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Day 1 in Paris

Welcome to Paris! Upon arrival, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Arrive at your hotel, check in and do not give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see and do!

Begin the afternoon with a pleasant lunch in any of the charming streetside cafes to be found throughout Paris. Afterwards, we recommend that you get acquainted with the city by choosing an optional tour such as 'Big Bus Paris Hop-on Hop-off Tour', showcasing the main sights of the French capital or 'Seine River Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Cruise in Paris'.

As night falls, enjoy the Trocadéro scene and a twilight ride up the Eiffel Tower as it glitters with lights to mark the change from one hour to the next; or dine on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, one of the most famous avenues in the world, followed by a romantic cruise on the Seine River. Either way you're sure to fall in love with the 'City of Light.'

Day 2 in Paris

Wake up early today and head for the Ile de la Cité to visit Sainte-Chapelle and the famous Notre-Dame Cathedral, a gothic masterpiece with dramatic towers, spires, stained glass and statuary that are guaranteed to take your breath away. Time permitting; climb the North tower to see Paris from the hunchback Quasimodo's vantage point. Then, head across the river to the Latin Quarter, home of the historic Sorbonne University, founded in 1257, and the Panthéon.

A midday visit to the Luxembourg Gardens and lunch at 'Cafe de Flore' on Boulevard Saint-Germain will revive you for an afternoon tour of the Louvre Museum. You may want to purchase our optional tour 'Skip the Line: Paris Louvre Museum Guided Tour'. You will avoid the lengthy queues and visit the main works including the 'Venus de Milo', the 'Winged Victory of Samothrace' and the 'Mona Lisa'. You will then be free to explore other sections of the museum at your leisure.

After a busy day of sightseeing, board a relaxing river cruise from Pont Neuf (if you have not already done so). Then grab a bite to eat before heading back to the Latin Quarter for drinks and dancing at the famous 'Le Caveau de la Huchette' jazz club. The dance floor is located in an underground cave and the atmosphere is intoxicating. It's sure to be a night you won't forget!

Day 3 in Paris

Begin your day at the Arc de Triomphe, commissioned by Emperor Napoléon I to commemorate the victories of his Grande Armée. Continue with a stroll down the grandiose Avenue des Champs-Elysées - don't forget to stop for coffee and macarons at Ladurée - before visiting the Jardin des Tuileries, a classic example of intricate and typical Parisian landscaping.

Cross the pedestrian bridge from the Tuileries Garden and tour the Orsay Museum, housing the world's most important collection of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings, including works by Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Degas, Gaugin and Delacroix. This afternoon, tour the Rodin Museum and the Hôtel des Invalides or take the train from Orsay directly to Versailles.

On your final night in Paris, make your way to Odéon metro station, which will lead you straight to the Montmartre hill (or take the funicular up with a metro ticket) where you can enjoy an exceptional panorama over the city and its monuments illuminated at night. Stop at Sacre Coeur before exploring the winding, village-like streets of Montmartre then enjoy dinner at one of the charming cafes in Place du Tertre or consider a traditional Parisian cabaret at the legendary Moulin Rouge.

Additional Days in Paris

Should you be able to spend additional days in Paris be sure to visit the Marais district, including the Centre Georges Pompidou, a modern art museum, considered by Parisians to be the cultural pulse of the city. While in the area it is also worth visiting the Musée Picasso, Musée Carnavalet and Place des Voges, Paris's oldest public square and a charming place to stop for lunch. Strangely obscure for such a renowned building, the remnats of the Bastille, the famous prison, lie almost forgotten at the edge of a tiny park. Marked only by a small plaque and usually missed by visitors to Paris, this is one gem worth seeing!

