Lake Garda luxury rail tailor-made holiday
This 9-night luxury Italian rail holiday to Lake Garda by train with overnight stops takes you to the shores of Lake Garda, where you are based for seven nights.
You take the Eurostar from London to Paris and then the TGV to Zurich. From Zurich you travel south through the Alps to Milan where you change trains before continuing to Desenzano on Lake Garda. Here you are met by a car and driver who will transfer you to your hotel. In this rail holiday to Lake Garda, we are offering you a choice of four star and five star hotels.
Whilst at your hotel you might want to have the use of a hire-car for part of the time or you can get around by the public boat services that criss-cross the lake. Lake Garda is the largest of the Italian lakes and scenically offers enormous variety in that the southern end of the lake is very wide, like a sea, with flatter surrounds, and the northern end is much narrower and flanked by mountains. The mild climate allows Mediterranean plants to flourish, and on the lower slopes are a profusion of lemons and olives, chestnuts and palms, magnolias and camellias. There are numerous pretty ports and fishing villages, often with colourfully painted houses. During your stay it is possible to visit Verona or Venice for a day’s excursion by train.
At the end of your Lake Garda rail holiday you are transferred by private car back to Desenzano where you take the train to Milan, before changing to reach Lausanne early evening for the night. On the last day you head to Paris by train before taking the Eurostar back to London.
Highlights
Eurostar London to Paris return • Lake Garda • Visit Sirmione • Visit Verona • Day-trip to Venice • Cable car to Monte Baldo • Vittoriale d’Italia • Visit the gardens of Isola del Garda
Day by day
The first day of your Lake Garda by train holiday takes you from London to Paris by Eurostar where you change stations to take the TGV to Zurich. You spend one night here.
The journey today by train takes you south from Zurich through the Alps to northern Italy. You change trains in Milan and continue to Desenzano, which is the closest station to Lake Garda. From here you are transferred by private car to your hotel on Lake Garda.
Spend six days at leisure on Lake Garda. On the lower slopes of the hills around Lake Garda are a profusion of lemons and olives, chestnuts and palms, magnolias and camellias. Pretty villages hug the sheltered bays and fishing boats moor next to sailing boats. Monte Baldo, above the lake, can be reached by cable car and affords spectacular views. At Gargnano on Lake Garda you can see the stone pavilions where lemons were traditionally cultivated. Sirmione behind its mediaeval walls enjoys a beautiful position at the southern end of the lake, dominated by Scaligero castle. You can also visit the residence of Gabriele d’Annunzio, Il Vittoriale, at Gardone Riviera. Another beautiful excursion is the Isola del Garda, an island in the lake where you can visit the Italian and English gardens and some rooms inside the neo-gothic Venetian-style villa dating from the early 1900s. In terms of getting around whilst you are staying on Lake Garda, if you don’t want to have the use of a hire-car, it is easy enough to use the lake ferries that criss-cross the lake between all the main points.
Your return journey from Lake Garda starts with a car transfer back to Desenzano station for the train to Milan. Change here and then continue northwards through the Alps once more until you reach Lausanne on the shores of Lake Geneva, where you spend the night.
Today's train journey takes from from Lake Geneva to Paris, where you change trains and stations, to take the Eurostar from the Gare du Nord back to London.
I thought I'd take the opportunity to say what an absolutely wonderful honeymoon we had in Bellagio and Santa Margherita di Ligure: the holiday of a lifetime. Both hotels were amazing - the Villa Serbelloni was particularly off the scale - and the food and service in both hotels were perfect. Good choices. Thank you also for dealing with all our pre-departure queries so quickly and, all in all I would certainly recommend the services of Expressions.Mr M, July 2022
Holiday price guide Prices per person based on second class rail: Bellevue San Lorenzo, Malcesine from £2,870, Hotel Villa del Sogno Gardone Riviera from £3,480, Grand Hotel Fasano Gardone Riviera from £3,310. First class supplement from £570 per person
Holiday Code ITBR01
Call us on 01392 441245
Lake Garda luxury rail tailor-made holiday
The first day of your Lake Garda by train holiday takes you from London to Paris by Eurostar where you change stations to take the TGV to Zurich. You spend one night here.
The journey today by train takes you south from Zurich through the Alps to northern Italy. You change trains in Milan and continue to Desenzano, which is the closest station to Lake Garda. From here you are transferred by private car to your hotel on Lake Garda.
