Venice to Milan: Wine, Cities & Lakes

A nine-day journey from Venice to Milan through Veneto and Lombardy, combining historic cities, celebrated wine regions, Lake Garda landscapes and selected local experiences.

9 days / 8 nights • 5 winery visits & tastings • 5 lunches • Private or small-group journey

About This Venice to Milan Journey

This nine-day journey connects two of Northern Italy’s most fascinating regions, travelling from Venice to Milan through the cultural cities, wine territories and lake landscapes of Veneto and Lombardy.

Begin in Padua and the Colli Euganei, then discover Soave, Verona and Valpolicella through selected winery visits, tastings and local lunches.

Continue towards Lake Garda for Lugana wines, a boat journey to Sirmione and a visit to the Grotte di Catullo before travelling through Franciacorta for a horseback riding and wine experience.

End in Milan with time to explore the city at your own pace. Two-night stays in Padua, Verona, Desenzano and Milan allow for a relaxed rhythm and independent discovery.

Bellia Experience coordinates accommodation, selected producers, transportation and experiences, with private and small-group options tailored to your travel dates.

Highlights

Padua and Colli Euganei: Historic Padua and a wine tasting in the Euganean Hills
Soave and Verona: Veneto white wines, historic streets and local character
Valpolicella: Two selected winery visits exploring Amarone and regional traditions
Lugana and Lake Garda: A wine tasting and relaxed time by the lake
Sirmione by boat: Lake Garda scenery and the archaeological site of Grotte di Catullo
Franciacorta: Horse riding through the countryside, wine tasting and lunch
Milan: Two nights with time for independent discovery and optional guided visits

Wine, Cities & Lakes Across Northern Italy

From the historic streets of Padua and Verona to the lakeside towns of southern Lake Garda, each stage reveals a different side of Northern Italy.

Colli Euganei and Soave introduce Veneto’s white-wine heritage and vineyard landscapes, while Valpolicella reveals the region’s renowned reds, including Amarone.

Lugana and Sirmione combine wine with lakeside scenery, a boat journey and the Roman remains of the Grotte di Catullo.

Franciacorta offers a countryside horseback experience with wine tasting and lunch before the final two-night stay in Milan.

The itinerary balances pre-arranged wine and cultural experiences with time to explore each destination independently.

Itinerary

Day 1

Venice & Padua

Meet in Venice • Private transfer to Padua • Free time • Overnight Padua

Show Day 1 Details

Meet at the agreed location in Venice and transfer to Padua, known for its historic streets, squares and cultural heritage.

Arrive at the selected hotel and enjoy free time to discover Padua independently. Lunch and dinner are at leisure.

Overnight in Padua.

Day 2

Padua & Colli Euganei

Breakfast • Padua at leisure • Winery visit & tasting • Included lunch • Overnight Padua

Show Day 2 Details

After breakfast, enjoy time at leisure in Padua before travelling to the Colli Euganei wine area.

Visit a selected winery for a guided tasting introducing the local wines and landscape. Enjoy an included lunch in the area.

Return for the evening and overnight in Padua.

Day 3

Soave & Verona

Breakfast • Soave winery visit & tasting • Included lunch • Free time in Verona • Overnight Verona

Show Day 3 Details

Travel to the Soave wine region and visit a selected producer for a guided winery experience and tasting.

Enjoy an included lunch before continuing to Verona, where the remainder of the day is free for independent exploration.

Overnight in Verona.

Day 4

Valpolicella

Breakfast • Two winery visits & tastings • Included lunch • Overnight Verona

Show Day 4 Details

Dedicate the day to Valpolicella, one of Veneto’s most celebrated red-wine territories.

Enjoy two selected winery visits and tastings, discovering different expressions of local wines, with lunch included in the wine region.

Return to Verona for a free evening and overnight stay.

Day 5

Lugana & Lake Garda

Breakfast • Lugana winery visit & tasting • Included lunch • Desenzano at leisure • Overnight Desenzano

Show Day 5 Details

Continue towards the southern shores of Lake Garda for a visit and tasting at a selected Lugana winery.

After an included lunch, travel to Desenzano and enjoy free time by the lake.

Overnight in Desenzano.

Day 6

Sirmione & Lake Garda

Breakfast • Round-trip boat to Sirmione • Grotte di Catullo • Free time • Overnight Desenzano

Show Day 6 Details

Travel by boat from Desenzano to Sirmione and enjoy the scenery of Lake Garda.

Visit the archaeological site of the Grotte di Catullo, then explore Sirmione’s historic centre independently.

Return to Desenzano by boat. Overnight in Desenzano. No private vehicle is scheduled for this day.

Day 7

Franciacorta & Milan

Breakfast • Horse riding, wine tasting & lunch • Transfer to Milan • Overnight Milan

Show Day 7 Details

Depart the Lake Garda area and travel towards Franciacorta for a countryside horseback riding experience combined with wine tasting and an included lunch.

After the experience, continue to Milan and check in at the selected hotel.

Free evening and overnight in Milan. Horse riding capacity is limited; groups may require separate arrangements, subject to supplier confirmation. A non-rider alternative may be requested in advance.

Day 8

Milan at Your Own Pace

Breakfast • Free day in Milan • Optional city experiences • Overnight Milan

Show Day 8 Details

Enjoy a full day at leisure in Milan, exploring the city’s historic centre, architecture, galleries, shopping districts and contemporary lifestyle independently.

Optional private city guides and additional experiences can be arranged on request.

Overnight in Milan.

