A Romantic Escape to Venice, Verona and Lake Garda for Star-Crossed Lovers

Riva del Garda on Lake Garda, Italy

What to expect on this itinerary

Lovers can embrace in the open and indulge in private luxury during your customizable Northern Italy itinerary, designed for the perfect romantic escape. Gondolas glide through the narrow canals of Venice. Decadent paintings cover the walls and ceilings of 17th-century villas overlooking the banks of the Brenta Canal. Storybook castles continue to guard the narrow cobbled lanes of small towns on the shores of Lake Garda. From capturing the passionate spirit of Shakespeare’s Juliet in Verona to enjoying a tranquil panorama in a village along the Dolomites, you will relish desire in the enchanting ambiance of Northern Italy.

Countries Visited

Italy

Places Visited

Venice, Verona, Lake Garda, Milan

Suggested Duration

8 Days

Customizable Itinerary

Expand All
Day 1

Venice – Striking Romance on the Grand Canal

Venice is a city of romance and elegance, a labyrinth of baroque palaces and hidden cobblestone lanes offering preferred seclusion. Water laps against the stone edges of historic canals and church spires create a graceful skyline enjoyed from the comforts of your private room. Your flight lands at Venice Marco Polo Airport, where your private transfer greets you upon your arrival. Board a vaporetto, a water taxi, on the border of the Grand Canal. The waterway has acted as a highway, connecting island in the lagoon to the outside world for centuries, stretching two miles long. Your guide introduces you to the romantic ambiance emanating from the architecture and wooden plinths rising out of the water. After drifting along the rippling waters of the Grand Canal, your vaporetto leads you to the private dock of your stunning luxury hotel, known for offering the perfect blend of elegance in the aristocratic furniture and contemporary comforts with special attention to the little details.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Day 2

Venice – Wander Amidst the Ancient Architechture

Day 3

Verona – Find Elegance and Grace within the Palaces

Day 4

Verona – The Joy of Shakespearean Italy

Day 5

Verona – An Enchanting Alpine Stroll

Day 6

Lake Garda – The Amorous Ambiance of Lake Garda

Day 7

Lake Garda – A Fashionable Outing

Day 8

Lake Garda – Stars Uncrossed

Trip Highlights

  • Visit the home of Shakespeare’s Juliet in Verona during a private luxury tour of the city’s enchanting myths, histories, and charm
  • Embrace the beauty of the Grand Canal in Venice during a luxurious introductory tour of the famous waterway lined with elegant palaces
  • Cruise down the Brenta Canal from Venice to Padua for a delightful look at antique villas and tranquil towns
  • Discover fairytale castles sprouting from mountain promontories while visiting the town of Arco in the Dolomite foothills
  • Treasure the fashionable ambiance of Milan, which embodies passion and love through the architecture and artwork on display around the city, including the collected early 16th-century love letters of Lucrezia Borgia
  • Stroll along the lakeside promenades and medieval cobbled lanes of charismatic towns bordering Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake

Detailed Description

Follow the romance along the Grand Canal and the shimmering shores of Lake Garda during your 8-day tour of Northern Italy. The splendors of Venice welcome you upon your arrival at Marco Polo Airport. Your private transfer leads you to the shores of the Grand Canal for a private introductory tour along the renowned waterway. Settle into the comforts of your centrally-located hotel with the remainder of the day at your leisure. The following morning, your guide leads you on a private tour of Venice, highlighting the iconic monuments and the local culture for a balance of charm, grandeur, and romantic appeal.

Next, you travel along the Brenta Canal, enjoying the private splendors of historic villas once connected to the Venetian Republic along the narrow waterway. Enjoy the beauty of the artwork and pleasures of the countryside en route to Padua. Your guide leads you on a remarkable tour of Padua before continuing to Verona for the evening. Discover the wonders of Verona with your privately guided tour, finding cobblestone streets, Roman ruins, renaissance architecture, and the home of Shakespeare’s Juliet Capulet, who embodies the spirit of love and romance in the city. Then, you venture into the Dolomite Mountains with a guide leading you to serene villages. Explore preserved castles and delight in sharing the panoramas of the snowcapped mountaintops.

You transfer to the shores of Lake Garda, taking the day to traverse the scenic roads to visit captivating towns. Wander hand-in-hand through lakeside castles and relish a boat ride for views of the northern foothills. Venture to Milan for an excursion highlighting the fashion, history, and artwork of Lombardy’s capital city. View the Duomo and fabulous filigree of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, along with witnessing the love letters of Lucrezia Borgia, the daughter of Pope Alexander VI. On the final day, your private transfer greets you at the hotel and escorts you to Verona Villafranca Airport for your flight home.

