Fantastic Italy Tour 2026
Tour Essentials
Breakfast daily, plus key lunches and food experiences; dinners included in Sorrento
Tour Details
Fantastic Italy is built for travellers who want to see a broad sweep of Italy in one well-organised, escorted itinerary—balancing iconic art cities with a lively taste of the south. Starting and finishing in Rome, you’ll travel through Umbria and Tuscany to Florence, continue into Bologna and Venice, return via the Tuscan wine region, then head south to Pompeii and the Bay of Naples.
The first half of the tour focuses on central and northern Italy: Assisi and its Basilica of St Francis, Siena and its medieval heart, and a full Florence program exploring the Renaissance highlights, including a traditional lunch. In Bologna, you experience the city’s food culture, then continue to Venice for guided highlights around St Mark’s plus the spritz & cicchetti experience.
After returning to Rome via Montepulciano (Tuscan wine region) for a traditional lunch and a glass of wine, you’ll have time to dive deeper into Rome with a skip‑the‑line visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. The tour then shifts south: a guided, skip‑the‑line visit at Pompeii paired with an included pizza lunch, followed by a stay in Sorrento with hotel dinners included and a full-day excursion to Capri (including the Blue Grotto visit, weather permitting).
The final days allow time for Sorrento’s coastal atmosphere and optional add-ons, before returning to Rome to complete the loop.
Inclusions
- Rome airport transfers in/out
- Guided tours in Florence, Venice, Pompeii and Capri
- Skip‑the‑line Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Square tour
- Bologna gastronomic experience
- Venice spritz & cicchetti experience (light lunch)
- Traditional Tuscan lunch in Montepulciano (with a glass of wine)
- Pompeii guided tour with skip‑the‑line entry, plus pizza lunch and one drink
- Capri excursion with Blue Grotto visit (weather permitting)
- Hotel accommodation in listed bases
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 - Rome
Welcome to Rome! Meet your driver at the airport and enjoy your included transfer to the hotel. Use your included 1-day ticket for the Hop-on Hop-off I Love Rome City Tour. Ride an open-top panoramic bus and admire the city’s iconic landmarks with audio commentary in 12 languages.
Hop on and off at any of the eight stops along the route and explore at your own pace. It’s the perfect way to discover the Eternal City.
Enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.
Return to the hotel on your own.
Overnight stay in Rome.
Day 2 - Rome > Assisi > Siena > Florence (B, L)
Depart at 7:15 a.m. by deluxe coach to Assisi, a medieval town surrounded by ancient walls.
Visit the Basilica of St. Francis, featuring frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue, and enjoy a light lunch in Assisi. Continue to Siena, UNESCO-listed and famous for its shell-shaped Piazza del Campo and Palio horse race.
Later, travel through Tuscany’s countryside to reach Florence.
Check in at your hotel.
Overnight stay.
Day 3 - Florence (B, L)
Explore Florence, cradle of the Renaissance. Visit the Duomo, Brunelleschi’s Dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and Baptistery. See Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, and Santa Croce Basilica.
Enjoy lunch in a traditional Tuscan restaurant. In the afternoon, choose between free time in the city or an optional visit to Pisa, with its Leaning Tower and Piazza dei Miracoli.
Dinner is at leisure.
Overnight stay in Florence.
Day 4 - Florence > Bologna > Venice (B, Local Food Experience)
Travel to Bologna, a city rich in culture and culinary excellence. Walk from Piazza Malpighi to Piazza Maggiore, admiring San Petronio Basilica and the Palazzo del Podestà. Delight in a light local lunch, savoring regional specialties. Stroll the medieval streets, arcades, and markets.
In the afternoon, continue to Venice. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel and relax.
Overnight stay.
Day 5 - Venice (B, Local Food Experience)
Transfer to Piazza San Marco and discover Venice’s highlights with a guided tour. Visit the Doge’s Palace (outside) and cross the Bridge of Sighs.
Afterward, enjoy a glass of spritz or prosecco with cicchetti, traditional Venetian snacks. Relax and soak in the atmosphere. Spend the afternoon exploring the city’s canals, artisan shops, or quiet corners on your own.
Return to your hotel.
Overnight stay in Venice.
