Best of Italy

14 Days | Renaissance, romance and ravishing cuisine, from Rome to Venice

4.7 out of 5 based on 96 reviews submitted.
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USD $4,122
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The enduring phrase ‘la dolce vita’ – or the good life – truly captures the essence of Italy. Spend 14 days discovering the heart of all things Italian on a culturally rich adventure from the piazzas of Rome to the canals of Venice. Tour the Tuscan countryside on a leisurely cycle along Lucca’s Serchio River, peer into Pisa and marvel at its Leaning Tower, take to the trails of the Cinque Terre for some stunning coastal views, and walk the Portofino Peninsula to be one with its glamourous residents. With time spent wine tasting in rural villages, ferry catching along Lake Como and relaxing among the vibrant centres of Milan and Venice, you’ll soon understand why Italy remains in the hearts of all who visit.

Trip overview

Map of Best Of Italy including Italy
Start
Rome, Italy
Finish
Venice, Italy
Theme
Explorer
Destinations
Italy
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Original
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
ZMSV
This trip generates 22.55 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Take to the Tuscan countryside and cycle along the Serchio River in Lucca, working up an appetite for the region’s delicious local food and renowned wines.
  • Spend a free day exploring the beautiful villages, estates and gardens dotted around Lake Como, criss-crossing the lake by ferry, and consider exploring the grounds of Bellagio's grand Villa Melzi.
  • Head with your local leader to a quaint rural village in the heart of Piedmonte to sample world-class local wines from unique grapes grown only in this region – saluti!
  • Test yourself on the hilly trails of the Cinque Terre, stopping by the picturesque pastel colour villages of Manarola, Riomaggiore and Vernazza. If you get tired, just jump on the train for the rest of your day!
  • Italy’s iconic Rome, Florence and Venice are a haven of renaissance architecture and historic sights. With plenty of time to discover at your own pace, you have the power to decide what you’d like to see.

Is this trip right for you?
  • The primary means of transportation on this trip is by train. Train travel is a fast way to traverse long distances, allowing you to avoid traffic jams and arrive right into the city centre. Trains are comfortable and all have toilets; however, they can often be quite busy.
  • Please note that we will store our bags at the railway station in Milan while exploring town. There is a limit of one bag per person for the lockers, so please make sure you pack accordingly. Please also note that you'll have to carry your own luggage on and off the trains, and up and down stairs at train stations and at hotels, so make sure it doesn’t exceed our weight and size recommendations. You can find this information in the 'What to Take' section of the Essential Trip Information. You may want to consider taking a backpack rather than a wheelie bag, however this is up to your personal preference and what you feel more comfortable with.
  • Don’t let the heat keep you from exploring the world! Summer temperatures can be extreme in many of the regions visited (over 40°C), which can be uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water. Many hotel rooms in Europe are not equipped with air-conditioning. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
  • Hotel rooms in Europe can seem rather small by American or Australian standards and often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together. Please also note that often hotels offer shared bathrooms rather than ensuite facilities.
  • On this trip you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight under 15kg / 33lb. Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps to accommodate the cobbled streets, uneven surfaces, stairs and steps you are likely to encounter while carrying your luggage. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day trips.

Itinerary

Map of Best Of Italy including Italy

Inclusions

Meals

9 breakfasts

Transport

Train, Private vehicle, Bicycle, Boat, Public bus, Metro

Accommodation

Hotel (13 nights)