For sights from the modern to the macabre, we suggest Montparnasse Tower, an office skyscraper constructed from 1969 to 1973. The top floor terrace is open to the public and offers panoramic views of the city. In contrast, on the 'Skip the Line: Catacombs of Paris Small-Group Walking Tour' you will descend deep into the tunnels of Paris's underground to explore over one kilometer of Catacombs, dating back to 2 BC, that are decorated with human skulls and bones. You will discover the extraordinary history of the Catacombs and listen to the haunting stories and legends that embody these galleries of skeletons. If the catacombs are too creepy then you may want to visit the peaceful and park-like Père Lachaise cemetery - famous as the final resting place of The Doors lead singer, Jim Morrison, and French playwright Molière as well as composer Frédéric Chopin, author Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein, Edith Piaf and many more.

Day trips from Paris are also popular and we offer a wide selection from 'Skip the Line: Versailles Palace and Gardens Walking Tour' and 'Mont-Saint-Michel Day Trip' to 'Normandy D-Day Battlefields and Beaches Day Trip'. Fontainebleau, Vaux-le-Vicomte and Giverny are also great choices so be sure to check our optional sightseeing tours for availability and prices.

From Paris to Venice

Today you continue on your trip to Venice. We recommend that you make your flight reservation between 10:00am and Noon. This will give you time to enjoy your final breakfast in Paris and head to the airport for your flight to Venice. Should you desire, we offer private transfers where a representative will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport. (Click on Hotel Transportation in the Booking Process.)

Day 1 in Venice

Welcome to Venice! Upon arrival, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel (click on Hotel transportation within the booking process); a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. If you would rather do this on your own, please read the FAQ for information on getting to your hotel.

After you are checked in, enjoy lunch, purchase a map and take time to meander - losing yourself in the maze of canals and lanes is one of Venice's principal pleasures its hushed backstreets are just entrancing.

This evening go on a Gondola ride. A Gondola Serenade on the Canals of Venice is the ultimate romantic experience. Complete with music and sweet melodies, you will glide along the Grand Canal and the minor canals of Venice. We recommend our optional 'Private Tour: Venice Gondola Ride with Serenade.'

Day 2 in Venice

Depart your hotel early this morning and head straight for St Mark's Square, before the worst of the crowds have gathered in the piazza and the basilica. Try to make it to the Basilica for early morning mass: you'll have the best part of an hour to reflect on the acres of glimmering mosaics. Don`t miss The Doge's Palace, the most representative symbol of Venice's culture, which, together with the Basilica of San Marco at the back and the Piazzetta in the forefront, forms one of the most famous sceneries in the world. Stop for a cappuccino on the terrace of Caffè Florian for the most atmospheric surroundings on Piazza San Marco.

After lunch, head for a visit to the Accademia gallery which contains an impressive percentage of the world's Old Masters or if the Tintorettos and Bellinis don't do for you completely, the modern art works of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and the Frari basilica with its spectacular Assumption of the Virgin by Titian, are short walks away.

In the evening, Hop on a vaporetto to Rialto Bridge, timing your arrival beneath this wonderful bridge to coincide with a hopelessly romantic first sighting at sunset. From Rialto, enjoy a leisurely stroll to Caffe del Doge to mingle with the locals while enjoying ice cream and the best coffee in Venice.

Day 3 in Venice

Explore the outlying islands, visit Murano, a Venice in miniature, home to the lagoon's famed glass-blowing workshops; Burano, a quiet fishing village famous for its hand-tatted lace and wonderfully clashing colors of its houses and Torcello, for a glimpse of what Venice must have looked like. We recommend our optional 'Private Tour: Murano, Burano and Torcello Half Day Tour.'

In the evening we suggest you get to know the darker side of Venice with our optional 'Venice Ghost Walking Tour' where you will follow an enchanting route through the silent alleyways and sleeping campi of the Hidden Venice. Abandoned and dimly lit at night, this different side of Venice provides the perfect backdrop for the guides to present ghost stories both past and present. The tours itinerary also features many architectural gems lost in the back streets of Venice waiting to be discovered by the intrepid traveler. The ghost walk will finish close to the Rialto bridge.

Afterwards, saunter through to La Bottega ai Promessi Sposi where you can perch at the counter and snack, or eat an excellent, simple meal of seafood and meat at one of the tables beyond.

