Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Northern Italy: Venice, the Dolomites and the Lakes
10 days from Venice to Milan: two nights each in Venice, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Lake Garda and Lake Como, with the Tre Cime walk, Ötzi in Bolzano and a guided morning in Verona.
10 days · Venice to Milan · up to 12 guests
Lago di Braies in the Dolomites, visited on day 5 Photo: Matze Scheel matzescheel, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lago_di_Braies,_Braies,_Italy_(Unsplash).jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 10 days, 9 nights
- Start and end
- Venice to Milan
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Moderate
Mostly easy walking in cities and lake towns, 2 to 4 hours a day on paving, steps and bridges. Day 4 is the one mountain walk: the Tre Cime loop, about 10 km with about 400 m of climbing at 2,300 to 2,450 m, 4 to 5 hours with lunch; a shorter, nearly flat out-and-back of about 5 km is offered instead. Cable cars do the climbing on days 3 and 6.
- Meals included
- 9 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 2 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 1,255 (estimated price)
- Season
- June to September
Highlights
Why this trip
- St Mark's Basilica on a first-entry slot, then the Doge's Palace with a licensed Venice guide
- The Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop from 8:30 am, with lunch at Rifugio Locatelli facing the north faces
- Lago di Braies around 9 am, before the day crowds walk the shore
- Ötzi the Iceman at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in Bolzano, at opening
- The rotating cable car from Malcesine up Monte Baldo, high above Lake Garda
- Sirmione's Rocca Scaligera at opening and a Bardolino wine tasting on the way back
- A guided morning in Verona with the Roman Arena and a sit-down lunch
- The slow boat up Lake Como to Bellagio and the gardens of Villa Melzi
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 1,255 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Venice
Venice Marco Polo Airport to your hotel by water taxi
- Dinner
- Stay in Venice
- By boat
Fly into Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) and a water taxi brings you across the lagoon to a landing near your hotel, about 30 minutes, with your luggage on board instead of dragged over bridges. Hotels are in the historic centre within walking distance of St Mark's Square, never Mestre or the Lido.
Afternoon
The afternoon is yours: arrive early enough and you can wander the lanes behind the Rialto or ride the vaporetto down the Grand Canal.
Evening
In the early evening your See Sight Tours guide meets the group for a briefing on the days ahead, what to pack for the mountains and how the drives are paced. Then we walk together through the quieter streets of Castello or Cannaregio, past canals with washing hung between the houses, to a welcome dinner of Venetian dishes at a local restaurant. Plan to land by about 3 pm; the exact meeting time comes with your final itinerary.
Included
- Water taxi from Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) to your hotel
- Welcome briefing with your guide
- Evening walk and welcome dinner
Free time: Free until the early-evening briefing
St Mark's at first entry, then Venice your way
St Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace and the Rialto
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Venice
Morning
We are at St Mark's Basilica for the first entry slot of the morning, booked ahead, so the gold mosaics of the domes are seen before the queue stretches across the square. Next door, a licensed Venice guide takes us through the Doge's Palace: the courtyard and Giants' Staircase, the council chambers where the Republic was governed, Tintoretto's huge Paradise in the Great Council hall, and across the Bridge of Sighs into the prisons.
Afternoon
We walk on through the Merceria lanes to the Rialto, where the market sells fish and vegetables in the morning, and sit down to lunch at a bacaro-style restaurant nearby.
Evening
The afternoon and evening are free. Ride a vaporetto to the Giudecca, look for quiet squares in Dorsoduro, or sit by the Zattere as the light goes golden over the water. Your guide suggests routes for the evening, away from the busiest bridges.
Included
- St Mark's Basilica on a booked first-entry slot
- The Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs with a licensed Venice guide
- Walk to the Rialto market
- Sit-down lunch near the Rialto
Optional experiences
- Gondola ride
- Vaporetto day pass for the islands
Free time: Afternoon and evening free
Activity: About 3 hours on foot in the morning, with many bridge steps and the stairs inside the Doge's Palace.
Up to Cortina and the Faloria cable car
Venice by boat to Piazzale Roma, then by van to Cortina d'Ampezzo
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Cortina d'Ampezzo
- Drive about 2.5 h
A boat takes us and our luggage to Piazzale Roma, where our own van and driver are waiting. The drive north to Cortina d'Ampezzo is about 165 km and two and a half hours: across the Veneto plain, past Belluno, then up the Piave and Boite valleys as the limestone walls of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009, close in on both sides.
