amber tours italy

Amber Road Tours Unique small group cultural journeys

Italian lakes & milan.

12 days/11 nights

Maximum number of participants on tour is 14

currency converter Single supplements 1300 euro

Italian Lakes Small Group Tour Overview:

Art, culture, grand cities and the extraordinary beauty of majestic lakes highlight this trip through Northern Italy.

For the 2,500 years of its history Milan, has always been an important center of power, wealth and commerce. Today it is the second largest city in Italy and is the country’s capital of finance, industry, design and fashion. In 2015 it was home to the Milano World Expo. The Last Supper of Leonardo , the  Duomo and the Teatro dalla Scala are just a few highlights of our two night stay here. Additional features of our inland journeys are Bergamo Alta , charming Brescia , the palaces of Renaissance Mantova and the wonderful violin music of Cremona . 

Fabulous lakeview rooms in Bellagio with visits to Villas Melfi , Balbianello and Carlotta spotlight our time on Lake Como.  Our visit to Lake Garda includes a boat tour around the Sirmione peninsula. We will explore the Borromeo islands on Lake Maggiore by boat and enjoy lakeview rooms at our Stresa hotel. Our Italian Lakes tour explorations will round out with a morning on Lake Orta and lunch at a small vintner’s farmhouse.

Read what our travelers say about our Italian Lakes Small Group Tour!

Activity level

Getting there.

• Terms & Conditions

Afternoon arrivals to the Hotel Milano Scala , our lodging for the first two nights on tour. Your tour manager will be expecting you in the hotel lobby at 3:30 pm for a two hour guided visit of the historic district that includes  La Scala Theater , the Piazza Mercanti and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele .

At 6:45 pm we’ll depart for our first evening out on the town. Welcome meeting and aperitifs in the garden of a local restaurant that was originally part of a 17th century palazzo. An introduction to traditional Milanese cuisine will follow.

The Cenacolo Vinciano , the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci is housed in the refectory of the Santa Maria delle Grazie Church. Painted between 1494 and 1498 Leonardo abandoned the traditional al fresco method (painting on wet plaster) for an experimental al secco (painting on dry wall) that resulted in much deterioration and successive restorations, the latest in 1999. It remains one of the world’s most celebrated works of art. Our morning will conclude with a viewing of the fabulous frescoes of  San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore .

Our guided walking tour will continue in the afternoon with a visit to the fabulous Duomo , the symbol of Milan and the fifth largest church on this planet. Begun in 1386, it took most of six centuries to complete.

Evening on your own

The Città Alta of Bergamo, set against the Italian Alps and rising 85 meters off the valley floor, presents one of the most beautiful hill town settings in all of Italy. Narrow medieval lanes contrasted by Renaissance squares and built upon a layout of the ancient Roman municipality, Bergamo was part of Visconti territory prior to being taken by Venice in 1428. The Venetians ruled for more than three hundred years and left behind an impressive six kilometer surrounding wall with fourteen bastions and four gates.

Our local guide tour will include a panoramic drive up to the old town followed by visits to the Piazza Vecchia and the Palazzo della Ragione .

Cable car ride up to Colle San Vigilio to enjoy spectacular views, beautiful villas and lunch on your own at one of the panoramic ristoranti .

Retreating Pleistocene glaciers left behind deep fingerlike impressions that are known to us as the  Italian Lakes. This afternoon we’ll have our first encounter, arriving to enchanting Bellagio on Lake Como . We’ll be staying three nights at the  Hotel Belvedere Bellagio .

Included dinner

Lake Como is formed in the shape of an upside down “Y”, Bellagio occupying the vertex and the internal shores where the lake splits into two branches. The town of 3,000 inhabitants has an intact medieval center surrounded by noble villas.

Today we’ll explore the western coastline and visit two extraordinary villas. Villa del Balbianello was constructed in the early 1800s on a promontory near the town of Lenno . The beauty of the villa, its spectacular setting and vistas have made it the location of many famous films. The explorer and mountain climber Guido Monzino purchased La Balbianello in 1974 and was responsible for its final transformation. Monzino donated the villa and his “museum” to the FAI (Italian National Trust). His wonderful collections include primitive art, tapestries, paintings on glass and period furniture as well as photos and memories from his expeditions to the North Pole and Mt. Everest.

