Italy & Berlin Private Tour
Local Time
Why You Should Go
With a history spanning 2,500 years, the “Eternal City” of Rome is simply overwhelming in terms of ancient monuments and history, too numerous to name! The city’s obsession with aesthetics fuses with a wonderful urban lifestyle and ancient history. Della Valle described the Florence/Siena area of Italy as, “Total aesthetic perfection; a synthesis of everything that is beautiful about Italy.” — we agree! An extension to the hip city of Berlin creates a fascinating contrast to Italy’s sophistication. Though younger than the ancient cities in Italy, Berlin carries a rich, war-torn history of its own. Rick Steves wrote that “Berliners joke that they don’t need to travel anywhere because their city’s always changing.”
Best Travel Time: Spring Summer Fall
*All of our comprehensive private tour itineraries are inclusive of all luxury accommodations, private guide/driver throughout, daily meals as specified, INTERNAL flights/rail /private transfers as needed, & all taxes/service fees.
Sample Itinerary
12 Days
Each private luxury tour is custom to the wishes of each client. This itinerary is a sample. Partnering with our long-established relationship with United Airlines, our sister company, TRAVNET, may provide competitive Polaris/Business Class international airfare, along with mileage points conversion.
Day 1
Fly to Rome
Through our sister company, premium air provider TRAVNET, we may assist with your international airfare, as well as with mileage points conversion.
Day 2
Arrive Rome
Upon arrival at Rome’s Fiumicino/Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, you will be transferred to the Hotel Eden or Hotel de Russie. You may spend the remainder of the day exploring Rome on your own, with our suggestions here.
Meals: —
Accommodations: Hotel Eden or Hotel de Russie
Day 3
Rome Private Tour
A living museum, you will first visit the iconic Colosseum with the chance to enter the subterranean areas of the arena. Nearby you may explore the Roman Forum to witness the ruins of ancient Rome. After a glance at the Arc of Constantine, you will continue to Pantheon, the most preserved structure in all of Rome. An exploration of Rome’s famed piazzas then commences from the Trevi Fountain, Piazza di Spagna, to Piazza Navona.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel Eden or Hotel de Russie
Day 4
Early-Morning Vatican Private Tour + Pizza!
Today the Vatican City (the smallest state in the world!) awaits you. We feel the best time to experience this is early in the morning, read our blog post here. Protected by Swiss Guards in their Renaissance garb, you have the opportunity to visit the expansive St. Peter’s Basilica as well as the Vatican Museum, containing an illustrious collection of antiquities. For those with children, you may opt to go to the Gladiator School where the kids embark on a two-hour training session, learning the ways of the gladiator! In the afternoon, you have the option to attend a private cooking session at a Roman pizzeria.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodations: Hotel Eden or Hotel de Russie
Day 5
Train Ride Rome/Florence
Today you will be transferred to the Rome railway station for your First Class train trip (approximately one hour and 10 minutes) to Florence, Italy’s Renaissance jewel, few cities can match its classic beauty. After freshening up at the JK Place Hotel, you will embark on a half-day private, guided walking tour of Florence including the following options: Duomo (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore), Galleria dell’Accademia, Museo Galileo, Uffizi Gallery, San Lorenzo Church and Chapels, and Church of Santa Croce.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: JK Place Hotel
Day 6
Day Trip to Pisa
Following breakfast, you will embark on a guided walking tour, which will include the Piazza dei Miracoli and the famous Leaning Tower (constructed in 1173 and later in 1272, an architectural project gone awry!) Enjoy lunch at your leisure and some time to walk around exploring this wonderful city. At the end of the day, you will be transferred back to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: JK Place Hotel
Day 7
Transfer Florence/Verona/Venice
