It
might be daunting to fit all of Italy's more than 55 UNESCO World Heritage
sites into a single trip due to the country's historical, artistic,
architectural, and gastronomic treasures. Experience the best of a country's
major cities and landmarks in a short amount of time with minimal effort by
booking a guided trip. These 20 tours, chosen as the finest by both tourists
and professionals, range widely in terms of location, topic, and mode of
transportation. Still, they all share one thing in common: enthusiastic and
well-informed guides eager to help you make the most of your stay in Italy.
Book
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20 best Italy tours.
The Roman Food Tour – Prati by Sunset – Rome
Food Tour
This
small-group walking tour of the Prati district of Rome, close to the Vatican,
is a great way to sample authentic Italian cuisine. The tour often visits a
café, a pizzeria, and a gourmet food shop, where participants may try various
delectable foods and drinks, such as cheese, truffles, cured meats, pasta,
tiramisu, pizza, and wine. Fans of Roman cuisine and wine often praise the
tour's knowledgeable and enthusiastic instructors for illuminating them on the
city's culinary traditions. All year long, tours depart daily at 4:30, 5:30,
and 6:30 p.m., and from May through October, tours also depart at 3:30 and 7:30
p.m. Adult tickets start at 95 euros ($105), while 13–17-year-old teens pay 85
euros ($94), and children aged 6–12 pay 70 euros ($77). Fees include more than
20 free tastings of food and drink. There is a 13-person cap on the size of any
group.
City Wonders – Vatican Museums & Sistine
Chapel Tour
During
your 2.5 hours in Rome, you'll see some of the city's top sights. The frescoes
in Raphael's Rooms date to the 16th century, while the Sistine Chapel and
Vatican Museums are other must-sees. Visitors are blown away by the works of
art and architecture on display and praise the tours' knowledgeable hosts.
Monday through Saturday, there are many daily tour departures. Tours beginning
at 9, 10, 11, and noon usually cost $65 for adults and $60 for children ages
6-18. Prices drop to roughly $60 for adults and $55 for children and teenagers
for trips starting at 1:30 or 2:30 in the afternoon. (Children under the age of
5 are admitted free.) The price of a ticket includes all admission charges.
Group sizes are capped at 20, and everyone on tour receives an audio headset to
hear the guide's commentary well.
LivItaly Tours – Colosseum Underground Tour
with Arena, Palatine Hill & Roman Forum
The
highlights of ancient Rome may be seen on this three-hour stroll. Tours venture
into the Colosseum's lesser-visited bowels—the underground cages and dungeons-
at the amphitheatre itself—because of ticket and space restrictions. Highlights
include the Forum, the social and political heart of ancient Rome, and the
Palatine Hill, one of Rome's seven hills where lawmakers of the Roman Empire
resided and where the ruins of countless structures from that era survive.
Numerous reviewers have praised the guides' ability to make the study of Roman
history accessible and enjoyable by pointing out how entertaining and
instructive they are. Three daily tour slots are available at 12:15, 1:15, and
1:30 p.m. Each tour may accommodate six people (morning start times may also be
available). Adult tickets start at 119 euros ($130), teen tickets start at 109
euros ($120), and child tickets start at 104 euros ($115).
Walkabout Florence Tours – The Best of
Tuscany in One Day Trip from Florence
Enjoy
a day excursion aboard an air-conditioned coach to explore Tuscany and its
World Heritage sites. Some of the highlights include a walking tour of the
historic town of Siena, a stop at San Gimignano, and a drive through the Tuscan
countryside to the city of Pisa. Lunch and wine tasting at a Chianti estate and
expedited entrance to the Leaning Tower of Pisa are among the available
add-ons. Travellers often remark on how educated and kind their guides are, but
they also value the free time they are given to explore on their own. Every day
at 8 a.m., buses leave from Piazza Stazione in Florence, and they return around
12 hours later. Adult tickets start at 66 euros (about $70), while those for
children aged 8 to 17 cost 60 euros (about $65). Costing about 126 euros ($135)
for adults and 120 euros ($130) for children, the trip includes lunch at the
vineyard and entrance to the tower.
Walks of Italy – Legendary Venice: St. Mark's
Basilica with Terraces & Doge's Palace
St.
Mark's Square, St. Mark's Basilica, and the Doge's Palace are all included in
this trip, three of Venice's most famous landmarks. There is a lot of history
and art in both the church and the palace. For example, the castle was not just
used for political purposes; it also housed dungeons and torture chambers.
Participants on guided tours are almost universally amused and educated by the
guides' retellings of the colourful histories behind the sites' attractions.
