Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Venice - Cortina d'Ampezzo
100% customisable for you
Your adventure begins at your UK airport, where (if you’ve timed it right) you’ll have a couple of hours to relax, read the morning papers and enjoy some mimosas in the lounge before boarding your two-hour flight to Venice.
Once on Italian soil, you’ll be whisked from Venice Marco Polo Airport to a hotel in the artistic centre of the island. Take a moment to settle into your room before heading outside to soak in your first proper sights of the city.
Treat yourself to a first gelato from Gelateria Gallonetto (one of the best gelato shops in the city) and venture over the Rialto Bridge. A superb feat of engineering, Antonio da Ponte’s 1592 Istrian stone span took three years and 250,000 gold ducats to construct.
Spend this evening being wined and dined in one of the city’s top restaurants; just ask your Concierge if you’re struggling to choose.
Your next two days are all about sightseeing. After breakfast, get set for your two-hour tour with a local. Your guide is a passionate ambassador for their city, who delights in introducing Venice to visitors, so you couldn’t be in better hands. The tour can be tailored to your interests, but expect to discover neighbourhoods like Castello, the domain of the Venice Biennale, and Dorsoduro, home to fine dining eateries and world-renowned galleries. End your tour at the Campanile, where lifts whisk you 323ft in the air for picture postcard views over the city and lagoon.
After lunch, use your skip-the-line tickets to visit the Doge’s Palace, Venice’s most iconic landmark in the heart of Saint Mark’s Square. Once the residence of the doges (dukes), it’s an enduring symbol of the city’s grandeur and an architectural masterpiece. There’s plenty to keep you busy here right up until cocktail hour...
Today is dedicated to the northern reaches of Venice’s lagoon; the islands of Murano and Burano. Enjoy a half-day private tour to learn about each island’s traditional crafts. Serious shoppers will love Murano for its one-of-a-kind glass art. We can arrange a visit to the workshop of a local glassblower to watch their artistry in action. Once you’ve picked up a special souvenir, hop back on your private taxi boat to head to Burano.
This island is known for its lace, which was once prized by European monarchs for its exquisite quality. Traditional lacemaking workshops are dotted among the island’s brightly hued houses, and a visit to one shows how this centuries-old tradition continues to thrive in the talented hands of local craftspeople.
On your final night in Venice, treat yourself to dinner in one of the city’s best restaurants. Your Concierge can recommend the perfect spot to toast your time in ‘The Floating City’.
After breakfast, it’s arrivederci to Venice. Pick up your hire car and pack up for your journey into the mountains, savouring spectacular alpine views as you draw closer to your destination in the Dolomites.
Home for the next four nights will be an elegant hotel in the heart of the mountains. Cortina d’Ampezzo is considered a classic Italian alpine resort, home to peaks, lakes, numerous spas and world-renowned restaurants. Alternatively, San Cassiano, at the foot of the Lavarela and Conturines massifs, or Corvara, which has been welcoming travellers since the 1930s, offer similarly scenic surroundings. Each resort is less than a three-hour drive from Venice, and each has everything you need for a memorable stay, including excellent eateries (many of them Michelin-starred).
Spend the afternoon getting acquainted with your surroundings, perhaps stopping for gelato en route, before treating your tastebuds to a slice of agriturismo at a nearby farmhouse-come-restaurant.
The next two days are yours to spend as you like. For starters, we recommend the five-mile trail up the Cinque Torri (Five Towers). The rock formation, made up of several peaks, is a favourite among serious climbers. But thanks to the Bai de Dones chairlift and Scoiatolli Refuge (for a snack break), it can be tackled by all abilities.
For a local history lesson, head to Museo deller Regole d’Ampezzo and Rinaldo Paleontology Museum, which houses fossils found in the Dolomites. And, if it’s lakes you love, enjoy an eight-mile loop culminating at the crystal blue, glacially-fed Lake Sorapis.
Mountain biking is another wonderful way to explore, so hitting the trails on two wheels is also an option (with e-bikes available if you’d prefer slightly easier pedalling). Whatever you choose to do, end each day with excellent local cuisine, savouring a fusion of regional Italian and Austrian flavours.
The story of the Dolomites is as dramatic as the landscape, so today, combine both hiking and history with a journey along the Galleria del Lagazuoi trail. This route leads through a series of tunnels built during the First World War by Italian soldiers, which are now open to visitors.
Start by driving to Passo Falzarego, where you’ll set off along the trail to this fascinating open-air museum carved into the mountains. After traversing the tunnels, arrive at the Rifugio Lagazuoi to pause for lunch while enjoying 360-degree views (a spectacular setting for a sandwich). Returning via a different path to the car, the entire hike takes between five and six hours, covering 4.5 miles and 2,198 feet of ascent. It goes without saying that tonight’s dinner will be especially well-earned after an adventurous last day in the Dolomites.
Bid the Dolomites a fond farewell this morning as you make your way back to Venice’s Marco Polo Airport to return your hire car. Feeling peckish after your two-hour flight home? We’d say that’s the perfect excuse to carry on the holiday at your favourite local Italian restaurant…
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
