Northern Italy Self-Launched: Venice to Florence via Cinque Terre
7 days · Italy
G Adventures charges £2,200
No-markup version: ~£505 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 7-day National Geographic Journeys trip from Venice to Florence — same route, same highlights (Venice's canals, Murano glassblowing, the Cinque Terre coastal villages and hike, Renaissance Florence) but booked independently. Stay in hostels and budget guesthouses, use Italy's excellent regional trains, join small-group walking tours via GetYourGuide, and do the famous Monterosso–Vernazza coastal hike yourself. Estimated at roughly a third of the guided-tour price.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Venice
Venice
Land in Venice and make your way to your accommodation in Cannaregio or Santa Croce (cheaper, more local, still walkable to everything). Settle in, then head out for an evening passeggiata — no guided walk needed, Venice at twilight is self-explanatory. Wander the quieter sestieri away from San Marco, cross the Rialto Bridge, and grab a spritz and cicchetti at a bacaro. If travelling solo, a hostel in Cannaregio is the easiest place to find dinner companions.
🚌Marco Polo Airport to city: Alilaguna water bus (~£13) or ATVO bus to Piazzale Roma (~£8) then walk/vaporetto
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Cannaregio/Santa Croce (~£30-40/night dorm or budget double)
- →Evening walk through Cannaregio and Rialto
- →Spritz and cicchetti at a local bacaro
- →Optional: pre-book a GetYourGuide Venice food tour (~£60)
Murano glassblowing and Venice exploring
Venice / Murano
Take vaporetto line 12 from Fondamenta Nove to Murano (about 45 min). The island is a working glassmaking hub — visit a fornace to watch master glassblowers at work. Many showrooms offer free short demonstrations; if you want the fuller artisan talk, book a small-group Murano glass tour via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£25-35). Walk the quieter canals of Murano, then return to Venice for the afternoon. Optional: Peggy Guggenheim Collection (~£14), the Accademia, or a gondola ride — shared gondolas are far cheaper than private (~£35-40 per person vs £80+ for a private boat).
🚌Vaporetto line 12 to Murano (single ride ~£8.50, or 24-48h vaporetto pass ~£20-30 which pays off)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Cannaregio/Santa Croce
- →Murano glassblowing demonstration / fornace visit
- →Explore Murano's canals and glass shops
- →Optional: Peggy Guggenheim Collection
- →Optional: shared gondola ride
Venice to Cinque Terre — Monterosso and the coastal hike
Cinque Terre (base: La Spezia or Monterosso)
Train from Venezia Santa Lucia to La Spezia Centrale (regional/Frecciarossa via Bologna, roughly 4-4.5 hrs, ~£30-45 booked in advance on Trenitalia). From La Spezia, hop the Cinque Terre Express train to Monterosso al Mare (~10 min). Explore Monterosso, then do the classic coastal hike to Vernazza (Sentiero Azzurro, ~2 hrs, moderate, requires the Cinque Terre Card ~£7.50-15 depending on season — buy at the station or online). Walking the terraced vineyards between the villages is the highlight of the trip; if the trail is closed, take the train between villages instead.
🚌Trenitalia regional to La Spezia (~£30-45) + Cinque Terre Express train + Cinque Terre Card for trail access
🛏Budget guesthouse/affittacamere in La Spezia or a Cinque Terre hostel/budget room (~£35-55; book early, Cinque Terre rooms are pricey)
- →Monterosso al Mare village walk
- →Monterosso to Vernazza coastal hike (Sentiero Azzurro)
- →Swim at Monterosso or Vernazza beach
Cinque Terre morning and transfer to Florence
Cinque Terre / Florence
Spend the morning exploring more villages on your own — Vernazza, Corniglia (the hilltop one), Manarola and Riomaggiore are all linked by the Cinque Terre Express train and short walking paths. Alternatively take the local bus/boat to Portovenere, a colourful seaside village south of the Cinque Terre. In the afternoon, train to Florence (La Spezia to Firenze Santa Maria Novella, ~2.5 hrs, ~£15-25). Check in, then head out for an evening aperitivo in the Oltrarno or Santo Spirito district — a spritz and a plate of crostini at a local bar costs a fraction of a guided experience. End the night with a walk past the Duomo and Piazza della Signoria lit up.
🚌Cinque Terre Express morning trains + Trenitalia La Spezia to Florence (~£15-25)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel near Santa Maria Novella / San Lorenzo (~£30-45)
- →Explore Vernazza / Manarola / Riomaggiore at your own pace
- →Optional: day trip to Portovenere by boat or bus
- →Evening aperitivo in Oltrarno
- →Night walk to the Duomo and Piazza della Signoria
Florence Renaissance walking tour and San Lorenzo market
Florence
Join a small-group Florence walking tour booked via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£25-40) covering the Duomo (Brunelleschi's dome, over 100 years to build), Piazza della Signoria, and Ponte Vecchio, with the Medici and Renaissance context a local guide brings. Afterwards browse the San Lorenzo Market stalls — fresh produce, pecorino, prosciutto, olive oil, truffle paste — and build your own Tuscan picnic or lunch for a few euros. Optional afternoon: skip-the-line Accademia to see Michelangelo's David (~£16-25) or the Uffizi (~£25-30) — book online in advance, queues are brutal in high season.
🚌Walking (Florence centre is compact and fully walkable)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel near Santa Maria Novella / San Lorenzo
- →Guided Florence Renaissance walking tour (GetYourGuide/Klook)
- →San Lorenzo Market food browsing and Tuscan lunch
- →Optional: Accademia (David) or Uffizi Gallery
Tuscany day trip — Siena and/or Chianti
Florence / Siena
Use Florence as a base for an easy independent day trip. Take the regional train or Rapida bus to Siena (~1.5 hrs, ~£8-10) and explore the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo and the Duomo on foot. Alternatively book a small-group Chianti wine-tasting tour via GetYourGuide (~£50-80 including tastings and transport), or keep it budget by bus-hopping to Greve in Chianti and tasting at a local enoteca directly. Return to Florence for a final evening — a bistecca alla fiorentina to share, or a cheap trattoria plate of ribollita and pappa al pomodoro.
🚌Regional train or Tiemme bus Florence–Siena (~£8-10 each way); or tour transport if doing a Chianti wine day
🛏Hostel or budget hotel near Santa Maria Novella / San Lorenzo
- →Independent day trip to Siena (Piazza del Campo, Duomo)
- →Optional: Chianti small-group wine tasting tour
- →Final Florentine dinner
Florence departure
Florence
Last morning in Florence — grab a cappuccino and cornetto standing at a local bar (it's cheaper at the counter), pick up any last souvenirs at San Lorenzo leather or artisan workshops in Oltrarno, then head to the airport or train station. Florence is a short high-speed train from Rome, Bologna, Milan, or Pisa if you're continuing your trip.
🚌Tram T2 Santa Maria Novella to Peretola Airport (~£1.70, 20 min) or high-speed train onward
🛏—
- →Morning coffee and last wander
- →Oltrarno artisan workshops
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£505 | £2,200 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,695 per person (77%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£505
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Northern Italy Self-Launched: Venice to Florence via Cinque Terre cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £505 per person for 7 days in Italy. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,200 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £505 — a saving of roughly £1,695 (77%) per person.
How long is the Italy trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Italy.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, foodie, hiking trip through Italy, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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