Spend six days at leisure on Lake Garda. On the lower slopes of the hills around Lake Garda are a profusion of lemons and olives, chestnuts and palms, magnolias and camellias. Pretty villages hug the sheltered bays and fishing boats moor next to sailing boats. Monte Baldo, above the lake, can be reached by cable car and affords spectacular views. At Gargnano on Lake Garda you can see the stone pavilions where lemons were traditionally cultivated. Sirmione behind its mediaeval walls enjoys a beautiful position at the southern end of the lake, dominated by Scaligero castle. You can also visit the residence of Gabriele d’Annunzio, Il Vittoriale, at Gardone Riviera. Another beautiful excursion is the Isola del Garda, an island in the lake where you can visit the Italian and English gardens and some rooms inside the neo-gothic Venetian-style villa dating from the early 1900s. In terms of getting around whilst you are staying on Lake Garda, if you don’t want to have the use of a hire-car, it is easy enough to use the lake ferries that criss-cross the lake between all the main points.
Your return journey from Lake Garda starts with a car transfer back to Desenzano station for the train to Milan. Change here and then continue northwards through the Alps once more until you reach Lausanne on the shores of Lake Geneva, where you spend the night.
Today's train journey takes from from Lake Geneva to Paris, where you change trains and stations, to take the Eurostar from the Gare du Nord back to London.
I thought I'd take the opportunity to say what an absolutely wonderful honeymoon we had in Bellagio and Santa Margherita di Ligure: the holiday of a lifetime. Both hotels were amazing - the Villa Serbelloni was particularly off the scale - and the food and service in both hotels were perfect. Good choices. Thank you also for dealing with all our pre-departure queries so quickly and, all in all I would certainly recommend the services of Expressions.Mr M, July 2022
Holiday price guide Prices per person based on second class rail: Bellevue San Lorenzo, Malcesine from £2,870, Hotel Villa del Sogno Gardone Riviera from £3,480, Grand Hotel Fasano Gardone Riviera from £3,310. First class supplement from £570 per person
Holiday Code ITBR01
Our prices include
● Second-class travel on all trains, with standard class on Eurostar (first and standard premier can be booked at a supplement)
● Private car transfers from Desenzano to your hotel and back to Desenzano
● 1 night's bed and breakfast in a Standard room at the Hotel St Gotthard in Zurich
● 7 nights' bed and breakfast in an Executive Lake view room at Hotel Villa del Sogno or a Partial lake view room at Grand Hotel Fasano, Gardone Riviera or half board in Lake view room at Bellevue San Lorenzo, Malcesine
● 1 night's bed and breakfast in a Classic room at the Hotel Residence et Angleterre in Lausanne
● Concierge service and Expressions Holidays regional helpful hints
Our prices do not include
● Early check-in or late check-out at any hotels (although we can arrange this on request at additional cost)
● Any other services not mentioned above, such as transfers and meals except breakfast at hotels
● Personal holiday insurance. This is essential and cover should be in place from when you book the holiday.
● Local tourist tax, usually between Euros 1 and 3 per person per night, and payable locally to the hotel
● Transfers in Paris
Call us on 01392 441245
Lake Garda luxury rail tailor-made holiday
Hotel St Gotthard is a sophisticated 4-star hotel in an excellent central location. Haute cuisine and stylish, comfortable accommodation make this an excellent spot to recuperate after enjoying the cultural delights of Zurich.
Standard room
Hotel Villa del Sogno is an exclusive 5-star hotel in a beautiful natural location. Patios and terraces allow for relaxed al fresco dining in which the beauty of Lake Garda and surrounding flowers and greenery can be appreciated.
Lake view room
Hotel Bellevue San Lorenzo is a 4-star boutique hotel for adults only in a former villa set in spacious grounds with a privileged position on Lake Garda. The beautiful gardens and spectacular views of the lake afford guests a tranquil and restorative experience.
Lake view room
The Grand Hotel Fasano offers 5-star luxury accommodation in two historic buildings on the shores of Lake Garda, with access to the water and in luxuriant gardens.
Superior partial lake view room
Hotel Angleterre et Résidence is a charming, traditional, Swiss-style, 4-star hotel in a prime location. Delicious cuisine, exceptional service and immaculate grounds offer guests a truly relaxing and indulgent experience.
Classic room
Special offers
Call to make your booking and save an extra £50 per adult Call us instead of emailing us when you are thinking of booking a holiday and save an extra £50 per adult (in addition to any special offers that might be available). We want to talk to you to discuss your requirements and a phone call is usually the best way for you to define what you want enabling us to respond more accurately. We want to talk to you and you save an extra £50 per adult.
