7 days, 6 nights · Best for First-time visitors seeking romance and Alpine beauty
Charming Venice and Lake Como 4 Star
Venice’s canals and Lake Como’s alpine beauty set the stage for a journey filled with gondolas, glass art, villas and unforgettable lakeside towns.
Your Adventure Starts Here
This is a starting point. Change the nights, choose the style of hotel, add the experiences you want. Your planner takes it from there.
Stop 1Venice, Veneto
Venice
Canals, basilicas and the art of wandering
We meet you at the airport with a private water taxi that carries you directly to your hotel, no crowds and no waiting. The city reveals itself slowly: St. Mark's Basilica with its gold mosaics, the Doge's Palace where doges ruled a maritime empire, the Bridge of Sighs connecting palace to prison. Your guide walks you through the sestieri on foot, then leaves you to the rhythm of the canals.
The lagoon islands are yours to visit as you like. Murano's glass furnaces have been firing since the thirteenth century; Burano's lace makers still work on pillows in doorways beneath houses painted violet, coral and saffron. Between excursions, the Rialto market sells Adriatic fish on ice, bacari serve cicheti and white wine by the ombra, and the vaporetto runs the length of the Grand Canal for the price of a transit ticket.
Arranged for you: We arrange the private water taxi from the airport, the hotel, and a half-day walking tour with a private guide covering St. Mark's Square, St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, the Prisons, and the Bridge of Sighs.
Your hotel
Styles, not names. We name the property once we know your dates and your party.
Interests in Venice
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Private gondola serenade at sunset Day Trips · Half day
A gondolier rows you through quiet back canals while a musician plays Venetian songs from the stern.
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Cooking class in a Venetian home Day Trips · Half day
Learn to make cuttlefish risotto and tiramisu with a local cook in her kitchen, then sit down to eat what you've prepared.
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Private tour of the Accademia or Guggenheim Day Trips · Half day
An art historian walks you through centuries of Venetian painting or the twentieth-century collection Peggy Guggenheim assembled in her palazzo.
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Cicchetti tasting walk through bacari Day Trips · Half day
Visit four traditional wine bars to taste small plates, fried seafood, and Veneto whites with a guide who knows the owners.
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Ca’ Rezonico, the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica Shore Excursions · Tour in a DayImmerse yourself in the rich history and breathtaking beauty of Venice on this 5-hour tour, where you’ll explore iconic landmarks such as the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Basilica, and Ca’ Rezzonico.
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Doge’s Palace and Gondola Ride Shore Excursions · Tour in a Day -
Murano and Burano Shore Excursions · Tour in a DayThis 4-hour tour gives you an up close and personal look at the stunning glass factories of Murano Island, as well as a tour of the brightly painted houses on Burano Island.
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San Giorgio, Murano Glass Factory and Gondola Ride Shore Excursions · Tour in a DayThis 5-hour tour allows you to explore a working Murano glass factory, takes you through stunning San Giorgio and lets you relax and unwind with a magical gondola ride through the canals of Venice.
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Tour Venice by Gondola Shore Excursions · Tour in a DayExperience Venice in the most iconic way, gliding through its enchanting canals aboard a traditional gondola.
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Venetian Costumes Tour Shore Excursions · Tour in a Day
Uncover Venice’s most elegant legacy, where master tailors, lavish fabrics, and palace-ready fashion shaped centuries of style.
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Venetian Lagoon Cruise Shore Excursions · Tour in a Day
See Venice the way it was meant to be seen, by water, gliding through the lagoon with postcard views at every turn.
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Venice and Jewish Ghetto Shore Excursions · Tour in a DayStep into Venice beyond the postcards. Discover the Jewish Ghetto’s living history, vibrant squares, and authentic neighborhood soul.
