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Italian Expresso

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5 days

COACH TOUR: Perfect for those short on time, this 5-day express tour takes in all the main highlights of Italy. Starting and ending in Rome, you will visit UNESCO-listed Siena and tour the 'Cradle of the Renaissance' in Florence. Enjoy a wander around Bologna, visit Padua, and take a guided sightseeing tour of Venice. Drive through Tuscany's beautiful wine region, tuck into lunch in medieval Montepulciano, and then return to the Italian capital.

For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more download our Trip Notes

Tour Overview

Duration

5 days

Starts

Rome

Ends

Rome

Range

Handpicked

Tour Guide

Tour leader escort & local guides for sightseeing

Group Size

Min 2 / Max 40

Minimum age

No minimum age

Departs

Mondays & Saturdays

Hotel Rating

4-star hotels

Countries

Italy

Arrival Transfer

N/a

Departure Transfer

No

Meals included

Breakfast: 4, Lunch: 3, Dinner: 1
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Per Person From
$2,145.00
NZD$1,716.00
Deposit From
Final payment
NZD$1,000.00
$2,432.00

Tour Highlights

Siena - Visit this famous UNESCO-listed town, known for its narrow streets and picturesque town square
Florence - Explore the home of Michelangelo on a guided tour, taking in the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Basilica of Santa Croce and more
Bologna - Take in the highlights of this classical Italian city independently, and find a local restaurant in which to enjoy lunch
Padua - See the Basilica of St Anthony, one of the most visited churches by pilgrims in the Christian world
Venice - Join a guided tour to highlights including St Mark's Square, sip a glass of prosecco and perhaps take a gondola ride independently
Tuscany - Drive through idyllic scenery and tuck into lunch in the medieval Tuscan town of Montepulciano - remember to try the wine!

Included

4 breakfasts, 3 lunches & 1 dinner
4 nights 4 star hotels
Escorted by an English-speaking Italian tour leader with specialist guides for some sightseeing
Transportation by deluxe coach with Wi-Fi, audio headsets and onboard toilet
Guided sightseeing in Florence and Venice
Cicchetti & Prosecco or Spritz experience in Venice
Note: Touring is operated in conjunction with other tourist groups, not solely On The Go. You will join travellers who booked through other operators for sightseeing each day, some staying in different hotels, and spend your evenings at leisure. The group can vary in size from 20 - 40 persons. Guiding may be in an additional language to English

Not Included

International flights and visas
Additional meals and drinks unless specified
Airport transfers
Entrance fees not mentioned in Inclusions
Tipping - an entirely personal gesture
City tax of €1 - 6 per person per night (tax varies by city), to be paid directly to the hotel at check-in/out. See Trip Notes for details. Please note we recommend paying your city tax when checking in or in the evening during your stay to save time on check out!

Itinerary

Day 1 - Assisi, Siena & Florence

Rome - Assisi - Siena - Florence. Welcome to Italy! It's an early start as we depart Rome at 07:15 and journey to the medieval walled town of Assisi. There's time to visit the picturesque Basilica of St Francis independently if you choose.

Then we continue to Siena, a UNESCO-protected town known for its incredibly narrow streets, medieval brick buildings and fan-shaped main square: Piazza del Campo. After a short visit, we continue to our hotel in Florence, where dinner is included.

Please note: The tour departs at 07:15 on Day 1 from the Hotel St Martin in Rome. Please arrive in Rome the day before your tour to ensure you don't miss the coach.

Overnight: Florence
Meals: Dinner

Day 2 - Florence sightseeing

Today we enjoy a half-day sightseeing tour of Florence, 'Cradle of the Renaissance' and home of Michelangelo. Take in the beautiful Duomo, formally known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Other highlights of the city include the town hall - Palazzo Vecchio and the Basilica of Santa Croce, burial place for illustrious Italians including Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. We tuck into lunch at a typical Tuscan restaurant in Piazza Santa Croce, and the rest of the day is at leisure.

Spend the afternoon strolling the cobblestone streets of Florence on your own or take a short trip to Pisa (optional), for a tour of the Piazza dei Miracoli with the Duomo, Pisa’s symbol “the Leaning Tower” and the Baptistery.

Overnight: Florence
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3 - Bologna, Padua & Venice

Florence - Bologna - Padua - Venice. Departing Florence, we drive to beautiful Bologna, capital of the Emilia-Romagna region. Stroll through the elegant city centre to see some of the beautiful porticos and shopping streets. Stroll from Piazza Malpighi to Piazza del Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore in the heart of the city, and see the Basilica of San Petronio. There's free time to find a good restaurant for lunch.

In the afternoon we pay a short visit to Padua, a riverside city west of Venice. We'll see the Basilica of Saint Anthony, which is one of the most visited churches by pilgrims in the Catholic world. Then it's on to Venice, where we check into our hotel for the next two nights.

Please note: For tours departing in April 2025 onwards, there will no longer be a stop in Padua. Instead, more time will be spent exploring Bologna, and you will enjoy an included street food experience with a light lunch.

