Highlights
- Explore the famous art of the Vatican
- Wander the cobbled streets of Rome's most picturesque neighborhood
- Check Florence's most famous sights off your to-see list
- Visit the scenic, rolling hills of Tuscany for a wine tasting
- Enjoy the famously beautiful Cinque Terre towns
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrival in Rome | Rome |
| Day 2 | Walking tour around Rome | Rome |
| Day 3 | Rome foodie experience | Rome |
| Day 4 | Florence | Florence |
| Day 5 | Tuscan countryside | Florence |
| Day 6 | Levanto | Levanto |
| Day 7 | The Cinque Terre National Park | Levanto |
| Day 8 | Departure |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Roma!
Benvenuto a Roma! (Welcome to Rome!) Arrive early, settle in at your hotel in the heart of the city, and spend your first day exploring whatever it is that strikes your fancy. The city is bursting with important monuments like the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Spanish Steps. And there are plenty of off-the-beaten-track delights like city scooter tours, the ancient Appian Way, and Giardino degli Aranci (the Orange Garden) that overlooks the city from a hilltop.
Day 2: Walking Tour of Rome
Start your first full day in Rome with a privately guided tour of the Vatican (with no waiting in line!), where you'll find one of the largest, most spectacular art displays in the world. Marvel at Michelangelo's Last Judgement, the Sistine Chapel, and the Chair of Saint Peter. Then make your way back to the city to explore the rest of its ancient marvels, including the Piazza di Spagna and Trevi Fountain. As night falls, enjoy a delicious, traditional Italian dinner and then head back out to enjoy the Roman nightlife.
Day 3: Roman Foodie Experience
No visit to Rome is complete without sampling its internationally famous, mouthwatering cuisines! So spend your last full day in the Eternal City seeking out those very specialties. Your food tour will take you to Trastevere, where narrow cobblestone streets are lined with gelato shops, pizzerias, and boutique shops. It's one of Rome's most picturesque neighborhoods. Wind your way through those narrow lanes as you visit local food stores, taste regional specialties, and talk to families working to preserve Roman food traditions. In the afternoon, full and happy, return to your explorations of the city to check those last must-sees off your list. Then enjoy another tasty dinner and comfortable overnight before moving on to your next adventure.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Florence
Wake early on your fourth day in Italy and make your way by train from Rome to Florence. The high-speed train will have you there in less than two hours! Grab your bags, check in at your four-star hotel, and meet your guide for a private tour of the city's most famous sights, including the Duomo, Palazzo Pitti, and Piazza della Signoria. Once you've seen the sights, turn your attention back to Italy's incredible food with a pizza and gelato-making class.
Day 5: The Tuscan Countryside
Today, slip away from bustling Florence to discover the romantic, famously beautiful countryside of Chianti — a region known for its picturesque villages, pure air, and vineyards. Take a scenic drive through the rolling hills and olive groves to a famous winery in the heart of the countryside where you'll learn the secrets of wine and olive oil production. The lesson is followed by a tasting lunch, a stroll through Greve in Chianti (whose town square is known as one of the most beautiful in the region), and another scenic drive back to Florence.
Day 6: Road to Levanto
Start the day with another scenic train ride, this time to La Spezia, a colorful port town where a driver waits to take you to tiny, picture-perfect Levanto. Known for its long sandy beach, cute shops, and nice restaurants, the little resort town — known as the Gateway to the Cinque Terre — is also surrounded by pine forests, olive groves, vineyards, and Medieval villages. Explore the famed Church of Saint Andrew, the castle, the beautiful beach, and the surrounding hills before enjoying a local dinner and turning in for the night.
Day 7: Explore the Picturesque Villages of Cinque Terre National Park
Levanto is the perfect base for a trip to the photogenic, UNESCO-recognized villages of the Cinque Terre. Explore the towns by train (a five-minute ride), boat, or on foot via the famous walking path that winds between all five along the cliffs. Riomaggiore is a perfect example of the Italian "dolce vita" (sweet life) lifestyle full of cafes, bars, restaurants, and gelato shops. Manarola is famous for its caves and underwater rocks. Corniglia is the smallest of the villages and can only be reached by bus or by climbing 365 steps from the train station. Vernazza, often called the most beautiful of the villages, is the place to go for photos and views. And Monterosso al Mare is the largest and oldest of the bunch.
Day 8: Departure
Wave farewell to Italy! It's time to board a car, train, and then plane and head home.
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