8-Nights Italy by Rail from $4,599
Alexander+Roberts
OFFER ID 1444307
Italy by Rail with Small Group Sightseeing (2025 Itinerary)
With the most flexibility to Italy, our unique approach allows you to create your own Italian holiday. Choose from our fine city-center hotels in Rome, Florence and Venice, and tailor your vacation with a choice of included sightseeing - expertly guide with never more than 8 guests. High-speed Italo trains with reserved First Class seats promise more time to enjoy this trio of cities, including our extended 3-night stays in Rome and Florence.
8 nights from $4,599 per person
Itinerary Details
Alexander+Roberts
Italy by Rail with Small Group Sightseeing (2025 Itinerary)
Day 1: Benvenuto a Roma!
On arrival at the airport or rail station, you'll be met and chauffeured to your choice of hotel in the heart of the Eternal City. The rest of this day is yours to get settled and explore as you wish.
Day 2: Tailor Your Stay in Rome #WHS#
Rome offers a wealth of ancient and historic sites to explore. Today you'll have the opportunity to pursue your own personal interests and to tailor your stay in this captivating city. Just choose one of these included half-day tours; in the intimate company of never more than 8 travelers, your expert guide will bring the glories of Rome to life! Meals BColosseum + Roman Forum: You'll be picked up at your hotel in the afternoon and driven to the Colosseum to join your guide and an intimate group of other English-speaking travelers. Standing in the largest amphitheater of the Roman era, it's easy to imagine the roar of the 70,000 spectators who filled the stadium on opening day 2,000 years ago. Then explore the extensive ruins of the Roman Forum, the heart of the once-glorious Empire - a thriving district filled with temples, basilicas, government buildings and bustling public spaces. Ending at the Forum, this 3-hour tour is offered on Sun, Mon, Wed and Fri from April to Oct. Some Black out dates apply?. Vatican Museums with Skip-the-Line Access: Starting from your hotel, you'll be driven to the Vatican where your guide will lead your congenial group of 8 guests past the line and directly into the Museums, home to one of the world's greatest collections of art and antiquity. Ascend the beautiful Spiral Staircase and marvel at the Gallery of Tapestries. You'll also visit the fascinating Gallery of Geographical Maps and, of course, the Sistine Chapel with its mesmerizing fresco of the Last Judgment by Michelangelo. Ending at the Museum, this 3-hour tour is offered on Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri and Sat from April to Oct. Black out dates may apply?. Fresh Pasta Making Class in Trastevere: Meet your small group in Trastevere and together start your hands-on pasta making class. Here you will learn how to turn simple and ancient ingredients into one of the most celebrated symbols of Italian heritage and hospitality. Following your chef's instructions, you will create two types of pasta and prepare the best sauces to accompany the dish, concluding in a well-earned lunch, where together you will feast on the fruits of your labor. This 2.5-hour tour is offered year-round, every day of the week Roman Highlights: You'll be picked up at your hotel this morning for a panoramic tour of the city. With only 8 guests, you'll have plenty of opportunity to engage with your guide as you travel through the Eternal City to see landmarks like the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo, home to some of the city's most glorious churches. You'll also discover Piazza Navona, one of the most beautiful Roman squares, and see the ancient Pantheon. At the Trevi Fountain, be sure to throw in a coin as countless others have done before you! Then ascend Gianicolo Hill for enchanting views of the city before returning to your hotel. This 3-hour tour is offered every day of the week from April to Oct.Rome by Night: Departing your hotel in the evening at about 7:00, this panoramic sightseeing tour reveals all the magic and romance of the Eternal City - with illuminated landmarks and streets abuzz with local residents. Traveling comfortably with a congenial group of 8 other travelers, you'll experience the nocturnal beauty of landmarks like the Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Step off the coach at the Trevi Fountain where you can continue the tradition of throwing in a coin, before ascending Gianicolo Hill for enchanting views of Rome at night. Ending at your hotel, this 2.5-hour tour is offered every day of the week from April to Oct?.
