Absolute Italy by Rail

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Carbon neutral

12 daysDuration

Independent TourPrivate tour for one or two travelers

2 peopleMaximum group size

8 - 99 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Relaxed

Minimal physical effort, perfect for travelers seeking an easy-going experience.

Starts

Rome, Italy

Ends

Venice, Italy

Highlights

Enjoy a guided tour in Rome and see Campo Dei Fiori, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps

Explore the major tourist attractions near Milan that include Lake Como and Bellagio

Discover the Last supper of Leonardo Da Vinci, the famous Gothic Cathedral in Milan

Visit Chianti Area and enjoy wine tasting experience of the Chianti Red wine

Marvel at the beauty of Venice by visiting Piazza San Marco with the Basilica and the Clock Tower

Itinerary

Let the rails guide you through Italy’s most iconic cities on the "Absolute Italy by Rail" tour package—a 12-day independent trip curated for travelers eager to blend flexibility with cultural immersion. Begin in Rome, where ancient landmarks and modern vibrancy intertwine before you board high-speed trains to Florence, gateway to the Tuscan countryside.

Marvel at Monteriggioni’s intact medieval walls and San Gimignano’s legendary towers. In the Cinque Terre, your included pass lets you freely explore pastel-hued villages perched above the sea. Milan awaits with its Gothic cathedral, Da Vinci’s Last Supper, and the glamour of La Scala Opera House. Conclude your journey in Venice, where the Piazza San Marco, Rialto Bridge, and tranquil canals offer endless inspiration.

The trip’s unique highlight is its self-guided structure, delivering both convenience and freedom. With accommodations and transport arranged, you’re free to create your own Italian adventure at your own rhythm, making every moment a personal discovery.

day 1 - Rome Arrival

On your arrival at the airport, you will be met by our local representative and transferred to your hotel. During the rest of the day free time at your disposal for a first exploratory tour of the Eternal City. In case of an early arrival in Rome, we recommend a guided tour of the Vatican Museums, to admire Michelangelo's famous Sistine Chapel and other masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance more closely. It is also possible to participate in a series of other optional activities, such as a cooking lesson to learn how to make pizza or pasta and ice cream. For the evening, we recommend a nice walk in the Trastevere district, full of typical restaurants.

Overnight in Rome

Optional: Guided tour of the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Enjoy our guided tour of the Vatican Museums and visit the largest art collection in the world jumping the line. Your expert guide will lead you into the museum and its best galleries where you will admire frescoes, statues, tapestries and historical maps. Walk through the famous Hall of Maps and the Gallery of the Tapestries until you reach the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo’s Last Judgement.

Note:

- We will not visit St. Peter's Basilica during the tour.

- It is necessary to show a valid ID for children.

Optional: Cooking class
A local chef will take you on a culinary journey through the real Rome. You'll shop in the Campo di Fiori market, choosing fresh ingredients to use in your cooking class. Then you'll prepare your meal at an exclusive location in the heart of the Eternal City. Our movie set, a magazine cover apartment on Tiber Island, or our breathtaking three-story space nestled inside a 16th-century palazzo between Piazza Navona and Castel Sant'Angelo. You'll make homemade pasta such as ravioli or fettuccine and prepare other dishes under the guidance of your personal chef to produce a complete meal. At the end of the course, enjoy the dishes you've created accompanied by the perfect wine your chef has selected to complete your meal. Real food, pure pleasure. This experience allows you to become a true traveler immersed in authentic Roman culture. Your lesson includes 3 types of pasta, a main course, dessert and a selection of wine and soft drinks. We can easily accommodate vegetarians, any type of food intolerance and even the most discerning palate.

day 2 - Rome

Breakfast at the hotel and discover Imperial Rome on a group tour including the Forum and the magnificent Colosseum. The rest of the day is free to explore the city. You can join an excursion to visit Rome Catacombs or for the sporty ones there is also the option of an electric bike tour, to discover the historic centre with its symbols or even a more secret and unusual Rome.

