Classic Italy and Switzerland Tour with Bernina Express from Ankara with SunExpress Airlines, 7 Nights — Morning Munich Departure, Morning Zurich Return

ANKARA – MUNICH – HEIDI’S VILLAGES – LUGANO – COMO – MILAN
After completing baggage drop, check-in, and passport control procedures at Ankara Esenboğa Airport’s International Terminal 3 hours before departure, we fly to Munich at 08:00 on SunExpress Airlines’ scheduled direct flight XQ714. Upon arrival at Munich Airport at 10:10 local time, we depart for Lugano by our private coach waiting for us at the airport. After our panoramic journey accompanied by the scenery of Heidi’s Villages, filled with endless mountains and green meadows, which features many of the scenes we remember from the cartoon of our beloved heroine Heidi, who left a smile-filled childhood memory in all of us and lives in the Alps with her grandfather and her closest friend Peter, we arrive in Lugano and take a peaceful walk along the shores of Lake Lugano, which will fascinate us with its unique nature, wonderful views, and city park within Swiss borders, and enjoy the exceptional scenery while taking photos. At the end of the tour, we head to Como. Como is a center located in the Lombardy region and stands out with its historic buildings and orderly urban layout. The city squares, cathedral, and shoreline offer visitors a compact and easy-to-explore area. Lake Como, one of Italy’s best-known lakes, is surrounded by hills, lakeside settlements, and well-organized transportation routes that complement the region’s natural landscape. The lake area is a region regularly visited throughout the year, presenting a balanced view between the city and nature. In our Como & Lake Como tour, we will first arrive at Como city center and view the cathedral area, squares, and waterfront from the outside. Then free time will be given on the shores of Lake Como; during this time, visitors may stroll around the lake, take photos, or explore the surroundings. After the free time provided, we complete the tour and arrive at our hotel in the Milan region. Room check-in and free time to rest.
MILAN – VERONA – (Venice Masterpieces Tour) – (Venice Colorful Islands & Gondola Tour) – VENICE
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we set off for Verona. Verona, included on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List, is also home to Italy’s second-largest amphitheater after the Colosseum and to the home of Shakespeare’s famous work Romeo and Juliet, which tells the world’s most famous love story. In our panoramic city walk through Via Mazzini (main square) and Piazza delle Erbe, surrounded by many shops, cafes, and stores, we will also see Verona Cathedral, after which we complete our tour and head to our hotel in the Venice region. En route, guests who wish may join our extra Venice Masterpieces Tour program (85 Euro – including vaporetto and city entrance fees). In the first part of our tour in Venice, we will see iconic structures such as St. Mark’s Square, built of stone and marble with columns brought from Istanbul, St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace designed and used as a symbol of magnificence and power, the Clock Tower, Bridge of Sighs, and the historic Campanile Bell Tower, then enjoy a pleasant walk through the streets of Venice connected by bridges and extending along narrow canals. At the end of the tour, during the free time provided only for guests participating in the Venice Masterpieces Tour, guests who wish may join our extra Venice Colorful Islands & Gondola Tour program (75 Euro). In this tour, where we will have the chance to observe Venice from different angles by passing through the lagoons, we will see Lido and Murano islands from the sea and visit Burano Island, a fishermen’s village famous for its lacework and known as one of the 10 most colorful places in the world. After free time for sightseeing and shopping, we return to Venice and complete our gondola ride, which has become the symbol of the city. With the end of our Venice Colorful Islands & Gondola Tour program, we continue our journey to our hotel in the Venice region. Upon arrival at the hotel, room check-in and free time to rest.
VENICE – (Florence Masterpieces Tour with Lunch) – ROME
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we depart for Rome. En route, guests who wish may join our extra Florence Masterpieces Tour with Lunch program (65 Euro). Upon arrival in Florence, we begin our tour with lunch at a local restaurant. In Florence, the capital of the Renaissance and the homeland of Pinocchio, we will first see from the outside the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, which immediately draws attention with its orange-colored dome and is the 4th largest church in Europe. One of the cathedral’s most striking features is the bronze door known as the “Gate of Paradise,” depicting in symbolic form some of the prophets and stories also mentioned in the Quran. We will then see Giotto’s Bell Tower, once used to call the people to parliament, Piazza della Signoria, the political and social center of Florence for centuries and home to Michelangelo’s famous Statue of David, and Ponte Vecchio, famous for its antique and jewelry shops. After the Florence Masterpieces Tour, we continue our journey to our hotel in the Rome region. Upon arrival at the hotel, room check-in and free time to rest.
