Hygieneprotocol

All guests travelling with Contiki through December 31, 2022 are required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, which may include a booster shot to keep the vaccination status current and valid, depending on the travel destination. Children not eligible for vaccination and/or booster at the time of travel must provide a verifiable and negative Covid-19 test result, taken within 72 hours prior to the start of the tour (taking time zones into consideration) for all tours departing until December 31, 2022. For guests travelling with Contiki from 1 January 2023, Covid-19 vaccinations and boosters are highly recommended, but no longer required. Please note that regardless of time of travel guests will need to comply with specific vaccine and/or booster requirements imposed by airlines and/or authorities in the destination visited, as well as requirements for accessing restaurants and venues, which may be more restrictive than above. It is guests’ responsibility to ensure that they comply at all times with these requirements. No refunds will be given if guests are unable to undertake some or all of their vacation due to their failure to comply with these requirements.

Guide

Expert Trip Manager & Driver Team + Local Guides

Accommodation

7 nights in Hotels, 2 nights in Special Stay

Meals

2 Dinner (D) 9 Breakfast (B)

Transport

Rome: Can arrangements be made for travellers with accessibility needs? If you require arrangements to be made for your accessibility needs, please inform your Trip Manager as soon as possible. We try our best to contact all accommodations and secure ground floor rooms for easy wheelchair access.Please remember that Italy can be physically challenging to get around. Coaches can’t access historical centers, and there will be lots of walking (on roads that are often uneven and cobbled). Travellers with accessibility needs will find this trip challenging. Madrid: I need to refrigerate my medication. Can I do that on the coach? Of course! Just inform your Trip Manager if you need refrigeration on the coach. Please remember that the fridge is turned off overnight, so you’ll have to take your medication with you into your accommodation. We recommend that you bring a cooler bag with you as a backup. It’s your responsibility to store your medication with care.

Others

Madrid: Do the included meals have a set menu? Yep. Usually, we arrange a buffet for all your included meals. If you’d like a vegetarian option, please inform your Trip Manager beforehand, and they’ll sort it out for you. Rome: When would be the best time to book tickets for museums and other attractions? This would depend on the museums & attractions you’re planning to visit. If you’d like to know the exact timings, please contact our 24x7 Helpline to access your day-to-day itineraries to check when you’ll have free time in each city. Rome: Stroll around the Italian capital, ticking off some sights on your bucket list! Siena: This medieval Tuscan city is packed with charming photo ops. From the Duomo to Piazza del Campo. Florence: See the Duomo, Basilica Santa Croce, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery & Piazza della Signoria on a locally guided walking tour of Florence. Pisa: Your ultimate chance to ‘hold the tower up’ as you pose for that classic Insta snap. Lucca: Ramble around the cobbled streets of this Renaissance walled city in Tuscany. It’s an Insta post waiting to happen! Cinque Terre National Park: We’ll take care of your rail pass, so you can just zip around the iconic clifftop villages and focus on the Insta stories. Verona: Ah! The sight of this famous balcony will turn even the most hardened cynic into a romantic soul. Venice: Speed across the lagoon to the aqueous island of Venice. Vatican: See this religious state and home to the Pope, IRL. Take a guided tour around Renaissance masterpieces and see the famous ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Rome: Kick back with your Contiki crew and feast on some yummy Italian cuisine - served at a local restaurant working to train and provide jobs for members of the community with disabilities.

Not included:

Insurance

Travel insurance is not included.

Optional

Tuscan Risotto Evening Lucca Wine Tasting Lake Como Cruise Traditional Tastes of Venice with Transport Gondolas Burano Island Cruise & Dinner

Flights

International flights are not included.

Others

Other activities and services are not included.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Start Rome
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Start Rome

Welcome to Rome! Once known as the ’capital of the world’ this richly historic, passionate and elegant city will steal our hearts as soon as we arrive. We’ll meet and greet our Contiki crew at 4pm, before taking to the streets for an included Italian feast. After dinner we’ll head on an orientation tour of the city ticking off all the sights in Rome.
Day 2 Day 2: Rome To Florence Via Siena
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Rome To Florence Via Siena

Rise and shine, we’re headed to another historical heavyweight today... But not before stopping off at Siena for lunch. This place has medieval masterpieces and the historic city centre has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. We’ll soak up all of that historic beauty and grab a bite before heading onto Florence... Florence is one of the foodie capitals of Italy, so we won’t waste any time trying the local delicacies with an included feast. Then we’ll turn in for the night, dreaming of the Florentine adventures that await us tomorrow.
Day 3 Day 3: Florence
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Florence

