Epic Europe: Central and Italy

The best way to experience a city is by doing as the locals do – that means using public transport such as trams, trains, buses and metro at some locations. You’ll get an authentic look at daily life but be aware you may find yourself sharing a busy bus ride with local commuters. The trains used on this trip are comfortable, and all have toilets but can also be very busy.

Europe is steeped in history, which means sometimes the infrastructure is old. Often there are no lifts or escalators, particularly in some train stations or hotels. The cobblestone streets, narrow steps and tiny bridges of Europe are very romantic but they’re also a good reason to pack light and leave the wheeling suitcase at home. You may have to carry your bags up and down stairs, as well as some short distances to the hotel. Make sure it doesn’t exceed our weight and size recommendations – check the 'Packing' section of the Essential Trip Information.

Summer temperatures can be very high in many of the regions visited (over 40°C), which can be uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat, and drink plenty of water. Please keep in mind that many European hotel rooms are not equipped with air-conditioning. In Winter, warm waterproof layers will be needed as snow and rain can be expected. Carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.

As some accommodation on this trip is twin or multishare, solo travellers will share a room with other travellers of the same gender, an excellent opportunity to get to know other like-minded people. For those travelling as a pair, European hotels often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together.

1. Pre and post tour accommodation and transfers are available to book upon request, subject to availability. Please contact your booking agent for more details.
2. A single supplement is not available on this trip. 
3.Venice will implement a visitor’s fee for all travellers visiting the city between 18 April 2025 and 27 July 2025 This fee is not payable by Intrepid customers; however, you will need to apply for an exemption before arrival at https://cda.comune.venezia.it/en/richiestaEsenzione. For further information, please see the “Passports, visas and entry requirements,” section of your Essential Trip Information

What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the countries you are visiting and when you are travelling. Generally speaking, we recommend you pack as lightly as possible and make sure that you are able to carry and lift your own luggage and walk with it for short distances or up or down a flight of stairs. Our travellers usually find the smaller their luggage is, the more they enjoy the trip not having to worry about carrying heavy bags! Aim to keep your main luggage under 15kg.

Many travellers carry their luggage in a compact smaller suitcase or backpack with wheels. We recommend your bag has carry straps or handles so it is easy to lift and carry for the times you are unable to wheel it (ie. on rough surfaces or up steps).

If you are taking overnight trains, or primarily using public transport then the smaller your luggage the easier it will be to store under or above bunks. Large suitcases may not be able to be taken on board. A lockable bag or small padlock for your bag will be useful especially when travelling on public transportation as well.

You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water, camera, swimming suit, waterproof pouch/bag for phone, hiking shoes and jacket etc. when you’re exploring during the day.

Below we have listed the essentials for this trip:, https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list, WATER BOTTLE
Please bring your own water bottle to refill along the way. Although it can be difficult to avoid bottled water when travelling, please use the water dispensers which are provided on some of our vehicles and at some of our accommodation. Your group leader or local representative will advise whether tap water is safe to drink in your destination, and if it is, you can simply refill it with tap water. When unable to avoid bottled water, it is better to buy the largest available and distribute it into your smaller bottle for the day. If you are walking or trekking as part of your trip you will need to carry at least 2L of water with you.

This trip can be enjoyed by just about anyone with a reasonable level of fitness. Some trips may have individual inclusions that may be of a higher physical rating compared to the overall rating of the trip. Please read the day-to-day itinerary carefully to find out more details on each day's activities, and whether they are suitable for you. Activities can be opted out of if you don't want to participate.

Safestay Berlin Kurfurstendamm, Bayreuther Str.10, 10789, Berlin, GERMANY

Safestay Berlin Kurfürstendam is located in the heart of the Bavarian Quarter just a 10-minute walk from Berlin’s top attractions.Hotel is surrounded by independent shops, cosy cafés, prominent buildings and monuments, and traditional German eateries. With the metro station a mere 3-minute walk away, you’ll have easy access to all the renowned spots that Berlin has to offer.

Hotel offers private rooms with an ensuite bathroom, free Wi-Fi, TV, a safe, a desk, and kettles with sachets of tea and coffee.