Lunch on your own at one of the lakeside cafes of Lenno.

Villa Carlotta was built in the late 17 th century on 70,000 square meters of land between the lake and mountains at Tremezzo . The exquisite Italian gardens are decorated with sculptures and fountains but their beauty is owed to the incredible variety of flowering and tropical plants and century old trees. The villa itself is a museum of 19 th century art with works by Canova and Hayez and was one of the more important destinations of the “Grand Tour”. Afternoon guided visit.

Evening free

This morning we’ll have a guided tour of Bellagio’s historic center with visits to the Romanesque church of San Giacomo, the La Punta viewpoint and the magnificent gardens of Villa Melzi , an early 19 th century neoclassical estate.

Our tour will continue with a short boat ride to the lovely village of Varenna on the eastern shore of the lake after which you’ll have lunch and the rest of the day for your own explorations.

Brescia , the second most populous city in Lombardy, has a long history, beginning with Ligurians and Gauls, then as a Roman colony and afterwards a Lombard dukedom; after tumultuous centuries of various rulers it passed, along with Bergamo, to Venice. The historic center comprises a vast pedestrian zone with welcoming squares, elegant shops, cafes and restaurants. The 11th century Duomo Vecchio is a wonderful medieval round church built over a fifth century Roman basilica. This morning you’ll have free time to explore, to wander and to lunch in the lovely Piazza Paolo Sesto .

The brilliant  Museo di Santa Giulia , housed in an 8th century Benedictine monastery, recounts the story of Brescia from prehistoric times to the present and includes wonderful Roman mosaics and medieval frescoes. Mid afternoon guided tour of the museum. Our lodging for the night is the Hotel Vittoria , located in the heart of the historic district. Evening on your own.

Cremona is most famous for three things – its extraordinary 111 meter bell tower, the Torrazzo ; a delicious Christmas sweet made from almonds, honey, sugar and egg whites – the torrone ; and the best made violins in the world. It also boasts a beautiful Duomo complex and one of the best preserved medieval squares, the Piazza del Comune .

Here in 1530 Andrea Amati invented the violin, a passage from plucking the strings a pizzico (with the fingers) to using a bow. In the 17 th and 18 th centuries violin making was raised to greater heights with the master liutai Andrea Guarneri and Antonio Stradivari.

Morning visit to a lute maker’s workshop, a violin recital in the baptistery and guided tour of the historic center. After lunch we’ll spend a very pleasing and musical hour at the Museo del Violino .

Departure for  Mantova . Our lodging for two nights is the  Hotel Casa Poli  located in a 19th century structure, a 10 minute walk from the historic center.  Before arriving to our hotel we’ll have a guided stroll through the city.

Mantova was founded by Etruscan peoples around the 6 th century BC and in 214 BC became a Roman colony. In the 12 th century, as an independent commune, a system of defense was created by deviating the waters of the River Mincio to form four lakes around the city thereby transforming Mantova into an island. Two bridges, still existing, consented entrance or exit. Later the city was divided in two by the construction of a canal to connect two of the lakes. Today it is still surrounded on three sides giving the magical appearance of a town arisen from the waters.

In their four centuries of rule (1328- 1707) the Gonzaga family created a period of political and economic stability and changed Mantova into an artistic and architectural jewel, the city reaching its maximum splendor in the 15 th and 16 th centuries.

The enormous Palazzo Ducale , the abode of the Gonzagas, has some 500 rooms displaying frescoes by the most important artists of their day including Mantegna, Tintoretto, Rubens and Pisanello. The morning will also include a visit to the Teatro Scientifico Bibiena. The theater was opened in 1769 and officially inaugurated by the 14 year old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It is a unique masterpiece constructed in the shape of a bell with gorgeous arched box seats.

The construction of Palazzo Te began in 1527 as a guest palace for the duke’s mistress. The architect Giulio Romano created a Renaissance masterpiece blending incredible structures with marvelous frescoes.