Additional Days in Venice

Visit the Rialto Mercato, where you'll be plunged into the chaos of Venetian housewives getting in supplies. Don't miss the wonderful fish market.

Visit San Salvador, the handsome white interior provides refuge from the busy Mercerie, one of Venice's main shopping streets, as well as the chance to view some excellent paintings: Two Titians, a Transfiguration and an Annunciation, and Carpaccio's Disciples at Emmaus.

Visit Campo di Ghetto Nuovo, this large square and surrounding neighborhood occupy an island that was closed off at dusk and still feels remote.

From Venice to Florence

Today you continue on your trip to Florence. We recommend that you make your train reservation between 10:00am and Noon. This will give you time to enjoy your final breakfast in Venice and head to the train station for your train to Florence. In two hours you will be in Florence.

Day 1 in Florence

Arrive at the train station in Florence and proceed to your hotel. After check-in, enjoy lunch at a nearby trattoria.

This afternoon we recommend that you purchase our optional tour 'Florence Half Day Sightseeing Tour' (afternoon), which will take you for a brief excursion to Fiesole, a delightful town of Etruscan origin and then return to the historic center for a visit to the Church of Santa Croce (outside view). Following a short walk through the historical streets in the heart of Florence to the famous Piazza della Signoria, where you can admire the imposing Palazzo Vecchio (exterior) and the beautiful Loggia dei Lanzi. The tour will then take you to the famous Uffizi Gallery where it is possible to admire the superb paintings of Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raffaello, Giotto, Cimabue and Masaccio. After the tour, walk to the Ponte Vecchio which is connected to the Uffizi Gallery by the famous Vasari Corridor that links Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti, it is Florence's most celebrated landmark! The bridge has connected the river banks exactly at this point since the 12th century!

This evening, head to the Oltrarno, (Across the Arno), it is the artisans' neighborhood, filled with quaint streets and wonderful shops and restaurants. The Oltrarno's lively tree-filled center, Piazza Santo Spirito, is unique unto itself. Lined with bars and a more bohemian style crowd, this is where you will find the locals.

Day 2 in Florence

This morning we recommend that you purchase our optional tour 'Florence Half Day Sightseeing Tour' (morning). On this tour you will be taken along the romantic Viale dei Colli up to the Piazzale Michelangelo to admire the wonderful panorama. The tour will proceed by coach through the old city center. Continue with an outdoor guided tour of the Duomo Complex: Giotto`s bell tower, the Baptistery with its bronze doors including the famous Porta del Paradiso, the Cathedral with its magnificent Cupola of Brunelleschi. A short walk through the historic streets in the heart of Florence will then bring you to the renowned Galleria dell`Accademia. Here you can admire the famous David by Michelangerlo and other works by the great artist.

This evening, head to Piazzale Michelangelo, a square overlooking the city from the first hill in the Oltrarno, if you want to enjoy a marvelous view over the city at sunset. Afterwards, visit the museum in Palazzo Vecchio at night and you will get a treat like you never imagined! No lines, no crowds, and a beautifully quiet view of some of the greatest masterpieces in the world! Plus, there is nothing like seeing all of the buildings and statues lit up in the night sky! Stop into Dolce Vita for a cocktail and a little aperitivo and enjoy a lovely tour of the city under the stars!

Day 3 in Florence

Today is a great day to experience Tuscany! Take a day trip to Cinque Terre or the Tuscan hilltowns to get a real feel for the region. We offer a number of day tours including 'Siena, San Gimignano and Chianti Wine Region Small Group Day Trip from Florence.' You will spend a wonderful day in the Tuscan countryside where woods alternate with vineyards and olive groves. You'll explore medieval streets and have free time for lunch (excluded) and shopping. Finally, you'll taste some of the best Tuscan wines with a little snack of sliced cold meats, bruschettas, salami and cheese.

