Milan Experiences

Enjoy an afternoon of lakeside life, Alpine scenery and pristine gardens on the Swiss border at Lake Maggiore.

We’ll depart from Milan at 13:30 and make the hour and a half journey to Stresa, one of Lake Maggiore’s most iconic towns. You’ll enjoy some free time here to wander around the streets, browse in the boutiques and generally soak up the water-front.

After your free time in Stresa, it’s time to get out on the water on a Lake Maggiore cruise. We’ll pass by some of the most elegant villas set on the shores of the lake, catch a glimpse of the many vibrant gardens by the water, and experience the wonder of being surrounded by the lake’s majestic Alpine scenery. We’ll also explore the Borromean Islands on the lake, passing the 20-acre park of Isola Madre – a renowned garden – before stopping off at Isola dei Pescatori (‘Fishermen’s Island’). Considered by many to be the most picturesque of the islands, the feeling here harks back to a life of simple beauty. You’ll have some free time to have a stroll, do some shopping and stop for a snack.

After soaking up the feeling amid this island community, we’ll cruise over to Isola Bella. This island is home to a grand palace, an Italianate garden and a small fishing village. You’ll have some free time to enjoy the grandeur of this small but perfectly formed spot, before we return back to Milan via Stresa.

Operates from April-October on Monday’s & Sunday’s from £100 per person.

Experience one of the greatest opera venues in the world from the inside through this tour that takes you to the heart of La Scala.

An opera house and theatre that was inaugurated in 1778, La Scala is one of Milan’s iconic venues. In the early days, La Scala was lit with oil lamps – 84 in the stage area and 1,000 throughout the rest of the theatre. Hundreds of buckets filled with water were stored in numerous rooms in case of fire. Electric lights replaced these oil lamps in 1883! La Scala has gained a reputation for having hosted all the great opera stars and being the location of many opera premieres, including Puccini’s Madame Butterfly and Giuseppe Verdi’s Otello.

This tour departs at 14:30 and gives you insights you wouldn’t normally get thanks to our expert guide. We’ll visit the museum, which is home to a number of artefacts and stories about the great artists from La Scala. After exploring the wonderful history the museum beholds, we’ll take a look at La Scala’s stage itself – a truly dazzling sight. We may even be lucky enough to see a rehearsal in progress. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit one of the theatre’s exclusive boxes, gaining a privileged view of the history-filled performance space.

By the end of the tour, you’ll know La Scala from the inside, have a sense of its history and cultural richness, as well as its ongoing significance today. La Scala really is as important to Milan’s cultural life as it was 200 years ago.

Operates Every day from 1^st April – 31^st October. Operates Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday from 1^st November – 31^st March. Prices from £36 per person.

A tour that takes you to the heart of Milan’s beloved football culture, visit an impressive stadium, team headquarters and museums filled with football memorabilia.

This half day tour takes you to the great football hotspots of Milan via the open-top City Sightseeing bus, enabling you to get on and off the bus as much as you wish. First of all, you’ll make your way to the San Siro Stadium, home of the two Italian football giants, AC Milan and Inter Milan. We’ll provide you with tickets so you can enter the stadium and explore its public areas. This includes seeing the pitch from the stands – an amazing view to enjoy in person, as well as the press room where post-match interviews, press conferences and photo shoots take place. You’ll even be able to walk through the tunnel that leads to the pitch. Afterwards, you’ll gain access to the on-site museum with collectors’ items and incredible facts about the two football teams. The stadium shop sells all kinds of official merchandise too – perfect for souvenirs and gifts to take home.

After your visit to San Siro, catch the City Sightseeing bus onwards to Casa Milan, the headquarters of AC Milan. This modern and impressive building is just a few years old and embodies the prestige of the football team. Here it’s possible to explore a museum about AC Milan’s history, visit the shop and then stop for a bite to eat at the Cucina Milanello restaurant.

Operates every day all year round, 10:35am, 11:35am, 12:35am. Black out dates: Jan 01 – December 25-26, Aug 15. Prices from £60 per person.