Overnight in Rome

Optional: Visit the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum
Walk in the footsteps of Roman emperors and citizens on a tour of Ancient Rome, with a VIP entrance to the Roman Forum first: The Colosseum will be the last part of your tour. Before you visit the Archeological area, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in ancient Roman times with this intense 25-minute multimedia video showing the before and after effects of all the best sites of Rome including the Colosseum and Underground, Pantheon, Circus Maximum and the Vatican area. The video is ideal to view before taking your tours as one can appreciate the splendor of how the ruins were in the Ancient Roman Times. Skip the long line at the entrance and access the Roman Forum: walk along the Via Sacra and immerse yourself in Roman history. The main path through the Roman Forum, the Via Sacra once sparkled with festivals and triumphal processions. Ends at the Temple, which houses the altar where Julius Caesar was cremated. Visitors from around the world still leave flowers and candles at the site to this day. Before reaching the Colosseum, you can have a general overview of Palatine Hill where legend has it Romulus founded the city of Rome. The hill looks down over the Roman Forum and the Circus Maximus chariot-racing circuit. Once inside the Colosseum, your expert guide will teach you about the amphitheater's bloody past, with tales of gladiators, mock sea battles, and executions.

Optional: Rome Walking tour
Join our evening tour and discover Rome at its most glorious hour: Twilight. Experience the romance and beauty of Rome as the sun sets and the monuments are illuminated in all their glory! Let our expert guides bring the Eternal City to life and show you not only the must-see monuments but also the secrets and hidden gems that lie around every corner. As you walk through the charming cobblestone streets and alleyways, you will learn that the buildings, the streets and the monuments each have an epic story waiting to be told.

Optional: Guided Tour with E-Bike
Uniquely discover Rome with an early morning e-bike tour. Explore famous landmarks and hidden gems with ease, and experience ancient Rome like never before with 3D virtual reality reconstructions of iconic sites such as the Colosseum and Circus Maximus. This guided tour combines history, innovation, and the charm of the Eternal City, perfect for everyone, including families.

Optional: Rome Catacombs
Discover imperial and early Christian Rome and millennia of history as you descend into the Eternal city's underground burial chambers, its long winding catacombs and its crypts. Go below and beyond to a time when Christianity was considered a simple cult whose members were executed as pagans and buried as martyrs. The one and only tour that takes you to crypts and catacombs from different historical eras, in various locations and with varying styles. Much of what Rome has to offer is buried underground-and through this tour, our guests can discover the underside of Rome through three select sites--The Cappuccini Crypt (chapel decorated entirely by human bones), Domitilla Catacombs (or San Callisto or San Sebastiano) and the Basilica of San Nicola in Carcere.

day 3 - Rome – Naples – Pompeii – Rome

After breakfast at the hotel, you will board the high-speed train to Naples; the journey takes about 1h 15’. Upon arrival at Naples station you will begin a full day excursion to visit Pompeii and Naples. You will first discover the famous archaeological site of Pompeii, ancient Roman city destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD and then you will immerse yourself in the undisputed charm of the city of Naples. In the evening, return to Rome by train

Overnight in Rome

day 4 - Rome – Florence

After breakfast at the hotel, you will reach Rome Termini station to board the high-speed train to Florence; the journey takes about 1h 30’. After arriving, hotel accommodation and free time are available for an independent visit of the city, the 'cradle of the Renaissance'. It is possible to participate in a guided walking tour that reaches the symbols of the city (Piazza della Repubblica, Piazza della Signoria, the Ponte Vecchio with the goldsmiths' shops), or a guided tour of one of the main museums: the Uffizi Galleries, with the masterpieces of the masters of the Italian Renaissance (Leonardo, Caravaggio, Raffaello, Tiziano, Botticelli

and many others), or the Accademia Gallery, which houses the original of Michelangelo's famous statue of David.

Overnight in Florence

Optional: Florence Walking tour
The first stop on this enlightening guided walk will be Repubblica Square, one of the most elegant squares in Florence, where you’ll find some of the city's most refined cafés. From here, your guide will lead you through the most characteristic streets and alleys, taking you to the Loggia del Mercato Nuovo, where you’ll learn how to win good luck by caressing the nose of the famous Porcellino (wild boar) bronze statue. Just a stone's throw away is the iconic Ponte Vecchio, a true symbol of the city, famous for its exclusive jewelry stores, its unique structure, and for being the only bridge in Florence spared from bombings during World War II. Next, follow your guide to the Accademia dei Georgofili and Uffizi Square, and then discover the beating heart of Florence: Signoria Square. This open-air museum is dominated by the imposing Palazzo Vecchio and the magnificent Loggia dei Lanzi, which houses original statues. The journey to discover the wonders of Florence will culminate in San Giovanni Square, home to the stunning Duomo, Brunelleschi's Dome, the Baptistery, and Giotto's Bell Tower.

