From Rome’s timeless piazzas to Assisi’s sacred calm, Florence’s Renaissance glow, Venice lagoon magic, and Milan’s style. This week-long Italy sweep hits the icons with just enough free time to make it yours.
Rome Florence Venice Lake District Tour
8 Days/7 Nights
Starting from
$
per person*
Unforgettable Italian Journeys, Designed for You
Curated by passionate Italy experts, this sample itinerary is just the beginning of your Italian adventure. Every journey we design is unique, crafted around your interests, pace, and dreams so you can experience Italy’s beauty and culture like a true insider. Let us transform your vision into a one-of-a-kind travel experience, filled with authentic moments and lasting memories
Day 1
ROME
First Stroll in Big History
- Arrive in Rome and transfer to your hotel
- Check in to your hotel in Rome city center
- Remainder of the day at leisure to explore independently
- Suggested (if arriving in the morning): visit the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel in the afternoon (not included)
- Dinner not included (choose a café or authentic restaurant)
- Overnight in Rome
Day 2
ROME
Piazzas and Legends
- Buffet breakfast at the hotel
- Around 9:00 AM: depart for a 3-hour English-speaking walking tour
- Learn about Rome’s 2,500+ years of history and its blend of antiquity and modern life
- See Largo Argentina (remains of Pompey’s Theater)
- Visit Campo de’ Fiori and the statue of Giordano Bruno
- See Piazza Navona (built over the Stadium of Domitian)
- See Piazza Farnese (Renaissance palace begun in 1514)
- Visit the Pantheon
- See the Spanish Steps (135 steps; Europe’s widest staircase)
- End at the Trevi Fountain (coin-toss legend)
- Afternoon at leisure for sightseeing at your own pace
- Optional suggestion: additional walking tour of Ancient Rome with visits inside the Colosseum and Roman Forum (not included)
- Dinner not included
- Overnight in Rome
Day 3
ROME, ASSISI, SIENA, FLORENCE
Saints, Medieval Stories and Firenze Glow
- Breakfast at the hotel
- 7:00 AM departure from Rome by coach to Assisi
- Visit Assisi, walled town and home of Saint Francis (patron saint of animals and the environment)
- See the Basilica of Saint Francis (begun in 1228; two churches)
- View Renaissance artworks including pieces by Giotto and Cimabue
- Continue to Siena, medieval city famous for the Palio horse race (twice yearly)
- Continue to Florence
- Dinner included in Florence
- Overnight in Florence city center
Day 4
FLORENCE, PISA
Renaissance Roll Call
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Guided walking tour of Florence, cradle of the Renaissance
- See the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and its stained glass windows (1434–1455)
- See Giotto’s Bell Tower (completed 1359; 414 steps for panoramic views, if climbed)
- See the Baptistery of St. John (completed 1128; among the oldest buildings in Florence)
- Visit Santa Croce (13th-century Franciscan church; burial place of Michelangelo and Galileo)
- Afternoon at leisure for independent sightseeing and shopping
- Optional half-day Pisa tour (not included): Leaning Tower and Piazza dei Miracoli
- Dinner at the hotel
- Overnight in Florence
Day 5
FLORENCE, PADUA, VENICE
Saintly Stop, Bridges and Bells
- Buffet breakfast at the hotel
- Depart by coach toward Venice
- Stop in Padua
- Visit the Cathedral/Basilica of St. Anthony
- See Donatello’s “Gattamelata” statue outside the cathedral
- Learn about Padua’s setting on the Bacchiglione River and its literary link to Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew”
- Arrive in Venice
- Guided walking tour of Venice (“City of Bridges”)
- Visit St. Mark’s Square
- Visit St. Mark’s Basilica (main cathedral since 1807; early construction dates to 832)
- Admire the exterior of the Doge’s Palace
- See the Prisons and the Bridge of Sighs (connected to the palace)
- Group dinner included
- Overnight at your hotel on Venice Island
Day 6
VENICE, MURANO
Lagoon Drifts and Glass Sparks
- Buffet breakfast at the hotel
- Boat tour of the Venice lagoon
- Arrive in Murano (population approx. 5,000)
