Small Group Travel: Venice, Florence & Rome
Discover the best highlights and hidden gems in Italy
Have you always wanted to travel to Venice, Florence, and Rome but don’t know where to start? With this extraordinary small group trip to Italy, you’ll be able to visit these magnificent cities with like-minded travelers and an expert guide. Enjoy everything from local cuisine to famous historical landmarks, all while having transportation, accommodations, breakfast, and more already planned for you.
Our Small Group Journeys provide many extra benefits, including:
- Limited to 21 people
- Guaranteed departures
- Centrally-located, 4-star hotels
- Extra nights in each city (less unpacking!)
- More free time and flexibility
- Stress-free with transportation, accommodations, tours and more included
What's Included
AIRFARE:
- Roundtrip economy-class airfare into Venice (VCE) and out of Rome (FCO)
HOTELS: You will be in the following 4-star hotels, or similar:
- 2 nights in Venice at All'Angelo Art Hotel
- 3 nights in Florence at Grand Hotel Adriatico
- 3 nights in Rome at Hotel Romanico Palace or Hotel Atlantico
SIGHTSEEING/TOURS as described in the itinerary, including the following:
- Guided walking tour of Venice with local guide (2 hours)
- Visit to the Murano glass factory (note €15 per person for water taxi must be paid locally)
- Guided walking tour of Florence with local guide including entrance to Accademia Gallery (3 hours)
- Guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica with local guide (4 hours)
MEALS/TASTINGS:
- Breakfast daily
- Welcome dinner in Venice (fixed menu with 1 glass of wine)
- Food tasting in Bologna (cheese & charcuterie with 1 glass of wine)
- Light lunch and wine tasting in Montepulciano
- Farewell dinner in Rome (fixed menu with 1 glass of wine)
TRANSPORTATION/GUIDES:
- Arrival airport transfer from Venice Airport to hotel
- Transfer from Venice to Florence with stop in Bologna
- Transfer from Florence to Rome with stop in Montepulciano
- Departure airport transfer from hotel to Rome Airport
- Services of a professional Tour Director throughout your tour
- Local guides for individual tours as described above
OTHER:
- Wireless headset to hear your tour guides clearly
- Local city taxes
- Porterage on arrival and departure from hotels (1 piece of luggage per person)
Great Ways to Explore
-
Enjoy a ride on a motoscafi (water taxi) in Venice.
Feast on local Parmigiano Reggiano, Mortadella, and Pignoletto in Bologna.
-
Gaze in awe at the iconic David by Michelangelo in Florence.
-
Indulge in a delicious wine tasting in the medieval village of Montepulciano.
-
Immerse yourself in the highlights of Rome including the Colosseum, Pantheon, and Vatican City.
Your small group travels will start in Venice, where you'll enjoy a fascinating tour with an expert guide to some of the city's most historical landmarks such as St. Mark's Square. You will even be able to experience an enjoyable ride through the canals on an Italian water taxi!
You will head to Florence next, but first stop in Bologna on the way to experience its local cuisine and wine. When you arrive in Florence, the adventure continues with a walking tour through places like the Duomo and Galleria dell'Accademia.
After leaving Florence for Rome, you will enjoy a stop in Montepulciano. Here you will get to sample the wine this medieval village is famous for with an included tasting. Lastly, you will arrive in Rome! During this part of your trip, you will get to enjoy a guided tour of Vatican City and Museums with some down-time to explore the sights of Rome at your own leisure.
Please note that some recommendations in the following suggested itinerary may not be included in your package. Check What's Included above for full details on inclusions.
AIRFARE:
- Roundtrip economy-class airfare into Venice (VCE) and out of Rome (FCO)
HOTELS: You will be in the following 4-star hotels, or similar:
- 2 nights in Venice at All'Angelo Art Hotel
- 3 nights in Florence at Grand Hotel Adriatico
- 3 nights in Rome at Hotel Romanico Palace or Hotel Atlantico
SIGHTSEEING/TOURS as described in the itinerary, including the following:
- Guided walking tour of Venice with local guide (2 hours)
- Visit to the Murano glass factory (note €15 per person for water taxi must be paid locally)
- Guided walking tour of Florence with local guide including entrance to Accademia Gallery (3 hours)
- Guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica with local guide (4 hours)
MEALS/TASTINGS:
- Breakfast daily
- Welcome dinner in Venice (fixed menu with 1 glass of wine)
- Food tasting in Bologna (cheese & charcuterie with 1 glass of wine)
- Light lunch and wine tasting in Montepulciano
- Farewell dinner in Rome (fixed menu with 1 glass of wine)
TRANSPORTATION/GUIDES:
- Arrival airport transfer from Venice Airport to hotel
- Transfer from Venice to Florence with stop in Bologna
- Transfer from Florence to Rome with stop in Montepulciano
- Departure airport transfer from hotel to Rome Airport
- Services of a professional Tour Director throughout your tour
- Local guides for individual tours as described above
OTHER:
- Wireless headset to hear your tour guides clearly
- Local city taxes
- Porterage on arrival and departure from hotels (1 piece of luggage per person)
-
Enjoy a ride on a motoscafi (water taxi) in Venice.
