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Railbookers · Independent rail vacation

Venice and Florence

7-day independent rail trip from Venice to Florence on Trenitalia

Illustration of Venice and Florence

Railbookers runs this 7-day independent rail trip between Venice and Florence, connected by a single Trenitalia train journey. The trip is self-guided, with small-group tours woven in rather than a tour director for the whole week. Three nights in Venice open with free time to explore at your own pace, followed by a small-group tour of the Doge's Palace and the Golden Basilica, a walking tour through the city's quieter lanes, and a boat trip out to the lagoon islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello to see traditional glass blowing. The train to Florence passes Italian villages and rolling countryside before arriving at Santa Maria Novella Station for a three-night stay. Florence days include a Uffizi and Accademia walking tour, a stroll across the Ponte Vecchio to the Duomo Cathedral, and skip-the-line, premium-entrance access to Brunelleschi's Dome. It suits independent travelers who want a short two-city Italian rail trip with guided highlights included rather than arranged from scratch.

What to know before you look closer

  • The trip's general description mentions a night in Zurich en route to Venice, but the day-by-day itinerary and route start directly in Venice with no Zurich stop; confirm with Railbookers whether a Zurich stay is actually part of this package.
  • The Doge's Palace tour does not run on Sundays, and the Uffizi and Accademia galleries are closed on Mondays, so your exact itinerary may shift depending on which day you visit.
  • No hotel names or tiers are listed for this trip; the evidence only confirms 3 nights of hotel accommodation with breakfast in each city.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Venice

    Your Journey Begins in Venice

    Welcome to Venice! Upon arrival, make your way to your hotel in Venice and check-in. The rest of the day is yours to begin experiencing the charm of this iconic city at your own pace.

  2. Day 2overnight: 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 is 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.

    Meals: B

  3. Day 3overnight: 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!

    Meals: B

  4. Day 4overnight: Florence

    Venice to Florence

    After breakfast, sit back and relax on your journey to Florence. Pass quaint Italian villages and rolling fields before arriving at Florence Santa Maria Novella 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 historic 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.

    Meals: B

  5. Day 5overnight: 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.

    Meals: B

  6. Day 6overnight: 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.

    Meals: B

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2A small-group tour visits the Doge's Palace and the Golden Basilica, followed by a guided walk through Venice's quieter lanes and alleys.
  • Day 3A small-group tour of the Murano, Burano, and Torcello islands shows traditional glass blowing skills and artwork.
  • Day 4The train to Florence passes Italian villages and rolling fields before arriving at Florence Santa Maria Novella Station.
  • Day 5A walking tour with a local guide takes in the Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo Cathedral after a visit to the Uffizi Gallery.
  • Day 6Skip-the-line tickets with premium entrance give close-up access to Brunelleschi's Dome, including passages closed to the public.

Included

  • Rail Travel as per itinerary 3 nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast in Venice 3 nights' hotel accommodation with breakfast in Florence 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 Florence Walking Tour: Uffizi and Accademia Gallery (Galleries closed on Mondays) Skip-The-Line Tickets with Premium Entrance at Brunelleschi’s Dome

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. Rail travel from Venice to Florence is included as per the itinerary, aboard Trenitalia.
Is this trip guided or independent?
It is independent (self-guided) with several small-group tours included: the Doge's Palace and Golden Basilica in Venice, the Murano, Burano, and Torcello islands, and walking tours in Florence.
What is included in Florence?
A Florence walking tour covering the Uffizi and Accademia galleries, and skip-the-line tickets with premium entrance at Brunelleschi's Dome.
Does the itinerary include a stop in Zurich?
The trip's general description mentions Zurich, but the detailed itinerary starts directly in Venice with no Zurich stop listed; confirm this with Railbookers before booking.
What is not included?
Only breakfast is listed as an included meal each day; other meals are not stated as included.

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