Day 3: Free Day in the Eternal City
This day is at leisure to relax, enjoy and explore as you wish. The heart-of-it-all locations of our hotels make it easy to step out and experience Rome at your own pace. Meals B
Day 4: By First Class Rail through the Tuscan Countryside
We'll chauffeur you to the station today to board the high-speed Italo train. Sit back and enjoy reserved First-Class seats as you travel in comfort to Florence, the city of the Medici's and home of the Italian Renaissance. On arrival, you'll be met and escorted by private car to your choice of hotel, carefully selected for a warm welcome, air-conditioned comfort - and a terrific location close to the city's best known landmarks, shopping and dining. Meals B
Day 5: Pursue Your Own Passions in Florence #WHS#
The city's extraordinary legacy of art, architecture and culture has blessed Florence with a wealth of impressive sites to discover. Today, you can customize your vacation with the included sightseeing of your choice. As in Rome, an expert English-speaking native guide will accompany your congenial group of never more than 8 other travelers, shedding light on the sites you visit. Meals B Walking Tour + The Academy with Skip-the-Line Access: Meet your guide at 8:50 this morning outside the historic Café Rivoire, centrally located in Piazza della Signoria at the corner of Via Vecchereccia. Discover the highlights of this handsome city square and continue your walking tour to the Piazza del Duomo where you'll see the celebrated gilded bronze doors of the Baptistery, Brunelleschi's spectacular cupola that crowns the Cathedral, and Giotto's Bell Tower - one of the city's greatest Gothic landmarks. Arriving at the Academy, your expert guide will lead you past the lines and directly into the Museum, where your tour reveals Renaissance masterpieces like Michelangelo's David. Ending at the Academy, this 3-hour tour is offered every day except Monday from April to Oct. Black out dates may apply. Chianti Tour With Wine Tasting: Chianti, with its timeless landscape, ancient hamlets, fine wine, and rich food, is truly evocative. Meet your guide and small group at 8:30 in the morning and embark on a scenic drive that leads you to Greve, the charming "Gate of Chianti," where you can explore at a relaxed pace. Next, visit a family-run wine estate for a lunch featuring local ingredients and a tasting of some of their best wines. Afterward, stroll through Montefioralle, a quaint hamlet with cobbled streets and stone walls. On your way back to Florence, stop at Badia a Passignano to explore the 11th-century fortified abbey dedicated to St. Michael and its surrounding estate. Siena and San Gimignano With Wine Tasting and Lunch: Meet your driving escort at 7:45 and journey to Siena, one of Italy's most enchanting medieval cities. A local guide will reveal the charm of its cobblestone streets, the elegance of Piazza del Campo, and the intriguing traditions surrounding the Palio horse race. Visit the Siena Cathedral, renowned for its breathtaking marble mosaic floor, typically displayed from July to mid-October. Afterward, savor lunch at a family-run wine estate near San Gimignano, enjoying a meal paired with estate wines amid the Tuscan countryside. Before returning to Florence, explore San Gimignano, a UNESCO World Heritage Site #WHS# celebrated for its remarkably preserved medieval towers and quaint atmosphere.
Day 6: Florence at Your Leisure
With a convenient city-center location, it's easy to step out from your hotel today to explore more of Florence at your own pace. Meals B
Day 7: Scenic Rail Journey to Venice
After breakfast, our car and driver will take you to the rail station. Sit back and enjoy your reserved First-Class seat aboard the high-speed Italo train. On arrival in Venice, you'll be warmly greeted and escorted to the hotel of your choice, handpicked to enhance your stay in this magical city. Meals B
Day 8: Personalize Your Stay in Venice #WHS#
Tailor your exploration of Venice to your own tastes and interests. Choose one of our included excursions - all of them are expertly guided and limited to never more than 8 guests. Meals B Venice Walking Tour + Doges Palace: Meet your fellow travelers at 8:25 this morning in front of the historic Caffé Florian, centrally located in St. Mark's Square. Then set out across Piazza San Marco as your expert guide shares colorful legends and fascinating historical facts about the many architectural landmarks that surround this grand and beautiful square. Your sightseeing ends with a guided tour of the Doge's Palace, a masterpiece of Venetian Gothic architecture that's also filled with masterpieces by great Italian artists from Titian to Tintoretto. This 2.5 hour tour is offered every day of the week from Apr 1 to Nov 15. Tasting Tour of Venice: Focusing on some of the many bàcari (Venetian wine bars) that can be found near the Rialto Bridge, this tour begins at 6:00 pm in front of the clock tower of the conveniently located San Giacomo di Rialto Church. Setting out with your in-the-know resident guide, your congenial group of no more than 8 people will join Venetian residents for one of their favorite traditions - gathering with friends in a neighborhood bàcari to enjoy a glass of wine and some appetizers. As the evening progresses, you'll visit 3 different establishments for a genuine and delightful taste of Venetian life. With two appetizers and a glass of wine included at each bàcari, this 90-minute tour is offered Mon through Fri from Apr 1 to Nov 15.
Day 9: Arrivederci, Italia!
