9 Days • 8 Nights
Italy Family Adventure: Rome, Pompeii & Venice
Tour Includes
About the Trip
Play gladiator at the Colosseum, walk the eerily preserved streets of Pompeii, get hands-on with a pizza and gelato class, ride the water buses of Venice, and hunt for the best ice cream in every piazza. The pace is deliberately family-friendly, with plenty of downtime built in and hotels chosen for space and location, so nobody is worn out by day three.
It is a journey that sparks children's imaginations and rekindles the wonder in everyone.
Trip Highlights
- A gladiator-themed family tour of the Colosseum – history that thrills young explorers
- Pompeii – walk the streets of the Roman city buried and preserved by Vesuvius
- A hands-on pizza and gelato-making class – delicious fun for all ages
- Venice by water – water buses, a gondola ride and a boat to colourful Burano
- A Venetian mask-painting workshop – a keepsake to take home
- A relaxed, family-friendly pace with plenty of free time and treats
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 9-day journey.
Your family is met on arrival and transferred in a spacious vehicle to your family-friendly hotel in Rome. After the journey, the day is kept deliberately gentle — settle in, find your feet, and head out for a first Italian pizza and a scoop of gelato as the children get their first taste of the Eternal City.
A family-focused tour that brings ancient Rome roaring to life. At the Colosseum, your guide tells tales of gladiators and wild beasts that captivate young imaginations, before exploring the Roman Forum where emperors once ruled. Interactive and paced for children, it turns a history lesson into an adventure. The afternoon is free for gelato and play.
This morning, a shorter, engaging highlights visit to the Vatican keeps younger travellers interested with just the best bits — the Sistine Chapel, the vast basilica and stories to match. In the afternoon, roll up your sleeves for a hands-on gelato-making class, learning the secrets of Italy's favourite treat before tasting your creations.
A full-day adventure to Pompeii, the Roman city frozen in time by the eruption of Vesuvius. Children are spellbound as your guide leads you past ancient shops, houses, a bakery and the haunting plaster casts, the story of the eruption unfolding with the volcano on the horizon. A relaxed lunch is included before you return to Rome.
A fun-filled morning learning to make authentic Italian pizza, from stretching the dough to choosing the toppings and pulling it from the oven — then eating the delicious results. The afternoon is free for the family to relax, shop, or revisit a favourite spot at your own pace.
An exciting high-speed train ride north — an adventure in itself for young travellers as the countryside races by — brings you to the magical floating city of Venice. A water bus or private transfer delivers you to your hotel, and the first sight of the canals never fails to delight.
Explore Venice the fun way — hop on the water buses, cross the Rialto, marvel at St Mark's Square and its pigeons, and take a gondola ride the whole family will remember. There is time for treasure-hunting in the lanes and, of course, more gelato.
Take a boat across the lagoon to the rainbow-coloured fishing island of Burano, a photographer's dream, then return for a hands-on Venetian mask-painting workshop — a creative afternoon and a colourful keepsake to carry home.
After breakfast, your private transfer carries the family to Venice airport for your onward flight, heads full of gladiators, volcanoes, gondolas and gelato, and a shared adventure to remember.
Where You Will Travel
What's inside the package?
Inclusions
- Private arrival transfer in a spacious family vehicle from Rome airport
- 5 nights in Rome with daily breakfast (family or connecting rooms where possible)
- A family-focused, gladiator-themed guided tour of the Colosseum & Forum
- A shorter, kid-friendly guided highlights visit to the Vatican
- A hands-on gelato-making class
- A guided day trip to Pompeii with entrance fees and lunch
- A hands-on pizza-making class
- High-speed train from Rome to Venice
- 3 nights in Venice with daily breakfast
- Venice water-bus passes, a gondola ride and a boat to Burano
- A Venetian mask-painting workshop
- Private departure transfer to Venice airport
- Daily breakfast at your hotels
- All sightseeing, entrance fees and experiences listed in the itinerary
- Private, licensed English-speaking local guides
- Comfortable private air-conditioned vehicles for transfers and tours
- Warm meet-and-greet on arrival
- Complimentary 24/7 in-trip travel assistance
- All applicable local taxes and service charges
Exclusions
- International airfare and applicable airport taxes
- Travel insurance (highly recommended)
- Lunches, dinners and beverages not mentioned in the itinerary
- Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls, SIM cards, shopping and minibar
- Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers and hotel staff
- Optional excursions and activities not listed in the inclusions
- Room, flight and category upgrades
- Early hotel check-in and late check-out charges unless specified
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Know when to go.
- Passport & Visa: Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates. Most nationalities require a Schengen visa for Italy — please check your own requirements and apply in good time
- Currency: Italy uses the euro (EUR). Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but carry some cash for markets, cafes, tips and small vendors
- Getting Around: Your trip uses Italy's high-speed trains between cities and a private air-conditioned car with driver for day tours and transfers
- Weather & Packing: Pack comfortable, broken-in walking shoes for cobbled streets, layers for changeable weather, sun protection and a light rain jacket
- Church & Site Etiquette: Dress modestly to enter churches, cathedrals and religious sites — shoulders and knees should be covered
- Dining Hours: Italians eat late — lunch from around 1pm and dinner after 8pm. Reservations are advised for popular restaurants
- Stay Connected: Local SIM cards and eSIMs are inexpensive and give excellent coverage across Italy
- Travel Insurance: Comprehensive insurance covering medical care, cancellation, delays and belongings is strongly recommended
- Pace of Travel: There is a good deal of walking at the historic sites; let us know if you would like a gentler pace and we will adjust
- Local Customs: A friendly 'buongiorno' opens doors, and it is polite to ask before photographing people
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this suitable for young children?
Yes, the pace, guides and activities are all chosen with families in mind.
Are the tours kid-friendly?
We use guides who specialise in engaging children, keeping visits interactive and well-paced.
Can you arrange family or connecting rooms?
Yes, wherever the hotels allow.
Is there downtime built in?
Yes, we deliberately include free time, treats and lighter days.
Are meals included?
Daily breakfast plus lunch at Pompeii, with a pizza and a gelato class; other meals are free for family favourites.
Can the itinerary be adjusted for our kids' ages?
Absolutely — tell us their ages and interests and we will tailor it.
How much walking is there?
A moderate amount; we balance the days so children do not get overtired.
Can we add a beach or lakes stay?
Yes, a few relaxing days by the sea or the Italian lakes work beautifully.
Are strollers manageable?
Cobbles and steps can be tricky; we advise on the best approach for little ones.
Do the kids get hands-on activities?
Yes — pizza-making, gelato-making and mask-painting are all included.
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