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Europe
New Year's in...

New Year's in Florence: Venice, Florence & Rome

10 days, 3 cities11
See dates and prices

From $2539 without flightsPayments as low as $126

Aerial view of a city with a large red-domed building in the middle of the city at sunset
Aerial view of a city with a large red-domed building in the middle of the city at sunset
Ancient ruins with many columns and a path running through the middle of the ruins
A group of people on a small boat being paddled through waterways between buildings
Two hands holding out ice cream cones overlooking a view of a canal between buildings
Trip Type:
or
Activity Level:
Special Departures:

Why go?

As you float along winding canals, stare awestruck at priceless art, and indulge in plate after plate of fresh pasta, try to reflect on why you’re here. Maybe to explore your heritage, maybe for cultural immersion, or maybe you’re just really, really hungry. Regardless, Italy awaits. As does a New Year's Eve in Florence.

Picture yourself

  • Eating the cacio e pepe you typically dream about

  • Tossing a coin into the Trevi Fountain (tip: right hand over left shoulder)

  • Drifting through the canals of Venice in a gondola

  • Savoring gelato as you people watch in a Tuscan piazza

What you'll get

  • Round-trip flights & airport transfers (or book 'em yourself)

  • 8 nights in handpicked accommodations

  • 8 breakfasts

  • 2 dinners

  • Expert Tour Director

  • 24/7 support from our travel gurus

  • A New Year's Eve celebration in Florence

  • 3 insider city tours with local guides

Map for the New Year's in Florence: Venice, Florence & Rome tour
Full trip itinerary

Itinerary

  • Day 1: Overnight Flight

    Board your overnight flight, bound for Italy. Get ready to eat spaghetti on penne on linguine on fettuccine on gnocchi on ravioli on chocolate gelato (not literally, but maybe literally).

  • Day 2: Arrive in Venice + Welcome Dinner

    Welcome to Venice, the renowned former naval power of Italy. Grab your walking shoes, a good map (like a really good map) and hit the narrow, winding, organized, yet maddeningly confusing streets. The one-of-a-kind canals have to be seen to be appreciated. Watch the gondolas, browse the shops, and eat the gelato until you can't eat anymore. (Let’s be real, you can always have more gelato).

    In the evening, enjoy a Welcome Dinner of local cuisine and drinks with fellow travelers at an authentic local spot. Afterwards, you’re free to take the party elsewhere!

    Today's highlights:

    • Meet an EF representative at the airport.
    • Transfer to your accommodations and check in.
    • Receive the latest schedule from your Tour Director.
    • Meet your fellow travelers as they arrive.
    • Take a guided tour of some top sights around Venice.
  • Day 3: Tour Venice

    Get ready to see Venice through the eyes of a local Italian. Your guide will show you canals, an extraordinary basilica, and a staircase shaped like a snail. It’s only day three so you definitely haven’t had enough pasta yet. Eat more pasta.

    Today's highlights:

    • Travel from mainland Venice to the island, catching sight of St. Mark's Basilica, plenty of gondolas, and the spectacular Venetian skyline.
    • See several historic churches and lose yourself in the narrow streets of Venice.
    • Follow the winding Grand Canal through the heart of Venice.
    • Play Marco polo from across the Rialto Bridge, the oldest bridge in the city that connects San Marco and San Polo.

    Free time suggestions

    Book Worm: Check out Acqua Alta Library, a hidden bookstore where the books are piled from floor to ceiling, and kittens run around just waiting for some company.
    300 Years Young: Opened in 1720, Caffè Florian is the oldest café in the world. And while the venue may be old, their beliefs have always been ahead of their time. They were the only café to serve women during the 18th century. Nicely done, Florian.
    Go for Gondola: Make your dreams come true by floating down the Venetian canals aboard traditional gondolas.

  • Day 4: Travel to Florence via Emilia Romagna

    Head further down the boot that is Italy and add two more cities to your ‘been there, done that’ list. Watch the hills and trees of the countryside slip by out the window of your private coach before reaching your final destination for the evening and deciding what’s for dinner (pizza is never not an option).

