12 days · Italy, San Marino, Vatican City
Italian Delights
From AED 8,429per person, twin share
Journey through some of Italy's most stunning destinations including Rome, Venice and the Italian Riviera, on this exciting 12-day tour!
- Duration
- 12 Days / 11 Nights
- Route
- Starts and ends in Rome
- Countries
- Italy, San Marino and Vatican City
- Activity level
- Moderate (3 of 5)
- A new place most nights across 12 days, with guided walking tours, daily coach travel and two free days built in
- Accommodation
- 3- and 4-star hotels for 11 nights
- Meals
- 11 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 5 dinners
- Group
- Group tour, up to 51
- Guide
- English-speaking tour leader throughout, plus local guides in several cities
- Transport
- Air-conditioned coach
- Best time to go
- Runs April to October: mild spring, hot dry summers inland, and a milder early autumn
Tour overview
This Italian tour is la bella vita distilled! Explore Pompeii in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. Experience the magical Cinque Terre villages and Italian Lake District. Visit Verona and San Marino! Enjoy free days in Rome, Amalfi Coast and Venice. Eat pasta, drink wine and see Italy like a local!
Highlights
- Discover Rome on a guided walking tour
- Enjoy a welcome dinner in Rome
- See Mount Vesuvius and explore the ruins of Pompeii
- Visit Montecassino; a famous abbey
- Explore the ancient sites of Assisi; home of St Francis
- Visit San Marino; one of the oldest republics in Europe
- Experience the magic of Venice
- Visit Verona; setting of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Show all 16 highlightsShow fewer highlights
- Spend a night in the Italian Lake District
- Explore the colourful villages of CinqueTerre
- See the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Discover Florence; the ‘Jewel of the Renaissance’
- Taste Italian wine in Tuscany
- Visit the gorgeous hill town of San Gimignano
- Discover Siena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Enjoy a farewell dinner in Rome
Route and hotels
Where the tour goes and where you sleep, night by night.
Rome
1 night · Day 1
BV Oly Hotel
Pompeii
Day 2 · on the way
Amalfi Coast
Day 2 · on the way
Salerno
2 nights · Days 2–3
Grand Hotel Salerno
Montecassino
Day 4 · on the way
Assisi
1 night · Day 4
Hotel TH Casa Leonori
San Marino
Day 5 · on the way
Venice
2 nights · Days 5–6
Hotel Venezia
Show all 17 stopsShow fewer stops
Verona
Day 7 · on the way
Italian Lakes District
1 night · Day 7
Hotel Stazione
Cinque Terre
Day 8 · on the way
Pisa
Day 8 · on the way
Tuscany North
2 nights · Days 8–9
Hotel Terme Pellegrini
Florence
Day 9 · on the way
San Gimignano
Day 10 · on the way
Siena
Day 10 · on the way
Rome
2 nights · Days 10–11
BV Oly Hotel
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Start of tour in Rome
Meals included: DinnerYou arrive in Rome, Italy’s capital, in the morning and meet your tour leader and the rest of the group. A walking tour takes you into the centre, where you can drop a coin into the Trevi Fountain and make a wish. In the evening, the welcome dinner takes place at a local restaurant, followed by a guided walking tour of the city.
Included
- Guided walking tour of Rome: the Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Spanish Steps.
- Welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
- Overnight
- Rome
- Hotel
- BV Oly Hotel
- Meals
- Dinner
Day 2
Rome – Pompeii – Amalfi Coast
Meals included: BreakfastLunch
The route to the coast today passes through Pompeii, where you see Mount Vesuvius in the distance and walk through the ancient ruins of this Roman town, still well preserved. Lunch is included, and afterwards the coach continues to Salerno, where you spend the next two nights. In the evening, you can join the optional excursion to the Salerno Cathedral and the Old Town, followed by a local dinner.
Included
- Guided tour of the ruins of Pompeii in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius.
- Lunch included en route.
Optional extras
- An Evening in Salerno · AED 255 per person
- Travel
- Rome → Salerno by coach, stopping at Pompeii.