Afternoon
We stop for coffee on the way and arrive in time for a sit-down lunch in Cortina, where we stay two nights. After lunch we ride the Faloria cable car from the edge of town to about 2,100 m. From the top there are easy paths along the ridge with views across the Ampezzo basin to the Tofane, Cristallo and Sorapiss groups.
Evening
Come down in the late afternoon for a free evening on the Corso Italia, Cortina's pedestrian street, with dinner where you like.
Included
- Boat from your hotel to Piazzale Roma
- Drive from Venice to Cortina d'Ampezzo with your guide
- Sit-down lunch in Cortina
- Faloria cable car and an easy walk at the top
Easier option: Stay at the top station terrace with a drink and the view instead of walking.
Free time: Evening free in Cortina
Activity: Up to about 1 to 2 hours of easy walking at about 2,100 m; the air is cooler, so bring a layer.
The Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop
Cortina to Lake Misurina and the Rifugio Auronzo, round the Tre Cime and back
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Cortina d'Ampezzo
- Drive about 1.5 h
Afternoon
We leave Cortina at about 7:30 and drive past Lake Misurina and up the toll road to the Rifugio Auronzo car park at about 2,320 m, arriving by 8:30, before it fills and before the afternoon thunderstorms that build over the Dolomites in summer. An accredited mountain leader joins your guide for the walk. The loop runs anticlockwise on a wide path to the Rifugio Lavaredo, climbs to the Forcella Lavaredo saddle at about 2,450 m, where the three north faces appear all at once, then traverses to the Rifugio Locatelli for a sit-down lunch with the towers in front of you and small lakes below. The return goes past the Malga Langalm meadows and back round the western side to the car park, about 10 km and 400 m of climbing in all. On the way back we stop at Lake Misurina for a coffee.
Evening
The rest of the afternoon and the evening are free in Cortina.
Included
- Tre Cime toll road and parking
- The Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop with your guide and a mountain leader
- Sit-down lunch at the Rifugio Locatelli
- Stop at Lake Misurina
Optional experiences
- Tofana Freccia nel Cielo cable car from Cortina in the late afternoon
Easier option: Walk the nearly flat path from the Rifugio Auronzo to the Rifugio Lavaredo and up to the Forcella Lavaredo viewpoint, then back the same way, about 5 km, and lunch at the Rifugio Auronzo; the group meets again at the car park.
More active option: Add the climb to the Sasso di Sesto WWI tunnels and viewpoint above the Rifugio Locatelli before lunch.
Free time: Late afternoon and evening free in Cortina
Activity: About 10 km and 400 m of ascent and descent at 2,300 to 2,450 m, 4 to 5 hours including lunch, on wide stony paths. Walking shoes with grip, a warm layer and a waterproof are needed even on sunny days. If storms or heavy rain are forecast, we start earlier, take the easy out-and-back to the Forcella Lavaredo or, in a real storm, swap the walk for the Lake Misurina shore and the Cortina valley, deciding the evening before with the mountain leader.
Lago di Braies, then South Tyrol to Bolzano
Cortina d'Ampezzo to Dobbiaco and Lago di Braies, then through the Puster valley to Bolzano
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Bolzano
- Drive about 3 h
We leave Cortina at 8 am and drive north over the Cimabanche pass to Dobbiaco and into the side valley of Braies, arriving at Lago di Braies around 9 am. In high summer the access road is controlled and we book our arrival slot ahead, which also puts us at the lake before the busiest hours. The path round the shore is about 3.5 km and mostly level, with the green water against the pale wall of the Seekofel; allow an hour, or take a rowing boat from the old boathouse.
Afternoon
From here the road runs west down the Puster valley, past Brunico, and we stop for a sit-down lunch of South Tyrolean dishes along the way. We reach Bolzano by mid-afternoon, about 165 km and 2 hours 45 minutes of driving for the day.
Evening
Your guide walks you through the arcaded Via dei Portici, the fruit market square and Piazza Walther, and the evening is yours in a city where German and Italian are spoken side by side.
