Family Friendly Lake Como Vacation
What to expect on this itinerary
This luxurious 8-day journey will begin with one night in the fascinating city of Milan before setting your sights on the gorgeous Lake Como. From Como to Lenno to Bellagio, experience some of the very best towns and villages along Lake Como. Indulge in a pasta-making class and partake in a tour of filming location while exclusive family classes and private tours immerse you in the culture of the area
Customizable Itinerary
Milan – Tour of Sforza Castle
One night in the captivating city of Milan will be an excellent way to begin your trip. Upon your arrival, a private transfer will whisk you away to your luxurious accommodation. Soon after you check-in at your hotel, your expert guide will arrive to begin your private afternoon tour of Sforza Castle. The ancient castle was previously a fortress and residence, but, today, it is home to multiple fascinating museums. During your visit to the castle, you will also be provided with the exclusive opportunity to see the Rondanini Pietà, which was Michelangelo’s final sculpture.
What's Included:
Como – Private City Tour of Como
Como – Explore Brunate and Pasta-Making Class
Lenno – Discover Isola Comacina En Route to Lenno
Lenno – Explore the Villas of Lenno and Tremezzo
Bellagio – Arrive in Bellagio and Private Family Art Class
Bellagio – Exclusive Village Tour
Bellagio – Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- Discover multiple fascinating museums that are filled with amazing art and artifacts during a private tour of Sforza Castle in Milan
- Explore the Volta Museum, which is named after the famous Italian inventor Alessandro Volta
- Indulge in a family pasta-making class at an authentic restaurant, where you will learn from professional chefs and dine on your delicious creations
- Journey to the only island on Lake Como, Isola Comacina, where you will marvel at the architecture and design of its buildings
- Indulge in a tour of the filming location of some famous movies while on a private tour near Villa Balbianello, which is located in the lakeside town of Lenno
- Immerse yourself in the culture of Bellagio during an exclusive art class with a master artisan
- Admire the antique fishing boats of the Loppia neighborhood during a private tour of the stunning village of Bellagio
- Travel around Lake Como in luxury with a private boat just for you and your family
Detailed Description
The beauty of Lake Como will be yours to discover and enjoy during this luxurious, 8-day family journey. Your exciting trip will begin when you land at Malpensa Airport in Milan on day one. Your first afternoon will feature an intriguing tour of Sforza Castle. The castle is recognized for its various different museums, and during your visit, you will explore some of the best ones. From ancient musical instruments to the Rondanini Pietà and Michelangelo’s final sculpture, you will see and experience all Sforza Castle has to offer. You will enjoy one night in the captivating city of Milan before setting your sights to the gorgeous Lake Como.
The landmarks of Milan will drift into the background on the morning of day two as you travel to the lakeside city of Como. The first sights of Lake Como as it glistens in the sun will be stunning, and during an exclusive tour of Como, you will witness some of its many attractions, including the Como Cathedral and Volta Museum. The following day, you will delight in the cable car ride from Como up to the town of Brunate, where you will explore its quaint roads and sweeping views of Lake Como. Later in the day, you will immerse in the delicious cuisine of Italy as you and your family indulge in a private, pasta-making class at an authentic restaurant. Learn every professional tip and trick as you make a mouthwatering meal and then enjoy it together during a memorable dinner.
On the morning of day four, you will cruise on Lake Como in a private boat as you venture to the next lakeside destination of Lenno. Along the way, you will stop to explore Isola Comacina, which is Lake Como’s only island. The island is known for its artistic buildings and archeological sites, and your visit will be delightful. Once your tour of Isola Comacina concludes, you will continue your journey to Lenno. Lenno, along with Tremezzo and two other towns on Lake Como, has come together to create the Tremezzina area. Each town is more beautiful than the next, and you will discover them on a private tour. A visit to the best-known and luxurious villas in Lenno and Tremezzo will highlight your tour on day five. From lavish gardens with rare trees and flowers to breathtaking locations that have been used to film famous movies, you will uncover everything that this locale has to offer. You will enjoy another memorable night in Lenno before you depart for your final Lake Como destination the following day.
