Absolute Italy STANDARD Independent Rail Tour 2025

Arrival at Rome Fiumicino Airport, transfer to the hotel by private car and check-in to the hotel.  The rest of the day is free to explore the Eternal City. In case of an early arrival, we recommend a guided tour of the Vatican Museums, to admire Michelangelo's famous Sistine Chapel and other masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance. For gastronomy enthusiasts, enjoy a cooking lesson to learn how to make pizza or pasta and gelato. In the evening, we recommend a walk around the Trastevere district, full of typical restaurants. Overnight at the hotel in Rome.

Breakfast at the hotel followed by another day discovering the city. Today join the Imperial Tour of Rome to admire the monuments of the Roman Forum and the Colosseum and hear a guided presentation of the evocative history of ancient Rome and the gladiators' fights that took place there. In the afternoon there is free time to continue exploring the city. Join an excursion to visit the Rome Catacombs or if you’re feeling more active, there is the option of an electric bike tour, to discover the historic centre as well as the chance to see a unique and different side of Rome. Overnight at the hotel in Rome. (B)

Optional Experiences
▪ Rome Walking Tour (private)
▪ Guided E-Bike Tour (small group)
▪ Rome Catacombs (small group)

After breakfast at the hotel board the high-speed train to Naples; the journey takes approximately 1 hour 15 minutes. Upon arrival at Naples train station, you will begin a full day excursion to visit Pompeii and Naples. The tour will first take you to the famous archaeological site of Pompeii, the ancient Roman city destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79AD.  From Pompeii, travel back to Naples, where there is a chance to immerse yourself in the undisputed charm of the city. In the evening, return to Rome by train. Overnight at the hotel in Rome. (B)

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Rome Termini train station to board the high-speed train to Florence; the journey takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. After arriving, check into the hotel and the rest of the day is free to explore the city of Florence, known as the “Cradle of the Renaissance”.  We recommend taking a guided walking tour to see the famous landmarks: Piazza della Repubblica, Piazza della Signoria and Ponte Vecchio with its goldsmiths' shops. Alternatively take a guided tour of one of the main museums: the Uffizi Galleries, with its masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance by Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, Raffaello, Tiziano, Botticelli and many others, or the Accademia Gallery, which houses the original of Michelangelo's famous statue of David. Overnight at the hotel in Florence. (B)

Optional Experiences
▪ Florence Walking Tour (regular or private)
▪ Guided Tour of Accademia Gallery (small group)
▪ Uffizi Group Tour (small group)

Breakfast at the hotel followed by a full day touring the Chianti Region. The day will start by visiting Monteriggioni, a small town with all its medieval walls still intact. The tour continues to Siena to discover the 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, famous for its world renowned Vernaccia white wine, its medieval towers, “skyscrapers” that have been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tour will continue with a visit to the Chianti wine growing area to enjoy a wine tasting experience of the also world renowned, Chianti red wine. Return to Florence in the evening.  Overnight at the hotel in Florence. (B, T)

After breakfast at the hotel, board the train to La Spezia. The journey takes about 2 hours 30 minutes. La Spezia sits east of the Cinque Terre coast, the famous stretch of coastline which is home to 5 fishing villages perched over the Mediterranean Sea: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. A 2-day Cinque Terre Train Card is included, which gives you access to the Cinque Terre National Park area and the use of regional trains and local buses that connect the fishing villages. Overnight at the hotel in La Spezia. (B)

Optional Experiences
▪ Wine Tasting in Manarola or Monterosso (regular)
▪ Pesto Experience in Manarola (small group)

Breakfast at the hotel, then a free day to continue exploring the Cinque Terre. Take part in a food tour to taste the seasonal specialties of the Ligurian region. For the more active, a mountain e-bike ride with guide is a great way to enjoy the many scenic routes of the Gulf of La Spezia or ‘Gulf of Poets’ as it has been nicknamed. Overnight at the hotel in La Spezia. (B)

Optional Experiences
▪ La Spezia Food Tour (small group)
▪ E-Bike Tour from La Spezia (small group)

After breakfast at the hotel, board the high-speed train to Milan. The journey takes about 2 hours 30 minutes. After check-in at the hotel, the afternoon is free to visit the city of Milan. Discover the most famous sites of Milan: the Duomo, the Castello Sforzesco, the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio and the famous Navigli canals, the hub of Milanese nightlife. Continue the exploration of Milan with a unique experience: a visit to one of the most famous opera houses in the world, the Teatro alla Scala and its museum located next door.  Alternatively take a bike tour of the city or spend time shopping at the Serravalle outlet. Overnight at the hotel in Milan. (B)

Optional Experiences
▪ Milan Bike Tour (semi-private)
▪ Milan Walking Tour (private)
▪ Visit of the Teatro alla Scala & Museum (regular)

Breakfast at the hotel and then board a regional train to Como. The journey takes about 40 minutes. Discover the town of Como and with a 1-day ticket for a hop-on / hop-off public boat and enjoy a walk around some of the towns on the lake. In the later part of the day, enjoy time in the town of Como, shop in the many local boutiques before returning to Milan in the evening. Overnight at the hotel in Milan. (B)

After breakfast at the hotel board the high-speed train to Venice. The journey takes about 2 hours 30 minutes. After hotel check-in, the rest of the day is at leisure. In the afternoon enjoy a 30-minute gondola ride with commentary available via a mobile phone app. This evening, a must do tradition in Venice is to enjoy an aperitif before dinner accompanied by “cichéti” or small plates of food, in one of the many “bacari” or small bars scattered along the “calli”, the Venetian name for street. Overnight at the hotel in Venice. (B)

Breakfast at the hotel followed by a full day dedicated to discovering the Venetian Lagoon. You can take a guided walking tour through the most famous places in the city including Piazza San Marco with the Basilica and Clock Tower, the Rialto Bridge, Campo Santa Maria Formosa and other less known sites. Alternatively, a skip-the-line guided tour of the Doge's Palace to view the luxurious Doge's apartments and the famous Bridge of Sighs or take 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 painted in bright colours; and Torcello, the first settlement in the lagoon. Overnight at the hotel in Venice. (B)

Optional Experiences
▪ Venice Walking Tour (regular or private)
▪ Excursion to the islands of Murano, Burano & Torcello (regular)

Breakfast at the hotel followed by check-out. (B)