Sirmione on Lake Garda has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Wealthy Romans constructed vacation villas here and enjoyed the thermal waters that bubble up from the lake bottom. Situated on a peninsula on the southern end of the lake it had a strategic military importance up through medieval times, as evidenced by the 12 th century Scaliger Castle. Today it is a picturesque tourist town with a charming historic center and many restaurants offering al fresco dining around the main square.

Included boat trip around the peninsula.

Transfer to the shores of  Lake Maggiore  in the region of Piemonte where we’ll be staying our last three nights on tour at the  Hotel La Palma  in Stresa .

Stresa has been a prominent tourist destination since the early 19 th century. The graceful and stylish lakefront is lined with Art Nouveau hotels and fine villas and is lush with beautiful gardens. It overlooks the Borromeo Islands that take their name from the family who has owned them since the 15 th and 16 th centuries. Isola Bella and Isola Madre were transformed by the introduction of lavish palaces and amazing landscaping.

Evening boat ride for an included dinner on Isola dei Pescatori , a picturesque fishing village of an earlier era.

Lake Orta is one of the smaller of the sub-alpine northern Italian lakes, just 8 miles long and a mile wide. Lesser known and quieter, though in no way lacking in charm nor a fascinating history, Orta has been a favorite of writers (Balzac), poets (Browning) and philosophers (Nietzsche).

Our mid morning departure will take us to Orta San Giulio , the most populated (1,161) of the few settlements around the lake. A boat will take us to the enchanting Isola San Giulio . A wander around this picturesque tiny island (900 feet long by 460 feet wide), ringed by lovely palaces and draping wisteria vines, will lead us to the beautiful and interesting 12 th century Romanesque basilica.

Midday visit to a small award winning cantina for a taste of their Nebbiolo wines and “zero kilometer” local products.

Evening on your own in Stresa

Our final morning begins with a boat ride to visit the most beautiful and remarkable botanical gardens of Isola Madre , boasting rare plants from the world over. The palace has splendid Borromeo furnishings and 18 th century marionette theaters.

At Isola Bella we’ll have a guided tour of the ornate palazzo that is full of surprises and includes the extensive Borromeo collection of precious art. Lunch on your own.

Late afternoon free prior to our included farewell dinner.

Morning transfers to Stresa train station and Milan Malpensa airport

Read what our clients have to say about this tour

2023 Single supplements 1300 euro

Principal towns & villages.

• 11 nights' accommodations in charming hotels, lake view rooms Bellagio and Stresa
• Tourist accommodation tax
• All breakfasts, 6 dinners and 1 lunch, beverages included
• All ground transportation and porterage Days 2 -11
• All activities and admissions listed in Highlights
• Full time professional tour manager
• Drop off at Milan Malpensa airport or Stresa train station
• Lake view rooms in Bellagio on Lake Como and Stresa on Lake Maggiore
• City walking tours with local guides in Milan, Bergamo, Bellagio, Mantova and Cremona
• Milan Duomo
• Teatro alla Scala
• Cenacolo (Last Supper) di Leonardo da Vinci
• Villa Melzi, Bellagio
• Villa del Balbianello, Lenno
• Villa Carlotta, Tremezzo
• Museo di Santa Giulia Brescia
• Lutemaker's workshop visit Cremona
• Museo del Violino Cremona
• Palazzo Ducale and Palazzo Te Mantova
• Teatro Bibiena Mantova
• Private boat tour Sirmione
• Isola Madre Gardens Lake Maggiore
• Borromeo Palace Isola Bella guided tour
• Lake Orta San Giulio Island visit
• Nebbiolo cantina visit and wine tasting

Tour begins : Milan

Meeting point is at the Hotel Milano Scala The hotel can be reached from the Milan Malpensa Airport via the Malpensa Express train to Milano Cadorna train station in 30 minutes and then 5 minutes by taxi.

If you are flying into Milan Linate Airport a taxi to the hotel costs 30 euro and takes 30 minutes.

If you are arriving by train the hotel is just 15 minutes by taxi from the Milano Centrale station.

Check-in time is 2:00 pm but you are welcome to arrive earlier leaving your bags at reception. Your tour manager will be expecting you in the hotel lobby at 3:30 pm for a 2 hour guided tour of the historic center.

