Fountain of Neptune on Piazza Navona, Rome, Italy

Italy Family Adventure

Bike ride in Tuscany, Italy

Italy Family Adventure

A view of Como town in Lake Como, Italy

Italy Family Adventure

Gelato in Italy on a family trip

Italy Family Adventure

A Family-Focused Journey Through Rome, Florence, Venice, and Lake Como

Days: 10 | $9,690/per person (based on a group of 4 people)

  • Enjoy accommodations at best-in-class boutique hotels.
  • Curated tours with outstanding private guides: you’ll have an instant local friend with insider access.

This family-friendly itinerary in Italy brings together the country’s most iconic cities with hands-on experiences designed to keep all ages engaged. Begin in Rome with guided visits to ancient landmarks and interactive activities like gladiator training and street food tastings. Continue to Florence to explore Renaissance highlights and head into the Tuscan countryside for a relaxed bike ride through vineyards and small villages. In Venice, discover the city’s canals and traditions through walking tours, tasty treats, mask-making, and time on the canals. The trip concludes with a stop in Milan and two nights in Lake Como, with outdoor activities such as a hike and a private boat trip on this iconic, sparkling lake.

Gretchen Traut Destination Specialist at Vaya Adventures

Talk to a Vaya Travel Specialist

We tailor itineraries to your dates and interests, adjusting hotels, excursions and length as desired.

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We consistently receive 5 star reviews from our discerning clients.

At a Glance

  • Rome
    3 nights: tour the Colosseum, sample street food, and explore the Eternal City
  • Florence
    2 nights: travel to Tuscany and ride bikes through the countryside
  • Venice
    2 nights: paddle down canals and sample the pastries and chocolates of Venice
  • Lake Como
    2 nights: hike in the hills and cruise on a boat on iconic Lake Como

All itineraries are fully customizable. We will send you a personalized variation that reflects your interests and travel dates at no extra cost. Call to discuss your travel plans with one of our Specialists who know this region firsthand.

5-Star Reviews

Find out why our discerning travelers consistently rate us with 5-stars.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Rome

Welcome to Rome! Upon arrival, you’ll be met at the airport transferred by private vehicle to your hotel. Take some time to settle in and enjoy lunch before heading out for your first introduction to the city.

In the afternoon, explore Rome by golf cart, an easy and enjoyable way to see the highlights without too much walking. With your driver-guide, travel through the historic center and quieter neighborhoods such as the Aventine and Celio hills, areas often missed on foot. Along the way, pass landmarks like the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Barberini, and Piazza Colonna, as well as lesser-known spots including Villa Celimontana, the Church of SS. Giovanni and Paolo, and the Aventine’s orange garden and Knights of Malta square.

Return to the hotel afterward to rest and unwind.

Accommodations: Hotel Palazzo Velabro, 3 nights

Palazzo Velabro is a boutique hotel set in a historic building in the heart of Rome. The property combines contemporary design with its historic setting, featuring modern interiors, curated artwork, and windows in the rooms that frame views of ancient Roman landmarks. Facilities include a restaurant serving Italian cuisine, a bar, a shady terrace overlooking the Fori Imperiali, an in-house cinema, and a gym.

*Includes: Breakfast

Day 2: The Colosseum and the Gladiators of Ancient Rome

Today, step into ancient Rome with a guided visit to the Colosseum and Roman Forum. Walk through the iconic amphitheater as your guide explains its construction and the spectacles that once took place here, then continue into the Forum, the center of political and public life in ancient Rome, where temples, basilicas, and government buildings still stand in ruins.

Later, take part in a hands-on experience at Gladiator School. Begin with a short visit to the museum to learn about the role of gladiators in Roman society, then train with instructors in basic combat techniques using traditional equipment. The session concludes with a certificate marking your time as a “Roman citizen.”

Accommodations: Hotel Palazzo Velabro, 3 nights

*Includes: Breakfast

Day 3: Rome Food Tasting Tour

Enjoy the morning at your leisure to explore Rome on your own. In the afternoon, set out on a private street food tour through the historic center. Walk between landmarks such as the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and Campo de’ Fiori while stopping to sample classic Roman street food favorites. Along the way, learn how street food has long been part of daily life in the city, from simple meals for workers in ancient times to today’s local specialties.

Accommodations: Hotel Palazzo Velabro, 3 nights

*Includes: Breakfast

Day 4: Train to Florence and City Tour

Travel from Rome to Florence by high-speed train, enjoying views of the Italian countryside along the way. Upon arrival, meet your driver for a transfer to your hotel.

In the afternoon, set out on a private guided tour of Florence’s historic center. Visit landmarks such as the Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. The tour also includes entry to the Accademia Gallery, where you’ll see Michelangelo’s David, one of the most celebrated works of the Renaissance.

