Best of Italy in 17 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a perfect trip to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The gondola ride in Venice was my wow moment. The ride was so romantic and unforgettable. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceeded my expectations which were high. From the excellent guide, and many fantastic local guides, to the centrally located hotels, included group dinners and extra "experiences", this tour exemplified Rick Steves' commitment to optimizing the tour experience and distinguishing it from other group tours. This was our first group tour and I think we're going to be repeat customers. Yes the activity level was high but so worth it!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sharing the home of our agriturismo host family was so intimate and fun. Marco's passion for his craft and Gaiva's excellent meals made our stay so personal and memorable. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour covers many areas of Italy from the north to Rome. The planning, the lodging, the food, the guide and the bus driver were all excellent. I would have preferred the tour to begin in Milan with only a day stop at Lake Como. As a single, it was challenging to get to Lake Como from Milan. I added two extra nights to be sure I arrived in time. There just wasn't much to do in the Lake Como area.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The hike in the Dolomites was my "wow" moment. It was spectacular!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Just amazing. My first tour group and was somewhat anxious. But I loved it. Tour was very organized and tour guide Sarah was the best. I wasn’t sure about taking 4-5 hour bus rides, but in the end I must say I really enjoyed them - very relaxing and a time to catch my breath.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The gondola ride in Venice - so magical."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We saw and experienced the true best of Italy with other fun travelers and a great guide. Seeing Lake Como

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Lake Como from our hotel. Such a beautiful view made it feel like our tour would be special. And it was. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, Vanessa, brought Italy to life for me. She shared so much knowledge of each region we visited. Seeing major UNESCO sites as well as smaller mountain top treasures was wonderful. I feel the tour was well thought out and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the smaller charming villages was amazing. Seeing the beautiful Michaelangelo sculptures as well as the Cistene Chapel and other works of art from other masters was a highlight for me. Each region had a “wow” moment for me. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful time making new friends, seeing new places and experiencing the culture of Italy

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view from our hotel on Lake Como"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Beautiful! I learned so much. I met some very cool people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved Tuscany, Umbria. Loved the Dolomites and the Cinque Terra. Not a fair question! David was amazing, Venice was amazing"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Small, intimate group. Variety of fun enjoyable activities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Monorosa"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking a narrow path to the ruins of a castle above Varenna. We heard crying in the distance. Soon we discovered a young couple from Poland. He had just proposed marriage to his girlfriend. She was crying for joy. I immediately asked for their camera and took many photos of the happy couple with Lake Como in the background. We never exchanged names, but I hope they have some beautiful photos of their engagement day that will bring them joy for a lifetime."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Having a fabulous authentic dinner in Siena in a church basement prepared by volunteers! Who gets to do that?!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed the wide variety of places and venues we visited, everything from our hikes in the Dolomites and Cinque Terre to the museums and cathedrals of the cities on the Best of Italy Tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our hikes along the Cinque Terre and the cultural aspects of Siena with the horse race and districts, as well as St. Peter's Basilica were all inspiring in different ways."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our very first Rick Steve's tour and our first visit to Italy. It was everything we could have dreamed of, plus more. The tour allowed us to experience Italy in the best possible way. It was full of variety and unexpected unique finds. Experiences that were not main stream, experiences that only our local guide could have given us. It was amazing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There wasn't a specific wow moment. It was filled with so many. I loved our group dinners. I loved learning about the communities and getting to know the locals. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Over all the tour was nothing short of amazing! From the people, the food, the information, and our tour guide Patricia was absolutely the best! I couldn't imagine doing another tour without her! I'm sure all the other guides are just as good

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to pick just one. Every time we got a wow moment another one would pop up"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful trip. So much art and history. Wonderful group guide. Wonderful town guides. Great accommodations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dolomites"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was very well organized and we found the hotels exceptional. Sarah provided language and cultural information that was helpful for first time visitors to Italy. A good balance of guided tours, admissions with free time, and unstructured time. Her daily postings helped keep us on track, too.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The guided tours in Florence museums were very informative & I came to a new appreciation of the alter pieces. As much as I hate to admit it, I was quite taken with the Tower of Pisa. It can be so trivialized in our popular culture I wasn’t prepared for how wonderful it was to see it in context, with the church, bapistry, cemetery, and city walls. Having a lovely sunny day made the entire experience memorable."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Variety of destinations was amazing, Daniella was an incredible host, the tour group was filled with great people, the sights that we packed in a short-ish amount of time is so difficult to process… such an unforgettable trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"More than a few to count, but specifically the “reveal” moments getting off a subway, train or bus as landmarks like the Colosseum, Cinque Terre, etc are present just around a turn or through a tunnel. Knowing that you finally made it to a destination and seeing the scale of things in real life were always such a delight."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well planned and tour guide chosen extra places to visit were absolutely great

