Best of Italy

Check in to your Rome hotel in the early afternoon and spend the rest of your day at leisure. The city is a sightseers’ paradise with architectural delights to be found around every corner. Perhaps take a stroll around the area known as Ancient Rome to see the iconic Colosseum or check out Vatican City, home of the pope. All entrance fees, attractions and meals are at your own expense.
Overnight: 3-star Hotel Rome Garden or Holiday Inn Express or 4-star Hotel Mediterraneo

Leave the city after breakfast by coach and travel north to the hilltop town of Assisi in Umbria. A UNESCO World Heritage-listed town, Assisi is best known as the birthplace of Italy’s patron saint, St Francis of Assisi. Stop for a walk with your guide, seeing the incredible Basilica di San Francesco, which is dedicated to the saint, as well as Santa Maria degli Angeli Church.

Continue traveling west into Tuscany to visit the city of Siena. Surrounded by ancient walls, the city is best-known as the venue for the Palio, a famous horse race. Stroll around at leisure, exploring Piazza del Campo where the Palio takes place each year, and see other highlights like Siena Cathedral and Palazzo Comunale – the city’s elegant Gothic palace. Return to your coach and travel to Florence to check in to your hotel. Spend the rest of your evening at leisure.

After breakfast at your hotel, head out on a morning tour by coach with your guide. Taking in the city’s architectural highlights your tour visits places like Piazza della Signoria – home to the majestic Palazzo Vecchio – and Piazza della Duomo to see Florence Duomo topped by Brunelleschi’s Dome. Admire Giotto’s Bell Tower and learn about Renaissance art in the city from your guide.

Break for lunch at a traditional restaurant in Piazza Santa Croce, and then finish your tour back at your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure. Perhaps take a stroll across Florence’s magnificent bridge – the Ponte Vecchio – to visit the bohemian Oltrarno neighborhood, or relax in the beautiful Boboli Gardens. An optional excursion to the nearby city of Pisa can be also be arranged at your own expense.

Depart from Florence after breakfast and travel north out of Tuscany to Bologna in Emilia Romagna. The birthplace of the widely loved pasta dish – Spaghetti Bolognese – the foodie haven of Bologna has some magnificent monuments, too. Walk around town with your guide, passing through Piazza Nettuno to see the Fountain of Neptune while learning about lavish palaces like Palazzo Re Enzo and Palazzo del Podestà.

Leave Bologna after lunch (own expense), and relax on the journey northeast to Padua, the neighboring town to Venice. Enjoy time at leisure to explore the city’s handsome streets or visit its most celebrated monument – St Anthony’s Basilica. Meet your guide at the pre-arranged time, and then travel to Venice. Check in to your hotel and enjoy dinner.

Overnight: 3-star Hotel Delfino or 4-star Hotel Carlton Gran Canal in Venice
Depart from Florence after breakfast and travel north out of Tuscany to Bologna in Emilia Romagna. The birthplace of the widely loved pasta dish – Spaghetti Bolognese – the foodie haven of Bologna has some magnificent monuments, too. Walk around town with your guide, passing through Piazza Nettuno to see the Fountain of Neptune while learning about lavish palaces like Palazzo Re Enzo and Palazzo del Podestà.

Relax over breakfast and then meet your guide at Piazza San Marco for your morning Venice tour of by vaporetto – one of the city’s water buses. Ride around the canals, and hop off at the important sights to get up close to the attractions. Admire Doge’s Palace, where the doges of Venice once ruled, and then head inside St Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco) to see Italian Byzantine architecture at its finest. Dripping with gold and ornate mosaics, the cathedral came to symbolize the wealth and power of 11th-century Venice.

Head back outside and stop for photos by St Mark’s Campanile – the cathedral’s distinctive red bell tower. Your tour then finishes in town, and you can spend the rest of your afternoon and evening sightseeing independently or relaxing.
Overnight: 3-star Hotel Delfino or 4-star Hotel Carlton Gran Canal in Venice

Leave Venice after breakfast and return south to Tuscany, traveling by luxury coach. Rather than a city stop, your tour’s next visit is to the hilltown of Montepulciano in a picturesque area known as Val d’Orcia. As you explore the town independently, soak up the views of the gently rolling Chianti hills that surround you, and admire the gorgeous Renaissance architecture. The town is best known for its wine production, so make the most of your time here to shop for quality Tuscan wines. After enjoying lunch (own expense), return to your coach and travel south to Rome to check into your hotel.

