Fantastic Italia Classica 8 Days - Venice to Rome
Tour Essentials
Breakfast daily, two dinners and a local food experience
Why we've chosen this tour
A well-paced first-timer Italy route with strong cultural anchors, included transfers and small group support from Venice to Rome.
Is this tour for you?
Best for travellers who want Venice, Florence and Rome with escorted logistics, museum access and a few included food experiences.
Not sure? Call us on 03 9824 0898 — we'll tell you honestly whether this tour is the right fit.
Tour Details
This itinerary follows one of Italy’s great first-time routes, beginning amid the canals and campi of Venice and ending among the piazzas and ancient layers of Rome. Between the two, Bologna brings arcaded streets and food culture, Florence gives the journey its Renaissance centrepiece, and San Gimignano adds a hill-town pause before the road turns south.
The tour is designed for travellers who want structure without feeling rushed from monument to monument. Guided visits anchor the big cultural moments, while free time leaves room for a quiet bacaro, a Florentine wander, a Roman cafe or a neighbourhood discovery that becomes your own favourite memory.
Food is woven through the experience, from Venetian cicchetti to a Tuscan dinner near Florence and a traditional Roman evening. It is a compact itinerary, but one with plenty of texture: art, architecture, local flavours and the comfort of escorted logistics.
Inclusions
- Transfer from Venice airport to the hotel
- Transfer from the Rome hotel to the airport
- Spritz or prosecco with Venetian cicchetti
- Visits to Bologna and San Gimignano
- Guided tours in Venice and Florence
- Skip-the-line guided visit to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Square
- Guided walking tour in Rome
- Dinner near Florence in Impruneta and dinner in Rome
- Drinks with included meals
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 - Venice
Arrive in Venice and transfer from the airport to your hotel. In the afternoon, meet your tour guide and fellow travellers, then enjoy a spritz or prosecco with cicchetti. The evening is free to explore Venice at your own pace.
Day 2 - Venice
Walk through Venice with your tour leader, crossing calli, bridges and lively squares towards St Mark’s Square. Continue with a local guide for the city’s iconic landmarks, including the exterior of the Doge’s Palace and stories of the Bridge of Sighs. The afternoon is at leisure.
Day 3 - Venice, Bologna and Florence
Travel to Bologna and walk from Piazza Malpighi to Piazza Maggiore, seeing San Petronio Basilica, Palazzo del Podesta, medieval streets, arcades and markets. Continue to Florence in the afternoon and check in for the overnight stay.
Day 4 - Florence
Explore Florence with a guide, including the Duomo, Brunelleschi’s Dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery, Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio and Santa Croce. After free time for lunch, choose leisure time in Florence or an optional visit to Pisa. Dinner is included at a traditional restaurant in Impruneta.
Day 5 - Florence, San Gimignano and Rome
Depart Florence for Rome, stopping en route in San Gimignano, known for its medieval towers and UNESCO-listed historic centre. Enjoy time at leisure for lunch and exploration before continuing to Rome for an evening at leisure.
Day 6 - Rome and Vatican City
Walk towards Vatican City with your guide for a skip-the-line visit to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Square. See major galleries and Michelangelo’s frescoes before an afternoon at leisure. In the evening, enjoy dinner at a traditional Roman restaurant with live music.
Day 7 - Rome
Stroll towards Castel Sant’Angelo, cross Ponte Sant’Angelo and continue to Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Piazza di Spagna. The afternoon is at leisure, with optional touring such as the Colosseum available locally.
Day 8 - Rome
Enjoy breakfast and, depending on flight timing, last-minute free time for shopping or sightseeing. Transfer to the airport is included.
Tour Highlights
- Included arrival transfer from Venice airport and departure transfer from Rome hotel to airport
- Venetian spritz or prosecco with cicchetti
- Visits to Bologna and San Gimignano
- Guided touring in Venice and Florence
- Skip-the-line guided visit to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Square
- Guided walking tour in Rome
- Dinner near Florence in Impruneta and dinner in Rome
- Drinks included with included meals
- Small group format with 25 passengers or fewer
Accommodation
Planned hotels include Hotel Carlton on the Grand Canal in Venice, Grand Hotel Mediterraneo in Florence and Twenty One Hotel in Rome, or similar 4-star hotels.
Tour Notes
Physical Requirements
This itinerary includes city walking tours, museum visits, cobbled streets and periods of standing. Travellers should be comfortable walking for several hours over uneven historic surfaces.
Exclusions
- City tax is not included and is payable directly at hotels.
- Personal expenses, optional experiences and travel insurance are not included.
Important Notes
- Prices are per person.
- One child aged 1 to 6 years stays free when sharing the bed with their parents; only one child per room is allowed.
- Hotels, inclusions and itinerary details may change and should be reconfirmed before deposit.
Cancellations
For information related to cancellations and any associated costs, please refer to our Terms & Conditions.
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