Top Italy Cultural Tours - page 2

Enjoy an introduction to Rome’s most significant ancient landmarks on this tour. Enter the Colosseum through a back entrance and explore areas that are typically off-limits to visitors, including the arena floor. Then, follow your guide to the Roman Forum, where you see ruins ranging from the Temple of Julius Caesar to the Senate House, and continue to Palatine Hill.

The entrance lines at Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice can sometimes feel like they last forever. Bypass the annoyance of waiting in long queues by prebooking a Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica skip-the-line tour. Perfect for those with a limited time in Venice, you’ll visit both big attractions with a guide leading the way and loading you with historical information you wouldn’t hear otherwise.

Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast are two headliners in southern Italy, but it’s virtually impossible to visit both in one day by public transportation. On this day trip, save hours with round-trip transport directly from Rome, leaving you enough time for a guided tour of the ancient ruins of Pompeii plus a stroll through Positano to sightsee and shop before the return drive to Rome.

Knowing where to start when visiting Rome's archaeological sites can be daunting, especially for first-time visitors. This group tour handles the planning for you, with an itinerary that includes the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Enjoy stepping onto the amphitheater's restricted arena floor, something the majority travelers aren't able to access. Gain deeper insights through your guide's commentary, which goes beyond what you'll find on the information panels.

Explore Venice with a small-group tour that dives into the city’s history, culture, and iconic landmarks, including St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace. With your guide leading the way, skip the lines with pre-reserved tickets and step inside these stunning sites to uncover their fascinating stories. Wander through St. Mark's Square, cross the legendary Bridge of Sighs, and hear tales of Casanova while visiting the Old and New Prisons—then marvel at the grandeur of the Correr Museum, once home to Napoleon and the King of Italy.

Explore the Vatican like never before with skip-the-line priority access and a guide leading your small group. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking galleries of the Vatican Museums, marvel at the Sistine Chapel's iconic frescoes by Michelangelo, and, if open, visit the awe-inspiring St. Peter’s Basilica. Ensure you don't miss any of the highlights by booking a tour.

Pompeii and Herculaneum are among the world’s most important Roman archaeological sites, but the ruins can be hard to interpret to the untrained eye. Experience the extraordinary archaeological wonders with a professional archaeologist on this hassle-free small-group tour. Learn about the history and architecture of these two cities buried by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in AD 79. Choose the departure option that best suits your travel plans and enjoy a seamless visit with admission tickets included.

Discover a side of Venice many tourists never see on this real secret Venice walking tour. Join your Venetian guide for a stroll through authentic local neighborhoods and past captivating hidden gems. Delve into the history and lore of the Jewish Ghetto, Cannaregio, and San Polo districts, stopping to admire its quiet canals and tiny artisan workshops that still make traditional handicrafts.

Immerse yourself in Roman history and learn information you’d unlikely encounter on your own on this small-group tour of Rome’s underground. Discover the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella and learn about its history. Then, visit the Catacombs of San Sebastiano or Domitilla (depending on the day), home to stunning frescoes and thousands of centuries-old bones. Learn about early Christianity from your guide while meandering the endless darkened tunnels.

Plan ahead and make the most of your visit to Florence’s world-famous Uffizi Galleries with a small-group guided tour. Head inside the historic galleries with a guide who leads you straight to must-see highlights, such as Botticelli's “Birth of Venus” and Caravaggio’s “Medusa,” plus hidden treasures you might miss on your own. After this insightful art history tour, continue exploring the museum at your leisure.

Step back in time and learn about life in ancient Rome with this small-group guided tour of the city’s top archaeological treasures. Visit the Colosseum, with access through the restricted area of the arena floor , and learn about this magnificent amphitheater from your guide. Then continue on to stroll through the ruins of temples and squares in the adjacent Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

Explore the vast Vatican complex, without worrying about missing its highlights, on this group tour of its museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica. Relax with a meeting point away from the busy main entrance, as your guide leads you through the Vatican to its Renaissance artworks, frescoes, and religious artifacts, providing insightful commentary along the way.