    Today's highlights:

    • Break up your trip to Tuscany with a stop in the Emilia Romagna region for some lunch and time to explore.
    • Check in to your accommodations in Florence and see what the place has to offer.
    • Get the scoop on the area you’re staying on a short walk with your Tour Director.
  • Day 5: Tour Florence + New Year's Eve Celebration!

    You’ve got a full day in Florence, the compact capital of the Tuscany region known for its famous Renaissance artwork. Throw on some comfortable shoes and join a local guide for a walking tour of the city. By the end of it, you’ll be looking up how to live in Italy forever.

    *Note: There is no included entry to the Duomo during the guided sightseeing on this day, but you will have free time to return if you so choose.

    Today's highlights:

    • Cross the Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in Florence, home to many of Florence’s jewelers and art merchants. Get ready for some bling.
    • Stroll the Piazza della Signoria, home to Florence’s seat of power, the Palazzo Vecchio, as well as several intricate sculptures.
    • Visit the Duomo Cathedral. Return during your free time and challenge yourself to climb the 463 steps to the top for stunning views of the city.
    • Tonight, count down to New Year’s with your group!

    Free time suggestions

    Get Some Fresh Air: Loggia dei Lanzi is an open air sculpture museum, with a number of Renaissance statues. It’s beautiful, it’s in the open, and it’s free.

    Leather-Bound Books: Florence is known for its plethora of leather goods, from belts and jewelry to purses and wallets. Maybe you can finally buy that leather jacket you’ve always wanted but have been too embarrassed to buy.

  • Day 6: Free Day in Florence + Optional Tuscan Wine Tasting

    Enjoy a full free day in Florence to explore on your own or join an excursion to a wine tasting in Tuscany.

    • Get in touch with your artsy side at the Uffizi museum. The Medici Family’s art collection makes up one of the best art museums in the world.
    • Stop and smell the flowers in the Boboli gardens, and keep an eye out for 16th century sculptures (you can stop and smell those, too, but it might attract strange looks).
    • Snap the perfect picture of Florence’s skyline after hiking up to San Miniato al Monte. Then reward yourself with some gelato.
    • Shop till you drop; the area between Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo is our favorite.

    Tuscan Wine Tasting (extra cost)

    Some of the world’s best wine come from Tuscany, and you get to sample some at a scenic winery. Next head to the medieval walled town of San Gimignano, home to the world-famous Gelateria di Piazza gelato shop.

    Why wait? Save money by booking this optional excursion before your trip departs.

  • Day 7: Travel to Rome via Orvieto

    Travel to Rome via Orvieto Goodbye, Tuscan countryside. Hello, Rome, Italy’s capital city that is bursting at the seams with energy. Locals fill the streets, day and night, usually doing something that involves eating or drinking. And how can you blame them when pasta, pizza, gelato, coffee, and wine are everywhere you look? Rome is all big city/ancient ruins, served with a side of spaghetti.

    Today's highlights:

    • Board your private coach, bound for Rome.
    • Stop in Orvieto, a quaint Italian hill town that’s as fun to visit as it is to say in an Italian accent.
    • Marvel at the artistry of the facade of Orvieto’s stunning cathedral, built in 1290 (no, that’s not a typo—it’s really that old).
    • Arrive in Rome, surrounded by art, ruins, and 2.9 million people.
    • Take a tour of the surrounding area with your Tour Director, stopping by some famous attractions, and more than few gelato shops.
  • Day 8: Explore Rome

    They say all roads lead to Rome, but once you’re there you quickly realize that all roads actually lead to restaurants. Take the morning to satisfy your cravings and sip some espresso, then experience everything ancient Rome has to offer with a local guide.

