Italy at a Slower Pace: The Best of Rome & Florence

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 December 5, 2027

Meet the group at Hotel dei Mellini in Rome

Start of Trip:  2:00 p.m. Day 2 hotel check-in; 4:30 p.m. Orientation; 7:00 p.m. Welcome Dinner

Getting to the site: Taxi: The city sets a taxi fare from the airport to the city center, where our hotel is located, at €55. Each taxi can accommodate a maximum of four passengers with luggage. Signs for taxis are readily visible within the terminal. The taxi stand is well-organized and monitored by the city's transportation authority. Look for white cabs with the Municipality of Rome's logo. Avoid accepting rides from individuals soliciting taxi services within the airport terminal. Private Car: For a more personalized experience, the hotel can arrange a private car pick-up. The driver will meet you at the airport terminal, holding a sign with your name. You can contact the hotel for a quote or directly contact our partner, Lavinia Tour, to arrange the pick-up, at info.reserv@laviniatour.it to organize your private car and driver. Public Transportation (Train): Ticket booths in the airport terminal sell tickets to Roma Termini, Rome's main train station. Tickets can also be purchased in advance at trenitalia.com. The "Leonardo Express" departs from the airport terminal every 30 minutes. The fare is €14 per person one way, and the journey takes about 32 minutes. Upon arrival at Roma Termini, take a taxi to the hotel (see below for details). Public Transportation (Bus): The Terravision shuttle bus provides service between Fiumicino and Roma Termini, departing one to two times per hour. The fare is €6 for a single trip or €11 for a round trip. The journey, which includes three stops, takes about 55 minutes. Once you arrive at Roma Termini, you can take a taxi to the hotel (see below for details). Taxi: Taxis are available at the well-regulated taxi stand located at the main exit of Roma Termini. The cabs, identifiable by their white color and the Municipality of Rome's logo, are overseen by the city's transportation authority. Don't accept rides from people offering taxi services at the station. The taxi fare from the station to the hotel is approximately €15.

Getting to the site by train or bus: Train service from European and Italian points connects to Roma Termini, the main station. A separate line connects the airport to Roma Termini.

Your trip ends on: Monday, December 13, 2027 in Florence at Grand Hotel Adriatico

End of Trip: 9:30 a.m. after breakfast. 11:00 a.m. hotel check-out.

Getting to the airport: Taxi: To reach Florence Vespucci Airport, take a taxi. The city sets taxi fares at €28–32 per cab, depending on the time of day. Supplements may be added for luggage. Tram: If you opt for public transportation, you can walk from the hotel (15 minutes—0.6 mi) or take a taxi to the Piazza dell'Unità Italiana tram stop. Taxi fare runs between €7-10 with luggage. In the Piazza dell'Unità Italiana, board the T2 tram (at the head of the line) and take to the terminal at Florence Airport (end of the line). The journey time is approximately 20 minutes. Trams depart starting at 5:00 a.m. with service until 12:30 a.m. (Sunday–Thursday and bank holidays) or 2:00 a.m. (Friday–Saturday). Single tickets are €1.70 and available from any tram stop ticket vending machine. The ticket vending machines accept most debit and credit cards (Visa and MasterCard) and cash (bills and coins). Tickets must be validated upon boarding the bus. Single tickets are valid 90 minutes after validation and can be used on multiple vehicles.

Information if you are purchasing your own airfare: Participants who have not purchased airfare through Road Scholar are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements to the first site at the beginning of the program, as well as from the last site at the end of the program. The Information Packet Road Scholar sends in advance of the program includes details needed to make your transfer arrangements. If you wish to purchase airfare through Road Scholar, please call (800) 241-1404. Please note: In the unlikely event Road Scholar must make changes to the program's arrival or departure details, we will notify all participants as soon as possible. Participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare are protected against airline change fees; however, anyone who has not purchased Road Scholar airfare will be required to make their own adjustments and may incur fees imposed by the airline.