Rome, Florence & Venice: Self-Launched 7-Day Italian Classic by Train
7 days · Italy
Meet and Greet Italy charges £1,340
No-markup version: ~£720 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Hit Italy's three crown-jewel cities — Rome, Florence, and Venice — entirely under your own steam, travelling between them on the same high-speed Frecciarossa trains the operator uses. You'll stay in comfortable budget hotels or well-rated guesthouses, book guided walks and museum entries directly via GetYourGuide or on arrival, and keep your wallet intact without sacrificing a single major landmark. All cost estimates are approximate and based on current budget-traveller rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Rome — First Taste of the Eternal City
Rome
Arrive in Rome and check into your budget hotel or guesthouse near Termini station — a great base for exploring. Spend your first afternoon getting your bearings: stroll to the Trevi Fountain, wander through Piazza Navona, and grab a €2 espresso standing at a bar like a local. Evening: explore Trastevere's cobblestone streets for an affordable dinner (pasta from €8–12).
🚌Arrive by international flight or train. From Fiumicino Airport, take the Leonardo Express train to Termini (€14, ~32 min). From Ciampino, take a bus to Termini (~€5).
🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse near Termini — e.g. Hotel Castelfidardo or similar 3-star. Expect £50–70/night for a private room.
- →Arrive and check in near Termini station
- →Walk to Trevi Fountain (free to visit)
- →Explore Piazza Navona (free)
- →Wander Trastevere neighbourhood for dinner
Rome in Depth — Ruins, Piazzas & Vatican
Rome
A full day to tackle Rome's iconic sights. Book a skip-the-line ticket for the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill in advance online (combined ticket ~€18). In the afternoon, head to Vatican City — pre-book Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica entry on the Vatican's official site or GetYourGuide to avoid queues. Alternatively, hop on the open-top Hop-On Hop-Off bus (book via GetYourGuide from ~£25) for a flexible day covering all major landmarks with audio commentary.
🚌Rome Metro Lines A & B cover most sights. A 24-hour travel card costs €7. Walking between sites is very feasible.
🛏Same hotel as Day 1.
- →Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill (combined ticket ~£16, book in advance at coopculture.it)
- →Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel (book skip-the-line on GetYourGuide ~£25)
- →St. Peter's Basilica (free entry to basilica, dome climb ~£6)
- →OR: Rome Hop-On Hop-Off Bus all-day pass (~£25 via GetYourGuide)
- →Best of Rome free walking tour (tip-based, search 'Rome free tour' on GetYourGuide or Airbnb Experiences)
Rome to Florence — Arrival in the Renaissance Capital
Florence
After your included breakfast, catch a high-speed Frecciarossa or Italo train from Roma Termini to Firenze Santa Maria Novella — book in advance for the best fares. Check into your Florence accommodation, then spend the afternoon exploring on foot: marvel at the Duomo's facade, cross the famous Ponte Vecchio, and soak up the atmosphere of Piazza della Signoria. End the day with a Fiorentina steak and a glass of Chianti — look for trattorias away from the main tourist drag for better value.
🚌Frecciarossa or Italo high-speed train: Roma Termini → Firenze SMN, ~1h30m. Book via trenitalia.com or italotreno.it well in advance for fares from £15. From Florence Santa Maria Novella station, most hotels are walkable.
🛏Budget hotel or B&B near the historic centre — e.g. Hotel Davanzati or similar. Expect £55–75/night for a private room.
- →High-speed train from Rome to Florence (Frecciarossa/Italo, ~1h30m, book in advance from ~£15–30 via Trenitalia or Italotreno)
- →Check in to Florence accommodation
- →Walk to the Duomo (exterior free; book dome climb online from £18)
- →Visit Piazza della Signoria and Loggia dei Lanzi (free)
- →Stroll across Ponte Vecchio (free)
- →Dinner: Fiorentina steak and Tuscan wine at a local trattoria
Florence — Michelangelo, Markets & Renaissance Art
Florence
A full day to go deep into Florence. Choose your focus: join a skip-the-line Accademia Gallery tour to stand in front of Michelangelo's David (book via GetYourGuide ~£30 including entry and guide), or opt for a self-launched walking tour through the Oltrarno neighbourhood's artisan workshops and antique shops. The Uffizi Gallery is also bookable online (~£22 entry). Don't miss the free panoramic view from Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset.
🚌Florence is compact and best explored on foot. City buses (ATAF) available for €1.50/ride if needed.
🛏Same hotel as Day 3.
