Florence, Cinque Terre & Rome by Rail

Have you ever considered booking a self-guided tour but felt anxious about the amount of walking involved? Want to spend time experiencing a destination rather than just rushing through it? Then one of our Italian Discovery tours is the holiday for you.

We have created several different itineraries to give you the choice of spending more or less time in each place, and we can also add extra nights in for you if you still want more time to soak up the atmosphere.

With our Macs Adventure app, you have all the information you need in the palm of your hand including walking routes to take in the city highlights, restaurant suggestions, and attraction information.

The best part of these tours is that you’re the boss, there’s no group to contend with or guide hurrying you from place to place. You can choose where to linger longer or take a detour for a cappuccino or a cheeky afternoon glass of wine.

All the walks are optional, so with no point-to-point walking included, you can simply pick what you fancy doing and what you don’t.

We have included your rail tickets so all you need to do is turn up at the station with your bag and step on board to travel effortlessly from place to place. And best of all, this avoids the notorious Italian traffic and the dreaded overcrowded bus tours.

We haven’t included any attraction entrances on our Italian Discovery tours, as we know everyone is different and there are so many wonderful things to see in each place, so we wanted to give you the freedom to cherry-pick what’s right for you.

There isn’t a luggage transfer included on this trip, but that’s why we’ve picked accommodation that is only a short stroll from the rail station. We recommend taking a compact roller case with you, so you can easily stow it on the train, and then drop it off at your accommodation before setting off on your discoveries.

After all that exploring you can head back to your comfy air-conditioned bedroom to relax.

This tour is graded as easy to moderate, as the walks are a combination of easy city-based walks and moderate coastal walking. The walks are an average of 9 km/6 mi in length. If this still feels too long for you, then no problem, you can decide to cut a city walk short and head to a pizzeria for a long lunch or skip the walk entirely and just head for whatever attractions appeal to you the most.

The great thing about walking in the Cinque Terre is that it’s very flexible and easy to get around. With your included rail card, you can hop on and off the frequent trains as you please. So, if you don’t feel like walking then hop on a train instead.

All the walks are very easy to navigate by using our app.

The rolling and rocky Cinque Terre coastline is stunning, but as you’d probably expect the walks along the coast do therefore include elevation gains and losses which can be hard on your knees and are especially tiring on hot sunny days. The terrain is rocky underfoot, so you’ll need walking boots with good grip and ankle support. The traditional paths between the villages often include sections of stone steps on these ascents and descents, which add to the challenge. We strongly recommend taking walking poles and perhaps knee supports if needed. It’s best ahead of time to do some practice walks including stairs and ascents and descents like those you will experience on the trip whilst carrying your day bag. You’ll need to take plenty of water and snacks with you to keep your energy levels up.

There are sections of the walks along cliff edge paths, some of which are unfenced and only wide enough to walk along in single file. This trip may therefore not be ideal for those with a fear of heights or vertigo sufferers.

Discovery | Think of it as a ‘local’s guide’ to the best of the region. It includes a combination of activity and transportation to give you the freedom to explore and cover more ground at your own pace. We do all the research and organisation for you. All you have to do is turn up and enjoy!

Rail and Hike | Perfectly planned itineraries discovering the best of a destination both by train and on foot.

Solo Travellers, Families with Teens

As a guide, we would suggest that the minimum age of traveler this tour would be suitable for is: 5 Years

This tour is graded as easy to moderate, as the walks are a combination of easy city-based walks and moderate coastal walking. The walks are an average of 9 km/6 mi in length, but all walks can be skipped and/or shortened.

The rolling and rocky Cinque Terre coastline is stunning, but as you’d probably expect the walks along the coast do therefore include elevation gains and losses which can be hard on your knees and are especially tiring on hot sunny days. The traditional paths between the villages often include sections of stone steps on these ascents and descents, which add to the challenge.  

There are sections of the walks along cliff edge paths, some of which are unfenced and only wide enough to walk along in single file. This trip may therefore not be ideal for those with a fear of heights or vertigo sufferers.

The terrain is rocky underfoot, so you’ll need walking boots with good grip and ankle support. We strongly recommend taking walking poles and perhaps knee supports if needed.

It’s best ahead of time to do some practice walks including stairs and ascents and descents like those you will experience on the trip whilst carrying your day bag. You’ll need to take plenty of water and snacks with you to keep your energy levels up.

Includes accommodation in a mixture of small hotels, guest houses, and B&B’s. We hand-pick the accommodation to ensure you enjoy every minute of your stay. A warm welcome, traditional hospitality, and delicious local food and drink come as standard. Also, as this tour travels by rail and we don’t want you having to wheel your luggage all around the city, our accommodation is conveniently located just a short stroll from the railway station. So, you can easily drop your bag off and begin your explorations.

Details of the accommodation we normally use are detailed below. These are subject to availability, and early booking is highly recommended, as this is a popular area.

We book en suite and air-conditioned rooms as standard. If there are no en suite rooms available in an overnight location, we may book a room with shared facilities, but we'll always let you know first if this was the case.

Alternative Accommodation

We'll always try and use the hotels’ shown in the accommodation information. Occasionally, because of limited availability, we may have to accommodate you in alternative hotels which aren’t listed in the description. The alternative accommodation will be of the same or better standard than those described. In case alternative accommodation needs to be booked, supplements may be payable, and we’ll advise you accordingly. If we need to accommodate you a lot further away from the railway station, then we’ll be able to arrange a transfer to take you and your luggage from the train station to your hotel.

Single Rooms & Solo Walkers

This self-guided trip is available to solo walkers for a supplement and is subject to availability. If you require single rooms within your party, we'd be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable. The single and solo room supplements on this tour are higher than normal because the hotels charge the same price for a double for sole occupancy as they do for when two people are sharing the room (and then of course the costs is split between them).

