Italy Vatican Early-Entry Guided Tour
A small-group guided visit that enters the Vatican Museums before general opening, with the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. About 3 hours; dress code applies.
$179 per person
City & Culture · Italy
Italy: Rome & Florence: 6 Days
Three nights in Rome with timed Colosseum and Vatican tickets, then a fast train to Florence for two nights of Renaissance art, food and the Arno.
- 6 days / 5 nights
- Transfers and key tickets included
- Economy, Comfortable or Superior
Attractions
Your days, with paid experiences clearly marked as optional.
5nights
3hotel levels
3optional add-ons
0flights included
Rome Fiumicino Airport→Colosseum & Roman Forum→Vatican Museums→Florence, Santa Maria Novella→Florence Duomo & Ponte Vecchio
Part of your tripOptional add-on (not included in the trip price)
1Day 1
Benvenuti a Roma
A day at your pace.
Benvenuti a Roma
Why it is worth itArrive at Rome Fiumicino and meet your private transfer to your hotel.
Insider tipYour plan has opening hours and the best time to go.
2Day 2
Ancient Rome
A day at your pace.
Ancient Rome
Why it is worth itYour timed Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine ticket is included.
Insider tipYour plan has opening hours and the best time to go.
3Day 3
The Vatican and Trastevere
A day at your pace.
The Vatican and Trastevere
Why it is worth itYour timed Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel ticket is included.
Insider tipYour plan has opening hours and the best time to go.
Optional add-on
Italy Vatican Early-Entry Guided Tour
A small-group guided visit that enters the Vatican Museums before general opening, with the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. About 3 hours; dress code applies.
$179 per person
Optional. Not included in the trip price.
4Day 4
High-speed train to Florence
A day at your pace.
High-speed train to Florence
Why it is worth itRide a Frecciarossa high-speed train from Rome to Florence, about 1 hour 35 minutes; second-class seat included.
Insider tipYour plan has opening hours and the best time to go.
5Day 5
Florence at your pace
A day at your pace.
Florence at your pace
Why it is worth itSee the Uffizi or Accademia (tickets not included; we can reserve times for you), cross to the Oltrarno artisans and finish at Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset.
Insider tipYour plan has opening hours and the best time to go.
Optional add-on
Italy Chianti Wine-Country Day from Florence
A small-group day in the Chianti hills with two winery visits, tastings and a farm lunch. About 8 hours with pickup in Florence.
$279 per person
Optional. Not included in the trip price.
Optional add-on
Italy Florence Pasta & Gelato Cooking Class
A hands-on class making fresh pasta and gelato with a local chef, followed by the meal you cooked, with wine. About 3 hours in central Florence.
$179 per person
Optional. Not included in the trip price.
6Day 6
Arrivederci
A day at your pace.
Arrivederci
Why it is worth itBreakfast, then your included transfer to Florence Airport or Santa Maria Novella station for your onward journey.
Insider tipYour plan has opening hours and the best time to go.
The order of stops can shift with the weather, and access to some sites can change with the season or local conditions. See Day by day for the full plan.
Why this trip
Three nights in Rome with timed Colosseum and Vatican tickets, then a fast train to Florence for two nights of Renaissance art, food and the Arno. Hotels, the transfers and tickets listed under Included, and a personalized day-by-day plan are arranged; sightseeing is at your own pace.
- Three ways to stayEconomy keeps it simple and under $2,000; Comfortable and Superior step up the hotels.
- Key tickets bookedThe timed tickets and transfers listed under Included are arranged before you go.
- Your own paceA daily plan with insider tips, not an escorted group tour.
- Make it yoursThree optional experiences; add only what suits you.
At a glance
- Length
- 6 days / 5 nights
- Starts and ends
- Rome Fiumicino (FCO), departing Florence (FLR) or by train
- Getting around
- Transfers and trains listed under Included are arranged; no rental car needed
- Accommodations
- Economy: Well-reviewed 3-star hotels in central Rome and Florence, breakfast where offered.Comfortable: 4-star hotels: Hotel Artemide in Rome and Hotel Brunelleschi by the Duomo, or similar.Superior: 5-star hotels: Hotel Raphael by Piazza Navona and Hotel Lungarno on the Arno, or similar.