ROME – (Rome Icons & Nemi Strawberry Village Tour) – (Vatican and Rome Local Neighborhoods Tour)
After breakfast, we offer a full day at leisure. Guests who wish may join our extra Rome Icons & Nemi Strawberry Village Tour program (85 Euro). Our first stop on the tour will be Nemi. Known for its wild strawberries and therefore called the “Strawberry Village,” Nemi hosts an annual strawberry festival. With its narrow streets opening onto squares and a captivating lake and valley view combined with the scent of strawberries in the air, we complete our sightseeing in Nemi and then take you on a historical journey through Rome and its icons, the city known as Urbs aput mundi, meaning “the city at the center of the world,” bringing you art, history, music, shopping, sunshine, and cuisine. While the buildings in different styles from antiquity to the Renaissance are a product of architects competing with one another, Rome attracts thousands of tourists in every season and carries them all with its beauty and elegance without overwhelming them. On our tour, in the imperial city of Rome, which has shaped European civilization and bears witness to 23 centuries of history, we will first see the Colosseum, the symbol of the city and the ancient amphitheater that hosted gladiator fights during the Roman Empire, the Roman Forum, the center of ceremonies in imperial times, the Trevi Fountain, where it is believed that those who throw in a coin will return to Rome, the Spanish Steps famous for street artists, and Piazza Pietra and Piazza Popolo panoramically. At the end of the tour, we offer free time in Pantheon in the city center of Rome. During this free time, guests who wish may join our extra Vatican and Rome Local Neighborhoods Tour program (65 Euro). Beginning with views of Castel Sant’Angelo and Piazza Navona, our tour continues to visit Vatican / San Pietro, the center of the Catholic denomination of Christianity and the smallest country in the world by area. We offer free time at St. Peter’s Square (Piazza San Pietro), where thousands of Catholics gather for worship every year and where, on special occasions, the Pope comes out from his residence to greet the public, and where St. Peter’s Basilica, the world’s largest cathedral with 140 statues of saints, is located. After the free time given, we begin our Rome Local Neighborhoods tour. In this tour, where we mingle with the people of Rome and feel like residents of the city ourselves, we will experience the real Italian atmosphere with its cafés, small family restaurants, boutiques, greengrocers, butchers, and many other small and charming shops, as well as the authenticity and simplicity of Trastevere, Piazza Trilussa, Ponte Sisto, the Ghetto area, and Tiber Island, which is connected to the city by 2 bridges. After the walk through its narrow labyrinth-like backstreets with small tables set out, we complete our tour and return to our hotel in the Rome region.
ROME – (Siena & San Gimignano Tour) – PISA – FLORENCE
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we depart for Pisa. En route, guests who wish may join our extra Siena & San Gimignano Tour program (80 Euro). Our first stop on the tour will be Siena. Siena is famous for its narrow streets dating from the Middle Ages, small avenues, and Campo Square, considered one of the largest squares in Europe. After a pleasant walk in Siena through Campo Square and the historic narrow streets leading to it, we complete our tour and arrive at San Gimignano, the second stop of our tour. San Gimignano, which has preserved its medieval architecture and appearance to this day, has earned its place on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. It is also known as the “Town of Beautiful Towers” thanks to the 14 architectural wonders that survived from 76 towers once standing after wars and natural disasters. In San Gimignano’s narrow streets opening onto the town square, where time seems to have stopped and visitors feel as though they have traveled back to the Middle Ages, we will complete our sightseeing while panoramically observing the 14 magnificent towers from the town squares. Afterward, we continue our journey to Pisa. Upon arrival in Pisa, our tour includes the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Cathedral, the Baptistery, and Miracoli Square. After a short free time for photos, transfer to our hotel in the Florence region, room check-in, and free time to rest.
FLORENCE – (Portofino Tour by Boat) – OUTLET – MILAN
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we depart for Milan. En route, guests who wish may join our extra Portofino Tour by Boat program (65 Euro). Portofino, surrounded by colorful houses and inspiring songs with all its beauty, enchants visitors with its narrow streets, colorful houses, green hills, and turquoise Mediterranean scenery. After our Portofino tour, we continue our journey to Milan and, upon arrival, conduct our city tour of Milan. Milan, one of Europe’s fashion capitals, is also notable for its cuisine, opera, and churches. Although known as Italy’s business and finance capital, it is also the right destination for shopping and dining. During our city tour in Milan, the famous opera house La Scala, Duomo Square and Cathedral, and Porta Romano are among the main places to be seen. After the Milan city tour, we proceed to visit the outlet center. After the free time offered for pleasant and affordable shopping at the famous outlet center, which hosts prestigious stores, cafes, restaurants, and personal activity areas in Italy, the country that shapes world fashion trends, we complete the tour and arrive at our hotel in the Milan region. Upon arrival at the hotel, room check-in and free time to rest.
MILAN – BERNINA EXPRESS / RED TRAIN – ST. MORITZ – ZURICH
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we head out for an unforgettable and dreamy train journey on the Bernina railway line, operated by the Bernina Express / Red Train, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage route. During this magical journey on the world-famous Bernina Train, built between 1898 and 1904 and now on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List, which is a dream for many travel lovers, we will enjoy extraordinary scenery and have the chance to photograph it. After approximately a 2-hour pleasant train ride, we arrive at St. Moritz Station. Upon arrival in St. Moritz, a natural wonder of Switzerland and a favorite destination of the jet set, we enjoy a short free time and sightseeing before continuing to Zurich by our waiting vehicle. Upon arrival in Zurich, our city tour includes panoramic views of Fraumünster Church, Grossmünster Church, the Swiss National Museum, the Opera House, Lake Zurich, the Clock Tower, the Old Guild Houses, Zurich Altstadt (Old Town), and the lively and colorful Bahnhofstrasse (Station Street), lined with world-famous shops. After the Zurich tour and a short free time, transfer to our hotel in the Zurich region. Room check-in and free time to rest.
ZURICH – ANKARA
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we depart for Zurich Airport for our return flight to Ankara. Upon arrival at the airport and completion of baggage drop, check-in, and passport control, we fly to Ankara at 10:40 on SunExpress Airlines’ scheduled direct flight XQ732. Arrival at Esenboğa Airport at 14:55 local time and end of the tour.