Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia
ZURICH – MT. TITLIS – LUCERNE – ILANZ – MILAN – PISA – FLORENCE – VERONA – VENICE – PADOVA – POSTOJNA – PREDJAMA – PIRAN – PORTOROŽ – BLED – LJUBLJANA
11 days / 10 nights
Highlights:
Vertigo-inducing mountaintop views from Mt. Titlis
The pearl of Slovenia: one of the 10 most beautiful islands in the world, lake Bled
The best shopping and clubbing experience in this part of Europe
Feel the love where Romeo and Juliet fell in love in Verona
Itinerary:
DAY 1 Zurich
DAY 2 Zurich
DAY 3 Zurich, Mt. Titlis, Lucerne, Ilanz
DAY 4 Ilanz, Milan
DAY 5 Milan, Pisa, Florence
DAY 6 Florence, Verona
DAY 7 Verona, Venice, Padova
DAY 8 Padova, Postojna, Predjama, Ljubljana
DAY 9 Ljubljana, Piran, Portorož, Ljubljana
DAY 10 Ljubljana, Bled, Ljubljana
DAY 11 Departure from Ljubljana
DAY 1: ZURICH
/Zurich airport – Zurich 15km, 30min/
Arrival at Zurich Airport at 13h40, after immigration transfer to Zurich.
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland. Several surveys have named Zurich the city with the best quality of life in the world as well as the wealthiest city in Europe. Many museums and art galleries can be found in the city, including the Swiss National Museum and the Kunsthaus. Schauspielhaus Zürich is one of the most important theatres in the German-speaking world.
Check-in at hotel in Zurich.
Leisure time for the rest of the day.
Dinner.
Overnight in Zurich.
DAY 2: ZURICH
The most important sights such as the Old Town, Bahnhofstrasse, Grossmünster church and Lake Zurich are all based in Zurich’s town center. They are all reached within a three-hour walk or can be accessed by public transport. Culture lovers will enjoy a visit to the museum, Opera House, Schauspielhaus (municipal theater) or Tonhalle (concert hall). Nature fans can take a trip to Zurich’s very own Uetliberg “mountain”, visit the zoo or take a boat to Rapperswil.
Lunch.
Afternoon free for shopping. Zurich has the reputation of a shopping city, even if not quite that of London or Milano. Especially Bahnhofstrasse is well known around the globe as one of the most exclusive and expensive shopping streets in the world. For Swiss and urban design, the area around Langstrasse is a good spot. Don’t forget to taste the world-famous Swiss chocolate. The traditional Swiss chocolatier Läderach sells freshly produced chocolate, filled chocolates and pralines. You even get an insight into the craft of confectionery here, as some of the chocolate is actually produced on site – creating irresistible aromas! There are 20 different varieties on offer, in slabs which are sold by weight. Chocolates are sold by piece. In addition to the Läderach chocolate you can also get all the Swiss chocolate brands from Lindt to Toblerone.
Dinner.
The most famous districts for nightlife are the Niederdorf in the old town with bars, restaurants, lounges, hotels, clubs, etc. and a lot of fashion shops for a young and stylish public and the Langstrasse in the districts 4 and 5 of the city. There are authentic amusements: Brazilian bars, punk clubs, hip-hop stages, Caribic restaurants, arthouse cinemas, Turkish kebabs and Italian espresso bars, but also the famous red light district of Zurich.
Overnight in Zurich.
DAY 3: ZURICH, MT. TITLIS, LUCERNE, ILANZ
/Zurich – Mt Titlis 100km, 2h/
/Mt Titlis – Lucerne 45km, 1h/
/Lucerne – Ilanz 150km, 3h/
After a continental breakfast at your hotel, you will have the optional tour where we can take you on one of the most memorable experiences of your Europe tour – visiting Mt. Titlis and Lucerne. Adventure awaits you in a sensational cable-car ride up to Mt. Titlis. Marvel at the world’s first revolving cable-car ride, a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. Remain spellbound as you ascend the snow-clad mountains. Experience the snow and ice on top of Mt. Titlis, also a chance to ride ‘Ice Flyer’. At 3,020 meters a breath-taking panorama unfolds.
Next, we proceed to scenic Lucerne, where you will have an opportunity to visit the Lion Monument and the Kapell Brucke (wooden bridge). You will have some free time to shop for some famous Swiss watches, knives and chocolates.
Dinner.
Overnight in Ilanz.
DAY 4: ILANZ, MILAN
/Ilanz – Milan 240km, 4h/
After a buffet breakfast, check-out and proceed to Milan. Milan is the second-most populous city in Italy and serves as the capital of Lombardy. The Milan metropolitan region is part of the so-called Blue Banana, the area of Europe with the highest population and industrial density. Its business district hosts the Borsa Italiana (Italy’s main stock exchange) and the headquarters of the largest national banks and companies.
