7 days · Italy, Vatican City
Taste of Italy
From AED 6,175per person, twin share
Seven days in northern Italy from Rome, through Venice and Florence to the colourful villages of Cinque Terre and Pisa’s Leaning Tower.
- Duration
- 7 Days / 6 Nights
- Route
- Starts and ends in Rome
- 2 countries on this tour
- Italy
- Vatican City
- Activity level
- Moderate (3 of 5)
- A new place most days, guided walking tours of up to three hours, and five hotel changes across six nights
- Accommodation
- 3- and 4-star hotels for 6 nights
- Meals
- 6 breakfasts and 3 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 March to October: mild spring and autumn, and hot, dry summers, especially in Rome and Tuscany
Tour overview
A seven-day tour of Italy’s cities and best-known landmarks. It begins with the ancient history of Rome, then the winding waterways of Venice, before the Tuscan countryside, the colourful villages of Cinque Terre and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Highlights
- A guided walking tour of Rome
- Welcome dinner in Rome
- A funicular ride to historic Orvieto
- Venice and its magic
- Lake Garda, Italy’s biggest lake
- Florence, at the heart of the Renaissance
- A local restaurant dinner in Florence
- The colourful villages of the Cinque Terre
Show all 12 highlightsShow fewer highlights
- Pisa’s Leaning Tower
- The hill town of San Gimignano
- Siena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Farewell dinner in Rome
See the journey come to life
Route and hotels
Where the tour goes and where you sleep, night by night.
Rome
1 night · Day 1
Warmthotel
Orvieto
Day 2 · on the way
Venice
2 nights · Days 2–3
Hotel Venezia
Lake Garda
Day 4 · on the way
Florence
Day 4 · on the way
Tuscany North
2 nights · Days 4–5
Hotel Terme Pellegrini
Cinque Terre
Day 5 · on the way
Pisa
Day 5 · on the way
Show all 11 stopsShow fewer stops
San Gimignano
Day 6 · on the way
Siena
Day 6 · on the way
Rome
1 night · Day 6
BV Oly Hotel
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Start of tour in Rome
Dinner included
Your tour starts in Rome this morning, when you meet your tour leader and the rest of the group at the hotel before a walking tour of the old centre. You see the Spanish Steps and drop a coin in the Trevi Fountain, then you can join the optional guided tour of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. In the evening, the whole group meets for a welcome dinner together at a local restaurant.
Included
- Guided walking tour of Rome: the Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Spanish Steps.
- Welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Optional extras
- Colosseum & Roman Forum Guided Tour · AED 365 per person
- Overnight
- Rome
- Hotel
- Warmthotel
Day 2
Rome – Orvieto – Venice
Breakfast included
The coach crosses the Umbria region and stops in Orvieto, a town set on a sheer, vertical rock of volcanic stone. A funicular takes you up to the historic centre, where you have free time to look around before continuing to Venice. Once you arrive, the evening is free, or you can join the optional water taxi cruise through the canals.
Included
- Funicular ride up to historic Orvieto, with free time at the cathedral.
Optional extras
- Venice by Night · AED 170 per person
- Travel
- Rome → Venice by coach, stopping in Orvieto.
- Overnight
- Venice
- Hotel
- Hotel Venezia
Day 3
Venice: Free Day
Breakfast included
You have a free day in Venice to spend as you like. You can see the city from the water on an optional gondola trip, or join the optional excursion out into the lagoon to Murano and Burano, island communities known for their local crafts.
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
Day 4
Lake Garda – Florence – Tuscany
Breakfast and dinner included
On the way to Florence, the coach stops at Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake. A local guide leads a tour of Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, and afterwards you have free time to explore at your own pace. The group has dinner in Florence before the coach continues to Montecatini, a spa town in Tuscany, for the night.
Included
- Stop at Lake Garda in the town of Sirmione.
- Guided tour of Florence with a local guide: the Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria and the Duomo.
- Dinner at a local restaurant in Florence.
- Travel
- Venice → Tuscany by coach, stopping at Lake Garda and Florence.
- Overnight
- Tuscany North
- Hotel
- Hotel Terme Pellegrini
Day 5
Cinque Terre – Pisa – Tuscany
Breakfast included
The coach travels to Cinque Terre, five cliff-side villages. From there it heads back towards Tuscany, stopping to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, one of the best known Italian landmarks. In the evening, you can choose the optional dinner in Montecatini.
Included
- Visit Cinque Terre: cobbled paths linking five cliffside villages.
- See the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Optional extras
- An Evening in Montecatini · AED 230 per person
- Overnight
- Tuscany North
- Hotel
- Hotel Terme Pellegrini
Day 6
San Gimignano – Siena – Rome
Breakfast and dinner included
Before the return to Rome, the tour calls at two more Tuscan towns. The first is the Medieval town of San Gimignano, known for its tower houses, where you can taste the local Tuscan wine. The second is Siena, a UNESCO-listed city where the Palio horse race takes place twice each year. The tour then heads back to Rome for a farewell dinner together.
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
Day 7
End of tour in Rome
Breakfast includedThe tour ends today, after 7 days in Italy. If time allows, spend your last morning in Rome on the Vatican Museums optional excursion, a guided look at the sights of the world’s smallest country. Note that this excursion must be booked well in advance and finishes in the late afternoon.
Optional extras
- Vatican Museums Guided Tour · AED 365 per person
Dates & prices
Prices per person, sharing a double or twin room. A single room costs the supplement shown.