- Overnight
- Salerno
- Hotel
- Grand Hotel Salerno
- Meals
- Breakfast and lunch
Day 3
Amalfi Coast: Free Day
Meals included: BreakfastSalerno makes a good base for exploring the Amalfi Coast and its coastline. The optional excursion takes you by ferry to three coastal towns: you wander the cliffside streets of Positano, visit Amalfi’s historic Duomo Square for a limoncello tasting, and try the region’s Delizia al Limone, a lemon pastry.
Included
- Free day to explore the Amalfi Coast at your own pace.
Optional extras
- Amalfi Coast Highlights & Tasting · AED 470 per person
- Overnight
- Salerno
- Hotel
- Grand Hotel Salerno
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 4
Montecassino – Assisi
Meals included: BreakfastDinner
The coach heads to Assisi, stopping first at Montecassino, known for the Abbey of Montecassino and the scenery around it. From there it continues to the medieval town of Assisi, birthplace of St Francis and a popular site for pilgrims. You can admire churches and basilicas that have changed little in close to a thousand years. Dinner is at the hotel this evening.
Included
- Visit the Abbey of Montecassino, a key World War II battle site.
- Explore Assisi, the home of St Francis, and its historic churches and basilicas.
- Travel
- Salerno → Assisi by coach, stopping at Montecassino.
- Overnight
- Assisi
- Hotel
- Hotel TH Casa Leonori
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 5
San Marino – Venice
Meals included: BreakfastOn the way to Venice, the coach stops at San Marino, Europe’s third-smallest state. Set on a hilltop, it looks out over the countryside and the Adriatic Sea. You reach Venice in the early evening, when you can relax at the hotel or join the optional twilight water taxi cruise along the Venetian canals.
Included
- Stop in the hilltop state of San Marino, with views over the Adriatic.
Optional extras
- Venice by Night · AED 170 per person
- Travel
- Assisi → Venice by coach, stopping in San Marino.
- Overnight
- Venice
- Hotel
- Hotel Venezia
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 6
Venice: Free Day
Meals included: Breakfast
You have a full free day in Venice. A traditional gondola ride is something your tour leader can arrange, and there is also an optional trip to Murano and Burano, islands known for their local crafts and brightly coloured houses. Joining both makes for a fuller day in Venice.
Included
- Free time to explore Venice at your own pace: St Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace and the Rialto Market.
Optional extras
- Venice Gondola Ride · AED 150 per person
- Venice Lagoon Tour · AED 295 per person
- Overnight
- Venice
- Hotel
- Hotel Venezia
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 7
Verona – Italian Lakes
Meals included: BreakfastDinner
The tour stops in Verona, the city Shakespeare chose as the setting for Romeo and Juliet. You can see the arena, some 2,000 years old, and walk through Verona’s old streets before continuing to the Italian Lakes, arriving in Sirmione, a town on Lake Garda, for the evening.
Included
- Visit Verona, the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
- Overnight stay in the Italian Lakes, in the town of Sirmione on Lake Garda.
- Travel
- Venice → Italian Lakes by coach, stopping in Verona.
- Overnight
- Italian Lakes District
- Hotel
- Hotel Stazione
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 8
Cinque Terre – Pisa – Northern Tuscany
Meals included: BreakfastDinner
Today’s journey continues to Cinque Terre, one of Italy’s most beautiful destinations. It comprises five Italian towns, Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, linked by hiking routes and trains. From there, the Leaning Tower of Pisa comes into view, a well known Italian landmark. Later, the coach travels on to Northern Tuscany, where dinner is at the hotel tonight.
Included
- Visit Cinque Terre: cobbled paths linking five cliffside villages.
- See the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
- Travel
- Italian Lakes → Tuscany by coach, stopping at Cinque Terre and Pisa.
- Overnight
- Tuscany North
- Hotel
- Hotel Terme Pellegrini
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 9
Florence – Northern Tuscany
Meals included: BreakfastYou arrive in Florence this morning for a locally guided tour of a city loved for its Renaissance art and architecture. There is free time before the optional Taste of Tuscany excursion, which looks at local culinary traditions. Later, back at the hotel in Tuscany, a complimentary wine tasting awaits on arrival.
Included
- Guided tour of Florence with a local guide: the Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria and the Duomo.