Views of the plaza and lagoon may be enjoyed from a balcony accessible during
the basilica tour. Every day at 2 p.m. and (except Sunday) at 9:30 a.m., there
are walking tours that last three hours and begin in the plaza. On certain
days, you may be able to catch an earlier flight (at 8 a.m.). Adults should
expect to pay about $95, while those between the ages of 2 and 14 will pay
roughly $95. For the youngest guests, there is no fee.
Withlocals – The 10 Tastings of Venice
As its name implies, this tour includes ten samples of
several traditional Venetian foods and beverages. It's akin to a small group's
personalised, individualised, and interest-based walking tour. However, typical
offerings include spritz (a wine-based beverage) and gelato, two regional
specialities. Visitors love the variety of stops at local restaurants and the
entertaining, informative guides. Tours last for three hours and leave from
Campo Manin in Venice every day at various times (the earliest tour leaves at
11 a.m., while the latest trip leaves at 5 p.m.). Beginning at around 80 euros
(about $86) per person for groups of four (the minimum) and down to about 62
euros (about $67) per person for groups of eight (the maximum). Qatarairways economy class tickets are the cheaper option for your trip.
Blue Star Boat Tours – Amalfi Coast Group
Tour
The
Amalfi Coast's beaches and caves may also be explored from the water, providing
a unique perspective on this World Heritage Site. The beautiful geological
formations of Fiordo di Furore beach, the underwater cave Grotta Della Pandora,
and the emerald-coloured light of the Emerald Grotto are just some of the
sights viewed on this full-day excursion. The seven-hour trip from Positano
includes free time to wander the streets of Amalfi at your own pace. Visitors
often mention the kind, knowledgeable personnel and the beautiful pool area.
About $75 is required for each participant to cover the ticket price. Please be
aware that there is a separate charge to access the Emerald Grotto. Sunset
cruises and private boat experiences are also offered.
A Boat Trip from Sorrento to the Coast
of Sorrento and Capri
On
this boat tour, you will see the sights along the Sorrento coast, such as the
waterfall, the lighthouse, and the Roman ruins. There is also a stop in Capri,
lasting about four hours, when visitors may take in the sights of the island's
Piazzetta, its churches and its mediaeval area. You can go swimming or
snorkelling if you like. People who take tours there almost universally praise
the surroundings and their guides. Every day at 10:30 a.m., commuters embark on
the roughly eight-hour journey. Seasonal price changes can be as much as $15,
but the baseline is usually about 79 euros ($85) for adults and 65 euros ($70)
for children aged 3 to 9. (Infants are welcome to come along at no additional
fee.) All-inclusive pricing includes round-trip transfers from Sorrento to the
port and onboard refreshments and beverages.
World Tours – Pompeii and Amalfi Coast
Spend
a day travelling between two different World Heritage sites recognised by
UNESCO. Ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79 buried the city of
Pompeii and preserved many of its structures. The discoveries unearthed at the
archaeological site have provided fascinating insights into Roman life. Your
tour will include two to three hours at Pompeii and a drive down the Amalfi
Coast, with stops in Amalfi and Ravello, two towns are known for their
impressive artistic and architectural heritage. There will be opportunities for
photography at many different locations, including Positano. In addition to the
stunning seaside views, visitors to Pompeii are also impressed by their
knowledgeable and entertaining tour guides. Every day is a tour day. All tours
leave Naples at 7:30 a.m. and return at 5:30 p.m. Price ranges from $90 (about.
$97) for an adult to $72 (roughly. $78) for a kid aged 5-12 to attend. All
children under the age of five are admitted free of charge. While the price of
admission to Pompeii is not included, lunch at a coastal restaurant is.
Prestige Rent – Small-Group Wine Tasting
Experience in the Tuscan Countryside from Florence
Visit
two vineyards in Chianti, Italy, and taste red wines typical of the region.
During this five-hour excursion, you'll try some typical Tuscan delicacies,
including olive oil, cheese, and cured meat. Guides will give passengers the
lowdown on local viniculture as they travel 45 minutes from Florence. Local
wine professionals will provide insightful commentary at each location. Those
interested in wine tend to like the free tastings and find that their
instructors are both lively and enlightening. Both the 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
tours have a maximum capacity of 25 people. Transportation from Florence's
Piazzale Montelungo to the vineyards and a variety of food and drink samples
start at 79 euros (about $85) for adults and 69 euros (about $74) for kids 12 to
17 years old.
