Northern Italy Grand Escape: Alps, Venice, Lakes & Ligurian Coast — 7 Days (Self-Launched)
7 days · Northern Italy
Click Tours charges £1,700
No-markup version: ~£590 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Click Tours' 7-day "Northern Italy Grand Escape", which uses Milan as a base for day trips to the Swiss Alps (Bernina Red Train), Lake Como and Bellagio, Verona and Sirmione on Lake Garda, Venice, and the Ligurian coast around Genoa and Portofino. Crucially, the coach tour wins convenience but at a steep price — you can replicate every single included experience using Italy's excellent regional rail network plus scheduled lake boats and ferries. The self-launched version swaps coach transfers for trains (often faster than the coach on these routes), 4-star hotels for well-located hostels and budget guesthouses in Milan, and the group walking tour for a pay-what-you-want city walk or a GetYourGuide Venice walking tour. You'll get more free time, sleep in later (no 7:30am departures), and pay a fraction of the operator's price. All costs are rough estimates for a solo traveller in shoulder season; minor changes to days 3–6 allow a smarter route (e.g. Verona→Venice) if you prefer fewer backtracking train rides.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Milan — explore the Duomo and Navigli at leisure
Milan
Arrive at Milan Malpensa or Linate and take the Malpensa Express train (~€13/£11) or the Linate bus/M4 metro into the centre. Check into a hostel or budget guesthouse near Porta Venezia, Centrale or Navigli — roughly £30–40/night for a dorm bed or budget private room. The operator's Day 1 is just arrival plus free time, so spend the afternoon wandering: see the Duomo exterior and rooftop terraces (€12–15), Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and Castello Sforzesco's courtyards. In the evening, join a free/pay-what-you-want Milan walking tour (tip £5–10) or just eat aperitivo along the Navigli canals. Load a Milan transit day ticket (€7.60) or use contactless tap-and-go on metro/tram.
🚌Airport train/bus to Milan centre ~£11; city metro/tram tap-and-go
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in central Milan (dorm £25–35, private room £45–65)
- →Duomo & rooftop terraces (€12–15)
- →Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II & Castello Sforzesco
- →Free walking tour (tip-based)
- →Navigli aperitivo evening
Bernina Red Train to St. Moritz — the Swiss Alps day trip
Tirano / St. Moritz
Self-replicate the flagship included activity: the UNESCO-listed Bernina line. Take an early regional train from Milano Centrale to Tirano (~2h30, €12–15 booked in advance on Trenitalia), then buy a Bernina line ticket from Tirano up to St. Moritz on the RhB (return ~CHF 66–76 / £60–70; a Swiss Travel Pass or Saver Day Pass may beat this if you're doing other Swiss travel). The train climbs over the Brusio spiral viaduct and the Bernina Pass — the exact scenery the coach tour sells. Break the journey at Alp Grüm for the classic viewpoint. In St. Moritz, do a short walk around the lake, grab Swiss hot chocolate at one of the famous chocolate houses (Hanselmann), and browse the boutiques if you like. Return by train to Tirano and onwards to Milan — a long day but entirely doable, and you'll see the same route without the coach. Carry your passport; you cross into Switzerland.
🚌Milano–Tirano regional train ~£12–15 each way; RhB Bernina Tirano–St. Moritz return ~£60–70
🛏Same Milan hostel/guesthouse (book all 5–6 nights in one place to avoid moving luggage)
- →Bernina Red Train (Brusio spiral viaduct, Alp Grüm, Bernina Pass)
- →St. Moritz lakeside walk
- →Swiss hot chocolate at Hanselmann
Lake Como — Varenna, Bellagio and the mid-lake boat
Lake Como / Bellagio
Take the direct regional train Milano Centrale → Varenna-Esino (~1h, €7–8). Walk down to the ferry pier and take the short crossing to Bellagio (€5–6), the pretty 'pearl of the lake' with its stepped lanes and gardens. From Bellagio, hop the mid-lake ferry to Menaggio or Cadenabbia (€5–6) and cruise back across — this is the exact experience of the tour's included one-hour boat cruise, only you can spend the whole day doing it. Explore Como's historic centre at the end if you want (ferry Bellagio→Como is ~45 min, €10), then take the train Como → Milano Centrale (~40 min, €5–6). Eat lunch in Bellagio but expect lakefront prices; a panino and gelato keeps it cheap.