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our guide was very knowledgeable about art history. She took us to a smaller Duomo in Orvieto where she took the time to really explain a fresco and its impact/inspiration for Michelangelo. This made such a difference in my understanding of the sistine chapel which we visited a couple days later"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We were exhausted after the trip. The guide was great! There were too many crowds everywhere, and Covid going around which both made the trip more of a challenge.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beautiful and relaxing Wine Resort. It was a much needed break from the crowds!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Lodging, tours, side trips and tour guides at stops in between our nightly destinations were outstanding. The other positive was the amount of free time we had at each stop was very welcomed. This time gave us the opportunity to do some of our own discovery and follow up of areas we were interested in and wanted to spend more time at.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice! My favorite for sure. With that said, there was not a stop that I didn't find something that made that location wonderful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first trip to Italy and it exceeded our expectations. Our guide, Daniela gave comprehensive and detailed historical talks both on the bus and on location regarding what we were about to see. The tour guides she introduced us to on location were exceptional. We would not have appreciated the art and history without their explanation. Visiting Lucca and Verona, not on the itinerary, was a plus. The people we traveled with were so nice including Riccardo our driver. Ciao Italia!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many eye-opening experiences! Varenna, Menaggio, Villa Carlotta,Verona & Romeo & Juliet's setting, Bolzano and hiking the Alps meadows, Gondola ride, Doge's palace, seeing and visiting Cinque Terre towns by ferry, and breakfasts at the hotels. I think my favorite was Orvieto and the Altarocca Wine Resort."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

FANTASTIC!! Beautiful sights, wonderful accommodations, super city guides, interesting & captivating Artisan demonstrations, and the BEST Tour Guide!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"WOW! MOMENTS-1st Waking up before sunrise at Hotel Royal Victoria, walking out to veranda & seeing the full moon still shining over Lake Cuomo-BREATHTAKING! 2nd- seeing the St. Mark's Square the afternoon we arrived in Venice. The time of day was perfect because the sun was directly shining on the basilica making it one big Golden glowing masterpiece!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

For the entire 17 Days, Best of Italy Tour, everything fully meet or exceeded my expectation

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into St Mark's Square in Venice while the sun was setting on St Mark's Basilica"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall the trip was great. Our guide Daniella was awesome. So much knowledge.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"St, Mark's square in Venice, the Duomo di Orvieto and St. Peter's Basilica."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, the bus driver, the group meals, our companions, everything was excellent

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The accommodations in Cingue Terre and the dinner at our hotel"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From start to finish this tour was amazing! Our guide, Marianna, is one of the best.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many wows in 17 days to mention all. Boating around Lake Como and hiking the Dolomites stand out along with seeing the charm and beauty of the Cinque Terre. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour guide was awesome. Incredible group of people in our tour group. Very happy we traveled light with minimal luggage because it made our days on the go much easier. A dream trip come true.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There isn’t one there are many. Each place we stopped was a WOW moment. The history, the incredible art everywhere. It’s going to take awhile to process all that we saw."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Marianna, was outstanding: knowledgeable, funny, kind, empathetic, a good listener, as well as a good narrator. She heard some of us talking about our fathers' experiences in Italy during World War II, and she responded by arranging a previously unscheduled visit to the American cemetery near Florence. We deeply appreciated her thoughtfulness. Our tour group was unanimous in our admiration and affection for Marianna. We also admired the driving skill of our bus driver, Roberto.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me, the two top highlights were the glorious alpine views in the Dolomites and our stay at the Altarocca Wine Resort in the peaceful countryside near Orvieto."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Marianna, made the trip! Organized, efficient, with a great sense of humor. Not one person was a minute late - I think because no one wanted to disappoint her!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many…"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour and won’t be our last. We found our tour guide, Mariana, and all the local tour guides to be very and knowledgeable. Also funny and full of interesting details. They really added to our experience. We liked the balance of busy touring days with days giving us time on our own to do what we wanted. We really liked the overall organization and the choice of locations included in the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The amazing views during our hike in the Cinque Terre. Also the location and views from the wine resort."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The entire trip was fabulous. This was our 5th RS tour, and as before, the sights, hotels, food, fellow travelers, bus driver, local guides, value and group spirit were all excellent. But what made all of the above come together to create an unforgettable life experience was our guide Marianna, who is sweet, kind, funny, caring, informed, attentive, smart, unforgettable!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Swimming in the Mediterranean, meandering in the Dolomites, swimming in Orvieto at the wine resort, the beauty of Lake Como, the Palio dinner and history in Siena and Marianna, our wonderful guide!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Marianna was excellent and lives up to our giant expectations after 3 other RS tours. Great structure with 2 nights at each stop. Exceptional group of people and Marianna helped add to that

