Basix
Explorer
Rail
Highlights of Italy
8 days • 4.8
5
Excellent
112 reviews
8 days
Start
Venice, Italy
Finish
Rome, Italy
Trip Code
ZMRR
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 16
Physical Rating
Meals
3 breakfasts
Transport
Train
Accommodation
Hotel (5 nights), Hostel (2 nights)
From £1,401(8 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Explore rocky coastal pathways and pastel-coloured villages with a Cinque Terre day pass, which allows you to hike at your own pace and use the coast's public transport.
Get lost in the floating city of Venice and wander the city's maze of alleyways, canals and lagoon islands, and choose whether to opt in for an optional gondola ride.
Discover the landmarks of Rome with your handy local leader and wander around the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and Piazza Navona.
Spend two days in Florence – a city known for its beauty and rustic Tuscan cuisine – and choose to discover the city’s culinary traditions on optional food excursions.
Make travel a breeze with a European trip that includes train travel. Enjoy extra time to sit back, relax, play games with your fellow travellers or watch the changing scenery roll by.
Is this trip right for you?
This trip is made for travellers who value their independence but also want the benefit of a local leader and a group of like-minded travellers. The itinerary includes a mix of activities and free time, during which your leader will offer suggestions. Please budget for the money spent on optional activities you want to partake in.
As accommodation on this trip is twin-share, solo travellers will share a room with other travellers of the same gender. This trip is a great opportunity to get to know other like-minded people, so embrace it! Space is at a premium in Europe, and your hotel is no exception. For those travelling as a duo, European hotels often don't have double beds but rather two single beds that can be pushed together. In some cases, bathroom facilities will be shared rather than ensuite.
Summer temperatures in Italy can reach over 40°C. To combat the heat, it’s important to use sun protection, wear layers, and drink plenty of water. Please keep in mind that many European hotel rooms are not equipped with air conditioning, and consider the time of year you wish to travel.
The primary means of transportation on this trip is train. Trains are a fast way to cross long distances, allowing you to avoid traffic jams and arrive right into the city centre. They are comfortable and all have toilets, however, can sometimes be busy. You'll have to carry your own luggage on and off the train, so make sure it doesn’t exceed our weight and size recommendations. You can find specifics under ‘Packing’ in the ‘Essential trip information’ section.
Itinerary
Wander through the iconic spots of Italia, from winding canals to clifftop villages
How long does it take to fall in love? In a country where history spills from world-class museums and tiny osterias serve up life-changing pasta recipes, eight days might just be enough (but if you have more time, why not extend your adventure?). On this trip, you’ll begin winding your way through the canals of Venice, hiking through the scenic Cinque Terre, soaking up beauty and history of Florence and finishing up in the piazzas of Rome. With plenty of free time for independent exploration and the freedom to discover Italy's history and culture at your own pace, there's no better way to see this popular pocket of Europe.
