Trip Overview
What better way to introduce students to Italian history and culture than by visiting its three most famous cities? On this immersive tour, students and teachers alike will get to know Italy like locals. Illustrate where history happened on Rome’s Palatine hill, expose students to masterpieces at Florence’s Uffizi Gallery, and soak up the incredible ambience of Venice’s canals. We’ll also stop at the charming city of Parma for a gourmet food tasting, because of course, no trip to Italy would be complete without savoring its culinary treasures!
Our mission is to provide an authentic experience rooted in “teaching teens to be travelers, not tourists.” Language students will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in Italian and practice what they have learned in the classroom. Students can order their own food at meals, chitchat with shopkeepers, and haggle with street vendors. Our staff members will help students discover that foreign languages are an exciting tool they can use wherever their travels might take them.
Our years of experience bringing students to Italy means that we know exactly how to educate, excite, and inspire. Join us for the chance to immerse your students in the best of Italy and leave them with memories to last a lifetime!
During this trip, you and your students will…
- Walk in the footsteps of history at the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill
- Marvel at Michelangelo’s impressive paintings on the Sistine Chapel ceilings
- Wander through ancient Roman neighborhoods, like Trastevere
- Step back 2,000 years into the Pantheon
- Catch the best views of Rome from atop the Vittorio Emanuele II Monument
- Toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain, guaranteeing your return to the Eternal City
- Enjoy a balsamic vinegar tasting in Parma, home of Parmesan cheese
- Try an espresso on one of the terraces of Saint Mark’s Square in Venice
- Ride a vaporetto to the Venetian island of Murano, where you’ll watch a traditional glass blowing demonstration
- Savor the best Italian food of your life, including fresh pasta, juicy tomatoes, homemade mozzarella, and of course pizza!
Trip Itinerary
DAY 1: Depart for Europe!
Flight from your preferred airport to Rome.
DAY 2: Buongiorno Roma!
Upon your arrival in Rome, you’ll be greeted at the airport by your Travel For Teens guides, who will accompany you for the duration of your journey. After getting settled into the hotel, we’ll have lunch and head down to the Colosseum, perhaps one of the most famous sites in all of Rome. Tour this incredible structure that has been standing for millennia, and learn about the battles that Gladiators fought here. Then visit the Roman Forum to learn about ancient Roman government. We’ll top off an exciting first day with your first taste of authentic Italian cuisine at one of our favorite local restaurants.
DAY 3: The Vatican & Trastevere
Cross another country off your bucket list today as we visit Vatican City. Begin in Saint Peter’s Basilica, the seat of the Roman Catholic Church, before continuing to the Vatican Museums to marvel at the archaeological treasures in the Church’s collection. After a lunch of pizza al taglio, we’ll explore the beautiful neighborhood of Trastevere. See the Basilica di Santa Maria and wander the ancient cobblestone streets. We’ll enjoy dinner in Trastevere tonight at a traditional trattoria.
DAY 4: Discover the Emerald City
Start the day with a visit to the market at the Campo di Fiori. Browse the stalls and see all the delicacies on offer, from farm-fresh cheeses to bread fresh out of the oven. Pick up the makings for a picnic lunch here and enjoy lunch al fresco just as the locals do. This afternoon, climb the Vittorio Emanuele II monument for some of the best views in Rome and explore the secrets of the Pantheon. Have some time for souvenir shopping on the Via del Corso and enjoy a delicious dinner in Piazza Navona, one of Rome’s most beautiful squares. Of course, no trip to Italy would be complete without enjoying a homemade gelato for dessert every night!
DAY 5: Off to Florence!
Today we say arrivederci to the Eternal City and depart for Florence, the Renaissance City. After a short train ride, we’ll arrive and get settled into our hotel before enjoying our first Florentine lunch. Climb to the top of the Duomo, the elaborate multicolored cathedral in the heart of the city, for incredible views. After dinner, embark on TFT’s famous gelato challenge! We’ll bring you to three of our favorite gelaterias. Will you be able to eat a gelato at every one?
DAY 6: The Renaissance Capital: Florence
Florence is best known as the cradle of the Renaissance, and today we’ll get a feel for the incredible art and history that has shaped this beautiful city. Begin the day with a visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia to see Michelangelo’s statue of David. No other statue will look the same after you’ve seen this! Have lunch and time to browse for treasures in the famous Mercato di San Lorenzo, where they sell everything from fresh panini to beautiful notebooks and leather goods. This afternoon, have a guided tour of the Uffizi–one of the world’s most important sculpture museums–before heading up to Piazzale Michelangelo for a sunset photo shoot with the best view of Florence.
Day 7: Discover Parma
En route from Florence to Venice, we’ll stop in the charming city of Parma for a traditional food tasting. Parma is known as one of Italy’s culinary capitals, as it’s home to balsamic vinegar and Parmesan cheese, among other delicacies. After a delicious lunch, we’ll continue on to the Italian gem of Venice. Our hotel is in the heart of this pedestrian-only city. Take a walking tour over the famous Rialto Bridge and down to Saint Mark’s Square, the buzzing heart of the city. For dinner, enjoy perhaps the best pizza you’ll ever have!
Day 8: Experience Venice Like a Local
Venice has always been an artist’s haven, so we’ll start the day by learning about the tradition of mask-making and even making our own masks. In the afternoon, visit either the incredible Peggy Guggenheim collection or the Doge’s Palace. After another incredible dinner, we’ll take an evening walk to admire the canals by twilight, gelato in hand.
Day 9: Murano & Burano Islands
On our final day in Italy, we’ll explore beyond the main Venetian lagoon to the picturesque islands of Murano and Burano. Ride a vaporetto boat out to Murano, where we’ll watch a traditional glassblowing demonstration and surely pick up some souvenirs to bring home. Then we’ll have lunch on the beautiful island of Burano, famous for its multicolored houses and wide squares. Students will have time for some last-minute souvenir shopping before we enjoy an upscale final dinner to celebrate the end of an incredible trip!
DAY 10: Ciao Italia
Your TFT guides will accompany you to the airport and assist you with check-in for your flight. Wave goodbye as you head through security and sit back and relax on your flight home.
The TFT Difference
We Never Combine Groups
Your tour should be special and just for you and your students! We will never combine two or more groups on the same bus or tour. We will lead a trip with as few as six people and a teacher. Your Trip Director travels with you for the duration of your program.
Stress-Free Planning and 24/7 Support
We are there for you every step of the way, and our support begins the moment you decide to do a TFT trip! We will provide you with a team member who will help bring your tour to life, along with everything you need to help get students to sign up for the adventure! On the tour you will have 24/7 dedicated staff with you to ensure everything runs smoothly and because we know travel is full of surprises, solve anything that may pop up along the way.
Photos and Email Updates
Your trip is special and you and your students should have those memories captured forever! Expect frequent personal email updates and hundreds of photos from your TFT staff shared with you and your students’ families so everyone can follow along on the journey. We are the only teen travel program to offer this in-depth trip communication and it truly makes all the difference!
Central Accommodation and Local Meals
Authenticity is engrained in everything we do. We stay at locally owned accommodation in the city center so you don’t waste your valuable time commuting. We dine at charming authentic restaurants to get a real flavor (literally!) for the local culture. The best way to travel is like a local. So ditch the tour bus and have a real traveler’s experience with us!
Photo Gallery
Authenticity is engrained in everything we do. Eat, stay, and travel like a local.
Check out what past travelers have to say about TFT and discover why we are consistently winning awards for Top Youth Travel Organization.