Tour ends : Stresa Day 12 morning transfers to Milan Malpensa airport and Stresa train station

How to get there : Book a round trip  ticket into and out from Milan Malpensa airport

Suggestions:  

Day 1 — Milan, Metropolitan City of Milan, Italy

Day 3 — Bergamo, Province of Bergamo, Italy

Day 4 — Bellagio, Province of Como, Italy

Day 4 — Varenna, Province of Lecco, Italy

Day 5 — Tremezzo, Province of Como, Italy

Day 6 — Brescia, Province of Brescia, Italy

Day 7 — Cremona, Province of Cremona, Italy

Day 8 — Mantova, Province of Mantua, Italy

Day 9 — Sirmione, Province of Brescia, Italy

Day 9 — Stresa, Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Italy

Day 10 — Orta San Giulio, Province of Novara, Italy

Day 11 — Isola Bella, Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Italy

There is a lot of walking on this tour and you will be on your feet several hours each day. There are inclines and steps in Bellagio. This tour is not suited for anyone who has problems with knees, back, heart, obesity or those who cannot manage steps and moderate inclines . Age is not important as long as you are reasonably fit and a good walker.  If you have mobility issues this is not the right tour for you . Please call us if you have questions.

1. PRICES, DEPOSITS, PAYMENTS, REFUNDS

• Prices shown are per person, double occupancy, in euro.
• The deposit is 800 euro per room.
• Balance payments are due 70 days prior to tour start.
• Deposits and balance payments are accepted by Visa and Master Card or by bank wire. After your deposit has been received we will send you an invoice with the due date and amount for the balance of payment. Should you fail to make final payment by the date specified on your invoice, we reserve the right to cancel your booking without refund.
• Cancellations and refunds: in the unlikely event that we would cancel your tour, you would be entitled to a 100% refund within 2 weeks after the tour’s cancellation.

If you cancel your tour reservation:

1. are 50% refundable up until 180 days prior to tour start date.

2. are 100 % non-refundable less than 180 days prior to tour start date.

Balance payments

3. are 98% refundable 70 days or more prior to tour start date.

4. are 48% refundable 70 to 31 days prior to tour start date.

5. 30 days or less prior to tour start date: no refund.

Physician documented emergency medical reasons or police documented cases of accident, flood, fire or crime are required for refunds.

We do not provide refunds for: non-medical personal problems; air carrier delays or cancellations; inability to obtain passports; business problems or emergencies; etc.

2. TRAVEL PROTECTION

Covid-19 Policy:  All tour members including tour managers and drivers must be fully vaccinated.

We strongly recommend that you purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. Travel protection plans can include coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Emergency Medical and Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation, Trip Delay, Baggage Delay and more.

For information on available plans or to enroll, go to insuremytrip.com 

It is not possible for Amber Road Tours to provide protection coverage of any sort and you agree to buy insurance or travel at your own risk.

3. INCLUDED

All ground transportation Days 2 to 11. Transfers on Day 12 to Milan Malpensa airport or Stresa train station. 11 nights’ hotel accommodation with breakfast, 6 dinners and 1 lunch including beverages (wine or beer or soft drinks and water). Admissions to all sites visited as a group, as listed in bold on the tour itinerary.

4. NOT INCLUDED

Air transportation, Day 1 airport or train station transfers, all meals not listed above, room service, phone calls, etc.

5. ARRIVALS

Our hotel in Milan can be reached from the Malpensa airport via the Malpensa Express train to Milano Cadorna train station  in 30 minutes and then 5 minutes by taxi. Check-in time is 2pm but you are welcome to arrive earlier leaving your bags at reception. Your tour manager will be expecting you in the hotel lobby at 3:30 pm for a guided introduction to the historic center.

6. DEPARTURE

Morning transfers will be to Milan Malpenso airport and Stresa train station.

You are allowed one suitcase and one carry-on bag. If you exceed this limit there may not be space in the coach to transport your excess luggage and it will be at your own expense to have it transported throughout the tour. We suggest that you bring a daypack for carrying water, guide books, jacket, rain gear, etc.

Porterage for one bag per person is included, your carry-on bag is yours to wheel or carry.

8. THE LAST SUPPER

Leonardo da Vinci’s the Last Supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie is included based on availability of tickets and is not guaranteed.

