Iconic Italy: Venice, Florence & Rome

• Meet your fellow travelers and your Tour Director as you arrive at the airport.
• Join your Tour director on an intro walk to get to know the area around your accommodations in the heart of Venice.
• Head out for your Welcome Dinner at an authentic local spot and get to know the rest of your group.

Ask your Tour Director:

• When to visit the local markets—the most famous, the Rialto Mercato, is right on the Grand Canal and open six days a week.
• Where to buy locally made souvenirs that support the community, local producers, and the Veneto region.
• When to go to the famed bookstore, Libreria Acqua Alta, just a few minutes from St. Mark’s Square—a unique, chaotic spot beloved in the heart of Venice.
• For the perfect time and spot to arrange a gondola ride (extra cost).
• If you can row a gondola—it’s possible, thanks to a unique partnership with Row Venice (extra cost, see Venice FAQ).
• How to visit a fourth-generation winery in the Veneto region, a favorite of our travelers for more than a decade (extra cost).
• How to beat the lines and get inside St. Mark’s Basilica to see 900 years of Venetian art and history (extra cost).
• How to visit colorful Burano for a picture-perfect afternoon and lunch (extra cost).
• How to reach one of the city’s famed viewpoints, like the campanile of San Giorgio Maggiore, for iconic photos of St. Mark’s or the Grand Canal (extra cost).

• Arrive in St. Mark’s Square in style on a private boat; the square is home to treasures like the Basilica di San Marco, the Doge’s Palace, and Caffè Florian, one of the oldest continually operating cafes in the world.
• Stroll through picture-perfect piazzas with your local guide, visiting historic churches like San Zulian and the Church of the Greeks with its distinctive leaning bell tower. Along the way, marvel at the 15th-century spiral staircase of Scala Contarini del Bovolo, a hidden architectural gem.
• Stroll across some of Venice’s 400+ bridges, like the charming Ponte de la Pietà and the Bridge of Sighs.
• Enjoy included snacks from one of Venice’s top pasticcerias (bakeries!) before ending with a glassblowing demonstration by one of the city’s master glassblowers at the Vecchia Murano glass factory.

Libreria Acqua Alta: Browse Venice’s most famous and whimsical bookstore, where books are stacked in bathtubs and gondolas to protect them from frequent floods.

Gondola ride on the Grand Canal: What better way to experience a city known for its bridges and canals than with a gondola ride down the grandest of them all?

Vino e cicchetti: Treat yourself to the local pastime andar per bacari, or hopping from wine bar to wine bar, trying inexpensive local wine and cicchetti, aka Venetian tapas.

• Break up your bus ride to Tuscany with a stop in Bologna for lunch and some time to explore.
• Check into your centrally located accommodation in Florence and head out on an intro walk with your Tour Director to check out highlights like the enormous Duomo, the Piazzale Michelangelo, and the many bars and restaurants byPiazza della Signoria.
• Enjoy a free evening to dive into the Florentine streets on your own.

Ask your Tour Director:

• Where to have a golden hour picnic in Florence.
• Their favorite wine window—and the fascinating history behind these quirky Florentine features.
• Where to enjoy an aperitivo with a view—Florence’s rooftop bars are truly iconic.
• Where to find the vintage photo booths you’ve seen all over TikTok.
• For women-owned boutiques and beloved family-run restaurants in the heart of the city.
• About an optional day trip to see Pisa’s famous Leaning Tower (extra cost, seasonal).
• How and when to visit the Uffizi Gallery without the crowds (extra cost).
• Tips for visiting Michelangelo’s David at La Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze (extra cost).
• How and when to visit Florence’s iconic Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, nicknamed the Duomo (extra cost).

• Join a local guide for a two-hour walking tour of Firenze.
• Cross the Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in Florence spanning the Arno River, home to many of Florence’s jewelers and art merchants.
• Stroll the Piazza della Signoria, home to Florence’s seat of power, the Palazzo Vecchio, as well as several intricate sculptures.
• Stand in awe of the Duomo Cathedral and maybe come back during your free time and challenge yourself to climb the 463 steps to the top for stunning views of the city.
• End your tour with an included sample of homemade focaccia at a local forno, or bakery.

The Ultimate Wine Window Trail: Florence’s wine windows are a quirky, historic way to sip your way through the city—tiny stone openings once used for plague-era wine service, now the most underrated “bar crawl” around.

The Uffizi: Wander the galleries and find yourself face-to-face with Botticelli’s Birth of Venus. one of the world’s most iconic Renaissance paintings, housed in a building that started life as a Medici office block.

Statue of David: You can’t leave Florence without seeing Michelangelo’s 17-foot David at Florence’s Accademia Gallery, carved from a single block of marble in 1501.

Santo Spirito: This beautiful basilica designed by Brunelleschi (who also did the Duomo nbd) is one of the most iconic examples of Renaissance architecture.

The Duomo: This huge cathedral isn’t just an important religious site and architectural masterpiece—it’s also home to works by Michaelangelo, Donatello, and Giotto.

Boboli Gardens: If you wanna see the blueprint for all those other fancy European gardens (cough Versailles), stroll the streets, caves, and fountains of Boboli.

• Arrive in Rome in the late morning for a full day and evening to explore. Check into your accommodations in the thick of one of Rome’s most historic neighborhoods, then meet your local guide for a walking tour of the city.
• Follow your local guide through Rome to learn about some of the most iconic imperial landmarks that have withstood the test of time, like the Colosseum, the largest ancient amphitheater ever built.
• Get picture-perfect views of the sprawling Roman Forum, the ruins of ancient government buildings, temples, and basilicas that were once the heart of Roman public life.
• Climb Capitoline Hill, one of Rome’s legendary seven hills and a symbol of ancient Roman power, now home to elegant palazzos designed by Michelangelo and sweeping views of the Forum below.

Spanish Steps: These 135 steps that link the Piazza di Spagna and the Trinita dei Monti church are a great spot to people watch and chill with some gelato.

Testaccio: One of Rome’s most vibrant neighborhoods, Testaccio is home to a thriving nightlife scene, funky street art, and a ton of unique food.

Trevi Fountain: They say if you turn your back to the fountain and toss a coin over your shoulder, you’ll return to Rome. Throw in a second coin and you’ll also find love. Aw.

Shopping on Via del Corso: Rome’s longest pedestrian street is ripe for some prime shopping, lined with over a mile of high-end boutiques and budget-friendly stores.

Sunset at Piazza del Popolo: Eperience one of Rome’s most famous squares at sunset is magical. For even more magic, climb the Pincio Terrace for panoramic views of the city.

Pantheon at night: Seeing the Pantheon after dark is a whole different experience. The square in front of it becomes much quieter and the building itself is beautifully illuminated.