Top Italy How to Get Around - page 6

Enjoy a richer experience of Rome's ancient landmarks than you'd get on your own. This combination tour immerses you in the long and colorful history of Rome with guided visits to the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and the Roman Forum. Check off three of Italy's most-important landmarks and benefit from insights from your expert guide.

Explore Palermo’s key sights on foot on this walking tour of the Sicilian capital. Meet your guide in a convenient location in central Palermo, and set off. Visit popular landmarks ranging from the Palermo Cathedral and Palazzo Pretorio to the Massimo Theater. Learn about the city’s long entanglement with the mafia, and meet the shopkeepers and other individuals who have pioneered a local anti-mafia movement.

Immerse yourself in Florence's art and architecture on this tour, which gets you skip-the-line access to both the Accademia Gallery and the Duomo. See Michelangelo’s ‘David’ in the quieter hours, then get an in-depth tour of the Duomo, including the museum and terraces. Once the guided portion of the tour ends on the terrace, you’ll have access to climb to the top of the dome for unparalleled views over the city.

Come face to face with one of the world’s most iconic sculptures—and enjoy a streamlined, time-saving experience—on this skip-the-line tour of Florence’s Accademia, home of Michelangelo’s "David." Choose from several convenient start times and bypass the long lines with priority tickets (additional cash expense). Once inside, discover the masterpiece and other highlights, and learn more from your guide’s narration.

Whether you’re new to Rome or getting reacquainted as a return visitor, it can be hard to get oriented within the maze of streets and piazzas that make up the historical center ("centro storico"). On this walking tour, cover highlights such as Piazza Navona and the Trevi Fountain with a private guide filling you in on their history—capped off by a complimentary scoop or cone of gelato.

Enjoy a rare bird’s-eye view over Rome with this tour of St. Peter’s Basilica that includes a climb to the top of its dome. Visit St. Peter’s Square and church with an art historian guide to marvel at its Renaissance art and architecture. Then head underground to see the grottoes and St. Peter's tomb before climbing the dome to admire the church interiors and the surrounding city from above.

Experience the true flavor of the Tuscan countryside—and enjoy wine tasting without designating a driver—on this Chianti wine tour from Florence. Visit local wineries in scenic villages to sample revered Tuscan wines and learn winemaking secrets. Alternatively, enhance your day with a morning cooking class preparing traditional Tuscan recipes paired with premium wines.

No one should leave Rome without visiting the Colosseum, Roman Forum, or Palatine Hill, where the city began—yet understanding the history behind the ruins can be a challenge when visiting independently. Enrich your visit with crucial context on this guided tour which also includes admission. Prefer the freedom of visiting alone? Then opt for entry combined with an audioguide, and listen to recorded insights while you wander.

Save time and energy when visiting the Vatican Museums with skip-the-line entry—the perfect way to bypass the crowds and head straight inside. Explore with a group and guide, marveling at the Sistine Chapel and Raphael's Rooms, or opt for a self-guided experience. Already covered the Vatican Museums? Then visit only St. Peter’s Basilica with priority entry. You can also add it to your Vatican tour as an optional upgrade.

Taste your way through the backstreet bars of Venice—and discover sights and bites you'd be unlikely to find on your own—on this small-group tasting tour. Follow your local guide to a range of bars where Venetians go to drink and mingle. At each stop, sample regional wines alongside plates of the popular Venetian appetizers called cicchetti. Along the way, visit multiple neighborhoods and discover key city landmarks.

Get an intimate look at the stunning Amalfi Coast on this day cruise from Positano. Led by an expert skipper, glide past the Emerald Grotto sea cave in Conca dei Marini (entry additional expense), marveling at the UNESCO-listed seashore as you go. Hop off the boat for a dip at your leisure, or sunbathe and relax on board. Numbers are limited to 12 people on this small-group tour to ensure a more personal experience.

Visit the historic vacation homes of Rome's elite on a Rome-to-Tivoli day trip—no need to navigate buses or trains. Tours Tivoli’s two UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites: Hadrian’s Villa and Villa d’Este. Hear Renaissance and Ancient Roman history and scandal, admire archaeological ruins, and explore some of Italy’s most extravagant private gardens.

