Discover Switzerland & Italy Small Group Tour in 16 Days

Your guided small group tour brings you around some of Europe’s top sights and into some of its most exciting cultures. You focus on enjoying the ride, meeting the locals, laughing with your fellow travellers, and just leave the details to us.

We sort out your travel, accommodation and activities. You just need to sit back and soak it all up. You travel the whole time with a knowledgeable and experienced guide or tour leader and a small group of like-minded travellers to share your experiences with. Your guide brings everything to life for you, and gets you from A-to-B.

Before you travel, we’ll send you your personalised documents and your travel itinerary. We’re also here for you, should you need us, 24 hours a day.

So when do you check in? And what can you expect upon landing in Zürich?

After picking up your luggage, make your way to your accommodation in the city centre. The airport has excellent public transportation connections operated by SBB (Swiss Federal Railways). Or if you’d prefer, we can arrange a private transfer for an additional fee.

Check-in times vary between hotels and guesthouses, but it normally starts between 2–4 PM. You are welcome to request an early check-in for an additional fee. Although this isn’t always available, you’ll be able to store your luggage at the hotel if you have to wait.

Please contact your travel consultant well in advance of your arrival if you’d like an early check-in.

During your tour, an experienced tour leader will travel with your party. They are there to make sure that everything runs smoothly and that your experience is as satisfying as possible.

Be sure to ask them any questions you might have. They are travel experts, so if you have any questions at all about what you are doing or where you are going, they will be able to help. They’ll join you on all guided tours and included tour transportation.

There may be short walks between your accommodation and transfers where you will have to carry your bags. We recommend bringing a case with wheels for ease of travel. All connections will be within easy reach with storage available for your luggage during each leg of the journey. 

All transfers between your accommodation and departure points are included in the package. Departure points will be within easy walking distance of where you’re staying, and your guide will be with you every step of the way.

Just a heads up – you will need to carry your own luggage to the departure points.

Yes, you will need to carry your luggage when travelling via train. There will be storage spaces available onboard for you to store your larger bags during each leg of your journey. We recommend bringing a case with wheels for ease.

On longer journeys you can expect onboard Wi-Fi and power outlets at your seats. Please note that this may not be the case for shorter journeys.

You’ll skip the queues and step straight inside the Colosseum with a licensed English-speaking guide who knows the history intimately. They’ll walk you through the amphitheatre’s tiers and corridors, sharing all the details: how it was built, who filled it, and how the spectacles unfolded.

After the Colosseum, your guide will take you through the Roman Forum – the political and social heart of ancient Rome. Ruins of temples, basilicas and government buildings evoke an atmosphere of power. Then there’s Palatine Hill, where the wealthy once lived in homes overlooking the city.

You’ll have time to wander, take photos, and soak it all in at your own pace. This is a small group tour, so there’s space to ask questions and linger where you want to.

The tour runs in all weather, rain or shine. The areas you’ll visit have steep, uneven inclines, so if you have any mobility concerns, just let us know in advance. We’ll make sure the experience is as smooth as possible for you.

Yes, introduced in 2024, Venice still requests that day visitors pay an access fee to explore the city. This is an effort to preserve the ancient and fragile city.

What does this mean? On certain days between mid-April and the end of July, you’ll need to pay an extra charge to visit Venice.

You can find out more about the dates and fees on the Venezia Unica website.

No – all cross-border fees are included in the price of your tour package.

The part of your tour which you will spend with your small group is fixed, as it involves lots of fun group activities and stops which have to be organised in advance. But, if you’d like to add extra independent days at the start and end of your tour, or even bolt on another country, we can help you there.

Of course! Adding extra nights to your tour allows you to make the most of your stay in the city at the start and end of your trip. You can visit more of the fantastic attractions, or relax after your flight to Europe or before you return home. 

You can customise how many nights you want to stay before and/or after your tour during the booking process.

You can also easily add optional day trips, excursions and upgrades.