Today, you will be privately driven to Venice via Verona (approximately 2.5 hours). In Verona, you will have the option of a short walking tour of lovely, Verona, a historical city and the setting for Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. Of special note is the pink mobile Roman amphitheater (arena), built in the 1st-century A.D. and home to many early gladiator battles. Upon arrival in Venice, you will check in at the Gritti Palace Hotel and enjoy the evening at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Gritti Palace Hotel or AMAN VENICE
Day 8
Venice Private Tour
Via a private motorboat, you will tour the island of Murano, renowned for its glass making, and thereafter to Burano. An island filled with color and art, this quaint and quiet is not to be missed. After returning to Venice proper, you may wish to stop by the small, lunch-only All’Arco, which we feel is among the tastiest bacaro snack restaurants in Venice! After lunch, you will enjoy a walking tour of Venice with your local guide, including visits to several of the most famous landmarks of the city: The Doges’ Palace, St. Mark’s Basilica, and St. Mark’s Square
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodations: Gritti Palace Hotel or AMAN VENICE
Day 9
Fly Venice/Berlin + Berlin Bike Tour
This morning, after breakfast, you will be transferred by private motor launch to the Venice airport for your flight to Berlin. Upon arrival in Berlin, you will be transferred to Rocco Forte Hotel de Rome. The afternoon will be at your leisure. In the evening, your local guide will take you on a bike tour of Berlin, focusing on the high-energy area of Prenzlauer Berg, and several cultural and culinary hotspots, where you will choose a locally-owned restaurant for dinner!
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Rocco Forte Hotel de Rome
Day 10
Berlin Full-Day Private Tour
Following breakfast at the Rocco Forte Hotel, you will be met by your guide and driver for a full-day private tour of Berlin, including the following stopovers: Mauerpark, Gedenkstatte Berliner Mauer, Checkpoint Charlie, Museumsinsel (Museum Island), Reichstag, and the Jewish Museum & Centrum Judaicum.
If interested, we may also arrange a vist at the Jewish Museum Berlin, the largest Jewish museum in Europe. Though the previous museum director, Peter Schäfer, had undergone scrutiny for his dealings with the sensitive Israeli–Palestinian conflict, we feel the museum and it’s interesting rotating exhibitions to be well worth a stopover. Since it’s opening in 2001, the museum has aimed to “study and present Jewish life in Berlin and Germany and to create a meeting place for the wider community.” We particullay enjoyed the recent “Golem” exhibit, which presented the golem figure from its ritualistic creation of Jewish mysticism, to the popular narrative material, and its continuation in the artistic and digital world.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Rocco Forte Hotel de Rome
Day 11
Potsdam Excursion
Following breakfast at the Rocco Forte Hotel, you will be met by your guide and driver for a full-day excursion to the historical city of Potsdam. En route, you will make a stop at Wannsee Villa, the locale where in January 1942 the Nazi’s agreed upon the “Final Solution”. Among your stops in Potsdam will be the Cecilienhof Palace (where the Potsdam Agreement was signed in 1945 by Truman, Stalin, and Churchill), the city’s fun, attractive Dutch Quarter (ideal for a late lunch), and the Sanssouci Gardens, the grounds of the royal residence of Frederick the Great.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Rocco Forte Hotel de Rome
Day 12
Fly Berlin/Home
Meals: Breakfast
Hotels
Having recently stayed at the renovated 98-room Hotel Eden, we now consider this property to be our new favorite, number one, luxury hotel in Rome! Located near the via Veneto and the Spanish steps, the Eden’s turn-of-the-century building renovation was led by French designers, Bruno Moinard and Claire Betaille. All rooms are dressed in classic Italian furnishings and feature large windows and marble baths. We particularly enjoy the Eden’s rooftop La Terrazza restaurant and its panoramic views of Rome. Other amenities include a very nice spa, nail salon, and a small gym.
