Great Trips... Made Better With Beer!
Italy! Rome, Villaggio della Birra, Bologna & Venice
September 2 - 14, 2024
Departs every year in September
One of the most unique beer festivals anywhere - Villagio della Birra in Tuscany, a wide range of Italian and international beers and flavors, a good dose of classic Italian cities - Rome, Siena, Florence, Bologna, and Venice. A great way to discover Italy!
Italy is a wine country... right? Over the last 20 or so years -- especially the last 10 -- Italy has become a beer country, too. Creative brewers embracing local and regional culinary traditions have sprung forth to offer Italian interpretations of the world's great beer styles. Join us as we seek out the best of beer, food, history, and wine in Rome, Tuscany, Bologna, and iconic Venice.
We start in awe-inspiring Rome, feeling its living history and global influence in every step.
A beer festival in Tuscany, you say? Villaggio della Birra is a festival like no other, and is the beery keystone of our trip. Brewers from Belgium, the UK, the US, Spain, Norway all in attendance. Add some festival-loving Italians in costume, weilding loaves of Mozzerella, live music, face painting, amazing food vendors -- and you have a uniquely Tuscan beer festival.
We continue to gloriously historic and under-touristed Bologna, and dive into Emilia-Romagna
for Parma-things, and 2 great breweries. Enjoy fine hotels, great beer and excellent Italian cuisine before ending the trip in frenetic and beautiful Venice. Locally guided beer and food walks, daily breakfasts, travel by rail and private coach, tons of history and natural beauty, and wonderful brewery hospitality await. Discover a side of Italy few have seen as we meet friendly brewers and have special tours. We will also feature other culinary producers, and a winery or two. Come to Italy on a BeerTrip!
Trip Price (Land-only, Based on double occupancy)
$4,350 per person | Single Room add extra $985
Beer Highlights & Brewery Visits*
Italian Cuisine and Beer - Creative brewers are taking food and beer (and you) to delicious places | Brewpub/Brewery Visits | Villaggio Della Birra | Discover a wide variety of excellent interpretations of classic beer styles | Great coffee, wine and food are simply the norm in Italy | Good folks to travel with who will share your ecclectic taste for antipasti, gelato, mortadella, parmesan, wine, and excellent beer!
Overnight Stays*
Rome - 3 nights | Siena - 2 nights | Florence - 1 night | Bologna - 3 nights | Venice - 2 nights
Included Tours
Tour of Rome's Colosseum | City Tours in Rome, Bologna and Venice | Food and Drinks tours in Rome and Bologna
Include Meals
9 Breakfasts | 4 Lunches | 3 Dinners
Arrival & Departure
Trip Begins in Rome | Trip Ends in Venice
Daily Itinerary*
Day 1 – Monday, September 2
Travel to Rome, Italy -- The Eternal City
Fly to Rome, Italy
Overnight on a plane
Day 2 – Tuesday, September 3
Arrive in Rome, Trastevere Beer Walk, Welcome Beers and Dinner
Ah Roma! The place where so many of our traditions began – language, culture, art, architecture, and food! And pretty good beer scene, too. Upon arrival, transfer to our hotel in the truly Roman neighborhood of Trastevere, just across the Tiber River from Old Rome. Settle in and meet the group for an informal walk and pub crawl in the cool neighborhood surrounding the hotel. We'll head to one of the best beer bars in Rome - Ma Che Siete Venuti A Fà - for an Italian style Beer Tasting. Afterward we will explore a bit more, and have dinner at an aptly named eatery - Bir & Fud. The rest of the night is free.
Overnight in Rome.
Day 3 – Wednesday, September 4
Rome Walking Tour, Beer Lunch, Colosseum, Roman forum Palatine Hill
This morning we will meet our friendly and knowledgeable local guide for a walk around some of the cities main sights – historic monuments and piazzas, hidden streets, famous fountains, and stories of old Rome. The tour will end at Brewdog Roma for lunch, just a stones throw from the Colosseum, where we will have a tour this afternoon. There is time to see the Forum and Palatine Hill as well. Evening is free.
Overnight in Rome.
Day 4 – Thursday, September 5
Full Free Day in Fantastic Rome Italy, Trastevere Food Tour
Full Day free to do as you please – The Vatican, Villa Borghese, small churches with great art, shopping and the Spanish Steps, Pub-crawl? Impromptu Rome? This evening we will take a multi-flavored, guided food, drinks, and history tour, with the opportunity to taste a variety of local flavors in our 'home' neighborhood, Trastevere.
Overnight in Rome.
Day 5 – Friday, September 6
Train to Tuscany, Hill Towns, Winery Visit, Lunch in hilltop Pienza, Villagio!
Early start, depart the hotel, taxi and train to Chiusi and the eastern edge of Tuscany. Meet our local guide, load the van, and travel into the hills of Tuscany for a day and tours and tastes in quintessential Italy. We will stop for an aperitivo with a great view, visit a scenic brewery, a Brunello producer for a winery tour and tasting, and enjoy a great local lunch in the lovely hill town of Pienza. Continue to Siena, home of famous rivalries and horse races and the host of Villagio della Birra 2022. Check-in to our well-located hotel, and then we will walk the short distance to Villagio della Birra – with lots of food available, beer from many European and Belgian brewers, live music, and international beer folks as well.
Overnight in Siena.
Day 6 – Saturday, September 7
AM Siena walking tour, PM free – Villagio della Birra – day and night
After a nice Italian breakfast we'll meet our local guide for a walk around Siena's 'rival' neighborhoods and learn about the long history of life in the many-towered city, including the Palio di Siena, a horse race that is held twice each year. Ten horses and riders, bareback in the city square, Piazza del Campo! The afternoon and evening are free to explore and eventually head back to the festival, which will be in full swing – great beer, food, and live music, too.