Accommodations: Hotel Balestri, 2 nights

Hotel Balestri is a historic boutique hotel set along the Arno River in Florence, just steps from the Uffizi Gallery and within easy walking distance of Piazza della Signoria and the Ponte Vecchio. Housed in a 19th-century building, the hotel retains a classic Florentine style with period details and views over the river and city rooftops. Facilities include a rooftop bar and terrace with panoramic views of the Arno and Florence’s landmarks, a breakfast room, and lounge areas that reflect the building’s traditional character.

*Includes: Breakfast

Day 5: Tuscany Bike Ride

Set out on a guided bike tour through the Tuscan countryside just outside Florence. Leave the city behind as you ride along quiet country roads that wind through rolling hills, olive groves, and vineyards. The landscape here is defined by cypress-lined lanes, stone farmhouses, and small villages that reflect the region’s long agricultural tradition.

The route can be adapted to suit your family’s pace, with time to stop and take in the views or pause in a local village along the way. It’s an active and enjoyable way to experience the Florentine countryside before returning to the city for the evening.

Accommodations: Hotel Balestri, 2 nights

*Includes: Breakfast

Day 6: Travel to Venice

After breakfast, check out and transfer to the train station for your high-speed journey from Florence to Venice. Upon arrival, you’ll transfer by water taxi to your hotel.

In the afternoon, join a guided walking tour through Venice’s historic center. Explore the St. Mark’s District, including views of the Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs, then continue toward the Rialto Bridge along the Grand Canal. The tour concludes in St. Mark’s Square with a visit to St. Mark’s Basilica, one of the city’s most important landmarks.

Later, take part in a hands-on rowing experience, learning the traditional Venetian technique of voga alla veneta. It’s a unique way to understand Venice’s connection to its waterways.

Accommodations: Hotel Palazzo Stern, 2 nights

Hotel Palazzo Stern is set in a historic Moorish-style building on the Grand Canal in Venice. The building features original architectural details including Byzantine mosaics, marble columns, and antique furnishings, reflecting its past as a noble residence. The rooms are well-adorned and stately, many with views of the canal. Facilities include a restaurant overlooking the canal, a bar, and a rooftop terrace with a Jacuzzi and sweeping views of the surrounding area.

*Includes: Breakfast

Day 7: Art, Culture, and Sweets of Venice

Today you’ll take part in a private Venetian mask-making workshop, a hands-on introduction to one of the city’s most iconic traditions. Each participant will decorate their own papier-mâché masks using a variety of techniques, guided by skilled artisans. Along the way, learn about the history and cultural significance of Venetian masks. At the end of the session, you’ll take home your finished creations as a unique keepsake.

In the afternoon, indulge your family’s sweet tooth set out on a private sweets tour through Venice. With your guide, visit a selection of local bakeries and artisan shops near the Rialto, sampling pastries, chocolates, and traditional desserts such as tiramisu. It’s a fun and flavorful way to explore the city while learning about its culinary traditions.

Accommodations: Hotel Palazzo Stern, 2 nights

*Includes: Breakfast

Day 8: Tour Milan and Travel to Lake Como

Say goodbye to Venice transfer to the railway station for a high-speed train to Milan. Upon arrival, meet your private driver and head into the city center.

Join your guide for a short walking tour of Milan’s main landmarks. Begin at the Duomo di Milano (exterior), one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world, then continue to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a historic shopping arcade known for its glass dome and elegant atmosphere. From there, visit Piazza della Scala, home to the renowned opera house, and continue to Sforza Castle, where you’ll view the exterior and adjacent Sempione Park.

After the tour, meet your driver and continue on to Lake Como.

Accommodations: Palace Hotel Como, 2 nights

Palace Hotel Como is a historic lakeside property set directly on the shore of Lake Como in the center of Como town, adjacent to the harbor and within walking distance of the cathedral and main piazza. The hotel combines a grand 19th-century building with a more modern wing, and interiors feature classically elegant Italian style with marble, chandeliers, and lake-facing windows. Facilities include a restaurant, a bar, a large well-equipped gym, and a garden cafe and terrace.

*Includes: Breakfast

Day 9: Hike and Boat Trip on Lake Como

Spend the day enjoying the landscapes of Lake Como. Begin with an easy hike in the surrounding hills, offering elevated views over the lake, nearby villages, and the steep mountains that frame the shoreline.

In the afternoon, set out on a private boat tour across the lake. Cruise past historic villas and quiet lakeside towns, with a stop at Villa del Balbianello, known for its terraced gardens and film locations. Continue to Bellagio, set at the meeting point of the lake’s three branches, where you can explore its narrow streets and waterfront before returning to Como.

Accommodations: Palace Hotel Como, 2 nights

*Includes: Breakfast

Day 10: Departure

Say goodbye to Lake Como and head to the airport to catch your departing flight.

*Includes: Breakfast

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