Meals

Breakfast is included each morning. In Italy, this is generally a light continental breakfast. Lunch and dinner aren't included but are available from your hotel or nearby restaurants. Your accommodation may be able to provide a packed lunch on request and this can be booked on arrival.

On this tour, you’ll get a taste of a range of different cuisines, as what’s popular in each region and city varies. Such as in Florence, offal is a firm favourite. Why not be brave and try lampredotto and trippa, a popular street food sandwich filled with beef stomach, or perhaps just stick with the Brunello wine and a refreshing pistachio gelato? You can’t go to Italy without grabbing a slice (or three) of pizza for your lunch. In Rome, the Pizza all Romana is normally topped with olives, artichokes, egg, and prosciutto ham. Liguria is the place where pesto was first made, so whilst exploring the Cinque Terre it would be rude not to have a taste of the pesto-covered gnocchi.

Additional Nights

You may want to spend some extra nights along the route. There are loads to explore in each of the cities on this tour or perhaps you’d prefer to spend some more time relaxing beside the sea. If you’re interested in this, then please have a chat with our Sales team who’ll be happy to get a quote together for you.

Hotel Upgrades

In Florence, we have an upgraded option to B&B la Terrazza sul Duomo, that’s just a stone’s throw away from Florence’s impressive cathedral. So, you can head out early and beat the queues to climb the tower and take in the view. It’s worth noting that this B&B is around a 10 min walk from the train station whereas the Eco Urban B&B is only 5mins. The standard of the bedrooms in both B&B’s are very similar.

The route isn’t waymarked in the cities, but the Cinque Terre walks are well sign posted.

Navigation is straightforward as you can use the Macs Adventure app which has maps, GPS tracks, and daily route info. Simply download the GPS tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone with the assurance that navigation will be simple, and you can’t get lost.

You will find more information on downloading the app in your Macs Adventure Account.

This trip is available to book from mid-March to the end of October. You can start your holiday on any date in the season. However, this tour is not available from the 1^st July until the 31^st August as this is the hottest time of year, and availability in the hotels is almost impossible to secure due to it being the Italian summer holidays.

Peak Season Availability:

Early booking is essential to secure the best accommodation for you throughout the peak spring and autumn months. If you're interested in travelling during these months, then we may require some flexibility. We'll always try our best to get you confirmed on the date you wish to travel.

Time of Year

On the Cinque Terre coast, the springs months of mid-March, and April, offer warm sunshine, fewer crowds, and pleasant walking conditions. May is when most wildflowers are coming into bloom. In May and June, the villages are in full swing with many visitors, but it’s simple to escape the crowds on the walking trails. The autumn months of September and October are also a favourable time of year, boasting cooler weather and a striking landscape made up of autumnal colours.

It's worth noting that the earlier or later in the year you choose to travel the higher the likelihood of rain (October-March is when the rainfall is more likely). Also, before Easter and in late October some local shops, and restaurants may have reduced opening times or have closed for the winter. 

If you’re looking to visit the Vatican Museums, then you may need to pick your tour dates around this to make sure your time in Rome falls at a good point to visit. It’s best to avoid the first Sunday of the month and over Easter as it’s extremely busy at those times. You should also check the Vatican website for the scheduled closure dates. We recommend booking their Prime Experience which allows you to get in an hour before general public opening, making the experience a lot less crowded and more pleasant. If you are going to head in during general opening times then it’s best to do so after 1 pm (afternoons are quieter than mornings) and to avoid weekends, especially in high season.

Florence has its own airport (FLR), but the range of flights arriving here is quite limited (there are some flights from London). Not to worry though as there is also Pisa Airport nearby which is a main hub with lots of flight choices or you could keep it simple and book return flights in/out of Rome (FCO or CIA Airports).

As for how to get from the airport into the city. It’s a short tram ride from Florence Airport taking about 15 mins.

From Pisa, you can take a special “people mover” from the airport to the Pisa Centrale Train Station and then a train to Florence. They leave every 30 mins, and the journey takes approx. 1 hour 15.

From Rome, you can take a Leonardo Express Train into Rome centre and then a train to Florence. They leave frequently and the journey will take about 2 hours.

Please check the Trenitalia website for timetable planning.

If you’re after a journey that is more of an experience in itself, then it’s also possible to reach Florence by train from London via Paris, Lyon, and Turin. So maybe take the long way to the start of the tour. You could book yourself accommodation in these amazing cities en route to see even more of Europe’s highlights. Websites such as Trainline, and Rome 2 Rio are useful tools for arranging rail travel.

Rome has two airports Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO) or Rome Ciampino (CIA) with numerous flight options from all the main European hubs. You can take a direct train from Rome Termini to Fiumicino Airport or there are several bus lines too. Either way, the journey takes between 45 mins-1 hour. To reach Ciampino Airport there are several bus services between Rome termini train station and the airport.

Please check the Trenitalia website for timetable planning.

If you’re after a journey that’s more of an experience in itself, then it’s also possible to reach London and other European hubs by train from Rome via Milan and Paris. So maybe take the long way home. You could book yourself accommodation in these amazing cities en route to see even more of Europe’s highlights. Websites such as Trainline, and Rome 2 Rio are useful tools for arranging rail travel.

Alternatively, we’re happy to arrange private taxi transfers for you. Please contact the Macs team for a quote.

No luggage transfer is included on this holiday, due to the ease of you taking your own bag with you on and off the trains between overnight destinations. There’s no point-to-point walking on this holiday, so no long walks lugging your luggage. You just arrive by train, walk the short distance to your accommodation, drop off your bag, and go off exploring. It couldn’t be simpler. We do recommend taking a compact wheelie case with you to make stowing it on the trains easy and walking with your luggage effortless.