During your tour, you’ll stay in accommodation hand-picked by our local travel experts. We’ve partnered with local businesses and selected hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses based on excellent ratings, comfort and personal experience. You can view the detailed list of hotels for this trip under the accommodation tab.

On your travels, you can choose from single and double rooms. Please also note that in the countries you’ll be visiting, room types are based on European standard sizes, which means they are smaller than in North America.

For example, a double bed often consists of 2 single beds pushed together, twin rooms are 2 separate single beds, and single rooms are often smaller than the standard double.

At your booked hotels, you’ll enjoy a daily breakfast buffet for the duration of this tour.

You’ll also have some dinners included throughout the guided portion of this tour, as stated in your itinerary. They will consist of either a set 2- or 3-course menu, or a dinner buffet with fresh local ingredients. Drinks are not included with your dinners.

Please notify your travel consultant in advance of any dietary restrictions. Other meals and drinks are not included and will be at your own expense during the trip.

Switzerland’s weather conditions are diverse. You’ll be travelling through lowland meadows and high-altitude mountain passes. Temperatures and weather conditions can vary widely throughout the region and the time you visit.

During the summer months, you can expect lots of sun in the Alps, but bear in mind that the mountain air is chilly whatever the time of year. In the winter, expect deep snow, strong winds and temperatures below 0⁰C (32⁰F).

The important thing to remember is that, all year round in the mountains, weather can totally change in an instant.

In Italy, if you’re in the far north, such as Trentino-Alto Adige, the same guidance as for Switzerland applies. But more or less everywhere further south has a Mediterranean climate. During the day in summer, Italian temperatures rarely drop below 30⁰C (86⁰F). Cities feel especially hot due to urban heat

The short answer is basically your whole wardrobe! Because the climates vary so widely between Switzerland and Italy, you will need to bring a range of different weather-appropriate clothing. Here’s what we recommend you bring:

• A warm, lightweight jumper or fleece to protect against chilly mountain wind
• A rain jacket and an umbrella
• Comfy walking shoes or boots for hiking, and a pair of walking shoes or sandals
• Breathable summer clothing (linen or cotton are the best fabrics for Italy’s summer heat, or silk if you’re feeling fancy. Try to avoid bringing anything made of polyester or wool)
• A light scarf to cover your shoulders when visiting churches.
• A small backpack for your daily essentials
• Water bottle, lip-balm, sunscreen, sunglasses and a sun hat.
• A swimsuit for lakes, beaches and pools.

There are limited laundry facilities in the countryside, though you’ll find laundrettes in the larger cities and towns. Some hotels do offer dry cleaning for an additional cost.

Switzerland uses the Swiss Franc (CHF, ₣) and Italy uses the Euro (€).

You’ll be spending time in a few different regions on your tour. All of these are part of the Schengen area, which is a zone of free movement. The European countries that are part of Schengen are:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

If you are visiting from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia or another EU state, you won’t need a visa for short-term travel (less than 90 days) to a Schengen area country.

Visiting from another country? Please look up the official websites of the Nordic Visitor destinations you’ll be visiting. On them you’ll find the complete lists of countries whose nationals require visas to enter. You’ll need to apply for a Schengen visa via the country where you will be spending the most time.

Good to know: Liechtenstein does not issue visas. If you enter via Switzerland, you’ll see there is no border control. The same visa requirements apply between both countries.

Your passport needs to be valid for the entirety of your stay in Europe, and for at least 6 months after your departure date. It’s a good idea to check your passport expiry date early in case you need to renew it.

Due to the nature of this tour and the activities included, it’s not recommended for families with young children. That said, it is suitable for active children aged 12 years or older. If in doubt, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

Your guided group tour will include a fair amount of walking for sightseeing. The best way to explore the towns and cities you’ll be visiting is on foot, so this tour is ideal for people who can walk between 3-5 kilometres (2-3 miles) a day.

You’ll also need to be able to carry your own luggage at accommodation and in and out of transport.