After breakfast, our private car and driver will take you to the airport or rail station for your onward journey. If you wish to explore more of Italy, you can add extra nights here in Venice or let our experts assist you with extensions all across Italy. We can arrange your transportation, wonderful hotels, meals, and sightseeing. Meals B
Excursions
Venice: Splendours of Venice Walking Tour - 4 hours
Venice: Splendours of Venice Walking Tour - 4 hours
Highlights:
- Admire the wonderful architecture of the Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica
Tour can Operate: Morning/Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Return private motorboat transfers between the harbour and central Venice
- An expert English-speaking guide (4 hours)
- Entrance fees to all named sights and museums
- All taxes
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs.
- Gratuities
Venice: Venice for Art Lovers Walking Tour - 4 hours
Venice: Venice for Art Lovers Walking Tour - 4 hours
Highlights:
- Admire the many art treasures on display in the Frari Church
- See the masterpieces on display in the Accademia Gallery
Tour Can Operate: Morning/Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Return private motorboat transfers between the harbour and central Venice
- An expert English-speaking guide (4 hours)
- Entrance fees to all stated sights and museums
- All taxes
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
- Gratuities
Venice: The Roman City of Verona - 7 hours
Venice: The Roman City of Verona - 7 hours
Highlights:
- Visit Verona's impressive Amphitheatre
- See Juliet's House and its famous balcony
Tour Can Operate: Mornings
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Luxury car or minivan transfers between Venice cruise terminal and Verona
- An expert English-speaking guide in Verona (3 hours)
- Entrance fees to the stated sightseeing
- All taxes
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
- Gratuities
Venice - St. Marks, Grand Canal and Murano - 6 hours
Venice - St. Marks, Grand Canal and Murano - 6 hours
- Introduction to the history of Venice
- Visit to private glass producer in Murano
- Tour of Grand Canal by private boat
- Reservations to St.Marks and Doge's Palace - no lines
Included:
- Private English speaking guide for the day and private boat.
- Clients are picked up and dropped off at the Port
Meals
Venice: Lagoon Islands - 7 hours
Venice: Lagoon Islands - 7 hours
Today you will be met by your local English-speaking guide for a full day excursion by private motor-boat to explore the Lagoon Islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello.
Venice lies in the centre of a vast lagoon that stretches for about 30 miles from north to south, studded by numerous small islands, mostly deserted. This amazing environment is what drove the Venetians to establish their city here, a perfectly secure and inaccessible little world. Enjoy the beauty of a ride across the waters of the lagoon; visit the island of Murano, where glass has been made for over 700 years and where you can see the age-old techniques of glass blowing still in use today.
Continue to Torcello, to see the breathtaking mosaics in the Basilica di Santa Maria dell’Assunta, the oldest building on the lagoon. After a leisurely lunch (payable locally) you reach the island of Burano, a quaint and colourful fisherman island famous for its lace and charming architecture.
Highlights:
- Cruise across the lagoon to Murano, where glass has been made for over 700 years using the same techniques
- Explore Torcello and Burano, a colourful fishing village famous for its lace and charming architecture
Tour can Operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Low
Inclusions:
• Return private motorboat transfer between the harbour and the islands
• An expert local guide (7 hours)
• Entrance fees
• All taxes
Exclusions:
• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities
The story of Murano and Burano
The story of Murano and Burano
Hop on a private boat and start sailing through the Venice lagoon! This unique tour will let you discover the authentic side of Venice by exploring two famous islands – Murano and Burano. First stop, Murano – an epicenter of the most sophisticated glass production in the world. “Il vetro di Murano”, the glass of Murano, is a special type of glass made for decades. You will visit one of the traditional factories and take part in a glass-blowing demonstration. Pretty exclusive, don’t you think?
Your next stop is Burano – a small, fishermen’s island, famous for its heritage of lace embroidery that it’s still today made by hand only. It is often mentioned as one of the prettiest towns in Italy and also one of the most unique thanks to two characteristics: its canals and its colorful houses that make the island a real rainbow of colors! This tour will surely let you remember the Venice Lagoon forever.
Highlights:
- Unique island experience
- Personal guide
Tour can operate: Morning or afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Private guide
- Private boat
- Lunch
- Drinks
- Gratuities
- Items purchased for personal use
The Canal Grande cruise followed by a walking tour of Venice
The Canal Grande cruise followed by a walking tour of Venice
Are you ready to start this tour with a private boat cruise down the most spectacular “boulevard” in the world? Yes, we are talking about The Canal Grande, Venice’s main artery. Just hop on your private boat and enjoy the scenic views of all the marvelous palaces and side alley’s canals. Sit back and relax while you absorb the breath-taking beauty and uniqueness of Venice. After the ride, the guide will take you through Calli, Callette, Ponti, Campi and Campielli. You will reach Rialto bridge, that was the only way to cross the great Canal on foot, for centuries. You can indulge in great experience of the famous local market filled with interesting products and learn more about the area that was once a significant place for trading goods.
