Guide

All Intrepid group trips in Europe are accompanied by one of our local European group leaders. ’Local’ in this context means a leader who is European or lives in Europe. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced leader however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders. Your leader takes care of logistics, will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. At Intrepid we also aim to support local guides in the individual cities or locations we travel to. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend an optional local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Transport

TRANSPORT IN EUROPE: Half the fun of travel is the travelling itself, that’s why we like to travel the local way – whether that means mingling with commuters on a local train, watching the scenery roll by from the window of a long distance bus, arriving on a high speed train in the city centre of your next destination, or navigating each city’s public transport system. In Europe, you are guaranteed to travel by genuine local public transport wherever possible, which puts you right in the centre of the action. EUROPEAN TRAINS: The primary means of transportation on this trip is by train. Train travel is a fast way to traverse long distances, allowing you to avoid traffic jams and arrive right into the city centre. Trains are comfortable and often decked out with air-conditioning, toilets, a snack bar (or vending machine) and power points. PUBLIC BUSES: This trip covers some distances by public buses. Buses in Central Europe can range from high standard coaches with reclining seats and air-conditioning to Soviet era vehicles for shorter distances. Train

Meals

3 breakfasts

Accommodation

OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION: The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances. CHECK-IN TIME: Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we’re arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn’t always possible which means we won’t be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination. PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION: If you’ve purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights. FACILITIES: Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don’t provide kettles or fridges. Hotel (5 nights), Hostel (2 nights)

Not included:

Flights

International flights not included.

Others

Other activities and services not included.

Insurance

Insurance is not included. Travel insurance is required for this tour. Please make sure you are adequately covered. If you require travel insurance, TourRadar has partnered up with World Nomads to provide a hassle-free experience. More information can be found here (https://www.tourradar.com/travel-insurance).

Optional

Venice - Gondola Ride - EUR80 Venice - Doge’s Palace & Bridge of Sighs - EUR30 Peggy Guggenheim Collection - EUR17 Venice - St Mark’s Campanile - EUR12 Venice - Accademia Gallery - EUR16 Ca’ D’Oro - Galería Franchetti - EUR15 Venice - Ca’ Rezzonico Museum of Eighteenth Century Art - EUR11 Venice - Glass Museum Murano - EUR11 Venice - Museum of St Mark’s Basilica - EUR5 Venice - Scuola Grande di San Rocco - EUR14 Venice - Chicchetti & Wine Tour of Venice Urban Adventure - EUR99 Venice - St Mark’s Basilica Treasury - EUR5 Cinque Terre - ’Il Laboratorio del Pesto’ Making & Demonstration - EUR15 Cinque Terre - Coastal Cruise - EUR30 Florence - Foodies Walk Urban Adventure - EUR79 Siena - Day Trip to Siena by Public Bus - EUR24 Florence - Baptistry, Museo Opera del Duomo, Giotto Bell Tower and Brunelleschi Dome - EUR30 Florence - Palazzo Vecchio - EUR12 Florence - Accademia - EUR17 Florence - Uffizi Gallery - EUR24 Florence - Pitti Palace (Boboli Gardens, Museo Argenti, Costume Gallery, Porcellain Museum) - EUR15 Florence - Bargello Museum - EUR14 Florence - Medici Chapels - EUR15 Rome - Castel Sant’Angelo - EUR14 Rome - Christian Catacombs - EUR10 Rome - Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill - EUR19 Rome - Keats-Shelley Memorial House - EUR6 Vatican City - Vatican Museum - EUR22 Rome - Pantheon - EUR5 Vatican City - St Peter’s Dome Climb & Elevator - EUR10 Rome - Venezia Palace - EUR16 Rome - Galleria Borghese - EUR16

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Day 1 Day 1: Venice
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Venice

Welcome to Venice! This watery wonderland of bridges, towers, piazzas, canals, churches and gondolas – practically unchanged for 600 years – is literally sinking under the weight of its iconic sights. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early and with time to spare the Grand Canal is a great place to start, as you can stroll over the Rialto Bridge and browse the endless amounts of boutique shops that sell Venetian masks and handmade Murano glassware. After tonight’s group meeting perhaps enjoy an optional dinner with your fellow travel companions at a local restaurant.
Day 2 Day 2: Venice
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Venice

