Rome, Florence & Venice
COACH TOUR: Take in the best of central Italy on this 8-day group tour which starts and ends in Rome. Explore the capital, visit medieval Siena, and relax in the Tuscan town of Montepulciano. Marvel at the stunning Renaissance architecture of Florence, enjoy a stroll around Bologna and visit Padua. Discover the highlights of Venice on a walking tour and skip the line at the Vatican City to see St Peter's Basilica and the impressive Sistine Chapel.
For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more download our Trip Notes
Tour overview
Itinerary
Day 1 Welcome to Rome!
Day 1 Welcome to Rome!
Welcome to Italy! On arrival in Rome, there is an included transfer to our start hotel. Then head out to explore the capital on the Rome Hop on, Hop off bus, allowing you to see the city's main sights at your own pace. Our open-top panoramic buses allow you to enjoy a spectacular view of the most iconic monuments of the Eternal City. All you have to do is jump on board and relax, listen to the audio commentary and get on and off at any of the eight stops available along the route. The bus ticket included is valid for a day.
Day 2 Roma to Firenze
Day 2 Roma to Firenze
Rome - Assisi - Siena - Florence. It's an early start as we depart Rome at 7:15 and journey to the medieval walled town of Assisi. There's time to visit the picturesque Basilica of St Francis independently if you choose.
Then we continue to Siena, a UNESCO-protected town known for its incredibly narrow streets, medieval brick buildings and fan-shaped main square: Piazza del Campo. After a short visit we continue to our hotel in Florence, where dinner is included.
Day 3 Florence sightseeing & optional Pisa
Day 3 Florence sightseeing & optional Pisa
Today we enjoy a half-day sightseeing tour of Florence, 'Cradle of the Renaissance' and home of Michelangelo. Take in the beautiful Duomo, formally known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Other highlights of the city include the town hall - Palazzo Vecchio and the Basilica of Santa Croce, burial place for illustrious Italians including Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. We enjoy lunch in a typical Tuscan restaurant in Piazza Santa Croce.
This afternoon you can continue exploring Florence independently. We recommend pre-booking a visit to the Uffizi Gallery or the Academia (home to the original David). Alternatively, you can book an optional excursion to nearby Pisa, home to the iconic Leaning Tower.
Day 4 Bologna, Padua & Venice
Day 4 Bologna, Padua & Venice
Florence - Bologna - Padua - Venice. Departing Florence, we drive to beautiful Bologna, capital of the Emilia-Romagna region. Enjoy a walk through the elegant city centre to see some of the beautiful porticos and shopping streets. Stroll from Piazza Malpighi to Piazza del Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore in the heart of the city, and see the Basilica of San Petronio. There's free time to find a good restaurant for lunch.
In the afternoon we pay a short visit to Padua, a riverside city west of Venice. We'll see the Basilica of Saint Anthony, which is one of the most visited churches by pilgrims in the Catholic world. Then it's on to Venice, where we check into our hotel for the next two nights.
Please note: For tours departing from March 2025 onwards, there will no longer be a stop in Padua. Instead, more time will be spent exploring Bologna, and you will enjoy an included street food experience with a light lunch included.
Day 5 Venice
Day 5 Venice
After breakfast it's time to explore perhaps Italy's most famous and romantic destination. The floating city is a photographer's dream, and we'll be taking in the main highlights. Our tour begins in Piazza San Marco, in English known as St Mark's Square. It's the focal point of the city, dominated by St Mark's Basilica. We also see the Gothic Doge's Palace and the legendary Bridge of Sighs.
After our tour, we enjoy a glass of prosecco and some traditional cicchetti (Italian tapas) in our beautiful setting and there is free time for you to explore further - we strongly recommend a gondola ride on Venice's famous canals!
Day 6 Tuscany's wine region
Day 6 Tuscany's wine region
Venice - Tuscany wine region - Rome. Leaving Venice, we head into Tuscany, one of Italy's most idyllic regions. A land known for its beautiful scenery, historic castles, and some of Italy's finest wines. We enjoy a stop in the medieval town of Montepulciano for lunch, where you can try a glass or two of the region's vino. Then we enjoy a short amount of free time to explore the town further, before returning to Rome for the evening.
