Overview
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Italy and Greece are countries steeped in history with a treasure trove of ancient sites and scenic beauty. On this affordable Italy & Greece tour, you’ll see the highlights of what these countries have to offer, starting in Rome and ending in Athens.
In Italy, you’ll stay in Rome, Florence and the Venice area. In Greece, you’ll stay in Olympia, Nauplia, and Athens. You’ll also spend one night on a ferry to cross the Adriatic Sea from Ancona, Italy to Patras, Greece and then on a cruise ship for a 3-night Aegean Islands Sea cruise.
Visit Rome with a local guide who brings ancient Imperial Rome back to life as you pass the Colosseum. Enjoy sightseeing of the must-see sights, including Piazza Signoria in the center of Florence: the old town center in Verona; and see Pisa’s famous Leaning Tower. In Venice, take a boat ride to St. Mark’s Square and watch glassblowers create works of art as they have done for centuries – or discover the lagoon at your own pace.
Step back in time at your visit to Athens’ Acropolis and the Parthenon, dating back to the 5th century BC. Also visit Mycenae, dating back to 1350 to 1200 BC, where you’ll marvel at the arches, fountains, ramparts, and amazing masonry still standing.
Spend the last few days of your affordable tour of Italy and Greece in sheer relaxation aboard your cruise ship for a 3-night cruise to some of the world’s most beautiful islands. You’ll see Mykonos, with its seafront village, sandy beaches, and whitewashed houses; Heraklion, Crete, nestled picturesquely between two mountain ranges; Santorini (weather permitting), with one of the world's most breathtaking panoramas; Patmos, where St. John the Divine wrote the Book of Revelation; and Kusadasi, Turkey, where you’ll enjoy an included visit of the Ephesus archaeological site.
All of these elements come together perfectly to create a value-minded Italy and Greece tour and cruise like no other!
Please note: 2021 itinerary is based on 2020 and is subject to change, but by booking today you will lock in your price. Full details will be confirmed in September 2020.
Highlights
Guided sightseeing
PISA See the Leaning Tower
FLORENCE Guided walking tour
VERONA Visit
VENICEBoat ride to St. Mark’s Square
NAUPLIA Visit
MYCENAE Guided visit of the archaeological site
ATHENS Guided sightseeing, visit the Acropolis
2021 Tour itinerary
Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable.
Total meals included:
- 15 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 7 dinners
ARRIVE IN ROME, ITALY
Day1
Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Italy’s ancient capital using your CosmosGO app. This evening, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers.
ROME.
Day2
The “Eternal City” is steeped in history, vibrantly alive and exciting, and absolutely unique! Included sightseeing with a Local Guide starts with St. Peter’s Square and Basilica. Other highlights are the iconic Colosseum, the largest amphitheater ever built, and Circus Maximus. An optional visit is available to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, world famous for Michelangelo’s The Last Judgment.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
ROME–PISA–FLORENCE.
Day3
Vistas of rolling hills, cypress trees, vineyards, olive groves, and rural villages form the backdrop of your journey through beautiful Tuscany. Stop in Pisa and enjoy a mini-train ride to see the Square of Miracles and the amazing Leaning Tower, then on to Florence. End the day by joining the optional Gastronomy Experience in a typical restaurant.
Today’s Distance: 273 mi/ 440 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
FLORENCE
Day4
This Renaissance gem and city of the Medicis will keep you enthralled the entire day. Don’t miss out on the included walking tour with a Local Guide, which features most of the city highlights. You will see Piazza Santa Croce; beautiful Piazza Signoria; Palazzo Vecchio and its courtyard; Loggia dei Lanzi, and, to top it all, see Piazza del Duomo and its cathedral with the Giotto Campanile. Later, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
FLORENCE–VERONA–VENICE AREA.
Day5
Journey north to enchanting Verona to spend some time at leisure strolling around the historical center with its many highlights. Continue to the Venice area.