- →Accademia Gallery with skip-the-line entry (~£22 entry; guided tour via GetYourGuide from ~£30 total)
- →OR: Best of Florence self-launched walking tour (free tour tip-based, or guided walk via GetYourGuide ~£15)
- →Uffizi Gallery (book online ~£22, skip-the-line recommended in peak season)
- →Explore Oltrarno neighbourhood — artisan workshops and antique shops (free)
- →Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo (free, 20-min walk from centre)
Florence to Venice — Arriving on the Lagoon
Venice
After breakfast, board a high-speed train from Florence to Venice Santa Lucia station — stepping off the train into Venice is one of Italy's great travel moments, with the Grand Canal right in front of you. Check in to your accommodation on the main island (Cannaregio or Santa Croce districts offer better value). Spend the afternoon simply getting lost in Venice's maze of alleyways and bridges — no map needed. Visit Doge's Palace before the crowds or book it online. Grab cicchetti (Venetian tapas) and a spritz at a bacaro bar in the evening.
🚌Frecciarossa or Italo train: Firenze SMN → Venezia Santa Lucia, ~2h. Book at trenitalia.com or italotreno.it. Within Venice, walk or use the vaporetto water bus — a 48-hour pass costs ~£18 and is excellent value.
🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse in Cannaregio or Santa Croce — among the most affordable areas on the island. Expect £60–85/night. Alternatively, consider Mestre on the mainland for lower costs (~£40–55) with easy train access.
- →High-speed train from Florence to Venice Santa Lucia (~2h, book from ~£20–35 via trenitalia.com)
- →Check in and get oriented — walk from the station along the Grand Canal
- →Visit Doge's Palace (book online ~£25 via GetYourGuide or veneziaunica.it)
- →Get lost in Venice's alleyways and hidden campi (free)
- →Evening cicchetti and Aperol Spritz at a local bacaro (~£10–15)
Venice — Islands, Gondolas & Grand Piazzas
Venice
Make the most of your vaporetto pass today. Head to Murano island in the morning to watch a live glass-blowing demonstration (free at most factories), then continue to colourful Burano, famous for its lace-making and photogenic candy-coloured houses — the vaporetto ride to both is covered by your pass. Back in Venice, join a walking tour of Piazza San Marco, the Rialto Bridge, and Teatro La Fenice (book via GetYourGuide from ~£15). Treat yourself to a shared gondola ride in the late afternoon — a private gondola costs ~£80 for 30 min, but a traghetto gondola crossing the Grand Canal costs just £2.
🚌Vaporetto lines 41/42 for Murano; line 12 from Fondamente Nove for Burano (~45 min). All covered by the 48hr pass purchased on Day 5.
🛏Same hotel as Day 5.
- →Vaporetto to Murano island (covered by 48hr pass) — watch free glass-blowing demonstration
- →Vaporetto to Burano island — explore colourful streets (free)
- →Guided walking tour: Piazza San Marco, Rialto Bridge, La Fenice & Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo (~£15 via GetYourGuide)
- →San Marco Bell Tower / Campanile (book online ~£10)
- →Gondola ride: private gondola ~£80/boat (seats 6, so split costs with other travellers); OR traghetto gondola crossing for ~£2 per person
Final Morning in Venice — Depart at Your Own Pace
Venice
Enjoy a final morning in Venice before departing. Grab a cornetto and cappuccino at a local bar (avoid sitting down to keep costs low), revisit any favourite spots, and pick up some Murano glass or local souvenirs. Head to Venice Santa Lucia station for your onward train — whether you're heading home or extending your Italy adventure. There's no rush: Venice is endlessly rewarding to wander.
🚌Vaporetto from your hotel area to Santa Lucia station (included in 48hr pass or single ticket ~£2). Trenitalia and Italo operate frequent connections from Venice to major Italian cities and international routes.
🛏Check out. No accommodation needed.
- →Final morning stroll — revisit favourite spots at your own pace
- →Breakfast at a local bar (standing, not seated — much cheaper)
- →Last-minute shopping: Murano glass, local food products
- →Depart from Venice Santa Lucia station (trains to Rome, Milan, or international connections)
Self-launched vs. Meet and Greet Italy
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Meet and Greet Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£720 | £1,340 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £620 per person (46%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Meet and Greet Italy-style trips? Check them out here.~£720
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Rome, Florence & Venice: Self-Launched 7-Day Italian Classic by Train cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £720 per person for 7 days in Italy. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Meet and Greet Italy?+
Yes — Meet and Greet Italy charges around £1,340 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £720 — a saving of roughly £620 (46%) per person.
How long is the Italy trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Italy.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, city-breaks, backpacker trip through Italy, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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