Itinerary
- Day 1
Cinque Terre
Head out early from Milan on the train to La Spezia, which serves as your starting point for Cinque Terre. From there, you'll walk through the five coastal villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazzo, and Monterosso, each with their own colorful buildings and cliff-side views along the Italian Riviera. After spending the day exploring, you'll take the train back to La Spezia for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Train to Cinque Terre (as part of Cinque Terre Card)
- Explore Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazzo, and Monterosso
Optional Activities
- Hiking trails in Cinque Terre
- Visit vineyards
- Explore picturesque harbours
Landmarks/POIs Riomaggiore Manarola Corniglia Vernazzo Monterosso - Day 2
Pisa - Lucca
Travel north along the Tuscan coast from La Spezia to Pietrasanta, a town known for its artistic heritage, and you'll have time to walk around. Next, you're heading to Pisa where you can check out the Leaning Tower and Piazza dei Miracoli at your own pace. Then it's on to Lucca to see the ancient walls and historic churches before arriving in Florence for a two-night stay.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Pietrasanta
- Visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Stroll through Piazza dei Miracoli
- Walk along the banks of the Arno River
- Explore Camposanto Monumentale
- Walk along Lucca's ancient city walls
- Explore Piazza dell'Anfiteatro in Lucca
- Visit Cathedral of St. Martin in Lucca
Landmarks/POIs Pietrasanta Leaning Tower of Pisa Piazza dei Miracoli Camposanto Monumentale Piazza dell'Anfiteatro Cathedral of St. Martin - Day 3
Florence
This is your free day in Florence, so you can move around and see what interests you most. The Duomo Cathedral, Uffizi Gallery, and Galleria dell'Accademia with Michelangelo's David are popular stops. You could also wander through Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens, walk across historic piazzas, or try local food. Your second night here gives you plenty of flexibility with how you spend your time.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit the Duomo Cathedral
- Explore Uffizi Gallery
- Visit Galleria dell'Accademia
- Explore Palazzo Pitti
- Visit Boboli Gardens
- Sample local delicacies including handmade pasta, pizza, pastries, wine, and gelato
- Stroll through city squares
- Visit restaurants and bars
Landmarks/POIs Duomo Uffizi Gallery Galleria dell'Accademia Palazzo Pitti Boboli Gardens - Day 4
Siena
Leave Florence and head through the Chianti wine region toward San Gimignano, which has 14 tall medieval towers throughout the town. You'll have lunch and time to explore before continuing to Siena, a red-brick city with gothic architecture built around the unique shell-shaped Piazza del Campo. Later you'll arrive in Montepulciano for a two-night stay in the Tuscan hills.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore San Gimignano
- Learn about noble tower families in San Gimignano
- Sample local delicacies in San Gimignano
- Explore Siena at leisure
- Visit Piazza del Campo in Siena
- Explore Montepulciano
Landmarks/POIs San Gimignano Piazza del Campo Montepulciano - Day 5
Pienza - Bagno Vignoni
Start your morning with a self-guided walk through Montepulciano, then move on to Pienza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site designed as an ideal city. An included wine tasting at a local winery is part of the day (based on availability). After that, you'll visit Bagno Vignoni to experience its therapeutic hot springs and historic spa facilities. You'll return to Montepulciano by early evening for your second night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Self-guided exploration of Montepulciano
- Visit Pienza
- Wine tasting at selected winery
- Visit Bagno Vignoni
Optional Activities
- Admire the ancient spa at Bagno Vignoni
- Trace the flow of spring waters through the archaeological park at Bagno Vignoni
Landmarks/POIs Montepulciano Pienza Val d'Orcia Bagno Vignoni - Day 6
Capodimonte
Leave the Tuscan hills and head south toward Rome. There's an optional stop at the ancient Sovana Necropolis and Vie Cave, Bronze Age carved roadways, if you're interested. You'll have lunch in Sovana before continuing to Capodimonte on the shores of Bolsena Lake. By evening you'll arrive in Rome with time to settle in.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Sovana Necropolis
- Explore Vie Cave ancient road network
- Explore Sovana
- Explore Capodimonte