Italian Days Food Experience – Bologna Food
and Wine Tour #1
Take
a day trip to Italy and learn how three delicious foods are made:
Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, balsamic vinegar, and prosciutto. Breakfast,
coffee, wine, and a multicourse family-style meal are all included on this
trip, as are the tastes of cheese, vinegar, and cured meat. Foodies are sure to
be captivated by the instructors' explanations of various stages in the
production of multiple dishes throughout the day. Every day (except Sunday), at
7 a.m., minibuses leave Bologna for Modena. At around 5 p.m., they make it
back. Adult tickets start at roughly 170 euros ($184), and children's tickets
start at about 145 euros ($155). All meals and transportation are included in
the price. A stroll around Bologna is among the many cuisine excursions
available through Italian Days.
Bici & Baci Tours – The Grand Tour of
Rome
While
riding about Rome on an Italian Vespa, you can take the city's famous landmarks
from a unique vantage point. Attractions abound in Rome, with the Aurelian
Walls, Appian Way, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, St. Peter's Basilica, the
Pantheon, and the remnants of ancient aqueducts and baths among the highlights.
The guides are constantly praised for their helpfulness, expertise, depth of
knowledge, and infectious enthusiasm, among other qualities. Vespa tours for
one person start at 145 euros ($156), whether you're the driver or a passenger.
A scooter for two individuals costs around 240 Euros ($259). Renting a helmet and
a cup of coffee or a bowl of ice cream are both included in the listed prices.
Trips depart daily at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and usually run for 4 hours; tours
depart at 7 p.m. and typically last 3 hours. Vespa drivers should know they
need a motorcycle licence to operate the vehicles. Minors riding shotguns with
their parents are welcome so long as they have feet that are long enough to
reach the scooter's foot pegs.
City Wonders – Best of Milan Duomo Cathedral
& Da Vinci's 'Last Supper' Tour
Enjoy
fast-track entry to two of Milan's most famous landmarks on a guided walking
tour. Witness the Duomo, a colossal cathedral whose construction began in 1386
and continued for decades. Another travel highlight is seeing Leonardo da
Vinci's "The Last Supper" in its original setting—a converted
convent. In addition, you'll travel to the mediaeval Sforzesco Castle and the
modern Brera area, as well as the 19th-century retail arcade Galleria Vittorio
Emanuele II, which is home to high-end stores. Travellers universally praise
guides for their expertise and knowledge. Except for Mondays, there are two
trips every day on the other days of the week. Beginning timings are different
every day. The tours go for three hours, and visitors get to spend 15 of those minutes
in front of the masterpiece. Adult tickets start at around $118, while children
ages 14 and under pay $108. The maximum number of people in a group is 14.
Grape Tours in Tuscany – Super Chianti Wine
Tour
Enjoy
two wineries and a full day of wine tasting on this excursion. Panzano, a
little village in the Tuscan hills, is where you'll stop for lunch after a day
of wine tasting nearby Chianti and Chianti Classico vineyards. The excursion,
which can accommodate as many as eight people, also includes free time to
explore Greve. It is said that those who adore wine also enjoy learning about
the wine of the region from knowledgeable guides. Except on Sundays, tours run
every day. The buses depart Florence around 10 a.m. and return at about 8 p.m.
The cost of a tour, including transportation, meals, and other amenities,
averages around 185 Euros ($200). All participants must be 16 or older. Tours
that are only five hours long are also provided.
TopBike Rental & Tours – CITY TOUR ROMA
WITH QUALITY E-BIKE
Our
four-hour electric bike tour will take us through Rome's winding lanes,
allowing us to stop at many of the city's most famous landmarks. Even though
the morning and afternoon trips cover different ground, they cover must-sees,
including the Colosseum, Piazza Navona, the Jewish Ghetto, and the Roman Forum.
You may see the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps in the morning and then
ride to the Orange Garden in the afternoon to see the dome of St. Peter's and
the rest of the city. Cyclists consistently praise the knowledgeable and kind
instructors on this route. Seasonally, morning departures begin between 8:45
and 9:45 a.m., while afternoon excursions start between 2 and 3 p.m. This tour,
which includes using an electric bike and helmet, costs around $70 (65 euros).
City Wonders – Half-Day Combo: Best of
Florence & Uffizi Gallery Tour
On
this trip, you'll skip the queues to see Michelangelo's 14-foot David sculpture
in the Accademia Gallery and the works of Botticelli, Leonardo, Raphael,
Michelangelo, and Caravaggio at the Uffizi Gallery. The small-group excursion
consists of two hours of guided strolling around the historic district of
Florence, including visits to major attractions, including the cathedral, the
Ponte Vecchio bridge, the leather market, and the Piazza Della Signoria. Tour
participants often remark on how helpful the guides' insights about the city's
artistic and historical traditions are. As others have already warned, visitors
to the galleries are on their own. Each day, trips begin at ten and 10:30 a.m.
for a half day's worth of sightseeing. Adults may expect to pay around $100,
while kids aged 4-14 will pay about $95. Only 14 members total are allowed in a
group.
