Milan is one of the few cities that can boast of having such a world famous opera house; La Scala. Designed by Giuseppe Piermarini, La Scala opened its doors on the 03 August 1778 and has been enriching the world with its fantastic operatic masterpieces since.
Lake Maggiore combined with a view to the Borromee Islands is the place to be for a tranquil retreat away from the city.
Please note there are very limited tickets for performance events prior to March. If there is a performance you would like to see in January and February, please let us know and we will check with our supplier.
*Matinee performances begin at 2.30pm.
Fly to Milan and take your private airport transfer to your central 4 star hotel.
All of the hotels we use are 4 star and centrally located so you can easily access the main sights including the duomo and La Scala Opera House.
Your airport transfers are private to you, we do not believe in waiting on group transfers.
Rest of day at leisure to explore.
Day at leisure to explore Milan.
You could head to the castle for the museums, take in the art in the art gallery or wander round Milan’s most well known sight; the duomo. Spend some time on the roof enjoying the views over the city.
For more ideas on Things to do in Milan.
Alternatively why not add in one of our Optional Extras. Our Private Guided Duomo with Rooftop and viewing of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper fresco, is our recommendation. See Optional Extras below for more information.
When to book your Milan holiday?
This evening attend your opera evening in the very best seats in the house. For more information on Seating advice and Practical Information.
Please note there are very limited tickets for performance events prior to March. If there is a performance you would like to see in January and February, please let us know and we will check with our supplier.
*Matinee performances begin at 2.30pm.
There are no operas in August.
March:
Thais (Massenet) – 02
La Dama Di Picche (Tchaivoksky) – 05, 08, 13*, 15
Jewels (Tchaivoksky) (Ballet) – 11, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24
Adriana Lecouvreur (Cilea) – 04, 06*, 09, 10, 12, 16, 19
Don Giovanni (Mozart) – 27, 29, 31
April:
Don Giovanni (Mozart) – 02, 05, 12
Ariadne Auf Naxos (Strauss) – 15, 20, 26, 28
May:
Ariadne Auf Naxos (Strauss) – 03
Un Ballo in Maschera (Verdi) – 04, 07, 10, 12, 14, 19, 22*
Sylvia (Delibes) (Ballet) – 11, 13, 20, 21, 24, 26
June:
La Gioconda (Ponchielli) – 07, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25
Rigoletto (Verdi) – 20, 23, 27, 30
July:
Rigoletto (Verdi) – 02, 05, 08, 11
Giselle (Adam) (Ballet) – 09, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
September:
Il Matrimonio Segreto (Cimaresa) – 07, 10, 13, 16, 19,22
Onegin (Cranko) (Ballet) – 14, 15, 17, 20, 21, 23, 24, 30
October:
Fedora (Giordano) – 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30*
Today your private guide will meet you for your tour of the Duomo. This gothic building was built in the 5th century and took almost six further centuries to complete. The tour is not complete without a trip onto the rooftop, allowing beautiful views across the city. The roof can be accessed either by lift or stairs.
Price per person: From £115
Today your private guide will meet you and take you for a tour of the Duomo. This gothic building was built in the 5th century and took almost six further centuries to complete. The tour is not complete without a trip onto the rooftop, allowing beautiful views across the city.
Move on to Santa Maria della Grazie, the church that houses the world famous Leonardo di Vinci’s Last Supper painting. This mural painting has narrowly avoided two main disasters – the first the paint badly fading so the figures became unrecognisable, the second almost being destroyed during the bombing of World War II. This enigmatic painting has led to speculation that it is Mary and not John sitting to Jesus’ right.
Price Per Person: From £140
Private transfer to your 4 star Lake Maggiore hotel.
Set in Verbania where the crystalline waters of the lake flow on two sides of the hotel, creating a beautiful relaxing setting, where your stresses will melt away.
Verbania has been rated the second best destination in Italy for its healthy living. A stay here and you will see why!
Rest of day at leisure.
Wander to the pier for your island hop experience surrounded by majestic Alps and beautiful scenic gardens. You will take the public panoramic boat cruise on the lake, enjoying fresh crystalline waters.
In the course of the visit, you will visit and have time to visit both Isola Bella and Isola Madre. Isola Bella has sweeping views over the lake while you take in the gardens and palace. Then move onto Isola Madre, before arriving back on the mainland. Do not leave your camera behind – the views are breathtaking!
Evening at leisure.
Be taken by boat over the lake to Santa Caterina Monastery. Built into the stone wall edge, overhanging the lake, is this charming monastery.
Tradition has it that the monastery was founded by Alberto Besozzi, who having survived a storm in his boat on the lake, decided to build the monastery as a offering to give thanks. Not content with this, Besozzi also ordered the construction of a chapel dedicated to St Catherine of Egypt, which can be viewed in the lower part of the church.
Please note the steps up to the monastery are quite steep.
Price per person: From £80 for a private boat (based on 2 people)
Price per person: From £15 for a shared boat
Enjoy the hotel’s Wellness Centre with heated indoor swimming pool, floor to ceiling glass windows looking out on beautiful gardens and the lake. There is a sauna and a wide array of spa services including facial, anti age, body and sensory treatments, along with massages and waxing. Packages are available for him and her.
Price per person: From £55 (Depends on spa treatment)
At leisure until your private transfer to the airport for your flight home after your Milan and Lake Maggiore Short Break.
Alternatively, if you have a few more days at leisure, why not extend your trip to take in a few days in Florence. With Santa Croce Church, the Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery all an easy train ride away, you can really feel like you have made the most of your Italian Grand Tour!
Considered to be one of the most elegant meeting places of Milan the hotel is patronised by fashion celebrities, show business personalities, and entrepreneurs. Very close to the Duomo, La Scala and Via Montenapoleone, it is a comfortable and tranquil place, perfect for a stay.
