Journeys: Northern Italy, Venice to Florence

Introduction

Connect with stunning landscapes, rich Italian heritage and delicious food on this 7-day journey through northern Italy. Experience the iconic canals and historic architecture of Venice and soak in the picturesque beauty of the coastal villages of Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera. Visit the birthplace of the Renaissance–Florence, a city steeped in art and art history.

• Gaze in awe at Renaissance treasures in the stunning cities of iconic Venice and Florence
• Witness traditional glass blowing in Murano as local artisans showcase this historic art form
• Take in the mesmerizing beauty of the Cinque Terre
• An iconic site on the Italian Riviera’s coastline
• Savor the flavors and aromas of delicious local foods on a tour of Florence’s local markets then marvel at the panoramic views from Piazzale Michelangelo

Duration: 7 days

Start/Finish City: Venice to Florence

Service Level: Upgraded

Quality accommodations and more inclusions than on other G Adventures tours, like meals, private transport, and activities.

Physical Grading: 3 - Average

Some tours may include light hiking, biking, rafting, or kayaking in addition to walking.

Travel Style: National Geographic Journeys

Greater exploration, insider access, and the freedom to roam – all without sacrificing comfort.

Trip Type: Small Group

Small group experience; Max 16, Avg 12.

What's Included

Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Murano Island Glass Blowing Experience with a Local Expert, Venice
Your Foodie Moment: Florence Market and Food Tour, Florence
Your Discover Moment: Florence. Evening orientation walk in Venice including vaporetto water taxis. Hike from village-to-village in Cinque Terre or explore by train. Orientation walk of Florence and aperitivo dinner experience. Guided walking tour of Florence. Evening walk to Piazzale Michaelangelo. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

What are the main highlights of this trip?

Gaze in awe at Renaissance treasures in the stunning cities of iconic Venice and Florence, Witness traditional glass blowing in Murano as local artisans showcase this historic art form, Take in the mesmerizing beauty of the Cinque Terre, an iconic site on the Italian Riviera’s coastline, Savor the flavors and aromas of delicious local foods on a tour of Florence’s local markets then marvel at the panoramic views from Piazzale Michelangelo.

How large will the group be?

Max 16, Avg 12.

Meals Included

6 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner

Transport

Train, private minivan/bus, boat, walking.

Accommodation

Hotels – 6 nts.

My Own Room

Please note that if you have booked the "My Own Room" option for this tour, you will receive your own single room for all night stops

Joining Instructions

For details of your joining hotel please refer to your tour voucher, G Account, the G Adventures App or contact your travel agent.

From Venice airport (VCE), you can reach the city centre in a few ways. You can take a direct bus, either ‘ATVO Airport Shuttle’ or the ‘ACTV Airport Line’. Alternatively, you can take a boat (Alilaguna Lines) or a private water taxi.

To arrange an arrival or departure transfer, we recommend you book through our preferred transfer provider - HolidayTaxis

We advise that you book both your arrival and departure transfers in advance. Please make sure you have the following details before booking:

- Flight number
- Flight Arrival Time and Date
- Flight Departure Time and Date
- Passenger's Name
- Number of Passengers
- Email
- Valid Mobile Telephone Number
- Drop off and/or Pick Up Address

Please note that day 1 is an arrival day and no activities have been planned on this day.

Upon arrival to your Joining Hotel (note that check-in time will be in the afternoon), look for a note or bulletin board in the reception with a note from your CEO. This note will give the details of your Welcome Meeting on day 1 (usually between 5pm and 7pm), where you will get a chance to meet your CEO and other travellers, as well as learn more about how the tour will run. If you don’t see a note, please ask reception for details!

If you are arriving later and will miss the Welcome Meeting, your CEO will leave a note at reception for you with any information you may need, and with morning instructions for the next day.

Emergency Contact

Should you need to contact us during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call either the G Adventures Local Representative (if one is listed below) or our G Adventures Local Office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible.

EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS

G Adventures Office London, United Kingdom
During Office hours (Weekdays, 9am-5:30pm Local Time)
+44 20 7243 9870

For absolute emergencies after office hours please contact: +441858378000

If you are unable for any reason to contact our local office, please call the numbers listed below which will connect you directly with our Sales team who will happily assist you. Hours of operation by region can be found here.

Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100
Calls from UK: 0344 272 0000
Calls from Germany: 0800 365 1000
Calls from Australia: 1300 796 618
Calls from New Zealand: 0800 333 307
Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999

Packing List

Conservative Dress:
• Modest clothing that covers knees and shoulders (Long pants, long skirts, shirts that cover shoulders)
• Shawl or scarf (for temple visits)

Documents:
• Flight info (required) (Printouts of e-tickets may be required at the border)
• Insurance info (required) (With photocopies)
• Passport (required) (With photocopies)
• Vouchers and pre-departure information (required)
• Visas or vaccination certificates (With photocopies)

Essentials:
• Toiletries (required) (Shampoo, bodywash, soap, etc.)
• Binoculars (optional)
• Camera (With extra memory cards and batteries)
• Cash, credit and debit cards
• Day pack (Used for daily excursions or short overnights)
• Ear plugs
• First-aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, whistle, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, bandaids/plasters, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, water purification tablets or drops, insect repellent, sewing kit, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)
• Flashlight/torch (Headlamps are ideal)
• Fleece top/sweater
• Footwear
• Hat
• Locks for bags
• Long pants/jeans
• Moneybelt
• Outlet adapter
• Personal entertainment (Reading and writing materials, cards, music player, etc.)
• Reusable water bottle
• Shirts/t-shirts
• Sleepwear
• Small travel towel
• Sunglasses
• Swimwear
• Watch and alarm clock
• Waterproof backpack cover
• Windproof rain jacket