Overnight: 3-star Hotel Rome Garden or Holiday Inn Express or 4-star Hotel Bettoja in Rome
Leave Venice after breakfast and return south to Tuscany, traveling by luxury coach. Rather than a city stop, your tour’s next visit is to the hilltown of Montepulciano in a picturesque area known as Val d’Orcia. As you explore the town independently, soak up the views of the gently rolling Chianti hills that surround you, and admire the gorgeous Renaissance architecture. The town is best known for its wine production, so make the most of your time here to shop for quality Tuscan wines. After enjoying lunch (own expense), return to your coach and travel south to Rome to check into your hotel.

Overnight: 3-star Hotel Rome Garden or Holiday Inn Express or 4-star Hotel Bettoja in Rome

After breakfast, start your day with a morning tour of Rome’s highlights. Visiting the Vatican City, get ready to skip the line and start your tour of the Vatican Museums. You will visit the most important art collections and you will also have the opportunity to admire the beautiful Spiral Stairway. The Gallery of Tapestries and Geographical maps will be also visited before arriving to the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica.
Your tour will finish here and you have all the afternoon to explore the Vatican City at your pleasure. Once you decide that you cannot do any more walking, return to your hotel and give your feet some rest!
Overnight: 3-star Hotel Rome Garden or Holiday Inn Express or 4-star Hotel Bettoja in RomeAfter breakfast, start your day with a morning tour of Rome’s highlights. Visiting the Vatican City, get ready to skip the line and start your tour of the Vatican Museums. You will visit the most important art collections and you will also have the opportunity to admire the beautiful Spiral Stairway. The Gallery of Tapestries and Geographical maps will be also visited before arriving to the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica.
Your tour will finish here and you have all the afternoon to explore the Vatican City at your pleasure. Once you decide that you cannot do any more walking, return to your hotel and give your feet some rest!
Overnight: 3-star Hotel Rome Garden or Holiday Inn Express or 4-star Hotel Bettoja in Rome

Leave central Rome in the morning, and travel by coach to sunny Naples – your first destination of the day! Arrive around late morning, and then set off to explore on a leisurely paced walking tour. Centered on its UNESCO Cultural Heritage site (Naples’ historical center), your tour takes in the top city attractions like Piazza del Plebiscito – home to the Royal Palace of Naples (Palazzo Reale) – and Galleria Umbero I, with its glass-roofed arcade.

Travel inland to Pompeii and, after lunch in town, visit its UNESCO-listed archaeological site to see the ancient Roman ruins with your guide. Hear how Pompeii lay buried under volcanic ash for centuries following Mount Vesuvius’ 79 BC eruption, and marvel at the incredible ruins that are scattered around. Return to your coach and travel to the Amalfi Coast. Stop in the picture-perfect town of Sorrento and check in to your hotel in time for dinner.

Overnight: 3-star Villa Maria and 4-star Hotel Michelangelo or Grand Hotel Flora
Leave central Rome in the morning, and travel by coach to sunny Naples – your first destination of the day! Arrive around late morning, and then set off to explore on a leisurely paced walking tour. Centered on its UNESCO Cultural Heritage site (Naples’ historical center), your tour takes in the top city attractions like Piazza del Plebiscito – home to the Royal Palace of Naples (Palazzo Reale) – and Galleria Umbero I, with its glass-roofed arcade.

