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Lake Como, the Italian Riviera & Venice

with Florence extension
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Get caught up in the laid-back Italian lifestyle.

It would be hard to leave northern Italy feeling stressed. Along the glimmering shores of Lake Como and the meandering canals of Venice, leisure and relaxation remain mainstays of the Italian lifestyle. Amble around every corner of sleek and stylish Milan. Soak up the sun on the Italian Riviera. Escape to the picturesque villages of Cinque Terre. Just unwind and let the Italians teach you a thing or two about indulgence (trust us, they know best).

Your tour package includes
  • 9 nights in handpicked hotels
  • 9 breakfasts
  • 4 dinners with beer or wine
  • 4 guided sightseeing tours
  • Expert Tour Director & local guides
Included highlights
  • Villa Carlotta
  • Sforza Castle
  • Milan's Duomo
  • Certosa di Pavia
  • Cinque Terre
Start planning today
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Day-by-day itinerary
Print itinerary
Overnight Flight1 night
Day 1: Travel day

Board your overnight flight to Milan today.

Lake Como Region2 nights
Day 2: Arrival in Milan & transfer to Lake Como Region
Included meal: Farewell dinner

Welcome to Italy! After arriving at the airport, transfer to the Lake Como region and settle in to your hotel. Later, meet your fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.

Day 3: Como & Villa Carlotta
Included meal: Breakfast

Head out on a morning trip to explore Como, known for its mix of cultural and natural attractions.

  • Enjoy free time in Como for lunch and shopping, while admiring the lakeside vistas
  • Transfer to the beautiful Villa Carlotta to soak in spectacular views from the elaborate villa gardens (open March through October)

Enjoy free time in Como or add an excursion.

Lake Como Cruise & Bellagio
Excursion (additional cost)
Milan2 nights
Day 4: Transfer to Milan & sightseeing tour
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Transfer to Milan and embark on a guided sightseeing tour of Italy’s fashion capital.

  • Walk through the Brera District and see the statue of Leonardo da Vinci, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, and Piazza della Scala
  • Step inside the Gothic-style Milan Cathedral, Italy’s largest cathedral
  • Pay a visit to the 15th-century Sforza Castle, which currently houses an impressive collection of art

Tonight, enjoy local wine and a buffet-style meal at an apericena dinner.

Day 5: Free day in Milan
Included meal: Breakfast

Enjoy a free day in Milan or add an excursion.

Scenic Lugano: A Day in Switzerland
Excursion (additional cost)
Italian Riviera3 nights
Day 6: Italian Riviera via Certosa di Pavia monastery
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Leaving Milan, stop in Lombardy to visit the exceptionally beautiful Certosa di Pavia monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Then, continue south to the seaside paradise of the Italian Riviera and sit down for an included dinner.

Day 7: Sightseeing tour of Cinque Terre
Included meal: Breakfast

Discover Cinque Terre, an idyllic cluster of five villages set on seaside cliffs.

  • Travel by boat along the coast for dramatic cliffside views
  • Stop for free time to explore the seaside villages of Vernazza and Monterosso
  • Admire the Liguria region’s varied landscape as you transfer back to your hotel

Please note: The boat ride is weather-dependent. In the case of inclement weather, you’ll visit the villages by train. In addition, the specific villages you visit may vary.

Day 8: Free day on the Italian Riviera
Included meal: Breakfast

Enjoy a free day on the Italian Riviera or add an excursion.

Villages of the Italian Riviera & Lunch
Excursion (additional cost)
Venice2 nights
Day 9: Venice via Verona
Included meal: Breakfast

En route to Venice, stop in Verona and walk through the city with your Tour Director.

  • Stroll through the city’s UNESCO-recognized historic center
  • Admire the Roman arena, Piazza delle Erbe, and the balcony of Shakespeare’s Juliet

Enjoy free time before continuing on to Venice.

Day 10: Sightseeing tour of Venice
Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner

Admire historic churches, winding canals, and picture-perfect piazzas on a guided tour of the city known as "the Queen of the Adriatic."

  • Step into the iconic St. Mark's Square and enter St. Mark's Basilica
  • View the stately Doge's Palace, built in the Venetian Gothic style in 1340
  • Marvel at the Bridge of Sighs, the link between Doge's Palace and the New Prison
  • See a glassblowing demonstration to learn about the city's most celebrated art

Enjoy a free afternoon in Venice or add an excursion.