This morning, head out for an orientation walk of the city and marvel at the Classical, Gothic, and Baroque styles of architecture surrounding San Marco Square. Your leader will show you where to get the best cicchetti today, a tasty local snack that Venice is famous for. For lunch, maybe get involved in the lively social scene at a local bácaro or simply watch the world go by at a restaurant perched on the edge of the canals. Then you’re free to explore Venice at your own pace. There are only two ways to get around this city – on foot or by boat. Maybe take the Vaporetto (water bus) over to the island of San Giorgio to climb the bell tower for views over the city. Or fulfil a bucket list favourite and take a journey down the Grand Canal in a Venetian gondola if you haven’t already.
Day 3 Day 3: La Spezia
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: La Spezia

Board a morning train through the scenic north of Italy to the once important naval base of La Spezia - known mainly as the gateway to the gorgeous Cinque Terre (Five Lands). The name comes from the five tiny villages – Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore – positioned on a series of coves between sheer cliffs. On arrival in La Spezia there won’t be too much time to explore (that’s what tomorrow is for), but after checking into your hotel perhaps get your bearings with a short walk around the pedestrian zone on Via del Prione or head out for dinner with the group.
Day 4 Day 4: Cinque Terre / La Spezia
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Cinque Terre / La Spezia

Spend today exploring winding footpaths and pastel coloured villages with your included Cinque Terre Pass. Your leader will walk you to two of the five villages, and the pass gives you access to the paths and trains of the area for 24 hours. Please consult your leader on which walking section is right for you, as some have challenging uphill stretches, narrow paths, steep cliffs and foot bridges. Alternatively, take the train between any of the villages, or back to the group’s base in La Spezia whenever you want. After working up an appetite, maybe take advantage of an optional pesto class. Focaccia is also a speciality in this area and makes a great start to lunch, if you’d prefer.
Day 5 Day 5: Florence
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Florence

Depart La Spezia today and catch a train to Florence. On arrival, check into the hostel and go for a brief walk around the immediate area to get your bearings. Florence is one of the most culturally rich and beautiful cities in Italy, known to many as the beating heart of Tuscany. The Medicis, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Brunelleschi, Machiavelli, Donatello and Michelangelo all lived in Florence at the height of their creative reign. Food is a major part of the city’s identity and the optional activities on offer reflect this. Maybe explore the city’s culinary history (and taste some local treats) on a Florence Foodies Walk with Urban Adventures. Carnivores might be drawn to try the Bistecca alla Fiorentina, the Florentine Beef Steak, essentially a huge T-bone steak that comes with classic sides.
Day 6 Day 6: Florence
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Florence

Enjoy another day in beautiful Florence. It’s impossible to see everything in this Renaissance wonderland, so the best idea is to relax and pick a few things you really want to do. Maybe start with a visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia where you can see Michelangelo’s famous statue of David, or perhaps stop by the Uffizi, one of the world’s oldest art galleries. Active types might want to walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo, which is set on a hill on the south bank of the Arno River, to take in beautiful views of the city – a lovely way to while away the day. There are plenty of optional activities on offer during your time here, so be sure to grill your leader for the details on each so you can get a sense of what interests you.
Day 7 Day 7: Rome
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Rome

Take the morning train to Rome and join your leader on an orientation walk around the city to see icons such as the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. After all that walking it’s probably time for lunch! Maybe grab a slice of the good stuff and a strong espresso at the Piazza Navona. You can spend your afternoon how you wish and there are plenty of heavy hitters to choose from. Maybe enter the Vatican and check out St Peter’s Basilica. Within the Vatican, art lovers could visit the Sistine Chapel to admire the timeless work of Michelangelo, while history buffs may enjoy a jaunt through the ancient halls of the Pantheon. Rome is packed full of trattorias that cater to every taste and budget, so this evening maybe link up with the group for dinner.
Day 8 Day 8: Rome
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Rome

Your adventures come to an end today. There are no activities planned and you’re free to depart the accommodation at any time after check-out. As there is so much to see in Rome, we recommend you stay a little longer to soak it up. We are happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). Please speak to an agent at the time of booking.

8 days tour

Highlights Of Italy

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Highlights Of Italy

Day 1: Venice

Day 2: Venice

Day 3: La Spezia

Day 4: Cinque Terre / La Spezia

Day 5: Florence

Day 6: Florence

Day 7: Rome

Day 8: Rome

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