Florence, Rome & Athens Express

Day 1 Overnight Flight to Italy (Milan)

Day 2 Ciao Milan

Meet your tour director, travel to Florence & check into hotel

Traditional Italian pizza dinner

Day 3 Florence

Palazzo Vecchio, , Chiesa di Santa Croce, , Duomo, Leather Workshop, Gates of Paradise, Giotto’s Bell Tower, Dante's House

Optional $85

Baptistery visit, Leaning Tower

Details: Florence guided sightseeing tour

Immerse yourself in the charms of old-world Firenze. The birthplace and focal point of the Italian Renaissance, Florence still has the masterpieces to prove it. Brunelleschi’s monumental cupola (dome) atop the city's renowned Duomo dominates the skyline. Your local licensed guide will take you to Giotto's Bell Tower and the aptly named Gates of Paradise, the bronze east doors of the Baptistery that spurred the burgeoning Renaissance. Don’t overlook the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli at the Chiesa di Santa Croce, or Florence’s amazing leather goods. You can check them out when you visit one of the area’s famed workshops!

Details: Piazza della Signoria

Spend time in the Piazza della Signoria, the political stage of Renaissance Florence and an open-air museum of sculpture.

Details: Ponte Vecchio

Stroll along the Ponte Vecchio, the oldest of Florence's six bridges and one of the best-loved sites of Florence. Lined with numerous shops, visitors often do not realize they are on a bridge until the reach the center arches that look out over the Arno.

Day 4 Florence--Rome

Travel to Rome

Colosseum visit, , Piazza Venezia

Details: Ancient Rome guided sightseeing tour

The ultimate symbol of Ancient Rome, the Colosseum still dominates the modern city. Tour the amphitheatre with your local licensed guide. Built by the emperor Vespasian in A.D. 72, the structure held almost 50,000 spectators but was so well organized that the entire place could be emptied within 15 minutes. Inside, the spectacles varied from gladiator battles to immense naval contests to wild beast shows, in which thousands of exotic animals like giraffes and ostriches were popped into the stadium through trap doors and left to fight Roman hunters. See the system beneath the floor that operated the trap doors and housed the animals, then continue on to the relative calm of the Forum. Ancient Rome’s commercial, religious and political center, the Forum held markets, temples and the Senate House. Near the Rostra, or speaker’s platform, you can still see game boards scratched into the marble by bored politicians--anyone up for a game of tic tac toe?

Details: Forum Romanum visit

Tour the ruins and excavations of the Roman Forum, which features the remains of magnificent temples, basilicas, and triumphal arches that once formed the heart of the Empire.

Day 5 Rome

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel visit, St. Peter’s Basilica visit

Spanish Steps, , Pantheon,

Authentic trattoria dinner

Details: Vatican City guided sightseeing tour

Visit St. Peter’s Basilica, with its vast colonnades that seem to embrace the world. Inside, admire Michelangelo’s soaring dome, rising 452 feet above the ground, and his renowned Pietà. Then step into the Sistine Chapel, where the artist reluctantly painted frescoes that today stand among the world’s greatest masterpieces. Please note that the Sistine Chapel portion of the visit is unguided and will be explored independently.

Details: Rome city walk

Take a walk past Rome's most beautiful and unusual Baroque fountains. At the foot of the Spanish Steps, elegant cafes surround the central fountain. The water pressure here was so low that the artist had to sink the fountain into the ground to get any water going through it, so he went ahead and designed the fountain to look like a sinking ship. There's no shortage of water pressure at the nearby Trevi Fountain, a Baroque extravagance designed by master sculptor Bernini.

Details: Trevi Fountain

View the Trevi Fountain, where it is traditional to toss a coin into the fountain to ensure a safe return to the Eternal City.

Details: Piazza Navona

We will spend some time in the Piazza Navona area. Built on the foundations of Domitian's Circus, this magnificent square was designed by Borromini in 17th century. It is full of life and is highlighted by one of Rome's most spectacular fountains, the Four Rivers designed by Bernini. The square is often filled with local artists. The surrounding neighborhood is also one of the best places in Rome to get a tasty tartufo or gelato ice cream

Day 6 Rome--Athens

Fly to Athens

Plaka district, Temple of Olympian Zeus,

Details: Athens city walk

You’re never more than a few steps away from the past in Athens. Accompany your Tour Director to the Plaka, the historic district that borders the Acropolis. In its twisting narrow streets you’ll catch glimpses of an older city, from wrought-iron balconies bursting with geraniums to traditional Greek dancing in basement tavernas. Continue on to the Temple of Olympian Zeus, begun in the 6th century B.C. and finished in A.D. 132 by the emperor Hadrian. Its enormous columns provide a sense of the scale of the original temple. Nearby, the elaborate Hadrian’s Arch separated the ancient and imperial sections of the city.

Details: Hadrian’s Arch

View Hadrian's Arch, an enormous triumphal arch built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian, which is still a symbolic entrance to Athens.

Day 7 Athens

Parthenon, , Temple of Athena Nike., Omonoia Square, ,

Details: Athens guided sightseeing tour

Athens has grown from the birthplace of democracy into a lively modern capital. With a licensed local guide, explore the city’s ancient highlights, beginning at the site of the first modern Olympic Games and the Acropolis, the heart of classical Athens. The Parthenon, dedicated to Athena, dominates the hill, while the nearby Erechtheion stands out for its Caryatids, the sculpted women supporting its porch. From here, the views over today’s Athens are remarkable. Back in the modern city, stop at Syntagma Square to see the Parliament building and the Changing of the Guard, a ceremony marked by the traditional uniforms with pleated skirts and pom-pom shoes. Continue on to Omonia Square, another major meeting point, surrounded by shops, cafés, and everyday city life.