The hotel's restaurant, "Il Vizio", is open late at night, and is the ideal setting for an after theatre meal. There are fine dining options both inside and outside. All the food prepared uses locally sourced ingredients to create traditional Milanese meals. The menu changes with the season.
Enjoy the rooftop pool along with the Wellness Centre, to make your stay relaxing after you explore this fascinating city.
And, as in any aristocratic home, the rooms and suites all have their own distinct personality thanks to the use of different fabrics and decor, the fine furnishings and the marble bathroom.
The Rosa Grand Hotel perfectly captures Milan’s mix of the innovative and the inspiring. The refurbished interior exudes Italian craftsmanship with each of the 330 rooms fusing impeccable comfort with chic Italian style. Widely acclaimed as one of the best hotels in Milan, the Rosa Grand puts you in the heart of the city’s historic district with the Duomo and world-famous Via Monte Napoleone just moments away.
True style doesn’t need to shout and our Superior rooms offer refined elegance for your vacation in Milan. You’ll find light, spacious interiors, warm cherry wood furniture and soft fabrics as well as a sumptuous double bed and Italian marble bathroom.
The Carlton Hotel Baglioni is a luxury 5 star hotel in Milan. It is situated in the heart of Milan, at the crossroads of culture, fashion and design.
It directly overlooks Via della Spiga, the most celebrated shopping street in the city. Via Montenapoleone, the cathedral and the famous La Scala theatre are situated a short distance away.
The Baretto al Baglioni is one of the most famous restaurants in Milan and the perfect meeting place for the Italian and international Jet Set. Ideal for your special occasion.
Built in 1870, on the elegant west Piemont shores of arguably the most magnificent Lake in Europe, the Grand Hotel Majestic is a fascinating exemplary conception of La Belle Époque.
The hotel is surrounded by beautiful impeccable gardens and is immersed in peace, tranquility and silence. Its privileged position affords it, from almost every angle, breathtaking views of the splendid Borromeo Islands, the mountains and Lake.
There are two restaurants: the Beola, with panoramic windows overlooking the Lake, and The Porch restaurant in the garden overlooking the Lake.
The Hotel la Palma in Stresa creates a romantic atmosphere at Lake Maggiore.
Being near to the Borromee Islands, with its fresh climate will help to regenerate both body and mind.
Enjoy a drink from the terrace with beautiful views of Stresa and the Borromee Islands.
All bedrooms have air conditioning, a Jacuzzi and are designed for comfort and entertainment.
All rooms have balconies or a terrace.
On the shores of Lake Maggiore, Villa & Palazzo Aminta is the luxury Resort where you can regenerate your body and soul. Enjoy scenic walks through the gardens in full bloom.
You can take breathtaking trips through the mountains and lakes, romantic dinners in the refined Restaurant “I Mori” and even a spa.
All rooms have a balcony with views reaching over Lake Maggiore and the Borromee Islands. The rooms are decorated with frescoes, and the bathrooms have a marble bath with Jacuzzi.
Today your private guide will meet you for your tour of the Duomo. This gothic building was built in the 5th century and took almost six further centuries to complete. The tour is not complete without a trip onto the rooftop, allowing beautiful views across the city. The roof can be accessed either by lift or stairs.
Price per person: From £115
Today your private guide will meet you and take you for a tour of the Duomo. This gothic building was built in the 5th century and took almost six further centuries to complete. The tour is not complete without a trip onto the rooftop, allowing beautiful views across the city.
Move on to Santa Maria della Grazie, the church that houses the world famous Leonardo di Vinci’s Last Supper painting. This mural painting has narrowly avoided two main disasters – the first the paint badly fading so the figures became unrecognisable, the second almost being destroyed during the bombing of World War II. This enigmatic painting has led to speculation that it is Mary and not John sitting to Jesus’ right.
Price Per Person: From £140
Be taken by boat over the lake to Santa Caterina Monastery. Built into the stone wall edge, overhanging the lake, is this charming monastery.
Tradition has it that the monastery was founded by Alberto Besozzi, who having survived a storm in his boat on the lake, decided to build the monastery as a offering to give thanks. Not content with this, Besozzi also ordered the construction of a chapel dedicated to St Catherine of Egypt, which can be viewed in the lower part of the church.
Please note the steps up to the monastery are quite steep.
Price per person: From £80 for a private boat (based on 2 people)
Price per person: From £15 for a shared boat
Enjoy the hotel’s Wellness Centre with heated indoor swimming pool, floor to ceiling glass windows looking out on beautiful gardens and the lake. There is a sauna and a wide array of spa services including facial, anti age, body and sensory treatments, along with massages and waxing. Packages are available for him and her.
Price per person: From £55 (Depends on spa treatment)
From start to finish our experience with Italian Short Breaks was first class.They organised a four night break on Lake Maggiore, followed by a day in Milan and a night at La Scala to see Rigoletto with THE Rigoletto, the one and only Leo Nucci, for which we had 5th row stall seats. The Hotels were excellent and the transfers went like clockwork. Our driver from Milan to Malpensa airport, sadly on our way home was very entertaining and informative. We would definitely use Italian Short Breaks again and would highly recommend their service.
An excellent trip - we were so well looked after. The opera at La Scala was superb - the best Rigoletto we have ever seen. The Hotel de La Ville was excellent and Milan was really lovely. Lake Maggiore was just beautiful and the room on the 6th floor of the Hotel La Palma was really first class. The drivers who took us were really excellent: courteous and caring and always on time. All in all, you provided us with an unforgettable holiday. Thank you!
Departure airports:
Dublin
Edinburgh
Gatwick
Heathrow
Leeds
London City
Luton
Manchester
Stansted
Our international clients are welcome to book their own flights.