The Magic of the Italian Lakes (6320)

8 Day Tour from Milan to Lake Maggiore

2021 Tour Details View 2022 Tour Details »

Discover the beauty of the Italian Lakes on this magnificent vacation. With the Alps for a backdrop, you’ll enjoy nature at its finest—with overnights in Lake Garda, Lake Como, and Lake Maggiore. Plus, on this affordable Italian Lakes tour, you’ll spend one night in Milan, known as one of the world’s fashion capitals and you’ll visit medieval Verona, where you’ll see the famous Roman Arena, home of the summer Opera Festival.

Situated at the foot of the Alps, Lake Garda is Italy’s largest lake. With a temperate climate, you can relax and restore harmony to your life, participate in optional excursions, and enjoy the local specialties, such as wine and extra virgin olive oil. With its cobalt-blue waters surrounded by majestic mountains, Lake Como is one of Europe’s deepest lakes. Lake Como is lined with elegant 17th-century villas and lush gardens; it’s the perfect destination. You will enjoy a scenic boat trip to Bellagio and Varenna, both picturesque towns on Lake Como’s shores, where nature and culture come together. Explore the centuries-old buildings, cobbled stairways, cafes and shops.

Lake Maggiore is a paradise of crystal waters, backed by towering mountains and surrounded by lush countryside. With its prestigious Italian gardens, intriguing palaces, and scenic landscapes, you can choose to relax or enjoy some of the many activities available. On the way to Lake Maggiore, you’ll travel to Lugano, set on gorgeous Lake Lugano, a lake that lies between Italy and Switzerland. Here—with a Mediterranean ambiance—you can stroll along the lakeside promenade or simply unwind as you enjoy a delicious gelato.

Over centuries, Italy’s great lakes have been among Europe’s favorite vacation destinations, providing enchanting landscapes and a relaxing ambiance. Now is your time to enjoy them on this affordable Italian Lakes tour. It’s a lovely vacation, perfect for savvy, value-minded travelers.

Small-Group Discovery

Select Cosmos 2021 Europe tours are limited to an average of just 24 guests per tour. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Cosmos European tour, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery Europe vacation is the perfectly sized tour—without the crowds.

Headsets throughout the tour.
Dates & Prices Book Online
800.646.5374
Save $300 per couple on select 2021 air-inclusive Europe vacations on American Airlines/British Airways/Iberia/Finnair*
The Magic of the Italian Lakes map

 Photo Highlights

The following UNESCO World Heritage Sites can be seen or visited on this vacation:

  • City of Verona

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

Buffet breakfast daily; 4 dinners

 Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN MILAN, ITALY

Check into your hotel in Milan. Start exploring with the help of the CosmosGO app. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers.

Day 2 MILAN–SIRMIONE–LAKE GARDA

Start the day with an orientation tour of Milan, stopping to admire the famous Gothic-style Duomo. Travel east through the Po Valley, then catch your first glimpses of Lake Garda as you stop in Sirmione, the picturesque spa town on the south shore of Lake Garda. Stroll among the many shops and ice cream parlors that line the narrow cobblestone streets. Continue to your hotel on Lake Garda.
Today’s Distance: 143 mi/ 230 km

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 3 LAKE GARDA

Enjoy a whole day at leisure in this beautiful area, situated at the foot of the Alps and surrounded by mountains to the north and the gentle slopes of moraine hills to the south. Check out the optional excursions available.

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 4 LAKE GARDA–VERONA–LAKE COMO

This morning, visit the romantic, medieval city of Verona and enjoy some time at leisure. Continue to fascinating Lake Como, where you’ll spend two nights.
Today’s Distance: 205 mi/ 330 km

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 5 LAKE COMO. EXCURSION TO BELLAGIO AND VARENNA

Inspiring everyone from Roman senators and great composers to Hollywood actors, Como is the romantic image of the lakes. Its cobalt-blue waters are lined with magnificent mountains, lush gardens, and grand villas. Join the included boat trip to Bellagio, set in one of the most scenic position in all of Italy, and Varenna, an old fishing village.

