Northern Italy trip: Venice to Florence

Land at Venice Marco Polo Airport and transfer to your hotel in the city of canals. Enjoy a relaxed check-in and a welcome briefing.

This Northern Italy trip blends iconic sights with local experiences: private gondola rides, small piazza strolls, and curated dining suggestions to shape an authentic, tailor-made Italy travel from day one.

Start your day with a private guide through Venice's treasures: St. Mark's Basilica to admire the Pala D'Oro and the Treasury, then the Loggia dei Cavalli for sweeping St. Mark's Square views.

Continue to Doge's Palace, cross the Bridge of Sighs, and finish with a one-hour gondola ride along the main canals, experiences that can be explored in greater depth on a Venice trip.

After breakfast in Venice, cross the lagoon to colorful Burano. Wander its lace-lined streets, admire pastel houses, and visit the Lace Museum to see centuries-old handiwork.

Then continue to Murano for live glassblowing demonstrations at a working furnace and time in the showroom to discover exquisite glassware before returning to Venice.

Enjoy a free day in Venice at your own pace. Wander narrow calli and quiet squares, glide through canals on a gondola, visit St. Mark’s Basilica or the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and shop for Murano glass or handcrafted masks.

Want something more tailored? We can arrange private concerts, mask-making workshops, guided cicchetti and wine tours, or bespoke access to museums and boutiques.

After breakfast, you will take the scenic train to Milan. On arrival, a private driver will meet you and transfer you to your downtown hotel.

The rest of the day is free: stroll the world-class Quadrilatero della Moda, shop in hidden ateliers, attend an evening show, or ask us to arrange bespoke activities and insider experiences.

Start your day at one of Milan’s oldest churches, where you’ll view Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic mural, The Last Supper. Stroll through the stylish city center, home to global fashion houses, then visit Castello Sforzesco for a taste of Milanese history and grandeur.

Continue to the ornate La Scala opera house and explore its museum with your guide. In the afternoon, enjoy free time to discover local restaurants, designer shops, and tucked-away gems.

After breakfast, enjoy a one-hour train ride to Como, where the glimmering lake stretches beneath snow-capped Alps. Your driver meets you on arrival, transferring you to your hotel, the perfect base for lakeside exploration.

Spend the afternoon wandering cobbled streets, discovering artisan boutiques, or drifting on a private boat cruise while the village façades glide past, a taste of the magic found on a full Italian Lakes trip. For those who savor intimate moments, a private café terrace or an exclusive live performance offers the perfect pause to soak in the atmosphere.

Take a short drive across the border to Lugano, Switzerland, where mountains frame the lake with postcard-perfect views. Explore the traffic-free historic center, with its elegant Lombardy-style architecture, boutique museums, and scenic promenades, tailored to your interests.

In spring, camellias bloom across the hillsides, adding color to the mild climate. Stop in nearby lakeside villages to soak up panoramic views, sample local flavors, and experience authentic village charm.

Glide across Lake Como on a guided boat tour, soaking up breathtaking villa-lined shores and alpine reflections. Keep your camera ready for villa facades, hidden bays, and panoramic vistas that make unforgettable photos.

Spend your free day in Como discovering hidden corners. Relax by the lake, take a private boat to Villa del Balbianello, join an interactive cooking class, or explore, local boutiques and cafés.

Our team can arrange guided walking tours, vintage boat rides, or spa time so your Italy itinerary feels personal and effortless. Tell us your interests and we will customize every detail.

After breakfast, your private driver will take you to the station for a scenic train ride to Cinque Terre. On arrival, you’ll be met and escorted to your hotel for check-in.

The evening is yours to enjoy. Stroll along coastal paths, savor fresh Ligurian seafood at a local trattoria, or watch the sunset from a private boat or seafront bar, tailored to your tastes.

From La Spezia, take the train to Riomaggiore and walk the scenic path into the old village. Admire the Via dell’Amore, the harbor, and the Church of St. John the Baptist. Your guide will join you for a ferry ride to Monterosso, the largest of the Cinque Terre villages, where you’ll explore narrow alleys and the tiny Oratorio.

After lunch and a bit of shopping, catch the train to Vernazza to wander its charming maze of lanes and take in the views back toward Monterosso. Grab a gelato, then continue to Manarola to stroll through vineyards and pastel-hued streets.

Later in the evening, return to your hotel and unwind after a full day on the coast.

Enjoy a free day in Cinque Terre to wander village lanes, relax on the waterfront, or hike scenic trails between colorful harbors.

This day can be tailored to your tastes with local cooking classes, private boat tours, wine tastings, or a sunset photo walk to capture unforgettable memories.

Start the day with a hotel breakfast, then visit Pisa to marvel at the Leaning Tower and capture memorable photos with an expert local guide and optional skip-the-line access.

Continue to Lucca to stroll atop its intact Renaissance walls and explore intimate piazzas. Later, transfer to your Florence hotel and enjoy an evening at leisure.

Start your day at the Duomo, climbing the bell tower and visiting the baptistery dedicated to St. John the Baptist. Stroll through Piazza della Repubblica, past the grand Strozzi Palace, and along Via Tornabuoni, Florence’s most elegant shopping street.

Discover a tucked-away private chapel adorned with late 15th-century frescoes, then cross the Santa Trinita Bridge into the Oltrarno district. Explore artisan workshops, visit the Church and Convent of Santo Spirito, and see one of Michelangelo’s earliest works, completed when he was just 17.

End your walk at the Pitti Palace and Ponte Vecchio before returning to your hotel for a relaxed evening at your own pace.

After a final breakfast at your Florence hotel, a private transfer will collect you for a transfer to the airport. If time allows, enjoy a last stroll through the Renaissance streets, pick up a handcrafted leather keepsake, or have a final espresso at a favorite café.

Our team can arrange later departures, extra museum visits, or a Chianti countryside extension so the finale suits your rhythm.