- Best time
- Starts March 1–November 15. Easter week and Rome Jubilee/papal event dates may be priced on request.
- Great for
- Couples, friends, families and first-time visitors to Italy
- Flights
- Not included; fly into and out of Rome Fiumicino (FCO), departing Florence (FLR) or by train
Day by day
Times and order can shift with the weather and opening hours; your plan has the details.
Day 1Benvenuti a Roma
Arrive at Rome Fiumicino and meet your private transfer to your hotel. Keep the first evening easy: a short walk to the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon, then dinner in a trattoria near your hotel.
Stay: 3-star hotel in central Rome (Monti, Termini or Prati), or similarHotel Artemide (4-star, Via Nazionale), or similarHotel Raphael (5-star, by Piazza Navona), or similar (night 1 of 5).
Stay: 3-star hotel in central Rome (Monti, Termini or Prati), or similarHotel Artemide (4-star, Via Nazionale), or similarHotel Raphael (5-star, by Piazza Navona), or similar (night 1 of 5).
Day 2Ancient Rome
Your timed Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine ticket is included. Go early, then wander up the Palatine for views over the Forum. Spend the afternoon in Monti, one of Rome’s oldest neighborhoods.
Stay: 3-star hotel in central Rome (Monti, Termini or Prati), or similarHotel Artemide (4-star, Via Nazionale), or similarHotel Raphael (5-star, by Piazza Navona), or similar (night 2 of 5).
Stay: 3-star hotel in central Rome (Monti, Termini or Prati), or similarHotel Artemide (4-star, Via Nazionale), or similarHotel Raphael (5-star, by Piazza Navona), or similar (night 2 of 5).
Day 3The Vatican and Trastevere
Your timed Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel ticket is included. Choose the optional early-entry guided tour to see the Sistine Chapel before the crowds. In the evening, cross the river to Trastevere for dinner.
Stay: 3-star hotel in central Rome (Monti, Termini or Prati), or similarHotel Artemide (4-star, Via Nazionale), or similarHotel Raphael (5-star, by Piazza Navona), or similar (night 3 of 5).
Stay: 3-star hotel in central Rome (Monti, Termini or Prati), or similarHotel Artemide (4-star, Via Nazionale), or similarHotel Raphael (5-star, by Piazza Navona), or similar (night 3 of 5).
Day 4High-speed train to Florence
Ride a Frecciarossa high-speed train from Rome to Florence, about 1 hour 35 minutes; second-class seat included. Drop your bags, then walk to the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria and Ponte Vecchio.
Stay: 3-star hotel in Florence’s historic center, or similarHotel Brunelleschi (4-star, by the Duomo), or similarHotel Lungarno (5-star, on the Arno), or similar (night 4 of 5).
Stay: 3-star hotel in Florence’s historic center, or similarHotel Brunelleschi (4-star, by the Duomo), or similarHotel Lungarno (5-star, on the Arno), or similar (night 4 of 5).
Day 5Florence at your pace
See the Uffizi or Accademia (tickets not included; we can reserve times for you), cross to the Oltrarno artisans and finish at Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset. Or choose the optional Chianti wine day or a pasta cooking class.
Stay: 3-star hotel in Florence’s historic center, or similarHotel Brunelleschi (4-star, by the Duomo), or similarHotel Lungarno (5-star, on the Arno), or similar (night 5 of 5).
Stay: 3-star hotel in Florence’s historic center, or similarHotel Brunelleschi (4-star, by the Duomo), or similarHotel Lungarno (5-star, on the Arno), or similar (night 5 of 5).
Day 6Arrivederci
Breakfast, then your included transfer to Florence Airport or Santa Maria Novella station for your onward journey. Flights are booked separately.
Map
Numbered stops; lines are schematic, not directions. Optional experiences have blue markers.
