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Just before Lent, the city nicknamed La Serenissima (most serene) opens up into a wild world of luxury, indulgence, and merriment during the annual Carnival celebration. You’ll begin your Italian adventure in Renaissance Florence and Eternal Rome before donning a traditional masquerade mask and taking to the Venetian streets with thousands of revelers from near and far.
Your tour package includes
8 nights in handpicked hotels
8 breakfasts
3 dinners with beer or wine
4 guided sightseeing tours
Expert Tour Director & local guides
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Included highlights
Carnival in Venice
the Colosseum
the Roman Forum
Florence’s Duomo
St. Mark’s Basilica
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Start planning today
An expert specializing in tours of this region is here to help.
Welcome to Italy! Transfer to your hotel and get settled in. Later, meet your group at tonight’s welcome dinner.
Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Rome
Included meal: Breakfast
Follow in the footsteps of the ancient Romans on a guided tour of the Eternal City.
Soak up over 2,000 years of history in Imperial Rome, viewing the Arch of Constantine and the Arch of Titus
Enter the Colosseum, the largest amphitheater of the Roman Empire
Stop at the ruins of the Forum, once the setting of parades, elections, and trials
Pass Palatine Hill, see where ancient Romans raced chariots at Circus Maximus, and view the Baths of Caracalla
Day 4: Free day in Rome
Included meal: Breakfast
Spend a free day in Rome or add an excursion.
Iconic Sights: Vatican City
From $115 per person
Florence2 nights
Day 5: Transfer to Florence
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Cross through the Apennine Mountains as you make your way to Florence, home of the Renaissance. Then, get to know the city on a guided sightseeing tour.
View the legendary Florence Cathedral, known as the Duomo
Pass Giotto’s Campanile, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture
Walk past Piazza della Repubblica to the medieval Ponte Vecchio
Stroll along the Arno River and through the courtyard of the Uffizi Gallery to Piazza della Signoria, center of Florentine life
Day 6: Free day in Florence
Included meal: Breakfast
Enjoy a full free day to explore Florence or add an excursion.
Siena & San Gimignano: Tuscan Hilltowns
From $119 per person
Venice3 nights
Day 7: Carnival events in Venice
Included meal: Breakfast
Transfer to Venice this morning, then spend the afternoon discovering the excitement and appeal of Venice’s Carnival.
Attend a mask-making workshop to learn about the history of Carnival and its famous disguises
Try your hand at creating your own mask before taking to the streets to join in on the revelry
Day 8: Sightseeing tour of Venice
Included meal: Breakfast
Experience historic churches, winding canals, and picture-perfect piazzas on a guided tour of the city known as the Queen of the Adriatic.
Step into the iconic St. Mark’s Square and enter St. Mark’s Basilica
View the stately Doge’s Palace, built in the Venetian Gothic style in 1340
Marvel at the Bridge of Sighs, the link between Doge’s Palace and the New Prison
See a glassblowing demonstration to learn about the city’s most celebrated art
Enjoy a free afternoon in Venice or add an excursion.
Gondola Ride: Venice Canal Cruise
From $79 per person
Private Gondola Ride: Canal Cruise for Two
From $159 per person
Day 9: Free day in Venice
Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner
Spend a free day exploring Venice on your own or add an excursion.
Later, say goodbye to your group at a farewell dinner.
Islands of the Venetian Lagoon: Burano & Torcello
From $75 per person
Flight Home
Day 10: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Venezia, Firenze, Roma.... and a few side trips... a great overall trip with lots of the highlights of Italia, plus the ambiance and mystique of Carnavale. A really unique experience. Loved the mask-making event, and a few of us brought costumes (not too elaborate) and had a fun evening out. Cool...
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Go Ahead Tours replied on 2/23/16
Hi Terry! We’re glad you enjoyed your tour in Ital...
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5.0 star rating
The best tour ever
2/7/15 by 1st-time traveler Jonathan
This was the best tour ever!! The food, shopping, tours and accomodations were wonderful.
Thanks Tini, Excellent tour director.
5.0 star rating
Great Tour Director
2/7/15 by 1st-time traveler Robert
Tini did a great job making our trip outstanding.
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Hotels, flights & FAQ
Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.
Hotels
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.
Hotel Massimo D'Azeglio
This historic hotel is located in central Rome. Guests enjoy a restaurant, bar and lounge, and fitness area. Nearby, you’ll find the train station, Te...
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Hotel Diplomat
This charming hotel is located near the Santa Maria Novella train station in Florence. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi and a restaurant. Nearby, you’ll find t...
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Hotel Giorgione
This charming hotel is located in the Cannaregio district in central Venice. Guests enjoy a private courtyard, pool, and billiards area. Nearby, you’l...
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Flights
Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.
Add our airfare package and you'll get:
Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
In order to enter Italy, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
There is no visa required for U.S. or Canadian citizens.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact your destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code RFC.
You will walk for at least 2 hours daily across mostly flat terrain, including cobblestone streets, with some hills and stairs.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times, as well as stepping between boats and uneven docks.
Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Rome and depart from Venice. A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
Water taxi rides in Venice are included in the price of your tour.
All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code RFC.
Roman food is typically freshly prepared and varies depending on the season. Must-try bites include cacio e pepe (a simple dish of pasta, cheese, and pepper) and supplí (a fried rice ball similar to Sicily’s arancini).
Tuscany is world-famous for its wine, oil, sauces, and pasta. Menus favor subtle, lighter pastas and desserts made with nuts, fruit, and honey. Try a dish featuring the region’s Chianina beef, perhaps the most prized breed of cattle in all of Italy. For wine, popular Tuscan reds include Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which are primarily made from the Sangiovese grape. Well-known white wines are also made around the San Gimignano region.
Venice and Northern Italy are known for flavorful meats and pastries.
For more authentic meals, try local trattorias, small restaurants set away from the main piazzas. A typical Italian meal includes wines and the occasional beer, followed by a few sips of after-dinner drinks like grappa or limoncello.
Italy operates on the European standard 220-240 volts and use Types C, F, or L plugs with two or three small, round pins.
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
Your hotel may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.
Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $7USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
If you are interested in visiting any of Florence's many museums during your free time, we recommend that you make reservations in advance. See uffizi.org for the Uffizi Gallery or accademia.org for the Accademia Gallery. Please note that the museums are closed on Mondays.
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