Later, join your fellow travelers at tonight’s farewell dinner.

Gondola Ride: Venice Canal Cruise
Excursion (additional cost)
Private Gondola Ride: Canal Cruise for Two
Excursion (additional cost)
Flight Home
Day 11: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home or extend your stay to explore Florence.

Extension to Florence

Set out to explore the city at the center of the Italian Renaissance.

Florence3 nights
Day 11: Transfer to Florence
Included meal: Breakfast

Say goodbye to Venice as you board a train and set out for Florence, Italy.

(Please note: You will need to handle your own baggage during the train transfer.)

Day 12: Sightseeing tour of Florence
Included meal: Breakfast

Set off to see Florence, the city at the center of the Renaissance with a local guide.

  • Visit the legendary Florence Cathedral, known as the Duomo
  • Pass Giotto’s Campanile, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture
  • Step inside the Basilica of Santa Croce, burial site of Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and Galileo
  • See the medieval Ponte Vecchio and the Piazza della Signoria, the center of Florentine life

Enjoy a free afternoon in Florence or add an excursion.

Galleria dell'Accademia Museum
Excursion (additional cost)
Day 13: Free day in Florence
Included meal: Breakfast

Spend a full free day exploring Florence on your own or add an excursion.

This evening, enjoy a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members.

Siena & San Gimignano: Tuscan Hilltowns
Excursion (additional cost)
Flight Home
Day 14: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

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Dates & prices
Choose your dates to start a quote
44 Departures
Tour prices are per person, before flights, and based on two travelers per hotel room.
Oct 5–Oct 15, 2019
Extension available
Join waitlist
$3,099
Oct 12–Oct 22, 2019
$3,099
Apr 11–Apr 21, 2020
$3,009
May 2–May 12, 2020
Extension available
$3,009
May 9–May 19, 2020
$3,009
May 16–May 26, 2020
Extension available
$3,209
May 23–Jun 2, 2020
$3,209
Jun 6–Jun 16, 2020
Extension available
$3,209
Jun 13–Jun 23, 2020
$3,209
Jun 20–Jun 30, 2020
Extension available
$3,209
Jun 27–Jul 7, 2020
$3,209
Jul 11–Jul 21, 2020
Extension available
$3,209
Jul 18–Jul 28, 2020
$3,209
Jul 25–Aug 4, 2020
Extension available
$3,209
Aug 15–Aug 25, 2020
Extension available
$3,209
Sep 5–Sep 15, 2020
Extension available
$3,259
Sep 12–Sep 22, 2020
$3,259
Sep 26–Oct 6, 2020
Extension available
$3,259
Oct 3–Oct 13, 2020
$3,109
Oct 17–Oct 27, 2020
Extension available
$3,109
Nov 7–Nov 17, 2020
$2,559$2,359
Dec 12–Dec 22, 2020
Extension available
$2,559$2,359
Apr 17–Apr 27, 2021
$3,009
Apr 24–May 4, 2021
Extension available
$3,009
May 1–May 11, 2021
$3,009
May 8–May 18, 2021
Extension available
$3,009
May 15–May 25, 2021
$3,009
May 22–Jun 1, 2021
Extension available
$3,209
Jun 5–Jun 15, 2021
$3,209
Jun 12–Jun 22, 2021
Extension available
$3,209
Jun 19–Jun 29, 2021
$3,209
Jun 26–Jul 6, 2021
Extension available
$3,209
Jul 10–Jul 20, 2021
$3,209
Jul 17–Jul 27, 2021
Extension available
$3,209
Jul 24–Aug 3, 2021
$3,209
Aug 14–Aug 24, 2021
$3,209
Sep 4–Sep 14, 2021
Extension available
$3,259
Sep 11–Sep 21, 2021
$3,259
Sep 18–Sep 28, 2021
Extension available
$3,259
Sep 25–Oct 5, 2021
$3,259
Oct 2–Oct 12, 2021
$3,109
Oct 16–Oct 26, 2021
Extension available
$3,109
Nov 6–Nov 16, 2021
$2,559
Dec 11–Dec 21, 2021
$2,559
Reviews
4.5 average
Our reviews are authentic and unedited.
A beautiful journey through Italian summer
by 2nd time traveler 

First time traveling with Go Ahead and thoroughly enjoyed it. The key winning points are the following: 1. Terrific itinerary. Bus tours often have a few duds along the way, but there are none on this tour, even the two travel days (Milan to Italian Riviera and Italian Riviera to Venice) were rat...

