The Perfect Itinerary for your FIRST Trip to Italy

9 NIGHTS - 3 CITIES (ROME, FLORENCE, VENICE)

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DAY 1

Arrive to Rome (FCO airport)

  • This morning you’ll land in Rome. Upon arrival, clear customs and pick up any checked luggage

  • Your private English-speaking driver will meet you in the arrivals hall and escort you to your vehicle (book your driver HERE)

  • You’ll be driven directly to your city center hotel in Rome

  • This afternoon after you’ve checked in and freshened up, join a walking food tour of the city (book your walking food tour HERE). This helps you beat jet lag, gets some calories in you, and helps you orient yourself in the city

DAY 2

Tour Vatican City

  • Enjoy breakfast at your hotel

  • Meet your private driver in the lobby who will drive you over to Vatican City to meet your private guide

  • Enjoy skip-the-line access to tour the Vatican, Vatican Museums, and Sistine Chapel. Your private expert guide will be able to tailor your tour to your specific interests, especially in the museums (book your private Vatican tour HERE)

  • In the afternoon, spend time walking around Prati neighborhood and grab dinner at Bella Napoli

DAY 3

Tour Ancient Rome

  • Enjoy breakfast at your hotel

  • Meet your private driver in the lobby who will drive you to the meeting point for your private guide

  • Enjoy skip-the-line access to tour the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Your private expert guide will be able to tailor your tour to your specific interests (book your ancient Rome tour HERE)

  • In the afternoon, spend time walking around Monti neighborhood

You’ll love this self paced city guide to Rome I wrote, complete with dining and hotel recommendations

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DAY 4

Depart Rome for Florence

  • Enjoy breakfast at your hotel

  • Check out and meet your private driver in the hotel lobby, who will drive you and your luggage to Roma Termini train station

  • Take the FrecciaRossa train (direct, nonstop) from Roma Termini to Firenze Santa Maria Novella)

  • Upon arrival, you may be able to walk to your hotel but with luggage and for first time visitors I recommend a pre-arranged private car

  • Check in to your city center hotel near the Arno

  • Freshen up, unpack, and pick up wine and picnic supplies on your way to Piazzale Michelangelo to watch the sunset over the city

  • Grab dinner at Mangiafuoco

DAY 5

Art and Museums Touring

  • Enjoy breakfast at your hotel

  • Meet your private guide in your lobby who will walk with you to the Uffizi, Galleria Academia, the famous David, and any other museums and art of special interest to you (book your guide HERE)

  • In the afternoon, take a leather, perfume, or cocktail making class with local artisans

DAY 6

Countryside Wine Touring

  • Enjoy breakfast at your hotel

  • Meet your private driver in your lobby who will spend the day with you and take you to various local wineries in the Tuscan countryside, based on your specific tastes and interests (if you aren’t sure, that’s okay too!) book your wine tasting HERE

  • Tailor your tour to include time in Siena, San Gimignano, Montepulciano, and other Tuscan towns you’re curious about

  • If you have time (and room) after you finish touring, grab dinner at Trattoria Za Za

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DAY 7

Depart Florence for Venice

  • Enjoy breakfast at your hotel

  • Check out and meet your private driver in your lobby who will drive you and your luggage to Firenze Santa Maria Novella Station

  • Take the FrecciaRossa train (direct, nonstop) from Firenze Santa Maria Novella to Venezia Santa Lucia

  • Upon arrival to Venezia Santa Lucia train station, meet your private water taxi assistant who will escort you and your luggage to your private water taxi and sail with you down the Grand Canal to your hotel (book your water taxi HERE)

  • Check in to your hotel near San Marco area

  • Freshen up, unpack, and take a walk through San Marco before hopping on your private gondola to watch the sunset (book your gondola ride HERE)

DAY 8

Tour Venice and Eat

  • Enjoy breakfast at your hotel

  • Meet your private guide for the day in your hotel lobby, who will escort you through the city and teach you about Venetian culture, history, bacari, and cicchetti

  • Enjoy skip the line access to the Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sighs, and Prisons

  • This afternoon, discover the beauty of the Venetian bacari and cicchetti - you will NOT go hungry on this tour! (book your sunset walking food tour HERE)

  • After you finish your touring, explore the Dorsoduro neighborhood and grab dinner

DAY 9

Explore Venetian Islands

  • Enjoy breakfast at your hotel

  • Meet your private water taxi at your hotel dock and sail out into the lagoon to explore more islands of Venice (book your tour HERE)

  • Spend time on Murano, Burano, and then head to Venissa for lunch

  • Once you’re done touring for the day, return to the main island of Venice and enjoy a walk on the promenade

DAY 10

Arrivederci, Italia!

  • Enjoy breakfast at your hotel

  • Check out and meet your private water taxi driver in your lobby who will sail you and your luggage to Piazzale Roma

  • Meet your private driver who will take you from Piazzale Roma (by car) to Venice airport (book your airport transfer HERE)

  • Standard scheduling will have you at VCE 3 hours prior to your flight’s scheduled departure

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