The Italian Blockbuster
Venice · Florence · Pisa · Orvieto · Rome
- Water-taxi airport arrival straight into Venice — glide down the Grand Canal to your hotel
- Half-day guided Venice tour including entry to Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs
- 48-hour Vaporetto pass across all Venice ferries and islands
- Day trip to Pisa — Leaning Tower, Cathedral and Baptistery
- 1 night in Orvieto with underground tunnels, the cathedral and a medieval-cave truffle restaurant
- Hop-on hop-off bus tour of Rome plus Vatican Museums entry
Uncover the rich history, art and culture of Italy over 9 unforgettable days — Venice, Florence, Orvieto and Rome, each brimming with history, art and culture. With personalised attention from your Aussie2Italia guide, this is a truly immersive experience: centrally located hotels, daily breakfasts, selected dinners and seamless train travel between cities.
From a magical water-taxi arrival in Venice to the Renaissance marvels of Florence and the eternal beauty of Rome, the tour blends guided experiences with free time to explore at your own pace. Optional extensions to Venice or Rome or a Southern Italy tour let you continue your Italian journey.
- Day 1 · Arrival Venice — Sunday 6 September
Welcome to Venice! Roll your luggage down the airport boardwalk to the dock where your private water taxi is waiting. Speeding across the lagoon, Venice grows from a smudge on the horizon into buildings you can name, then you glide into a canal lined with flower boxes and laundry between houses. Check in, unpack and join us for a welcome drink.
- Day 2 · Venice — Monday 7 September (B)
Half-day guided tour (2.5 hours) with entry to the Gothic Doge's Palace, its opulent rooms and the Bridge of Sighs. Afternoon free — St Mark's Basilica, Rialto Bridge, a gondola through the canals. Use your 48-hour Vaporetto pass for the ferries and islands. Dinner at own expense.
- Day 3 · Venice to Florence — Tuesday 8 September (B)
Luggage transferred to the station; train to Florence. Check in, then start exploring — the Duomo and Brunelleschi's dome, Piazza della Signoria and the replica of David. Tonight for those interested we walk to Florence's Mercato Centrale for a drink and a meal (own cost) — a real Florentine experience.
- Day 4 · Florence — Wednesday 9 September (B)
A full day in Florence — the Uffizi with Botticelli, Leonardo and Michelangelo; Ponte Vecchio; the Accademia for Michelangelo's original David; or the Boboli Gardens. Open markets line the streets — barter for a leather jacket or handbag. Dinner at leisure — Tuscan specialties like ribollita or bistecca alla Fiorentina.
- Day 5 · Florence to Pisa — Thursday 10 September (B)
Free morning in Florence, then late-morning train to Pisa. Walk (25–30 minutes) to the iconic Leaning Tower, Cathedral and Baptistery — climbing the tower requires pre-booked tickets (we can arrange). Lunch in Pisa, then train back to Florence mid-to-late afternoon. Dinner at leisure.
- Day 6 · Florence to Orvieto — Friday 11 September (B)
Mid-morning transfer to the station, train to Orvieto, then the funicular (10 minutes, €2 payable directly) up to the medieval hilltop town. Check in and explore the underground tunnels, the Orvieto Cathedral facade and the Pozzo di San Patrizio well with its double-helix staircase. Our favourite restaurant here is inside a medieval cave and specialises in truffles.
- Day 7 · Orvieto to Rome — Saturday 12 September (B)
Morning to continue exploring Orvieto — climb the clock tower in the cool of the morning for the view. Late-morning funicular down and train to Rome. Check in and start on the Eternal City — the Colosseum and the nearby Roman Forum.
- Day 8 · Rome — Sunday 13 September (B, D)
Hop-on hop-off bus tour of Rome covering the major sights — Vatican Museums including the Sistine Chapel and Raphael Rooms, and St Peter's Basilica with Michelangelo's Pietà and the grand dome. Afternoon at Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. Your Vatican Museums entry time is confirmed shortly before the tour. Farewell dinner tonight.
- Day 9 · Departure Rome — Monday 14 September (B)
Time for last-minute shopping before late check-out. Transfer to the airport can be arranged for your departure flight — or continue on with us to Southern Italy or Food, Wine & Riccardo.
Extend in Venice or Rome, or continue on with us to Southern Italy or Food, Wine & Riccardo.
- • You will be expected to carry your own luggage.
- • Be able to get on and off trains.
- • Be able to walk 30 minutes at a reasonable pace.
- • This is a high-activity tour, requiring participants to be fit and active. It is not suitable for those with health concerns or difficulties walking long distances.
- A soft-sided suitcase you can carry yourself — hard cases don't fit some Italian lifts and cobbled streets.
- Comfortable walking shoes already broken in — Italian old towns are cobblestone-heavy.
- A light day pack for water, sunscreen, camera and a layer.
- Refillable water bottle — Italian towns have public fountains with drinking water.
- Adapter for European Type C/F power outlets.
- Smart-casual outfit for dinners; a light scarf or shawl for churches (shoulders and knees covered).
- Sun hat, sunglasses and reef-safe sunscreen — especially for Amalfi, Capri and Puglia coast days.
- A light rain jacket or compact umbrella — Italian weather can turn quickly.
- Personal medications in original packaging plus a copy of any prescriptions.
- Photocopy of your passport stored separately from the original.
- Modest cover-ups for St Mark's Basilica, the Vatican and the Duomo — shoulders and knees must be covered.
- A small crossbody bag with a zip — pickpockets work busy tourist areas around the Vatican, Rialto and Florence station.
- • Bring your passport and check it is valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates.
- • Confirm your travel insurance is in place before paying your final balance — we recommend Cover-More and can pass on our 10% client discount.
- • Contactless cards (Visa / Mastercard / Apple Pay) work almost everywhere; carry €50–€100 in cash for small cafés, markets and tips.
- • Italy uses the euro (€). Notify your bank of your travel dates to avoid card blocks.
- • Italian sim / eSIM data plans are cheap and reliable — we recommend an eSIM (Airalo, Holafly) for maps and translation on the go.
- • Tipping is not expected — round up the bill or leave a couple of euros for great service.
- • Restaurants typically open for dinner from 7:30–8pm; lunch 12:30–2:30pm. Book ahead in high season.
- • Most churches require shoulders and knees covered — carry a light scarf or shawl.
- • Trains: arrive 15 minutes early, validate regional tickets before boarding, and keep an eye on the platform display (binario) as it can change.
- • Water taxis and ferries in Venice / Amalfi / Capri run on the day's sea conditions — we adjust the plan if needed.
- • Vatican Museums entry time is confirmed shortly before the tour — we book on your behalf.
- • The Venice water-taxi arrival is a daytime rate; if your flight lands after 8pm we'll arrange a lagoon transfer at a small supplement.
- • Climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa is optional and requires pre-booked tickets — ask us in advance.
- • Group size 10–16. Single supplement available: approx €850–€950 depending on room type and availability.
- • VIP rate: guaranteed hotel-room upgrade across the tour — €900 per room.
- • Hotels in Italy are self-rated — ratings do not match Australian standards. Ask us if you'd like more detail on any hotel.
- • No early starts — we don't normally begin the day before 8am unless services change at the last minute.
- • Travel insurance is strongly recommended before paying your deposit. We use Cover-More and offer our clients a 10% discount.
- • Complimentary tour planning is included for all our tour guests for pre or post-tour bookings.
