12 days/11 nights rail journey
$4710
per person share twinFlights are additional
Absolute Italy
12 days/11 nights
Independent Rail Holiday
Deal includes
✔ 3 nights accommodation in Rome
✔ 2 nights accommodation in Florence
✔ 2 nights accommodation in La Spezia, Cinque Terre
✔ 2 nights accommodation in Milan
✔ 2 nights accommodation in Venice
✔ Breakfast daily
✔ Private airport arrival transfer on day 1
✔ Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour
✔ High speed train from Rome Termini to Naples Centrale (return)
✔ Full day Naples & Pompeii Tour
✔ High speed train from Rome Termini to Florence SM Novella (2nd class)
✔ Full day tour to Siena, San Gimignano & Chianti from Florence
✔ Regional Train from Florence SM Novella to La Spezia Centrale (2nd class)
✔ Cinque Terre Train Card (valid 48 hours)
✔ Intercity train La Spezia Centrale to Milan Centrale (1st class)
✔ Regional train Milan Centrale to Como Centrale (return)
✔ One day unlimited public boat ticket on Lake Como
✔ High speed train Milan Centrale to Venice St Lucia (2nd class)
✔ 30 minute Venice Gondola ride (shared)
Flights are additional
4-star Accommodation
From $4805 per person share twin
From $7305 per solo traveller
Travel: 01 Apr-14 Jul & 15 Aug-28 Oct 24
From $4710 per person share twin
From $6070 per solo traveller
Travel: 15 Jul-14 Aug 24
Note: there is an additional cost for departures from Rome on Tue, Wed and Thur.
Itinerary can be customised to suit your needs
Itinerary
Day 1: Rome
Arrival at Rome Airport and transfer to your hotel by private car. The rest of the day is free time to explore the “Eternal City”. In case of an early arrival in Rome, we recommend a guided tour of the Vatican Museums, to admire Michelangelo's famous Sistine Chapel and other masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance more closely. It is also possible to participate in a series of other optional activities, such as a cooking class to learn how to make pizza or pasta and ice cream. For the evening we recommend a nice walk in the Trastevere district, full of typical Italian restaurants. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 2: Rome
Breakfast at the hotel and discover Imperial Rome on a group tour including the Forum and the magnificent Colosseum. The rest of the day is free to explore the city. You can join an excursion to visit Rome Catacombs or for the sporty ones there is also the option of an electric bike tour, to discover the historic centre with its symbols or even a more secret and unusual Rome. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 3: Rome – Naples – Pompeii – Rome
After breakfast at the hotel, you will board the high-speed train to Naples, the journey takes approximately 1 hour 15 minutes. Upon arrival at Naples rail station you will begin a full day excursion to visit Pompeii and Naples. You will first discover the famous archaeological site of Pompeii, ancient Roman city destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD, and then immerse yourself in the undisputed charm of the city of Naples. In the evening, return to Rome by train and overnight at the hotel.
Day 4: Rome – Florence
After breakfast at the hotel, make your way to Rome Termini Station to board the high-speed train to Florence, the journey takes approximately 1.5 hours. After arriving to Florence, check in and enjoy free time for an independent visit of the city, the “Cradle of the Renaissance”. It is possible to participate in a guided walking tour that reaches the symbols of the city (Piazza della Repubblica, Piazza della Signoria, the Ponte Vecchio with the goldsmiths' shops), or a guided tour of one of the main museums - the Uffizi Galleries, with the masterpieces of the masters of the Italian Renaissance (Leonardo, Caravaggio, Raffaello, Tiziano, Botticelli and many others), or the Accademia Gallery, which houses the original of Michelangelo's famous statue of David. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 5: Florence – Siena – San Gimignano – Monteriggioni – Chianti Region – Florence
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day tour heading to the Chianti Region and visiting Monteriggioni, with its still intact medieval walls. The tour continues to Siena, where you will discover the suggestive Piazza del Campo, Piazza Duomo, the Cathedral, Palazzo Pubblico and the famous Torre del Mangia. After Siena, the tour will head to the walled town of San Gimignano, famous for its white wine, the world renowned Vernaccia, and its “skyscrapers”, also declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tour will continue with a visit to Chianti Region and a wine tasting experience of the Chianti red wine. Return to Florence in the evening and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 6: Florence – La Spezia
After breakfast at the hotel, board the regional train to La Spezia. The journey takes approximately 2 hours 30 minutes. La Spezia is the starting city to explore the famous Cinque Terre, the stretch of coast with 5 fishing villages perched over the sea: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. The 48-hour Cinque Terre Train Card is included, which allows access to the National Park area and the use of regional trains that connect the villages and of local buses. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 7: La Spezia
