A European fairy tale tour from Cyprus with Bernina Express with Cyprus Airways, 7 nights, Milan midday departure – Milan evening return

LARNACA – MILAN
We arrive at Larnaca International Airport’s international departures terminal 3 hours before our flight to complete baggage drop-off, ticketing, and passport control procedures, and then fly to Milan at 13:10 on Cyprus Airways’ direct scheduled flight CY0342. Upon arrival at Milan Malpensa Airport at 16:00 local time, we head to Milan city center to arrange our city tour. Milan, one of Europe’s fashion capitals, is also notable for its cuisine, opera, and churches. Although known as Italy’s business and financial capital, Milan is also the right destination for shopping and dining experiences. During our city tour, we will see the famous opera house La Scala, Piazza del Duomo and the Cathedral, and Porta Romano among the main sights. At the end of the Milan city tour, we proceed to our hotel in the Milan region. Upon arrival at our hotel, room assignment and free time for rest.
MILAN – (Como Tour) – BERNINA EXPRESS & RED TRAIN – ST. MORITZ – ALSACE / BASEL
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we depart for the unforgettable and dreamlike train journey by Bernina Express & Red Train. En route, guests who wish may join the optional Como Tour (50 Euro). On this tour, we visit Lake Como, famous for its luxurious lifestyle and natural beauty, home to the summer houses of Hollywood celebrities, European wealthy figures, and the world’s jet set, and after a photo stop with the lake’s unique view, we continue our journey. During the fairy-tale journey on the world-famous Bernina Train, constructed between 1898 and 1904 and now on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List, we will admire extraordinary scenery and have the chance to photograph it. After approximately 2 hours of enjoyable train travel, we arrive at St. Moritz Station. Following a short free time and sightseeing in St. Moritz, Switzerland’s natural wonder and a favorite destination of the jet set, we depart by our waiting coach to the Alsace/Basel region hotel. Upon arrival at our hotel, room assignment and free time for rest.
ALSACE/BASEL – (Alsace Pearls: Colmar & Riquewihr Tour) – STRASBOURG – FREIBURG – ALSACE/BASEL
After breakfast, we depart for Strasbourg. En route, guests who wish may join the optional Alsace Pearls: Colmar & Riquewihr Tour (80 Euro). On this tour, we first visit the fairytale town of Colmar, where we will see the Old Customs House, Pfister House, and the most famous area of the city, Petite Venise (Little Venice), with its colorful houses around the Rhine River. In this unique setting surrounded by the Rhine River and canals, you will have the opportunity to enjoy many delicious foods and buy souvenirs. Our next stop in the Alsace region is Riquewihr, famous for its vineyards, flower-filled balconies, distinctive rows of shops, cobblestoned streets where cars are not allowed, buildings that somehow survived World War II without damage, and charming cafés; with its tower housing the Dolder Museum that preserves the town’s history through documents, it resembles a Grimm fairy tale. After our visit to Riquewihr, we continue toward Strasbourg. Located on the borders of Germany, Switzerland, and France, and also the largest city in the Alsace region, Strasbourg welcomes us like a scene from a fairy tale, with the beauty of a painting. Added to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List in 1988 and hosting the European Parliament since 1992, Strasbourg’s car-free center and streets will be explored on foot during our panoramic city tour, where we will see Gutenberg Square and Statue, Notre Dame Cathedral in the heart of the city and its most important building, and Kammerzell House, the oldest house in the city and still operating today as a hotel and restaurant. After free time in Strasbourg, we continue to Freiburg, one of the finest examples of green urbanism. Known as the city of happy people, Freiburg has only allowed low-carbon-emission vehicles into its center since 2010, with transportation mainly provided by tram and bicycle. In Freiburg, also known as the capital of the Black Forest (Schwarzwald), our city tour will reveal traces of German, French, Austrian, Spanish, and Swedish historical and architectural cultures that influenced the city throughout history. During our city tour, we will see Freiburg Cathedral, the small water channels unique to Freiburg that make its streets charming, Martin’s Gate, a medieval city gate, and Rathausplatz. After the tour, we return to our hotel in the Alsace / Basel region.