13 dates
Sun 7 Mar – Sat 13 Mar 2027
Available
AED 7,415
Single room +AED 3,055
Sun 4 Apr – Sat 10 Apr 2027
Available
AED 7,140
Single room +AED 3,055
Sun 2 May – Sat 8 May 2027
Available
AED 7,140
Single room +AED 3,055
Sun 16 May – Sat 22 May 2027
Available
AED 7,140
Single room +AED 3,055
Sun 30 May – Sat 5 Jun 2027
Available
AED 6,820
Single room +AED 3,055
Sun 13 Jun – Sat 19 Jun 2027
AvailableBest price
AED 6,175
Single room +AED 3,055
Sun 27 Jun – Sat 3 Jul 2027
Available
AED 7,415
Single room +AED 3,055
Sun 11 Jul – Sat 17 Jul 2027
Available
AED 7,415
Single room +AED 3,055
Sun 29 Aug – Sat 4 Sept 2027
Available
AED 6,820
Single room +AED 3,055
Sun 5 Sept – Sat 11 Sept 2027
Available
AED 6,175
Single room +AED 3,055
Show all 13 datesShow fewer dates
Sun 12 Sept – Sat 18 Sept 2027
Available
AED 6,820
Single room +AED 3,055
Sun 19 Sept – Sat 25 Sept 2027
Available
AED 6,175
Single room +AED 3,055
Sun 26 Sept – Sat 2 Oct 2027
Available
AED 6,820
Single room +AED 3,055
What’s included
Included
- 6 nights in mostly 3-star and 4-star hotels, in twin rooms with a private bathroom
- A room to yourself for a single supplement, subject to availability
- 6 breakfasts and 3 dinners, with a vegetarian option at every meal on request
- A modern coach with air conditioning, reclining seats and a toilet
- Public transport the tour uses, except on free days
- Guided from start to finish
Not included
- Flights to the start of the tour and home from the end: we can book them from Dubai
- Travel insurance: take out a policy that suits your trip
Optional extras
Excursions and upgrades you can add to the tour. Prices are per person.
Colosseum & Roman Forum Guided Tour
Day 1AED 365per personA 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.
See day 1 in the itineraryVenice by Night
Day 2AED 170per personAn 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.
See day 2 in the itineraryVenice Gondola Ride
Day 3AED 150per personA 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.
See day 3 in the itineraryVenice Lagoon Tour
Day 3AED 295per personA 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.
See day 3 in the itineraryAn Evening in Montecatini
Day 5AED 230per personA return trip on the Montecatini funicular to Montecatini Alto for views over Montecatini Terme, followed by a three-course Tuscan dinner with a choice of starter and main course. Vegetarian options are available. From October to March, when the funicular is closed, the group travels by taxi instead. €54, booked with your tour leader on the day.
See day 5 in the itineraryVatican Museums Guided Tour
Day 7AED 365per personA tour through the Vatican Museums with a local guide, including the Sistine Chapel, with skip-the-line entry. 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.
See day 7 in the itinerary
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 only side step on this tour, into Vatican City, needs nothing extra: Vatican City has open borders with Schengen, so the same visa covers it.
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 at the same Rome hotel at around 10am on day 7.
Our team can book your flights from Dubai to match.
Meals and dietary needs
6 breakfasts and 3 dinners are included, mostly in Rome and Florence. Lunches and the remaining dinners are free for you 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 extras booked on tour are paid to your tour leader in cash or by card, in the currency shown.
Weather and packing
This tour runs March to October: mild spring and autumn, and hot, dry summers, especially in Rome and Tuscany. Pack layers, comfortable shoes for cobbled streets and hill towns, and modest clothing, shoulders and knees covered, for churches 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 in a minute. Your seats are held as soon as you book; you name the other travellers and pay once we have confirmed them.
Questions before you book? Our support team is on WhatsApp +971 4 589 0001.
Questions about this tour
What will my days look like?
Days are full. Most start with breakfast, then the main sights with a local guide or your tour leader. Afternoons often leave free time to wander, stop for a coffee or join an optional extra. Expect a fair amount of walking: some days mean two or three hours on your feet, so bring comfortable shoes.
Who will I be travelling with?
Travellers from all over the world, of different ages and backgrounds, who share a wish to see more. Up to 51 people share this tour, and most know each other’s names within a few days.
What are the hotels like?
Mostly 3 and 4 star, all clean, comfortable and well located, with private en-suite bathrooms. They are chosen so you sleep well and are ready for the next day. The destinations come first, but the hotels are never an afterthought.
How active is this tour?
You carry your own luggage, sometimes up hotel stairs. Some walking tours run for up to three hours, and a few sites have plenty of steps. The itinerary and the activity level at the top of this page show whether the pace suits you.
How do optional extras work?
Optional extras run in the tour’s free time, and your tour leader tells you what is on offer as the tour goes. Some are booked with your tour leader on the day. Others sell in advance and must be bought before the tour starts: to add one of those, mention it in your booking notes and we confirm it with your seats. Each extra in the Optional extras section says which way it is booked.
Will I have time to explore on my own?
Yes. The itinerary builds in free time to wander at your own pace, and your tour leader can point you to the places that suit you, so you are never left to work it all out alone.
What support do I have while I’m on tour?
Your tour leader travels with you from start to finish. They know the places most visitors miss, can suggest a restaurant before you ask, and deal with whatever crops up on the way. Transport and hotels are all arranged for you.
There is also an emergency number staffed 24 hours a day, and our team in Dubai is there to help.
How do I book Taste of Italy?
Press Book now, choose a date, your travellers and rooms, and give your name, email and mobile. We hold your seats and email your booking reference straight away; you then add each traveller as their passport shows on your booking page. 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
Take the trip now. Pay for it in pieces.
Every booking qualifies, from holidays and tours to visas. Spread it over 3 to 12 months at 0% on a credit card plan, or with Tabby or Tamara; some banks add 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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