Day 6 - Venice > Tuscany Wine Region > Rome (B, L)
After breakfast, travel to Montepulciano, in the heart of Tuscany. Known for its medieval charm and panoramic views, the town is a perfect mix of history and beauty.
Enjoy a traditional Tuscan lunch in a local restaurant.
Take some time to stroll through the historic center before rejoining your group. In the late afternoon, head to Rome where the tour ends.
Overnight stay.
Day 7 - Rome (B)
Begin your morning with an included “Skip the Line” tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Square. Discover the Galleries of Tapestries and Maps, Raphael’s Rooms, and Michelangelo’s masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel.
The visit ends in St. Peter’s Square, where you can view the Basilica’s majestic exterior.
Spend the rest of the day at your own pace or join an optional tour.
Overnight stay in Rome.
Day 8 - Rome > Pompeii > Sorrento (B, L, D)
After breakfast, depart at 7:00 am for Pompeii by coach, crossing Lazio and Campania.
Enjoy a lunch with authentic Neapolitan pizza before visiting the world-famous ruins of Pompeii. With Skip-the-Line access and a guided tour, explore homes, shops, frescoes, and mosaics of this ancient Roman city, buried by Vesuvius in 79 AD.
After the tour, drive along the scenic Sorrentine Coast and arrive in Sorrento.
Enjoy dinner at the hotel (jacket required for men) and overnight stay.
Day 9 - Sorrento > Capri > Sorrento (B, D)
After breakfast, take a full-day excursion to Capri, one of the Mediterranean’s most glamorous islands. Weather permitting, visit the enchanting Blue Grotto by rowboat.
Afterward, enjoy free time for lunch (not included) and to explore the island on your own.
Return to Sorrento in the afternoon.
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 10 - Sorrento > Rome (B)
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. The morning is free to shop, taste local limoncello, or take an optional excursion to the Amalfi Coast (not included).
In the afternoon, depart Sorrento around 4:00 pm for the return journey to Rome.
Upon arrival, check in at your hotel.
Overnight stay.
Day 11 - Rome (B)
Tour Highlights
- Rome airport transfers (arrival and departure)
- Assisi, Siena and Florence in one smooth route with guided touring and included lunches
- Bologna gastronomic experience
- Venice guided highlights plus spritz & cicchetti experience (light lunch)
- Montepulciano in the Tuscany wine region with traditional lunch and a glass of wine
- Skip‑the‑line Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Square tour
- Skip‑the‑line Pompeii guided visit with included pizza lunch and one drink
- Sorrento stay with included dinners
- Capri day trip including the Blue Grotto (weather permitting)
- Strong blend of “classic Italy” plus the jewels of Southern Italy
Accommodation
This itinerary uses comfortable, standard 4‑star hotels in key bases so the touring remains efficient while still allowing real time in each destination. You’ll stay in Rome (start/end), Florence, the Venice area (typically Mestre or Tronchetto for logistics; Venice Island upgrade available by supplement), and Sorrento for the southern section. Hotels are selected to support coach routing and sightseeing access.
Hotel examples listed:
- Rome: Hotel St Martin 4-star / Hotel Diana Roof Garden 4-star
- Florence: Hotel Raffaello 4-star / Hotel Una Vittoria 4-star
- Venice area: Hotel Delfino 4-star (Mestre) / Hotel B&B Venezia Laguna (Tronchetto)
- Sorrento: Grand Hotel Vesuvio 4-star
Tour Notes
Physical Requirements
Moderate: early starts, full touring days, extensive walking on cobblestones and uneven surfaces, stairs/bridges in Venice, archaeological walking at Pompeii, and boat travel on the Capri day.
Exclusions
- City tax (payable directly at hotels)
- Drinks not included in meals (except the included drink at Pompeii lunch)
- Meals not specified as included
- Optional excursions (e.g. optional Pisa from Florence; optional Amalfi Coast from Sorrento)
- Personal expenses, tips/gratuities, travel insurance
General Notes
- This is not a small group tour and can include up to 40 guests per tour
- Opportunity to stay on Venice Island by adding a supplement
- Blue Grotto visit is weather dependent and may be substituted if conditions prevent access
- Dress note: men are requested to wear a jacket for the included dinner in Sorrento
Cancellations
For information related to cancellations and any associated costs, please refer to our Terms & Conditions.
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