We Offer 11 Premium Tours in Italy – Here’s How to Pick Between Them

Tours in Italy are some of our most popular trips – and no wonder, with it being home of some of the world’s best food, warm hospitality, excellent wine and rolling landscapes. But we don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach to this diverse country, which is why we offer 11 premium tours in Italy. Here’s how to pick between them depending on what you want to get out of your vacation, whether you want to feel like you’re in a movie cruising along the coastline or immerse yourself in the culture and history of its ancient cities. 

Premium Tours in Italy 

1. Sicily In Depth

Best for: A deep dive

9 days, 9 cities

Dig under the skin of what makes Sicily so special as you dedicate 9 days to exploring this stunning island. From the history of Palermo with a Local Expert to a tasting of rich Marsala wine at a local winery in its hometown, Sicily’s culture and history is right in front of you (along with some real life filming locations from The Godfather).  

Your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience takes you to the breathtaking natural landscape of its salt pans and windmills, with pink flamingos keeping you company as you learn about the ancient traditions of salt extraction. See firsthand what makes Modica’s handmade chocolate a world-famous delight, which will fuel you onwards to Taormina, where you’ll visit the cliffside ancient Greek Amphitheatre with your Local Expert. 

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2. Country Roads of Italy

Best for: Off the beaten track

16 days, 18 cities

Journey up the leg of the ‘boot’ of Italy as you head off the beaten path and onto country roads – all expertly handled by your wonderful driver, of course. On the first half of your trip, catch sight of Mount Vesuvius before cruising to the Isle of Capri by jetfoil, where your Local Expert will take you past whitewashed houses and crafty artisans. Stop by the enchanting medieval town of Todi and travel onto hilltop Assisi, where you’ll follow your Local Expert past cobbled streets and ancient Roman Temples. In Perugia, you’ll meet artisanal hand weavers on your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience; learn how this woman-owned workshop offers employment opportunities for local women and preserves the ancient craft of loom weaving.

The second half of your trip takes you to renaissance Florence, into the Tuscan hills for a wine tasting, and onto the colorful cliffside houses of Cinque Terre, with a Local Expert to show you this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your final night is spent on the charming fisherman’s island of Burano, a short cruise from Venice, to enjoy a delicious dinner with your new-found friends. 

Planning a girls’ trip or a mother-daughter vacation? Check out our Women Only edition of the tour, packed with female-centered experiences and led by a female Travel Director.  

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3. Treasures of Italy

Best for: Stunning coastlines

11 days, 10 cities

Travel along some of Italy’s most iconic coastline, from the island of Capri to Sorrento and Cinque Terre, and up to the grandeur of Lake Maggiore. Start on the spectacular Sorrento Peninsular, where you have the chance to discover the artist’s paradise of Positano, before cruising to Capri – the ‘Island of Dreams’. Through the eyes of your Local Expert, explore Capri town with charming cafes and fashionable boutiques around every corner; the chance to spend the evening here after the day trippers have gone is truly special. 

A visit to picture-perfect Cinque Terre and colorful Portofino show you some of Italy’s most charming ancient fishing villages. Round off your trip with a stay at the beautiful Lake Maggiore set against a stunning alpine backdrop, followed by a wine tasting with a master vintner in the Franciacorta wine region near Lake Iseo. 

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4. Italian Escapade

Best for: Movie-worthy scenes

13 days, 14 cities

From James Bond in Venice to The Talented Mr. Ripley on the Amalfi Coast, and Eat, Pray, Love in Rome, Italy has been immortalized in film time and time again – and you can have your own main character moment, starting with seeing the grandeur of the Colosseum in person and strolling through the ancient Forum, before leaving the capital to take a scenic trip up north. Travel through medieval Siena and the hills and vineyards of Tuscany, finally stopping in Renaissance Florence. 

Next it’s onto the Italian Lake District, set against an unbelievable backdrop of mountainous Alps – join the Italian ritual of an evening stroll, known as ‘la passeggiata’. Iconic Venice is next, where you’ll take a private boat to St. Mark’s Square and glide through the canals on a traditional Gondola. The final leg of your journey takes you across two of Italy’s most important rivers, the Adige and Po to the hilltop town of Assisi, and then along clifftop roads to Sorrento, and across Mediterranean waters to dreamy Capri (with views of Mount Vesuvius en route). You’ll want your camera handy at all times!  

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Photo by Tom Podmore on Unsplash

5. Country Roads of Northern Italy

Best for: Natural beauty

10 days, 11 cities

Of all our tours in Italy, this one showcases what makes Northern Italy’s landscapes so unique. Prepare to have your breath taken away by the famous Lake District surrounded by mountains and lined with charming towns.

Starting in Milan, you’ll follow the Adige River north into the magnificent mountains and the distinctive limestone peaks of the Dolomites, stopping by the Italian/Austrian town of Bolzano before taking the scenic route to Cortina d’Ampezzo, an alpine haven. A day in the Dolomite is yours before you travel to the Conegliano Veneto wine region for a picturesque prosecco tasting.  

Leave rural Italy for Venice, where you’ll see iconic sites like St. Mark’s Square and the Doge’s Palace, before heading to Italy’s Lake District to see the vast Lake Garda, stylish Lake Como and relaxed Lake Maggiore over your last few days, where you’ll enjoy a Farm-to-Table dinner and handpicked local restaurants to try hearty mountain dishes like risotto. You’ll leave having had your fill of alpine views and northern Italian cuisine! 

