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12 minute read

Which Italy Tour is Best for You?

April 15, 2025

Italy offers something for everyone: turquoise waters in Amalfi (pictured above), endless vineyards in Tuscany, ancient ruins in Sicily, captivating history in Rome...the list goes on. It’s one of many reasons why the beloved country appears in two of our most popular Europe tours – and why we’ve designed five small group tours to Italy, each with its own regional focus, topics of interest, and unique highlights.

With all of these wonderful possibilities, we know it can be hard to choose where to start your exploration of “Europe’s boot.” Read below to learn about the special features of our Italy tours and find out which one best matches your dream adventure. Then, reserve your spot and discover a slice of la dolce vita for yourself.

 

Portrait of Italy

For travelers who want to experience the best of Italy, all in one small group trip.

Venice

Stays in: Amalfi Coast, Rome, Umbria, Tuscany, and Venice
Length: 16 days
Price: From $4,974, air and land inclusive (click here for specific pricing info)
Post-Tour Extension: 3 days in Venice, on your own
At a Glance:

  1. Many famous Italy attractions: three-night Amalfi coast stay with a cruise and sightseeing; Pompeii archaeological site; Rome touring, including the Colosseum, the Forum, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica; full-day Florence excursion, including walking tour, Galleria dell’Accademia, and the Duomo; and more
  2. Delicious cuisine, including a cooking demonstration and dinner at a local farmhouse and a winery tour and tasting
  3. Panoramic tour of Italy, from the southern Amalfi Coast to centrally-located Rome and northbound to Tuscany and Venice

From the breathtaking Amalfi Coast to eternal Rome, through the gentle Umbrian and Tuscan countryside to timeless Venice, this wide-ranging tour showcases ancient sites, contemporary life, priceless art, and beautiful natural scenery.

 

Northern Italy

For travelers looking for a refreshing perspective on the lakes, countryside, and coastline of this well-known land.

Cinque Terre

Stays in: Stresa, Santa Margherita, Radda-in-Chianti, Bolzano, and Venice
Length: 15 days
Price: From $5,374, air and land inclusive (click here for specific pricing info)
Post-Tour Extension: 3 days in Venice, on your own
At a Glance:

  1. Italy’s Lake District, including touring in Stresa and medieval Orta San Giulio, as well as a cruise on Lake Maggiore with visits to Borromean islands
  2. Full-day excursion to Cinque Terre, featuring sightseeing in the villages of Vernazza and Portovenere and a cruise along the Italian Riviera coastline
  3. Tuscany and the Dolomites, including medieval Lucca, glorious Florence, walled Siena, romantic Verona, and mountain-encircled Bolzano – ending with sightseeing and free time in Venice during our two-night stay

This tour offers a leisurely exploration of the romantic Lake District, dramatic Cinque Terre, beloved Tuscany, the majestic Dolomites, and canal-laced Venice. As we meander through Italy’s varied northern regions, we celeb­rate the Italian penchant for hospi­tality, good food, and good living.

 

Southern Italy & Sicily

For travelers interested in the history, architecture, and archaeology of Italy and Sicily, paired with plenty of sun and sea.

Taormina's Greek theater

Stays in: Taormina, Matera, Lecce, and Sorrento
Length: 15 days
Price: From $5,374, air and land inclusive (click here for specific pricing info)
Post-Tour Extension: 4 days in Rome, on your own
At a Glance:

  1. Italy’s autonomous island of Sicily with ancient ruins galore: Taormina’s Greek theater, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, Agrigento’s “Valley of the Temples” (including the Temple of Concordia), and more – as well as an excursion to Mt. Etna
  2. The unique Apulia region (Italy’s “boot heel”), including a two-night stay in Matera inside renovated Sassi (troglodyte cave dwellings) and touring in Lecce, the “Florence of the South”
  3. Four nights in Sorrento with day trips to the Pompeii archaeological site, the Isle of Capri, and the stunning Amalfi Coast

Delight in a special exploration of Italy’s southern climes, from striking Sicily and the breathtaking Amalfi Coast to unheralded Apulia, the alluring “boot heel” where a vivid history, unique architecture, and bountiful plains join the sun and sea in creating a prized region. Add Italian hospitality, outstanding cuisine, and notable lodgings for la dolce vita, small-group style.

 

Sicily in Depth

For travelers who desire an in-depth immersion into Sicilian history, culture, cuisine, and natural beauty, accented by memorable encounters with local people.

Temple of Concordia, Agrigento

Stays in: Palermo, Agrigento, Syracuse, and Taormina
Length: 12 days
Price: From $4,374, air and land inclusive (click here for specific pricing info)
At a Glance:

  1. History – Taormina's Greek theater, Palermo’s Arab-Norman UNESCO sites, Monreale Cathedral, Agrigento’s “Valley of the Temples,” Villa Romana del Casale mosaics, archaeological park of Neapolis in Syracuse, and more
  2. Natural beauty – ample ocean scenery, mountaintop town of Erice, Trapani Nature Reserve and salt pans, Mt. Etna excursion, and more
  3. Culture and cuisine – Palermo street food experience, family-owned winery tour and tasting, cooking demonstration and dinner at an organic working farm, homemade lunch at family-owned citrus orchard, and more

Crossroads of the Mediterranean…the “toe” in Italy’s boot…“God’s Kitchen”…Sicily is all this and much more, as we see on our stellar small group journey around this Italian island. Its lively cities and ancient ruins, temples of man and of nature, hospitable people and delectable cuisine…a feast for all the senses.

 

Italy’s Classic Cities

For travelers who want to absorb the essence of Italy through its cultural capitals.

Piazza del Nettuno square in Bologna

Piazza del Nettuno, Bologna

Stays in: Milan, Verona, Bologna, Florence, and Rome
Length: 16 days
Price: From $6,274, air and land inclusive (click here for specific pricing info)
Post-Tour Extension: 3 days in Rome, on your own
At a Glance:

  1. Comprehensive touring in cosmopolitan Milan, medieval Bologna, and Renaissance Florence; plus Lake Como, Bergamo, Verona (“Little Rome”), Modena, and the Eternal City of Rome
  2. Visits to several famous art collections (Brera Gallery in Milan, Galleria dell’Accademia and Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Borghese Gallery in Rome) and numerous historic sites
  3. Immersive cuisine-centered experiences, including a cooking class in Bologna, a visit to a balsamic vinegar–making acetaia, and a tour of the Gaetano Bertani family’s wine estate

Savor art, history, culture, and cuisine in this captivating small group journey to a collection of Italy’s classic cities: cosmopolitan and artistic Milan; romantic Verona, the “little Rome;” Bologna, with its medieval charm and culinary delights; Florence, the center of Renaissance art and architecture; and the Eternal City of Rome, home of ancient wonders such as the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, and much more. Add a pleasing combination of guided touring and ample free time – and it’s magnifico!

 

If you’re still undecided on which Italy tour is best for you, give our Travel Counselors a call and they’d be delighted to answer any questions you may have. Or, if you’d like to make your reservation, submit an online reservation request. We would love to stroll through Tuscany’s vineyards, float down Venice’s canals, and wonder at the beauty of Italy with you in the near future.

Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET

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