10-Day Romantic Getaway to Northern Italy

What to expect on this itinerary
This luxurious 10-day trip through Northern Italy is sure to create beautiful memories that you will share together as a couple for a lifetime. Marvel at the grandeur of St. Mark’s Basilica, cruise along the Grand Canal in a gondola, traverse the streets of Rome with a personal shopper guide, and indulge in a private boat tour of Lake Como.
Customizable Itinerary
Venice – Stroll through Venice’s Streets
After you arrive in Venice’s Marco Polo Airport, your private transfer will greet you at customs and transport you to Venice’s main dock. Once there, your water taxi will personally escort you to your luxurious accommodation, which will be within walking distance of all of the momentous sights. You can become purposefully lost in the twisting, cobblestone streets, and, with each new corner you turn, the city will reveal new, rare, and delightful sights to behold.
What's Included:
Venice – Cruise the Grand Canal on a Gondola
Venice – Enjoy a Private Wine Tasting Tour
Milan – Discover Milan’s High-End Fashion
Varenna – Revel in the Glamour of Lake Como
Varenna – Visit Picturesque Villages
Portofino – Kayak in the Italian Riviera
Portofino – Hike the Cinque Terre Trails
Genoa – Local Food Tour and Cooking Class
Genoa – Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- Become lost as you stroll hand in hand through the charming streets of Venice, uncovering quaint bridges and narrow canals that are hidden from the throngs of tourists
- Marvel at the ethereal grandeur of St. Mark’s Basilica, viewing its Byzantine gold mosaics and strolling behind the altar to the crypt of St. Mark
- Cruise the Grand Canal at sunset on a private gondola ride, sipping champagne and witnessing the brilliance of the ancient city from a new perspective
- Observe a private glass-blowing and lacemaking demonstration on the islands of Murano and Burano, which will be followed by a wine-tasting in a 14th-century vineyard on the island of Mazzorbo
- Traverse the streets of Milan with a personal shopper, perusing high-end fashion in the finest boutiques
- Delight in a private boat tour of Lake Como, visiting charming villages and elegant villas that are sprinkled along the rolling green shores
- Kayak in the crystal blue sea of the Italian Riviera, touring areas of Portofino that are best seen by water
- Hike along narrow trails that connect the picturesque towns of the Cinque Terre, witnessing the beauty of the national park from high above sea-level
- Learn about traditional dishes that are served in the Ligurian region of Italy on a delicious food tour in Genoa, which will be followed by a private cooking class taught in English.
Detailed Description
You will finally set off on your unforgettable journey through Northern Italy in the narrow, cobblestone streets of charming Venice. Asphalt roads are replaced with glistening canals, and instead of noisy cars, there are quiet boats that glide effortlessly down the waterways. You will begin with a tour through the remarkable maze of Venice, viewing the resplendent St. Mark’s Basilica where the bones of Jesus’ disciple are laid. As the sun begins to set, a gondola will be waiting to usher you down the Grand Canal, passing classic Venetian-Gothic architecture and grand palaces. You will continue onward to witness glass-blowing and lacemaking demonstrations on the quaint islands of Murano and Burano, which will be followed by a visit to a secret vineyard for wine tasting on the tiny island of Mazzorbo.
Leaving the Venetian lagoon, you and your partner will then travel via first-class on the high-speed train to Milan. In this fashion metropolis, you will each meet with a renowned personal shopper who will escort you through some of the finest boutiques in the world. Once you complete your shopping, you will depart for the lovely Lake Como. The jade-blue lake is set against a backdrop of snow-capped, Italian Alps. During your stay in Lake Como, you will tour perfectly preserved 19th-century villas and their pristine gardens, where fuchsia bougainvillea overflows from the terraces and outdoor staircases. The crystal-clear water sparkles like diamonds as you cruise along the lake with the wind blowing in your hair and the sun warming your skin. You can splash in the waters and find your favorite private cove in which to swim and relax. It will be just the two of you as the rest of the world disappears.
Brightly-hued villages from the 16th century await you on the Italian Riviera, and the gentle beauty will feel like a whimsical serenade. You will enjoy a kayak trip together along the beautiful Portofino coast, and afterward, you will relax with an aperitif in your hand at one of the many outdoor cafes that line the promenade. Just south of Portofino are the five villages of the Cinque Terre, which is where the two of you can hike the rustic trails as you venture from one charming village to the next. You can amble along paths that are high above the Ligurian Sea, being sure to take your time and relax along the way. Your trip will conclude in Genoa, where you will venture through the streets on an appetizing food tour through the city. You will discover local ingredients before joining a cooking class to learn how to prepare traditional dishes. This luxurious, 10-day excursion through Northern Italy will leave nothing to be desired and will cater to your every whim.
Starting Price
$4,500 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 720 reviews
We were so pleased with the travel company. The hotel they suggested was nicely located in Como, with our rooms having a view of the lake and a small balcony. We were also provided a lovely breakfast in the morning.
