Italy

Italy is almost synonymous with incredible food and wine, from the wines from the vines of Chianti to the fresh seafood on the many miles of coastline, and of course the countless varieties of fresh handmade pasta, olive oil, and aged cheese. 

That’s why this tour in particular has a heavy focus on food, wine, and culture, with many included meals, cooking classes, local farm visits (where you’ll help harvest crops and collect chicken eggs), and wine tastings. While this tour includes many of Italy’s iconic highlights, it will also take you to off-the-beaten-path destinations and introduce you to amazing people along the way.

Our local connections and deep experience in the region will help you get beyond the crowds to have a memorable Italian experience that goes beyond the surface. You’ll feast on the best food, tour famous museums, explore local neighborhoods, and share meals with our local friends as they talk about the history and life of the region.

If you’re the kind of traveler who wants a deeper, more authentic travel experience, then this tour is for you.

Tour Itinerary

Welcome to day one in the beautiful city of Rome! Depending on the time of your arrival, you’ll have the day to explore on your own. In the evening, we’ll have an orientation meeting followed by an included welcome dinner where you can get to know your fellow travelers and get your first taste of pasta the Italian way!

Included meals: Dinner

Today, we’ll embark on a historical full-day walking tour of Rome, where you’ll learn about the city’s long and fascinating history. You’ll get to make a wish at the famous Trevi Fountain, visit the legendary Colosseum, step into the Vatican City to explore the St. Peter’s Basilica and the awe-inspiring Sistine Chapel, and soak in many of the other important sights that Rome has to offer.

As the evening approaches, our guide will be able to arrange an optional group dinner for those who are interested.

Included meals: Breakfast

We’ll head up to Florence, taking a short high-speed train in the late morning.

That afternoon, we’ll all come together to learn how to cook (and eat) Italian food like a pro! A lively cooking class with a professional chef will make us feel like true Italians as we make pasta from scratch, a seasonal appetizer, and a tiramisu! We’ll all get to sit and eat the meal we created together. Afterwards, you can join us for a panoramic view of the city at Piazzale Michelangelo.

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today, you have time to explore the many museums and attractions of Florence. You’ll have a guided tour of the Duomo, and a visit to Michelangelo’s most famous work of art, the David sculpture (it’s much bigger in person than you’d imagine!). For lunch, you’ll eat a picnic lunch in Boboli Gardens, an important historical park designed by Medici centuries ago. It’s more like an open air museum with sculptures, fountains, caves and grottoes for you to wander around.

After our picnic, you’ll enjoy a wine and olive oil tasting together before you have the night to yourself to explore the many great restaurants Florence has to offer.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today is a really special day in the Tuscan countryside. We leave Florence in small private vans and visit the beautiful towns of Chianti, Siena, and San Gimignano. We’ll wander historic piazzas, learn about the history of each city, walk through the charming streets, and check out some viewpoints. The most unique part of the day is when we do a wine tasting and lunch in Chianti at a local winemaker’s small home. The last group even got to hang out with their 17-day-old puppy. What could be better than delicious handmade food, wine, and adorable animals? It’ll surely be a day to remember, and we’ll return to Florence in time for dinner. 

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today, you’ll have an absolutely amazing tour, where we’ll take you to a countryside farm about 30-minutes outside of Florence. Here, you will have the option to help the owner harvest seasonal vegetables and collect eggs from the chicken coop for lunch! The group will also have enough free time to take a self-guided light hike through the woods, ride a horse or connect with the Italian farmers while they cook lunch for the group. You’ll get back to Florence in the early evening and have the rest of the night to yourself.  

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today, you have the choice to stay in Florence or joining the optional train trip to the quaint town of Pisa for an extra fee. If you choose Pisa, you’ll be able to take photos with the famous leaning tower and tour the historical buildings nearby. You can also explore the town which has far fewer tourists than the big Italian cities and can have lunch at a local restaurant before heading back to Florence.

If you’d like to stay back and explore Florence at your own pace, you can do that as well.