After lunch, you will go on a guided tour of Milan. Milan’s museums, theatres and landmarks (including the Milan Cathedral, the fifth-largest cathedral in the world, and Santa Maria delle Grazie, decorated with Leonardo da Vinci paintings, such as The Last Supper) attract over 8 million visitors annually. You will visit all of the major sights, including da Vinci’s Last Supper, the Duomo (Milan’s cathedral), La Scala Opera House, the charming canal area, and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade.
Spend the afternoon shopping in the fashion capital of the world. Purveying hot-off-the-catwalk clothes by the likes of Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada and Versace, it’s little wonder that Milan’s upscale fashion shopping district is known as the Quadrilatero della Moda – the Rectangle of Gold.
Dinner.
Overnight in Milan.
DAY 5: MILAN, PISA, FLORENCE
/Milan – Pisa 290km, 4h30min/
/Pisa – Florence 90km, 2h/
After breakfast and check-out, departure towards the world-famous city of Pisa. It is most well-known because of its Leaning Tower of Pisa. You will visit the Tower and the amazing carved marble Cathedral and Baptistery in the Square of Miracles.
After lunch, departure towards Florence. The tour begins at the majestic Piazza del Duomo to see the Cathedral crowned by Brunelleschi’s Dome, the Giotto’s Bell Tower, and the Baptistery with Ghiberti’s bronze “Gate of Paradise”. Then, visit the Academy of Fine Arts, where Michelangelo’s David is displayed. Tour ends at the Piazzale Michelangelo with the most spectacular view over Florence.
Overnight in Florence.
DAY 6: FLORENCE, VERONA, PADOVA
/Florence – Verona 250km, 4h/
/Verona – Padova 90km, 1h30min/
After breakfast, departure towards Verona. Verona is the city of love as it is famous for being the place where William Shakespeare set three of his plays: Romeo and Juliet, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and The Taming of the Shrew. Shakespeare placed star-crossed lovers Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet in Verona for good reason: romance, drama and fatal family feuding have been the city’s hallmark for centuries. From the 3rd century BC Verona was a Roman trade centre with ancient gates, a forum (now Piazza delle Erbe) and a grand Roman arena, which still serves as one of the world’s great opera venues. In the Middle Ages the city flourished under the wrathful della Scala clan, who were as much energetic patrons of the arts as they were murderous tyrants. Their elaborate Gothic tombs, the Arche Scaligere, are just off Piazza dei Signori. Take a walking tour around all of the major sights, and don’t forget to touch Juliet’s statue for good luck.
After lunch, stroll along the main streets and pick up a souvenir or two. Verona isn’t a very cheap place to go shopping. It is located close to the Lago di Garda, in one of Italy’s wealthiest regions. The shops and prices reflect that, and so you find brands like Gucci, Armani or Louis Vitton along the main shopping street Via Mazzini.
Dinner.
Overnight in Padova.
DAY 7: VERONA, VENICE, PADOVA
/Padova – Venice 50km, 1h/
/Venice – Padova 50km, 1h/
After a buffet breakfast, check-out and proceed to the romantic city of Venice. Venice is a cluster of over one hundred small islands with its marble palaces built on water and it has numerous souvenir shopping opportunities. Board your chartered boat to the traditional centre of the city – Piazza San Marco. This city of 117 islands in the Venetian Lagoon is sure to leave you mystified. After lunch, see the St. Mark’s Basilica, Bridge of Sighs, the Doges Palace, the Campanile and many more sights. Visit a Murano Glass Factory and see the skills of these master craftsmen.
Departure towards Padova in the evening. Dinner.
Overnight in Padova.
DAY 8: PADOVA, POSTOJNA, PREDJAMA, LJUBLJANA
/Padova – Postojna 230km, 3h/
/Postojna – Predjama 15km, 30min/
/Predjama – Ljubljana 70km, 1h30min/
After breakfast departure to Postojna, which at the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire constituted the only exit to the Adriatic Sea. You will visit Postojna cave, which is a network of 23 kilometres of tunnels, galleries and halls, in which experienced guides have accompanied more than 30 million visitors in over 200 years. This is the biggest classical karst cave and the most visited tourist cave in Europe. The cave train will take you into the depths where, thanks to the electric lighting, you can appreciate all the dimensions and nuances of the underground karst, where the geological past is written in a unique way.
After lunch and a wine tasting at a wine cellar in the karst region, you will visit Predjama castle, a castle built directly into a cliff edge, with an underground tunnel through the mountain. Photostop.