9. WALKING ON TOUR

Steps and inclines in Bellagio. The rest of the walking on this tour is not difficult. However you will be on your feet several hours each day. If you have mobility issues this is not your tour.

10. TRANSPORTATION

Days 2-10 air-conditioned coach. Day 11 we travel by boat on Lake Maggiore.

Are located within historic districts.

The rooms in Bellagio and Stresa are lake view rooms.

The hotel in Mantova has queen bed rooms and triple rooms (one queen and one single bed), no twins.

12. SINGLE TRAVELERS

We have space available for 2 singles on each of our tours. They are provided with single-use double rooms. The additional single supplement room cost can be found on the Calendar page of our website.

For our recommended tours and dates, as listed in our web site, are guaranteed for groups of six or more participants.

For groups with fewer than six participants, a supplemental charge may be applied when the estimated total cost of operating the tour exceeds the revenues paid.

We do not sell optional excursions or take you on shopping expeditions. Your additional expenses will be for non-included meals, moderate tipping where appropriate, and personal sightseeing or shopping.

14. NO SMOKING / NO CELL PHONES

We have a no smoking policy on all tour buses, at group meals and at all sites visited. The same policy applies to the use of cellular phones.

15. EASY TRAVELERS

For the enjoyment of all our guests on tour we ask those who choose to travel with Amber Road Tours to be congenial, lighthearted and to take small issues in stride. Should you have any issues please address them to your tour manager – he or she is your Amber Road Tours’ representative during your time on tour. Once your tour is finished you will be emailed a link to our website where you can leave comments about your experiences and suggestions about how we can improve our services.

16. LIMIT OF LIABILITY

No responsibility is accepted for any loss, expense, accident, injury, or damage to any person or property due to the actions or omissions of any person, or any cause, including but not limited to acts of God, acts of terrorism, war, strikes, defects in machinery, breakdown of equipment, weather, pandemic, quarantine, or other causes beyond our control.

17. COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

Our Covid-19 protocols are designed to protect the health, safety and well being of our tour group members.  S hould a traveler display symptoms of Covid-19 he or she must take a rapid antigen test. In the unfortunate event of a positive result they must immediately leave the tour, at their own expense.  Should there be a lag time between diagnosis and departure, client must remain in isolation and have no further contact with the group. Amber Road Tours will assist them in getting to their next destination. Spouse or travel companion must also be tested. If the result is negative, he or she may continue on tour.  

Amber Road Tours follows the protocols and regulations of the countries where we travel. In the absence of clear guidelines, CDC protocols regarding positive travelers will be used.

It is essential for tour participants to purchase Covid-19 protected travel insurance to cover eventual expenses and reimbursement for lost tour days.

18. MEMBERSHIP ON TOUR

Amber Road Tours reserves the right to accept, reject, or not retain any person as a tour participant whose condition or general deportment impedes the operation of the tour or, in the opinion of the tour manager, affects the rights and enjoyment of other guests. A guest not retained on tour shall have no cause for complaint or refund, and shall bear any and all extra expenses that ensue.

Amber Road Tours

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Covid-19 travel amber list: a guide to rules in top holiday destinations

These five popular destinations for Britons may be on the UK’s amber list but they’re opening the door to holidaymakers. We gauge the current restrictions and entry requirements in France, Greece, Italy, Spain and Croatia

Like so many changes to the UK’s Covid rules over the past 14 months, the new traffic light system for international travel came into force this week amid confusion, frustration and dismay. After a five-month foreign holiday ban, British holidaymakers were legally allowed to travel for leisure to destinations on the green list from 17 May, though in practice only three of the 12 “green” countries and territories were free of entry restrictions: Portugal, Madeira and Gibraltar.

Travellers to Portugal are still required to present a negative PCR test result on arrival, among other paperwork, as Guardian Travel writer Kevin Rushby discovered when he travelled to Faro on assignment this week.

