Standard 8 Nights Italy — Self-Launched: Milan to Rome by Train

Land at Milan Malpensa and ride the Malpensa Express train into the city (Cadorna or Centrale, ~£11, 40–50 min). Check into a hostel or budget hotel near Milano Centrale or the Navigli canal district, then orient yourself on foot. Wander the Duomo square and cathedral area, ride a vintage yellow tram, and finish with an aperitivo along the Navigli canals where a spritz plus buffet snacks runs £6–9. No group meeting to attend — the evening is entirely yours.

🚌Malpensa Express train from MXP to Cadorna/Centrale (~£11); walk or use Milan metro single tickets (~£2)

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse near Milano Centrale / Navigli (dorm £22–30, private budget room £45–60)

• →Explore Centrale area and yellow trams
• →Visit Duomo area and cathedral
• →Evening aperitivo along the Navigli canals

Take a regional train from Milano Centrale to Como San Giovanni (~£6, 40 min) and start with a self-guided walk through the old town to the lakefront. Buy a ticket for the Como–Bellagio fast boat (roughly £14–16 return, or £10 day pass on the slower services) and cruise past lakeside villas to Bellagio, one of the prettiest towns on the lake. In summer, linger in Bellagio for lunch and shopping; in cooler months, ride the Como–Brunate funicular (~£5 return) for panoramic views. Return to Milan in the evening on the same regional line.

🚌Regional train Milan–Como (~£6 each way); Lake Como boat Como–Bellagio (~£14–16 return); Como–Brunate funicular (~£5 return)

🛏Same Milan hostel/guesthouse (dorm £22–30, private budget room £45–60)

• →Self-guided walking tour of Como old town
• →Public boat cruise to Bellagio with mountain and villa views
• →Funicular ride to Brunate (cooler months) / free time in Bellagio (summer)

Take a Frecciarossa or Italo high-speed train from Milano Centrale to Venezia Santa Lucia (1h 50m–2h 15m, book early for ~£19–35 one way). Step straight out of the station onto the Grand Canal — the whole city is car-free, so from here it's water buses and footpaths. Check into a hostel or guesthouse in Cannaregio or Santa Croce (cheaper, quieter, still central), then spend the late afternoon and evening getting lost in the backstreet 'calli', crossing bridges, and watching the light change over the canals. Grab a slice of pizza al taglio or a cichetti plate for a cheap dinner.

🚌Frecciarossa/Italo high-speed train Milan–Venice (~£19–35 booked in advance)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Cannaregio / Santa Croce (dorm £26–34, budget double £55–75)

• →Late afternoon and evening exploration of Venice's backstreets and canals
• →Sunset Grand Canal views from a vaporetto or bridge

Buy a vaporetto day pass (~£18) and use the water buses as your sightseeing transport. Ride the full Grand Canal line, then take a self-bookable shared gondola ride (about £25–35 per person on a group gondola, bookable via GetYourGuide or Klook) through the smaller canals. On foot, walk the route between Piazza San Marco and the Rialto Bridge, taking in St Mark's Square and the Rialto market, and pop into Teatro la Fenice (guided entry ~£10). Optional evening food tour around Cannaregio or a self-led cichetti crawl instead.

🚌Vaporetto day pass (~£18); everything else on foot; water bus back to hotel

🛏Same Venice hostel/guesthouse (dorm £26–34, budget double £55–75)

• →Shared gondola ride on the Grand Canal and minor canals
• →Self-guided walk between Piazza San Marco and Rialto Bridge
• →Visit to Teatro la Fenice
• →Optional self-guided Italian food/cichetti tour

High-speed train from Venezia Santa Lucia to Firenze Santa Maria Novella (about 2h 10m, ~£19–35). Your hostel or budget hotel will almost certainly be walkable from the station — check in, then explore the neighbourhood around the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella and Piazza di Santa Maria Novella. Spend the afternoon on a self-led circuit of the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria and the Ponte Vecchio, then treat yourself to a bistecca or a bowl of ribollita and a glass of Chianti in the Oltrarno.