Today’s Distance: 242 mi/ 390 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
VENICE
Day6
Venice is more like a marvelous film set than a real-life city, with its crisscrossing canals, gondolas and water buses, arched bridges, palaces, and quiet little piazzas. Take a BOAT RIDE to St. Mark’s Square and enjoy time at leisure for a chance to watch Venetian GLASSBLOWERS at work. Don’t miss out on the optional gondola trip, gliding along the picturesque canals with a local troubadour to serenade you.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
VENICE AREA–ANCONA (EMBARKATION)–OVERNIGHT FERRY CROSSING TO PATRAS, GREECE
Day7
Travel across the flatlands of the Po Delta to reach Ancona on the shores of the Adriatic Sea, to embark on the FERRY for the crossing to Patras.
Today’s Distance: 227 mi/ 365 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
PATRAS (DISEMBARKATION)–OLYMPIA
Day8
During the crossing, enjoy all the ship’s facilities. Disembark in Patras and drive south into the Peloponnese to Olympia.
Today’s Distance: 78 mi/ 125 km (excluding overnight ferry)
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
OLYMPIA–NAUPLIA
Day9
Enjoy time at leisure, or make the most of this morning by taking the optional tour of the sites of ancient Olympia, including the ruins of the Temple of Zeus. In the afternoon, enjoy the rugged scenery of the Peloponnese on the way to Nauplia. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Today’s Distance: 130 mi/ 210 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
NAUPLIA–MYCENAE–ATHENS.
Day10
Morning visit with a Local Guide to the impressive ruins of MYCENAE, an ancient city of Homer’s epics. Later, stop to view the Corinth Canal, which was built between 1881 and 1893.
Today’s Distance: 143 mi/ 230 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
ATHENS.
Day11
Join the included sightseeing tour of Athens, featuring the highlights of the ancient capital and a visit to the ACROPOLIS. Explore the shops and museums or take tram to the coast. In the evening, enjoy the lively atmosphere of the tavernas in the old Plaka district with its narrow streets and sound of bouzouki music, or join an optional traditional Greek dinner.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
ATHENS–PIRAEUS (EMBARKATION)–MYKONOS
Day12
.Board your Celestyal cruise ship. Cruise the Aegean Sea to Mykonos, with its white houses, chapels, and windmills. Late-evening departure for Kusadasi, Turkey.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
KUSADASI, TURKEY–PATMOS, GREECE.
Day13
Two ports of call today. First, Kusadasi on the Turkish coast. An included excursion is available to the fascinating Greek, Roman, and Byzantine excavations of Ephesus. Next, discover the tiny Greek island of Patmos, where St. John the Divine wrote the Book of Revelation. The 11th-century monastery with its valuable manuscript collection is well worth a visit.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
HERAKLION–SANTORINI
Day14
. First port of call today is Heraklion on Crete. Join the included excursion to Knossos, the center of the 3000-BC Minoan civilization. Afternoon call (weather permitting) at Santorini, the “Black Pearl of the Aegean". An optional shore excursion takes you up to the cliff-top village of Oia for one of the world’s most breathtaking panoramas.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
PIRAEUS, GREECE (DISEMBARKATION)–ATHENS
Day15
Early morning arrival at the port of Piraeus. Drive to Athens and relax, visit a museum, or go shopping.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
ATHENS
Day16
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
Extend your stay
Hotels
It may occasionally be necessary to use alternative hotels of a similar standard to those shown.
Villa Maria Regina
Moderate First-Class
Villa Maria Regina is a four star hotel situated in Via della Camilluccia in one of the most exclusive residential districts in Rome.