Feast on local Parmigiano Reggiano, Mortadella, and Pignoletto in Bologna.
-
Gaze in awe at the iconic David by Michelangelo in Florence.
-
Indulge in a delicious wine tasting in the medieval village of Montepulciano.
-
Immerse yourself in the highlights of Rome including the Colosseum, Pantheon, and Vatican City.
Your small group travels will start in Venice, where you'll enjoy a fascinating tour with an expert guide to some of the city's most historical landmarks such as St. Mark's Square. You will even be able to experience an enjoyable ride through the canals on an Italian water taxi!
You will head to Florence next, but first stop in Bologna on the way to experience its local cuisine and wine. When you arrive in Florence, the adventure continues with a walking tour through places like the Duomo and Galleria dell'Accademia.
After leaving Florence for Rome, you will enjoy a stop in Montepulciano. Here you will get to sample the wine this medieval village is famous for with an included tasting. Lastly, you will arrive in Rome! During this part of your trip, you will get to enjoy a guided tour of Vatican City and Museums with some down-time to explore the sights of Rome at your own leisure.
Please note that some recommendations in the following suggested itinerary may not be included in your package. Check What's Included above for full details on inclusions.
Departure Airport:
Departure Month:
Prices From:
Day 1. Welcome to Venice!
Welcome to Venice! Upon arrival, you will take a transfer from the airport to your hotel. Unpack, get settled, and explore at leisure before meeting with your group and Tour Guide tonight. Have a welcome dinner of delicious Italian cuisine and wine, toasting to the start of your wonderful trip to Italy.
Transfer from Venice airport to Venice hotel
Check-in - All'Angelo Art Hotel Venice
In a 17th-century building on the canal of Palazzo Ducale and a 2 minute walk from St. Mark’s Square, Hotel All'Angelo is in the heart of Venice. The spacious rooms at All'Angelo Hotel are classically furnished and come with a satellite flat-screen TV and air conditioning. Some rooms offer wood-beam ceilings and views of the canal or the Venetian street. Free Wi-Fi is available in public areas. Breakfast is served buffet style, including homemade cake and pastries. The hotel’s Hell’s Kitchen wine bar provides around 70 kinds of high-quality wines served with cicchetti, traditional Venetian snacks. The hotel also features a private landing where a water taxi is available. This is our guests' favorite part of Venice, according to independent reviews.
Day 2. Venice
Get ready to have an incredible experience during your first full day on vacation in Venice! Meet your expert guide this morning, who will be ready to take you on a tour of St. Mark's Square, the historical Byzantine Basilica, the Bridge of Sighs, and an outdoor viewing of Palazzo Ducale.
This afternoon you have the choice of taking some free time to explore or staying with your Tour Guide to take a water taxi over to Murano, where you will visit one of the oldest glass-blowing factories in the world.
Motoscafi (water taxi) in Venice
A Tip For Your Trip: Entrance to Murano factory is included but the water taxi needs to be paid locally (15euro per person). Please inform your tour director at your orientation briefing on the 1st night if you would like to join the optional visit to Murano.
Day 3. Venice - Bologna - Florence
After a filling breakfast at the hotel, get ready to go to Florence. You and your travel companions will stop in Bologna for approximately 2.5 hours. Bologna is world-famous for its traditional cuisine, particularly – you guessed it – Bolognese sauce!
Here, you will have the opportunity to have a look inside the many shops in the city, walk through the covered walkways, and visit one of the oldest wine bars in Italy. You will also get to enjoy tastings of local cheese such as Parmigiano, traditional bread, and the famous white wine in the area, Pignoletto.
Later on, you will continue the trip to Florence. Once you've arrived, check in to your hotel and spend the rest of the evening at leisure.
Transfer from Venice to Florence (with stop in Bologna)
Check-in - Grand Hotel Adriatico
Enjoy an elegant stay in Florence by spending your nights in the Grand Hotel Adriatico. Beautifully designed with hardwood floors and furniture, warm color schemes that make you feel at home, and an attentive staff to handle all questions and needs, the Adriatico becomes a home away from home. Guests can enjoy private parking, two restaurants, a bar that offers cocktails and drinks, a fitness center, conference rooms, and a full breakfast buffet offered every morning.