Optional: Guided tour of the Accademia Gallery
During your vacation in Florence, don’t miss the chance to meet one of the most famous and eclectic artists in the world: Michelangelo. Your personal guide will reveal the secrets of the Accademia Gallery and the creation of Michelangelo’s renowned masterpieces, such as the original David, I Prigioni, and San Matteo. This is a must-see for anyone interested in Michelangelo and offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience to stand in front of the iconic David. At the end of the guided tour, you will have the opportunity to stay in the museum for as long as you like.

Optional: Uffizi group tour
The Uffizi Gallery is the oldest art gallery in the world! This is a unique experience for anyone looking to immerse themselves in Florence’s rich artistic heritage and history. Your guide will lead you through the vast rooms and bright hallways, stopping to admire masterpieces such as Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, Leonardo’s The Annunciation, and Michelangelo’s Tondo Doni, among many others. At the end of the guided tour, you are welcome to remain in the Uffizi Gallery until closing time to further explore the incredible collection.

day 5 - Florence – Siena – San Gimignano – Monteriggioni - Chianti Area - Florence

Breakfast at the hotel. Full-day tour heading to the Chianti area and visiting Monteriggioni, with its still intact medieval walls. The tour continues to Siena, where you will discover the suggestive Piazza del Campo, Piazza Duomo, the Cathedral, Palazzo Pubblico and the famous Torre del Mangia. After Siena, the tour will head to the walled town of San Gimignano, renowned for its white wine, the world-renowned Vernaccia, and its skyscrapers, also declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO! The tour will continue with a visit to the Chianti area and a wine-tasting experience of the Chianti red wine. Return to Florence in the evening.

Overnight in Florence

day 6 - Florence – La Spenzia

After breakfast at the hotel, we board the regional train to La Spezia. The journey takes about 2h30m. La Spezia is the starting city to explore the famous Cinque Terre, the stretch of coast with five fishing villages perched over the sea: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The two-day Cinque Terre Train Card is included, allowing access to the National Park area and using regional trains that connect the villages and local buses.

Overnight in La Spenzia

day 7 - La Spenzia – Le Cinque Terre – La Spenzia

Breakfast at the hotel, then free day to continue the visit of the Cinque Terre, you can participate in a food tour to taste the typical seasonal specialties of the territory. Sports enthusiasts can opt for a mountain e-bike ride with a guide on one of the many scenic routes of the Gulf of Poets.

Overnight in La Spenzia

Optional: La Spezia Food tour: TBD

Optional: E-bike tour from la Spezia: TBD

day 8 - La Spenzia – Milan

After breakfast at the hotel, we board the intercity train to Milan. The journey takes about 3h20m. After arriving, hotel accommodation and free time for all to visit the city on one’s own. We suggest discovering the most famous symbols of Milan, such as the Duomo, the Castello Sforzesco, the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio and the Navigli, the famous canals, the very hub of the Milanese nightlife. You can continue your visit to the city with an internal visit of the Teatro alla Scala and its museum, a unique experience to visit one of the most famous theatre houses in the world.

Overnight in Milan

Optional: Milan Walking tour
Take a look at the medieval Sforza Castle: a grand medieval Castle and fortress, the Sforzesco was once a residence for the ruling family of Milan and now houses several of the city's museums and art collections. Visit the splendid Duomo, one of the world's largest, most striking Gothic cathedrals in the World. Walk inside Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping gallery, a 19th-century glass-vaulted shopping arcade. Brimming with fashionable shops and cafes, it is often called the ‘Salotto di Milano’ or ‘Milan’s drawing room’ for its importance over the years as a common meeting point for the people of Milan. Your entrance ticket provides 24 hour admission to the theatre so you can return the next day.

day 9 - Milan – Como - Lake Como – Milan

Breakfast at the hotel and then take the regional train to reach Como. The journey takes about 40 min. Discover the city of Como and its famous lake on your own. A day ticket is included for the hop-on / hop-off public boat to discover the lake departing from Como. You can choose the best stops to get off for a walk according to the departures of the boats and the time of the train back to Milan. Enjoy some free time in Como to get to know the town and shop in the many local boutiques. Return to Milan in the evening.

