Discover the tastes, culture, and architecture of iconic Italy. Visit the playground of the Gladiators, explore the birthplace of the Renaissance and the scenic Tuscan countryside, drift through the canals of Venice,and visit the dressing rooms of fashion's best. Learn the art of talking with your hands, experience the delight of perfectly cooked pasta, and live the passion of Renaissance Art, in the home of one of history's most renowned empires.

Included:

• Round trip transport
• 3-Star City Center Hotel and top rated Hostel accommodation with your friends
• breakfast
• Exclusive discounts and parties
• Walking tours
• Guided tour of the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica
• Welcome Dinner
• a Bus2alps trip leader
• The Best of Italy Bus2alps informational guide

Please note: Flights are not included in this trip. This tour meets at 9:00 in Rome at Yellow Hostel on Sunday and departs from Milan at anytime the following Sunday. You have the option to meet the tour in Rome on Saturday at an additional cost.

Booking Notice: As we are a Swiss-based company, and have strict security settings for our online booking engine, if you are reserving this tour with a bank account or credit card outside of Europe, you will need to notify your bank ahead of time that you will be making this reservation prior to processing your reservation. Contact Bus2alps if you have any questions.

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Route

A RomeB FlorenceC VeniceD MilanE The Best of Italy

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 

Your trip leader will meet you at the accommodation on Sunday.  Plan flights to arrive in Rome in the late morning. After check-in, we will spend the afternoon on a walking tour of the Roman Forum, Circus Maximus, and Colosseum. Entrance to the Colosseum will be an optional cost.

We will start the evening with a ‘Welcome to Italy’ dinner in the neighborhood of Trastevere, one of Rome’s nicest and oldest districts. Meet in the lobby of our accommodation at 20:00*. Afterwards we will head to Campo de Fiori, Rome’s most popular party for square.

Day 2

We will start Monday with a guided tour of the Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s Basilica. We will depart from our accommodation for the tour at 10:00*. The tour lasts three to four hours. Afterwards you will have time to further explore Rome, the capital of history’s most influential empire. Consult your Bus2alps trip leader or destination guide for suggestions as to where to go and how to see it. Other sights in Rome include The Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Villa Borghese, and Piazza Navona.

For those looking to get a broader scope of the night scene in Rome, it is possible to organize a pub crawl, ending at a dance club.

Day 3

Tuesday morning we will depart Rome for Florence at 9:00*. Estimated drive time is 4 hours**. We will arrive in Florence at approximately 13:00*. After we check into our accommodation, we will show you to some local Tuscan lunch spots, followed by a walking tour of the city. Florence was a major part of the Renaissance, and home to some of Europe’s most significant buildings, paintings, and sculptures. The walking tour will bring us to the Duomo, Piazza Signoria, Dante’s Alighieri’s house, the Medici Chapel, San Lorenzo, the Ponte Vecchio, Santa Croce, Palazzo Vecchio, and the Uffizi.

Friday night there will be an optional family-style dinner at our favorite restaurant, Il Gatto e la Volpe. The dinner costs 15 euro and includes several courses of Tuscan specialties and pastas. Afterwards we will head to one of Florence’s club, where we will have VIP entrance.

Day 4

You will have all day Wednesday free to explore more of Florence’s endless beauty. Today you will be able to check out Florence’s great museums and galleries, like the Uffizi, Bargello, Accademia (home of the David), Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens, and more. Refer to your trip leader for recommendations and how to visit.

You can head to Tuscany to visit the medieval city of Siena, San Gimignano (the medieval New York City), go wine tasting in the Chianti region, push over the Leaning Tower of Pisa, or other beautiful cities in the region. On Wednesday evening your trip leader will take you to Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset, which offer the best view of the city, and great gelato. There will be an optional group dinner tonight, followed by an optional Pub Crawl at a special price for our group.

Day 5

Friday morning we depart Florence for Venice at 9:00*. Estimated travel time is 3.5 hours**. Arrival time in Venice is approximately 12:30*. You will have time to explore the intricate canal system of this city built on water. From the Venice center, we will organize a trip to the glass blowing island of Murano, the colorful houses on the island of Burano, and head to St. Mark’s Square via the Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge. There will be an optional group dinner tonight. Meet at 20:00* at our accommodation.

Day 6

Friday morning we depart Venice for MIlan at 9:00*. We will make a stop for lunch in the beautiful city of Verona en route. Verona is known as the home of Romeo and Juliet, in addition to its picturesque Arena. We will arrive arrive in Milan at approximately 15:00*. You will have the afternoon to visit Milan’s fashion district and the Duomo.

Day 7

Saturday morning we will depart on a walking tour of Milan’s city center, including the stunning Duomo of Milan, and highlighting the main sights of Italy’s fashion capital. You will have time in the afternoon to head to the Santa Maria della Grazie, home to Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting, ‘The Last Supper. If you leave early in the day, you will be able to take an optional day trip out to Lake Como, home to George Clooney and other celebrities. There will be an optional ‘Farewell to Italy’ dinner tonight.

Day 8

Sunday morning we check out of our accommodation at 11:00*.  All flights should be booked to depart from Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP).

* All departure/arrival times are subject to change due to weather and seasonal availiabiity. You will be informed 24 hours prior about any changes. ** Drive times are all estimated and are subject to change due to road conditions and traffic.

Included Activities

Vatican Guided Tour: Tour the gems of the Vatican City, the world’s smallest country, and the head of the Catholic Church. Learn about the popes, the history of the Church, and visit the incredible art that the Vatican has collected.

Walking Tours - The Roman Forum and historical centers of Florence and Milan are easily accessible on foot. Your walking tour will cover all major sites in these locations.

Welcome Dinner: Kick off your spring break in Italy and get to know your fellow travelers with a traditional chow down of fine Italian specialties. Italy is known for having some of the best food in the world.

Optional Activities

Pub Crawl: 15 Euro for Bus2alps - The Florence Bell tower Pub Crawl brings you to three of the top bars in Florence and ends at one of its hottest night clubs. Price includes unlimited beer and sangria for the first hour, welcome drinks at each bar, and entrance into the club.

Tuscany Day Tour: 38 Euro - Spend a day rolling around the hilsl of Tuscany tasting the famous wines of the Chianti region and sampling typical Tuscan foods.

Florence Family Style Dinner: 15 euro - Sit down in an old Tuscan building and feast on traditional Tuscan appetizers, several different pasta dishes, and unlimited wine.

Tours, Museums, Day Trip: Italy is known for its Renaissance Art, Ancient History, and amazing sights. Consult you trip leader or informational guide for information on how to join any optional tours and day trips. Museum, gallery, and day trip prices vary. Museum entrance typically costs between 5 and 10 euro, whereas guided day trips typically cost around 40 euro. Here are few costs to expect:

• Colosseum - 8 euro Uffizi Gallery (Florence) - 6.50 euro
• Santa Maria della Grazie (Milan) - 8 euro
• Regional trains to Tuscan Countryside (Florence) - approx. 4 - 8 euro one way