- Wine tasting on arrival at the hotel in Tuscany.
Optional extras
- Taste of Tuscany · AED 235 per person
- Overnight
- Tuscany North
- Hotel
- Hotel Terme Pellegrini
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 10
San Gimignano – Siena – Rome
Meals included: BreakfastDinnerThe coach drives through the Tuscan countryside, past farmhouses, vineyards and olive groves, to the hilltop town of San Gimignano, known for its Romanesque and Gothic architecture. From there it continues to Siena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its architecture, before heading back to Rome for a last dinner together at the hotel.
Included
- Wine tasting in the hill town of San Gimignano.
- Visit Siena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Farewell dinner in Rome.
- Travel
- Tuscany → Rome by coach, stopping in San Gimignano and Siena.
- Overnight
- Rome
- Hotel
- BV Oly Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 11
Rome: Free Day
Meals included: BreakfastYou have a full free day in Rome. The optional excursion to the Colosseum and Roman Forum gives you a locally guided tour of these ancient sights, and there is a separate optional tour of the Vatican Museums. To do both, join the Eternal Rome excursion, though because of demand, these optional excursions must be booked before the tour starts. You could instead use the free day to revisit places you saw on day one, including the Trevi Fountain or the Spanish Steps, spend longer among Rome’s main sights, pause at a café, or go shopping. In the evening, you might try traditional Roman cooking and see the historic streets of Trastevere.
Included
- Free day in Rome to explore further.
Optional extras
- Colosseum & Roman Forum Guided Tour · AED 365 per person
- Vatican Museums Guided Tour · AED 365 per person
- Eternal Rome · AED 680 per person
- An Evening in Trastevere · AED 215 per person
- Overnight
- Rome
- Hotel
- BV Oly Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 12
End of tour
Meals included: BreakfastAfter 12 days of Italian travel, it is time to say goodbye to your travel companions and head home. The tour ends after breakfast this morning, in Italia.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Dates & prices
Prices per person, sharing a double or twin room. A single room costs the supplement shown.
11 dates
FromTue 27 Apr 2027ToSat 8 May 2027
Available
AED 9,384
Single room supplement +AED 4,132 single
FromTue 11 May 2027ToSat 22 May 2027
Available
AED 9,384
Single room supplement +AED 4,132 single
FromTue 25 May 2027ToSat 5 Jun 2027
Sold out
AED 8,062
Single room supplement +AED 4,132 single
Full
FromTue 8 Jun 2027ToSat 19 Jun 2027
Available
AED 8,870
Single room supplement +AED 4,132 single
FromTue 22 Jun 2027ToSat 3 Jul 2027
Sold out
AED 8,062
Single room supplement +AED 4,132 single
Full
FromTue 6 Jul 2027ToSat 17 Jul 2027
Available
AED 9,384
Single room supplement +AED 4,132 single
FromTue 20 Jul 2027ToSat 31 Jul 2027
Sold out
AED 8,062
Single room supplement +AED 4,132 single
Full
FromTue 31 Aug 2027ToSat 11 Sept 2027
AvailableBest price
AED 8,429
Single room supplement +AED 4,132 single
FromTue 14 Sept 2027ToSat 25 Sept 2027
Available
AED 8,870
Single room supplement +AED 4,132 single
FromTue 28 Sept 2027ToSat 9 Oct 2027
Available
AED 8,870
Single room supplement +AED 4,132 single
Show all 11 datesShow fewer dates
FromTue 12 Oct 2027ToSat 23 Oct 2027
Available
AED 8,870
Single room supplement +AED 4,132 single
What’s included
Included
- 11 nights hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms. The majority of our accommodations are of a 3- and 4-star standard, offering excellent value, comfort and convenience
- Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability)
- 11 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 4 Dinners
- Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard
- Any public transport used as part of the tour (excludes free days)
- Fully-guided tour
Not included
- Flights: Arrange your own flights for the start and end of the tour
- Travel insurance: Purchase a suitable policy that meets your needs
Optional extras
Excursions and upgrades you can add to the tour. Prices are per person.