This enchanting walking tour brings Leonardo da Vinci’s history and works to life on the streets of Milan.

Leonardo da Vinci – one of the most famous painters of all time from the Renaissance period – spent his early working life in Milan. Also an inventor, sculptor, architect, scientist, engineer, botanist, astrologer, writer and cartographer, da Vinci’s famous works are extensive and wide-ranging. Departing at 16:00, this walking tour explores some of his most remarkable works.

We’ll begin at the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, where Leonardo da Vinci’s Atlantic Codex is available to the public to view for the first time ever. The Atlantic Codex is the most extensive collection of da Vinci’s manuscripts, with notes and studies ranging between subjects including flight, musical instruments, botany and mathematics. There are more than one thousand notebook pages in total.

After the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, we’ll make our way to Santa Maria delle Grazie, where one of the most recognisable paintings in the world can be seen. Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, The Last Supper, is on display here. Our tour allows you to skip the line with pre-booked tickets, so you’ll be able to enjoy an intimate viewing of the mural without waiting. Dating back to the 1490s, it is thought to have been commissioned by the Duke of Milan and da Vinci’s patron, Ludovico Sforza. The mural is found in the refectory of the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Operates from April – October Tuesday’s, Thursday’s & Saturday’s, from 4pm. Prices from £70 per person.

A pretty city just an hour away from Milan, Bergamo is particularly famed for its Old Town, which is surrounded by more than three miles of 15^th century city walls.

We’ll depart Milan at 14:00 to travel to Bergamo by coach. On arrival in Bergamo, we’ll embark on a two-hour walking tour of Bergamo Old Town. This begins with a funicular ride from downtown to Bergamo Old Town on a hilltop. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017, the city walls here form one of the best examples of a still-standing Venetian defensive system. Our tour will explore the Old Town in detail, where you’ll find out more about the incredible walls.

We’ll also visit Piazza Vecchia – the heart of the Old Town – filled with stately architecture and buzzing cafés. The St Maria Maggiore cathedral is also a fascinating place to stop for its Lombard Romanesque architecture and array of historic tapestries inside. We’ll also visit the Colleoni chapel – dedicated to the saints Bartholomew, Mark and John the Baptist – and the baptistery. Palazzo della Ragione is the city’s town hall – a 12^th century building that has previously been a palace and a theatre – and is another highlight on our walking tour.

As well as the splendid historic spots to soak up in Bergamo, you’ll also enjoy the immense views this position in the city offers. Ranging from the Alps and lush hilly scenery, to traditional villas and farmhouses in the lowlands, Bergamo’s surroundings are laid out in front of your eyes here.

Operates from April-October on Monday’s. Prices from £60 per person.

Visit UNESCO World Heritage villages perched on the Ligurian coastline for a day away from the city like no other.

We’ll depart from Milan at 7:00 to travel to the coastal village of Porto Venere, along the illustriously named Golfo dei Poeti (‘Gulf of Poets’). From here we’ll travel to Cinque Terre – meaning ‘five lands’ – where we’ll soak up the experience of some of the five villages that collectively make the UNESCO World Heritage Site. These villages have been built cleverly into the water-side cliffs to create communities representing incredible fortitude. Although these villages are accessible by footpaths, trains and boats, no cars can reach them, making the villages truly extraordinary.

Travelling by boat, we’ll reach Monterosso al Mare first, which is the largest of the five villages of Cinque Terre. You’ll have some free time here to wander around the streets filled with local charm, and discover the beaches. Monterosso al Mare is well-known for its lemon trees, which add yet more vibrancy to the village. After lunch, we’ll continue our journey to Vernazza – known for its 14^th century church and 15^th century castle. You’ll have more free time here to wander along the water-front and pier – with picturesque views of fishing boats bobbing in the water – and explore the lush vineyards found in the locality. You’ll also be able to go up the Guardiola Tower for immense views over the village.

We’ll continue by train to La Spezia, the small Ligurian city, where our coach will be waiting for our return journey to Milan.