- Learn about Murano’s glassmaking tradition (some factories over a century old)
- Observe glass being made and assist in a demonstration
- Time for shopping in local boutiques for unique souvenirs
- Return to Venice
- Afternoon at leisure to explore Venice independently
- Dinner at the hotel
- Overnight in Venice
Day 7
VENICE, VERONA, SIRMIONE, LAKE COMO, MILAN
Lakes and Lovers
- Buffet breakfast at the hotel
- Depart Venice for Milan
- Brief stop in Verona (“Fair Verona”), famed for Romeo and Juliet and medieval/Roman architecture
- Continue to Sirmione on Lake Garda
- Lunch at a local eatery
- Explore Sirmione’s heritage and Roman-era defensive history; see its enduring ramparts
- Scenic drive along the banks of Lake Como (glacier-formed lake)
- Arrive in Milan in the evening and check in to your hotel
- Dinner at the hotel
- Overnight in Milan
Day 8
MILAN, OR ROME
Duomo and Design then Choose your Finale
- Buffet breakfast at the hotel
- Time to explore Milan: Italy’s commercial and financial heart near the Alps
- Highlights include: Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (historic shopping arcade with iron-and-glass roof)
- Highlights include: Milan Duomo (took nearly six centuries to complete; 5th largest cathedral in the world)
- Highlights include: Sforza Castle (15th-century castle atop a 14th-century fortification; now houses art collections and museums)
- Milan noted as a global reference point for fashion and design
- Tour ends around 12:30 PM at the central railway station
- Airport or new hotel transfer in Milan not included
- Optional: free bus transfer back to Rome (arrival approx. 7:30 PM)
MAKE THIS ITINERARY YOURS
Turn this sample itinerary into your dream Italy vacation – tailored to your pace, passions, and budget.
Day 1
ROME
First Stroll in Big History
Arrive in Rome, the Italian capital, and transfer to your hotel in the city center. After check-in, the rest of the day is yours to begin discovering the Eternal City at your own pace. If you arrive in the morning, we suggest using the afternoon to visit the Vatican Museums to admire the Sistine Chapel and other artistic treasures (not included). Dinner is not included tonight, so choose a quaint café or authentic restaurant that matches your mood. Overnight in Rome.
Day 2
ROME
Piazzas and Legends
Start with a buffet breakfast, then around 9:00 AM join a 3-hour English-speaking walking tour through some of Rome’s most historic and beloved areas. Rome is more than 2,500 years old—one of the oldest continually inhabited cities on Earth—and it still showcases classical architecture and art while buzzing with modern energy. During your walk, see Largo Argentina with the remains of Pompey’s Theater, then continue to Campo de’ Fiori, once a flower field and now home to the statue of Giordano Bruno. Admire Piazza Navona, built over the ancient Stadium of Domitian, and pass Piazza Farnese, tied to a grand Renaissance palace begun in 1514. Visit the Pantheon, enjoy the Spanish Steps, and finish at the magnificent Trevi Fountain—where legend says tossing in a coin ensures your return to Rome.
After the tour, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. If you’d like to go deeper, consider an additional walking tour focused on Ancient Rome with a visit inside the Colosseum and Roman Forum (not included). Dinner is not included, so dine wherever you choose or ask for suggestions. Overnight in Rome.
Day 3
ROME, ASSISI, SIENA, FLORENCE
Saints, Medieval Stories and Firenze Glow
After breakfast, depart Rome at 7:00 AM and travel by coach to Assisi, the walled hill town associated with Saint Francis, patron saint of animals and the environment. Visit the Basilica of Saint Francis, begun in 1228 and composed of two churches, and admire important Renaissance artworks including pieces attributed to Giotto and Cimabue.
Continue onward to Siena, a small medieval city that draws worldwide attention twice a year for the Palio horse race. After time in Siena, travel to Florence. Enjoy dinner and settle in for the night at your hotel in Florence’s city center.