Venture into Tuscany on this day trip from Florence and discover the region's highlights with the help of a local guide. Explore the medieval city of Siena and its cathedral before heading to the hills of Chianti for a Tuscan lunch and wine tasting (optional). Roam the streets of San Gimignano and travel to Pisa to admire the architectural drama of Cathedral Square—home to the UNESCO-listed Leaning Tower of Pisa. Upgrade to include admission to climb the tower.

The dome atop Florence's Duomo offers unique views of the city, but tickets sell out long in advance. Secure your spot with pre-booked entry on this guided tour. Head straight into the church with skip-the-line access, bypassing the long wait. After touring the cathedral, make your way up the staircase and along corridors that have been closed to the public for centuries. Then continue to the top of Brunelleschi’s Dome, if you wish.

The UNESCO-listed Sassi di Matera is both captivating and mysterious. With this guided tour, take a deep dive into the history of this unique rupestrian city, named a 2019 European Capital of Culture. Explore its hidden dwellings and churches carved directly into the cliff, the setting for a number of films, including Ben Hur.

Explore three of the most important ancient Roman sites on this tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. See where Rome was founded, where legendary gladiatorial games took place, and the streets where Caesar walked.

Get familiar with the ins and outs of Florence on this small-group walking tour of the city. Your local guide leads you through town, taking you past landmarks such as the Church of Santa Maria Novella, the Medici Chapels, the Duomo, and the Uffizi Gallery, sharing the history and culture of the city as you go.

Sights in Rome are spread out, making a bus tour ideal—but long, cramped rides are a recipe for restlessness. Ideal for independent-minded travelers, this hop-on-hop-off bus tour lets you get down and explore whenever and wherever you wish. When booking, choose from a wide range of pass options, from half-day or single-route trips up to multi-day durations. Enjoy unimpeded views and listen to audio commentary in 12 languages.

The Vatican Museums hold a collection so vast that first-time visitors lose hours finding the highlights. An art historian-guide cuts through it, with entry included and a route straight to the major works, ending at the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo's ceiling. Hear the stories behind the art as you go, and upgrade to add a guided visit to St. Peter's Basilica.

When you’re in Milan, don’t miss the chance to visit nearby Lake Como and Lake Lugano. This day trip makes it easy with round-trip transport, and carefully planned stops at the lake towns of Bellagio and Lugano. Ample free time is included in each place, and you get the lowdown on the Italian lakes as you travel with a professional guide.

Get more out of Rome's storied Borghese Gallery and Gardens when you explore as part of a guided, small-group walking tour. Admission tickets are included in the tour cost, so you guarantee your entry to the often sold-out attraction. Once inside, see works by Caravaggio, Bernini, Titian, and other Italian masters, and then stroll through the tranquil gardens for top-notch city views.

With no train service and overcrowded buses, exploring the Amalfi Coast by public transportation can be daunting. Discover the coastline's top towns stress-free on this group tour from Sorrento, Salerno, or Naples. Skip the hassle of navigating unfamiliar routes and schedules, and leave the driving to an expert so you can admire the scenery along the way. You'll save hours, leaving ample time to visit Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello at your own pace.

Matera is home to the Sassi cave churches and dwellings that make up one of the oldest cities in the world. Join your guide for an in-depth tour of the Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano districts to learn about their unique history and evolution. Discover rupestrian structures, stroll the steep and narrow lanes, and gain a deeper understanding of how this town, once called the “Shame of Italy”, is now a UNESCO-listed treasure.

This flexible group tour from Florence offers options and upgrades that make it easy to visit Pisa's main highlights. Don't worry about navigating unfamiliar public tranportation, with two-way coach transfers arranged for you. Get dropped off at Piazza dei Miracoli, then choose to explore on your own or upgrade to a guided tour with skip-the-line tickets to Pisa Cathedral and the Leaning Tower.