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6. Country Roads of Southern Italy

Best for: Local history

9 days, 10 cities

This trip across Southern Italy is a treasure trove of history, from the frescoes of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel in Rome to the preserved city of Pompeii. With a Local Expert uncover the unique Trulli houses of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before heading to Lecce, one of the most beautiful cities in the region known as the Florence of the South due to its dazzling architecture. 

In Matera, explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sassi with a Local Expert – a labyrinth of cave dwellings, churches, staircases and arches, hewn out of the solid rock. Onwards to the village of Grottole, where you’ll meet a local for an aperitif on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience to discover how she is striving to reignite the traditional way of living of the area. Your last couple of days are spent learning about the secrets of ill-fated Pompeii with a Local Expert, before your final night in beautiful Sorrento. 

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7. Italian Intermezzo

Best for: City icons

8 days, 7 cities

Tick off Italy’s most iconic cities: Rome, Venice and Florence. Starting your journey in Venice, Queen of the Adriatic, your hotel is the stunning Sant’Elena, converted from an old convent and brimming with authentic Venetian charm. Enjoy a gondola ride as you soak up the sights of the timeless floating city, and see Venice’s famous glassblowing up close. 

Stop by the leaning tower of Pisa before heading to Florence, where you can see Michelangelo’s David for yourself and witness local craftspersons at work during a gold and leatherwork demonstration. Pass by rural hilltop villages on your way to Rome, taking a “passeggiata” (the Italian tradition of an evening stroll) with your Local Expert past the capital’s piazzas and fountains. Your final day is spent seeing the very best of Rome’s highlights, including fast-tracked entry to the Vatican Museums with a Local Expert.  

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8. Country Roads of Tuscany & Central Italy

Best for: Unforgettable cuisine

9 days, 11 cities

It’s no secret that Italy has some of the best cuisine in the world, but many of its most famous dishes have come from neighboring regions Umbria and Tuscany. Most tours in Italy are culinary delights, but this one especially so. After working up an appetite in Rome you’ll head to Umbria to go truffle hunting, followed by lunch and an exploration of the art of Italian cooking with Chef Lorenzo. In its capital, Perugia, you’ll get to choose from a hand-picked selection of restaurants for your Dine-Around Evening. 

Journey to Assisi, one of Italy’s most beautiful hilltop towns, and then onto Siena where you can tuck into a tasting of Panforte, a traditional Tuscan dessert. After exploring the medieval town of San Gimignano with your Travel Director, regain your energy at champion gelato maestro Sergio Dondoli’s artisan ice cream parlour on Piazza della Cisterna. Onwards to Florence and your Celebration Dinner at Il Vecchio Maneggio, set in the rolling hills of Tuscany surrounded by its own vineyards, olive groves, saffron crop and orchards. What better way to finish your trip than with a a delicious Farm-to-Table experience with locally grown ingredients, homemade pastas and traditional Chianti wine. 

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Photo by Alexander Henke on Unsplash

9. Easy Pace Italy

Best for: Relaxed starts

10 days, 6 cities

Want to pack in all the sights and insights, but still relish a relaxed morning and time to yourself? That’s what our Easy Pace tours are all about. As well as entire days in Rome and Venice to see the cities how you please, you’ll still spend plenty of time with your knowledgeable Travel Director and our Local Experts. Enjoy fast-track entry to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, laying eyes on Michelangelo’s ‘David’ in Florence, and a Farm-to-Table dinner at Tuscany’s Il Poggio restaurant, rounded off by a gondola ride through beautiful Venice. 

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10. Italian Elegance

Best for: Arts & culture

12 days, 12 cities

From Renaissance sculptures and Roman architecture to reviving ancient artistic techniques in the modern day, Italy is – and has always been – a hub of arts and culture. Skip the line with fast-track access to the Vatican Museums, admiring the incredible ceiling frescoes in the Sistine Chapel before stepping back in time as you take a tour of ancient Rome. In Florence, see another of Michelangelo’s masterpieces when you come face to face with ‘David’, one of the world’s most famous sculptures, and take in the city’s Renaissance architecture.

See Pisa’s incredible Leaning Tower and its cathedral and baptistery, decorated with mosaics and designs in solid marble. On the coast, discover Cinque Terre’s history as a fishing village with a Local Expert and taste the fruits of the sea during a delicious Sea-to-Table dining experience, before passing through northern Italy’s Lake District and the towering Dolomites to arrive in Venice. Join your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience in Venice witnessing the ancient skill of glassblowing which dates back to the 15th century, now practised by precious few masters. Every visit helps to support the survival of this traditional craft, and this workshop directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. 

11. Best of Italy

Best for: A bit of everything

11 days, 11 cities

Want to see the incredible architecture, meet passionate locals, try delicious food, and see exceptional views along the way? This trip is one of our most diverse tours in Italy – and it’s called Best of Italy for a reason. You’ll hop from Rome to Florence, Venice, and down to Vesuvius National Park and to beautiful Sorrento. Stroll with a Local Expert through Rome’s ancient streets, taste the best of Florentine cuisine, witness the historic art of glassblowing in Venice, and cruise over to Capri by jetfoil. 

But one of the most memorable experiences has to be your day in Pompeii. Walk through the excavations with a Local Expert and discover what ancient life was really like. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience in Vesuvius National Park where you’ll visit Casa Barone. This small family-run farm on the slopes of the volcano is one of the world’s only producers of Piennolo tomatoes, an endangered fruit that only thrives in the fertile volcanic soil. Learn about the family’s commitment to sustainability and savor the unique flavours of this rare tomato during a truly unique Farm-to-Table lunch. 

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Ready to live la dolce vita? Discover our Premium Tours to Italy.