Essential Italy: Rome, Florence, Milan & the Lakes

$10,400

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Description

What’s included: Private airport transfers & inter-city transfers; accommodation with breakfast; named tours & activities
Places visited: Rome (3 nights), Florence (5 nights), Stresa on the banks of Lake Maggiore (4 nights), Milan (1 night)
Departure dates and prices: Departure dates are flexible, and the price varies with hotel star and season.
Best for… History & Archaeology / Art & Culture / Architecture / Coastal views / Contrasting natural scenes

Our glorious multi-city Italy tour to Rome, Florence, Milan and the Italian Lake District is a wonderful combination of historic architecture, rare art, cultural scenes, city vibrancy and natural landscapes that will enchant your heart. This multi-stop tour allows you to explore the famously diverse Italian culture, as well as relaxing natural landscapes featuring glistening lakes and mountain backdrops. It also includes day trips to Venice and the Cinque Terre, as well as exclusive tours of Vatican City, wine tasting in Tuscany and a boat tour of the glorious islands near Lake Maggiore. With exclusive pre-arranged tours and day trips, accommodation and private transfers, this is the perfect multi-city Italy tour on which to discover the delights of Rome and North Italy, while enjoying a tranquil escape to the banks of the grand Lake Maggiore.

Trip highlights

  • VIP guided tour of Rome
  • Tour of Rome’s ancient sights, including the Colosseum
  • VIP tour of Vatican City, including the Sistine Chapel
  • Walking tour of Florence, including the Uffizi and Accademia art galleries
  • Glorious day tour of Tuscany, featuring Montalcino and Val D’ Orcia, with Brunello wine tasting
  • Day trip to the Cinque Terre
  • Private tour of Venice on a day excursion from Florence
  • Full day excursion to Zermatt and the Matterhorn
  • Unmissable Borromées Islands boat tour, featuring Isola Bella and Isola dei Pescatori
  • Guided tour of Milan’s remarkable city attractions

Pricing

Our prices are seasonal and based on your date of departure & preferred accommodation star rating. The low-season runs from November 1st until March 31st, and the high-season runs from April 1st until October 31st.

13 Nights

3 Star from $10,400 AUD pp (plus $3,120 for high-season)

4 Star from $12,480 AUD pp (plus $3,744 for high-season)

5 Star from $15,600 AUD pp (plus $4,680 for high-season)

If you would prefer to speak to an adviser or you would like to find out more about this Sicily multi-city holiday before booking, please call a member of our friendly team at 61 2 9056 7018 or click here to send us an enquiry for a personalised holiday quote based on this itinerary.

 


Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Italy!
Your first day in Italy’s historic cultural heart begins with a private car transfer from the airport to your centrally located hotel in Rome, where you can relax before enjoying a half-day walking tour, led by a private guide who will give you incredible insight into Classic Rome and its history, culture and continuing global importance. This tour includes special landmarks, such as the Spanish Steps, Pantheon, Piazza Nanova and the Trevi Fountain. It’s a wonderful way to start your multi-centre holiday package in Italy!
What’s included: Private airport transfer to your hotel in Rome; private guided tour of Rome’s classic sights; accommodation in Rome

Day 2: Journey back in time to discover Rome’s Colosseum
After discovering Rome’s classic sights, today you will enjoy the city’s famous ancient monuments, including the magnificent Colosseum and Roman Forum. On this private tour, led by an expert guide, you will be able to learn all about the Colosseum’s turbulent history and the gory battles that it once showcased, as well as the significance of the Roman Forum to the flourishing Empire and its significance to archaeologists to this day.
What’s included: Private guided tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum; accommodation in Rome

Day 3: Unveil the secrets of the Vatican
On your last day in Rome, you will be treated to a VIP guided tour of the stunning Vatican City with an art historian, who will take you on a fascinating journey through the museums, which are considered to be among the most important in the world. Here, you will discover some of the greatest masterpieces of all time, precious artefacts of the past and intricate sculptures. This four-hour extensive tour also features St Peter’s Basilica, St Peter’s Square and, as a grand finale, the unmistakably magnificent Sistine Chapel.
What’s included: Private VIP tour of Vatican City; accommodation in Rome

Day 4: Travel to Florence – the Jewel of the Renaissance
It’s time to bid your final fair well to the ancient capital and recline on a first-class train to Florence. Our local driver will be waiting at Florence station to greet you and will take you to your centrally located hotel in the heart of the city, where you can settle in. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore historic Florence, known for its Renaissance art, intricate architecture and vibrant Italian culture.
What’s included: Private transfer to Rome train station; first-class train ticket to Florence; private transfer from the station to your hotel in Florence; accommodation in Florence

Day 5: Tour of Florence, including the Accademia and Uffizi galleries
On your first full day in Florence you can discover all the iconic city sights on a small-group sightseeing tour that includes the two most famous art galleries in Florence. With our knowledgeable tour guide, you can see and learn about the bustling Piazza della Signoria and the imposing Palazzo Vecchio, as well as the Duomo and other architectural feats of the Renaissance era. After delighting in Florence’s architectural treasures, it is time for the highlight: in-depth guided tours around the Uffizi and Accademia art galleries, which provide a sanctuary to some of the most important art collections in the world, including Michelangelo’s iconic statue of David.
What’s included: Small-group guided tour of Florence, including the Uffizi and Accademia galleries; accommodation in Florence