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 6 LAKE COMO–LUGANO, SWITZERLAND–LAKE MAGGIORE, ITALY

Depart Lake Como and cross the border into Switzerland. Head towards beautiful Lake Lugano and the stylish city that bears its name. Time to stroll along the lakeside promenade, window shop on refined Via Nassa, or sip an espresso on the Piazza Riforma. Leave Switzerland and cross back into Italy, driving to Lake Maggiore.
Today’s Distance: 87 mi/ 140 km

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 7 LAKE MAGGIORE

Set between Piedmont, Lombardy, and Switzerland, Lake Maggiore is a paradise of crystal waters, backed by towering mountains and surrounded by lush countryside. The day is yours to relax or to enjoy some of the many activities available around the lake. Maybe join an optional boat trip to the Borromean Islands of Pescatori and Isola Bella, with time to visit the extravagant Borromeo Palace, built like a ship anchored just off the shoreline.

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 8 LAKE MAGGIORE

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (The nearest airport is Milan.)

Breakfast Breakfast


Transportation:

Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi; boat trip to Bellagio and Varenna

 Tour Director

With COSMOS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

FRANCESCO NARDIN

Escorting tours for more than 5 years

“Buongiorno everyone! I'm Francesco Nardin and I've been rendering my services as a Cosmos Tour Director in Italy, Greece, South France and Spain. Following in the footsteps of my parents, I've always loved travelling and exploring new countries, meeting new people and cultures. Clients need to know what Italy is, what is the feeling of the Mediterranean breeze and how much we can offer to them... this is why I'm here, to create memories and to turn travel dreams into real experiences. Bellissimo!”

Tour Director - FRANCESCO NARDIN

 Accommodations

 Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyCosmos site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 USD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 USD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 USD)
$$$$ (Over $150)


Merano
Verona
Lugano
Lake Maggiore

Merano

Merano Wine Experience

Merano Wine Experience

Discover beautiful Merano with the chance to visit a castle where you will see the vineyards, explore the wine museum and the cellars, and taste different types of wine.

Price Range: $

Verona

Magic of Verona

Magic of Verona

Discover Verona by coach and by foot on this guided introduction to the city forever tied to ancient Rome and Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet". eater.

Price Range: $

Lugano

Cable Car up Mount Tamaro with Lunch

Cable Car up Mount Tamaro with Lunch

Ride a cable car up soaring Mount Tamaro for a delightful lunch of traditional Ticino dishes!

Price Range: $$

Lake Maggiore

Dinner on Isola dei Pescatori

Dinner on Isola dei Pescatori

Get acquainted with the enchanting Borromean Island of Isola dei Pescatori as you dine on local specialties at a lovely historic restaurant

Price Range: $$

The Borromean Islands

The Borromean Islands

Depart from Baveno to see Isola Madre, then move to Isola Bella and later enjoy some free time in Stresa on your own

Price Range: $$

 Private Touring

Private Touring: Cosmos European Private Touring enables you to experience all of the attractions, sights and highlights of your selected Cosmos tour as a private experience - delivered just for you and your traveling party. With Private Touring, you'll have your own dedicated Tour Director, your own private transportation and driver, and your own professional local guides. All with greater flexibility in pace and your experience. For your selected tour, there will be additional per-person cost for the size of your party - from 1 to 24. This additional supplement is reduced with each traveler you add to your party. Here's a sample of the additional cost:

6 guests in a party: $1,688*
18 guests in a party: $331*

Contact Cosmos or your preferred travel agent for pricing for your specific party size as well as any other information on Cosmos Private Touring.

*Supplement pricing is per person (USD) and will be added to the standard published price for your given departure date and is based on availability. Supplement price is valid for 2021 travel year. Occasionally some included and optional activities & excursions may be operated with other guests. Additional restrictions may apply. Not applicable for custom groups. No Group allowances or promotions are available on Private Touring. Published itineraries only. Note that blackout dates may exist where the Private Touring option is not available.


* The "Starting at" or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per passenger based on double occupancy and does not include International airfare; additional fees/charges are not included. If a price is crossed out, the new price includes a limited time promotional offer(s) – please review current promotions or deals for additional information. Some tours require intra-vacation flights (and in some cases intra-vacation segments must be purchased from Cosmos).

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