Rooms are comfortable and include a satellite flat-screen TV, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, blackout curtains, a safe, ironing facilities, a minibar, and a private bathroom complete with a hairdryer. The S.M. Novella train station is a short walk away, and many of the city's main attractions are just a 10-minute walk away.
Day 4. Florence
Today you will go on a guided walk of Florence where you will be able to see famous landmarks like the Duomo and Galleria dell'Accademia. While you're there, be sure to visit Michelangelo's "David," along with many other artistic masterpieces.
The rest of the afternoon and evening are all yours to explore Florence and grab dinner at one of the many local restaurants in the area.
Ponte Vecchio Bridge in Florence
Day 5. Florence
Wake up this morning and prepare yourself for a day of leisurely exploration. Dive into the parts of Florence you may not have gotten to experience yesterday. If you need some recommendations, your Tour Guide will be happy to provide some for you. A great place to start is visiting the old Ponte Vecchio Bridge or the stunning Boboli Gardens. You can also take a trip to the Corridoio Vasariano if you would like to see more magnificent artwork.
Boboli Gardens in Florence
Day 6. Florence - Montepulciano - Rome
Have one last breakfast at this hotel and then depart for Rome. On your way, you will stop in Montepulciano, which is known for its wine production and has over 75 historical wine cellars. Here, you will have a light lunch and wine tasting before continuing the journey to Rome.
The afternoon is yours to spend as you like! Explore the city with some of your travel companions, or go off for some alone time. Be sure not to miss the Trevi fountain, Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, and the Spanish Steps. When night falls, head to a local restaurant for authentic Italian pasta and have some heavenly gelato for dessert!
Transfer from Florence to Rome (with stop in Montepulciano)
The 4-star Hotel Romanico Palace is set in an ornate 19th-century building and is a 7-minute walk from the Villa Borghese museum and less than a mile from the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps.
Each of the 120 elegant, richly designed rooms feature period furnishings, murals and sumptuous fabrics, and come with free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs. Deluxe rooms come with marble bathrooms, while opulent suites may come with 4-poster beds or carved headboards, as well as whirlpool tubs, and balconies with city views. Enjoy a fine Italian meal from the rooftop restaurant, and decompress in the Roman-inspired spa with a steam room, a hammam, relaxation areas and a gym.
The Bettoja Atlantico Hotel is the perfect place for your stay in Italy. This elegant hotel is located 100 meters from Termini Station and is in the historic center of Rome just a fifteen minute walk to The Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Trevi Fountain. This four-star hotel is elegant with warm and welcoming touches from the hotel's staff, and your furry friends are welcome free of charge! Each room is illuminated, warm and inviting, complete with private bathrooms, comfortable mattresses, and double sound proof windows.
Day 7. Rome
Today, you have the whole day to relax or explore Rome at leisure. Find a local cafe to have some coffee granita, or ask the hotel staff what recommendations they might have. You can visit the Colosseum and walk through history, then check out the next-door Roman Forum. This is where social and religious activities were held in ancient Rome and is one of the best places to take memorable pictures.
Please Note: For journeys that begin in Venice on a Wednesday (rather than a Monday), the Vatican tour will be on Day 7 rather than Day 8 and Day 8 will be a free day in Rome prior to the farewell dinner.
Vatican City
Day 8. Rome
Today you will transfer to Vatican City after your morning meal at the hotel. Here you will tour the Vatican Museums with your group as you admire collections of ancient sculptures, medieval tapestries, and famous Renaissance paintings. The tour will end at the Sistine Chapel which is filled with tons of Italian history, and happens to be where the Pope is elected!
Afterwards, you will visit St. Peter's Basilica which is the largest church in Christendom. Here you can gaze upon Mihelangelo's Pieta and Bernini's seven-story bronze canopy right above the main altar.
This evening, you and your travel companions will have a farewell dinner at a local restaurant before getting ready for your journey home tomorrow.
Colosseum in Rome
A Tip For Your Trip: Please note that the visit of St. Peter’s Basilica is subject to availability based on the events planned by the Pope.
Day 9. Depart Rome
Bid farewell to Rome today! Board your airport transfer, hop on your flight home, and reminisce about this incredible trip to Italy.
Transfer from Rome hotel to Rome airport
Fly home!
We have selected the most economical flight schedule for you. Please note that shorter and more convenient flight options may be available at an additional cost.
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