Day 6: Tour of Tuscany’s hidden gems, with wine tasting
Today will surely be one of the memorable highlights of your multi-city package holiday in Italy as you enjoy a tour of Tuscany’s hidden gems, featuring the beautiful hill-top town of Montalcino and the Val d’Orcia, which is a picturesque and lush region of Italy known for its rolling hills of green, decorated with quaint villas, authentic farmhouses and ancient churches. On this tour there will be plenty of time to relax admiring the views in Montalcino while enjoying a sampling of wines and local snacks on an authentic wine estate.
What’s included: Full-day, small-group tour of Tuscany, with Montalcino and Val d’Orcia (with Brunello and Nobile di Montepulciano wine tasting); accommodation in Florence

Day 7: Relax on the Cinque Terre
Spend an unforgettable day relaxing on the Cinque Terre on a trip devoted to one of the most amazing and enchanting landscapes in the world. The Cinque Terre is made up of five fishing villages, which are nestled delicately between the sea and land. Our visit includes Riomaggiore, Manarola (where you can walk the famous “Via dell’Amore”), Monterosso and, finally, Vernazza, which is a glorious seaside town, where you can enjoy swimming in the crystal waters. After your day tour of the Cinque Terre, you will be taken back to your hotel in Florence.
What’s included: Group tour of the Cinque Terre, including a return transfer from Florence; accommodation in Florence

Day 8: Day tour of Venice – Italy’s Floating City
As a special day trip, today you will enjoy the delights of Venice, which frequently finds itself in travel magazines as a “must-see” destination. A private car will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Florence station, where you can recline in a first-class seat on a fast train to Venice. Our guide will be waiting to meet you in Venice at the train station and will take you on a glorious four-hour journey through this magical city, featuring the main attractions such as the Doge Palace, St Mark’s Square and the Basilica, and the Bridge of Sighs. After the tour, there will be free time for lunch before you enjoy a luxury train ride back to Florence, where our driver will pick you up for a private transfer to your hotel.
What’s included: Private return transfer to Florence train station; first-class return train tickets to Venice; private guided tour of Venice; accommodation in Florence

Day 9: Discover the magic of the Italian Lake District
It is time to say goodbye to the artistic city of Florence as today you will escape to nature for four nights of relaxation on the banks of Lake Maggiore. Our driver will collect you from your hotel in Florence and take you to the station, where you can enjoy a journey through the Italian countryside in a first-class carriage to Milan. In Milan, our local driver will be waiting to take you by private car to your luxurious hotel in Stresa on the banks of the grand Lake Maggiore, where you can relax in the natural landscape.
What’s included: Private transfer to Florence train station; first-class train ticket to Milan; private car transfer to Stresa; accommodation in Stresa

Day 10: Zermatt and the Matterhorn
Today you will experience the contrasting diversity of Italy’s landscape, with an Alpine tour of Zermatt. This group tour takes you through the Ossola Valley, which winds gracefully up towards the Alps, leading you to the famous Simplon Pass, where you can take in unbeatable 360° panoramic views of the Swiss and Italian Alps. Your journey continues through Brig (with its Stockalper castle), Visp and along the Matter Valley, leading you into the heart of the Alps, where you can take the rack and pinion railway up to Zermatt itself. Situated at 5,315 ft above sea level, Zermatt is surrounded by some of the most famous peaks in the Alps, including the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa and the Gornergrat. It is the most picturesque of the Alpine villages and is completely pedestrianised, allowing you to wander freely and safely, admiring the boutiques and quaint village sights. You will have plenty of free time to explore Zermatt – why not take a journey up into the mountains on the Sunnegga Mountain Metro or tour the village in a traditional horse-drawn carriage? It is simply a delightful place to discover and once you have absorbed the Alpine culture, you can reflect on your day of discovery on your group transfer back to Stresa.
What’s included: Group excursion to Zermatt; accommodation in Stresa

Day 11: Island hopping in the Italian Lake District
After enjoying panoramic mountain scenes yesterday, today you will be treated to a day of island hopping through the Borromean Islands by boat. On this group tour, you will stop in Isola Pescatori, which is a charming island with quaint houses lining the cobbled lanes and fishing boats bobbing around gently in the harbour, and Isola Bella, which is the most famous of the Borromean Islands. On both islands you will have free time to discover the best attractions – be sure to stop by the famous Palazzo on Isola Bella, where you’ll find magnificent gardens, as well as the ancient amphitheatre.
What’s included: Group boat tour of the Borromean Islands; accommodation in Stresa

Day 12: Leisure day in Stresa

Day 13: Ciao Milano!
After relaxing and rejuvenating in the Italian Lake District you will return to Italy’s fashion capital of Milan, where you can explore the fashionable streets with our tour guide, who will show you all the iconic sights, including the Gothic Cathedral. This tour also includes an unmissable visit to see da Vinci’s The Last Supper, which is one of the greatest masterpieces of all time – it is highly protected and can only be viewed by appointment, meaning a trip to see it is an exclusive treat for any art lover!
What’s included: Private transfer from Stresa to Milan; small-group guided tour of Milan, with a group visit to see The Last Supper; accommodation in Milan

Day 14: Arrivederci Italia!
Today sees you leaving this remarkable country but you can still enjoy one last luxury with a private transfer from your hotel in Milan to the airport for your flight home.
What’s included: Private transfer from your hotel to Milan airport

Important information

Please note that this multi-city Italy tour does not include flights. When purchasing your flights from your chosen airline, we recommend that you fly into Rome Fiumicino Airport and fly out of Milan Malpensa Airport to take advantage of your private airport transfers.

Please note that the Vatican Museums in Rome and the San Marco Basilica in Venice are closed on Sundays and religious holidays, and the art galleries in Florence and Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan are closed on Mondays. In the case of unavailability, alternate itinerary options will be offered.