Activities
  • Lucca - Bicycle Tour
  • Pisa - Half Day Trip to Pisa
  • Cinque Terre - Day Trip, including Cinque Terre Pass
  • Portofino Peninsula - Walk and Boat Ride
  • Asti - Village Winery Visit & Wine Tasting
  • Milan - Duomo Rooftop Visit
  • Milan - Half Day Trip
  • Lake Como - Ferry Pass
  • Venice - Traghetto Ride
  • Verona - Orientation walk & Juliet's Balcony
  • Venice - Orient Experience Snack Stop
Add on activities
  • Rome - Christian Catacombs - EUR10
  • Rome - Castel Sant'Angelo - EUR14
  • Rome - Galleria Borghese - EUR16
  • Rome - Keats-Shelley Memorial House - EUR6
  • Vatican City - St Peter's Dome Climb & Elevator - EUR10
  • Vatican City - Vatican Museum - EUR22
  • Florence - Foodies Walk Urban Adventure - EUR79
  • Florence - Baptistry, Museo Opera del Duomo, Giotto Bell Tower and Brunelleschi Dome - EUR30
  • Florence - Accademia - EUR17
  • Florence - Uffizi Gallery - EUR24
  • Florence - Bargello Museum - EUR14
  • Pisa - Leaning Tower of Pisa - EUR20
  • Pisa - 5 Monuments Combo Ticket - EUR10
  • Lucca - Cathedral of San Martino & Ilaria del Carretto Tomb - EUR3
  • Lucca - Guinigi Tower Climb - EUR6
  • Lucca - National Gallery Villa Guinigi - EUR5
  • Lucca - Day Trip to Barga (by public bus) - EUR9
  • Lucca - Palazzo Pfanner House & Gardens - EUR6
  • Lucca - Cathedral Museum - EUR4
  • Lucca - Puccini concert - EUR20
  • Asti - Bike Hire - EUR3
  • Asti - Archaeological Museum - EUR5
  • Milan - Castello Sforzesco - Free
  • Milan - La Scala Museum - EUR9
  • Milan - Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Last Supper' - from - EUR29
  • Lake Como - Villa Balbianello - EUR22
  • Lake Como - Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo - EUR12
  • Lake Como - Villa Melzi Gardens in Bellagio - EUR10
  • Lake Como - Vezio Castle in Varenna - EUR5
  • Venice - St Mark's Basilica Treasury - EUR5
  • Ca’ D’Oro - Galería Franchetti - EUR15
  • Venice - Accademia Gallery - EUR16
  • Peggy Guggenheim Collection - EUR17
  • Venice - St Mark's Campanile - EUR12
  • Venice - Doge's Palace & Bridge of Sighs - EUR30
  • Venice - Gondola Ride - EUR80
  • Venice - The Sweet Taste of Venice Urban Adventure - EUR94
  • Venice - Chicchetti & Wine Tour of Venice Urban Adventure - EUR99

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. A Single Supplement is bookable on this trip, excluding Day 6&7, subject to availability at the time of booking. Please also note that due to the small properties we use in Europe there is only a limited amount of single supplements available per trip departure. If you would like to book a single supplement and enquire about availability, please speak to your booking agent.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 based on 96 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Judith · Traveled October 2023
This tour of Italy was wonderful! Our leader, Lucrezia, did an outstanding job introducing us to each new site we visited and supporting our enjoyment of the included activities. There was a nice balance of structured activities and free time to explore. The itinerary was quite full and at-times fast-paced. We enjoyed the hikes and bike ride very much. All hotels were clean and comfortable and train travel was enjoyable overall. Plan on a lot of walking - which allows you to see so much. Thank you so much for a great travel experience. Judy and Patricia
Review submitted 01 Nov 2023

Tommy · Traveled October 2023
Visited many interesting places, all that we had never seen before, very informative.
Review submitted 01 Nov 2023

Stephanie · Traveled October 2023
I am so glad that we traveled with the Best of Italy Tour. It was a whirlwind of extraordinary sights and experiences. I could not have organized the itinerary myself. Having a small group and knowledgeable leader greatly improved my vacation.
Review submitted 20 Oct 2023

Lisa · Traveled October 2023
This trip was more than expected in every way! There were hidden gems and surprises around every corner that highlighted the experience! Our guide, Graziano, was stellar and fun to learn and explore with! Thank you
Review submitted 22 Oct 2023

Keran · Traveled October 2023
The Best of Italy tour we did in October 2023 was beyond my expectations. Our guide, Graziano was fantastic! We didn’t expect all the activities but loved everything we did. Graziano arranged dinners with our group of 11 every night with an aperitif & digestif to finish off. Would recommend this trip to all ages.
Review submitted 12 Nov 2023
Best of Italy
From
USD $4,122