VENICE, MURANO, FLORENCE, PISA, TUSCANY, ASSISI, VATICAN, AND ROME
Iconic landmarks. Glorious museums. Archaeological, historically significant and religious sites. Not to mention divine cuisine. This escorted Best of Italy tour package from the U.S. with airfare included encompasses exactly that: this incredible country’s most desired destinations. You’ll truly be living “la dolce vita” as you roam the postcard-perfect streets of its enchanting cities and towns. Plus, consider lingering a little longer with our spectacular Sorrento & Amalfi Coast Extension. As you surrender to Italy’s spell, allow your wise smarTours® guide to handle the details, including recommendations for your dining and free time sightseeing.
Extend Your Trip! Enjoy our Best of Italy with Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast tour visiting Italy’s highlights from Venice to the Amalfi Coast.
Itinerary at a Glance
2024 Tour Itinerary:
- 2 nights in Venice
- 2 nights in Florence
- 3 nights in Rome
Tour Highlights
- Murano boat tour
- Venice walking tour – St. Mark’s Square, Saint Mark’s Basilica, Bridge of Sighs
- Pisa – Square of Miracles, Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Tuscan wine tasting with local food specialties
- Dinner at a Tuscan Villa
- Florence city tour – Michelangelo Square, Galleria dell’Accademia with Michelangelo’s David, Signoria Square, Duomo, and Ponte Vecchio (“Old Bridge”)
- Assisi – Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
- Vatican tour – St. Peter’s Basilica, Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum
- Ancient Rome tour – Colosseum, Arch of Constantine, Roman Forum
- Culinary walking tour in Trastevere (Rome)
Your Tour Includes
- Optional round-trip airfare from the New York area (varies by departure) including taxes, fees & fuel surcharges
- Accommodations at first-class hotels
- 11 meals: 7 breakfasts, 4 dinners, 1 wine tasting with local food specialties
- A glass of wine with included dinners
- Comprehensive sightseeing tours including admission fees
- Professional English-speaking Tour Director throughout
- All intra-Italy transportation via air-conditioned motor coach
Passengers who purchase flights will depart 1 day before the tour starts and return on the same day as the tour ends.
Note: Flights may not be available on all departures.
You may have to book your own flights to the tour destination. If so, you are responsible for making your own way to the tour starting point, where you will meet your Tour Director. This is normally the first hotel in your itinerary.
You can find more details on the Before You Depart page.
Benvenuti to beautiful Italy! Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive program will be met and transferred by private boat taxi to our hotel on the Grand Canal. This evening our tour director hosts an orientation followed by a welcome dinner with wine.
Accommodations: Hotel Carlton on the Grand Canal or similar
Meals: Dinner
Today, we'll embark on a boat tour to the island of Murano, world-renowned for its long tradition of glass craftsmanship. Next, we'll return to Venice for a walking tour with a local guide who brings this remarkable city to life as we view Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square); the golden Byzantine Basilica di San Marco (Saint Mark's Basilica, entry fee included); the Doge's Palace and its famous Bridge of Sighs (exterior views only). Late this afternoon we'll lose ourselves in Venice as we explore cobblestone streets, marveling at attractions, and shopping for unique crafts and souvenirs. Later we might consider an optional gondola ride on the illustrious Grand Canal.
Meals: Breakfast
Our journey takes us south to Pisa and on to Forence today. We'll see the famous Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the bell tower of Pisa Cathedral known for its four-degree slant. Next, we'll visit a Tuscan countryside farm for a wine tasting and sampling of local specialties. We'll continue to Florence, the splendid capital of Tuscany. Before we reach our hotel, we'll stop at Michelangelo Square to enjoy an incredible panoramic view of Florence's historic center.