Breakfast and check-out.
8:30 a.m.: The guide will pick you up at the hotel for your taxi transfer to Tasch where the car is waiting.
Scenic drive through the valley of the river Rhone, along vineyards and orchards to Lake Geneva where you will visit the castle Chillon, a fortress from the first millennium that gained fame from the poems of Lord Byron (1 hour private guided tour).
After the castle tour you will have a short drive through the beautiful Lavaux wine region, a UNESCO Natural Heritage and will have a late lunch in one of the typical restaurants overlooking the lake and the wine yards.
After lunch a *direct scenic drive (highway) to Zurich is followed and on request a short tour of Zurich can be on the plan before you check-in.
Time for shopping and to enjoy the city of Zurich
*Have a stop at the medieval town Gruyere for a short visit if you don’t want to go for shopping in Zurich. Breakfast and check-out.
8:30 a.m.: The guide will pick you up at the hotel for your taxi transfer to Tasch where the car is waiting.
Scenic drive through the valley of the river Rhone, along vineyards and orchards to Lake Geneva where you will visit the castle Chillon, a fortress from the first millennium that gained fame from the poems of Lord Byron (1 hour private guided tour).
After the castle tour you will have a short drive through the beautiful Lavaux wine region, a UNESCO Natural Heritage and will have a late lunch in one of the typical restaurants overlooking the lake and the wine yards.
After lunch a *direct scenic drive (highway) to Zurich is followed and on request a short tour of Zurich can be on the plan before you check-in.
Time for shopping and to enjoy the city of Zurich
*Have a stop at the medieval town Gruyere for a short visit if you don’t want to go for shopping in Zurich.Breakfast and check-out.
8:30 a.m.: The guide will pick you up at the hotel for your taxi transfer to Tasch where the car is waiting.
Scenic drive through the valley of the river Rhone, along vineyards and orchards to Lake Geneva where you will visit the castle Chillon, a fortress from the first millennium that gained fame from the poems of Lord Byron (1 hour private guided tour).
After the castle tour you will have a short drive through the beautiful Lavaux wine region, a UNESCO Natural Heritage and will have a late lunch in one of the typical restaurants overlooking the lake and the wine yards.
After lunch a *direct scenic drive (highway) to Zurich is followed and on request a short tour of Zurich can be on the plan before you check-in.
Time for shopping and to enjoy the city of Zurich
*Have a stop at the medieval town Gruyere for a short visit if you don’t want to go for shopping in Zurich.Breakfast and check-out.
8:30 a.m.: The guide will pick you up at the hotel for your taxi transfer to Tasch where the car is waiting.
Scenic drive through the valley of the river Rhone, along vineyards and orchards to Lake Geneva where you will visit the castle Chillon, a fortress from the first millennium that gained fame from the poems of Lord Byron (1 hour private guided tour).
After the castle tour you will have a short drive through the beautiful Lavaux wine region, a UNESCO Natural Heritage and will have a late lunch in one of the typical restaurants overlooking the lake and the wine yards.
After lunch a *direct scenic drive (highway) to Zurich is followed and on request a short tour of Zurich can be on the plan before you check-in.
Time for shopping and to enjoy the city of Zurich
*Have a stop at the medieval town Gruyere for a short visit if you don’t want to go for shopping in Zurich.

After breakfast, spend your morning in Sorrento at leisure. If you’ve not had much time to discover its charm, then here’s your chance. Perhaps take a stroll along Corso Italia and climb the steps to see atmospheric Piazza Tasso, tucked away in the heart of Sorrento Old Town. Soak up views of the sun-soaked cliffs, where Sorrento’s houses almost seem to be stacked on top of each other, and then shop for any last-minute souvenirs of the gorgeous Amalfi Coast.

Meet your guide at the pre-arranged time, and then return to Rome by coach.

Overnight: 3-star Hotel Rome Garden or Holiday Inn Express or 4-star Hotel Mediterraneo, Hotel Massimo D’Azeglio or Beverly Hills in Rome
After breakfast, spend your morning in Sorrento at leisure. If you’ve not had much time to discover its charm, then here’s your chance. Perhaps take a stroll along Corso Italia and climb the steps to see atmospheric Piazza Tasso, tucked away in the heart of Sorrento Old Town. Soak up views of the sun-soaked cliffs, where Sorrento’s houses almost seem to be stacked on top of each other, and then shop for any last-minute souvenirs of the gorgeous Amalfi Coast.

Meet your guide at the pre-arranged time, and then return to Rome by coach.

Overnight: 3-star Hotel Rome Garden or Holiday Inn Express or 4-star Hotel Mediterraneo, Hotel Massimo D’Azeglio or Beverly Hills in Rome

Your 10-night Rome tour finishes after breakfast in your hotel.