Italy Family Journey: Venice to Rome
Overview
Itinerary
Welcome to Venice–your arrival transfer to the hotel is included. Check in and get excited to meet your fellow travelers during a welcome meeting this evening where all families can bond before the Journey ahead.
If you are interested in taking part in the optional Venice Food Tour, we recommend arriving the day prior to ensure sufficient timing.
- Shuttle: Travel from the airport to your hotel and get ready for an unforgettable journey.
- Welcome Moment - Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group: Your opportunity to meet your National Geographic Expedition Leader and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
- Venice Food Tour: Immerse yourself in Venice’s rich culinary heritage with a guided food tour through Cannaregio and the historic Jewish Ghetto. Savor a progressive meal that embodies authentic Venetian flavors — from the city’s signature spritz to locally produced wines paired with creamy risotto. Enjoy traditional cicchetti such as baccalà mantecato, sarde in saor, and polenta, among other local delights, then raise a glass of crisp prosecco to your journey. As you wander through Venice’s hidden alleyways and canals, uncover the stories, culture, and centuries-old influences that have shaped its unique cuisine. End your culinary adventure with a seasonal sweet finale, a classic tiramisù or artisanal gelato.
Take a walking tour of Venice, discovering winding lanes, marble palaces, and cobblestoned squares aflutter with pigeons. Then visit a glass-blowing workshop to watch a master craftsman at work. We’ll learn about the ancient technique of glass production while watching the creation of a unique piece. Afterwards, opt to hop aboard the city’s preferred mode of transportation: the gondola. This afternoon, try your hand at the centuries-old art of Venetian mask making. Watch how the mask mold is constructed and wrapped with papier-mâché, then use the tools of the trade to create your very own masterpiece.
- Venice Guided Tour: Explore the city's off-the-beaten-path hotspots and hidden gems with your guide who knows all the insider tips. Immerse yourself in the city's vibrant culture and see Venice from a unique perspective. Get ready for a memorable, energetic experience in one of the world's most romantic cities!
- Glass-Blowing Demonstration: Learn about the fascinating art of Venetian glassmaking from skilled local artisans. Watch a master craftsman in his factory as he turns something rather ordinary into an exquisite work of art. Visit the gift shop on your way out to take a piece of Venice home with you.
- Venetian Mask Making For Kids: Dive into the atmosphere of the legendary Venetian Carnival and its traditional papier-mâché masks. What were the most popular masks? How were they made? This is a highly creative activity where kids get to choose their favourite mask shape and then decorate with colourful paints, elegant pearls, bright feathers, and much more!
- Gondola Ride: Sit back and enjoy a different point of view as you glide through the historic canals of Venice on a gondola.
Catch a train to Florence—celebrated as the birthplace of the Renaissance. In Piazza della Repubblica—site of the city’s forum during ancient Roman times—take a spin on an antique wooden carousel, riding atop galloping horses and gilded carriages. Channel your inner inventor with a visit to the Leonardo da Vinci Museum, dedicated to the famed Italian artist and engineer. Explore da Vinci’s creativity and genius as you interact with an astonishing array of machines, brought to life from drawings the artist created hundreds of years ago. Cap off the day with a gelato treat!
Please note that the Leonardo Da Vinci Museum will be closed on Christmas day.
- Train: Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
- Piazza della Repubblica Visit: Join your Expedition Leader for a walk to the Piazza della Repubblica - site of the city's ancient Roman forum - then ride on a unique wooden carousel maintained by the same family for five generations.
- Leonardo Da Vinci Museum Visit: With over 40 working machines recreated from da Vinci's notebooks, interacting is definitely encouraged at this museum - go ahead, spin those wheels, knobs and levers! Discover the genius of his highly engineered bridges, hydraulic machines, and artillery designs. See a life-size "ornithopter" - da Vinci's dream flying machine.
Begin the morning with a walking tour of Florence’s historic center, an enchanting warren of stone lanes bursting with treasures. Later, take part in a hands-on cooking class, where you’ll learn how to make fresh pasta—then enjoy it for dinner!
Please note, same-day access to many museums and galleries in Florence may not be possible due to their popularity. We recommend purchasing tickets as far in advance as possible at their official websites, including ticket.duomomilano.it and uffizi.it/en/tickets.
- Guided Walking Tour of Florence: Head out for a walk through the heart of Florence with your Expedition Leader, passing magnificent structures that truly bring the Italian Renaissance to life. Take a new approach to sightseeing by learning more about the artists behind the monuments than the monuments themselves.
