Description
This Como, Bellagio and Lugano boat cruise from Milan balances guided moments and free time across two countries in about eleven hours. The day starts at a meeting point beside Milan Central Station, where a coordinator greets the group before an air-conditioned coach heads north towards the Alps. A bilingual tour leader talks through audio headsets.
First comes Como, with free time among its squares and a look at the cathedral, or just an espresso on the waterfront. Then you board for a one-hour cruise past cliffs, coloured villages and historic villas, ending in Bellagio. Here the flowered staircases and cobbled alleys are yours to explore, with time for lunch in a lakeside trattoria or a browse for silk and crafts.
A short boat ride returns you to the coach, which crosses the border to Lugano. The leader walks you through the historic centre and the lakeside promenade, then you are free to try Swiss chocolate or window-shop along Via Nassa. Note that most Lugano shops close on Sundays. The coach returns to Milan Central Station. Lunch is not included, and non-European visitors need a passport for the Swiss border. In bad weather the public ferry replaces the exclusive boat.