🚌Frecciarossa/Italo high-speed train Venice–Florence (~£19–35 booked in advance)

🛏Hostel or budget hotel near Santa Maria Novella / San Lorenzo (dorm £24–32, budget double £50–70)

• →Explore the area around the hotel and Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
• →Self-guided walk of the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria and Ponte Vecchio
• →Optional rooftop or Oltrarno sunset drink

Do the operator's headline excursion independently. Take a regional train from Florence to Pisa Centrale (~£7, 1h) and walk 20 minutes to the Campo dei Miracoli to see the cathedral, baptistry and Leaning Tower — clubbing the tower climb costs ~£18 and is worth booking ahead. Train back toward Florence, then join a self-bookable small-group Tuscany day tour (GetYourGuide/Klook, ~£70–95) covering San Gimignano's medieval towers and a Chianti winery lunch with wine tasting, finishing with free time in Siena (Piazza del Campo, cathedral, contrade). Alternatively, reach Siena by direct regional train from Florence (~£8) and self-guide the whole day for less.

🚌Regional train Florence–Pisa (~£7) and Pisa–Florence; joined minivan/coach for the Chianti and San Gimignano legs inside a bookable day tour

🛏Same Florence hostel/budget hotel (dorm £24–32, budget double £50–70)

• →Pisa excursion: cathedral, baptistry and monumental cemetery
• →Optional climb of the Leaning Tower of Pisa (~£18)
• →San Gimignano medieval village exploration
• →Tuscan lunch with winery wine tasting in the Chianti Hills
• →Siena: Piazza del Campo, cathedral and free time for coffee and panforte

High-speed train from Firenze Santa Maria Novella to Roma Termini (1h 30m, ~£19–35). Check into a hostel or budget hotel in Monti, Termini or Trastevere. If you've booked a mid-morning departure you can squeeze in an afternoon Vatican visit (self-booked skip-the-line entry to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel is around £35–45, or a guided version from ~£90). Otherwise, spend the evening exploring the lively lanes of Monti or Trastevere for dinner — pasta, pizza and gelato for £15–20.

🚌Frecciarossa/Italo high-speed train Florence–Rome (~£19–35 booked in advance)

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Monti / Termini / Trastevere (dorm £25–35, budget double £55–80)

• →Explore lively areas around the hotel (Monti or Trastevere)
• →Optional self-booked Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel visit

Book a self-guided or guided skip-the-line Colosseum ticket online in advance (combined Colosseum + Roman Forum + Palatine Hill entry from ~£16, or a guided small-group tour from ~£40–55 via GetYourGuide/Klook). Spend the morning inside the Colosseum, then walk the Via Sacra through the Roman Forum past the Arch of Constantine and Arch of Titus, the Basilica of Maxentius, Temple of Romulus and Temple of the Vestals, finishing on Palatine Hill with views over the Circus Maximus. Afternoon free for the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps on foot, then a final Roman dinner.

🚌Rome metro/bus single ticket (~£1.30–1.50, valid 100 minutes) or walk between central sights

🛏Same Rome hostel/budget hotel (dorm £25–35, budget double £55–80)

• →Skip-the-line Colosseum guided tour
• →Arch of Constantine viewing
• →Palatine Hill exploration
• →Roman Forum guided walk along the Via Sacra
• →Self-guided circuit of the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps

Last morning for souvenir shopping or a final espresso and cornetto. If flying from Ciampino, take the Terravision/Schiapatti shuttle bus from Termini (about £6, 40 min) or a train/bus combo via Ciampino station; for Fiumicino, the Leonardo Express runs from Termini every 15 minutes for ~£14. Allow at least three hours before an international departure. Trip ends here — no group transfer to keep to.

🚌Terravision/shuttle bus Termini–Ciampino (~£6) or Leonardo Express Termini–Fiumicino (~£14)

🛏Departure day — no accommodation included

• →Last-minute souvenir shopping around central Rome
• →Espresso and cornetto before heading to the airport