Christmas in 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 21, 2026

Meet the group at Rivoli Boutique Hotel in Florence

Start of Trip:  2:00 p.m. hotel check-in; 4:30 p.m. Orientation; 6:15 p.m. Welcome Reception; 7:00 p.m. Welcome Dinner.

Getting to the site: To reach the hotel in Florence on your own, you have two public transportation options: Taxi: From Florence Vespucci Airport, take a taxi. The city sets the taxi fare at € 28 (weekdays), €30 (weekends/holidays), or €32 (night) per vehicle. Supplements may be added for luggage. Tram: Board the T2 tram and take it to Alamanni-Stazione Santa Maria Novella (second to last stop). 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 €1.50 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. You can walk to the hotel (0.2 miles) from the tram stop or take a taxi. Taxi fare runs between €7–10 with luggage.

Getting to the site by train or bus: There is a tram from Florence Airport to piazza della Stazione, just outside the main train station of Florence Santa Maria Novella.

Your trip ends on: Monday, December 28, 2026 in Florence at Rivoli Boutique Hotel

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

Getting to the airport: Kindly refer to the instructions above for details on transportation.

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.