As the sun rises over Lake Como on the morning of day six, you will once again head to your private boat for the enjoyable ride across the lake to Bellagio. Bellagio is one of the most famous locations in Italy, and your first sights of the luxurious and picturesque village will be breathtaking. After you check-in to your luxurious hotel with amazing water views, you and your family will be provided with the exclusive opportunity to participate in a private family art class. With Lake Como as your backdrop, you will learn techniques from a master artisan and create your own wonderful paintings. With your new souvenirs in hand, you will be returned to your luxurious accommodation to enjoy the first of two nights in this magical location. A private tour of Bellagio on day seven will immerse you into the culture and lifestyle of the area. From sweeping lake views to antique fishing boats and more opulent villas, you will experience the best of Bellagio on your tour. You will also indulge in one final family-style dinner in Italy that will have you delighting every minute of your final evening. After breakfast on the morning of day eight, your private transfer will return you to Milan’s Malpensa Airport for your return flight. You will return home with the sights of Lake Como still on your mind, and you will have been thoroughly enriched by this unforgettable family vacation.
Starting Price
$2,900 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 868 reviews
Overall, this trip was fantastic!! Everything was arranged for us to the point that we just had to show up and someone took care of us from there. Before departure, all of our vouchers were sent to us along with a detailed itinerary of each day and activity, down to the name of the person picking us up. If something changed, our travel agent thoughtfully texted us the new information. Yes, texted us, because we were provided with a phone that contained our itinerary and all of our vouchers along with a GPS program in case we got lost. We used the GPS a lot! If there were any issues I could easily call our agent or text him and he answered immediately, always!
All of our pick-ups were on time and in very comfortable cars with water provided. All of the drivers were extremely professional in their demeanor and appearance.
We also loved our guides in every city. I never imagined that this would be so intimate. I have only ever been in group tours where you get a headset and there are 25 or more people. There were 3 of us on this trip and it was the 3 of us with the guide. This allowed for questions and explanations that you could easily hear and understand.
The hotels, with the exception of Como, were superb with our favorite being in Florence at the Hotel Santa Maria Novella. Breakfast was always included and it was beautiful as well as delicious! I was sorry that we had booked Como. We had no activities planned there and I am not sure why so we were on our own. I also think it was the wrong time of year (March) to be going there as nothing was in bloom and there was a lot closed. Our guide in Milan told us that we could have done it as a day trip and she could have accompanied us. Oh well, this was the only piece that was not perfect, yet we still enjoyed it. It is a lovely little city on the lake. We took a water boat to Bellagio and walked around and then decided to take a local bus back. It was actually more scenic than the water boat.
The only other disconnect we had was the first day. We arrived at the hotel at 7am after a very long flight and our room was not ready. It took 3 hours to get something ready and it was not what we had booked but that was okay. In retrospect it might have been good to send us out on a city tour by car or bus to give us the big picture view and to kill time. Instead we sat in the warm lobby waiting and waiting.
As I said before, overall this was a fabulous trip. Being able to customize exactly where you want to go is invaluable. Working with our travel agent on getting our activities just right was so easy too. And being taking care of as we were was priceless!
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If I could give more than five stars, I would.our agent at this Italy travel company put together a perfect trip for my husband and I. Hotels, guides, connections, drivers, restaurants and reservations, absolutely everything in Venice, Florence and Bellagio was seamless and beyond wonderful.
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Firstly let me say this: Im a very well educated,travelled, sophisticated, and reasonably successful “independent’ thinking man. It had been my dream not to take some blasted ‘package’ but to go to Italy…something i had wanted to do since my college years when i minored in Italian at Columbia University….(but ran out of money like most who give up everything to attend the university of their dreams.
Trying to do this on the internet i lucked into Zacasso who referred me to this Italy travel company and lucked in again when i began working with Laura. You see…it meant so much to me to be working with a knowledgable Italian who knew my tastes were more ‘Italian’ and wanted to experience that which was authentic and of high and human culture.
Laura is quite simply the best travel professional…in my world!! She knows the Piedmont and part of my concentration was the mushrooming of the area, truffles. Yes i wanted something unique and extraordinary and in each case, there were three hunts, all were quite good. Furthermore…without behaving like a instructor she vastly helped me with
my Italian…a dream..speaking Italian after having minored in it at university….within this dream. Laura is sensitive, knowledgable, authentic, and unbelievably conscious of my doings often conveying really crucial info thru my email and messenger. It was NO SMALL PART attributable to Laura that this 30 year dream of mine came to such superb
execution.
Let me say a bit about each stage of the trip…hotels…etc.