Highlights:
-
unique sightseeing experience
-
Personal guide
Tour Duration: up to 4h
Tour can operate: Morning / Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Easy
Inclusions:
- Private guide
-
No line entrance tickets for Doge’s Palace and St. Mark Basilic
Not Included:
- Lunch
- Tips
- Drinks
- Transfers
Sprawled across seven legendary hills, romantic and beautiful Rome was one
of the great centers of the ancient world. Although its beginning is shrouded
in legend and its development is full of intrigue and struggle, Rome has always
been and remains the Eternal City.
Rome enjoyed its greatest splendor during the 1st and 2nd centuries when art
flourished, monumental works of architecture were erected, and the mighty Roman
legions swept outward, conquering all of Italy. These victorious armies then
swept across the Mediterranean and beyond to conquer most of the known world.
With Rome's establishment as capital of the western world, a new ascent to glory
began.
Today's Rome, with its splendid churches, ancient monuments and palaces, spacious
parks, tree-lined boulevards, fountains, outdoor cafes and elegant shops, is
one of the world’s most attractive and exciting cities. Among the most famous
monuments is the Colosseum. As you walk its cool, dark passageways, imagine
the voices that once filled the arena as 50,000 spectators watched combats between
muscled gladiators and ferocious animals.
Stop to see the remains of the Forum, once the city's political and commercial
center. In later times, Rome's squares were enhanced with such imposing structures
as the Vittorio Emanuele Monument and grandiose fountains like the Fontana di
Trevi. Join the millions who stand in awe of Christendom’s most magnificent
church and admire the timeless masterpieces of Michelangelo's frescoes in the
Sistine Chapel.
Rome jars the senses and captures the soul. Grasp all you can during the short,
precious time you have available in the Eternal City. With so much to see and
do, a day or two will only allow you a sampling of the city's marvelous treasures.
Caution: As in many big cities and tourist destinations purse snatching
and pickpocketing is common. Valuable jewelry and excess cash are best left
in a safety deposit box in your hotel.
Shopping For most visitors shopping for beautiful Italian leather articles,
designer shoes, fashions for men and women, linens, knitwear, silk scarves and
ties is a favorite pastime. Except for tourist-oriented shops, the majority
of stores are closed on Sundays. Some of the department stores, such as Rinascente,
open in the late afternoon on Sundays.
Cuisine Rome's choice of restaurants is mindboggling as is the variety
of cuisine. Whether your meal is at a top-rated restaurant or a rustic trattoria,
you can be sure that you will enjoy your food, especially when accompanied by
wines from the hill towns surrounding Rome.
Other Sights Rome's attractions are endless, and depending on how much
time you have at your disposal a careful selection has to be made about what
to see. Be aware of horrendous traffic conditions and major construction work
all around the city in preparation of Jubilee 2000, the Holy Year. Some of the
sights not to be missed:
Piazza Venezia - This busy square is easily recognized by its imposing Vittorio
Emanuele II Monument. The white marble structure was inaugurated in 1911 as
a symbol of Italy’s unification.
The Forum - Once the civic heart of ancient Rome, today the remains include
a series of ruins, marble fragments, isolated columns and some worn arches.
Colosseum - No visit to Rome is complete without a stop at this awe-inspiring
theater, which is among the world’s most celebrated buildings. Here ancient
Rome flocked to see gladiatorial contests and numerous other spectacles.
Trevi Fountain - Take a stroll to Rome's famous fountain. A spectacular fantasy
of mythical sea creatures and cascades of splashing water, the fountain is one
of the city's foremost attractions. Legend has it that visitors must toss a
coin into the fountain to ensure their return to Rome.
St. Peter's Square - Part of Vatican City, this square created by Bernini
is considered one of the loveliest squares in the world. Twin Doric colonnades
topped with statues of various saints and martyrs flank either side of the square.
In the center stands an 84-foot obelisk, brought from Egypt in 37 A.D.
St. Peter's Basilica - At the head of the square stands Christendom's most
magnificent church, which was begun in 1452 on the site where St. Peter was
buried. Throughout the following 200 years, such Renaissance masters as Bramante,
Michelangelo, Raphael and Bernini worked on its design and created an unparalleled
masterpiece. Of special note are Michelangelo's Pieta and the bronze canopy
over the high altar by Bernini. The immense dome was designed by Michelangelo.
Vatican Museum - To see this museum's immense collection would take days.
As you enter, there are special posters that plot a choice of four color-coded
itineraries. They are repeated throughout the museum and are easy to follow.
It is a good idea to pickup a leaflet at the main entrance and concentrate on
exhibits of major interest. Of course, the Sistine Chapel is a must. Most likely
you may have to wait in line to enter.
Vacation Details
* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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