Itinerary
- Day 1
Rome
You'll arrive at Rome airport where someone from the hotel will meet you and drive you to your accommodation. The rest of the day is yours to settle in and get comfortable after your journey.
- Start point
- Rome, Italy (Rome airports (FCO or CIA))
- Day 2
Rome
After breakfast, meet your guide at 10:00 AM on Via dei Fori Imperiali to explore the Colosseum with access to the arena floor. From there, you'll see the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill with guided commentary throughout. You'll spend the night back in Rome.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Exclusive guided tour of Colosseum including arena floor access
- Guided tour of Roman Forum
- Guided tour of Palatine Hill
Landmarks Colosseum Roman Forum Palatine Hill - Day 3
Rome - Assisi - Siena - Florence
You'll head out early by coach toward Assisi, giving you the morning and early afternoon to walk through this medieval walled town on your own. The Basilica of St. Francis is there if you want to check it out, and you can spend as much time as you'd like exploring the narrow streets and old buildings. After grabbing lunch somewhere local, you'll get back on the bus and pass through Siena on the way. This UNESCO site is known for its horse race tradition and that distinctive shell-shaped plaza in the center. By evening you'll arrive in Florence, settle into your hotel, and have dinner there for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Coach transfer from Rome accommodation to Assisi
- Self-guided exploration of Assisi medieval walled town
- Visit Basilica of St. Francis
- Bus transfer from Assisi to Siena
- Self-guided exploration of Siena
- Coach transfer from Siena to Florence
- Hotel check-in in Florence
Optional Activities
- Lunch in Assisi (not included)
Landmarks Basilica of St. Francis Piazza del Campo - Day 4
Florence
Start with breakfast, then head into Florence's center to see the Duomo with Brunelleschi's dome, the Baptistery's bronze Gates of Paradise, and Giotto's Campanile tower. Grab lunch at a traditional Tuscan restaurant in Piazza Santa Croce. The afternoon is yours to wander the cobblestone streets at your own pace. You'll have dinner and stay overnight in the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional Tuscan lunch at Piazza Santa Croce)
Included Activities
- Visit Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo)
- Visit the Baptistery
- Visit Campanile tower
- Visit Piazza della Signoria
- Visit Palazzo Vecchio (Palazzo della Signoria)
- Visit Basilica of Santa Croce
- Lunch at traditional Tuscan restaurant in Piazza Santa Croce
Optional Activities
- Stroll cobblestone streets of Florence independently
Landmarks Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo) Baptistery of Florence Campanile of Giotto Piazza della Signoria Palazzo Vecchio Basilica of Santa Croce Piazza Santa Croce - Day 5
Florence - Bologna - Venice
Start with breakfast in Florence, then you're heading to Bologna by coach. Once there, you'll explore the city center at your own pace, and there's a guided walking tour that takes you from Piazza Malpighi through to Piazza del Campo and then Piazza Maggiore. Bologna has a real food scene with street food culture, so take time to try some local specialties and grab a light lunch at one of the restaurants. Later in the afternoon you'll continue on to Venice (Mestre) by coach and check into your hotel for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Street food light lunch experience at a neighborhood restaurant)
Included Activities
- Coach transfer from Florence to Bologna
- Self-guided exploration of Bologna city center
- Walking tour of Bologna starting at Piazza Malpighi
- Visit to Piazza del Nettuno
- Visit to Piazza Maggiore
- Visit to Basilica of San Petronio
- Visit to Palazzo Podestà
- Street food light lunch experience at a neighborhood restaurant
- Coach transfer from Bologna to Venice (Mestre)
- Hotel check-in in Venice Mestre
Landmarks Piazza Malpighi Piazza del Nettuno Piazza Maggiore Basilica of San Petronio Palazzo Podestà - Day 6
Venice
After breakfast, take a walking tour to Piazza San Marco to see the Bridge of Sighs and Palazzo dei Dogi. When the tour ends, relax with a prosecco or spritz while trying cicchetti (Venetian tapas). Spend the rest of the day on your own exploring the canals before heading back to the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Cicchetti (Venetian tapas) with prosecco or spritz)
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Venice's top attractions including Piazza San Marco, Bridge of Sighs, and Palazzo dei Dogi
- Prosecco or spritz with cicchetti (Venetian tapas) after walking tour
Landmarks Piazza San Marco Bridge of Sighs Palazzo dei Dogi - Day 7
Venice to Rome