Florence
Both times i stayed at some really charming boutique hotels…the former being a fav of poet TS Elliot who came from ST Louis…well we went to the same prep schools….but the hotel was old world aristocratic and superb experience. Although i lived in NYC and SF, Firenze is far more animated and tumultuous….im so glad i opted
for GPS…really shouldn’t allow someone to get in a car over there without it…took me right out to the resort. The Agriturisimo there…beautiful and isolated…was really set up for ‘wedding parties’ and such…so i went to the next town over Paoli for breakfast and see the real deal at the ‘Bar’ that also is the breakfast coffee place for the town.
the hunt and dinner was SO world class: they had a beautiful show with every type of sauce, apron, and gizmo under the sun….they let me go back into the kitchen to see the prep and the chef was most cordial…then they have an elegant dining area…and i had the most mind blowing 5 course truffle meal…well i had to take some home as i simply could eat it all. The guide was superb, a super truffle dog…we found 4 lickety split…when i got back to the lodge…i had to sleep…just not accustomed to these 2-3 hr cents!!
Venice
Is the most romantic and exotic city i ever visited…staying at a 500 year old palace…was genius…its out of the way…all the rooms are monstrous…the people are so cordial…great courtyards….a total riot. my tickets were right up front…the opera house Felice is the most beautiful imagined…one thing…you need a personal GPS in Venice…i have never been lost so many times in my life so yes my new iPhone 6 google map was ESSENTIAL> Trains were great…and got a superb sports car Lexus hybrid to race up to Lago Como in…
Lake Como
it took 4 hrs to find the b n b because the GPS is inaccurate and the host really didn’t go out of his way to put me right. The b n b was beautifully situated…its ideal to stay up on the hill as its quieter and more beautiful…the people…well there wasn’t any privacy…i was put in a room that was ALL PINK! and there were some noisy other people….i couldn’t lay down without the proprietor interrupting me for some item…one day a television man visit of one hour…i don’t watch television…the food and digs were most clean…but there were more ‘donts’ than dos…his only suggestion was to take a bus! to a pizza joint!!! so i cut out and went to Bellagio a great decision…i love that area and look forward to going back…but with more privacy and greater insight as to what is really fun to do there than just shop till i drop.
Alba
What a superbly run hotel here!!! they helped me with my wash ( no one else had!!! save the place in Colleoli…a bit)….everything was run like a 5 star…..the transfer people were EXTRAORDINARY…sorry i can’t remember her name…but she took me to the HEAD TRUFALAU and his super dog Rocky for a smashingly beautiful
day of truffling in the hills of Barberesco…across from Borrollo….a winos paradise. Turns out her family had a restaurant…really great one..and her husband was the chef…he took some fresh porcini i had purchased in Alba and turned the meal into a work of art experience even allowing me to see him prepare the sauce…that i have on video!! as a cook myself…its such an honor to be allowed into a professional kitchen..following my ******GUIDE EXTRAORDINAIRE*** a university of Torino art history grad…took me to a Romanesque church…******this was the highpoint of my Italy ‘ stay….she was professional…charming….extremely knowledgeable and could explain Charlemaignes influence in the area even down to what it means in current life….****this is what i had most wanted*** an insiders authentic full day experience of high and human culture. ***if i knew this persons name i would write her a separate recommendation as she was extraordinary..it was always this focus of art and civilization that i most enjoyed at Columbia and the reason it was chosen. Who could imagine…an isolated old Romanesque church in Piedmonte would answer my prayers?
The hotel had a very charming set up…though not to busy…most isolated but beautiful…again…chef very wonderful and prepared me a full truffle mean…it was a family place..the room itself was probably ordinary but the setting and all in all was still very high mark….****i left my beloved Corneliani linen travel jacket there…and Laura retrieved it and its being sent to me….can you ask for better service? Its new to me!
Milan
The hotel here…if you can find it…is a wonderful experience…the staff was a little stiff/big city…but it was so charming…everyone so first rate…restaurant courtyard room setting…best experience in weekdays as that area is a madhouse on weekends….La Scala…well tickets were not so great..up in a balcony next to stage over the pit…rather hard to
see the stage…but it was pretty wonderful…I really liked Milan and it was more like the city that i can relate too…as to the overwhlemingingness of Venice and Florence. The transfer very professional…id didn’t realize had to really get out of there as airport so far…so i ran quite a bit in that airport not getting my taxes refunded…think i can mail them in anyhow..Milan airport is the nicest one i believe i every saw in my life!!!
***it should be noted that preceding this i had spent a week biking the ‘hills’ of the Val dal Orcia…a real workout but got me properly ‘Tuscanized”….i was amazed how little spicing/seasoning is used in Italian cooking compared to what we do here in the USA…live and learn!
Hope this helps…Want you people to always be part of any trip i every take there…i want Laura’s cards to refer her within my sphere…..I want to thank you for doing such an exceptional job here…it was so better than expected…gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous!
Arriva Derci Y’all!!!
michael m
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