Travel companies and airlines have spent the week pressurising the government to add more European countries to the green list . On Thursday, easyJet CEO Johan Lundgren accused the government of sowing confusion and said it was clearly out of step with the rest of Europe: this week the EU updated its recommendations to advise that fully vaccinated travellers will be allowed to enter EU countries, though there is some doubt over whether that will apply to travellers from the UK . The government spent the week reiterating that people should not visit amber list countries.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) currently advises against all but essential travel to the popular amber-listed countries listed below (with a few exceptions), but it is not illegal to travel them. Travellers returning from amber countries must take a Covid-19 test before their arrival in England and are required to quarantine for 10 days on their return, taking a test on or before days two and eight. Airlines continue to fly to them and travel companies are selling holidays to key summer destinations from June, in the hope that the FCDO advice will change and the green list will be extended, despite health secretary Matt Hancock warning that the government was not likely to add to it any time soon. Meanwhile, health advisers and scientists have publicly disagreed with the government’s approach, warning against any overseas travel this summer.

In the meantime, European countries are lifting national restrictions and preparing to welcome visitors back, in the hope that the battered tourism industry can begin to recover. The five popular holiday destinations listed here are all on the amber list – it is not illegal to travel to them, but the government says travel should be for “essential” purposes only – and you have to quarantine at home on your return. We look at what restrictions remain in place in each country and when they hope to open to visitors. Isabel Choat

Vaccination rate 1st dose: 34%. 2nd dose: 16% Daily cases 119 per million

What’s happening? Spain is no longer in the high-risk category. Death rates have fallen sharply, as has pressure on intensive care units. On 19 May, 6,080 new cases were recorded, 400 fewer than the previous week, with 66 deaths, compared with 108 the previous week.

The country is returning to something like normality, after the six-month state of emergency was lifted on 10 May. Since then, Covid restrictions have been in the hands of regional governments and there is considerable variation, although the 11/12pm–6am curfew has been lifted everywhere except Navarra and the Valencia region, where it may remain in force into next month.

Masks are obligatory indoors and out, except for sporting activities, which includes jogging and cycling. Legally, masks have to be worn on the beach, but the measure is largely ignored and rarely enforced. The health department said earlier this week that masks would soon cease to be mandatory outdoors.

Bars and restaurants are open indoors and out until 11pm or 1am, depending on the region, except in the Balearic Isles, where you can only eat and drink in outdoor areas. In Madrid and Andalucía there are no restrictions on how many people can meet together; in the Canary Islands the limit is 15, in Valencia 10 and in Catalonia and the Balearics six.

The pandemic has had a devastating impact on the Spanish economy, especially on the Mediterranean, which is heavily dependent on tourism. Large resorts such as Benidorm are virtual ghost towns, and in Barcelona 70% of hotels remain closed, while 30-40% of bars and restaurants have gone out of business.

The UK accounts for more than 20% of Spain’s tourist industry, with visitors spending £1.7m an hour, according to government statistics.

When can I go? As of this week the Spanish government says Britons are welcome to visit (from 24 May), and do not need proof of a negative PCR test or of vaccination.

The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Spain, excluding the Canary islands. Travel companies such as Tui are selling holidays to Spain from June, in the hope that the FCDO will lift its non-essential ban and that Spain will move onto the green list. It is reported that this week alone there have been 69 flights to the popular tourist area of Alicante. However, there are also reports of visitors from the UK being refused entry. Stephen Burgen

Vaccination rate 1st dose: 28.5%. 2nd dose: 16% Daily cases 192 per million

What’s happening? Under an accelerated vaccination drive, residents on Aegean islands, including frontline workers in the tourist industry, are being given the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. More than 100,000 jabs are being administered daily, with epidemiologists hoping to achieve herd immunity by the summer.

Greece has fared better than most other countries in Europe, registering a total of 383,558 confirmed cases and 11,587 deaths linked to the virus, although fatality rates are thought to be higher due to limited testing.

Curbs enforced when Greece went into a second “hard lockdown” in November began to be eased earlier this month.

Although masks are still required in public, they’re not essential in outdoor restaurants, tavernas and bars allowed to reopen, on condition that music that would encourage people to huddle isn’t played and tables are placed at a safe distance from one another.

Travel between regions has been permitted, with ferries once again plying routes to islands. The relaxation of restrictions also applies to the mainland. Museums and shops have reopened, along with archaeological sites, while popular open-air cinemas are due to open their doors with a viewing capacity of 75% as of Friday.

