Highlights of Italy in Winter

While most associate Italy with a piercing, orange-hued summer, the mild winters make the country the perfect place to visit during the off season! On this eight-day trip, you’ll see all the iconic spots with far fewer tourists crowding the squares and clogging up the lines. Take in the crumbling ruins of Rome, the renaissance beauty of Florence and the canals of 15th century Venice and grab your classic photo of the Leaning Tower in Pisa. With the cold mornings and afternoon espressos, you’ll have all the more reason to tuck into all the delicious local cuisine, glasses of vino and cheeky desserts, too – ah Italia! The primary means of transportation on this trip is by train. Trains are a fast way to cross long distances, allowing you to avoid traffic jams and arrive right into the city centre. They are comfortable and all have toilets but can sometimes be quite busy. You'll have to carry your own luggage on and off the train, so make sure it doesn’t exceed our weight and size recommendations. You can find this information in the 'What to Take' section of the trip notes.Often there are no lifts or escalators in train stations or in the hotel, so you will have to carry your bags up and down the stairs yourself.This trip is designed for off-season and takes place in the colder winter months of the year. It is essential that you are aware of the climate in Italy during this time. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.Hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together/apart. Rooms can be rather small, especially compared to American or Australian standards.On this trip, you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight under 15 kg (33 lb). Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps to accommodate the cobbled streets, uneven surfaces, stairs and steps you are likely to encounter. You'll also need a day pack for daytrips.