Breakfast at the hotel and day at leisure to continue your visit of the Cinque Terre. You can participate in a food tour to taste the typical seasonal specialties of the area. Sports enthusiasts can opt for a mountain e-bike ride with a guide on one of the many scenic routes of the Gulf of Poets. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 8: La Spezia – Milan
After breakfast at the hotel, board the intercity train to Milan. The journey takes approximately 3 hours 20 minutes. After arrival to Milan, check in to your hotel and enjoy free time to visit the city. We suggest discovering the most famous symbols of Milan, such as the Duomo, the Castello Sforzesco, the Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio and the Navigli, the famous canals, the very hub of the Milanese nightlife. You can continue your visit to the city with an internal visit of the Teatro alla Scala and its museum, a unique experience to visit one of the most famous theatre houses in the world. For the sports enthusiasts, a bike tour is also available. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 9: Milan – Como – Lake Como – Milan
Breakfast at the hotel and then take the regional train to reach Como. The journey takes approximately 40 minutes. Discover the city of Como and its famous lake on your own. A day ticket is included for the hop-on / hop-off public boat to discover the lake departing from Como. You can choose the best stops to get off for a walk according to the departures of the boats and the time of the train back to Milan. Enjoy some free time in Como to get to know the city and shop in the many local boutiques. Return to Milan in the evening and overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 10: Milan – Venice
After breakfast at the hotel, board the high-speed train to Venice, the journey takes approximately 2.5 hours. After arriving to Venice, check in to the hotel, and in the afternoon take a 30-minute shared gondola ride with commentary via app on your mobile phone. Before dinner in Venice, it is traditional to have an aperitif based on “cichéti” (small snacks) in one of the many “bacari” (taverns) scattered along the “calli” (that is what the Venetian streets are called), a must experience to try! Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 11: Venice
Breakfast at the hotel, then full free day dedicated to the discovery of Venice or its lagoon. You can take a guided walking tour through the most famous places in the city (Piazza San Marco with the Basilica and the Clock Tower, the Rialto Bridge, Campo Santa Maria Formosa) and others less known, or a skip-the-line guided tour of the Doge's Palace, with the Doge's luxurious apartments and the famous Bridge of Sighs. Alternatively, you can go on a boat trip to the islands of the Venice lagoon, Murano - known all over the world for its famous glass craftmanship, Burano - famous not only for its lace, but also for the picturesque fishermen's houses all painted in bright colours, and Torcello - the first settlement centre in the lagoon. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 12: Venice
Breakfast at the hotel and check out.
A range of optional sightseeing & activities are also available to tailor make your experience.
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Terms and Conditions
Valid for new bookings until sold out • Advertised prices are per person share twin in NZ dollars for cash or eftpos purchase only. Credit card fees will apply. • All prices and packages are subject to availability at time of booking. • Prices are thereafter subject to change without notice until time of confirmation. Prices may vary due to a number of factors including tax and surcharge increases, exchange rate movements and availability. • All travel must be commenced and completed as specified. • Some surcharges and closeout periods may apply – please ask your House of Travel consultant for full details. • Packages are based on consecutive night stays at specified hotels – should your needs differ please refer to your travel consultant. • There is an additional cost for departures from Rome on Tue, Wed & Thur and to stay in Venice during the weekend. • City taxes and fees are not included. • Hotel pick up is not included for Colosseum & Roman Forum tour, Naples & Pompeii tour and Siena, San Gimignano & Chianti tour, • 2nd class high speed train tickets included as specified, 1st class can be purchased for an additional cost • Transfers to/from the rail stations are not included • Trains will be booked according to the indicated daily schedule. It is therefore not possible to choose the train times included at the time of booking. Any request to change the timetable of train tickets will be charged to the customer and will discharge Croatia Times Travel from any liability related to the change in travel times. • The itinerary of the tour and the days of excursions may be modified for technical reasons. All visits and excursions mentioned on the itinerary will be guaranteed or replaced by similar ones. • Amendment & cancellation fees may apply. • Airfares are not included and are at an additional cost. • Please ask your House of Travel consultant for full terms and conditions.
HOT code: WEBCTT