ALSACE/BASEL – (Bern & Gruyères Tour) – LAUSANNE and FAIRY-TALE CASTLES – GENEVA
After breakfast and check-out, we depart for Lausanne. En route, guests who wish may join the optional Bern & Gruyères Tour (80 Euro). Our first stop is Bern. Bern is one of the few cities in Europe that has remained unchanged since the Middle Ages. Due to this historical character, it is listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Located within Switzerland and officially German-speaking, Bern also reflects German cultural influence in its architecture. After our visit around Bern, we proceed to Gruyères, our second stop. Chosen as Switzerland’s most beautiful village in 2014 and the birthplace of the world-famous Gruyère cheese, Gruyères is a fairy-tale village that has preserved its medieval character to this day, with flower-decorated houses and streets, and the region’s name derived from both the village and its famous cheese. Located on a hill at 800 meters altitude in the upper valley of the Saane River and without vehicle traffic, this village is also known for its cheese and for Switzerland’s famous dish, fondue. After our sightseeing in Gruyères, we continue our journey to Lausanne. Lausanne, which holds an important place in our national history because it hosted the signing of the Lausanne Treaty on July 24, 1923, is also one of the important episcopal centers of the Middle Ages. With its castles from the Middle Ages, D’Ouchy Castle, palaces, cathedrals, and museum buildings, Lausanne takes visitors deep into history, and its location on the shores of Lake Geneva further enhances its charm. After a short city walk in Lausanne, we depart for our Geneva city tour. Known as the “French city of Switzerland,” Geneva, located on the shores of Lake Geneva, is a magnificent city where history, culture, science, and nature come together. The presence of international organizations such as CERN, the World Health Organization, UEFA, FIFA, and the United Nations makes Geneva a central city in both cultural and administrative terms. During our tour of Geneva, where museums, parks, historical monuments, streets, and clean air come together, the main sights will be St. Pierre Cathedral, Jet d’Eau, the symbol of Geneva rising up to 140 meters, and the Reformation Monument. At the end of the city tour, transfer to our hotel in the Geneva region. Room assignment and free time for rest.
GENEVA – (Annecy Tour) – NICE
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we depart for Nice. En route, guests who wish may join the optional Annecy Tour (50 Euro). Known as the “Venice of the Alps” thanks to the canals and the Thiou River flowing through it, Annecy impresses visitors with its canal-based layout and its extraordinary location between the mountains and the lake. During our visit, the sights seen panoramically will include Château d’Annecy, built in the 17th century and restored in 1947, St. Maurice Church, and Palais de l’Isle, a favorite spot for photography enthusiasts. After the tour, we continue our journey to Nice. Upon arrival at our hotel in the Nice region, room assignment and free time for rest.
NICE – (Cannes & St. Paul de Vence & Nice Tour) – (Monaco & Monte Carlo & Eze Tour)
After breakfast, we offer a full day at leisure. During this free time, guests who wish may join the optional Cannes & St. Paul de Vence & Nice Tour (85 Euro). On this tour, we first travel to Cannes. Famous for hosting the Cannes Film Festival in the summer, Cannes has a sparkling sea and golden beaches. During our city tour, we first visit the old town, the city’s original settlement. While walking through the narrow, winding, car-free streets of the old town, we will have the chance to see souvenir shops and do some shopping. After visiting La Croisette Boulevard, which stretches along the Cannes coastline and is home to many luxury restaurants, shops, and hotels, and Meynadier Street, we enjoy free time before continuing to the second stop of our Mega Côte d’Azur Tour, Saint Paul de Vence. Perched on a hill with magnificent views, Saint Paul de Vence is a true medieval village. In the center of the village stands a historic fountain dating back to 1615. Around the narrow streets branching out from the fountain, stone buildings house art galleries selling works by famous painters as well as shops offering local olive oil, lavender, soap, and handicrafts. After our pleasant sightseeing in St. Paul de Vence, we reach Nice, the final stop of our tour. In Nice, sights include Promenade des Anglais, Nice Port, Masséna Square, the Flower Market, and the Courthouse. At the end of the tour, we offer free time. Guests who wish may join the Monaco & Monte Carlo & Eze Tour (75 Euro). On this tour, we first visit Eze Village, one of the most famous villages on the Côte d’Azur, with magnificent views, and visit a perfume factory where you can test and buy many beautiful and famous perfumes at affordable prices. Afterwards, we continue to Monaco, the world’s second-smallest state after the Vatican, located on the French Riviera, and then to Monte Carlo, the center of luxury and splendor, where we will have sightseeing. At the end of the tour, we return to our hotel in the Nice region.
NICE – (Portofino Tour) – OUTLET – MILAN
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we depart for the Milan region outlet center. En route, guests who wish may join the optional Portofino Tour (65 Euro). We reach Portofino by public transportation. Surrounded by colorful houses, Portofino, which has inspired songs with all its beauty, captivates visitors with its narrow streets, colorful houses, green hills, and turquoise Mediterranean views. After our Portofino tour, we continue to the world-famous Milano Outlet shopping center, where we will find products from world-renowned brands at affordable prices, and upon arrival we will have free time for shopping. After visiting the Outlet Center, we move to our hotel in the Milan region. Upon arrival, room assignment and free time for rest.
MILAN – LARNACA
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we depart for Milan Malpensa Airport for our return flight to Larnaca, Cyprus. After baggage drop-off, ticketing, and passport control procedures, we fly to Larnaca on Cyprus Airways’ direct scheduled flight CY0343 at 17:00. Arrival at Larnaca International Airport at 21:30 local time and end of the tour.