Hotel Eden Rome
Having recently stayed at the renovated 98-room Hotel Eden, we now consider this property to be our new favorite, number one, luxury hotel in Rome! Located near the via Veneto and the Spanish steps, the Eden’s turn-of-the-century building renovation was led by French designers, Bruno Moinard and Claire Betaille. All rooms are dressed in classic Italian furnishings and feature large windows and marble baths. We particularly enjoy the Eden’s rooftop La Terrazza restaurant and its panoramic views of Rome. Other amenities include a very nice spa, nail salon, and a small gym.
Originally designed in the early 19th-century by noteworthy architect Giuseppe Valadier, the 5-star Hotel de Russie was renovated and opened in 2000 and is located near the Spanish Steps and the Piazza del Popolo (“Peoples’ Square”). Updated by Tommaso Ziffer, we have also used his stunning Berlin property, the Hotel de Rome. The de Russie’s 122 high-tech rooms/suites include simple designs with a nice mix of classic and contemporary furnishings. Perhaps the most pleasing feature here is the hotel’s lush terraced gardens that extend up the hillside, merging with the gardens of Pincio and Villa Borghese. A fun family feature is the de Russie’s World Wildlife Fund-sponsored Butterfly Oasis, located in the Secret Garden.
Hotel de Russie
Originally designed in the early 19th-century by noteworthy architect Giuseppe Valadier, the 5-star Hotel de Russie was renovated and opened in 2000 and is located near the Spanish Steps and the Piazza del Popolo (“Peoples’ Square”). Updated by Tommaso Ziffer, we have also used his stunning Berlin property, the Hotel de Rome. The de Russie’s 122 high-tech rooms/suites include simple designs with a nice mix of classic and contemporary furnishings. Perhaps the most pleasing feature here is the hotel’s lush terraced gardens that extend up the hillside, merging with the gardens of Pincio and Villa Borghese. A fun family feature is the de Russie’s World Wildlife Fund-sponsored Butterfly Oasis, located in the Secret Garden.
When traveling with the extended Lynch family we normally stay at the idyllic and sprawling Four Seasons Florence. However, our new Florence 5-star boutique favorite is the 20-room, luxury JK Place Florence. Wonderfully located at the Piazza Santa Maria Novella, we love the property’s mix of smart, clean, contemporary amenities and beautiful Florentine aesthetics. Breakfast is a treat here, served in a courtyard beneath a striking glass roof. Staying here has the feel of an elegantly appointed home, not a hotel.
JK Place Hotel
When traveling with the extended Lynch family we normally stay at the idyllic and sprawling Four Seasons Florence. However, our new Florence 5-star boutique favorite is the 20-room, luxury JK Place Florence. Wonderfully located at the Piazza Santa Maria Novella, we love the property’s mix of smart, clean, contemporary amenities and beautiful Florentine aesthetics. Breakfast is a treat here, served in a courtyard beneath a striking glass roof. Staying here has the feel of an elegantly appointed home, not a hotel.
This 82-room, luxury, boutique hotel is housed in a 16th-century palazzo and is a perfect location on the Grand Canal with views of Santa Maria della Salute. Recent $50 million renovations included handcrafted refurbishment of its treasures, such as guest room mirrors, chandeliers, antique furniture, and artwork. There is also a wonderful new library and several new suites overlooking the Grand Canal, individually decorated with Murano glass light fixtures and exquisite Rubelli fabrics. The Gritti’s Club del Dodge Restaurant offers a wonderful terrace on the Grand Canal.
Gritti Palace Hotel
This 82-room, luxury, boutique hotel is housed in a 16th-century palazzo and is a perfect location on the Grand Canal with views of Santa Maria della Salute. Recent $50 million renovations included handcrafted refurbishment of its treasures, such as guest room mirrors, chandeliers, antique furniture, and artwork. There is also a wonderful new library and several new suites overlooking the Grand Canal, individually decorated with Murano glass light fixtures and exquisite Rubelli fabrics. The Gritti’s Club del Dodge Restaurant offers a wonderful terrace on the Grand Canal.