Location
V. Della Camilluccia 687, Roma, Italy
Hotel Facilities
- Ice Machine
- Parking/Valet
- Currency Exchange
- Luggage Storage
- Business Center
- Concierge desk
- Restaurant On-Site
- Fitness Room
- Bar/Lounge
- Elevator
Room Facilities
- Alarm Clock
- Wake-Up Calls
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Non-smoking Rooms
- In-Room Safe
- Window Opens
- Mini-bar
- Cable/Satellite
- Internet Access
- Phone
- Air Conditioning
- Hair Dryer
- Television
- Desk
- Room Service
- Complimentary Toiletries
B&B Hotel City Center
Superior Tourist-Class
This stylish modern 99-room hotel is located in the Santa Croce district, in the center of the city, just a short walk away from the Basilica. Guest rooms have sleek, minimalist decor and are equipped with air-conditioning, in-room safes, Sky TV and Free Wi-Fi internet access. A rich buffet breakfast is served in the bright breakfast room and a selection of drinks and snacks can be purchased in the handy B&B lobby shop.
Location
Viale Giovanni Amendola, 34, Florence Area, Italy
Hotel Facilities
- Free WiFi
- Bar/Lounge
- Parking/Valet
- Luggage Storage
- Elevator
Room Facilities
- Hair Dryer
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Air Conditioning
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Air Conditioning (Seasonal)
- Climate Control
- Desk
- Cable/Satellite
- Internet Access
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- In-Room Safe
- Phone
- Alarm Clock
- Window Opens
- Wake-Up Calls
- Television
Poppi
Superior Tourist-Class
Situated on the Riviera del Brenta and founded in 1965,the hotel is still family run. hotel Poppi offers 100 rooms and a renowned restaurant.
Location
Via Romea ,80, Venezia-Gambarare Mira, Italy
Hotel Facilities
- Business Center
- Concierge desk
- Luggage Storage
- Free WiFi
- Restaurant On-Site
- Parking/Valet
- Bar/Lounge
- Laundry Available
- Ice Machine
- Elevator
Room Facilities
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Mini-bar
- Air Conditioning
- Desk
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Wake-Up Calls
- Alarm Clock
- Phone
- In-Room Safe
- Window Opens
- Cable/Satellite
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Television
- Room Service
- Climate Control
- Hair Dryer
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Internet Access
Olympia Palace
First-Class
The Olympia Palace is a 3-storey building with 65 spacious rooms, indoor and outdoor restaurants, located in the town on Ancient Olympia.
Location
2 P. Kondyli Street, Olympia, Greece
Hotel Facilities
- Restaurant On-Site
- Elevator
- Bar/Lounge
- Luggage Storage
- Free WiFi
Room Facilities
- Air Conditioning
- Desk
- Room Service
- Hair Dryer
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Internet Access
- Air Conditioning (Seasonal)
- Mini-bar
- Wake-Up Calls
- Window Opens
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Non-smoking Rooms
- In-Room Safe
- Smoking Rooms
- Phone
- Television
Rex
First-Class
Hotel Rex is located in the city center of Nafplio,very close to the port in a cozy atmosphere guarantees a pleasant stay.With 42rooms and a cafeteria-bar the hotel offers rest and relax to the customers .All the archailogical sites and museums are very close to the hotel and that gives you the opportuity to visit them very easy.
Location
21 Bouboulinas St., Nauplia, Greece
Hotel Facilities
- Free WiFi
- Bar/Lounge
- Elevator
Room Facilities
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Room Service
- Wake-Up Calls
- Television
- Window Opens
- Air Conditioning
- Internet Access
- Hair Dryer
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Phone
- In-Room Safe
- Desk
- Smoking Rooms
- Mini-bar
Acropolis Select
First-Class
Hotel is located in the city center, next to public transportation and within walking distance from the New Acropolis Museum, the ancient site of the Acropolis and the Plaka district.The Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Flee Market and Syntagma Square are within easy reach.
Location
37-39 Falirou St., Athens-Koukaki, Greece
Hotel Facilities
- Business Center
- Free WiFi
- Luggage Storage
- Currency Exchange
- Restaurant On-Site
- Ice Machine
- Elevator
- Bar/Lounge
- Concierge desk
- Laundry Available
Room Facilities
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Wake-Up Calls
- Desk
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Phone
- Room Service
- Mini-bar
- In-Room Safe
- Air Conditioning
- Climate Control
- Television
- Window Opens
- Smoking Rooms
- Hair Dryer
- Internet Access