Departure towards Ljubljana. An evening of shopping in the largest shopping centre in Slovenia will follow. BTC City is the largest shopping center in Slovenia with specialized shops, supermarkets, and more than 450 stores. Free time. In addition to shopping, you will have the opportunity to visit the entertainment center Arena, where under one roof you have low endurance sports activities and programs for relaxation, shopping and film entertainment with educational and playful content. The amusement center covers an area of 9,000 m2. The center includes a billiards and bowling center with its central entertainment center serving as the XPAND cinema with 3D stereoscopic projection, representing the most innovative technology in the field cinematography in this part of Europe. This is the most modernly equipped cinema for digital projection in 3D and its dynamic seats enable a new and unique experience on screen. Atlantis Water Park is also at your disposal for pampering you. This is a water park with a wide variety of facilities with dynamic architecture including a 15,000 m2 room for entertainment, relaxation, gathering new strength and recreation. It also includes 16 swimming pools, three of which are outdoor, and offers visitors plenty of fun, adventure, and 15 thematic saunas.
Dinner.
Overnight in Ljubljana.
DAY 9: LJUBLJANA, PIRAN, PORTOROŽ, LJUBLJANA
/Ljubljana – Piran 130km, 2h/
/Piran – Portorož 5km, 15min/
/Portorož – Ljubljana 130km, 2h/
After breakfast, departure for a day trip on the Slovenian coast. First stop will be Piran. Piran is characterized by medieval architecture, with narrow streets and compact houses. It is the birthplace of composer and violinist Giuseppe Tartini, who played an important role in shaping its cultural heritage. The town’s main square, Tartini Square, is named after him.
The next stop will be the popular tourist resort city of Portorož. The beach is well-maintained and you can go swimming in the beautiful, warm Mediterranean sea where the temperatures, warmed by the summer sun can get up to 31 °C. Also, there are several bars on the beach that offer a lively atmosphere year round. There you can treat yourself to a cup of fresh coffee after a long walk on the beach. Numerous restaurants by the sea invite you to a tasty lunch. Enjoy a tasty wine tasting in the karst region – a region well known for its vineyards.
Return to Ljubljana and dinner.
Overnight in Ljubljana.
DAY 10: LJUBLJANA, BLED, LJUBLJANA
/Ljubljana – Bled 60km, 1h/
/Bled – Ljubljana 60km, 1h/
After breakfast, departure towards Bled. Bled is one of the most prestigious Slovenian resorts with its glacier-formed Alpine lake, the famous island of the Slavic goddess of life, Živa, and the oldest castle in Slovenia. In the 19th century, the Swiss doctor Arnold Rikli discovered the beneficial natural resources here and established a spa centre, making Bled one of the most popular touristic places in Austria-Hungary. You will traverse the lake in a traditional boat called pletna towards Bled Island, which was visited by pilgrims as early as the ancient times. From Bled castle, you will admire the fairy-tale lake and the high limestone peaks of the Julian Alps.
Lunch.
Return to Ljubljana with a sightseeing walking tour. Ljubljana has everything that modern capitals have to offer, and on top of that, it has managed to keep the pleasant and relaxing atmosphere of a smaller city. You will visit the old part of town along the Ljubljanica River and you will see the most important cultural and historical monuments including the Three Bridges and the New and Old Markets where you will be delighted with boutique shops and nice restaurants. We will also stop at the famous bridge and learn a few secrets of the medieval city before the path continues to the town square with the Town Hall and the city icon – a fountain symbolizing the three rivers of Carniola. We will also visit the nearby baroque church of St. Nicholas, the food market and the Dragon Bridge with its four dragons that protect the city while also serving as its trademark. With the funicular railway you will climb to the castle which rises above the town. You will finally climb the castle’s tower and enjoy the view over the city and its green surroundings.
Dinner.
You will party the night away in one of Ljubljana’s classy nightclubs as Cirkus. The club Cirkus offers a unique and exclusive nightclub experience for enthusiastic groups of partygoers during the week and especially on weekends and is able to cater to the needs of up to 1000 guests. The club was designed in an old enchanting cinema-theatre and it stretches across 2 stories of lavishing galleries, including an intimate and cosy VIP area. The focal point is an elevated DJ booth, showcasing top international and regional DJs, singers, musicians and other artists as they spin and perform a blend of various urban genres, topped with colourful entertainers, such as dancers and live acts.
Overnight in Ljubljana.
DAY 11: Departure from Ljubljana
/Ljubljana – Ljubljana airport 30km, 1h/
Drop-off at Ljubljana airport.