Grand Tour of Italy

On arrival in Venice take a shared transfer by boat to your Venice accommodation. The remainder of the day is free to discover Venice and its beautiful Lagoon. Spend two nights in Venice.

Today is dedicated to the discovery of Venice. Consider taking a guided walking tour through the most famous places in the city or a skip-the-line guided tour of the Doge's Palace. Alternatively, you can go on a boat trip to the islands of the Venice lagoon: Murano, Burano and Torcello. In the afternoon enjoy a 30-minute gondola ride. Before dinner in Venice, it is traditional to have an aperitif based on “cichéti” (small snacks) in one of the many “bacari” (taverns) scattered along the “calli” (that is what the Venetian streets are called).

This morning make you way to Venice Santa Lucia station to board the high-speed train to Florence. On arrival, check in at your hotel and the remainder of the day is free to begin exploring this beautiful city. We recommend a guided tour of one of the main museums: the Uffizi Galleries, with the masterpieces of the masters of the Italian Renaissance (Leonardo, Caravaggio, Raffaello, Tiziano, Botticelli and many others), or the Accademia Gallery, which houses the original of Michelangelo's famous statue of David. You could take a half day tour to Pisa and its famous leaning tower. Alternatively, for foodies there are number of cooking classes available. Spend the next two nights in Florence.

Today you will discover Florence’s two thousand years of history through the eyes of an expert local guide, who will take you in an unforgettable journey to discover the most beautiful squares and monuments of Florence. At the conclusion of this tour, the remainder of the day is free.

After breakfast, make your way to Santa Maria Novella Station for your high speed train to Rome. On arrival, check in at your hotel and enjoy a free afternoon to explore the city on your own. Discover Rome’s famous landmarks, such as Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, Spain Square. If you arrive early enough, there may be an opportunity to take a guided tour of the Vatican Museums, to admire Michelangelo's famous Sistine Chapel and other masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance. You could also join a cooking lesson to learn how to make pizza or pasta and ice cream. Spend two nights in Rome.

This morning join an Imperial Tour of Rome, which takes in the Roman Forum and Colosseum. The afternoon is free to explore Rome further. In the evening, we recommend visiting the Trastevere district, which is full of typical restaurants.

Take a high speed train from Rome’s Termini Station to Naples. Upon arrival in Naples, you will be transferred to Pompeii where you will enjoy a 2-hour stop to visit the archaeological area. This ancient Roman city was destroyed when Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD and buried it, preserving it under a sea of volcanic ash for nearly 1700 years. Following the visit, transfer to lovely seaside town of Sorrento. Sorrento of famous for its picturesque old town centre and atmospheric fisherman's village of Marina Grande. Spend the next two nights in Sorrento.

Today join a small group tour to Capri Island. Visit Capri, Anacapri and the famous Blue Grotto (weather permitting).  In the afternoon, return to Sorrento by ferry.

This morning, enjoy free time to further explore Sorrento. Take a swim in one of the local beaches, discover the gastronomic delights of the region or explore the beautiful towns of the Amalfi coast. In the early afternoon, you will transfer to the port of Naples where, in the evening, you will be boarded on the ferry to Palermo. The ferry will cross the Tyrrhenian Sea overnight, allowing you to be in Palermo early in the morning the next day.

Arrival in Palermo in the early morning, your private transfer will be waiting to take you to your hotel. Once you arrive at the hotel, you can leave your bags and start exploring the city. It’s best to start with breakfast in one of the various cafés in the city centre, famous for their Sicilian desserts such as cannoli and cassata. You can then begin to explore the city. Start with a visit to the Norman Palace and the Palatine Chapel: visit this magnificent royal palace, seat of the Sicilian parliament, and the extraordinary Palatine Chapel with its Byzantine mosaics. In the afternoon, you can visit the majestic Palermo Cathedral, a mix of architectural styles that reflect the multicultural history of the city. After so much history and culture, we suggest you immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of the historic Ballarò Market, where you can find fruit, vegetables, fresh fish and street food. For dinner, you can taste street food at the Ballarò Market or eat in one of the many typical restaurants in Palermo. After dinner, we suggest an evening stroll along Via Maqueda and the Quattro Canti, admiring the architecture and enjoying an ice cream or a drink in one of the outdoor cafes. Spend two nights in Palermo.

Continue your discovery of Palermo. Visit the beautiful Churches of Martorana and San Cataldo, both testimonies of Norman-Arab art and architecture. Or you could take a relaxing stroll in the Botanical Garden of Palermo, this historic garden features a vast collection of exotic and Mediterranean plants. We suggest taking a guided tour of the Teatro Massimo, one of the largest opera houses in Europe. You could venture a little further afield and visit nearby Monreale; its cathedral with mosaics is among the most famous in Europe or Cefalù, a splendid seaside town with its atmospheric historic town centre.

After breakfast at the hotel, your tour ends.