- Free Time: Enjoy some free time to explore this historic city, home to many Renaissance treasures. Please note that free time will run between approximately 11:30 to 18:00.
- Florence Pasta Cooking Class: Take part in the tradition of making fresh pasta in a real Italian kitchen, then enjoy your creations for dinner. Preparing delicious foods with simple ingredients and the right technique - it's a skill you can bring back home!
- Medici Chapels Visit: Admire the opulence of the two Medici Chapels. The Sagrestia Nuova was designed by Michelangelo and built as a mausoleum for the powerful Medici family. (9-32 EUR per person)
- Galleria dell'Accademia Visit: Admire beautiful sculptures by the Renaissance master, Michelangelo, including the famous statue of David, at this beautiful art gallery. Check out rare musical instruments made by Stradivari (who made string instruments) and Bartolomeo Cristofori, the inventor of the piano, at Accademia Gallery's Museum of Musical Instruments.
- Il Duomo di Firenze Visit: This green, pink, and white marbled 13th century basilica is one of Italy’s largest churches and its brick dome is the largest ever constructed. Wander through the cathedral or choose to climb the 463 steps to the top of the dome and be rewarded with extraordinary views of the city!
- Uffizi Gallery Visit: Head to the Uffizi Gallery to see spectacular Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci paintings in person.
Today is free to explore on your own or take part in optional activities. Choose to join an excursion by train to the city of Pisa and see just how far the tower leans. Those spending the day in Florence can visit the city’s enormous, red-tiled cathedral—known as the Duomo—which took more than 140 years to complete; or marvel at Michelangelo’s David in the Accademia Gallery; experience Medici court life at the Palazzo Vecchio; and more.
Please note that if you wish to visit the Galleria dell'Accademia, the Duomo or Medici Chapels, we highly recommend booking admission tickets online, prior to your departure. Many popular attractions in Europe have a timed ticketing system (i.e. morning & afternoon admission) so please keep this in mind while you are deciding on activities for this free day. Without reserved tickets, there is the risk of waiting in long queues - a little planning goes a long way!
- Free Time: There's lots to see and do in this city known as the "cradle of the Renaissance". Enjoy a full day to explore!
- Pisa Excursion: Take the train to Pisa and check out its famous leaning tower. Wander the area and take photos to your heart's content. Opt to enter the Pisa Cathedral, or enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant. (15-20 EUR per person)
- Medici Chapels Admission: Admire the opulence of the two Medici Chapels. The Sagrestia Nuova was designed by Michelangelo and built as a mausoleum for the powerful Medici family. (8-10 EUR per person)
- Galleria dell'Accademia Admission: Admire beautiful sculptures by the Renaissance master, Michelangelo, including the famous statue of David, at this beautiful art gallery. Check out rare musical instruments made by Stradivari (who made string instruments) and Bartolomeo Cristofori, the inventor of the piano, at Accademia Gallery's Museum of Musical Instruments. (9-12 EUR per person)
- Il Duomo di Firenze Admission: This green-pink-white marbled 13th century basilica is one of Italy’s largest churches and its brick dome is the largest ever constructed.
Ride the rails to Rome, home to one of history’s greatest empires. Enjoy an Expedition Leader-led orientation walk of Piazza del Popolo—which features twin churches and a towering obelisk— Then head to a local gladiator school and learn how to become a Roman warrior! Delve into gladiatorial history and examine authentic artifacts including shields, swords, and armour. With the guidance of an instructor, venture into an arena to safely train and fight other new centurions—and feel the thrill of handling your own wooden sword and shield.
- Train: Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
- Spanish Steps: Built to connect the hilltop Trinità dei Monti church with the Piazza di Spagna (or Spanish Square) below, the Spanish Steps are a colourful example of Baroque architecture from 18th century Rome. Opt to climb its 136 steps, or simply watch the crowds weave through this popular tourist attraction.
- Piazza del Popolo Walk: Take a walk in the "peoples square" or Piazza del Popolo. Explore the oval "square" admiring the churches and gaze up at the ancient obelisk. This is a perfect place to people watch!
- Gladiator School Lesson: Go back 2,000 years in time at the Gladiator School of Rome. First, visit the museum to see and touch authentic weapons and gear used by gladiators and Roman legionaries. Then, learn the basic techniques of gladiatorial sword fighting from a skilled instructor and challenge other new centurions, either in the outdoor arena (weather permitting) or indoors, using play-safe materials.
Step inside the ancient Colosseum, where gladiatorial contests took place before cheering crowds and fierce animals were once set loose. Later, join an optional walk to St. Peter’s Square or choose to visit the Vatican or the Roman Forum. This evening, gather for a festive pizza dinner to celebrate our Italian adventure.