We also recommend the optional tour 'Pisa and Lucca Day Trip from Florence' to see the famous Leaning Tower (exterior), the Baptistery (exterior) and other beautiful monuments with free time for photos and for lunch (not included) before departing for Lucca to admire its enchanting historical center. Before coming back to Florence there is time for tasting wine and extra virgin olive oil of local production.

More adventurous types may enjoy a change of pace with a Tuscanbike tour and foodies will delight in the many culinary tours on offer.Please check our optional tours for availability and pricing.

Additional Days in Florence

Visit the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens home today to several splendid museums such as the Palatine Gallery and the Modern Art Gallery, with the impressive Boboli Gardens as its backyard. Church of Santo Spirito built by Brunelleschi, the church stands tall over the square with its simple and yellow facade but hides many artistic treasures inside.

Piazza Santa Maria Novella where you can admire the recently renovated square with its beautiful Santa Maria Novella Church. The church`s facade in white and green marble was designed by Leon Battista Alberti while the stunning Tornabuoni Chapel inside has frescoes by Ghirlandaio - a must see!

In Piazza San Lorenzo, visit the San Lorenzo Church, the church with its unfinished facade where the Medici family worshipped, and visit the majestic Medici Chapels, final resting place for the Medici dynasty where you`ll find beautiful marble statues by Michelangelo in the New Sacristy.

Take a day trip to Cinque Terre or the Tuscan Hilltowns (Look through our activities for a number of full day tours to Siena, Pisa, San Gimignano, etc).

From Florence to Rome

Today you continue on your trip to Rome. We recommend that you make your train reservation between 10:00am and Noon. This will give you time to enjoy your final breakfast in Florence and head to the train station for your train to Rome. In under an hour and a half you will be in Rome.

Day 1 in Rome

Arrive at the train station in Rome and proceed to your hotel. After check-in, we recommend that you focus your visit on the main sites between Palatine Hill and the Spanish Steps. Start off with a visit to the Roman Colosseum and marvel at Rome's greatest architectural wonder. You may want to purchase our optional tour 'Ancient Rome Half-Day Walking Tour' during which you will visit all the best-known sites of ancient Rome, including the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Capitoline Hill, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and Piazza Navona.

As the night approaches, make your way down to Trastevere by bus or the help of the metro. The former ghetto is chalk full of various restaurants and bars sure to please every budget and taste, with plenty of entertainment afterwards.

Day 2 in Rome

Wake up early today and head for the Vatican. You may want to purchase our optional tour 'Skip the Lines: Vatican Museums Walking Tour including Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Rooms and St. Peter's Basilica'. You will avoid the lengthy queues and explore one of the world's most extensive art collections with an expert local guide who will share the stories and secrets contained within the Museums' walls, pleasures originally meant for the exclusive enjoyment of the Pope. Experience Michelangelo's famous 'Creation of Adam' with you own eyes as you explore the Sistine Chapel and wander Raphael's Rooms. After taking in the Museums, be humbled by the imposing beauty of Saint Peter's Basilica, where you will encounter another of Michelangelo's masterpieces, 'La Pieta'. For a fascinating finish, you will stop to admire the magnificent Saint Peter's Square, as your guide points out Bernini's ingenious use of optical illusion.

After you've been to church, grab lunch and then head over to the old Post Office to mail a letter from the world's smallest country. Once you've had lunch and your spirit is revitalized, take a nice shady stroll down the Tiber River. Along the river you can visit the Castel 'Sant Angelo' or the frescoed Villa Farnesina near the Botanical Gardens for a taste of Roman Renaissance. Cross the river then and explore the local neighborhoods and backstreets in and around Piazza Navona and the Campo de Fiori (flower market). There are lots of restaurants in this area for when you get hungry and the bars and nightclubs stay crowded until long after midnight. If you want to really get dressed up and go clubbing with the locals, make your way out to Testaccio south of town.