Being huge fans of Aman, we were certainly not disappointed with our first visit here. Lavishly converted from the 16th century Palazzo Papadopol, the 24-room Aman Venice is a proper reflection of other Aman properties we have stayed worldwide: personal, high-touch service, upper 5-Star luxury, and special commitment to the local, cultural uniqueness of the area. Located on the Grand Canal with private access to Palazzo Ducale, the Aman includes beautifully decorated public areas, with contrasting Rococo-style rooms designed in a more contemporary aesthetic. We particularly enjoyed the hotel’s rooftop terrace offering 360° views over the roofs of Venice. The luxurious 2nd floor dining room includes a nice balcony overlooking the Canal. In addition to a small spa and gym, a nice plus here are the hotel’s two small gardens. The quiet, shady back garden is of a particular value, offering a nice, quiet respite from the noise of Venice summers. Though kids are welcome here, we believe young ones (12 or under) may be a bit disinterested.
AMAN VENICE
Being huge fans of Aman, we were certainly not disappointed with our first visit here. Lavishly converted from the 16th century Palazzo Papadopol, the 24-room Aman Venice is a proper reflection of other Aman properties we have stayed worldwide: personal, high-touch service, upper 5-Star luxury, and special commitment to the local, cultural uniqueness of the area. Located on the Grand Canal with private access to Palazzo Ducale, the Aman includes beautifully decorated public areas, with contrasting Rococo-style rooms designed in a more contemporary aesthetic. We particularly enjoyed the hotel’s rooftop terrace offering 360° views over the roofs of Venice. The luxurious 2nd floor dining room includes a nice balcony overlooking the Canal. In addition to a small spa and gym, a nice plus here are the hotel’s two small gardens. The quiet, shady back garden is of a particular value, offering a nice, quiet respite from the noise of Venice summers. Though kids are welcome here, we believe young ones (12 or under) may be a bit disinterested.
Converted from a 19th-century bank headquarters on the historic Bebelplatz off Unter den Linden, the 146-room 5-star Hotel de Rome is a smaller, less noisy (less touristy!) version of the landmark Adlon Hotel. We love the rooms’ sleek, contemporary aesthetics, many with high ceilings and particularly nice and spacious bathrooms, limestone vanities, walk-in showers, and mosaic marble tubs. Among the dining options here is the hotel’s rooftop terrace, which offers great views of Berlin’s historic areas. The Rocco Forte de Rome provides a nice spa, gym, and interesting 65-foot indoor swimming pool (housed in the original bank vault!).
Rocco Forte Hotel de Rome (in Berlin)
Converted from a 19th-century bank headquarters on the historic Bebelplatz off Unter den Linden, the 146-room 5-star Hotel de Rome is a smaller, less noisy (less touristy!) version of the landmark Adlon Hotel. We love the rooms’ sleek, contemporary aesthetics, many with high ceilings and particularly nice and spacious bathrooms, limestone vanities, walk-in showers, and mosaic marble tubs. Among the dining options here is the hotel’s rooftop terrace, which offers great views of Berlin’s historic areas. The Rocco Forte de Rome provides a nice spa, gym, and interesting 65-foot indoor swimming pool (housed in the original bank vault!).
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Location
Overview
| Population |
|---|
| 61 Million |
| Language |
|---|
| Italian |
| Currency |
|---|
| Euro |
| Temperature |
|---|
| Highs: High 80’s |
| Lows: Mid 60’s |
| Area |
|---|
| 301,338 SQ KM |
| 116,346 SQ MILES |
| Capital |
|---|
| Rome |
| Population |
|---|
| 82 Million |
| Language |
|---|
| German |
| Currency |
|---|
| Euro |
| Temperature |
|---|
| Highs: High 70’s |
| Lows: Mid 20’s |
| Area |
|---|
| 357,027 SQ KM |
| 137,849 SQ MILES |
| Capital |
|---|
| Berlin |
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