Although gatherings remain limited as part of efforts to rein in transmission rates, an obligatory SMS system notifying authorities of movements has been dropped and a night-time curfew narrowed from 12:30am–5am.

Hugely dependent on tourism, the Greek economy was hammered by the pandemic last year. Arrivals dropped by almost 80% compared with the record 33.1 million tourists who visited the country in 2019. Revenues that normally account for over 20% of GDP fell from €18bn to €4bn in 2020.

By prolonging the season, industry figures hope to recoup the losses with up to 50% of pre-pandemic arrivals this year. Optimism has been buoyed by operators such as TUI predicting that Greece and Spain will be favourite destinations this summer, along with the news of a record number of direct Athens-US flights. “This year our ambition is for autumn to be the strong three-month period and not the traditional July-August slot,” says Yiannis Retsos at SETE, the Greek Tourism Confederation.

When can I go? After dropping quarantine restrictions for EU nationals and five other countries, including the UK, in April, Greece formally reopened to all tourists on 15 May. Visitors are required to complete a passenger locator form and are granted entry if they can prove they’ve been fully vaccinated or possess a negative Covid-19 test. Athens has championed the creation of a vaccine passport and is counting on rapid testing and warmer weather to ensure safe travel. Charter flights have begun landing on islands such as Mykonos and Crete, with the first plane carrying 180 UK holidaymakers arriving in Rhodes on Wednesday despite Greece still being on London’s amber list. Passengers were quoted as saying they were prepared to quarantine back home rather than lose out on a holiday on their favourite island. The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Greece , except the islands of Rhodes, Kos, Corfu, Crete and Zakynthos. Helena Smith

Vaccination rate 1st dose: 31%. 2nd dose: 14% Daily cases 204 per million

What’s happening? France is in “Phase 2” of a staggered end to restrictions. There are no domestic travel restrictions, but there is a nationwide curfew from 9pm–6am. Anyone out during curfew hours should have a sworn attestation justifying their reason. Restaurants, bars and cafes reopened for outdoor drinking and dining on 19 May, with a maximum of six people allowed per table (a maximum of 10 people are allowed together in public spaces). There is no limit on gatherings in private homes, but health officials strongly advise a maximum of six adults. All shops, museums, theatres and cinemas are open and outdoor sporting activities are allowed. Indoor gyms and discos remain closed. Masks must be worn in all indoor public spaces and outside in larger towns and cities. Health minister Olivier Véran has suggested that an end to compulsory mask wearing is in sight, but has not indicated when. From 9 June, restaurants, bars and cafes will be able to open inside and outside and the curfew will run from 11pm–6am.

Economically, French industries have seen a jump in demand to the highest level in two years. Businesses hit by the lockdown closures, including non-essential shops and service industries, as well as those in tourism, are struggling. The government hopes the estimated €160bn savings accumulated by the French over the past year will boost the economy once consumers start spending again.

France’s tourist sector lost €61bn last year – a drop of 41%. To compensate, the French government has given the tourist industry a bailout package of around €16bn and pledged that financial support will continue for as long as it is needed.

When can I go? Travellers from the UK – as well as from EU countries – can enter France with a negative PCR test done 72 hours before leaving. UK arrivals do not need to justify an essential reason to enter France, but do need to complete a “sworn declaration” that has legal weight stating they are not suffering from symptoms associated with coronavirus and have not been in contact with confirmed cases in the preceding fortnight. Arrivals from the UK must also self-isolate for seven days on arrival, before taking another PCR test. They should only leave self-isolation with a negative test result. Clément Beaune, European Affairs minister, has said PCR tests will be free to tourists visiting France after the end of June. Kim Willsher

Vaccination rate 1st dose: 33%. 2nd dose: 15% Daily cases: 98 per million

What’s happening? Italy began a gradual easing of lockdown measures on 26 April, with all but one (Aosta Valley) of the country’s 20 regions currently in the low-risk “yellow zone”. People can travel freely between yellow zone regions, where bars and restaurants can currently serve customers for lunch and dinner at outside tables. All shops, theatres, cinemas and museums are open in the yellow zone. Covid-19 deaths, infections and hospitalisations have fallen in recent weeks as Italy ramped up its vaccination campaign. All Italian regions are expected to be in either the yellow zone or lowest (white) zone by the end of the first week of June.