An Evening in Salerno
A visit to Salerno Cathedral, dedicated to the city’s patron saint San Matteo, followed by a walk through the historic centre, including the Fontana dei Pesci in Piazza Sedile del Campo. The evening ends with dinner along the waterfront, looking out over the Amalfi Coast at sunset. €60, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 255 per person
Amalfi Coast Highlights & Tasting
A ferry ride along the Amalfi Coast to Positano, with time to wander its cliffside streets, then on to Amalfi for free time around Duomo Square and a limoncello tasting. Lunch is followed by a taste of Delizia al Limone, the region’s lemon pastry. €110, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 470 per person
Venice by Night
An evening water taxi cruise along Venice’s canals, past the palazzos and old tavernas lit up for the night. €40, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 170 per person
Venice Gondola Ride
A traditional gondola ride through Venice’s canals, shared with up to four other travellers from your group. €35, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 150 per person
Venice Lagoon Tour
A private boat trip across the lagoon to Murano and Burano: a glass-blowing demonstration on Murano, and lace-making and colourful houses to see on Burano. €69, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 295 per person
Taste of Tuscany
A family-style Tuscan meal in Florence, with Bistecca alla Fiorentina, Bruschetta al Pomodoro and a glass of Chianti, finished with a traditional dessert and a digestivo. €55, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 235 per person
Colosseum & Roman Forum Guided Tour
A guided walking tour of the Colosseum and the ruins of the Roman Forum with a local guide, including entrance tickets. Book at least 35 days before the tour starts: tickets are in high demand and this booking cannot be refunded. €85. Book it before the tour: add it to your booking notes.
AED 365 per person
Vatican Museums Guided Tour
A guided tour of the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel, with skip-the-line entry and a local guide. Book at least 35 days before the tour starts: tickets are in high demand and this booking cannot be refunded. The Catholic Jubilee may affect opening hours. €85. Book it before the tour: add it to your booking notes.
AED 365 per person
Eternal Rome
A combined guided tour covering both the Colosseum and the ruins of the Roman Forum, and the Vatican Museums with the Sistine Chapel. Book at least 35 days before the tour starts: tickets are in high demand, this booking cannot be refunded, and Sistine Chapel access depends on availability. €160. Book it before the tour: add it to your booking notes.
AED 680 per person
An Evening in Trastevere
An evening in the Trastevere neighbourhood, starting with a Roman suppli at a local spot, then a dinner of classic Roman pasta, carbonara, amatriciana or cacio e pepe, with aperitivo included. Afterwards, a walk past the Piazza and Fontana di Santa Maria and the neighbourhood’s narrow lanes. €50, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 215 per person
To add an extra, mention it in your booking notes, and we confirm it with your seats before you pay. Some are booked with your tour leader on the day instead: their description says so.
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Good to know
Practical details to read before you travel.
Passport & visas
Italy is in the Schengen area. The two side trips on this tour, into San Marino and Vatican City, need nothing extra: both have open borders with Schengen, so the same visa covers them.
UAE passport holders don’t need a visa for stays of up to 90 days, but will need the EU’s new ETIAS travel authorisation once it starts: we can tell you where it stands when you book. Most other nationalities living in the UAE need a Schengen visa. You can apply up to six months before you travel, and appointments in Dubai fill up quickly before the summer, so start early.
Your passport must be valid for at least three months after you leave the Schengen area, and have been issued within the last ten years. Our visa team handles Schengen applications: ask us when you book.
Flights and timings
Flights to and from Rome aren’t included. Check-in at the tour hotel is from 10am on day 1, and the tour ends back in Rome after breakfast on day 12, at around 10am.
Our team can book your flights from Dubai to match.
Meals and dietary needs
11 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 5 dinners are included, mostly on travel days. Free time on the other days is yours to choose your own restaurant.
Tell us about any dietary needs, halal included, when you book, and we pass them on before the tour.
Money
Italy uses the euro. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including small shops and cafes, so a card without foreign transaction fees is the easiest way to pay. Keep a little cash for markets and tips.
Optional experiences booked on tour are paid to your tour leader in cash or by card, in the currency shown.
