Quick & Dirty Itinerary for Italy Over Thanksgiving (With Flight Deals)
Quick & Dirty Itinerary for Italy Over Thanksgiving (With Flight Deals)
Hello friends!!
This is my “Thanksgiving is a dumb holiday and we should all be traveling instead” series, where I put together some vacation options for over Thanksgiving. I think we should all take advantage of the days off we have!
Italy is one of my favorite places in the world, and I always recommend my clients to go in the “off-season” for the shorter lines and minimal crowds. So going in November is perfect!
Let’s dive in!
👀 You can see a more detailed itinerary here: 10-Day Italy Itinerary
*Some links in this post are affiliate links. It doesn’t change the price, but I may earn a small commission if you purchase something I’ve recommended. I’m really grateful for your trust in my advice, and if I wouldn’t recommend it to a friend, I won’t recommend it to you.
WHAT TO DO IN ITALY
VENICE
🛶 Gondola Ride
You need at least €80 for the gondola ride. The city imposed a set cost for all drivers to charge, so it won’t be above €80 unless you choose a longer ride. Outside of Venice, everywhere you go should take credit cards, but it’s nice to have some cash just in case. I always like to have a bit of cash on me, so I would take out 150 Euros.
💒 Saint Mark's Basilica
Venice's Saint Mark's Basilica is beautiful. Using the guided tour by Rick Steves in the app, the tour will start in Saint Mark's Square and the intricacies of the square itself.
Or if you’re interested in a live tour, this is a great option: this tour will guide you through the Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica.
👀 Murano Island
Renowned for its glass-making traditions, you can witness skilled artisans at work and admire exquisite glass creations.
Here’s a great tour option: Murano & Burano Islands Guided Small-Group Tour by Private Boat.
FLORENCE
🖼 Uffizi Gallery & Accademia Gallery
Visit these museums to see exceptional collections of Renaissance masterpieces by artists like Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci.
💒 The Florence Duomo
Head to the Duomo along the Via dei Calzaiuoli for amazing shopping along the way.
🌞 Take a Day Trip
This is an amazing day trip from Florence a day trip to Pisa, Siena, and San Gimignano.
ROME
👀 Take a Walk Through Rome
Take Rick Steves' Rome City Walk, which will guide you through the iconic sights of Rome, including the majestic Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps. End your day with a sunset view from the Spanish Steps.
🏛 Colosseum & Roman Forum
Enjoy the grandeur of ancient Rome!
🍽 Take a Cooking Class
Here are some cooking classes in Rome:
🍝 Pasta Class in Rome - Fettuccine Cooking Classes in Piazza Navona
🍷 Rome Cooking: Pasta & Tiramisu making class with dinner & wine
🖼 Villa Borghese Museum and Gardens
The picturesque Villa Borghese Museum and Gardens houses an exceptional collection of art masterpieces, including works by Caravaggio and Bernini. After, enjoy a leisurely stroll through the scenic gardens.
💒 Vatican City
The Vatican Museums: I’d highly recommend taking an early morning tour of the museum.
Here’s the official site for tickets (make sure to choose the early access tour ticket).
St. Peter's Basilica, where Rick Steves' tour will provide you with insights into the history, art, and architecture of this iconic religious site.
🌞 Take a Day Trip to Pompeii
Here is a great tour that will take you to Pompeii!
TRANSPORTATION
No need to rent a car in Italy, you can take the train between cities. Within the cities, you can walk almost everywhere or grab an Uber.
WHERE TO STAY IN ITALY
WHERE TO STAY IN VENICE
Ca' Pisani Deco Design Hotel // ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ // $
Splendid Venice // ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ // $$
Hotel Ai Reali // ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ // $$$
WHERE TO STAY IN FLORENCE
Gallery Hotel Art // ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ // $
Grand Hotel Minerva // ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ // $$
Hotel Savoy, A Rocco Forte Hotel // ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ // $$$
WHERE TO STAY IN ROME
Hotel Chapter Roma // ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ // $
G-Rough // ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ // $$ (I love the location of this hotel!)
Hotel Vilòn // ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ // $$$
If you are interested in getting VIP perks at some of these hotels at no extra cost to you, reach out to me, and we’ll get planning!
CHEAP FLIGHT DEALS TO ITALY FOR THANKSGIVING 2023
I tried to find:
The best deals
Layovers that aren’t god-awful
Around a 10-day trip
If the prices go up, check out Google Flights or reach out to me, and I can try to find you a new flight.