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

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 6871 reviews

kavita A.
Italy Tour Review: Rome, Venice, Tuscany, Chianti, Vespa Tour, Boat Ride, Cooking Class, 20 Days

Our trip was absolutely amazing and the planning done by Zicasso's travel company surpassed my expectations. The attention to detail was amazing: from excellent and punctual drivers to assistants who helped us with the water taxis in Venice to the lounge access for trains. It was truly white-glove service that made my trip seamless and allowed me to enjoy every moment because every detail was handled.

The excursions were fantastic. I especially enjoyed the cooking class at a farm in Tuscany and the Vespa tours in Rome. There was a nice mix of private excursions for the walking tours and boat rides, to a few shared excursions, such as the cooking class.

The hotels the travel company booked were chic, boutiquey Italian hotels and each had its own charm (from the former palace in Venice to the castle in Chianti), and we loved them. We would absolutely recommend to anyone booking a trip to Italy!

See more

Carles P.
Italy Travel Review: Assisi, Tuscany, 15-Day Trip

Zicasso's team was excellent with planning and execution of the itinerary to meet our specific needs.

I was able to add an additional city on short notice!

We had knowledgeable local city guides and all drivers were professional.

We had a wonderful family trip!

See more

Jeff S.
Italy, France Vacation Review: Rome, Florence, Venice, Paris, Bayeux, Normandy, 18 Nights

We had an excellent experience with Zicasso's travel company. We are a family of four and spent 18 nights going through Italy and France. We worked with the company to make arrangements to see the cities and sites we wanted to visit. They offered great options for hotels and activities. They stayed in close contact with us during the trip and made additional arrangements upon request. The company provided outstanding service making arrangements and during the trip. We were very satisified and have already recommended them to our friends.

See more

Dorothy K.
Italy Tour Review: Rome, Florence, Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius, Ancient Sites, Cooking Class, 1 Week

I can confidently say that Zicasso's travel specialist is truly dedicated to providing her clients a luxury experience. From the outset, we had a 20-minute call where she wanted to learn about our dream vacation and get to know us. She was attentive to every request we made and organized our itinerary accordingly. During the trip, she texted us daily to inform us about our drivers and guides for the next day. Additionally, she checked to ensure our trip was progressing smoothly.

Here are some highlights:

Rome: We were greeted at the airport by our agent, who expedited our passage through passport control. The following day, we started our exploration at the Vatican. Our agent had purchased our tickets in advance, allowing us to skip the line. She also planned the remainder of our self-guided tours of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and other ancient sights. We accomplished so much in just two days!

Florence: We took part in a pasta-making class with a chef who was fantastic! Her husband was also quite charming. Our experience there was truly wonderful. Special thanks to our driver, who was incredibly helpful and informative.

Sorrento (Amalfi Coast): We began with a visit to Pompeii, where our guide, also arranged by our agent, was spectacular! His passion and extensive knowledge made the experience enjoyable. Next, we had a fun blind wine tasting. When we arrived at our amazing hotel, we were greeted with a surprise.

While in Rome, we encountered a minor issue, which our agent resolved quickly. She even went above and beyond by ordering us a bottle of prosecco to celebrate. We also took a car tour of Positano and Ravello, guided by a local from Ravello who was informative, knowledgeable, and delightful. We loved her! Our day ended with a lovely sunset cruise off the coast! Both days had excellent drivers.

This trip was a dream come true for my husband and me. Without a doubt, our agent made it the luxurious experience we desired. I highly recommend her and her team!

See more

Laura M.
Italy Trip Review: Florence, Amalfi Coast, Uffizi Gallery, 9 Nights

The trip went very well! Our Zicasso travel specialist did a thorough job planning our vacation to Italy. We would definitely use her again.

See more

Margaret K.
Italy Vacation Review: Lake Garda, Verona, Milan, Boat Trip, Gastro Tour, 1 Week

Our trip was a 10 out of 10! There is no way it could have been any better. Zicasso's travel expert and the tour company's team were incredibly responsive (not that we had any issues) and the itinerary was so impeccably curated.

Every greeter, driver, and tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and professional, and hotels were immaculate. It was such a relief to know that every last detail was taken care of and we didn't have to worry about anything.

We highly recommend our travel company and would definitely use them again.

See more

Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

28,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews
Zicasso in the News