Included
- Lago di Braies, with time to walk the shore path
- Sit-down lunch in the Puster valley
- Orientation walk in Bolzano's old town
Optional experiences
- Rowing boat on Lago di Braies
Easier option: Walk part of the shore path and wait at the lakeside cafe.
Free time: Evening free in Bolzano
Activity: The lake loop is about 3.5 km on a mostly level path with a few short rocky sections at about 1,500 m.
Ötzi in Bolzano, then Monte Baldo above Lake Garda
Bolzano to Malcesine on Lake Garda, via the Adige valley
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Malcesine
- Drive about 2 h
We are at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology when it opens. Its centre is Ötzi, the man found in the ice of the Ötztal Alps in 1991, about 5,300 years after he died, kept in a cold cell you look into through a small window. The floors around him show his clothes, his copper axe, his bow and the arrows in his quiver, and what scientists have learned about his last days.
Afternoon
After a sit-down lunch in Bolzano we drive south down the Adige valley past the vineyards of Trentino, then over to the north end of Lake Garda and along the eastern shore to Malcesine, about 135 km and two hours. Here we stay two nights. In the late afternoon we ride the Monte Baldo cable car, whose cabins turn slowly on the way up, to about 1,760 m, with the whole northern lake below.
Evening
Back down, the evening is free in Malcesine's old harbour, under the Scaliger Castle.
Included
- South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology and Ötzi the Iceman, at opening
- Sit-down lunch in Bolzano
- Drive to Malcesine on Lake Garda
- Monte Baldo cable car from Malcesine
Optional experiences
- Scaliger Castle in Malcesine in the evening
More active option: Walk the ridge path north from the Monte Baldo top station for the view down to Riva del Garda.
Free time: Evening free in Malcesine
Activity: About 1.5 hours in the museum, with stairs or a lift between floors. The museum is normally closed on Mondays. If day 6 falls on a Monday, we visit Ötzi on the afternoon of day 5 instead (it is open until 6 pm) and spend the morning of day 6 on the Bolzano old-town walk.
Sirmione at opening and Bardolino wine
Malcesine to Sirmione, then Bardolino and back along the eastern shore
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Malcesine
- Drive about 2.5 h
We drive down the eastern shore early, about an hour and a quarter, to Sirmione, the narrow peninsula at the south end of Lake Garda.
Morning
The day-trip coaches arrive mid-morning, so we cross the drawbridge into the Rocca Scaligera, the 13th-century moated castle of the Scaliger family, as it opens (both it and the Grotte are normally closed on Mondays; see the note below) and climb its tower for the view over the harbour. Then we walk through the old town to the tip of the peninsula and the Grotte di Catullo, the ruins of a large Roman villa above the water, with olive trees between the walls.
Afternoon
Lunch is sit-down in Sirmione. On the way back north we stop at a family wine estate near Bardolino to taste the local red and the pale Chiaretto rosé with a few local cheeses.
Evening
We are back in Malcesine by late afternoon for a swim from the lake shore or a walk through the lanes, and dinner is free.
Included
- Rocca Scaligera in Sirmione, at opening
- Grotte di Catullo, the Roman villa at the tip of the peninsula
- Sit-down lunch in Sirmione
- Wine tasting near Bardolino
Optional experiences
- Motorboat trip around the Sirmione peninsula
Easier option: Skip the walk to the Grotte di Catullo and wait at a cafe in the old town; a small tourist train runs between the two.
Free time: Late afternoon and evening free in Malcesine
Activity: About 3 km on foot in Sirmione, with steep steps up the castle tower. The Rocca Scaligera and the Grotte di Catullo are both normally closed on Mondays, and we set departure dates so that day 7 avoids a Monday. If it does fall on one, we walk the old town and the castle walls and moat from outside, add the motorboat trip round the peninsula to see the Roman villa from the water, and enter only what is open.
A morning in Verona, on to Lake Como
Malcesine to Verona, then across Lombardy to Como
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Como
- Drive about 4 h
Afternoon
This is the longest drive of the trip, about 270 km and three and three quarter hours in all, so we split it with a full morning and lunch in Verona. We leave Malcesine at 8:30 and are in Verona, a UNESCO World Heritage city, by about 9:45. A licensed local guide walks us through the old centre inside the loop of the Adige: into the Roman Arena, built in the 1st century AD and still used for summer opera; along Via Mazzini to Piazza delle Erbe and its market stalls; to Piazza dei Signori and the Gothic tombs of the Scaliger rulers; past the courtyard of the house called Juliet's; and across the Roman Ponte Pietra. Lunch is sit-down in the old town. At about 2 pm we drive west on the motorway past Brescia and Bergamo to Como, arriving around 4:30, where we stay two nights by the lake.