Details: Acropolis site visit

Visit the Acropolis, which has overlooked Athens for over 2,000 years; habitation traces indicate that it was occupied as early as the Neolithic Age. View the Temple of Athena Nike, and its successor, The Parthenon. The Parthenon is the crowning achievement of the Doric order, built to demonstrate the wealth of Athens in tribute to its patron goddess, Athena.

Details: Syntagma Square

Syntagma Square, located directly in front of the Old Royal Palace, is the central square of Athens.

Details: Panathenaic Olympic Stadium

The Panathenaic Olympic Stadium is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble and the site of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. It was also used during the 2004 Athens Olympics for events such as the marathon finish and archery competitions. Its horseshoe shape follows the layout of the ancient stadium that once stood here, making it one of the city’s most iconic historic venues.

Details: Plaka treasure hunt

Take interactive learning to another level with a Tour Director-led scavenger hunt of Plaka, the old folk quarters of Athens! Enjoy an after-dinner adventure, complete exciting activities and solve fun clues. Each clue and every activity is built to maximize on-tour experiential learning.

Day 8 Athens

Visit Delphi site, Temple of Apollo

Greek dinner in Plaka

Details: Delphi guided excursion

Prophet from the past. Explore the impressive ruins at Delphi, which the Greeks considered the center of the world. Within the depths of the Temple of Apollo, a priestess would inhale intoxicating vapors that used to rise from the earth and, thus inspired, deliver the prophecies of Apollo. Modern visitors might find more inspiration in the view from Mount Parnassus, over 8000 feet high.

Day 9 Flight home from Athens

Day 9 Start cruise extension (tour must depart North America on Thursdays to do extension)

Details: Cruise for three days on the Aegean

Set out to sea. Take three days to tour four islands of the Aegean and get to know authentic Greek island culture and some of the Aegean's best beaches. First is Mykonos, one of the Mediterranean's busiest resorts, with everything from a great museum filled with 7th-century artifacts to pure white, cubistic buildings, Crayola-colored boats, gourmet restaurants and...more beaches. Next stop is Kusadasi, known for its myriad of shops and historic sites. Then it is on to the hilly, seahorse-shaped Patmos, you'll see gold-leafed Byzantine frescos at the Monastery of St. John, the capital city of Hora, the busy port of Skala and beautiful beaches. Cruise on to Heraklion, the capital of Crete and a former Minoan seaport, for an unparalleled collection of Minoan archaeological artifacts. Finally, you’ll visit Santorini, where whole villages seem to cling to the side of the volcano, and mysterious black sand beaches stretch into the sea. Itinerary is subject to change. Your cruise includes two shore excursions.

Details: Your cruise includes two shore excursions.

The following two excursions are included on your cruise: Ancient Ephesus through the ages - Hellenistic and Roman, and Heraklion: Minoan Palace of Knossos - 1st European Civilization. Note that depending on the departure date of your cruise, shore excursions are subject to change.

Day 10 Aegean cruise

Day 11 Aegean cruise

Day 12 Athens

Arrive in Athens

Temple of Poseidon

Details: Guided excursion to Cape Sounion

Contemplate the sea god Poseidon from his temple perched high atop the hill of Cape Sounion, the southern-most tip of Central Greece. Stand among the tall, marble pillars rising up from the slippery slabs of rock and look out over the calm blue Aegean Sea. The Temple of Poseidon, built around the same time as the Parthenon (between 450-440 BC), is a refreshing point of calm after the chaos of modern Athens.

Details: Greek evening with dinner and a show

Enjoy Greek cuisine, culture--and a show!

Day 13 Flight home from Athens

Tour Includes:

Round-trip airfare
Flight from Rome to Athens
7 overnight stays (8 with extension) in hotels with private bathrooms
3 overnight stays in cabins on cruise ship on extension
Full European breakfast daily
Dinner daily
Full-time services of a professional tour director
Guided sightseeing tours and city walks as per itinerary
Visits to select attractions as per itinerary
Guided sightseeing tours with high-tech headset as per itinerary
Aegean Cruise on extension
Two shore excursions on cruise
Lunch on cruise ship on extension
Tips to cruise staff on extension
Tour Diary™
Local Guide and Local Bus Driver tips; see note regarding other important tips
Note: On arrival day only dinner is provided; on departure day, only breakfast is provided
Note: Tour cost does not include airline-imposed baggage fees, or fees for any required passport or visa. Optional excursions, optional pre-paid Tour Director and multi-day bus driver tipping, among other individual and group customizations will be listed as separate line items in the total trip cost, if included.

TOUR COST & DETAILS

We are better able to assist you with a quote for your selected departure date and city over the phone. Please call 1.888.378.8845 to price this tour with your requested options.

Tours departing in October 2027 or later cannot be priced here. Click here to get a price quote or call us at 800-771-5353 to price your trip.

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4931.00 total fee

Toronto

Milan

Athens

Toronto

Departure Date

Mon, March 01, 2027

Return Date

Tue, March 09, 2027

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Include Pre-Paid Tipping ($143.00)

Optional Add-Ons

Pisa guided excursion ($85)

Aegean Cruise

Include Aegean Cruise (4 days)

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Florence, Rome & Athens Express Student Tour

with optional Aegean Cruise

Length: 9 - 13 days

Planning for the 2027-28 school year?

Florence, Rome & Athens Express

with optional Aegean Cruise

Length: 9 - 13 days

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