Overnight in Siena.
Day 7 – Sunday, September 8
Morning Train to Florence, Walking Tour, Beer Dinner
This morning we head to Florence – the birthplace of the Renaissance and home to art and culture for centuries. After checking-in to our well located hotel, we will meet a local guide for a walk around the historic city. The afternoon is free to explore and visit the many museums, piazzas, river walks, beer bars, and churches. This evening we will have an Italian Beer Dinner – wine my be involved too!
Overnight in Florence.
Day 8 – Monday, September 9
AM Free in Florence, Afternoon Train to Bologna, Evening Food Tour
More time in beautiful Florence, sleep-in, enjoy breakfast, or hit the ground running and see more of renaissance city, before our mid-afternoon train to Bologna! We'll arrive in the home of Europe's oldest university, famous for mortadella and bolognese sauce, among other local specialties. With a culinary tradition and a university, you might guess there are also many great places specializing in local, international, and Italian beers. We will meet a local guide for a walking food and drinks tour tonight, a welcome and some orientation in our home for 3 nights, featuring tastes of the city. Late evening is free.
Overnight in Bologna.
Day 9 – Tuesday, September 10
Bologna (and mortadella) Day! AM walking tour, PM and Evening free
After breakfast we will set out on foot with a local guide for history and sightseeing, stops for espresso, vino, and birra may be involved, along with a chance to plan the rest of your day. This afternoon and evening are open to enjoy this amazing city. A bit of beer questing is probably in order as well!
Overnight in Bologna.
Day 10 – Wednesday, September 11
Brewery and Tasting Day Trip, Fidenza - Toccalmato, and Parma - Gregorio
We make a worthy detour this morning, following old trade routes past Modena and Reggio Emiliano to Parma, home of the famous cheese and Birrificio Gregorio. We will stop for exploration, then lunch at the brewery tap – purveyor of amazing sandwiches crafted from local ingredients. Continue to Fidenza, home to Birrificio Toccalmatto for a visit and thorough tasting. Evening return to Bologna, the night is free to relax, dine, visit some beer bars, or find live music – or all of the above!
Overnight in Bologna.
Day 11 – Thursday, September 12
Train to Venice, Guided City Tour, Evening Free
After a nice breakfast, we will catch and early-ish train to Venice. On arrival we'll meander the streets of Venice from the station to our hotel. Check-in, drop luggage, and break for lunch (on your own) and exploring in our great Venetian neighborhood. Later, we will meet our local guide for a walking tour, including hidden piazzas and canals, and ending at St. Marks Cathedral in the heart of the city. Beauty and history abound. We will make a beer stop or two, of course. This is a great chance to ask a local about your interests for the free day tomorrow. The evening and dinner are open for spontaneous happenings and landing in one or two of Venice's specialty beer bars.
Overnight in Venice.
Day 12 – Friday, September 13
Full Free day in Venice, Farewell Dinner
Free time in Venice – Many choices, options abound. Palaces, Piazzas, Gondolas, eat drink and be merry, ride a ferry and sight see, or visit an island... Tonight we celebrate our trip with a Farewell Venetian Beer Dinner in friendly environs.
Overnight in Venice.
Day 13 – Saturday, September 14
Farewell Italy! Travel home
Enjoy breakfast, take a train or scenic water taxi to the airport for your flight home. Cheers!
Overnight in Your House.
Trip Deposit (per person)
$400.00
Number of person:
* The deposit is refundable less a $50 cancellation fee up to 60 days prior to departure. For cancellations made less than 60 days prior to departure, the full deposit will be forfeited. For cancellations made after final payment, refunds will be made (where possible) according to service contracts and supplier guidelines; these refunds will be based on recoverable expenses. See the full Terms and Conditions here.
TRAVEL DETAILS:
Air Travel is not included. Travelers are encouraged to use mileage awards, travel outside group dates, or visit other European cities while abroad to make the most out of the trip. Please confirm the trip's operation before purchasing air tickets.
Most Trips officially begin in the lobby of the first hotel. Meeting times, information about getting from the airport or train station to the hotel, the detailed itinerary, hotel addresses, and a trip roster will be included with your Final Trip Documents, which you'll receive 2 - 3 weeks before the trip.
How we travel on tour: All included excursions and visits include transportation. Within the cities, we rely on walking and private or public transportation (uber, taxis, busses, trams, etc.). Travel between cities is by private motor coach, luxury van, ferry, and/or rail.
REGARDING INCLUDED MEALS AND BEER:
We don't mess around when it comes to food and beer. Restaurants -- tried and true -- have been carefully selected, based on quality, local knowledge, and insider tips. On a Beer Trip, included meals mean you may order as you please - including beer, appetizers, dessert, etc. We are not stingy -- a lot of food and beer is included on every Beer Trip.
PLEASE NOTE:
A BeerTrips beer tour is best suited for somewhat adventurous, beer-loving travelers who want the camaraderie and structure of a tour, as well as the opportunity to explore independently. Planned events, brewery visits, locally guided tours, and some excursions are, of course, formally "guided". Travel days, on trains, public means, or the beer bus, as well some group walks, are blissfully unstructured, though travelers can always rely on the support and assistance of the trip leader.
THIS ITINERARY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE:
In rare cases, it may be necessary to alter the itinerary based on brewery or hotel availability, force majeur, acts of dieties, common sense, or bad weather, etc. Smaller breweries, as well as the Trappists, are often unable to commit to hosting groups until a couple of weeks before we arrive. Substitutions, when necessary, will be as good as what we replaced. And, don't worry, the beer is always good!