Included meals: Breakfast

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll take a mid-morning train back to Rome, where we’ll spend our final day exploring the Eternal City. You’ll have time to explore on your own, pick up some last-minute souvenirs, and visit anything that you didn’t get to see at the start of the tour. In the evening, we’ll have our final dinner together as a group, where we often reminisce about our favorite parts of the trip and what we’ve learned about our group mates.

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today, we sadly say goodbye after breakfast. Our guide will be around in the morning if you need any information or help with extended exploring or onward travel.

Included meals: Breakfast

Book A Tour

Italy

October 16

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October 24, 2023

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$2,795
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Tour Essentials

Accommodation

Hotels you’ll stay in are all mid-range and comfortable. If you book a twin share room and are traveling solo, you’ll be paired with someone of the same gender.

Transport

During the trip, we’ll travel via public bus, train, and a private van through the countryside.

Meals

Daily breakfast, two lunches, and three dinners are included in the cost of this tour. Alcohol is not included and can be purchased at your own expense.

Sustainability

We aim to offer as sustainable an experience as we can. The tap water is safe to drink so we encourage you to bring a water bottle. Trash is recycled whenever possible. We avoid mass tourism activities that cause harm to the environment and/or do not benefit local communities.

Small Groups

This tour will have 10-15 travelers on it so we can provide a great small group tour experience. This way, you’ll be able to enjoy unique, rewarding activities that would not be accessible with more people.

Expert guides

You will be led by an expert tour leader who will always be around to provide extra information, create spontaneous experiences, join the group for all of activities and meals and ensure that the trip is as informative, fun and memorable as possible! You will also have excellent licensed, local guides for walking tours, activities and excursions.

What’s Included

What’s Included

  • Accommodation
  • Transportation, including driver
  • All activities and entrance fees listed
  • All included meals listed above
  • Local tour guides during activities
  • Expert tour leader

What’s Not Included

  • Flights to/from your destination
  • Passport/visa fees
  • Airport taxes
  • Meals and activities not listed
  • Travel insurance (required)
  • Optional activities not listed

Reviews

“I love The Nomadic Network tours because they are off the beaten path, tend to attract all ages of free spirited, fun, and adventurous people. I met a lot of solo travelers which was inspiring.”

– Dave, Oaxaca 2022

“The Nomadic Network’s group tours provide the perfect balance of personalization and flexibility. The itineraries capture the highlights you crave, yet allows you to stray if your heart desires.”

– Brandon, Romania 2022

“Morocco with TNN was a trip of a lifetime for me! While we saw the big sights, we also visited some hidden gems and got to connect with locals in a way I never imagined. The itinerary was carefully thought out to make our experience exceptional.”

– Heather, Morocco 2022

“I liked the tour because we experienced new things every day. I embraced the new and the unexpected, and enjoyed getting to know 11 new people! Awe inspiring places, warm and welcoming people, appreciation and flexibility.”

– Janet, Jordan 2022

“This TNN tour exceeded my expectations in a lot of ways. The group felt united in our desire to discover new places and things. Add in the convenience that I had to make no plans of my own, it’s an awesome way to travel.”

– Brady, Morocco 2022

“The perfect blend of structured activities and free time. We hit several highlights of the country as well as many under the radar places, all with memorable interactions with locals.”

– Kelly, Romania 2022

FAQ

Please note that we do not offer visa assistance. While most travelers will not need a visa to Costa Rica for stays of 90 days or less, it is your responsibility to determine what entry requirements might be necessary based on your nationality. You will also need to have either a return ticket or proof of onward travel to show upon entry.

You should fly into and out of Rome.

  • On the first day, our orientation meeting generally takes place in the early evening, around 5:30pm. It’s best to arrive by the afternoon so you have enough time to get settled in before we meet up. 
  • On the last day, you can depart at any time. We’ll have breakfast available for you and the rest of the day is yours to explore in Rome.

No. Before the start of the tour, we’ll send you specific information on how to get to the hotel via public transportation, taxi, or Uber. However, if you’d like a private transfer, we can book them for you for an added fee.