We’re here to help make sure your trip goes well – and that includes eating well. Just let us know your dietary requirements when you book and your travel consultant will factor them in from the start. Whether that’s an allergy, intolerance, lifestyle choice, or anything else. Breakfast is included at your accommodation each day, and we’ll make sure your needs are flagged in advance. Typical breakfast spreads include baked goods, cheese, jam, yoghurt, cereal, fresh fruit, juice, and coffee, so there’s usually a good range to work with. For lunches and dinners, most places are used to accommodating different requirements. Just let the waiting staff know when you arrive.

Vegetarian options are widely available, and gluten-free awareness has grown significantly in recent years. Vegans may find it more of a patchwork depending on the destination, but easier in cities and larger towns, patchier in rural areas. If you have a severe allergy, it’s always worth communicating this clearly and, where relevant, having a short written note explaining your needs in the local language. We’re happy to help you put one together before you travel.

Due to the historic nature of buildings and sustainability regulations you might find that not all hotels have in-room air conditioning. You’ll notice this in Switzerland, Germany and even Italy, among other destinations. That said, most hotels do offer fans to help you stay cool during warmer periods.

In mainland Europe, tipping is not mandatory, but welcomed. It is usually based on the quality of service. Locals often add around 10% or simply round up their bill.

Yes, for popular sites, you should pre-book tickets in advance. This way you can make sure you see the spots on your travel wish-list but also secure the ideal times for you. Your travel consultant will let you know the attractions where this is highly recommended. 

No need! Nordic Visitor is already working on offsetting the estimated carbon footprint of your package. We’ve partnered with an environmental fund in Iceland to carbon offset all our tours.

Carbon offsetting your international flights is not included, but we highly recommend you look into possibilities with your airline or directly through a local environment fund. 

When you book this tour, we’ll ask for a 10% deposit to secure your spot. Then you’ve got plenty of time – the rest is due 30 days before you arrive.

Here’s a tip: if you pay a 20% deposit instead, we’ll include our cancellation protection at no extra cost. It's there to give you breathing room if your plans need to change.

Booking last minute? If it’s less than 30 days until your trip, we’ll need the full payment upfront.

Want to know more? Check out our payment and cancellation terms or just get in touch – we’re here to help.

It’s best to book as soon as you can to secure your preferred travel dates. Once you have picked your tour, check the availability calendar to see which months are open for booking. Then, select the date you want and complete your booking. 

Nordic Visitor offers 10–20% deposits so you can reserve your trip as early as it’s convenient for you. The remaining balance is due 30 days before you travel. 

Many tours are also open for the following year if you like to plan well ahead. And if you have any questions or need advice, you can always contact us. 

After booking your tour package online, you will be contacted within 2 business days by your own dedicated travel consultant. They will be your point of contact for all your travel needs before, during and even after your trip. 

We aim to complete bookings within a few weeks. During this time we take care of booking your accommodation, activities, and transport, confirming all parts of your journey. Once this is done, your travel consultant will provide you with all the details of your trip. 

When we get back to you might depend slightly on how far ahead you’ve booked your travels and other tours running at the time. 

By booking with Nordic Visitor, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that there’s always someone there for you throughout your trip.

For support and advice during the day, you can call our office. And if anything unexpected happens outside working hours, you can reach us on our 24/7 helpline. 

During your tour, there will always be a travel expert on call to handle any unforeseen situations, such as unusual weather or events.

All bookings are billed in Euro (EUR). Prices displayed in other currencies are indicative only and based on the daily exchange rate. This means conversions from EUR to other currencies will fluctuate from day to day.

Once your tour is confirmed, we’ll get to work. Over the following weeks, we’ll put together your itinerary, reserve your accommodation and lock in all your services.

When everything is in place, we’ll send your travel documents by email – so you can read, plan, and get excited for your trip.

Then, when you arrive at your destination, a welcome bag will be waiting for you. Inside: hard copies of your personalised itinerary, our exclusive Travel Guide, and all your service vouchers. Everything you need, right when you need it.