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Venice with Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Cathedral Shore Excursions · Tour in a DayFor travelers eager to experience Venice’s top sights, this 6-hour guided tour provides exclusive access to two of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
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Walking Tour of Venice Shore Excursions · Tour in a Day
Wander Venice’s legendary squares and secret lanes on a relaxed 4-hour walk filled with bridges, beauty, and unforgettable stories.
Day by day in Venice
Begin your Italian vacation by boarding your overnight flight to Venice. Relax, enjoy the in‑flight services, and get some rest so you’re ready to explore as soon as you arrive.
Arrive in Venice and experience the magic of the lagoon immediately with a private water taxi transfer from the airport to your hotel. After check‑in, the rest of the day is free to relax, stroll along the canals, and start discovering the unique charm of the “Floating City.”
After a good Italian breakfast, meet your guide for a half‑day walking tour through Venice’s narrow streets and historic squares. You’ll visit the city’s most iconic landmarks, including St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, the historic Prisons, and the romantic Bridge of Sighs. The rest of the day is yours to shop, wander along the canals, and enjoy a meal of fresh seafood at a local restaurant.
Enjoy breakfast, then spend the day exploring Venice and its lagoon islands at your own pace. You may choose to visit Murano to see a glass workshop and learn how local artisans create glass masterpieces, or continue to Burano, renowned for its lace‑making tradition and brightly painted houses. Alternatively, stay in Venice to discover its “secret” corners, visit the Fine Arts Academy or the Guggenheim Museum, browse the old markets, or enjoy a walk across the Rialto Bridge. However you decide to spend the day, Venice will continue to enchant.
Stop 2Varenna, Lake Como, Lombardy
Varenna
Ferry landings and Alpine light on water
The drive from Venice to Lake Como crosses the Veneto plain and climbs toward the Alps, with optional stops in Padua (Basilica of Saint Anthony), Verona (the Roman arena and Juliet's courtyard), Bergamo's walled Città Alta, or the shores of Lake Garda. Varenna sits on the eastern shore of Lake Como where fishing boats still tie up below pastel houses and the Perledo mountains rise behind the village.
Ferries and steamboats cross the lake throughout the day. Bellagio's stone steps climb from the water to villa gardens planted with azaleas, camellias and cypress. Other landings serve smaller villages with gelaterie, fish restaurants, and churches holding Baroque altarpieces. You board and disembark as you please, riding under the peaks that Pliny the Younger described in letters to Rome. The water is cold, clear, and deep.
Arranged for you: We arrange the hotel in Varenna for two nights.
Your hotel
Styles, not names. We name the property once we know your dates and your party.
Interests in Varenna
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Private boat tour of Lake Como's villas Day Trips · Half day
A wooden motorboat carries you to Villa del Balbianello, Villa Carlotta, and other estates, with stops to tour the gardens.
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Guided hike above Varenna to Castello di Vezio Day Trips · Half day
Walk the old mule path to a medieval castle ruin commanding views of all three arms of the lake.
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Wine tasting in Valtellina Day Trips · Half day
Drive into the mountain valley east of the lake to taste Nebbiolo-based reds at a family winery on terraced slopes.
Day by day in Varenna
After your final Venetian breakfast, pick up your rental car and begin your scenic journey toward Lake Como. Along the way, you can choose to stop in Padua to visit the Basilica of Saint Anthony, in Verona to see the balcony of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, in Bergamo to explore the walled medieval upper town, or on the shores of Lake Garda for a lakeside lunch. Upon reaching Varenna, check into your hotel and relax while taking in the breathtaking Alpine scenery reflected in the calm waters of Lake Como. Enjoy dinner at a typical local restaurant before spending the night in Varenna.
Spend two leisurely days in Varenna, relaxing and soaking up the stunning views of the Alps and Lake Como. We recommend taking a steamboat or ferry across the lake to admire the mountains and the grand villas with their manicured gardens. You can also visit the famous town of Bellagio or other picturesque lakeside villages, there are no wrong choices on Lake Como. Return each evening to your hotel in Varenna.