Florence is often referred to as a ’walking museum’, and today we’ll find out why. With a locally guided walking tour, we’ll discover Renaissance Florence on foot, swooning at Giotto’s Bell Tower, Basilica Santa Croce, and Piazza della Signoria. We’ll also see the Duomo, one of the world’s most remarkable architectural feats. Later, we’ll get together for a Tuscan Risotto Evening indulging in Chianti wine from the nearby vineyards. Learn how to make risotto whilst our hosts have cooked up a feast of antipasto and Italian specialties. Save some room for ‘dolce’ i.e a mystery homemade dessert!
Day 4 Day 4: Florence To Cinque Terre Via Pisa And Lucca
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Florence To Cinque Terre Via Pisa And Lucca

Farewell, Florence. We’ll never forget you. But we’ve got more dreamy Italian hot spots to hit up. Another stopover will let us check out lovely Lucca, with its charming piazzas, Renaissance architecture and historic cafes. Opt for wines at the local vineyards outside of Lucca. Or it’s a perfect spot to grab a bite before we hit the road again. We can’t be this way of the world without a sneaky visit to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Depriving you of the chance to perfect the holding-up-the-tower shot would be criminal. Welcome to the Italian Riviera! You’re going to fall head over heels with this region over the coming days...
Day 5 Day 5: Cinque Terre
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Cinque Terre

Some people think Cinque Terre is just one place, but it actually translates to the ‘five lands’ and is made up of 5 stunning towns with their own unique identity and traditions. Included in your trip is an unlimited Cinque Terre hike and train ticket, and whichever way you choose to get around will be sure to make you fall in love with the dramatic cliff-faces and pastel coloured buildings.
Day 6 Day 6: Cinque Terre To Milan Via Como
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Cinque Terre To Milan Via Como

We’re hitting the road today to one of the most elegant cities in Europe. But not before experiencing the glitz and glamour of Lake Como, with its attractive villages and gorgeous gardens. The showstopper is the lake itself, of course, and we’ll have the option to get out on the water and take a cruise to beautiful Bellagio. Welcome to Milan, the sophisticated cityscape that rewards the curious traveller. We have a free night to check out the local nightlife, and eat some of the local delicacies. As always, your Trip Manager will have the top tips on where to go and where to avoid...
Day 7 Day 7: Milan To Venice Via Verona
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Milan To Venice Via Verona

The dreamy destinations just don’t stop coming... Welcome to Verona, the heart of Renaissance romance (and the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet). Beautiful architecture, rich history and plenty of jaw-dropping art makes this place a very worthy stopover. We’ll check out Juliet’s balcony, part of a gorgeous 13th century house then it’s onto another very romantic city... Welcome to Treviso! Nothing like a free evening to spend the Italian way...Tonight you’ll have the option to walk around this idyllic version of Venice (before taking on the real thing tomorrow!). Grab some local food on the way. And maybe even treat yourself to some tiramisu (because this little town is where it was born!). Seriously, it doesn’t get more authentic than this.
Day 8 Day 8: Venice
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Venice

Wake-up sleeping beauties! Hop onto our coach because we’ve got this entire day to explore Venice. We’ll be jumping aboard our own private boat and crossing the canal en route to the historical heart of the city. A gondola ride will be up for grabs, or you can always choose to get lost on your own and see where the maze takes you. Later, maybe opt to cruise to the UNESCO-listed island of Burano and enjoy a sumptuous seafood meal.
Day 9 Day 9: Venice To Rome Via Bologna
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Venice To Rome Via Bologna

See ya, Venice. You’ll always have a piece of our hearts. Today we’re headed back to Rome to explore the city in more depth. But not before making a quick stop in Bologna. Home of prosciutto, mortadella, bolognese sauce and many more tasty Italian delights, Bologna is known far and wide as La Grassa (the Fat One). Come hungry, but make sure you’re not too full to explore the Unesco-listed porticoes either. We’ll have a free night for dinner and a chance to discover the finest food Rome has to offer. Washed down with some fine Italian wine? If you say so.
Day 10 Day 10: End Rome
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: End Rome

Rome wasn’t built in a day - so get up and get going early to make the most of this ancient city. When in Rome... take a guided tour of the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. Religious or not, the Vatican’s Italian Renaissance church will send shivers down your spine. Then our trip comes to an end in the afternoon. Swap contact details and start planning your next adventure!

10 days tour

Italian Espresso (Summer, Classic, 10 Days)

This tour includes:

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Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Italian Espresso (Summer, Classic, 10 Days)

Day 1: Start Rome

Day 2: Rome To Florence Via Siena

Day 3: Florence

Day 4: Florence To Cinque Terre Via Pisa And Lucca

Day 5: Cinque Terre

Day 6: Cinque Terre To Milan Via Como

Day 7: Milan To Venice Via Verona

Day 8: Venice

Day 9: Venice To Rome Via Bologna

Day 10: End Rome

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