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Railbookers

Florence and Venice

Florence to Venice, art city then canals and islands

Illustration of Florence and Venice

Railbookers runs Florence and Venice as a 7-day, 6-night rail vacation, with three nights in each city and hotels chosen from 12 options across tiers rather than one fixed choice. In Florence, the days build from free time around the Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo to a walking tour of the Uffizi and Accademia Galleries and a skip-the-line climb through Brunelleschi's Dome, with access to passages closed to the public and a view over the city's skyline. A train then crosses the Italian countryside to Venice's Santa Lucia Station for the final three nights, where a small-group tour covers St Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace, and the Golden Basilica, followed by a boat tour to the lagoon islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello to watch glass being blown. With three full nights in each city, the trip favors settling in over moving quickly. It suits travelers who want two contrasting Italian cities, Renaissance art in Florence and canal life in Venice, covered at an even pace.

What to know before you look closer

  • This package offers a choice of 12 hotels across Florence and Venice at different tiers, so the exact hotel and its standard depends on which option is chosen.
  • The Florence Uffizi and Accademia walking tour does not run on Mondays, and the Doge's Palace and Golden Basilica tour is not available on Sundays.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Florence

    Your Journey Begins in Florence

    Welcome to Florence! Upon arrival, make your way to your hotel and check-in for a three-night stay. The rest of the day is yours to explore at your own leisure, walk around the streets of Florence and introduce yourself to the city. A good place to start is the Ponte Vecchio, the oldest and most famous bridge over the Arno River, filled with shops and connecting the famous Uffizi Museum to the old Medici Palace. After dinner at one of the many fine restaurants in the area, enjoy a Florentine gelato, considered by many to be the best in the world.

  2. Day 2overnight: Florence

    Florence

    After breakfast this morning, spend another day discovering Florence. The Uffizi Gallery is immensely popular so avoid the queues and admire the works of Botticelli, Caravaggio, Raphael and Michelangelo. In the afternoon enjoy a walking tour with a local guide, take a stroll across the Ponte Vecchio, admire the spectacular Duomo Cathedral and be sure to enjoy some fine Italian cuisine.

  3. Day 3overnight: Florence

    Florence

    Make your way to the iconic Brunelleschi's Dome, designed in the 15th century by Filippo Brunelleschi, this morning. Beat the queues today with your skip the line tickets with premium entrance, Follow your guide through the cathedral for an exclusive close-up view of the dome. Explore passages closed to the public and get a magnificent look at the city skyline. Hear the fascinating history behind the dome before beginning the ascent up its 463 steps expect a steep climb. As you travel up, admire the frescoes from Renaissance artists like Zuccari and Vasari on the two shells of the dome.

  4. Day 4overnight: Venice

    Florence to Venice

    After breakfast, sit back and relax on your journey to Venice. Pass quaint Italian villages and rolling fields before arriving at Venice Santa Lucia Station. On arrival, make your way to your hotel and check in for a three-night stay. Once you get your bearings, start exploring this beautiful and charming city. With the use of your included Vaporetto Pass you can easily navigate your way around the city and stop for somewhere to dine and enjoy some local cuisine!

  5. Day 5overnight: Venice

    Venice

    This morning, make your way to St Mark's Square for the start of your small group tour to the Doges Palace, and mesmerizing Golden Basilica. Following this, it's a guided walking tour through the quieter lanes and alleys, where you will see some architectural gems and historical buildings that are often overlooked by the crowds. The rest of the afternoon is at your own leisure, so why don't you treat yourself to an Aperol Spritz by the canal for a spot of lunch, or head over to the famous Bell Tower and climb to the top to see the gorgeous sunset views over Venice.

  6. Day 6overnight: Venice

    Venice

    Today, after breakfast, you will make your way to join your small group tour to visit the three famous islands - the Murano, Burano, and Torcello islands. Have your camera ready and be prepared to see the fascinating glass blowing skills and artwork along the way - one of the oldest art forms in Venice. Remember, your vaporetto pass is still valid today, which you can use in the evening for a more leisurely form of transport after a few days of sightseeing and walking!

  7. Day 7rail

    Your Journey Ends in Venice

    After breakfast this morning, check out of your hotel and continue with your travels. If you wish to extend your journey, perhaps with an additional day in a different city, one of our Rail Vacation Specialists will be happy to assist you with the details.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3A skip-the-line, premium-entrance tour of Brunelleschi's Dome leads through passages closed to the public for a close-up view and a look over Florence's skyline.
  • Day 4The train from Florence to Venice passes Italian villages and fields before arriving at Venice's Santa Lucia Station.
  • Day 5A small-group tour visits St Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace, and the Golden Basilica, followed by a guided walk through Venice's quieter lanes and alleys.
  • Day 6A small-group boat tour visits the lagoon islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello, with a stop to watch glass-blowing.

Included

  • Rail Travel as per itinerary
  • 3 nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast in Florence
  • 3 nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast in Venice
  • Florence Walking Tour: Uffizi and Accademia Gallery (Galleries closed on Mondays)
  • Skip-The-Line Tickets with Premium Entrance at Brunelleschi's Dome
  • Small-group tour of Venice: Doge's Palace and the Golden Basilica included (except on Sundays)
  • Small-group tour of the Murano, Burano, and Torcello Islands

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes, rail travel from Florence to Venice is included, arriving at Venice's Santa Lucia Station.
What is included besides rail and hotels?
A Florence walking tour of the Uffizi and Accademia Galleries, skip-the-line entrance to Brunelleschi's Dome, a small-group Doge's Palace and Golden Basilica tour, and a boat tour of Murano, Burano, and Torcello.
Which hotels are used?
A choice from 12 hotel options across Florence and Venice, including the Four Seasons Hotel Firenze in Florence and the Hotel Metropole Venice in Venice.
How many nights are spent in each city?
Three nights in Florence and three nights in Venice, across 7 days and 6 nights.
Are the included tours available every day?
No, the Florence gallery walking tour is closed Mondays and the Doge's Palace tour isn't available Sundays.
What is the starting price?
From $879 per person, about $126 a day.

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