Expand map
- 1Rome Fiumicino Airport
- 2Colosseum & Roman Forum
- 3Vatican Museums
- 4Florence, Santa Maria Novella
- 5Florence Duomo & Ponte Vecchio
- 6Italy Vatican Early-Entry Guided Tour (optional add-on)
- 7Italy Chianti Wine-Country Day from Florence (optional add-on)
- 8Italy Florence Pasta & Gelato Cooking Class (optional add-on)
Included in your tripOptional add-on
What’s included
Included
- 5 nights in your chosen hotel level, with breakfast where the hotel includes it
- Private transfer from Rome Fiumicino to your hotel, and a transfer to Florence Airport or Santa Maria Novella on your last day
- High-speed train from Rome to Florence, second class, with hotel–station transfers
- Timed Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine ticket, and timed Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel ticket
- Personalized day-by-day plan and booking coordination
Not included
- All flights
- Most meals, drinks and personal spending
- City tourist taxes if a hotel collects them at check-in
- Optional add-ons unless selected and paid for
- Uffizi, Accademia and other tickets not listed
- Travel insurance
No rental car is included or needed: the transfers and trains under Included are arranged. itsTripEasy sometimes books rental cars for a trip; this one does not need one. You book your own flights. Hotels are subject to availability; an equivalent is confirmed before your trip is finalized.
Questions
What if I need to cancel?
Plans change. If you need to cancel, you'll receive trip credit toward another itsTripEasy trip: within 24 hours of payment, 100% trip credit, so you can swap to a different destination; 90 or more days before your trip start date, 100% trip credit; less than 90 days before, no trip credit, unless you added Flexible Cancellation: with it, you get 100% trip credit if you cancel at least 10 days before your trip start date, for a trip you take within 12 months. Other trip credits never expire. To cancel or change your dates, use the cancellation request form. For a date change, choose the reason "I'd like to change my dates".
How many people can share a room?
Up to 3 people share one room (a triple or family room); 4 people may use a family room or two rooms, and the price per person drops as more people share: 2 sharing saves a little, 3 sharing more, 4 sharing the most. For a larger group, use Plan My Trip.
Do I need a car?
No. The transfers and trains listed under Included are arranged. itsTripEasy sometimes books rental cars for a trip; this one does not need one. You book your own flights.
Are flights included?
No. You book your own flights: fly into Rome Fiumicino (FCO), departing Florence (FLR) or by train.
When is the best time to go?
Starts March 1–November 15. April–June and September–October are the sweet spots. July and August are hot and busy. Easter week and major Vatican event dates are priced on request.
Do I need a guide?
No. Your tickets are timed, and your plan explains each visit. Add the Vatican early-entry tour if you want a guide there.
Which hotels do the three levels use?
Economy: Well-reviewed 3-star hotels in central Rome and Florence, breakfast where offered. Comfortable: 4-star hotels: Hotel Artemide in Rome and Hotel Brunelleschi by the Duomo, or similar. Superior: 5-star hotels: Hotel Raphael by Piazza Navona and Hotel Lungarno on the Arno, or similar. Rooms for 3 use a triple or family room; 4 people may use a family room or two rooms. Own room means a private room.
Can the trip be customized?
Choose Economy, Comfortable or Superior, 1–4 people per room and up to 3 extra nights at each end (6 total). Extra nights are in Rome (start) or Florence (end). Add optional experiences separately.
Optional add-ons
Make your trip a little more special. Add one for some or all of your travelers, here or in the booking box. Each add-on goes into your cart as its own item.
Italy Chianti Wine-Country Day from Florence
A small-group day in the Chianti hills with two winery visits, tastings and a farm lunch. About 8 hours with pickup in Florence.
$279 per person
Italy Florence Pasta & Gelato Cooking Class
A hands-on class making fresh pasta and gelato with a local chef, followed by the meal you cooked, with wine. About 3 hours in central Florence.
$179 per person
Good to know
Earn 1 point per $1 actually paid toward your trip. Points are not earned on an unpaid balance.
City travel. Churches and the Vatican require covered shoulders and knees. Validate train tickets when asked, and watch for pickpockets on busy buses and at major sites. Hotels named are examples, subject to availability. Extra nights do not add tours.