🚌Train Milan–Varenna ~£7 each way; mid-lake ferries ~£5–10 each segment; Como–Milan train ~£5
🛏Same Milan hostel/guesthouse
- →Varenna lakeside walk
- →Bellagio lanes and gardens
- →Mid-lake ferry crossings (Cadenabbia/Menaggio)
- →Como historic centre (optional)
Verona and Sirmione on Lake Garda
Verona / Sirmione
Take an early Frecciarossa or regional train Milano Centrale → Verona Porta Nuova (~1h10–2h, €15–30 advance). Explore Verona on foot — Juliet's balcony, Piazza delle Erbe, the Arena, Ponte Pietra — and consider the Arena or a church pass if you like. Then take the regional train Verona → Peschiera del Garda (~15 min, €3–4) and a local bus or short taxi to Sirmione (bus ~€2), the moated peninsula village with the Scaligero castle and Jamaica Beach. Alternatively, from Verona you can also take the ferry along the lake if you prefer a boat approach. Return to Milan by train in the evening. This is the coach tour's Day 4 in full, and you'll have more flexible time for a proper Veronese lunch.
🚌Train Milan–Verona ~£15–30; Verona–Peschiera ~£4; bus to Sirmione ~£2; return train
🛏Same Milan hostel/guesthouse
- →Verona walking loop (Arena, Piazza delle Erbe, Ponte Pietra)
- →Sirmione old town and Scaligero castle exterior
- →Lunch/coffee in Verona
Venice — St. Mark's, Doge's Palace and lagoon islands
Venice
Train Milano Centrale → Venezia Santa Lucia (~2h30–3h, €20–40 advance on Frecciarossa or Italo). From the station, buy a 24-hour ACTV vaporetto pass (~€25) — it covers all boats including Murano, Burano and Torcello. See St. Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace (book ahead €30; skip-the-line worth it) and Rialto. If you want the guided walk, book a GetYourGuide Venice walking tour (~£25–30) or a pay-what-you-want city walk. In the afternoon, ride the vaporetto to Murano for glass and Burano for colour — the tour's included lagoon boat trip, done independently. Return to Milan on a late train, or (smarter) sleep in Venice/Mestre tonight and continue to the coast tomorrow to cut a huge backtrack — see the breakdown note; the cost estimate below assumes a night in a Mestre hostel (£30–35).
🚌Train Milan–Venice ~£20–40 each way; 24h vaporetto pass ~£25
🛏Optional: budget hostel in Venice Mestre (£30–35) instead of returning to Milan
- →St. Mark's Square & Doge's Palace (pre-booked)
- →Rialto and walking tour (GetYourGuide ~£25)
- →Murano & Burano by vaporetto
Ligurian coast — Genoa, Santa Margherita and Portofino
Genoa / Santa Margherita Ligure / Portofino
From Milan (or Venice/Mestre if you've routed smartly) take a train to Genova Piazza Principe (~1h30 from Milan, €12–18 via Frecciabianca/IC, or ~2h regional). Explore Genoa's UNESCO-listed caruggi (old town lanes), the Porto Antico and the cathedral. Then take the coastal regional train Genoa → Santa Margherita Ligure (~30 min, €4–5) and either walk the scenic coastal path or take the local bus (€2) or ferry (~€8) to Portofino — the tiny harbour village the tour visits. If you sleep in Santa Margherita or Genoa tonight (hostel/budget hotel £35–45), you'll have time for a swim. Return to Milan by train in the evening if you're keeping the same base — last trains run until roughly 21:00–22:00.
🚌Milan–Genoa train ~£12–18; Genoa–Santa Margherita ~£5; bus/ferry to Portofino £2–8
🛏Same Milan base, or budget guesthouse in Santa Margherita/Genoa (£35–45)
- →Genoa old town (caruggi, Porto Antico, cathedral)
- →Santa Margherita Ligure seafront
- →Portofino harbour (by bus, ferry or coastal path)
Milan — last morning and departure
Milan
Enjoy a relaxed final morning: the Navigli antique market if it's a Sunday, brunch in Porta Venezia, or a last-minute visit to Santa Maria delle Grazie (book the Last Supper well in advance, €15 + booking fee, sells out weeks ahead). Pack, check out, and take the Malpensa Express (~€13) or the Linate metro/bus back to the airport. No early coach departure required — you choose your flight time, which is exactly the flexibility the group tour doesn't give you.
🚌Airport express train/bus ~£11–13
🛏Check out
- →Navigli or Porta Venezia morning wander
- →Last Supper (pre-booked) or Santa Maria delle Grazie
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. Click Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Click Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£590 | £1,700 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,110 per person (65%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Click Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£590
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Northern Italy Grand Escape: Alps, Venice, Lakes & Ligurian Coast — 7 Days (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £590 per person for 7 days in Northern Italy. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Click Tours?+
Yes — Click Tours charges around £1,700 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £590 — a saving of roughly £1,110 (65%) per person.
How long is the Northern Italy trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Northern Italy.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, city-breaks, foodie trip through Northern Italy, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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