Accommodations: Hotel Villa Neroli or similar
Meals: Breakfast
Our morning tour of Forence, the cradle of the Renaissance, begins with the Galleria dell'Accademia, an art museum best known for housing the iconic marble statue, Michelangelo's David. We'll also enjoy sculpture-filled Piazza della Signoria (Signoria Square), the magnificent Duomo (cathedral), and Ponte Vecchio, the "Old Bridge", lined with craft shops. This afternoon is free to explore local museums, stroll along the scenic Arno River, or we might consider an optional visit to the Uffizi Gallery. Tonight, a special treat awaits. We'll head to the hills surrounding Florence to savor a delicious dinner complete with wine at a picturesque Tuscan villa.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Today, we'll travel through the picturesque landscapes of Tuscany and Umbria to the wonderfully preserved medieval hill town of Assisi, the birthplace of Saint Francis, founder of the Franciscan religious order. We'll see the fabled pilgrimage site, Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, which is comprised of an Upper and Lower church, and a crypt where Saint Francis is interred. Both the upper and lower church feature elaborate frescoes by different Italian artists including Florentine artist, Giotto. Late this afternoon, we'll arrive in Rome, "the Eternal City" where we can settle into our centrally located hotel.
Accommodations: Hotel Orazio Palace or similar
Meals: Breakfast
This morning, we'll travel back in time to Imperial Rome. In the Colosseum, we'll listen to the echos of centuries of gladiatorial combat and public spectacles. We'll walk under the Arch of Constantine, and marvel at the ruins of the Roman Forum, the day-to-day heart of ancient Rome. Our afternoon is free to explore the city's elaborate piazzas and fountains independently. In the late afternoon, we'll come together for a culinary walking tour in the Trastevere neighborhood where our expert foodie guide can provide us with a better understanding of Italian food culture and traditions. This evening, we'll enjoy an included dinner.
Note: Due to high demand, the timing and order of sightseeing across days 6–8 in Rome may be rearranged to ensure our group is able to experience all included visits.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
We'll experience one of Christendom's most sacred places this morning: the Vatican. Our visits include the awe-inspiring St. Peter's Basilica (erected over the aspostle's tomb), the gloriously painted Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museum which is abundant with priceless collections of art and treasures. Tonight, be our guest at a lavish gala dinner at a typical Roman restaurant complete with wine and entertainment. We'll cap our evening with an included tour of illuminated Rome by night.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Our tour comes to an end today after breakfast. Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive package will transfer to the airport for our return flight back to the U.S.
Meals: Breakfast
Plan ahead to maximize your savings!
Prices listed as “with flights” below include round-trip
airfare from one or more airports in the USA.
Travelers may choose to purchase the tour only,
and arrange their own arrival in destination.
Please note this may change your tour start date.
Because we can’t secure airline pricing more than a year
in advance, some dates and prices listed below are for the
tour only. Once flights are available, we’ll notify you
of your options.
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Flights not available |
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From
$3,449
$3,104 |
Book Now |
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Flights not available |
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From
$3,449
$3,104 |
Sold Out Join Waitlist |
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From
$4,649
$4,304 |
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From
$3,449
$3,104 |
Book Now |
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Flights not available |
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From
$3,449
$3,104 |
Book Now |
|
Flights not available |
|
From
$3,449
$3,104 |
Sold Out Join Waitlist |
Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
Single supplement applies when not sharing a room. Select a
date above to see the rates for that specific departure.
For more information on this tour, please
contact us here
or call us during business hours (Monday-Friday from 9:00 am - 5:30 pm Eastern)
at 1.800.337.7773.
Reservations and Payments
Reservations can be made online or by phone
(1.800.337.7773)
and will be confirmed upon receipt of your non-refundable,
non-transferable deposit, which must be received at the
time of reservation.
Deposits are $300 per person.
Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Space and prices subject to availability.
Please see the
smarTours Terms and Conditions for complete
booking information.
Featured Accommodations
Santa Croce, 578, 30135 Venezia VE, Italy
Website
Via Gabriele D'Annunzio, 141A/B,
50135 Firenze (FI)
Website
Via Orazio, 21 - 00197 Roma
Website
Optional Tours
Enhance your trip with these optional tours.
Indicated optional tours are available to pre-book
when you reserve your trip and can be added to your
reservation up to final payment. This is the best option
to guarantee your spot on your preferred optional tour!
Optional tours require a minimum number of participants.
Optional tours are non-refundable unless they do not operate.