Walkabout Florence Tours – Cinque Terre Day
Trip from Florence with optional Hiking Tour
In a
single day, visitors may explore the Cinque Terre, a collection of five
historic fishing villages perched on a cliff above the Mediterranean Sea and
designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are buses from Florence to
Manarola, a town known for its grapes and brightly coloured architecture.
Trains leave for Corniglia, a town with breathtaking ocean vistas. After lunch,
guests choose to hike the mule paths that link the villages or take the train
to Vernazza, where they may go swimming or hang out in one of the many local
cafés or bars. After that, trains head to Monterosso, a resort town with plenty
of restaurants and retail options. Boat transportation to Riomaggiore, the
fifth and last of the Cinque Terre towns, is included if the weather permits.
Customers rave not just about the unique and exciting destinations they see but
also about the professional and friendly service they receive from their
guides. The daily tours leave Florence at 7:30 a.m. and return there around 13
hours later. Tickets for adults start at roughly 96 euros ($104), while those
for children (minimum age 8) to young adults (age 17) cost 90 euros ($97).
Lunch in Corniglia is not included at these prices, although a deluxe option is
offered for an extra cost.
Delicious Bologna – Daylight Food Tours
Experience
some of Italy's most iconic dishes on this guided stroll around the country.
This excursion includes tastings of local cheese, cured meat, vinegar, and
wine, a light breakfast of coffee and cornetto (a croissant-like pastry), and a
bunch of different pasta dishes. We also get to see a pasta factory and a food
market. All the way through, guides offer insightful commentary on area culture
and traditions that will interest any foodie. Four- or five-hour long tours run
every day but Sunday at 10 a.m. Start your day off in Piazza di Porta Ravegnana
with a group of up to eight people. Adults should expect to pay approximately
85 Euros ($92), while children and teenagers (ages 2-18) will spend about 65 Euros
($70). For the youngest guests, there is no fee. Delicious Bologna also runs
evening food and wine excursions and cookery lessons.
Streaty Street Food Tours of Italy – Palermo
Street Food and Local Market Tour
Taste
a range of authentic Sicilian dishes on a guided stroll through Palermo, the
island's bustling metropolis. Arancini (stuffed rice balls), cazzilli fritters,
pani câ meusa (veal offal roll), sfincione (focaccia with tomato sauce),
ricotta-filled cannoli, broscia col gelato (ice cream sandwich), and other
seasonal foods are likely to be available as tastings, along with beer and
wine. Tours leave at the Teatro Massimo and go via less touristy side streets.
This trip is usually enjoyable and informative for visitors. Three-hour long
walks are offered year-round, on weekdays and weekends. Most walks begin
between 10:30 and 11 in the morning. The cost is 49 euros ($53) for those over
the age of 12 and 20 euros ($22) for those between the ages of 6 and 11. You
may embark on a one-hour walking tour concentrating on art and history for 15
euros (about $16). Each group may only have ten people. The firm will take you
on a Palermo culinary tour in the evening as an additional service.
Etna
Tribe – EXCURSION ETNA AND TAORMINA
This
day trip takes you to the tallest peak on any of the Mediterranean's islands,
Mount Etna, located on the eastern side of Sicily. Your guide will pick you up
in Catania and transport you to the base of Etna's south face, where you may
trek to an elevation of 6,560 feet (or, for an extra cost, ride a cable car to
a height of 8,200 feet). You can catch a van up to Torre del Filosofo, which is
almost 9,500 feet above sea level. You'll hire an alpine guide to lead you
through the lava-sculpted landscape. You'll also get to visit an organic farm
and the town of Taormina, where you can take your time seeing the town's many
landmarks, including its church, clock tower, castle, and theatre, before
heading back to Catania. Thanks to the helpful and personable tour guides,
tourists had a great time learning about the area and seeing the volcanic
craters. Tours depart every day at 8:30 a.m. and run for around nine hours.
Adults pay 85 euros ($92), children 3-11 years old pay 70 euros ($76), and
babies under three years old pay 20 euros ($22). The high-altitude option,
which includes both the cable car and van excursions, begins at 68 euros (about
$74) per person and consists of the cable car ride for an extra fee of 30 euros
(around $33). Trips to the mountaintop at sunset are just one of the many tours
that Etna Tribe does.
