cobblestone streets and picturesque alleyways, and charming buildings painted in shades of cream, peach and butterscotch. Writers, artists and composers from every part of the world have visited and found inspiration in Bellagio, including Pliny the Younger, Longfellow, Twain, Shelley, Stendhal, Flaubert, Faure, Liszt and Toscanini. Explore this enchanting little village, and stroll by 18th- and 19th-century villas built by the region’s noble families. (Moderate)
Discover Bellagio on your own during some free time. Take a peaceful stroll along the waterfront, pause for a treat at a requisite gelato stand or browse the unique boutiques. Enjoy a memorable lunch at a local eatery before heading back to Como.
Village Forum: Immerse yourself in the local culture and traditions in a conversation with local residents. Afterward, make your own plans for dinner.
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day 8
Como
The day is free for independent pursuits, which may include the Como public market or a visit to Villa Carlotta, an elegant botanical garden and museum on Lake Como. For itinerary suggestions, visit the Gohagan Travel Hospitality Desk at the hotel. Enjoy lunch on your own.
Tonight, join your fellow passengers for a Farewell Dinner at the hotel, and raise a glass to your week of La Dolce Vita!
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day 9
Como/Milan/Return to the U.S.
Following breakfast, disembark and transfer to Milan Malpensa Airport for your return flight home.
Everything you need to know about the tour
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The Palace Hotel
The recently refurbished, classic belle-epoque Palace Hotel is a delightful establishment with a magnificent setting on the lungo lago (lakefront promenade) overlooking Lake Como and is just steps away from Como’s beautiful marble Duomo and the medieval, pedestrian-only town center. Venetian stucco artistry, Italian marble and antique furniture provide subtle touches of 19th-century elegance throughout the hotel, while its beautifully landscaped gardens provide the perfect setting to admire enchanting views across Lake Como. The Ceccato Ice Cream Parlor, with its summer terrace and winter garden overlooking the lake, is an excellent place to enjoy the refreshing flavors of a traditional Italian ice or a cup of cappuccino. Each of the hotel’s 94 comfortable guest rooms is tastefully appointed with a private bathroom, air conditioning, satellite television, minibar and hair dryer. (Lake-view rooms can be requested for an additional fee and are subject to availability. Call for more information.) Meals, featuring well-prepared Italian and local specialties and international cuisine, are served in the hotel’s beautifully furnished Antica Darsena restaurant. Table wines are served with dinner. The hotel staff provides exceptional service.
Airport transfers and luggage handling abroad are only included if air arrangements are booked through Gohagan & Company. If travelers make their own air arrangements, transfers and luggage handling are not included; transfers can be organized through Gohagan & Company and purchased by the traveler.
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Giuseppina Lucini
Giuseppina Lucini was raised in Como, Italy, where she still lives today. Her family has resided here for generations. Giuseppina earned her B.A.in Classical Literature at Liceo A. Volta in Como, as well as an M.A. in Medieval History from Università degli Studi in Milan. Her active interest in art and history as well as her fluency in English, Italian and French complement her open and enthusiastic attitude with travelers. Always a popular study leader, she looks forward to introducing you, through her lectures, to all that the Italian Lake District has to offer.
TOUR MAP
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