Lakes Tour of Switzerland & Northern Italy - 14 Days

Highlights

• Go picnicking on an e-bike tour through Basel's terraced wine country
• Ride a cable car and the world's steepest cogwheel railway to Mount Pilatus
• Soar over Lake Lugano by hot-air balloon and taste your way through its vineyards
• Spot historic estates and lakeside villages as you kayak around Lake Como
• Explore Milan like a local with a tour of its off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Basel (Switzerland), Guided City Tour

Welcome to Switzerland! Get ready for two weeks of adventures around (and on) this country's scenic waterways—making your way south to end up among the lakes of northern Italy. This includes trips to gorgeous countryside locales and some of the nation's most colorful towns and cities. The journey begins at one such historic metropolis: Basel. Though not on a lake, this dynamic city at the border with Germany does sit on the banks of the famous Rhine and is known for its rich cultural scene, historic architecture, and diverse attractions. 

See for yourself when, after checking into your hotel, you meet a local expert guide for a tour around Basel's well-preserved Altstadt (Old Town). Stroll the cobbled streets amid Gothic/Renaissance landmarks dating back hundreds of years. Highlights include the 12th-century Basel Minster Cathedral, the 14th-century Town Hall, and the 14th-century city gates. After the walking tour, you'll have time to explore independently. Perhaps visit one of the city's fine museums, like the Basel Art Museum and the Tinguely, which exhibits the works of Swiss sculptor and experimental artist Jean Tinguely.

Day 2: Basel E-Bike Tour & Gourmet Picnic

You've seen the most dazzling landmarks in Basel; now it's time to venture outside the city for a scenic countryside tour. Meet your guide in the morning, pick up your fully charged e-bike, then hit the road. This half-day excursion will take you on backroads through verdant valleys and along rolling green hills.

Fun fact: this region, which includes parts of France and Germany, is a famous wine-producing area filled with terraced vineyards. To this end, a highlight of the tour will be when you break for lunch. Rather than dining at a restaurant, you'll lay out the blanket for a gourmet picnic celebrating the cuisine of these three countries. You can bet that the meal will include fine cheeses and stellar wines like pinot noirs and Müller-Thurgau, an aromatic white.

Day 3: Train & Boat to Lucerne, Guided Altstadt Tour

Today, the aperture opens wider to reveal the full scope of Switzerland's beauty. In the morning, you'll board a train for the 2.5-hour scenic journey southeast to Flüelen, a town on the shores of Lake Lucerne. You'll ride the Gotthard Panorama Express, a first-class rail line that passes some of Switzerland's most dazzling regions with no shortage of snowcapped peaks and wildflower-dotted valleys. There's even a rail car designated for photographers to ensure you get the best shots.

Once you reach Flüelen, board a steamboat for the leisurely ride north across the lake to the city of Lucerne (known locally as Luzern). After checking into your hotel, meet up with a local guide for a city tour. It begins in Altstadt (Old Town), and as you stroll the cobbled streets, you'll visit historic highlights like the Musegg Wall medieval ramparts, the 17th-century Baroque Jesuit Church, and the 14th-century Chapel Bridge.

You'll have the evening free to spend as you like. Know that Lucerne is a foodie paradise, so you won't lack for dinner options. On almost every street corner in this city is a combination of stylish new restaurants and beloved old-world taverns.

Day 4: Day Trip Up Mount Pilatus

Time for some mountaineering! Meet your driver in the morning for a quick ride to Kriens, a suburb of Lucerne. There, you'll board an electric gondola and ascend to Fräkmüntegg, a station on the way up Mount Pilatus, the most famous massif around Lucerne. From Fräkmüntegg, change to another aerial cable car and enjoy panoramic views on the last leg of the ride to the summit. There, at 6,982 feet (2,128 m), you'll be treated to stunning vistas of the Swiss Alps, Lake Lucerne, and the surrounding landscapes.

You'll have plenty of time to hang out and enjoy the views, and you can also treat yourself to a typical Swiss lunch at one of the mountaintop restaurants near the station. Another highlight of the day is a thrilling descent on the world's steepest cogwheel railway (48% gradient) down to the lakeside village of Alpnachstad. There, you'll board a ferry for the scenic one-hour cruise back to Lucerne. 