Day 3 in Rome

Spend the morning of the third day exploring the Capitoline Museums - three of the oldest in the world containing artifacts and artworks from the ancient Roman world. The three museums are connected by an underground gallery and run the gambit from a giant bronzed head of Constantine to the serpent-headed locks of Bernini's Medusa. Have lunch along the river near the Isola Tiberina.

This afternoon, check out some of Rome's other hidden gems such as the Baths of Diocletian at Piazza Repubblica which was the largest bathhouse of its kind dating back to 300 A.D. and contains Octagonal Hall, a former Roman gymnasium.

Additional Days in Rome

Should you be able to spend additional days in Rome be sure to visit the Ancient Appian Way, the primary road that led into Ancient Rome. All along the road are ruins, cafes, nature trails, and various catacombs of crucified Christians who were not allowed to be buried inside the city walls. Art aficionados will want to head back up to Borghese Park to visit the Borghese Gallery. A visit to the private gallery requires a reservation but is well worth the effort to see masterpieces by Caravaggio, Raphael, Titian and Rubens.

In the evening, stroll along the Imperial Roman Forum and revisit the Colosseum at night for a final awe inspiring view. Ostia Antica is an ancient seaport within an hour of the city and is Rome's excavated answer to Pompeii. The Tivoli Gardens and the Villa d'Este was the summer residence of Emperor Hadrian and is a living Eden, filled with fountains, statues and breathtaking Baroque gardens. North of the city, Lago Bracciano is a relaxing lake area with plenty of nature and three interesting medieval villages along the shore, complete with castles, churches and villas - a great getaway from the hustle and bustle of Rome. The beaches in and around Civitavecchia on the Mediterranean town is another option.

Your Last Day in Rome

Depart your hotel for the airport for your return home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer, if so a representative will meet you at the hotel, in time to take you to the airport for your flight out.

Day 1: Arrival At Venice Airport And Private Transfer To Your Accommodation

Arrival at Venice International airport and transfer to your accommodation. Rest of the day at your leisure for resting and relaxing.

Day 2: Venice Wine Tour

Enjoy our Venice Wine tour. During this fascinating 2-hour walking tour of Venice, you’ll receive an insider’s glimpse into the lives and habits of authentic Venetians while visiting a favorite local Venetian hangout: winebars called baccari (or bacari). After meeting your guide in the center of Venice, you will wind through streets and over secondary canals as you learn more about lesser-known legends and hidden places off the beaten track. See unforgettable landmarks, and experience Venice as few visitors do! Your private walking and wine-tasting tour includes stops in two baccari (winebars) that are filled to the brim with Venetians at the classic aperitivo time of 7pm. At the winebar, crowded with locals, you can sip a bubbly Prosecco or a smooth Soave and devour a cicchetto, a local Venetian snack, while your expert local guide tells you more about the traditional cuisine, native wines, history, and assorted lore. Some typical cicchettos are small pieces of toast with baccala, tiny meatballs, hardboiled eggs filled with anchovies, or pieces of fried, seasonal vegetables. This tour is perfect before lunch or dinner. After the tour, you guide will be happy to suggest a great local restaurant for lunch or dinner where you can continue discovering this authentic side Venice!

Day 3: Murano And Burano Tour

Morning dedicated to the visit of the amazing islands of Murano and Burano. First stop is Murano. This island, where all of Venice’s glass factories have been located since the 13th-century, is the most famous place for glassmaking in the entire world – and for good reason, as you’ll see soon. You’ll stop at an authentic glassmaking factory, which we’ve handpicked both for its history and quality. Then you will continue to Burano, a working fisherman’s island, famous for its brightly painted buildings. Return to Venice around lunch time and afternoon at your leisure.

Day 4: Private Transfer To Venice Station, High – Speed Train To Florence And Transfer To Your Accommodation

Following breakfast and check out your private boat driver will meet you at your hotel and take you to Venice station. Catch your high – speed train to Florence. Upon arrival transfer to your accommodation

PRIVATE GUIDED TOUR OF FLORENCE WITH ACCADEMIA GALLERY

Start your Florentine sojourn with a guided orientation walk to admire the most important Florentine sites: the Cathedral with its Giotto Bell Tower, Piazza della Signoria with the Palazzo Vecchio and the Ponte Vecchio knowing for its gleaming gold shops. The tour also includes the visit of the Accademia Gallery that houses the David by Michelangelo.