Overnight in Milan

day 10 - Milan – Venice

After breakfast at the hotel, we board the high-speed train to Venice. The journey takes about 2h30m. After arriving, hotel accommodation, so in the afternoon there will be a 30-minute “gondola ride” with commentary via app on your mobile phone. Before dinner in Venice, it is traditional to have an aperitif based on “cichéti” (small snacks) in one of the many “bacari” (taverns) scattered along the “calli” (that is what the Venetian streets are called): a must experience to try.

Overnight in Venice

day 11 - Venice

Breakfast at the hotel, then a full day dedicated to the discovery of Venice or its lagoon. You can take a guided walking tour through the most famous places in the city (Piazza San Marco with the Basilica and the Clock Tower, the Rialto Bridge, Campo Santa Maria Formosa) and others less known; or a skip-the-line guided tour of the Doge's Palace, with the Doge's luxurious apartments and the famous Bridge of Sighs. Alternatively, you can go on a boat trip to the islands of the Venice lagoon: Murano, known all over the world for its famous glass craftmanship; Burano, famous not only for its lace but also for the picturesque fishermen's houses all painted in bright colors; and Torcello, the first settlement center in the lagoon.

Overnight in Venice

Optional: Venice Walking tour
This is a walk to admire the most characteristic and important places for the history of Venice from the exterior. A qualified and experienced guide will escort you through the millennium of life of the Serenissima Republic, recalling the city's past full of charm - an essential tour for the understanding of Venice. The route includes Piazza San Marco - origins, history and description of the main monuments; Basilica San Marco, Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace), Bell Tower, Clock Tower and Procuratie. Continue to Santa Maria Formosa - history and anecdotes related to this wonderful and characteristic square. Campo San Giovanni e Paolo - the "Pantheon" of Venice, the Great School of Charity, the Captains of fortune. Marco Polo’s House and Malibran Theater - anecdotes and distant and recent history intersect in this beautiful corner of Venice. Return to San Marco through the Mercerie, vital connection between Rialto and San Marco, and the main shopping street.

Optional: Excursion to the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello
This panoramic city tour will lead you to the discovery of the Venetian Lagoon and of its origins through a suggestive boat excursion that will stop in the three most important islands of the city: Murano, Burano and Torcello. On board, an expert hostess will tell you the story of each island, revealing their peculiarities and traditions. In Murano, you will visit an historical glassblowing factory, where you will be shown how they still work the typical glass that made Venice famous all over the world. In Burano, the island known for its colorful houses, you will admire the famous hand-made laces. Last stop is Torcello, where you will witness the vestiges of the first settlements of the inhabitants of Venice.

day 12 - Venice –

Today, after breakfast at the hotel, make your own way to your airport for your flight back.

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What's Included

Accommodation

11 nights accommodation on a twin-sharing basis at listed hotels or similar

Meals

Daily breakfast

Transport

Arrival transfer in Rome by private Car/Minibus

Guide

Service of English-speaking tour guide

Others

Sightseeing as per the itineraryFull Day Tour to Naples and Pompeii from Naples railway stationFull Day Tour by modern AC coach to Siena, San Gimignano and Chianti Area from Florence48hrs Cinque Terre Train CardOne-day free ticket on the public boat on Lake Como30-minute Gondola ride with commentary01 Wine tasting in the Chianti AreaRound-trip high-speed train tickets from Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale - 2nd classHigh-speed train ticket from Roma Termini to Firenze Santa Maria Novella station - 2nd classRegional train ticket from Firenze Santa Maria Novella station to La Spezia Centrale 2nd classIntercity train ticket from La Spezia Centrale to Milan Centrale 1st classRound-trip regional train tickets from Milano Centrale to Como Centrale 1st classHigh speed train ticket from Milano Centrale station to Venezia St. Lucia - 2nd classAll local applicable taxes

Entrance

Entrance to Colosseum & Roman Forum Group tour (3hrs)Entrance ticket to Pompeii

What's Excluded

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