Weather and packing
This tour runs April to October: mild spring, hot dry summers inland around Rome and Tuscany, and a milder early autumn. Pack layers, comfortable shoes for cobbled streets and hill towns, and modest clothing, shoulders and knees covered, for churches, basilicas and the Vatican Museums.
Plan your trip
Our Dubai team arranges what goes around the tour, so it is booked in one place.
Visas
One Schengen visa covers the Schengen countries on this route. Our visa team in Dubai applies for UAE residents once the tour is booked.
Flights
Flights are not included. We can book them with the tour: Dubai to Rome and back. Tick “Flights” when you book and we quote them with your confirmation.
Pay in instalments
Split the cost with Tabby or Tamara, or over 3 to 12 months on a UAE bank credit card for bookings from AED 1,000.
Book this tour
Book online in a few minutes. Your seats are held as soon as you book, and you pay once we have confirmed them.
- Choose your date, travellers and roomsPrices are per person, and the total updates as you choose.
- Name each traveller as in their passportYour seats are held and your booking reference is emailed straight away.
- Pay by secure link once confirmedOur Dubai team confirms the seats with the tour operator, then emails your payment link. Nothing is charged when you book.
Questions before you book? Our support team is on WhatsApp +971 58 582 4488.
Questions about this tour
What will my days actually look like?
Full days, zero filler. Most mornings start with breakfast before heading out to the main sights with your Tour Leader or a local guide. Afternoons often include free time to wander, find a coffee or join an Optional Experience. Expect a good amount of walking too. On some days, you could spend two to three hours on your feet. Comfortable shoes are your best friend.
Who will I be travelling with?
People from all over the world. Different ages, different backgrounds, same instinct to see more. Groups have on average between 35-45 travellers. By day three, you’ll already know everyone's name.
What are the hotels like?
Clean, comfortable and well located. Mostly 3 to 4 star, with private en-suite bathrooms. They're chosen so you can sleep well and feel ready for the next day. They're not the centrepiece. The destinations are. But they're never an afterthought.
How active is this tour?
All travellers carry their own bags, including up hotel stairs where needed. Walking tours can last up to three hours, and some sites involve a fair number of steps. Read through the itinerary to decide if the pace is right for you.
How do Optional Experiences work?
Optional Experiences happen during your tour's free-time slots, and your Tour Leader will tell you about what's on offer during the tour. Most can be booked on the day, but some are pre-sold and must be purchased before your tour begins, so it's worth checking the tour page beforehand to see what's available and get in touch with our team to book anything in advance.
Will I have time to explore on my own?
Yes. Free time is built into the itinerary, giving you space to wander and explore at your own pace. Your Tour Leader can point you towards the places worth your time, so you're never left completely to figure it out yourself.
What support do I have while I'm on tour?
Your Tour Leader is there to look after you during your tour. They know the places most people walk straight past, they'll have a restaurant recommendation ready before you've asked, and they'll sort anything that comes up along the way. All transport and accommodation are arranged for you.
You'll also have a 24-hour emergency contact number and the Holidayys team in Dubai.
How do I book Italian Delights?
Press Book now, choose a date and your rooms, and enter each traveller as their passport shows. We hold your seats and email your booking reference straight away. Our Dubai team confirms the seats with the tour operator, then emails you a secure payment link. Nothing is charged when you book.
When do I pay?
Once the tour operator confirms your seats. We email you a secure payment link for the total in AED, and your booking is complete when it is paid. To pay in instalments, say so in your booking notes.
Is the price per person?
Yes. Prices are per person sharing a double or twin room. Travelling alone? A single room costs the supplement shown next to each date.
Are flights included?
Only when the tour lists them under what is included. We can book flights from the UAE to the start city and home from the end city with your tour.
Do I need a visa?
That depends on your passport and the countries on the route. Our visa team arranges Schengen and other visas for UAE residents, and can apply for yours once the tour is booked.
Payment plans
Pay over time, at 0% interest
Every booking qualifies, from holidays and tours to visas. Pay later with a credit card instalment plan or a buy-now-pay-later account; some banks charge a one-time processing fee.
- Credit card plans from AED 1,000
- Tabby and Tamara, no minimum
- Terms from 3 to 12 months
Find your bank’s plan
Credit cards, from AED 1,000
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