Italy has also shortened its nightly curfew, which now begins at 11pm and ends at 5am. The curfew will be pushed back until midnight from 7 June and scrapped altogether on 21 June. From 1 June, indoor dining will be allowed at restaurants until 6pm. Face masks are, for now, still obligatory outside. In yellow zones, people can invite up to four people into their homes, and there are no restrictions on numbers gathering outside.

Mountain lifts will reopen on 22 May. Tourism is crucial to Italy’s economy, accounting for 14% of GDP. Over half a million jobs have been lost in the hospitality industry since the pandemic began, according to a report this week. However, despite the late start to the season in 2020, many places, especially small towns and islands, enjoyed a busy summer. The research institute Demoskopika also painted an optimistic picture for this summer, estimating that at least 39 million foreign and domestic tourists would take trips in Italy, up 12% on last year.

When can I go? On 16 May, Italy dropped Covid-19 quarantine measures for tourists arriving from EU and Schengen area countries, as well as the UK and Israel. The quarantine has also been removed for visitors travelling from the US, Canada, Japan and the United Arab Emirates on board Covid-tested flights. All tourists will need to provide evidence of a negative result from a test taken 48 hours prior to travelling, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated or not.

Italy implemented its travel rules before the June launch of the EU’s vaccine passport, to try to salvage its tourism industry. Italian prime minister Mario Draghi said in early May: “The pandemic forced us to close, but Italy is ready to welcome back the world. I have no doubts that tourism to and within Italy will re-emerge stronger than before.”

The FCDO currently advises against all but essential travel to Italy. Angela Giuffrida

Vaccination rate 1st dose: 27%. 2nd dose: 8% Daily cases 171 per million

What’s happening? The semi-lockdown of winter 2020-21 (when cafes, restaurants and entertainment venues were closed) came to an end in March. Since then a set of strict but manageable restrictions has been in place. Partying and festival-going may well be off the agenda, but there is nothing to prevent you from enjoying a holiday.

Masks must be worn in indoor areas, in busy outdoor areas (such as markets and bus stops) and on all public transport. Shops, museums, galleries and the outdoor terraces of cafes and restaurants are open (although there’s no alcohol after 10pm); cultural events are taking place, providing they have an audience of no more than 25. You can eat inside hotel restaurants if you are resident in the hotel. Masks do not have to be worn on cafe-restaurant terraces or on beaches, although you are expected to observe standard distancing rules wherever you are. There are tentative plans to open up clubs and concert venues to the vaccinated, although how this might work in practice remains under discussion. Further relaxations are possible before summer, but precise stages are yet to be decided.

Croatia’s vaccination programme got off to a sluggish start, but with over 36,000 doses now being administered each day (in a population of just over four million) the jab coverage will change dramatically over the next two months.

Tourism accounts for 11.5% of the Croatian economy, but international arrivals were down 55% in 2020, and 2021 will be a make-or-break year for small businesses. With flights from UK airports to the Adriatic coast slowly being restored, many Croats are hoping that vaccinated Brits will come to their rescue this summer.

When can I go? While Croatia will sign up to any new EU measures regarding fully vaccinated visitors, it already has its own, slightly more flexible, rules in place. Arrivals in Croatia need to show either a vaccination certificate showing that the final dose was taken more than 14 days ago, or a negative PCR or antigen test taken 24 hours before arrival. Travellers who arrive without these things can still enter the country, although they will be required to either quarantine for 10 days or pay for a test and remain in self-isolation until the results come through. One important catch: visitors from outside the EU will have to show that they have paid for their accommodation in advance.

The Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to Croatia. Jonathan Bousfield

This article was corrected on 2 June 2021. An earlier version said all visitors to Italy would need to provide evidence of having been fully vaccinated with an EU-approved vaccine, or of having recovered from the virus, or of having tested negative 48 hours before travelling. In fact, all tourists are required to have had a negative test result regardless of their vaccination status or Covid history.

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The Amber Bar Grill

THE AMBER BAR GRILL, Perm - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews - Tripadvisor

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The Amber Bar Grill

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THE AMBER BAR GRILL, Perm - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews - Tripadvisor