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Lake Como, The Italian Riviera & Venezia
by 12th time traveler 

We began our awesome tour in the Lake Como region visiting the beautiful Villa Carlotta, a boat ride on Lake Como, and then loved our time in Bellagio. Onto Milano, we enjoyed our visit to the Castle. The magnificent Milan Duomo is beyond words as it is the largest cathedral in Italy and Europe's ...

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AMAZING!!!
by 3rd time traveler 

I just can't say enough about how wonderful of a time my mother and I had on this trip! Aside from all the beauty and awe that Italy has to offer, the three best aspects were taking this trip with my mother, meeting the most fun fellow tourists EVER (and there were 33 of us and NO bantering!), and o...

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Lovely venue but lacked education
by 2nd time traveler 

Tour guide provided minimal education. Encouraged sleeping on bus rather than lecturing and had challenges with English and answering questions such as “Are Genoa and Genova the same city”- she said no. The 2 local guides, one in Milan and one in Venice were infinitely better, but sadly we only had ...

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Go Ahead Tours replied on 08/07/2019

Dear Traveler, At Go Ahead, we understand the impo...

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by 3rd time traveler 

As a go ahead tour and not an EF tour I feel that we did way too much walking....almost 10 miles a day and last time on Go Ahead we only walked 5 miles a day. It was brutal at times.

Go Ahead Tours replied on 08/07/2019

Dear Traveler, The Venice, Lake Como & Italian Riv...

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Hotels, flights & FAQ

Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.

Hotels

We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.

NH Pontevecchio

This scenic hotel is located in Lecco, on the shores of Lake Como. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi, a gym, and restaurant. Nearby, you’ll find walking paths, ...

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Hotel Tigullio Et de Milan

This elegant hotel is located in Santa Margherita Ligure. Guests enjoy climate control in each room, free Wi-Fi, and a sun terrace. Nearby, you’ll fin...

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Milan Marriott Hotel

This sophisticated hotel is located west of the Milan city center. Guests enjoy a fitness center, restaurant, and bar. Nearby, you'll find Milan Cathe...

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CY Marriott Venice

This modern hotel is located in the Tessera neighborhood. Guests enjoy a restaurant, a fitness center, and free WiFi. Nearby you’ll find the Venetian ...

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Hotel Giorgione

This charming hotel is located in the Cannaregio district in central Venice. Guests enjoy a private courtyard, pool, and billiards area. Nearby, you’l...

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Flights

Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.