Day 5: Visit Cheese Cave & Gourmet Tasting

Switzerland is justifiably proud of its cheeses. The rich heritage of cheesemaking in this country dates to the Middle Ages, and today's foodie tour/tasting focuses on the time-honored methods of producing such world-class cheeses. Specifically, you'll leave the city and travel to a network of caves in the countryside. On a tour led by a private guide, you'll get an insider's glimpse into how locals have been aging cheese for centuries. 

After exploring the gaping caverns, transfer to a cheese shop where the real tasty fun really starts. There, enjoy a selection of fine cave-aged cheeses paired with an aperitif. There's even the option for a full fondue meal. This Swiss cultural tradition generally consists of a blend of high-quality cheeses, typically Gruyère and Emmental, served with bite-sized cubes of crusty bread. At the end of the tasting, you'll return to Lucerne. 

Day 6: Train to Lugano, Self-Guided Tour

Rise and shine! Transfer to the station early this morning for the two-hour ride south from Lucerne to Lugano. Located near the border in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, the mishmash of cultures here will make you feel like you're actually in Italy. Lugano also enjoys a privileged location on the lake of the same name. 

After checking into your hotel, you can head out and discover this town's abundant history and beauty on a self-guided tour. Head to the city center to admire ornate Renaissance churches and modern cultural landmarks like the Museo d'Arte della Svizzera Italiana (Art Museum of Italian Switzerland). Another highlight is the Auditorio Stelio Molo, a cutting-edge concert hall with world-class acoustics. For dinner, be sure to sample the Italian-inspired Ticino cuisine, which includes staples like minestrone (vegetable soup) and squid-ink risotto.

Day 7: Guided Suspension Bridge Hike

Transfer a short way north this morning to the mountains outside Bellinzona, the capital of Switzerland's Ticino region. It was here in 2015 that Switzerland's longest suspension bridge was constructed. The Tibetan-style bridge (known as Carasc) runs an impressive 885 feet (270 m) over a deep gorge, and today, you'll get to cross it on foot.

This marvel of engineering also connects different villages and landscapes. During the stroll, you'll pass scenery abounding with vineyards, pastures, and chestnut forests. It also passes one of the most picturesque Romanesque churches in the Ticino region—so don't forget your camera. You can also choose to forgo the bridge and enjoy a scenic cable car ride in the region instead. 

Day 8: Lugano Hot-Air Balloon Flight, Cycling & Wine Tasting

The adventure continues this morning as you transfer out of Lugano to a countryside takeoff site. There, you'll hop into the basket of a hot-air balloon and take to the skies, gliding over the southern Ticino region and northern Italy. Enjoy traveling between the clouds as you revel in the awe-inspiring vistas below, which include charming villages, soaring mountains, and patchwork farmlands. There's no more spectacular way to appreciate the beauty of this pre-Alpine region.

Later, trade the basket for a bike and spend the remainder of the day (six hours) on a scenic ride through Switzerland's southernmost valley. Accompanying you will be a team of "mobile sommeliers" who are experts in the region's famous Mendrisiotto Terroir. Thus, you'll break up the day's riding with tastings of the area's famous varietals, which include merlots and pinot noirs. You'll also stop at formerly declining villages that are now part of urban renewal projects that promote local culture and tourism. 

Day 9: Train to Lake Como (Italy), Heritage & Wine Tour

Leave early on a quick 45-minute train ride south across the border into Italy and Lake Como. Located in the Lombardy region, the third-largest lake in Italy is a famous resort area lined with historic towns and opulent, centuries-old villas. Beyond that, visitors are treated to dazzling views of the surrounding Alpine scenery. Once here, you'll check into the hotel in a village where you'll spend the next few nights. 

As is the case around Lugano, this part of northern Italy is a prime viticulture region. You'll receive a tasty introduction to Como's winemaking heritage on a short transfer north of the lake to the Val Bregaglia (Bregaglia Valley). Packed with dramatic landscapes that include high mountains and running streams, it's a great spot for a tour.