Health & Safety:
• Face masks (Clients will be only be required to wear a face mask where it is mandated by local regulations.)
• Hand sanitizer
• Pen (Please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)

Light Hiking:
• Hiking boots
• Hiking pants (Convertible/Zip-off and quick dry recommended)
• Walking poles

Smart Dress:
• Smart outfit (For evenings out)

Warm Weather:
• Sandals/flip-flops
• Shorts/skirts (Longer shorts/skirts are recommended)
• Sturdy water shoes/sandals
• Sun hat/bandana
• Swimwear

Visas and Entry Requirements

All countries require a valid passport (with a minimum 6 months validity). Contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent. It is your own responsibility to have the correct travel documentation. Visa requirements for your trip will vary depending on where you are from and where you are going. We keep the following information up to date as far as possible, but rules do change and sometimes without warning. While we provide the following information in good faith, it is vital that you check the information yourself and understand that you are fully responsible for your own visa requirements.

Visa information specific to your destination and nationality can be found in our Important Pre-Departure Information page here

For other nationalities, travelling in Europe has been simplified with the introduction of the Schengen visa. As a visitor to the Schengen area (Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Portugal, Finland, Italy, Spain, France, Luxembourg, Sweden, Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland) you will enjoy the many advantages of this unified visa system. Generally speaking with a Schengen visa, you may enter one Schengen country and travel freely throughout the Schengen region during the validity of your visa. There are limited border controls at Schengen borders, if any at all.

Please note that the UK and Ireland are NOT part of the Schengen agreement.

A Schengen visa is applied for at the Embassy or Consulate of the Schengen country in which you will be spending the most nights on your trip to the Schengen space. If you are only visiting one country on your trip then you apply for your visa at the Consulate of this Schengen country.

VENICE ACCESS FEE:
On April 25th 2024, Venice introduced a new tourist entry requirement. Travellers who are only visiting Venice for the day are charged a tourist fee imposed by the city.
We kindly request that you visit the Venice Access Fee Homepage to complete the form prior to travel. Completing this form stating you are staying overnight will exempt you from this fee. Please check the specific dates on the link above - if your departure is affected, please follow the steps below:

- If your tour STARTS in Venice (this includes arriving into Venice prior to tour start date) you will need to complete this form prior to arrival.
- If your tour TRAVELS THROUGH Venice, your CEO will assist with this requirement on tour.
- If your tour FINISHES in Venice (this includes staying in Venice after the tour finish date), your CEO will assist with this requirement on tour.

- Once you have clicked on the above link, you will find a specified announcement with the concerned dates. Double-check if your stay in Venice happens to fall into one of these dates.
- Click on Exemptions.
- Choose "I am a guest of an accommodation facility located in the municipality of Venice".
- Continue to Request Exemption.
- Put the start and end date of your Venice stay.
- Fill all the requested information of the "Main Holder" - (which is you!). Read the privacy policy before going to the next step.
- Fill the Main Holders personal data (Name - Surname - Place of Birth - Date of Birth) as per passport.
- Enter your contact number.
- Double-check the data summary before confirming it and going into the next step.
- You will now have to make a toll-free call to the number displayed on the screen, using the same phone number you filled beforehand. The call does not require a response.
- Once you have successfully verified the telephone number, you can now download your voucher containing a specific QR code.

As of 2025, various European countries are introducing ETIAS travel authorisation as an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals.
We highly recommend you checking in advance how your nationality and country/s you are visiting may be affected. Further details can be found here

Last updated: January 27th 2025

Tipping

While conventions can vary from country to country, tipping is customary in Europe. A general rule is 10% of the bill for wait staff, and a smaller amount (€1 or €2) for other service providers.

Tipping is an expected - though not compulsory - component of your tour program, and an expression of satisfaction with the persons who have assisted you on your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. There are several times during the trip where there is opportunity to tip the local guides. You may do this individually, or your CEO will offer to collect the money and tip as a group. Recommendations for tipping local guides would range from €3-5 per day, depending on the quality and length of the service; ask your CEO for specific recommendations based on the circumstances and culture.

At the end of each trip, if you felt your G Adventures CEO did an outstanding job, tipping is expected and appreciated. The precise amount is a personal preference, however €30-€40 per person, per week can be used as a guideline.

Optional Activities

Venice
- Venice Food Tour
- Campanile San Marco Lookout (8EUR per person)
- Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale) Visit (17EUR per person)
- Gondola Ride (80EUR per group)
- Guggenheim Museum Visit (15EUR per person)

Piazza San Marco
- Saint Mark's Square and Basilica Visit (Free)

Portovenere
- Visit Portovenere

Gallerie dell'Accademia
- Galleria dell'Accademia Visit (20EUR per person)

Florence
- Uffizi Gallery Visit (25EUR per person)
- Pitti Palace - Palatine Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (17.75EUR per person)
- Medici Chapels Visit (9-32EUR per person)

Minimum Age

You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.

International Flights

Check-in times and baggage allowances/restrictions vary by airline and can change at any time. For the most up-to-date information for your flight, please contact your airline. We recommend checking in online in advance to avoid potential delays at the airport.

LGBTQ+ Safety

The safety and well-being of all of our travelers is a priority at G Adventures and that includes our travelers who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. We recognize that there are specific concerns and questions you may have about your adventure in terms of safety and security. We encourage you to visit our LGBTQ+ page for useful resources to ensure you feel safe and comfortable throughout the duration of your trip. The Equaldex tool linked on this page can be of particular help when deciding where you may want to visit next.