Evening
The evening is free on the lakefront and in the old walled town.
Included
- Guided walk through Verona with a licensed local guide
- The Verona Arena
- Sit-down lunch in Verona
- Drive to Como
More active option: Climb the steps to Castel San Pietro for the view over the river and rooftops before lunch.
Free time: Evening free in Como
Activity: About 3 hours on foot in Verona, then about 2.5 hours in the van with a coffee stop.
By boat to Bellagio
Como to Bellagio by ferry and back
- Breakfast and dinner
- Stay in Como
- By ferry
Morning
We take the slow public boat up the lake from Como's pier in the morning. It takes about two hours, criss-crossing between villages and villas, the best way to see the western shore without driving its narrow road. In Bellagio, on the point where the lake divides, we walk the lakeside to the gardens of Villa Melzi, laid out in the 19th century with a Japanese water garden, old camellias and statues along the water.
Afternoon
Lunch is your choice in Bellagio, with your guide pointing out a few places away from the main street, and the steep stepped lanes up the hill are worth an hour. We come back to Como in mid-afternoon on the fast boat, about 45 minutes. The rest of the afternoon is free: ride the funicular up to Brunate for the view, or visit the cathedral.
Evening
In the evening we meet for a farewell dinner together in Como.
Included
- Lake Como ferry from Como to Bellagio and the fast boat back
- Villa Melzi gardens in Bellagio
- Farewell dinner in Como
Optional experiences
- Ferry across to Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo
- Brunate funicular from Como
Free time: Lunch and the afternoon free
Activity: Bellagio's lanes are steep with many steps; the lakefront and the Villa Melzi paths are level.
Como to Milan and home
Como to Milan Malpensa Airport or Milano Centrale
- Breakfast
- Drive about 1 h
Morning
A last breakfast by the lake, and time for a walk along the shore or to the Tempio Voltiano, the small domed museum to Alessandro Volta, inventor of the electric battery, who was born in Como. Mid-morning our van takes the group to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), about 55 km and an hour, arriving at about 11:30. If you are staying on in Milan, we drop you at Milano Centrale station instead, or your guide puts you on a regional train from Como, which takes under an hour. Your guide stays with the group until the last drop-off and helps with check-in questions. Book flights leaving Malpensa after about 2 pm. If you want more time, add nights in Milan or Como before you book: we can arrange the hotel and a transfer on the day you leave.
Included
- Transfer to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) or Milano Centrale
Free time: Early morning free in Como
Activity: Book a flight from Malpensa leaving after about 2 pm.
- Venice2 nights
- Cortina d'Ampezzo2 nights
- Bolzano1 night
- Malcesine2 nights
- Como2 nights
- Milanend
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: June to September brings long days and open lifts, with warm to hot weather on the lakes and in Venice and cool air above 2,000 m. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the Dolomites, which is why we walk the Tre Cime in the morning.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Travellers who want Venice, the Dolomites and the lakes in one trip without nine hotel changes
- Walkers who want one proper mountain day with an easier option, not a hiking week
- People who like early starts at the big sights and free afternoons
- Solo travellers who want a fair single supplement and a small group
Not for you if you want
- Serious hikers who want a walk every day: see our Dolomites walking trip instead
- Travellers who need step-free access: Venice bridges, rifugio paths and Bellagio's lanes all have steps
- Anyone wanting several days in one lake town
- Winter skiing
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
9 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Venice2 nights
- Cortina d'Ampezzo2 nights
- Bolzano1 night
- Malcesine2 nights
- Como2 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 9 nights in central hotels of a 3-star-plus standard: 2 in Venice, 2 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, 1 in Bolzano, 2 in Malcesine on Lake Garda, 2 in Como
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
- City and tourist taxes
Transport
- Water taxi from Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) to your hotel
- Boat from your Venice hotel to Piazzale Roma
- Our own air-conditioned vehicle and driver from Venice to Como
- Lake Como ferries to Bellagio and back
- Transfer to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) or Milano Centrale on day 10
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group for the whole trip
- Licensed local guides in Venice and Verona