Operates from April -October on Monday’s, Thursday’s & Friday’s from £140 per person.

Visit the city of islands, canals and bridges on a day trip from Milan to see a whole new side to Italy.

We’ll depart from Milan at 7:00 and travel east until we reach the outskirts of Venice. There’s no better way to experience this city of water than from a boat, so we’ll travel across the Venice lagoon on a boat trip so you can capture a true feeling of the city. You’ll also enjoy a two-hour walking tour to learn more about the most famous sights and lesser known facts about the city.

Voted by some as the most beautiful city in the world, part of your walking tour will be about soaking up the magic of the bridges and winding alleys across the city. We’ll also take in some of the major sights of Venice. This includes the Doge’s Palace, with its Venetian Gothic architecture and the Museo dell’Opera – home to Venetian sculptures from the 14^th and 15^th centuries – now found inside. The Rialto Bridge is another Venice favourite – a 16^th century stone footbridge traversing the Grand Canal. Our walking tour will end in the most famous spot of all – St Mark’s Square. St Mark’s Basilica, built in around 1060, overlooks the historic square, where fascinating monuments and the buzz of Venetian life can be found.

After the walking tour you’ll have some free time in Venice for lunch, gondola rides and anything else you would like to do before returning to Milan by boat then coach.

Operates from April-October on Tuesday’s Wednesday’s & Sunday’s from £140 per person.

Visit Italy’s centre of Renaissance art by high-speed train from Milan to soak up the best of the iconic city of Florence in just a day.

On this trip you’ll depart Milan at 8:00 and travel through the Tuscan countryside to Florence in just two hours by high-speed train. We’re able to upgrade you to business class if you wish. On arrival in Florence, you’ll receive a complimentary map and Florence city guide, together with access to the City Sightseeing bus for the day, with the ability to hop on and hop off as much as you like. With audio commentary to guide you, this is an unrivalled opportunity to gain an overview of Florence, while deciding where you’d like to get off to spend a little more time.

Known as Italy’s centre of Renaissance, there are several famous and unmissable spots in Florence that give a feeling of the city’s important history. This includes Florence’s cathedral – the Duomo – including the dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, which is both a visual and historical icon of the city. Piazzale Michelangelo – dedicated to the Renaissance sculptor Michelangelo – offers impressive views over Florence, making it another must-visit. To find out more about the city’s art history, a visit to the Accademia Gallery is also important, as it is home to Michelangelo’s sculpture, David. Art fans can also book this tour with skip-the-line tickets to the Uffizi Gallery, where more of Michelangelo’s work can be found, as well as masterpieces by the likes of Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and more.

Operates every day all year round, from £190 per person, including: High Speed Train return ticket + City Sightseeing ticket + Uffizi Gallery ticket.

Visit the Italian capital of Rome from Milan in just one day thanks to the high-speed train that runs between the two cities.

You’ll depart Milan in the morning on the high-speed train to Rome, a journey that will take approximately three and a half hours. We’re able to upgrade you to business class if you wish. On arrival in Rome you have access to the City Sightseeing bus for the whole day, complete with audio guide to relay fascinating facts as you pass all of Rome’s key sights. With the opportunity to get on and off the bus as much as you like throughout the day, you can decide your own schedule and which Rome sights you’d like to spend more time at.

In particular, you’ll be able to soak up the Colosseum – the largest amphitheatre ever built dating back to 70-80 AD. You can visit the Spanish Steps, which date back to 1717, and the immense Trevi Fountain, which is one of the most famous fountains in the world. You can also get off the bus to stroll amid the city’s many coffee shops and walk alongside the Tiber river. If you know you’d like to visit the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums, you can add skip-the-line tickets onto this tour so you don’t have to wait to see these world-famous religious sights. After an enchanting eight hours in the city, you’ll board your return train to Milan.

Operates every day, all year round from £260 per person including: High Speed Train return ticket+ City Sightseeing ticket + Vatican museums and Sistine Chapel Ticket.