Overnight: Venice
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 - Venice

After breakfast, it's time to explore perhaps Italy's most famous and romantic destination. The floating city is a photographer's dream, and we'll be taking in the main highlights. Our tour begins in Piazza San Marco, in English known as St Mark's Square. It's the focal point of the city, dominated by St Mark's Basilica. We also see the Gothic Doge's Palace and the legendary Bridge of Sighs.

After our tour, we enjoy some cicchetti (Italian tapas) and a glass of prosecco in our beautiful setting and there is free time for you to explore further - we strongly recommend a gondola ride on Venice's famous canals!

Overnight: Venice
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5 - Tuscany & return to Rome

Venice - Tuscany wine region - Rome. Leaving Venice, we head into Tuscany, one of Italy's most idyllic regions. A land known for its beautiful scenery, historic castles, and some of Italy's finest wines. We enjoy a stop in the medieval town of Montepulciano for lunch, where you can try a glass or two of the region's vino. Then we have a short amount of free time to explore the town further, before returning to Rome. Our tour arrangements ends when we get back to the city.

Please note: We will not arrive back in Rome until late afternoon or early evening, so please be aware of this when arranging your flights. We would encourage you to stay in Rome for an extra night, and book your onward flight for the day after our tour concludes.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour Reviews

I had an amazing time. This was an action packed tour which was perfect for the short time I had available. I was able to see so many highlights of Italy. The tour guide, Niki was lots of fun. She was very knowledgeable and kept us all organsied and safe. I was travelling on my own for this trip.

The tour was fast as expected due to it being only 5 days. Hotels were not 4 star as indicated. The first hotel the bathroom wasn't cleaned. No kettles or hot bevareage facilties as indicated on website. The food was DISGUSTING when it was apart of group meals. To be in italy you would expect good food. The only good food we had with the group was the friday lunch in Montepulcino. No indication of how much mobility was needed as some the group couldn't walk far. The stops in towns were great. Tour group size was too big. It should be limited down a bit more. Bus clean.

Carlos was a very informative guide. He spoke good english and had a good sense of humor. He kept us all safe when moving about. For the itinerary it would have been nice to have a bit longer in the tuscan wine country and maybe even out on a vineyard to get a real authentic experience of the wine tasting. Possibly an extra half day. When in Venice the organised boat ride back and pick up was appreciated. The hotels we stayed in were lovely but no tea and coffee making facilities in the rooms.

Our tour guide and driver were fabulous. The tour info suggested our bus would have toilets, I think this should not be advertised, as we didn't on any of the on the go tours we booked. The food at our first hotel and the hotel weren't that great to be honest. The meat was so tough we couldn't eat it. Our second hotel and food were 10x better.

Stefano was great. The walking tours with the guides were extremely boring. The hotels we stayed in were definitely not four star hotels so was not very impressed with that. The food included in the tour was terrible.

Hotels

The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard.
Raffaello Hotel
Florence

The recently renovated Raffaello Hotel is located in an atmospheric residential area, just a 10-minute tram ride from the city centre. When in the hotel guests can relax in the Raffaello Garden with a drink, or tuck into delectable Tuscan cuisine at Restaurant La Fornarina. A buffet breakfast is included and served daily and there is free Wi-Fi throughout. Rooms come with Sky television, minibar, safe and ensuite bathrooms and are tastefully decorated, as they should be in the city of the Renaissance!

Our Rating
Superior
Local Rating
4 Star Hotel
Hotel Delfino Venezia Mestre
Venice

Hotel Delfino Venezia Mestre is located in the lively Corso del Popolo in the heart of Mestre, the mainland section of Venice. The hotel is just 10 minutes by bus from Venice itself, with a stop across the road - reception can arrange bus tickets for guests if needed. Rooms at this 4-star hotel are well appointed and spacious, equipped with ensuite bathrooms, air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi and television. Buffet breakfast is served onsite and there is a bar and lounge area where guests can enjoy cocktails and apertifs.

Our Rating
Superior
Local Rating
4 Star Hotel

Prices & Dates

Departure dates are guaranteed with a minimum of 2 persons. 'Twin/Double' prices are per person when there are 2 people on the same booking sharing a room. 'Single' prices are applicable to solo travellers and anyone wanting the privacy of their own room. Room sharing is not available on this tour.

2024
Twin/Double
Single
16 Dec - 20 Dec
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$2,145$1,716
$2,765$2,212
30 Dec - 3 Jan
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$3,075$2,460
$3,695$2,956
2025
Twin/Double
Single
13 Jan - 17 Jan
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$2,145$1,716
$2,765$2,212
20 Jan - 24 Jan
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27 Jan - 31 Jan
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$2,145$1,716
$2,765$2,212
3 Feb - 7 Feb
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10 Feb - 14 Feb
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$2,145$1,716
$2,765$2,212
17 Feb - 21 Feb
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24 Feb - 28 Feb
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$2,145$1,716
$2,765$2,212
3 Mar - 7 Mar
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Sold Out
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