Some optional tours can be purchased in-destination and
may cost extra. The payment methods and currency
information to purchase tours in-destination will be
provided on final documentation.
Day 2 Late Afternoon Tour
One of the highlights of all Italy vacations! Experience a piece of Venetian history during a relaxing gondola ride on the illustrious Grand Canal. Glide along the centuries-old canals, past lavish palaces and under famous arched bridges.
Note: This is not a private gondola ride, and the gondola holds a maximum of five passengers. Pickup details to be advised locally.
MUST BE PRE-BOOKED!
This tour must be pre-booked prior to final payment as
it is not available to book in-destination.
Day 4 Afternoon Tour
The Uffizi Gallery is one of the most visited museums in the world, collecting masterpieces from the 12th to the 17th century, including the Golden Age of the Italian Renaissance. We'll marvel at works by Giotto, Fra Angelico, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Botticelli, and more. Throughout our visit, our guide will take us on a journey of Italian painting spanning centuries, making these works of art truly come to life.
MUST BE PRE-BOOKED!
This tour must be pre-booked prior to final payment as
it is not available to book in-destination.
What to Expect
Max Group Size: 30 travelers
Activity Level: Level 2
Expect most included touring to require walking and standing periods up to 4 hours at a time (up to 2 times per day). Included touring may feature light hiking, and/or stairs on some hilly and/or uneven terrain. Learn More
Pacing Level: Moderate
Expect full-day tours most days with some limited free time at specific sites, for meals, and/or in the evenings. You can expect several early mornings and/or long travel days by bus (don’t worry—there are always comfort stops!), and you may expect to stay in most accommodations for 2+ nights (with limited 1-night stays). Learn More
New in 2025: ETIAS Visa Waiver Required for U.S. Passport Holders
A valid passport is required for international tours. Effective for travel in 2025, U.S. passport holders are required to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver. Please visit our Passports & Visas page to learn more about any required actions, next steps, and additional costs.
Due to local regulations, bus pick and drop off areas are not always directly in front of sites and sometimes walking is required (up to 900m) to reach the site of interest. Good balance is required in order to get on water taxis and boats. This tour has limited free time.
For more detailed information about this tour and destination, visit
our Before You Depart section.
Reviews
Gerald K
5 months ago
I had a good time
Jay F
6 months ago
We enjoyed our tour. The tour director was terrific. Fellow travelers were very nice to be with. Very good value for the money. Would travel with SmarTours again.
Margaret J
10 months ago
The Best of Italy tour was absolutely wonderful. Great itinerary, meals, local guides and ground transportation. Our Tour Director, Claudia Zeni, was fantastic. The best Tour Director we have encountered in years of travel. She is a gem! Was always there for us and truly cared about all the tour participants. Always went above and beyond. We highly recommend this tour if this is your first trip to Italy as it covers much of Italy in a short time and allows you to decide where you would like to spend more time in the future. The Amalfi Coast extension was amazing and well worth the money. For us, the only negative was the connecting flights, which was quite stressful. But otherwise, this tour was awesome and would not hesitate to recommend. Great value for your money.
Mike G
11 months ago
Excellent trip would recommend it it to everyone
James C
11 months ago
This was a life changing experience. All the effort that Smartours covered for us made it nothing but relaxation and enjoyment. Our guide Claudia made it an unforgettable experience.
Lisa
11 months ago
Amazon trip with awesome tour director and guides!!!!
Mary B
1 year ago
The tour was wonderful when i thong of the sites we saw, the tours etc. I would have enjoyed a lot more free time , dinners on our own. Also the number of people on the tour (36) was much higher than we expected or were led to believe. We were told to expect about 20 people on the tour. True, we were not promised it would be that number but based on our past experience wit Smartours that was our expectation.
Darlene S
1 year ago
The best of Italy tour was fantastic. Great locations , knowledgeable tour director. I just wish I didn’t get sick and could have finished the tour . We had to miss Rome. I think it might have been to much togetherness with a large tour group during a pandemic.
Wafa H
1 year ago
The trip was good
Ann
1 year ago
Such a fun trip! Special girls trip with my sister and my mom. Thank you SmarTours for a great time!