Day 9

Milan & Departure

Breakfast • Free time • End of journey • Optional onward transfers

Show Day 9 Details

Enjoy breakfast and free time before the end of the organised programme in Milan.

Airport transfers, extra nights, Lake Como extensions or onward travel arrangements can be organised on request.

Accommodation

The journey includes eight nights in selected hotels: two nights in Padua, two in Verona, two in Desenzano or the Lake Garda area, and two in Milan.

Breakfast is included each morning on Days 2 through 9.

Final hotels and room arrangements will be selected according to your travel dates, availability, preferences and the complete tailor-made proposal.

Transportation & Travel Style

Private Journey

Private vehicle transportation is arranged on Days 1–5 and Day 7, covering the planned transfers between hotels, wineries and destinations. Day 6 includes the scheduled Lake Garda boat service. Days 8 and 9 are at leisure; other transfers are available on request.

Small-Group Journey

Minibus transportation is included for the same planned travel days. A Professional Italian Tour Leader accompanies the small-group programme. Group arrangements and final vehicle logistics are confirmed according to guest numbers and travel dates.

The journey begins in Venice and ends in Milan. Airport transfers and optional pre- or post-tour travel arrangements are quoted separately.

✔ Included

Eight nights in selected hotels (2 Padua · 2 Verona · 2 Desenzano · 2 Milan)
Eight breakfasts and five local lunches
Five selected winery visits with tastings: Colli Euganei, Soave, two in Valpolicella and Lugana
Franciacorta horseback riding and wine experience with lunch
Lake Garda round-trip boat journey to Sirmione and admission to the Grotte di Catullo
Private vehicle or minibus transport on Days 1–5 and Day 7, as per selected formula
Professional Italian Tour Leader for small groups only

❌ Excluded

Flights, airport transfers and pre- or post-tour transfers
Dinners, meals and drinks not specified in the programme
City taxes, travel insurance and personal expenses
Optional private city guides, museum admissions unless specified and other optional activities
Local transport on free days unless expressly specified
Professional Italian Tour Leader for the private journey unless requested as an enhancement

Why Book This Journey with Bellia Experience?

This journey has been designed to connect the wine territories, historic cities and lake landscapes of Veneto and Lombardy in one coherent itinerary, combining planned experiences with free time.

As certified Tour Leaders and Sommeliers, we select wineries and experiences for the quality of their wines, their connection with the local territory and the stories they share with travellers.

From Colli Euganei and Soave to Valpolicella, Lugana and Franciacorta, the itinerary introduces different wine traditions while giving guests time to discover Padua, Verona, Lake Garda and Milan.

Bellia Experience coordinates selected wineries, accommodation, lunches and local logistics, with the programme adaptable to travel dates, preferences and available suppliers.

From € 1,700 per person

Private or small-group journey

Request Availability

Elia & Isabella

Certified Tour Leaders & Sommeliers

Elia and Isabella, Bellia Experience Tour Leaders and Sommeliers

We’ll personally help you plan your wine, cities and lakes journey from Venice to Milan.

Request Availability

Tell us your preferred dates, number of guests and travel preferences. We’ll reply with availability and a complete tailor-made proposal.

Frequently Asked Questions

The journey lasts nine days and includes eight overnight stays: two in Padua, two in Verona, two in the Desenzano / Lake Garda area and two in Milan.

The organised itinerary starts at an agreed meeting point in Venice and ends in Milan. Airport and onward transfers can be arranged separately on request.

The journey explores Colli Euganei, Soave, Valpolicella and Lugana, with an additional horseback riding and wine experience in Franciacorta.

Five selected winery visits and tastings are included: one in Colli Euganei, one in Soave, two in Valpolicella and one in Lugana. The Franciacorta wine tasting is part of the separate horseback riding experience.

Yes. The journey includes eight nights in selected hotels, eight breakfasts and five included lunches on Days 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7. Dinners and other meals are at leisure.

Day 6 includes a round-trip boat journey between Desenzano and Sirmione, admission to the Grotte di Catullo archaeological site and free time in Sirmione.

The Franciacorta horseback experience is subject to supplier conditions, riding capacity and suitability. Please share riding experience, ages and any relevant restrictions before booking. Larger groups may require tailored arrangements; a non-rider alternative may be requested.

A Professional Italian Tour Leader is included for the small-group formula. For private journeys, Tour Leader accompaniment can be arranged as an optional enhancement.

Yes. The itinerary includes independent time in Padua, Verona, Desenzano / Sirmione and Milan. Additional guided visits can be added on request.

Yes. Hotels, experiences, timings and extensions can be adapted according to travel dates, availability, guest numbers and preferences.

More About This Trip

Languages for the journey and individual winery visits will be confirmed according to your requested dates and the selected producers.

Final wineries, hotels, timings, meeting points and operational details will be confirmed in the tailor-made proposal for your requested dates.

The journey can be arranged as a private or small-group programme. Riding capacity for Franciacorta is limited and group arrangements must be reconfirmed. Transportation, hotels and pricing will be detailed in the final proposal.

Wine tastings are intended for guests of legal drinking age. Please communicate allergies, dietary requirements and any riding restrictions in advance so they can be checked with the selected suppliers.

Sending an availability request does not constitute a confirmed booking. The journey is confirmed only after acceptance of the final proposal and completion of the required booking procedure.

Payment terms, cancellation conditions and any supplier-specific policies will be provided before confirmation.

The journey can be adapted according to your travel dates, preferred pace, interests and supplier availability. Private guides in Padua, Verona or Milan, additional food and wine experiences, Lake Como extensions and extra nights may be considered.