During our tours in Italy, the weather is generally mild and pleasant. In the spring, temperatures range from around 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 21 degrees Celsius) with occasional rain showers and sunny days. In the fall, the temperatures trend a bit warmer, ranging from around 60 to 70° F (15 to 21° C). It also can be a bit rainier and have cool evenings.

We will send you a packing list ahead of time to help you prepare.

As a woman, there is nothing out of the ordinary to be concerned about when traveling to Italy. Practice the same precautions you would when traveling elsewhere.

Italy uses standard European plug outlets (Plug Types “C” and “E”), so if you’re coming from the US or Canada, you will need a plug adapter. You can easily find cheap ones online, so we’d suggest shopping around.

As for electricity, most mobile phones, laptops, and other devices can handle all types of voltage when charging. The standard voltage in Europe is 220v/50Hz. Check your chargers to see if they say 110 – 220V. If that range is listed on the charger, you will not have any problems charging your device while on the tour.

All of our hotels on this tour will have free WiFi. Many bars, restaurants, and cafes also offer free WiFi, so it’ll be easy to stay connected.

You can also activate the international plan from your network at home, purchase a local SIM card upon arrival, or purchase an e-sim online. All of these options will ensure you have a good connection throughout the tour.

In Rome, you’ll start your Italian experience with an authentic stay at this unique convent-turned-hotel. With a location just outside the busy city center, but only 15 minutes from the impressive Colosseum, this hotel offers clean and comfortable accommodation. When you return to Rome, you’ll stay at a hotel with nice comfortable rooms that’s only a couple minutes walk from the train station.

In Florence, you’ll stay at a great location only minutes walk from the heart of Florence’s magical sights, this ideal hotel has well-furnished rooms and a great buffet breakfast.

Twin share rooms:

  • If you are traveling solo, you’ll be paired with someone of the same gender in a room with two single beds.
  • If you book two spots, you’ll get the entire room for you and your travel partner. 

Private rooms:

If you’d like to get your own private room, you can add that option at checkout for $250 USD. There are a maximum of 8 single rooms available. Private rooms run on a first come, first served basis.

This tour requires a certain level of physical activity. Please note that the trip can involve somewhat long days, journeys by van (with stops), and walking tours. While there is no strenuous hiking involved on this tour, you should be prepared to be on your feet a lot.

Daily breakfast, 2 lunches, and 3 dinners included.All dietary restrictions can be accommodated with prior notice. Besides wine tastings, alcohol is not included.

Yes. The tap water in Italy is safe to drink. We recommend bringing a reusable water bottle to carry with you.

You should budget an average of $40-50 USD per day for all your extra needs. This would include meals that are not included in the tour, basic purchases (laundry service, bottled water, etc.) as well as activities you do on your own.

Yes, you will be able to withdraw cash. We recommend using ATMs which are available in cities and will dispense local currency. However, please check with your home bank as many banks charge foreign transaction fees every time you withdraw money from an ATM overseas. Learn how to avoid paying extra fees here.

If using an ATM machine is not an option, the second-best method is to simply bring US dollars or Euros in cash that you can exchange at money exchange booths or banks located all over the country. We always recommend carrying a good international travel credit card that doesn’t have any fees, since these are widely accepted as a form of payment.

Tips are included in our tour costs. Everything that we do together will already be accounted for, so you do not have to worry about tipping wait staff, daily tour guides, or others we interact with. The only exception is our local guide who will be with you the entire trip. At the end of the trip, we recommend that everyone gives about $50-75 USD as a tip. If you’d like to do so, please ask your tour leader if they prefer Euros, USD, or Paypal/Venmo if applicable.

Find our general FAQ here to get any of your other questions answered.

Book A Tour

Italy

October 16

–

October 24, 2023

from

$2,795
Book now

Book with confidence. Your deposit is 100% refundable for 30 days after your booking is made, as long as it’s 60 days prior to departure, so you don’t lose out in case your plans change.