Northern Italy: Milan to Rome

Welcome to Milan, a fast-paced metropolis at the cutting edge of Italy’s design industry, attracting artists, photographers and fashionistas from all across the globe. Upon arrival at the airport, a private Flash Pack transfer will be waiting to take you to your centrally located hotel on one of the city’s elegant streets. Here you’ll meet your fellow travellers and Pack Leader before heading out for a welcome dinner at a typical Milanese restaurant with superb views of the cathedral. Saluti!

For your first full day, there’s an appetising itinerary in store with a culinary tour of the region. Thanks to its fertile plains and abundance of fresh ingredients, Emilia-Romagna has long been considered an agricultural powerhouse and superstar of Italian gastronomy. First up, you’ll travel to Modena, to visit the workshop and cellars where the finest balsamic vinegar is aged. You’ll follow this up with a visit to the artisan cheese factory in Parma to discover the intricate process of crafting vintage Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (with plenty of samples, of course). Tastebuds satisfied, you’ll continue to Bologna for the next part of your adventure. Spend the evening sipping aperitivos with your group in a lively local piazza.

Bologna is world-renowned for its rich food scene and there’s much more to try beyond spaghetti bolognese: think classic lasagna and tagliatelle drenched in ragu (a slow-cooked meat sauce), handmade stuffed pasta like tortellini, and local specialities such as salami and mortadella. Today, you’ll take a cookery class with an esteemed local chef who will share her passion for traditional Italian cuisine as you master tagliatelle and ragu. Together, you’ll prepare fresh pasta dishes from scratch using seasonal local ingredients, washed down with regional wine. Spend the rest of the day enjoying Bologna at leisure. Lose yourself in the lavish porticoed walkways, beautiful historic plazas and storied medieval centre with a mix of Renaissance, Baroque and Gothic architecture.

Leave Bologna behind as you travel to the Renaissance city of Florence, home to an incredible array of artistic treasures – and possibly the world’s best gelati. To help you get your bearings, you’ll start with a walking tour with an expert local guide who will bring the city’s history and culture to life. Admire the landmark Duomo cathedral with its neo-Gothic facade, amble over the medieval Ponte Vecchio bridge packed with goldsmiths and jewellers, and rub the nose of the Fontana del Porcellino – Florence’s wild boar fountain – to ensure you return to the city. After the tour, you’ll be free to explore at leisure and your Pack Leader will have plenty of tips. We recommend taking in the views from Piazzale Michelangelo – particularly atmospheric at sunset.

After breakfast, you’ll be met by an English-speaking chauffeur and travel across the bucolic Tuscan countryside to Siena. You’ll have time to explore this compact Gothic town, with its beautiful central Campo square, before continuing to the stunning hilltop town of San Gimignano. One of Tuscany’s most recognisable sights, the skyline of medieval towers is visible from miles around. From here, you’ll visit the nearby castle of Verrazzano – once home to the explorer who discovered the Bay of New York – for a tour of the centuries-old wine cellars and a tasting of the finest Chianti. Later, you’ll return to Florence for a relaxed evening at your boutique hotel. 

Arrivederci Florence – next you’re onto Rome. Arriving by train, your introduction to Italy’s charismatic capital will be on a Vespa sidecar adventure. Sit back and enjoy this stylish ride as you take in one breathtaking location after another. Navigating the labyrinthine streets, you’ll feel like you’re in a classic movie as you ride past sights including the Roman Forum, Colosseum and even Vatican City. You’ll be dropped off back at your boutique hotel, ideally positioned for setting out on foot. Enjoy an atmospheric evening strolling from one piazza to the next before heading out for a farewell dinner with views to die for on the highest rooftop in the city.

It’s now over to you to make your own way to the airport. Or why not book some additional nights in Rome and really get to know this incredible city? You might also consider extending your adventure with our Southern Italy tour, which will see you journey from Rome to Naples and on to Puglia – one of the country’s most traditional and untouched regions. Our team of travel experts are at your service.