Landmarks/POIs Sovana Necropolis Vie Cave Capodimonte Bolsena Lake - Day 7
Rome
Your free day in Rome lets you see the major sites on your own schedule. The Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and Spanish Steps are all key spots to visit. Walk around the city at your own pace and experience the energy and history of Italy's capital.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit the Roman Colosseum
- Explore the Roman Forum
- Visit the Pantheon
- Visit Trevi Fountain
- Visit Spanish Steps
Landmarks/POIs Colosseum Roman Forum Pantheon Trevi Fountain Spanish Steps - Day 8
Rome to Bologna via Orvieto
Leave Rome and head to Orvieto, a car-free Italian village known for its wines and gothic cathedral. You'll check out Parco Naturale Le Balze, which has striking rock formations and nice views of the surrounding landscape. After lunch in the small hamlet of Piantravigne, you'll continue on to Bologna for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Orvieto Cathedral
- Explore Orvieto at your own pace
- Visit Parco Naturale Le Balze
Landmarks/POIs Orvieto Parco Naturale Le Balze Piantravigne Bologna - Day 9
Ravenna - Bologna
In the morning, take a half-day trip to Ravenna to see its famous mosaics and early Christian and Byzantine architecture spread across eight UNESCO sites. This is also where Dante Alighieri is buried. You'll return to Bologna for lunch and then have a relaxed afternoon to walk through the Renaissance city, see the porticos, visit the historic university, and try local food.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Half-day trip to Ravenna
- Guided walking tour of Ravenna's eight UNESCO-listed sites
Optional Activities
- Explore Bologna's UNESCO-listed porticos
- Discover the secrets of the university
- Sample Ragu alla Bolognese
- Explore Bologna at leisure
Landmarks/POIs Ravenna Bologna - Day 10
Este
Start at Porto Tolle for an optional boat trip along the Po Delta, Italy's longest river, where you might spot rare migratory birds if the season is right. Then head to Este, a town with 3,000 years of history and a medieval moated castle. Later you'll arrive in Padua, an ancient city with three nights ahead, and it's a center for both science and religion.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Optional boat trip along the Po Delta
- Explore Este's city walls
- Visit the medieval castle in Este
Landmarks/POIs Porto Tolle Po Delta Este Padua - Day 11
Venice - Padua
Make your way to Venice, built on 118 islands with 177 canals throughout. You'll have a two-hour guided walking tour that covers St Mark's Square and other key spots in the city. After that, the afternoon is yours to explore galleries, Renaissance buildings, and the unique character of the city. Gondola rides are available if you want them. You'll head back to Padua by early evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Two-hour guided walking tour of Venice including St Mark's Square
Optional Activities
- Excursion on one of the city's famous gondolas
- Explore renowned galleries
- Explore Venice at your own pace
Landmarks/POIs Venice St Mark's Square Padua - Day 12
Valdobbiadene - Bassano del Grappa - Padua
Visit Villa Pisani, a late baroque estate that Napoleon once owned, with included entrance to see the art exhibitions inside. From there, head to Valdobbiadene where you can optionally taste the region's prosecco. Next is Bassano del Grappa, where you can sample the local grappa or see the castle and historic old bridge. You'll return to Padua for your final evening in the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Entrance to Villa Pisani
- Explore art exhibitions at Villa Pisani
Optional Activities
- Prosecco tasting at Valdobbiadene
- Grappa tasting in Bassano del Grappa
- Visit the castle in Bassano del Grappa
- Visit the famous old bridge in Bassano del Grappa
Landmarks/POIs Villa Pisani Valdobbiadene Bassano del Grappa Padua - Day 13
Lake Garda
Your last day starts in Verona, the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Visit the famous balcony and check out the Roman Colosseum and old piazzas at your own pace. Then head to Lake Garda to see its clear waters and mountain views, places people have valued since Roman times. From there, continue to Milan where the tour ends at 7:00 p.m.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit the famous Romeo and Juliet balcony in Verona
- Marvel at the Roman Colosseum in Verona
- Stroll through ancient piazzas in Verona
- Take in the views of Lake Garda
Landmarks/POIs Verona Lake Garda Milan