Day 7 The Vatican
Day 7 The Vatican
Today we explore Vatican City, home to the Pope and technically an independent country - another one you can tick off your list!
Departing the hotel after breakfast, we'll enjoy a guided tour of the Vatican's museums and galleries with 'skip the line' tickets. Take in the Gallery of Tapestries, the beautifully decorated frescoes of Raphael's Rooms, and of course, the Sistine Chapel. We can also admire the stunning St Peter's Basilica from the outside. This iconic landmark dominates the Vatican and is one of the largest Christian churches in the world, as well as being the pinnacle of Renaissance architecture. It is allegedly where Saint Peter was buried and titans of Italian design including Donato Bramante and Michelangelo had a hand in its creation. The rest of today is at leisure in Rome.
Day 8 Arrivederci, goodbye!
Day 8 Arrivederci, goodbye!
Enjoy a final breakfast in the hotel before our tour arrangements come to an end. There is an included departure transfer to the airport.
Tour Highlights
Included
Not Included
Prices & Dates
Hotels
With a great central location by the Piazza della Repubblica and opposite the metro, the Hotel St Martin is a perfect base for those exploring the Italian capital. Rooms in this modern 4-star hotel are bright and spacious, with ensuite bathrooms, air-conditioning, satellite TV and a kettle. There is complimentary high speed Wi-Fi connection throughout the property. A continental buffet breakfast is served daily and there is also a bar. For those not wishing to head into the city to eat, fresh Mediterranean food is also served at the onsite Restaurant Sidera.
The recently renovated Raffaello Hotel is located in an atmospheric residential area, just a 10-minute tram ride from the city centre. When in the hotel guests can relax in the Raffaello Garden with a drink, or tuck into delectable Tuscan cuisine at Restaurant La Fornarina. A buffet breakfast is included and served daily and there is free Wi-Fi throughout. Rooms come with Sky television, minibar, safe and ensuite bathrooms and are tastefully decorated, as they should be in the city of the Renaissance!
Hotel Delfino Venezia Mestre is located in the lively Corso del Popolo in the heart of Mestre, the mainland section of Venice. The hotel is just 10 minutes by bus from Venice itself, with a stop across the road - reception can arrange bus tickets for guests if needed. Rooms at this 4-star hotel are well appointed and spacious, equipped with ensuite bathrooms, air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi and television. Buffet breakfast is served onsite and there is a bar and lounge area where guests can enjoy cocktails and apertifs.
Tour Reviews
The main tour was good however either end of the tour I was badly organised. I was not picked up on time on 3 occasions, the last pickup I was missed completely and they had to get me a taxi causing the whole day to be running late, wasting tickets I purchased separately as it was too late.
The tour was very well organized from start to finish. The tour guide Patrizia was exceptional and very knowledgeable. The food was very good. We saw a lot of places in a short time but I wouldn’t have changed that as it was fast paced. The weather was so nice. Walking was great. Loved every minute!
The tour was definitely fast paced. We saw a lot which is great. The only problem we had, was that Carani Tours did not receive the info from On The Go that said we need a twin room. Our guide had to contact all hotels to arrange for the correct type of room for us.
My biggest gripe was that you failed to convey to the tour guide that my daughter was a coeliac which meant she was not initially accommodated for and she was starving. Once we apprised him of this he went out of his way to ensure that she was accommodated for however the gluten-free food offered was sub-standard and it was quite depressing because she got quite despondent.
We have been on about 7 In The Go Tours and this has to be the worst. On the Go have always looked after their guests but now outsourcing you have no control. In the years past if you went on an excursion with on the go you would get us back not leave us to find our own way back. For example Venice, you took us in a tour only to say that you need to find your own way back unless you pay a price to get back, well how do you think we are getting back. Everything was nickel and dimed. I felt that Lucy the tour guide came across like she was sorry about this but it's her job to get people to pay up and pay up people did in order to get back to their accommodation. I've been on so many tours with you but you have changed and not for the better. I'm so sad because I would always recommend you to people but I can't now. We spent a lot of money in the tour but we're always paying more money for other things that weren't part of the tour. I'm just lucky that I budgeted extra but what if I hadnt. Next time I will use a company and just pay a price that includes everything. Breakfast was supposed to be included but we left so early at times and the restaurants weren't even opened yet. The breakfasts weren't of much standard either.
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