Add our airfare package and you'll get:
  • Round-trip flight for your tour
  • Airport transfers at your destination
  • A great price locked in today
  • 24/7 support from our dedicated service team
  • Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
  • Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
  • Find out more about flights
Local weather
Florence, Italy
Weather averages
Today
High 95°F Low 70°F
 / 
44°46°54°62°67°76°83°83°74°64°54°47°33°34°39°44°47°54°59°59°54°48°42°36°
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Milan, Italy
Weather averages
Today
High 91°F Low 74°F
 / 
42°46°56°64°71°79°84°83°75°64°53°44°33°35°41°48°53°61°64°64°58°51°43°35°
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Venice, Italy
Weather averages
Today
High 87°F Low 69°F
 / 
44°47°55°62°69°77°81°81°74°64°55°46°38°40°46°52°58°66°69°69°63°56°49°40°
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Verona, Italy
Weather averages
Today
High 88°F Low 69°F
 / 
42°45°54°62°68°76°80°81°72°62°52°44°33°35°40°46°52°59°63°63°57°49°42°34°
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FAQ
Print FAQ
Passport & visa requirements
  • In order to enter Italy, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
  • We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
  • There is no visa required for U.S. or Canadian citizens.
  • If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact your destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
Tour pace
  • You will walk for about 1.5 hours daily across mostly flat terrain, including cobblestone streets and unpaved paths, with some hills and stairs.
  • Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the amount of walking on your tour.
  • You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times, as well as getting in and out of boats.
  • Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
  • If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
Transportation & arrival information
  • Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Milan Malpensa and depart from Venice (or Florence on the tour extension). A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
  • Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
  • Please note that the transfer between Milan Malpensa airport and your hotel in the Lake Como region is typically more than an hour drive. Please contact us with any questions regarding this transfer.
  • Water taxi rides in Venice are included in the price of the tour.(The tour extension also includes a train ride from Venice to Florence.)
  • All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
Baggage allowance
  • Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
  • Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
  • Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
  • Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
Clothing & packing tips
  • We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
  • A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
  • You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
  • It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
Health
  • There are no major health risks associated with traveling to Italy.
  • At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
  • If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
  • If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.
Cuisine
  • Venice and Northern Italy are known for flavorful meats and pastries.
  • On the Italian Riviera, a taste of the region's famous basil pesto is a must. Luscious seafood dishes are popular along the shore, but true Ligurians favor simple, traditional recipes like minestrone soup and farinata, an unleavened chickpea pancake.
  • For more authentic meals, try local trattorias, small restaurants set away from the main piazzas. A typical Italian meal includes wines and the occasional beer, followed by a few sips of after-dinner drinks like grappa or limoncello.
Electricity & air conditioning
  • Italy operates on the European standard 220-240 volts and use Types C, F, or L plugs with two or three small, round pins.
  • We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
  • The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
  • Your hotel may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.
Connectivity
  • Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
  • There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
  • Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.
Time zones
  • Italy is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and six hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
  • When it’s noon in New York, it’s 6pm on tour.
Currency
  • You will use the euro on this tour.
  • Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
  • We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
  • You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
  • Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
  • International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
Tipping
  • At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
  • We recommend tipping the equivalent of $7USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
  • If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
  • Tips can only be paid in cash.
Purchasing excursions on tour
  • Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour.
  • Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for optional excursions.
  • Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
  • Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information. International travel is, by its very nature, unpredictable. We must therefore reserve the right to change this itinerary, without advance notice, to meet with local conditions at the time of travel. We appreciate your understanding. Please refer to our website for Terms & Conditions, dates, and prices.
Choose your dates to start a quote
44 Departures
Tour prices are per person, before flights, and based on two travelers per hotel room.
Oct 5–Oct 15, 2019
Extension available
Join waitlist
$3,099
Oct 12–Oct 22, 2019
$3,099
Apr 11–Apr 21, 2020
$3,009
May 2–May 12, 2020
Extension available
$3,009
May 9–May 19, 2020
$3,009
May 16–May 26, 2020
Extension available
$3,209
May 23–Jun 2, 2020
$3,209
Jun 6–Jun 16, 2020
Extension available
$3,209
Jun 13–Jun 23, 2020
$3,209
Jun 20–Jun 30, 2020
Extension available
$3,209
Jun 27–Jul 7, 2020
$3,209
Jul 11–Jul 21, 2020
Extension available
$3,209
Jul 18–Jul 28, 2020
$3,209
Jul 25–Aug 4, 2020
Extension available
$3,209
Aug 15–Aug 25, 2020
Extension available
$3,209
Sep 5–Sep 15, 2020
Extension available
$3,259
Sep 12–Sep 22, 2020
$3,259
Sep 26–Oct 6, 2020
Extension available
$3,259
Oct 3–Oct 13, 2020
$3,109
Oct 17–Oct 27, 2020
Extension available
$3,109
Nov 7–Nov 17, 2020
$2,559$2,359
Dec 12–Dec 22, 2020
Extension available
$2,559$2,359
Apr 17–Apr 27, 2021
$3,009
Apr 24–May 4, 2021
Extension available
$3,009
May 1–May 11, 2021
$3,009
May 8–May 18, 2021
Extension available
$3,009
May 15–May 25, 2021
$3,009
May 22–Jun 1, 2021
Extension available
$3,209
Jun 5–Jun 15, 2021
$3,209
Jun 12–Jun 22, 2021
Extension available
$3,209
Jun 19–Jun 29, 2021
$3,209
Jun 26–Jul 6, 2021
Extension available
$3,209
Jul 10–Jul 20, 2021
$3,209
Jul 17–Jul 27, 2021
Extension available
$3,209
Jul 24–Aug 3, 2021
$3,209
Aug 14–Aug 24, 2021
$3,209
Sep 4–Sep 14, 2021
Extension available
$3,259
Sep 11–Sep 21, 2021
$3,259
Sep 18–Sep 28, 2021
Extension available
$3,259
Sep 25–Oct 5, 2021
$3,259
Oct 2–Oct 12, 2021
$3,109
Oct 16–Oct 26, 2021
Extension available
$3,109
Nov 6–Nov 16, 2021
$2,559
Dec 11–Dec 21, 2021
$2,559

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