Day 5: Cooking Class Followed By Lunch And Leisure Time In San Gimignano

Following breakfast your private driver will meet at your accommodation and take you to a lovely agriturismo immersed in a magnificent Tuuscan landscape. Enjoy a fun cooking class and learn all the secrets to prepare a full delicious Tuscan Menu. At the end of your class enjoy the fruits of your labour accompanied by the great wines produced at the Estate. In the afternoon take the chance to visit San Gimignano an enchanting hilly town known as the “medieval Manhattan” for its striking skyline, which outlines thirteen medieval watchtowers. Return to Florence late afternoon and overnight stay.

Day 6: Guided Visit Of The Uffizi Gallery And Palazzo Vecchio

Today enjoy a guided visit of the incredible Uffizi Gallery – one of the world’s oldest museums and one of the most important art collections anywhere. With works by Raphael, da Vinci, Botticelli and Caravaggio.This tour also visits the Palazzo Vecchio; one-time home to the Medici family. Here you’ll visit the Council of 500, made famous by Dan Brown and Michelangelo. Afternoon at your leisure.

Day 7: High – Speed Train To Rome And Trastevere Food Tour

Following breakfast and check out take your high – speed train to Rome. Upon arrival transfer to your accommodation. Late afternoon enjoy our Twilight Trastevere Food Tour. On this guided 4-hour walking food tour we explore this photogenic neighborhood by night. You’ll sample a sumptuous blend of Italian classics like pizza and pasta, real Roman street food, less-known meats and cheeses, and amazing wine in a secret cellar – its history will blow you away. Few activities in Rome deliver as many hidden surprises and enchanting moments as this, so be sure to join us for an unforgettable night in one of our favorite neighbourhoods in Rome. Take advantage of Rome’s vibrant nightlife by walking through the streets of Trastevere with a local.

Day 8: Underground Imperial Rome Tour

Enjoy a VIP tour of the Colosseum Underground & Arena Floor! Feel the fear and hear the roars of the crowd above you as you enjoy this full Colosseum Underground tour. Stepping beneath the arena floor, you’ll walk in the footsteps of gladiators who waited here before battle. As you tour the tunnels, your guide will tell you about the real life of gladiators before taking you back up to the arena floor. Walk out onto a recreation of the stage where the fighting took place and be blown away by the most impressive view of the Colosseum (seen by so few!). After your Colosseum and Colosseum Underground tour, you’ll experience the very heart of Ancient Rome: the Roman Forum. Here was where Rome ruled its empire of untold political and cultural influence—and of more than 2.5 million square miles and 65 million people. At the Palatine Hill you’ll discover the origins of Ancient Rome. Legend has it that this is the spot where Remus and Romulus were found by the she-wolf and where they battled to decide which would have the privilege of building their own town. Hear how this legendary battle impacted the world you know today (your very own life even!) We owe the Ancient Romans more than you’d believe!

Day 9: Small Group Early Bird Vatican Museums Tour

This morning enjoy our Pristine Sistine Early entrance Small group Vatican Tour (the tour starts at 07.15 am). Enter the museums before the general public to see the Sistine Chapel at a quieter time. See the best of the Vatican City in under four hours. With a guided tour of the Sistine Chapel, a Vatican Museums tour (including the Raphael Rooms) and a St. Peter’s Basilica tour, you’ll cover all the bases. Engage with the art and architecture of the Vatican. Our guides are passionate art experts, full of stories and familiar with even the smallest details of these massive museums. The tour will end around 11.00 am. Rest of the day at your leisure.

10: Fly Back Home

Following breakfast and check out your private driver will take you to Naples International airport to catch your flight back home.