They suggested a nice, four-day itinerary: a food tour, with the extra bonus of an orientation to the city the evening of our arrival; a wonderful boat ride for four hours on the next day; a trip to Lugano, Switzerland; and then a private transfer, stopping in Bellagio and Varenna on our way back to Milan.
All of the drivers and guides were excellent, although the driver for Lugano thought he was taking us to Bellagio. This may have been due to a switch of drivers due to a schedule change, as the boat ride and Lugano days were switched to make sure we had a beautiful day on the water, as some rain was threatened on the original day.
The travel company also made a lunch reservation in Bellagio for us based on a recommendation we had gotten from our son. The driver for that long day was great about arranging the travel so we could be on time at the restaurant and was there promptly to pick us up when we were done.
We will definitely utilize Zicasso again and would reach out to the travel company if we travel again to Italy.
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My wife and I consulted with a handful of travel agencies in order to pick the right one for us to curate our dream honeymoon, and I could not be happier with our final decision to trust Zicasso’s tour company with this task.
Our travel agent was amazing throughout the process of building our itinerary, choosing experiences that fit exactly what we were looking for in an Italy honeymoon.
Start to finish, our overall experience was seamless. We decided to pack a lot into 10 nights, visiting Tuscany, Venice, Sorrento, and finishing the trip with one night in Rome. The tour company perfectly constructed our itinerary in a way that did not make our experience feel rushed in any of these locations. We had ample time to relax and explore these beautiful places on our own, while also fitting in world-class experiences specific to the region in which we were staying, all hand-selected by the tour company and their local expertise.
Every experience we had was incredible. From a private pasta cooking class and wine tasting in Tuscany to a limoncello tour in a quiet, picturesque village along the Amalfi Coast, each will be an experience my wife and I will never forget.
I would recommend this travel company to anyone visiting Italy for the first time or even those who have been to Italy, but want to experience breathtaking excursions curated by a local team of experts.
Our honeymoon was all we dreamed of and more, and I look forward to having the opportunity to use them for our next adventure.
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We had the best time during our wonder trip to Italy. We explored Venice, Tuscany, Rome, and the Amalfi Coast. Zicasso's travel agency arranged the most beautiful hotels, with exceptional service, and fun and exciting tours in each location.
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Zicasso's travel company planned the most amazing trip to Venice, Verona, Florence, Tuscany, Siena, and Rome for our family of five. It was the best trip I've ever taken, and having all the details covered by them and plans and tickets sent to us via WhatsApp allowed us to really live in the moment and not have to think about what was next. I loved every second. I cannot wait to plan another trip to Italy to experience the southern half of the country.
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Our honeymoon trip to Italy, planned by Zicasso’s travel company, was the perfect trip in every way. From the time we landed in Rome and were greeted by our driver to the time we left Venice 12 days later, every detail was taken care of. The guides, tours, accommodations, restaurant recommendations, and travel transfers were expertly executed, so we didn't have to worry about anything except having the time of our lives!
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When we started planning our trip to Italy, I knew I wanted to work with a travel agent—specifically, someone who specialized in Italy and was based there. After reaching out to several agencies and reviewing their responses, we chose Zicasso and, more specifically, our travel agent. She is based in Milan and from my very first interaction with her, I knew we had made the right choice.
Our trip could not have been more perfect. Our agent put a lot of thought into every location and planned activity. At the outset, we had a few discussions with her about what we wanted from the trip and, after that, we were happy to leave most of the details in her capable hands. Our goal was to explore mid-to-northern Italy and everything—from the hotels and tours to the free time and transportation—was beautifully organized.
Our 11-night trip started in Milan and ended in Florence, with overnight stays in Milan (one night), Lake Como (three nights), Venice (three nights), and Florence (four nights). Initially, I was hesitant about staying at Lake Como for three nights, but our agent encouraged me to do a little research. I’m so glad she did, as it turned out to be incredible. We had more self-guided time at Lake Como, which was perfect as we adjusted to the time change. In Venice, our itinerary became more structured, but we still had plenty of time for our own explorations. By the time we reached Florence, we had activities and tours planned for every day, which was just what we wanted.
A highlight for my family was a full-day trip into Tuscany, where we visited San Gimignano, an organic vineyard in Chianti, and finished with a tour of Siena. Our day trip to Rome allowed us to see the main attractions and we concluded the journey with a tour of Florence and the Accademia Gallery. Every tour our agent arranged was spot on.
Throughout our trip, she was wonderfully communicative—always available when we had questions, but never intrusive. She even helped us with a couple of last-minute requests: booking a hotel in Milan for one night and arranging train tickets to Verona for an impromptu visit to Juliet’s balcony. Whenever we needed something, she was there.
When we return to explore the mid-to-southern part of Italy, there’s no question that we’ll be asking her to plan our trip again. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a seamless, thoughtfully curated Italian adventure.
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