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DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $874
LAYOVER: 2 layovers on the way there, 1 on the way home
AIRLINE: American/British Airways
LINK: Google Flights link
-
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $829
LAYOVER: 1 layover there, nonstop on the way back
AIRLINE: Air France/Delta
LINK: Google Flights link
-
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $749
LAYOVER: 2 layovers there, 1 on the way home
AIRLINE: American/British Airways
LINK: Google Flights link
-
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $779
LAYOVER: 1 layover both ways
AIRLINE: American/British Airways
LINK: Google Flights link
-
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Thu, Nov 30
COST: $544
LAYOVER: 1 layover both ways
AIRLINE: American/British Airways
LINK: Google Flights link
-
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $543
LAYOVER: 2 layovers there, 1 on the way back
AIRLINE: Delta/Air France
LINK: Google Flights link
-
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $749
LAYOVER: 1 layover both ways
AIRLINE: American/British Airways
LINK: Google Flights link
-
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $780
LAYOVER: 1 layover both ways
AIRLINE: Delta/Air France
LINK: Google Flights link
-
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $640
LAYOVER: 1 layover both ways
AIRLINE: Delta/Air France
LINK: Google Flights link
-
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $724
LAYOVER: 1 layover on the way there, nonstop on the way back
AIRLINE: SWISS/United
LINK: Google Flights link
-
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $600
LAYOVER: 1 layover both ways
AIRLINE: Air France
LINK: Google Flights link
-
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $923
LAYOVER: 1 layover both ways
AIRLINE: Air France
LINK: Google Flights link
-
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $704
LAYOVER: 2 layovers there, 1 on the way back
AIRLINE: American/British Airways
LINK: Google Flights link
-
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $603
LAYOVER: 1 layover both ways
AIRLINE: British Airways/Finnair
LINK: Google Flights link
-
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $867
LAYOVER: 1 layover both ways
AIRLINE: SWISS/United
LINK: Google Flights link
-
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $779
LAYOVER: 1 layover both ways
AIRLINE: American/British Airways
LINK: Google Flights link
-
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $699
LAYOVER: 2 layovers on the way there, one on the way home
AIRLINE: American/British Airways
LINK: Google Flights link
-
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $718
LAYOVER: 2 layovers there, one on the way back
AIRLINE: American/British Airways
LINK: Google Flights link
-
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $559
LAYOVER: 1 layover both ways
AIRLINE: American/British Airways
LINK: Google Flights link
-
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Thu, Nov 30
COST: $773
LAYOVER: 2 layovers there, one on the way back
AIRLINE: American/British Airways
LINK: Google Flights link
-
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $657
LAYOVER: 1 layover both ways
AIRLINE: Delta/KLM
LINK: Google Flights link
-
FLIGHTS: PHX to Rome // Venice to PHX
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $658
LAYOVER: 1 layover both ways
AIRLINE: American/British Airways
LINK: Google Flights link
-
FLIGHTS: ORD to Rome // Venice to ORD
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $662
LAYOVER: 1 layover both ways
AIRLINE: Air France/Delta/KLM
LINK: Google Flights link
-
FLIGHTS: SAN to Venice // Rome to SAN
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $720
LAYOVER: 1 layover both ways
AIRLINE: American/British Airways
LINK: Google Flights link
-
FLIGHTS: SEA to Venice // Rome to SEA
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $796
LAYOVER: 1 layover both ways
AIRLINE: Lufthansa
LINK: Google Flights link
-
FLIGHTS: SFO to Venice // Rome to SFO
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $859
LAYOVER: 1 layover both ways
AIRLINE: Delta/Airfrance
LINK: Google Flights link
-
FLIGHTS: SLC to Venice // Rome to SLC
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $890
LAYOVER: 1 layover both ways
AIRLINE: Delta/Air France
LINK: Google Flights link
-
FLIGHTS: TPA to Rome // Venice to TPA
DEPARTURE: Sun, Nov 19
RETURN: Wed, Nov 29
COST: $752
LAYOVER: 1 layover there, 2 layover one the way home
AIRLINE: British Airways/American
LINK: Google Flights link
I hope you found this quick and dirty itinerary helpful! I’d love to help you with your trip (just with hotels or a full-on itinerary). Reach out if you want to start planning your adventure!
xoxo,
Syd