It starts with your arrival in the mountain village of Piuro. Along with a guide, you'll visit an ancient estate where the doors will open exclusively for you for a private tour. After admiring the 16th-century frescoes and opulent drawing rooms of this stately manor, you'll hike around the scenic area, which is filled with meadows and waterfalls. Later, in the town of Chiavenna, stop in at a local restaurant for a private wine tasting. At the end of the day, you'll return to Como.

Day 10: Best of Lake Como Boat Tour

There's no better way to experience the Lake Como region than on a boat tour—and that's exactly what's in store today. Meet your private guide in the morning and transfer to Tremezzo, a village on the lake's southwest end. The first stop on this full-day excursion is at Villa Carlotta. This 17th-century waterfront villa is one of the stars of Como, featuring a neoclassical facade adorned with columns and statues. It's perhaps most famous for its vast botanical gardens featuring various plant species, including azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, and centuries-old trees.

After touring the gardens, hop in a classic Venetian water taxi for a cruise around the lake. During the ride, you'll pass near some of the most impressive villas on the lakeshore (including one owned by George Clooney). As you go, your guide will reveal insight into the other charming villages you pass. One highlight is passing near the storybook isle of Comacina—the only island in Como.

You'll stop to tour more estate gardens before winding up at the last major stop of the day: Bellagio. Known as the "Pearl of Lake Como," it enjoys a strategic location on a peninsula offering panoramic views. While in this picturesque town, you can stroll its cobbled streets lined with colorful houses, charming boutiques, and quaint cafés. The last ride of the day will be in a water taxi down the western branch of the lake back to your village and hotel.

Day 11: Classic Como Bicycle Tour

The best way to see the highlights of Lake Como's waterfront is by boat, but the best way to travel between its colorful villages is by bicycle. Meet your guide, hop on a bike, and set off on a ride along Como's western shores. Today's route will take you to the sophisticated Tremezzina area. You'll pass not only Villa Carlotta but other elegant (and historic) villas like Villa Sola Cabiati and Villa Balbiano, both of which date to the 16th century.

But there's more to Como than opulent mansions, as you'll see when you visit its lesser-known villages and hamlets, like Griante and Rogaro. Olive groves and green pastures surround these rural enclaves, which feature historic landmarks like old stone washhouses. For centuries, women would meet at these hubs and wash the day's laundry together. As you travel down lake roads and cobbled paths, your guide will reveal an even more rich history of the area. Before returning to your hotel, you'll also visit some of the oldest churches in the region and the prettiest town squares.

Day 12: Bellagio Kayak Tour & Pasta Class

Get another scenic workout in this morning, starting with a transfer by boat to Bellagio. There, you'll grab a paddle and hop in a kayak for a ride along the lakeshore. During this guided tour, you'll pass impressive landmarks like Pescallo Bay, the Rockefeller Cliffs, and the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni. It's a small group tour that lasts about two hours, at the end of which you'll arrive right back in Bellagio.

Later, indulge your appetite while learning a thing or two during a pasta class. During this three-hour culinary workshop, you'll learn the art of preparing fresh pasta under the tutelage of a local expert chef. In true Italian style, all ingredients you utilize during this class will be fresh and healthy, produced by local farmers, breeders, and artisans. After completing your pasta dish, which might be buckwheat ravioli or tortelloni with bacon, you'll sit down and enjoy it paired with fine Italian wine. Buon appetito!

Day 13: Train to Milan, Highlights & Hidden Gems Tour

It's about a two-hour train ride south from Lake Como to Milan, the main hub for journeys to Italy's far north. And though your trip is winding down, the fun isn't over yet. Today, after checking into your hotel, you'll discover a side of Milan that tourists rarely see. It's a well-rounded three-hour tour by foot and car that perfectly balances the city's highlights with its hidden gems.

Dive into Milan's rich history on visits to historic landmarks like Sforza Castle, the Duomo, and Piazza della Scala. Then, see Milan like a local as you venture to the lesser-known neighborhoods and enclaves. The best part is that your expert guide will make recommendations based on your tastes and preferences—including the best local spots to grab a bite.

Day 14: Depart Milan

It's been a long and fun road in and around Switzerland, but unfortunately, Milan is the end of the line. This morning, enjoy one last zippy Italian espresso before transferring to the airport to catch your flight home. Safe travels!

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