Alternate Joining Point

Pre booked arrival transfer from Berlin Airport (BER): If you have pre booked an arrival transfer your transfer driver will be waiting at the exit after baggage claim, holding a board with the Intrepid Logo or your name on it. In case of flight cancellations, changes, if you experience severe delays at immigration, baggage collection or customs, or if you are not able to find the driver, please contact the transfer operator directly: +49 30 2016 3040. Alternatively, take train from BER airport in direction of the city centre to Zoologischergarten train station. Change into an U2 underground train in direction of Pankow and get off at station Wittenbergplatz. From there it is a 3 minute walk to the hotel.

B&B Hotel Roma San Lorenzo Termini, Via dei Sabelli, 177, Rome, 00185, ITALY

Alternate Finish Point

To Fiumicino FCO Airport: take the Leonardo Express train from “Roma Termini” or take the Regionale Veloce train from "Roma Tiburtina" or "Roma Termini" to “Fiumicino Aeroporto”.

To Ciampino CIA Airport: take the Regionale Veloce train towards from "Roma Tiburtina" or "Roma Termini" to “Ciampino Aeroporto”.

By Train

To Termini station: take bus no. 71 at the "Tiburtina/Reti" heading in the “Lega Lombarda/Provncie” direction for 5 stops. Get off at the “Turati/Fanti” bus stop on via Filippo Turati

To Tiburtina station: Take bus no 163, 545 or 448 to Tiburtina station (only one direction)

The B&B Hotel Roma San Lorenzo Termini is a 3-star hotel located in the historic San Lorenzo area, equidistant from Rome’s Termini and Tiburtina train stations. 

Breakfasts included: 9

Lunches included: 

Dinners included: 1

While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader or local representative will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. If you have dietary requirements and/or food allergies, please let your booking agent know prior to departure.

VEGETARIANS
Vegetarians might find the menu selection in Europe less varied than they would see at home. Vegetarianism is not as common in this region and generally the choices are basic, involving vegetables, soups, salads, bread, cheese, fruit, yoghurt, eggs etc. Vegans and those on gluten-free diets may find this region very challenging and may need to supplement meals with their own supplies from supermarkets and markets. Wherever possible we will cater for dietary needs for any included meals, but there may be times when those with special requirements may need to provide their own.

BREAKFASTS
There are some continental breakfasts included on this trip which may simply include bread/toast or pastries, butter, jam, coffee/tea/juice (or similar).

SUMMER
Summer temperatures can be extreme in many of the regions visited (over 40°C/104°F), which can be uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection and drink plenty of water. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.

SHOULDER SEASON
In contrast, weather in shoulder season can be unpredictable, and snow is not unheard of at higher altitudes. If you travel at the start or towards the end of the European season please pack accordingly with warm and/or waterproof clothes (preferably layers). The advantage of travelling during this time is that there are less tourists around.

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us

If you have booked an arrival transfer, and you experience severe delays at immigration, baggage collection or customs, or if you are not able to find to the driver, please contact the transfer operator directly on the number listed in the joining point instructions in the section above.

In the case of a genuine crisis or emergency, Intrepid's Europe Operations Team can be reached on the number listed below:

Intrepid's Local Operator: +49 8024 4679 540

We've sourced our accommodation very carefully and picked the best possible hotels in line with the Intrepid 18 to 35s style of travel. Our first accommodation choice is always as close to the main attraction of the destination as possible, however, sometimes we are not in the right centre of action, which means you may need to hop on a public transport to get to the city centre. Service and accommodation in Europe may be different to the standards you are used to. Your accommodation will not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges and in particular destinations, rooms may be rather small.

OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.

ROOMING ALLOCATION
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multi-share basis. We pair up solo travellers with other travellers of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. 

CHECK-IN TIME
Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for your arrival, especially if you're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means you won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, you can store your luggage and go exploring.

PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.

TRANSPORT IN EUROPE
Half the fun of travel is the travelling itself, that's why we like to travel the local way – whether that means mingling with commuters on a local train, watching the scenery roll by from the window of a long distance bus, arriving on a high speed train in the city centre of your next destination, or navigating each city's public transport system. In Europe, you are guaranteed to travel by genuine local public transport wherever possible, which puts you right in the centre of the action.