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Explore Worldwide · Escorted tour

Venice to Rome by Rail

Seven-day escorted rail journey through Italy: Venice, Bologna, Florence, Pisa, Rome

Illustration of Venice to Rome by Rail

Explore Worldwide's Venice to Rome by Rail is a 7-day, 6-night escorted journey through five of Italy's most visited cities, connected entirely by train. The tour departs Venice and follows high-speed rail through Bologna, Florence, and Rome, with a day excursion to Pisa by local train. Each city receives a guided orientation walk led by Explore's tour leader. Day 2 includes a vaporetto water-bus ride and ascent of San Giorgio Maggiore Bell Tower in Venice. Day 3 features a hands-on pasta-making demonstration in Bologna, teaching traditional egg pasta shapes and served with dinner and wine. Day 5 visits Pisa's historic Campo dei Miracoli to see the Leaning Tower. Day 6 concludes with a specialist-guided tour of Rome's Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. The itinerary suits first-time rail travellers seeking guidance through Italy's cultural heartland, history enthusiasts drawn to Renaissance and Roman sites, and food-and-wine travellers interested in Bologna's culinary tradition. The pace is fast, with frequent hotel changes and most days anchored by walking tours and included activities.

What to know before you look closer

  • Final hotel in Rome is only one night; other stops vary from one to two nights, making this a fast-paced tour with frequent hotel changes.
  • Hotels listed are marked 'or similar', meaning the final property may differ from those named.
  • Most dinners are not included; only the pasta-making demonstration dinner in Bologna is covered. Lunches are the traveller's responsibility.
  • Vatican Museum and Uffizi Gallery entrance fees are not included; both are optional and must be booked separately (Vatican entry recommended for after 5pm if visiting Friday).

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Venice

    Join trip in the fabulous island city of Venice

    Our tour starts today in Venice, 'The Floating City'. The bucket-list city is built across 118 islands linked by bridges and canals in the shallow Venetian lagoon. Tour leader meets everyone at the hotel at 6pm for a welcome meeting; optional dinner afterwards. Airport transfer by shared taxi from Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) takes around 45 minutes. No other activities planned; free to arrive at any time.

  2. Day 2overnight: Venice

    Venice walking tour including bird's-eye view from San Giorgio Maggiore Bell Tower

    Orientation walking tour through the backstreets of Cannaregio, across the Rialto Bridge into Saint Mark's Square, seeing the Bridge of Sighs and Doge's Palace. Vaporetto water bus to San Giorgio Maggiore Bell Tower for a bird's-eye view. Vaporetto day pass provided. Free time to explore independently afterwards.

    Meals: Breakfast

  3. Day 3railovernight: Bologna

    Train to Bologna; orientation walk, pasta making demonstration

    High-speed train to Bologna, capital of Emilia Romagna. Orientation walk with tour leader after dropping luggage at hotel. Free time to explore including optional Asinelli Tower visit. Late afternoon: included pasta-making demonstration (sfoglia all'uovo, tortelloni, garganelli, strichetti, tagliatelle) followed by dinner and a glass of wine.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  4. Day 4railovernight: Florence

    Discover Bologna's food markets; train to Florence; walking tour around the city

    Morning visit to the medieval Quadrilatero food market area. Short train journey (~30 minutes) to Florence. Orientation walk: San Lorenzo market, Central Market, San Lorenzo church, Cappelle Medicee, Duomo and Baptistry (outside), Signoria Square, Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi Museum exterior, Ponte Vecchio. Free time from mid-to-late afternoon.

    Meals: Breakfast

  5. Day 5railovernight: Florence

    Visit to Pisa; see the incredible Leaning Tower

    Around one hour by local train to Pisa. Orientation tour of Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Dreams) including the Leaning Tower, Baptistery, Duomo and Camposanta. Free time in Pisa then return to Florence at leisure. Recommended afternoon visit to Uffizi Gallery.

    Meals: Breakfast

  6. Day 6railovernight: Rome

    Fast train to Rome; guided visit to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

    High-speed train to Rome. Drop luggage at hotel then specialist guided tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum (including Palatine Hill). Sightseeing finishes late afternoon; remainder of evening free. Optional Vatican Museum visit recommended (book in advance; not before 5pm if visiting on Day 6 Friday).

    Meals: Breakfast

  7. Day 7

    Trip ends in the Italian capital Rome

    Trip ends after breakfast. No activities planned; free to depart at any time. Luggage storage available at hotel. Airport transfer to Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) available; approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour from city centre.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Day 2: Vaporetto water bus ascends the San Giorgio Maggiore Bell Tower for a bird's-eye view of Venice's canals and islands.
  • Day 3Day 3: Included pasta-making demonstration in Bologna teaches traditional sfoglia all'uovo, tortelloni, garganelli, strichetti, and tagliatelle, followed by dinner with wine.
  • Day 5Day 5: Local train journey to Pisa for orientation tour of the Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Dreams) including the Leaning Tower, Baptistery, Duomo, and Camposanta.
  • Day 6Day 6: High-speed train arrives in Rome for specialist guided tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill.

Included

  • 6 nights accommodation in comfortable hotels
  • 6 breakfasts
  • 1 dinner (pasta-making demonstration in Bologna with wine)
  • Explore Tour Leader throughout
  • Orientation walking tours in Venice, Bologna, Florence and Pisa
  • Vaporetto day pass in Venice
  • High-speed train travel Venice–Bologna, Bologna–Florence, Florence–Rome
  • Local train Florence–Pisa
  • Specialist guided tour of Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill in Rome
  • Airport transfer on arrival in Venice (shared taxi from Venice Marco Polo Airport)

Not included

  • International flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Lunches
  • Most dinners
  • Optional activities and entrance fees
  • Personal spending money
  • Gratuities for tour leader (recommended €25–35 per person per week)
  • Vatican Museum entry
  • Uffizi Gallery entry
  • Leaning Tower of Pisa entry
  • Asinelli Tower entry in Bologna
  • Gondola rides

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. The price includes high-speed train travel Venice to Bologna, Bologna to Florence, and Florence to Rome, plus a local train to and from Pisa.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
It is fully escorted. Explore Worldwide provides a tour leader throughout the 7 days. Orientation walks are guided in each city, and a specialist guides the Rome tour.
What is included in the price?
Six nights in three-star hotels, six breakfasts, one dinner (pasta-making demonstration with wine in Bologna), all train travel, orientation walks in four cities, specialist guided tour of Rome's Colosseum and Roman Forum, vaporetto day pass in Venice, and airport transfer on arrival.
How long is the trip and when does it run?
Seven days and six nights. Departures run in September and October 2026, and March through October 2027 (17 total departures). Prices range from GBP 1,965 to GBP 2,455.
What is not included?
International flights, travel insurance, lunches, most dinners, optional activities and entrance fees (Vatican Museum, Uffizi Gallery, Leaning Tower entry), travel insurance, and personal spending money are not included.
How much walking is involved?
The tour includes orientation walking tours through Venice, Bologna, Florence, and Pisa. Vaporetto water-bus travel is available in Venice. Travellers should be comfortable with city walking and climbing stairs; optional tower and museum visits add further walking.

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