Independent Venice: Art, Culture and Canals

After you enroll, we’ll ask you to provide or update your personal information and preferences, which includes your health information, lodging and meal preferences for your program.

A passport is required for this program. It must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.

This information about travel documents pertains to participants holding U.S. passports. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

United States citizens don’t need a visa for any of the countries you’ll be visiting. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

For additional health information, please visit the CDC page for Italy at wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/italy In Italy, pharmacies are easy to spot by the illuminated green cross. Start there for minor health needs—pharmacists can provide basic medical advice, recommend over-the-counter remedies, and tell you when to see a doctor. Most pharmacies accept both cash and cards. In the hot, humid lowlands (especially parts of Tuscany and the Veneto), mosquitoes—including the tiger mosquito—are common. Take precautions: use repellent (DEET, picaridin/icaridin, or IR3535), wear light long sleeves and pants at dusk and dawn, and keep windows closed whenever possible. Window screens are not standard in Italy, so take extra care. Plug-in mosquito repellents are widely used; you can usually request one from the hotel front desk. Smoking is banned in indoor public places and on public transport. Many cities and venues also restrict smoking in some outdoor areas. Look for posted signs and follow local rules.

If Road Scholar is arranging your air travel to and from the program, and you travel on the scheduled start and end dates, you’ll receive free round-trip transfers from the airport to the hotel.

Arrival day is on September 27, 2027

Meet the group at Starhotels Splendid Venice in Venice

Start of Trip:  3:00 p.m. Day 2 hotel check-in; 4:15 p.m. Orientation & Welcome Reception in hotel meeting room followed by Welcome Dinner in hotel restaurant.

Getting to the site: To reach the program site in Venice on your own, you have two transportation options: Bus: From Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE), you can reach Piazzale Roma by taking the ACTV Bus 5, also known as the "Aerobus." The bus operates from 4:30 a.m. until 12:30 a.m. and directly connects the airport and the city. The journey takes approximately 20 minutes and will drop you off directly at Piazzale Roma, the main transportation hub for Venice. A single ticket costs approximately € 9.50 and is valid for 90 minutes. Remember to validate your ticket when boarding! From Piazzale Roma, board Vaporetto Line 1 toward Lido. Stay on the vaporetto for six stops and disembark at Santa Maria del Giglio, approximately 25–30 minutes. From Santa Maria del Giglio, walk straight ahead into Calle Gritti. Continue for about 325 feet until you reach a small square, then turn left onto Calle Larga XXII Marzo. Walk another 325 feet, and you will find the hotel on your left; the walking time is approximately 3–5 minutes. If you need assistance with your luggage from Piazzale Roma to the hotel or Venice train station, contact Trasbagagli at +39 041-713-719 or info@trasbagagli.it for a quote. Private Water Taxi: You can book a water taxi through the hotel reception for a direct and convenient service from the hotel dock to the airport dock. The fare for the water taxi is approximately € 150, and each taxi boat can accommodate a maximum of eight passengers. Please note that additional fees apply for service before 8:00 a.m. Once the water taxi arrives at the water transportation dock terminal wing, follow the signs to the main terminal, where check-in and departures are located. You can use a cart for your luggage or take advantage of the moving walkway.

Getting to the site by train or bus: Train service from European and Italian points connects to Venezia Santa Lucia, the main station. In Venice the vaporetto, or public waterbus, runs up and down the Grand Canal. Ferrovia/Santa Lucia is the closest vaporetto stop.

Your trip ends on: Sunday, October 3, 2027 in Venice at Starhotels Splendid Venice

End of Trip: 12:00 p.m. after breakfast and hotel check-out.

Getting to the airport: See above for directions.

Information if you are purchasing your own airfare: If you purchased the program without airfare through Road Scholar or are arriving in Italy early, please note that a complimentary group transfer from Venice Airport to the program hotel is available only on Day 2 of your program. To secure your spot, please visit our transfer request page and submit your flight details—flight number and arrival time—no later than 30 days before departure. Once your request is received, you will receive confirmation of the exact transfer time, which may be subject to slight adjustments based on airline schedules. Request your transfer here: https://bit.ly/cpi-transfers Once we receive your request and the program has closed to new registrations, you will receive a confirmation with the exact transfer time. Regrettably, requests submitted within 30 days of departure cannot be accommodated due to logistical constraints.