Please note if you would like to visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, you must purchase tickets as far in advance as possible. Please use the official website: tickets.museivaticani.va. In addition, please be aware that the timing of your Colosseum experience may vary throughout the day depending on seasonality and ticket availability.
- Colosseum Visit: Enjoy a guided tour of this famous spot, the scene of many bloody gladiator fights for the entertainment of ancient Rome's aristocracy. Learn from your expert guide and you wander the old venue—a UNESCO World Heritage site—and feel free to walk around on your own. No battles, please!
- Roman Forum Visit: Even with the bustle of modern day Rome whizzing past on Vespas, you can still lose yourself in the fragmented columns and ancient ruins of this plaza, conjuring images of the rich Romans sauntering by in togas. Please note, this must be booked in combination with the Colosseum Visit and will include a visit to Palatine Hill.
- Vatican Museum Visit: The Vatican Museums near St Peter's Basilica contain priceless works of art from ancient to modern times. There are many different museums to choose from, but two of the most well known are the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael rooms. (20-25 EUR per person)
- St. Peter's Square Walk: With your Expedition Leader, explore St. Peter's Square, located in Vatican City. Created in the 17th century by Bernini, the square has an elliptic shape, surrounded on two sides by colonnades before St. Peter's Basilica. Statues sit atop the colonnades. At the center of the ellipse stands an Egyptian obelisk that was transported from Egypt to Rome during the reign of Emperor Augustus. (3-5 EUR per person)
Depart at any time.
Trip Inclusions
- Explore Venice’s mazelike canals.
- Create your own Venetian mask.
- Experience the genius of Leonardo da Vinci at a museum dedicated to his fantastic inventions.
- Follow in the footsteps of gladiators at the Roman Colosseum.
- Learn to make pasta from scratch at a cooking class in Florence.
- Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group
- Your Family Journeys Moment: Venetian Mask Making For Kids, Venice
- Your Foodie Moment: Florence Pasta Cooking Class, Florence
- Your Discover Moment: Florence
- Your Family Journeys Moment: Gladiator School Lesson, Rome
- Arrival transfer
- Guided Venice city tour and glass blowing demonstration
- Leonardo Da Vinci museum
- Walking tour of Florence
- Visit Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo
- Entrance to Colosseum
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
- Train, boat, taxi, metro, walking
- 2 National Geographic Expedition Leaders throughout, local guides
- Hotels (7 Nights)
- Rooming is based on double occupancy (2 passengers / 2 beds per room); all other room configurations are on request and cannot be guaranteed. We will try to accommodate triples/quad requests whenever possible and it's important to note that rooming configuration can change from city to city and 2 single beds are the standard configuration in a room.
- Please remember that hotel/lodge standards can be different from what you are used to in your home country, which is part of the appeal of adventure travel.
- It is important to note that accommodations in Europe tend to be quite different to other areas of the world you may have travelled in. Buildings and rooms are generally old and may not have been renovated or maintained to the highest standard. Downtown hotels in Europe were not built to be hotels but houses of the rich, which have been changed into hotels. Therefore unusual or samll room sizes are common as large rooms have been partitioned in the past, resulting in rather "thin" walls. Reception areas, rooms and bathrooms tend to be very small as they were often added into an existing room, and may have a hand nozzle rather than a conventional shower head.
- On this trip you can expect to stay in hotels which will vary a little in standard and facilities: some may not have elevators, air-conditioning or English-speaking staff, but have traditional character, and are in central locations to give you maximum time for exploring the sights. You can expect to find clean, safe, simple accommodation in convenient locations. Staff can occasionally demonstrate less than perfect customer service, but a smile and a thank you can go a long way.
- 7 breakfasts, 2 dinners
- Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included.
Operator
On all of our tours, you get to know locals every step of the way, from the places you visit and stay to where you eat and drink. You’ll also get to experience our ‘G for Good’ social impact initiatives on-trip, including our industry-leading ‘Ripple Score’. This score measures, as a percentage, the amount of money that stays in the local community through on-trip services like accommodation, restaurants and transport.
Designed for families with children aged seven and up, these enriching adventures combine exploration, education, and fun in equal measure. With two expert Chief Experience Officers leading the way, each trip blends hands-on activities, local discovery, and free time to relax and connect.
Inspired by National Geographic’s legacy, every itinerary includes interactive experiences rooted in culture, wildlife, storytelling, and science.
Dates & Pricing
AUD
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Enquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by G Adventures. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
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