Inclusions
Meals
3 breakfasts
Transport
Train
Accommodation
Hotel (5 nights), Hostel (2 nights)
Included activities
Venice - Leader-led Orientation Walk
Venice – San Marco Square
Venice - Cicchetti Snack Stop
Cinque Terre - Day Trip, including Cinque Terre Pass
Florence - Leader-led Orientation Walk
Rome – Leader-led Orientation Walk
Rome – Trevi Fountain
Optional activities
Venice - Gondola Ride - EUR80
Venice - Doge's Palace & Bridge of Sighs - EUR30
Peggy Guggenheim Collection - EUR17
Venice - St Mark's Campanile - EUR12
Venice - Accademia Gallery - EUR16
Ca’ D’Oro - Galería Franchetti - EUR15
Venice - Ca' Rezzonico Museum of Eighteenth Century Art - EUR11
Venice - Glass Museum Murano - EUR11
Venice - Museum of St Mark's Basilica - EUR5
Venice - Scuola Grande di San Rocco - EUR14
Venice - Chicchetti & Wine Tour of Venice Urban Adventure - EUR112
Venice - St Mark's Basilica Treasury - EUR5
Cinque Terre - 'Il Laboratorio del Pesto' Making & Demonstration - EUR25
Cinque Terre - Coastal Cruise - EUR41
Cinque Terre - Via dell’Amore trail - EUR10
Florence - Foodies Walk Urban Adventure - EUR79
Siena - Day Trip to Siena by Public Bus - EUR24
Florence - Brunelleschi 3 Days pass - Baptistry, Museo Opera del Duomo, Giotto Bell Tower and Brunelleschi Dome - EUR30
Florence - Palazzo Vecchio - EUR12
Florence - Accademia - EUR20
Florence - Uffizi Gallery - EUR29
Florence - Pitti Palace (Boboli Gardens, Museo Argenti, Costume Gallery, Porcellain Museum) - EUR22
Florence - Bargello Museum - EUR16
Florence - Medici Chapels - EUR17
Rome - Castel Sant'Angelo - EUR19
Rome - Christian Catacombs - EUR10
Rome - Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill - EUR19
Rome - Keats-Shelley Memorial House - EUR6
Vatican City - Vatican Museum - EUR25
Rome - Pantheon - EUR5
Vatican City - St Peter's Dome Climb & Elevator - EUR10
Rome - Venezia Palace - EUR17
Rome - Galleria Borghese - EUR17
Dates and availability
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Ending
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Important notes
1. A single supplement is not available on this trip.
2. Venice will implement a visitor’s fee for all travellers visiting the city between 18 April 2025 and 27 July 2025 This fee is not payable by Tuuur customers; however, you will need to apply for an exemption before arrival at
. For further information, please see the “Passports, visas and entry requirements,” section of your Essential Trip Information.
3. If you have prebooked arrival transfer with us, please read Joining Point Instructions in Essential Trip Information document for exact details. Your transfer may include a water taxi, or a car taxi, and you may be required to walk for a short distance from the end point of the transfer route to your hotel.
Reviews (106)
5 stars
93
4 stars
10
3 stars
2
2 stars
1
Cameron
Nov 12, 2024
The Highlights of Italy trip went very well. I got to see everything on my agenda. Our Tour Leader, Riccardo did an amazing job even with the added hassle of a train strike and bus strike during our trip.
Zara
Nov 12, 2024
We loved the Highlights of Italy tour! So glad we chose to spend a day in Cinque Terre over Pisa as we made such special memories there. Big thank you to our tour leader Riccardo for taking care of everything to ensure we had a stress free experience! We’ll always remember our first trip to Italy. Zara and Liam :)
Magdaleno
Nov 09, 2024
I’m happy I booked with Intrepid. I loved the trip and the tour leader Riccardo was friendly.
Win
Nov 08, 2024
excellent well planned tour, even though we experienced trains and buses strikes in one week, very good tour leader Riccardo tried to manage it well
Shwe
Nov 08, 2024
Tour leader was great and the whole trip went really smooth.
Brenda
Oct 27, 2024
My friend and I just finished our first trip with Intrepid. The group was diverse and congenial, each experience was well coordinated and interesting. Accommodation was clean and well appointed. Our leader was amazing. I'll definitely consider Intrepid in future travels.
Patty
Oct 26, 2024
For an inexperienced solo traveler, this trip was perfect for me! The people in my group were wonderful and our leader, Federico, was organised and friendly. I saw and did so much! The Cinque Terre hike was a standout, but so much to love about each destination!
Rob
Oct 23, 2024
Intrepid travel exceeded my expectations on so many levels. My tour leader Vincenzo was extremely knowledgeable and truly enriched our experience in Italy. I highly recommend traveling with Intrepid.
Charles
Oct 13, 2024
My wife and I had an incredible experience on the Highlights of Italy tour. Our guide (“V”) was incredibly kind and knowledgeable making this the perfect introduction to Italy’s major cities. We are seasoned international travelers but I have to say that we would have missed so much about Italy without a guide. This was a basix trip so our accommodations were basic but in great locations with everything we needed. Definitely planning to use Intrepid again for another international trip.
Maree
Oct 09, 2024
Excellent tour especially when you are on your own
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