Day 1: Arrive Rome
Arrive in Rome and be transferred to your hotel. After time to settle in, embark on a guided walking tour through the heart of the city, exploring its iconic sights like the Pantheon, Spanish Steps and Colosseum, alongside its hidden gems. Tonight, head to a local restaurant for a Welcome Dinner with your Tour Director and fellow travellers and delight in your first deep dive into Italian cuisine.
Day 2: Rome
What better way to start your first full day in Rome than with a skip-the-line guided tour of the Vatican Museums? Immerse yourself in the treasures of the museum, gaze in awe at the iconic Sistine Chapel, and marvel at the grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica. Spend the remainder of the afternoon at your leisure, perhaps exploring further or relaxing in one of the city's charming cafés.
Enhance Your Journey – Colosseum Guided Visit
Join a guided visit to the Colosseum to learn in-depth the historical context and insights to this world-famous icon.
Enhance Your Journey – Italian Street Food Tour
Gain an authentic insight into local culture with a wander through the city’s lively local markets, where you can savour Italian street food, whether it’s pizza by the slice or golden, steaming arancini and more.
Day 3: Rome, Pompeii, Sorrento
Early risers may choose to join your Tour Director for a tranquil dawn tour of Rome, before the city stirs to life. Take in the serene beauty of iconic sights, including the intricate sculptures of the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, bathed in the soft glow of morning light. After working up an appetite, stop for a traditional Italian breakfast—a cornetto and cappuccino—at a local café. Then, board your coach for the scenic journey south to Sorrento, with a stop en route at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Archaeological Park of Pompeii. Here, enjoy a guided tour of the ancient city, preserved under ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Continue your journey to Sorrento.
Day 4: Sorrento
Spend the day at leisure to explore Sorrento at your own pace. Renowned for its breathtaking coastline, charming piazzas, fragrant lemons, and dramatic cliffs, this captivating region invites you to discover its many delights. You might like to spend time wandering the bustling Piazza Tasso, the popular square in Sorrento, or gaze down in wonder at the Valley of the Mills, a collection of modern ruins half buried by greenery at the bottom of a gorge. Tonight, a memorable Insider Experience awaits.
Insider Experience – Limoncello Tasting Experience
Learn about Sorrento’s lemon cultivation and production before the exciting chance to taste locally made limoncello, lemon cream, orange and lemon marmalades, and more. During your tasting, enjoy the opportunity to learn popular Italian phrases with a language lesson.
Enhance Your Journey – Full Day Discovery of Capri
Join a full-day adventure to Capri and explore this stunning island from its blue grottoes to its elegant villas and picturesque villages.
Enhance Your Journey – Amalfi Coast Scenic Drive
Take a scenic drive along the Amalfi Coast and admire spellbinding scenes of dramatic cliffs, sweeping coastlines and turquoise seas.
Day 5: Sorrento, Florence
Enjoy a slower start to your morning before boarding your coach for the trip to Naples. You'll then continue to Florence. Arrive in the heart of the city this afternoon and take time to explore before an exciting Insider Experience this evening.
Insider Experience – Florence Sensory Exploration
Discover Florence’s culinary delights alongside its hidden cultural gems on this engaging exploration. Florence is recognised as the birthplace of the renaissance, and it is here you’ll find fine masterpieces from this period. You’ll also taste local dishes and visit one of the many famous wine windows around the city, where you can order a delicious Italian red through a small window carved into a wall.
Day 6: Florence
Today is yours to uncover the splendours of Florence. Whether you’re an art lover or simply enjoy wandering, there’s much to discover. Visit the renowned Uffizi Galleries to see masterpieces by Botticelli, Da Vinci, and Michelangelo, or take time to explore the city’s charming streets. Admire architectural wonders, including the iconic Ponte Vecchio, and enjoy the atmosphere of Florence’s lively piazzas.
Enhance Your Journey – Explore Pisa
For those wishing to venture further, an optional excursion to Pisa offers the chance to see the world-famous Leaning Tower up close. Beyond the tower, enjoy the beauty of the Piazza dei Miracoli and the striking cathedral, or simply relax in the historic city.
Enhance Your Journey – Discover Cinque Terre
Opt for a journey to Cinque Terre, a dramatic stretch of coastline where five colourful villages cling to cliffs above the sea. Explore the charming streets, take in breathtaking views, and experience the unique beauty of this coastal paradise.
Day 7: Florence, Siena, Tuscany
Venture into Tuscany’s sun-kissed countryside. Visit Siena and spend time exploring the medieval streets and marvel at the impressive Piazza del Campo and Siena Cathedral. Continue to an exciting Insider Experience.
Insider Experience – Tuscany Winery Experience
Meet the family operating a Tuscan winery and vineyard, hear their stories, and enjoy a farm-to-table lunch paired with local wines. This is a day of cultural immersion, where you’ll experience the warmth and flavours of Tuscany firsthand.
Day 8: Florence, Venice
Travel to Venice, a city of marble and stone built atop an island and intersected with great, gondola-studded canals. With such rich history, culture and artistry, you’ll find something extraordinary at every turn. This afternoon, discover the revered craft of glassblowing with a visit to a traditional glass furnace on Murano, and watch local artists demonstrate their skills. This evening, explore the city at your own pace.
Day 9: Venice
Following an exciting Insider Experience this morning, join a guided tour of the city’s most famous landmarks, including Saint Mark’s Basilica, a magnificent cathedral showcasing a mesmerising blend of gothic, byzantine, Romanesque, and renaissance architectural styles. You’ll also wander by the impressive 14th-century Doge's Palace that once served as the residence of Venetian Doges and seats of power, before exploring the maze-like streets and laneways of Venice. For dinner, enjoy a memorable Farewell Dinner at an authentic Venetian restaurant.
Insider Experience – Gondola Workshop
Visit a local squero, a gondola workshop, and learn about the craftsmanship behind the iconic boats and centuries-old trade.
Day 10: Depart Venice
Your great Italian journey comes to an end today after breakfast with a transfer to the airport. If you’re not ready to say goodbye, you might like to extend your journey with our Italian Lakes extension, or cruise across the Adriatic on our Adriatic Jewels Small Ship Coastal Cruise.