- An accredited mountain leader on the Tre Cime walk
Activities
- St Mark's Basilica on a booked first-entry slot, Venice
- The Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs, Venice
- Faloria cable car, Cortina d'Ampezzo
- Tre Cime di Lavaredo toll road and guided loop
- Lake Misurina
- Lago di Braies
- Orientation walk, Bolzano
- South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology and Ötzi, Bolzano
- Monte Baldo cable car, Malcesine
- Rocca Scaligera and the Grotte di Catullo, Sirmione
- Wine tasting near Bardolino
- Guided walk and the Arena, Verona
- Villa Melzi gardens, Bellagio
Meals
- 9 breakfasts
- 7 sit-down lunches (days 2 to 8), including at the Rifugio Locatelli on the Tre Cime walk
- Welcome dinner in Venice and farewell dinner in Como
Not included
- International flights to Venice and from Milan
- Travel insurance
- ETIAS travel authorisation, once it applies
- Meals not listed: 7 dinners and the day 9 lunch
- Drinks, except at the wine tasting
- Tips for your guide and driver
- Optional activities: gondola rides, the Tofana cable car, boat trips around Sirmione, Villa Carlotta, the Brunate funicular
- Personal expenses
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 1,255 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the price include?
Nine nights in central hotels, 9 breakfasts, 7 sit-down lunches, a welcome and a farewell dinner, the Venice water taxi, our own vehicle and driver, Lake Como ferries, your See Sight Tours guide throughout, local guides in Venice and Verona, a mountain leader on the Tre Cime, and every entry in the day plan, including cable cars, Ötzi and a wine tasting.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests. That fits one van, one table at lunch and one rifugio terrace, and it means everyone can hear the guide inside St Mark's or the Verona Arena without a crowd around them.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide travels with the group from Venice to Milan. Licensed local guides join in Venice and Verona, where the city sites call for them, and an accredited mountain leader walks the Tre Cime loop with us. We name your guide when we confirm your dates.
How fit do I need to be?
Moderately fit. Most days are 2 to 4 hours of easy walking with steps. Day 4 is the Tre Cime loop, about 10 km with 400 m of climbing at up to 2,450 m. A nearly flat 5 km option to the Forcella Lavaredo viewpoint is offered, and cable cars do the climbing on other days.
I'm travelling solo. What does a single room cost?
A room of your own is from CAD 1,255 extra for the whole trip, shown before you book. You get the same central hotels and the same room type. If you would rather share, ask us and we will try to match you with another solo traveller of the same gender.
When is the best time to go?
Mid-June to mid-September. That is when the Faloria and Monte Baldo cable cars, the Tre Cime huts and the lake gardens are all open. July and August are the busiest and hottest on the lakes, so we start early at the popular sights. June and September are quieter.
What is the weather like in the Dolomites in summer?
Warm days in the valleys, cool air above 2,000 m, and afternoon thunderstorms are common. That is why we start the Tre Cime walk by 8:30 am. Pack a warm layer and a waterproof jacket even in August; the lakes and Venice can be over 30°C.
How does booking work?
Choose a date and send a request to book. We check hotels and space and confirm your trip within 24 hours. No payment is taken until we confirm. Prices are per person sharing, with taxes: the small group starts from CAD 7,395.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. The private version is your party only, on a date you choose, from CAD 13,310 per person sharing. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask from the dates section and we will quote the same hotels, transfers and local guides without a group.
Do I need a visa for Italy?
Canadian and US citizens do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180 under Schengen rules. The EU's ETIAS travel authorisation for visa-free visitors is not yet in force; the EU will announce a start date, so check travel-europe.europa.eu before you fly.
Is Verona included?
Yes. Day 8 gives Verona a full morning with a licensed local guide, the Roman Arena, Piazza delle Erbe and a sit-down lunch, on the way from Lake Garda to Como. It is about an hour and a quarter from Malcesine, so you see it without another hotel change.
Is Lago di Braies very crowded?
It can be from late morning in July and August, and the access road is controlled in high summer. We book our arrival slot and get there around 9 am, when the shore path is still quiet, then leave for Bolzano before the busiest hours.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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