- Tour code
ITAADV02
- Start
Rome
- End
Venice
- Min. age
16 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Classic
- Trip pace
Easy
- Language
English
This is Italy's classic line from Rome to Venice, taken at a pace that leaves room to breathe. Two nights in Rome give you a guided walk with a local and a free afternoon for the Vatican, Trastevere or the Colosseum.
Then the landscape changes. Pienza and Montepulciano bring cypress-lined hills, stone lanes and a wine tasting, with a full day to spend at a winery or out on a bike. Siena's medieval center comes next, on the way to Florence, where a guided walk and a market lunch set you up for the Duomo, the Uffizi or Michelangelo's David.
The final stretch is Venice, reached by train across northern Italy: a guided walk through the canals, then a whole day to get lost in the lanes, ride a gondola or simply sit by the water.
Evenings often end around a shared table, and your group of 6 to 16 fellow travelers, many of them solo, quickly becomes part of the trip.
Why This Journey
Rome, Tuscany, Florence and Venice could each fill a holiday on their own, and stitching them together independently means juggling trains, hill-town buses and hotel changes. This route does the joining up for you and adds the pieces that are hard to arrange alone: a Rome walk shaped by a guide's own story of making the city home, a tasting in a Montepulciano cellar and lunch in a Florentine market.
Free time is generous, from an open afternoon in Rome to a full unscripted day in Venice, so it suits travelers who want Italy's great sights alongside time to wander, eat well and meet people along the way.
Where You'll Stay
Rome (2 nights): Hotel Artemide, on Via Nazionale. Montepulciano (2 nights): Albergo Il Marzocco, inside the old town walls. Florence (2 nights): Hotel Spadai, near the Duomo. Venice (2 nights): Hotel Antiche Figure, on the Grand Canal opposite the railway station. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Prices are based on sharing a double room with two beds.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. The trip starts in Rome, with Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) the arrival airport, and ends in Venice, where Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) is the departure airport; arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
Ancient Rome up close
Renaissance Florence and canal-side Venice
Tuscan wine and local food in Montepulciano
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Accommodations in double rooms
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
One farewell group activity when possible
Max 16 travellers per group
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Group transportation
What's excluded
- International flights (travellers arrange their own)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Lunches and meals not listed in the itinerary, including the optional farewell dinner
- Optional activities, such as bike rides, gondola rides and food tours
- Museum and site entry not listed in the itinerary
- Single room supplement (single rooms on request, subject to availability)
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Group itinerary
Land whenever suits you and transfer to the hotel. Later, your Soca Islands Host gathers everyone for introductions and a rundown of the days ahead, a relaxed first chance to put names to faces.
The morning belongs to a guided walk with a local guide whose own story of settling in Rome gives the city a different angle from the usual monuments-only tour.
After that, Rome is yours. The Vatican Museums, the Colosseum and Forum, the lanes of Trastevere or a gelato on Piazza Navona: pick your favorites and set your own pace.
Rome falls away as you head north into the Val d'Orcia. First stop is Pienza, a small Renaissance town laid out by a 15th-century pope, with sweeping views across the valley and time to wander.
By afternoon you reach hilltop Montepulciano. A short orientation walk gets you familiar with its steep streets, and then it's time to raise a glass at a local wine tasting.
A day to enjoy southern Tuscany however you like. Spend it at a winery tasting the local Vino Nobile, or pedal out through the rolling vineyards and farmland. Either way, the pace is unhurried.
Siena is the stop on today's move north. After an orientation walk, you're free to take in the striped Duomo, the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo or simply the everyday rhythm of this medieval city.
Florence is where you sleep tonight. Cap the day by climbing up to Piazzale Michelangelo, where the whole city spreads out below you.
A guided walk introduces Florence's streets, architecture and story. Lunch is at a local market, a tasty break before the afternoon opens up.
Use it for Brunelleschi's dome, Michelangelo's David, the Uffizi Gallery or a slow crossing of the Ponte Vecchio.
A train carries you across northern Italy to Venice. Once you've checked in, a guided walk leads you through canals, bridges and historic lanes.
Tonight is free, though your group may head out together to a spot the locals like for dinner, if you want to join.
No schedule today. Float along in a gondola, join a food tour, dip into the museums or follow the alleys wherever they lead. In the evening there's the option of a farewell dinner with the group.
After breakfast, the trip wraps up in Venice. Head home or carry on exploring Italy on your own.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
Hotel Artemide
A hotel in a 19th-century building on Via Nazionale, between Termini station and Piazza Venezia. The Trevi Fountain, the Quirinal and Monti are within walking distance, and the Forum and Colosseum are a 20-minute walk.
The Ambrosia rooftop restaurant and bar looks out over the city roofs, and there is an on-site spa and lounge, with breakfast served daily.
Hotel websiteAlbergo Il Marzocco
A family-run hotel on Piazza Savonarola, just inside Montepulciano's walls by Porta al Prato. The building began as a 16th-century farmhouse for a nearby convent, has been a hotel since 1870, and the same family has run it since the early 1900s; the Corso leads straight up through the old town to Piazza Grande.
Rooms keep their original 19th-century furniture, some with terraces or balconies over the valley, and the buffet breakfast features homemade cakes, bread and jams. Free private parking is available.
Hotel websiteHotel Spadai
A boutique hotel on Via de' Martelli, about 100 metres from the Duomo, in the heart of Florence's historic centre. San Lorenzo market, the Accademia and the Uffizi are all within walking distance.
It has a lounge bar and serves breakfast daily.
Hotel websiteHotel Antiche Figure
A small hotel in Santa Croce, set right on the Grand Canal opposite Santa Lucia railway station and beside an old gondola station, so arriving by train is a short walk with your luggage. Vaporetto stops for Rialto and St Mark's are close by.
Breakfast is included, and the hotel has around 22 rooms, so a group may be split if fewer rooms are available.
Hotel websiteRooms
You'll stay at Trip Hotel.
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- +$821 per person
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
Room prices are per person for the Apr 11, 2027 departure and can differ on other dates. You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Fly into Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) and out of Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE).
Proposed accommodation is Hotel Artemide in Rome, Albergo Il Marzocco in Montepulciano, Hotel Spadai in Florence and Hotel Antiche Figure in Venice (or similar hotels), subject to confirmation.
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Yes. Arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
8 breakfasts (Days 2 to 9) and 1 lunch, at a local market in Florence on Day 6. Other meals are at your own cost.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
We recommend arriving before 3 pm on Day 1 to make it in time for the welcome event. But don’t worry no matter when you land, we’ll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please Refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smart Traveler Health website.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smart Traveler website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
Would you like to learn more or customise our Highlights of Italy trip?
Have questions about accommodations, accessibility, group preferences, or dietary needs? Complete the form below and our team will get back to you shortly.
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