    Today's highlights:

    • Tour the city with a local guide who will show you why Rome is one of the most legendary cities in Europe.
    • Experience the heart of ancient Rome with a visit to the Forum, once a hub of activity for the city.
    • See the ruins of several Roman temples, including the Temple of the Vestal Virgins.
  • Day 9: Free Day in Rome + Vatican City (Optional)

    Today you get to explore centuries worth of culinary perfection, unbelievable architecture, and local fashion on your own. And let it be said, Rome looks goooood for being 2,000 years old. (It must moisturize.) Shop, eat, drink, and talk like an Italian (with your hands) during your free day. Embrace the culture and indulge in carbs during your last day in the Eternal City. Plus, if you're up for it, join an optional excursion to the Vatican.

    Today's highlights:

    • Explore the bustling streets and famous sights while enjoying a cone of gelato.
    • Take your carb overload one step further—by making your own pasta (Taste of Italy Excursion).
    • Soak in the history by exploring ancient ruins.
    • Act like a fashonista on Via del Corso, the main street in historical center of Rome lined with brand names and local eateries.

    Free time suggestions

    Trevi Fountain: Rumor has it, if turn your back to the Trevi Fountain and toss a coin over your shoulder, it guarantees you’ll return to the Eternal City. Throw in a second coin, and you’ll not only come back, but also find love. (Significant other not guaranteed by EF Ultimate Break.)
    Shopping on Vide del Corso: Walk down the longest pedestrian street in the city for some prime shopping. Populated by both locals and tourists, there’s room for everyone on the narrow store-filled street.

    Farewell Dinner
    Share some last laughs (and maybe shed a few tears) at an included farewell dinner with the group.

    A Visit to the Vatican (extra cost)

    Visit the Pope’s house: Vatican City. Take a guided tour of the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's Basilica, and get your dose of art history up close and personal—viewing Michelangelo's famed Sistine Chapel frescoes.

    Please note: The Vatican is closed on Sundays. In the event that the itinerary day containing this optional lands on a Sunday for your departure, the optional will take place the day before.

    This excursion is pre-book only; if your trip is less than 90 days away, please call 800-766-2645 to purchase. This excursion is also non-refundable 95 days prior to departure.

  • Day 10: Fly Home

    Arrivederci, amici!
    Translation: Goodbye, friends. Your next destination awaits—home. Before you head to the airport, enjoy your last few moments together. Take one more group photo. Grab that final drink. (Fine, maybe a couple of drinks.) But this isn’t goodbye. It’s “See you later.” The only question is, where?

    –OR–

    EXTEND YOUR TRIP 2 WAYS

    1. Double the fun
    A lot of our trips line up back to back! Give us a call—we can help you add another and save big while you're at it.

    2. Go ahead or stay behind
    Extending your trip is easy! During checkout, you'll have the option to fly to (or from) the gateway of your choice for an additional fee. We'll adjust your flights accordingly, but you'll be responsible to take care of your transportation, hotels, and other logistics outside of tour.

    Note: Depending on your desired gateways, additional fees may apply.

Reviews


Overall rating: 5 out of 5
Based on 11 authentic traveler reviews
  • Ring in the New Year in Italy like no other!

      Miah, traveled Dec. 2023

    On top of the scrumptious cuisine of Gelato, pizza, pasta, and more Gelato, this is a trip to remember! While Venice, Florence, & Rome are the main cities to visit, you have the opportunity to see so much more of Italy! From the charming towns visited in transit to the next city, to the astounding architecture and landscape of Italy as a whole, there is no o... See more

  • New years in Italy

      Anonymous, traveled Dec. 2023

    Trip was amazing! Dario is the best tour director ever!!

  • Amazing trip!

      Sophie, traveled Dec. 2023

    A wonderful choice for a first visit to Italy with a balance between free time and structured activities.

  • New Years in Florence 🎉

      Lizeth, traveled Dec. 2023

    My EF experience cannot be put into words. How beautiful it was and overall the happiness it gave me, you’d have to experience it yourself. I had the best tour director (Dario from Italy)! 10/10 would recommend. I loved everything about it.

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