After breakfast, depart from Piazzale Roma driving south toward Tuscany. You'll stop in the medieval hill town of Montepulciano in Val di Chiana to walk the cobbled streets, look around artisanal shops, and have lunch at a traditional restaurant with regional wine. Then return to Rome where the tour ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a traditional local restaurant in Montepulciano with regional wine pairing)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Montepulciano medieval town
- Lunch at a traditional local restaurant in Montepulciano with regional wine pairing
Optional Activities
- Wine cellar visits in Montepulciano to explore local Vino Nobile wines
Landmarks Montepulciano - Day 8
Rome to Athens
After breakfast, transfer to Rome airport for your flight to Athens. Once you land, an assistant will pick you up and drive you to your hotel in Athens. You'll spend the night there.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 9
Athens
After breakfast, join a half-day sightseeing tour starting around 08:00. You'll see the Panathenaic Stadium, Prime Minister's residence, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian's Arch, Parliament building, Academy of Athens, and Syntagma Square. Then head to the Acropolis to explore the Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike, Erechtheion, and Parthenon. You'll also tour the Acropolis Museum with nearly 4,000 artifacts. Back at the hotel by 13:30 for free time.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Half-Day Athens Sightseeing Tour including Panathenaic Stadium, Prime Minister's residence, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian's Arch, Parliament building, Academy of Athens, University, National Library, and Syntagma Square
- Guided tour of Acropolis including Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike, Erechtheion, and Parthenon
- Guided tour of Acropolis Museum
Landmarks Panathenaic Stadium Temple of Olympian Zeus Hadrian's Arch Parliament of Greece Acropolis Parthenon Erechtheion Temple of Athena Nike Propylaea Acropolis Museum Syntagma Square - Day 10
Athens to Mykonos
After breakfast, you'll have some free time before heading to the port to board your cruise ship. Set sail for Mykonos, where you can walk through the Old Town this evening with its whitewashed buildings, winding alleys, small churches, waterfront restaurants, and white windmills by the water. Full board is included, and you'll sleep on the ship.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Full board on board (soft drinks included during meals)), Dinner (Full board on board (soft drinks included during meals))
Included Activities
- Evening stroll through Mykonos Old Town with whitewashed houses and winding alleys
- View of white windmills in Mykonos
- Explore Mykonos waterfront restaurants and churches
Landmarks Mykonos Old Town Mykonos Windmills - Day 11
Mykonos to Santorini (Cruise)
The cruise continues to Santorini with its distinctive white-washed buildings and dramatic landscapes. Visit the blue-domed church at Oia and try restaurants at the edge of the caldera. You'll stay overnight on the cruise ship with all meals provided.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Full board on cruise ship with non-alcoholic beverages included during meals), Dinner (Full board on cruise ship with non-alcoholic beverages included during meals)
Included Activities
- Evening time in Santorini to explore Fira and Oia with its iconic blue-domed church
Landmarks Fira Oia - Day 12
Rhodes (Cruise)
You'll arrive in Rhodes at 09:00 AM and have until 05:00 PM to explore the island on your own at whatever pace you like. Overnight remains on the cruise ship with full board.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Full board on cruise ship with non-alcoholic beverages included during meals), Dinner (Full board on cruise ship with non-alcoholic beverages included during meals)
Optional Activities
- Free day at leisure in Rhodes
- Day 13
Kusadasi - Patmos
You'll arrive in Kusadasi, a colorful Turkish beach town on the coast, this morning. It's the gateway to Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In the afternoon, the ship heads to Patmos, a small northern island in the Dodecanese known as where John the Baptist reportedly had his vision from the Book of Revelations. You'll stay on the ship with full board included.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Full board on board (soft drinks included during meals)), Dinner (Full board on board (soft drinks included during meals))
Included Activities
- Visit Kusadasi
- Gateway access to Ephesus ruins
- Gateway access to Temple of Artemis
- Afternoon sail to Patmos
Optional Activities
- Shore excursion to Ephesus ruins
Landmarks Kusadasi Ephesus Temple of Artemis Patmos - Day 14
Patmos to Athens
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Tour services end here.
- End point
- Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH) Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Αθηνών Ελευθέριος Βενιζέλος, Αττική Οδός, Spata-Loutsa, Attica 190 04, Greece (Athens Airport)
- Meals
- Breakfast