I thought I'd take the opportunity to say what an absolutely wonderful honeymoon we had in Bellagio and Santa Margherita di Ligure: the holiday of a lifetime. Both hotels were amazing - the Villa Serbelloni was particularly off the scale - and the food and service in both hotels were perfect. Good choices. Thank you also for dealing with all our pre-departure queries so quickly and, all in all I would certainly recommend the services of Expressions.Mr M, July 2022
Holiday price guide Prices per person based on second class rail: Bellevue San Lorenzo, Malcesine from £2,870, Hotel Villa del Sogno Gardone Riviera from £3,480, Grand Hotel Fasano Gardone Riviera from £3,310. First class supplement from £570 per person
Holiday Code ITBR01
Call us on 01392 441245
Lake Garda luxury rail tailor-made holiday
About Italian Lakes
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to the Italian Lakes spans the northern Italian regions of Lombardy, Piemonte and the Veneto. We offer hotels located by the undisputedly beautiful Lake Maggiore, Lake Como and Lake Garda and also the smaller, quieter lakes of Orta and Iseo, both well-worth exploring in their own right. Each lake has its own character and atmosphere, distinctive terrain, architecture and style. Placed as the lakes are to the south of the Alps and to the north of the Po Valley, they naturally possess a charming mixture of the vibrant coolness associated with the Alps but enlivened by the warmth of the South. The landscape around the Italian Lakes is one of deep blue waters surrounded by greenish-blue tinged mountains, often snow-capped. On the shores of the lakes and the lower slopes of the hills you find a profusion of lemons and olives, chestnuts and palms, magnolias and camellias. Pretty villages with rustic stone and wood houses hug the sheltered bays and fishing boats still moor next to sailing boats. Wrought-iron balconies and colourful shutters adorn gaily-painted houses with terracotta roofs. Dining is usually al fresco in the summer months and a magical atmosphere is created with the lapping of the waters and the twinkling of the lights around the lake and in the hills above. The close proximity to Milan and Verona as well as other less well-known but artistically interesting cities means that you can visit the Italian Lakes quite easily for just a weekend or short break as well as a longer holiday. The Italian Lakes can all be visited as part of a rail holiday, and the many beautiful gardens located in the vicinity of Lakes Como and Maggiore are well worth a visit as part of a garden tour holiday. Our favourite four and five star hotels for luxury holidays in the Italian Lakes include Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni and Villa d'Este on Lake Como, and the Hotel Cannero Lakeside Resort on Lake Maggiore.
Highlights of the Italian Lakes
Historic villas are to be found on every lake from the Grotte di Catullo Roman villa at Sirmione on Lake Garda to Villa Melzi and Villa Olmo on Lake Como and the Palazzo Estense in Varese. Most of these villas also have extraordinarily beautiful gardens (which can be visited as part of an Expressions Garden Tour holiday) such as the Villa Carlotta on Lake Como, the Isola Bella in Lake Maggiore and Villa Taranto at Punta della Castagnola on Lake Maggiore. Monte Mottarone above Stresa on Lake Maggiore and Monte Baldo above Lake Garda can both be reached by cable car and afford spectacular views. At Gargnano on Lake Garda you can see the stone pavilions where lemons were traditionally cultivated. Within the region there are national parks such as the Stelvio National Park north of Orta and the Parco Nazionale della Val Grande above Verbania on Lake Maggiore.
Cultural highlights of the Italian Lakes
Much of the artistic and architectural cultural wealth in the region is concentrated in the great cities such as Milan and Verona but also in the less well-known but culturally-rich centres of Bergamo, Brescia, Pavia, Mantova and Vicenza (not directly on the Lakes but within reach for a day`s excursion). Highlights include the frescoes by Masolino at Castiglione Olona, the Rocca (castle) at Angera, the Flemish tapestries on the Isola Bella Lake Maggiore, the marble cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore at Como and the works of art in the Galleria dell`Accademia Tadini at Lovere on Lake Iseo. Milan has La Scala, the Museo Poldi Pezzoli, the Brera Gallery (containing Raphael`s `Marriage of the Virgin` and the Montefeltro altarpiece by Piero della Francesca) and its Gothic cathedral. Verona has its annual opera festival from June until the end of August, the Romanesque church of San Zeno, the Renaissance Loggia del Consiglio and the Roman Arena.
Festivals in the Italian Lakes
The Verona Opera Festival takes place in the Roman Arena every year with performances running from June until the end of August. Verona also celebrates Carnival every year culminating on the Friday before Shrove Tuesday. Como holds a flea market, the Fiera di Pasqua, over the Easter weekend. Music festivals take place in Bergamo throughout the year. The Mille Miglia veteran car race starts and ends in Brescia (via Ferrara to Rome in May each year).
Gastronomy in the Italian Lakes
The cuisine of northern Italy tends to contain more meat and butter than further south and rice and polenta compete with pasta. Saffron is used extensively as in Risotto alla Milanese. Bresaola is cured raw beef served as an antipasta (now often with rocket and parmesan). Manzo al Barolo (beef in Barolo wine), Costolette alla Milanese (veal cutlets in breadcrumbs) and Ossobucco (veal in wine and tomatoes) are all popular dishes. Panettone cake and Zabaglione are two regional desserts. This region produces some of Italy's most famous cheeses such as Gorgonzola, Bel Paese, Fontina and Taleggio as well as some of Italy's most exportable wines such as Soave, Bardolino and Valpolicella. Less well known but interesting wines are produced in the Valtellina in the north of Lombardy and in Franciacorta near Lake Iseo.