Leave the busy streets of Florence behind and soak up Tuscany's views on this small-group Vespa tour. Hop onto your scooter once you reach the beautiful country roads of Chianti, so you don't have to navigate inner-city traffic. Stop for a traditional Tuscan meal at a farmhouse and taste olive oils and Chianti wines for an authentic taste of Florence's culinary scene. You can also enjoy the journey in a Fiat Topolino e-car.

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.

Explore the hidden corners of Venice on this walking tour and benefit from local knowledge. Stroll with a small group to the city square of Campo Santa Margherita, see the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, and visit the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari. Then cross the Rialto Bridge and walk past the Marco Polo House to St. Mark's Square. Upgrade for a private tour.

Discover the historical "Sassi" neighbourhoods with a high profile guide. Our guides are all very fluent in English. Starting from the upper part of the city centre, you will get to know the most alive part of the town, where the locals live. Moving towards the Sassi area, you will have the chance to better understand how this complex city developed over the centuries. Passing first by the Sasso Barisano which we will admire from a panoramic terrace, the tour keeps going on through the internal alleys of the Sasso Caveoso with several stops to dig into the depths of Matera’s historical, architectural and cultural background. Our choice on what to include in the tour has been made, taking into careful consideration which sites are most worthy of the presence of a guide. We decided to include a rock-hewn church: Santa Lucia alle Malve. At the end of the tour the guide will share with you infos on which other places it’s worth of visiting on your own.

Venture outside Rome’s historic center to take in ancient sights that many tourists miss, all on this tour along the Ancient Appian Way by mountain bike or electric bike. See ruins like the Aurelian Walls, Circus of Maxentius, and Roman aqueducts, all the while cycling through the countryside. Choose between the two bike types to fit your needs and/or upgrade to the longer tour that includes a guided visit to the 2nd-century catacombs.

Avoid the hassle of navigating the local train by yourself and enjoy skip-the-line admission to Pompeii with this private express tour. Meet your assistant at the Sorrento train station to board and get off just outside Pompeii, where you’ll head directly inside the ruins with your guide. Take in the top villas, temples, and more in just two hours before the return train to Sorrento.

The Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill hold layers of history that are hard to piece together without context. This guided tour walks you through all three with a guide on hand to explain what you're seeing. Choose from a standard group tour, a small-group option, Arena Floor access at the Colosseum, or an evening exterior walk.

Get more out of your visit to historic Bologna when you explore with a guide, all thanks to this time-maximizing highlights tour. Choose an English- or Italian-language tour, and set off with your guide to explore key city attractions, from the Quadrilatero market district to the Basilica of San Petronio. If you wish, upgrade to include three food vouchers, or add on a visit to the Archiginnasio building.

As one of Florence's top attractions, the Accademia Gallery draws huge crowds of people wanting to see Michelangelo's "David" sculpture. This guided tour helps you get inside the museum fast, so you can spend less time waiting and more time admiring world-class artwork. Plus, you can upgrade to include a visit to the Uffizi Gallery or a city walking tour after your museum visit for more context.

Foodies visiting Palermo—this is the one for you! Delve into the city’s vibrant street food scene with the help of a guide to translate menus, explain what dishes are, and entertain you with historical information. Save hours reading reviews and research where to eat, and find out the places that locals love. This stress-free tour includes all tastings and a bottle of water.

See the iconic Leaning Tower on this half-day group tour to Pisa from Florence. An expert guide will take you on a walking tour of Piazza dei Miracoli and its monuments including the cathedral and baptistry. After posing with the UNESCO-listed Leaning Tower of Pisa, enjoy some time to explore the area independently before heading back to Florence.

Skip the crowded restaurants and immerse yourself in Italy’s delicious culinary traditions during this hands-on cooking class. Make your own way to the kitchen in central Florence, grab an apron, and learn how to make classic pasta dishes from scratch. Choose the pasta and gelato option and learn to make fresh pasta, seasonal sauces, and enjoy a tasting of gelato and sorbet. Or, opt for the longer lasagna and tiramisu class to shop for ingredients at a local market and learn to prepare the classic dishes, just like nonna.