Rome to Milan by Train

Welcome to Italy. You will be collected from the airport and transferred to our hotel in the city. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure, so you can head to explore some of the sights. Perhaps the iconic Trevi Fountain, or the Piazza Della Rotonda, home to the Parthenon.

This evening, you will be collected and taken to a local restaurant in Trastevere, one of the most vibrant districts in the Italian capital. Enjoy an included dinner at a traditional Roman trattoria and indulge in local specialties dating back in time. After dinner, you will be returned to the hotel.

Please note: On Saturday departures, the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica tour will be replaced with another private tour or rescheduled to the first day based on your arrival time in Rome. This is due to the weekly closure of the Vatican museums and Sistine Chapel.

After breakfast, you will be collected by a driver and taken to the Vatican for a guided tour of the museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica. Take in some of the most famous works of art in the world, including works by artists including Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Raphael and Giotto. Explore the Sistine Chapel, which dates to 1483 and is the most famous chapel in the world thanks to its elaborate ceiling and of course the famous painting, The Final Judgement by Michelangelo.

After exploring the Vatican City (and ticking another country off your to-visit list), there is free time for lunch. You will then be joined by an expert guide for a tour of the Colosseum, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This ancient stadium once held 50,000 - 80,000 spectators and was the scene of vicious battle re-enactments and games, where gladiators fought to the death. You also visit the Arch of Constantine and the historic Forum. Then its on to Palatine Hill to learn about the legend of Romulus and Remus, before the rest of the day is free to explore Rome further at leisure.

Rome - Florence. After breakfast, you are transferred to Termini Station, and will take the included two-hour high speed train to Florence, capital of the Tuscany region. Arriving at the hotel, there is free time to settle in before you embark on a tour of the city with an expert guide. You will see Santa Maria del Fiore, more commonly referred to as the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo della Signoria (also known as Palazzo Vecchio), and the Basilica of Santa Croce. Our tour also includes 'skip the line' entrance tickets to the famous Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze or “Gallery of the Academy of Florence”, the home of Michelangelo's sculpture David.

The evening is at leisure in Florence.

Florence - Poggio al Sole - Florence. Today you will explore the picturesque Chianti wine region. You will be transferred to the quaint winery of Poggio al Sole, passing through vineyards and olive groves, small hamlets surrounded by intact medieval walls, winding streets, castles and fortresses en route. On arrival, enjoy a guided tour of the cellars and take part in an included wine tasting session and local lunch of Tuscan specialties. Bellies full and heads a little light, you return to Florence for the evening.

Today is completely free for you to further explore the Renaissance city of Florence. Lose yourself in the stunning architecture, find a good local restaurant for lunch, or take in other attractions such as the world famous Uffizi Gallery.

Florence - Venice. This morning, take the train to Venice and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the morning is free to settle in. This afternoon you will enjoy an included private gondola ride along the canals, the main bucket list activity in the Canal City. Take in many of the city's iconic highlights and lesser-known gems from the water. You then enjoy an included "Bacaro" tour, visiting a handful of local wine bars in order to sample some of the city's best wine and "cicchetti", a kind of Venetian Tapas. After our food and wine tour, the rest of the day is at leisure in Venice.

You are exploring on dry land today, with a guided walking tour of Venice. This tour includes 'skip the line' tickets to the magnificent St Mark's Basilica, perhaps the most famous building in the city. You can also take in the the Palazzo dei Dogi, symbol of Venice’s glorious past as well as the legendary Ponte dei Sospiri or “Bridge of Sighs”.

After the tour, the rest of today is at leisure. You could visit Harry's Bar, a place of legend that has been serving Hollywood stars and royalty since opening in 1931. There's a strict dress code to adhere to, and if you do go, we recommend you try a Bellini - this bar invented them!

After enjoying breakfast at your hotel this morning, you'll have a free day to explore Venice at your own pace. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience more of what Venice has to offer, beyond what was covered in the city tour. Venice, a city of over 100 canals with no roads, is a lagoon city on the Adriatic Sea, brimming with historical and outdoor attractions.

You can visit unforgettable sites such as Burano, Murano, the Doge's Palace, and Teatro La Fenice. There are also numerous museums to explore, including the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Museo Correr, Ca' Rezzonico, and many others. If you prefer a more leisurely day, you can relax and enjoy the local wines and cuisine.

In the morning, wake up at your centrally located hotel and transfer to Venice Santa Lucia railway station. Board the high-speed train to Milan, where you'll check in at your hotel and have some free time to explore.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. At approximately 09:30AM, meet your private English-speaking guide in the hotel lobby to begin your walking tour of the city. This tour will take you to several fascinating locations, including the Duomo, Sforza Castle, Colonne di San Lorenzo, and La Scala Opera House.

Near your hotel, you can visit the magnificent Duomo Cathedral, a stunning example of Gothic architecture and the largest church in Italy. From there, walk through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a 19th-century glass-vaulted shopping arcade filled with fashionable shops and cafés. Originally designed as a covered passage between the Cathedral and La Scala Opera House, it allowed theatre-goers to stay dry on rainy days.

At the end of the Galleria, you will arrive at Milan's most famous opera house, the legendary La Scala Theatre. Founded in 1778 and still in use today, La Scala has hosted some of the world’s greatest musicians and opera singers, including Pavarotti, Maria Callas, and Giuseppe Verdi. The afternoon is free for you to explore at your leisure.

Today your tour ends. Enjoy a final breakfast in the hotel before your included transfer to Milan Malpensa Airport, or Milan Linate Airport.