Stop 3Cernobbio, Lake Como, Lombardy
Cernobbio
Western shore access to Como and Swiss Lugano
Cernobbio sits on the western shore of Lake Como, a short drive from the city of Como and the Swiss border. The city of Como was founded by the Romans and grew wealthy on silk weaving; the cathedral took four centuries to complete and the lakefront promenade still draws locals for the evening passeggiata. Silk boutiques and workshops continue the trade, selling scarves, ties, and fabric by the meter.
The Swiss border is twenty minutes north. Lake Lugano lies in a different valley with its own microclimate, ringed by peaks and dotted with Belle Époque resorts. You can drive there for lunch, take the funicular up Monte Brè, or simply return to your hotel in Cernobbio and watch the light change on the water as the sun moves behind the mountains.
Arranged for you: We arrange the hotel in Cernobbio for one night.
Your hotel
Styles, not names. We name the property once we know your dates and your party.
Interests in Cernobbio
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Private Como city and silk workshop tour Day Trips · Half day
A local guide walks you through the medieval quarter, the cathedral, and a silk atelier where you see printing and weaving.
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Funicular ride and lunch at Brunate Day Trips · Half day
Take the century-old funicular from Como up to the village of Brunate for panoramic views and a meal on a terrace.
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Day trip to Lake Lugano and Ticino Day Trips · Half day
Cross into Switzerland to explore Lake Lugano's waterfront, ride a mountain cable car, and taste Ticinese cuisine.
Day by day in Cernobbio
Drive along the lake to Cernobbio and check into your hotel for a three‑night stay on the western shore of Lake Como. From here, you can easily reach the city of Como to explore its historic center, cathedral, museums, and lakeside promenade, or browse the town’s renowned silk boutiques. You can also drive to the nearby Swiss border to visit Lake Lugano and its charming surroundings. Lake Como has long been a favorite retreat for artists and celebrities, so you may even catch a glimpse of a famous villa or two during your stay. Enjoy these days with maximum flexibility to shape your ideal lake experience.
Day 7
Last Call for Italy Daydreams
After breakfast, drive to Milan Malpensa Airport and return your rental car. Board your return flight home, taking with you unforgettable memories of Venice’s canals and the serene beauty of Lake Como and its lakeside towns.
Why plan with Trips 2 Italy?
Designed around you by Italian-born planners
Guides, drivers and boats for your party alone
Hand-selected hotels in every destination
Local English-speaking guides who know their city
Met at the airport, private transfers throughout
Testimonials
Hear from travelers who have planned Italy with us
They took the time to understand our preferences and designed an itinerary that was comfortable, personalized, and enjoyable. They offered thoughtful recommendations while never being pushy.
We missed our connecting flight in Munich. I had just got through customs and was looking up the number to call when Trips 2 Italy called me. They told me exactly what to do and they already knew what flight we had been rebooked on.
Ready to make it yours?
Send us this adventure with your changes. An Italian-born planner builds the first full draft and calls you to walk through it.
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Questions travelers ask
What will we see on this journey?
Over 11 days this journey brings you to Cernobbio, Lake Como, Varenna, and Venice. Each stop is woven into the itinerary with time for the landmarks, the views, and the local flavor that make it special.
How do we get between the destinations?
Transportation is arranged as part of the itinerary, with comfortable train segments between the cities and vehicle transfers where they serve you best. Every connection is planned for you, so you can focus on the scenery instead of the logistics.
Is this package a good fit for our group?
It suits travelers who want Italy arranged by experts, with guided experiences balanced by free time to explore on your own.
Is this package customizable?
It is. This itinerary is a sample built to spark ideas, and every element can be customized to your wishes and needs by your travel consultant. A minimum of 2 travelers applies.
When should we travel on this package?
It is available all year around on request. May through September shows the lakes at their sunniest, with gardens in bloom and ferries running full schedules, while spring and fall bring softer light and thinner crowds.