Day 4
FLORENCE, PISA
Renaissance Roll Call
After breakfast, set out on a guided tour of Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance and a city shaped by centuries of wealth, creativity, and artistic ambition. See the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with its remarkable stained glass windows (erected between 1434 and 1455), and admire Giotto’s Bell Tower, completed in 1359 and famous for its 414 steps leading to panoramic views (if you choose to climb). Visit the Baptistery of St. John, completed in 1128 and among Florence’s oldest buildings, and continue to Santa Croce, the 13th-century Franciscan church that serves as the final resting place for Michelangelo and Galileo.
After the tour, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure—shop the piazzas and streets, or consider the optional half-day excursion to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower and Piazza dei Miracoli (not included). Enjoy dinner at the hotel and overnight in Florence.
Day 5
FLORENCE, PADUA, VENICE
Saintly Stop, Bridges and Bells
Begin with a buffet breakfast, then travel by coach toward Venice with a stop in Padua. Visit the Cathedral/Basilica of St. Anthony and see Donatello’s “Gattamelata,” portraying Erasmo of Narni, the famed mercenary leader. Padua sits along the Bacchiglione River, crossed by multiple bridges, and is also known as the setting for Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.”
Arrive in Venice and enjoy a comprehensive walking tour through the City of Bridges. Visit St. Mark’s Square, where politics, religion, and social life converge, and enter St. Mark’s Basilica, the city’s main cathedral since 1807 with origins dating back to 832. Admire the exterior of the Doge’s Palace, a building shaped by centuries of reconstructions and restorations, and see the Prisons and the famous Bridge of Sighs. End the day with dinner with your group and overnight at your hotel on Venice Island.
Day 6
VENICE, MURANO
Lagoon Drifts and Glass Sparks
After breakfast, depart by boat for a tour of the Venice lagoon. Sail across tranquil waters and watch the islands drift by as you approach Murano, a small island famed worldwide for exquisite glass—especially lamps and lanterns—and home to factories that have operated for more than a century. Observe artisans at work, and enjoy the opportunity to assist in a glassmaking demonstration. Spend time browsing Murano’s eclectic boutiques for something truly unique to take home.
Return to Venice and enjoy a free afternoon to explore the city’s romantic lanes and artistic atmosphere at your own pace. Dinner at the hotel and overnight in Venice.
Day 7
VENICE, VERONA, SIRMIONE, LAKE COMO, MILAN
Lakes and Lovers
After breakfast, depart Venice and begin the journey toward Milan. Stop briefly in Verona—“Fair Verona”—made famous by the story of Romeo and Juliet and admired for its medieval and Roman architecture, including the Roman amphitheater. Continue to Sirmione, a picturesque town on the edge of Lake Garda. Enjoy lunch at a local eatery, then explore the town’s heritage: once a resort, Sirmione became a Roman defensive stronghold, and its ramparts still evoke the empire’s enduring presence.
Afterward, enjoy a scenic drive along the shores of Lake Como, a pristine lake formed by glacier activity, before arriving in Milan in the evening. Check in, enjoy dinner at the hotel, and overnight in Milan.
Day 8
MILAN, OR ROME
Duomo and Design then Choose your Finale
After breakfast, enjoy time to explore Milan, Italy’s second-largest urban area and the country’s commercial and financial powerhouse, set near the foot of the Alps. While Milan doesn’t preserve the same density of ancient Roman ruins as other Italian cities—having been redesigned in the 4th century—it offers standout landmarks and a distinctly modern energy. Visit the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, often considered the world’s oldest shopping mall, with its luminous cast-iron and glass roof. Admire the Duomo, a masterpiece that took nearly six centuries to complete and ranks as the fifth largest cathedral in the world. Consider visiting the Sforza Castle, a 15th-century fortress built atop a 14th-century fortification and expanded through the 16th and 17th centuries, now home to major art collections and museums. Milan is also one of the world’s key capitals of fashion and design.
Around 12:30 PM, the tour concludes at Milan’s central railway station (please note: airport or new hotel transfer in Milan is not included). If you wish, you may take the free bus transfer back to Rome, arriving around 7:30 PM.