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake como-Balzano alps walk-Venice-cinque terre-rome Lots of moment's experienced"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From the first introductions in Verenna to our tour guide, Marianna Iermano, and our tour members the next 17 days in Italy just kept getting better. The tour provided us with a busy schedule with enough free time filled with so many wonderful towns along the way. We loved the surprise visits to Verona and San Gimignano. Local guides provided expert information for the group. This was our third RS tour and not our last.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many wow moments but Balzano and the Dolomites took my breath away. Amazing vistas and hiking experience. Also loved the beet and food. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My husband and I could not be more pleased with the Rick Steve's "Best of Italy 17 Day Tour" we just completed! Everything was in perfect order and so organized. We saw much more than we would have been able to on our own but also had enough down time to spend just the two of us. Our guide Marianna was amazing as were each of the local guides we encountered. Highly recommend and we will be traveling with Rick Steve's again!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to count! From the hustle and bustle of Rome to the quiet moments in Cinque Terre. Each day was a joy."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our trip was an amazing experience of many impressive sights, wonderful group dinners, walking tours and cultural immersion which was impressively coordinated by our excellent guide Deborah.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow moment may be difficult to determine, as the entire trip was filled with "wow" moments! The moment which I reflect on the most was our visit to the Italian Alps village of Compatsch. In Compatsch we were able to join in celebration with the locals, as they move dairy cows elaborately adorned with huge bells and festive wreaths from summer to winter pasture. Moving of the cows was down the main thoroughfare with a beer fest, singing and other great festive activities. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Deborah was an outstanding guide. Her expertise lent itself to our enjoyment of Italy and the culture of the people. She was wonderful at educating us in local culture which was invaluable during our extra days after the tour. She went out of her way to provide unique experiences that highlighted local regions. Our tour group was very "Rick Steves". No grumps, no late-comers, no friction at all! A great group!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking in the Dolomites and Cinque Terre!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was a very positive and enjoyable experience. Ricardo's (coach driver) excellent skills made traveling from each city restful and pleasant. Deborah(tour guide) was very accessible, engaging, and knowledgeable. The local guides in the cities we visited provided us with fascinating facts and history, focusing on important stuff AND providing humorous anecdotes. They (along with Deborah) helped prepare us to explore & navigate the city on our own. We will to return to Italy!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Como, Venice Forcola demonstration, Venice - Saint Mark's Basilica, Siena stained glass demonstration, Florence - Michelangelo's David, Cinque Terre Hike, Tiber River early morning and sunset. I could go on and on!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Packed with information and experiences

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Selva contrada dinner. Seeing the very young and very old members of the contrada come together to enjoy a dinner together in the open was the very essence of what I think Italy means."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing! So well organized! We saw so much and were always given lots of background information to get prepared for the next destination. Our guide, Deborah, was fabulous!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Favorites- Lake Como, Cinque Terra, Umbria Wished we could have stayed longer!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My wife and I could not have been happier with the tour as it far exceeded our expectations! Deborah our tour guide made it so much more than a standard tour, telling us about sites along the way the history of the sites also. We never waited in line with the "Europe through the back door" approach! She worked tirelessly on our tour going well over the call of duty! The timing of arriving at the destinations and the tour times we had were before the major crowds also a major plus.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The "wow" moment was the Dolomites. The weather was great, our time aligned with the marching of the cows down to lower-level feeding for the winter. The was a great "party" Oktoberfest celebration. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was so well planned out. Our tour guide (Nancy) was outstanding. She was very knowledgeable, timely, had interesting facts and stories, and made us feel like one big family. The architecture and Art were unbelievable. I thought 17 days might be a bit long, but it wasn’t at all.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would have to say the Art and architecture. To be standing in front of things I studied in my Art History classes gave me chills and tears of joy. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour had a nice mix of guided tours and free time to explore on your own. Our guide, Nancy, was outstanding. She mixed history, etymology, humor and local customs to fill our time while traveling between stops. Ours was a very diverse group who bonded more closely as the tour progressed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was our evening dinner in Siena hosted by the Rhinoceros district, winners of the July 2nd horse race. Held in the basement of the local parish, we were treated to an authentic Italian meal proudly presented by a proud group complete with a documentary film of their success in this year’s horse race where we were introduced to a phrase which I love because of its humor and subtle truthfulness. Finishing 2nd is the worst place because “second is the first to lose”. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Rick Steves tour experience is outstanding in every way! The balance of structured tour time and on your own time was perfect! Our tour guide Nancy was awesome! Full of cultural and historical information and very personable while keeping all of us on track and on time! Two nights in each hotel and location was perfect so as to slow us to enjoy the sights, food and culture of each area. Northern Italy to Rome in 17 days provided a great overview of the important sites. Great experienc!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to pick one! So hard to pick one when you have the beauty of Lake Cuomo, majestic Italian alps, a gondola ride on the Grand Canal of Venice, seeing David and the beautiful Duomo of Florence, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, swimming in the beautiful Mediterranean Sea and seeing the villages of Cinque Terre, all of the beautiful villages and towns in Tuscany and Umbria and a beautiful stay in a Winery Resort, and then Rome! The Pantheon, Forum, Coliseum, St. Peter’s Square and Bascilica!!!!!"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I was happy with the tour while we were on it - I contracted COVID and we were removed from the 17 day tour after 7 days. We tried to use the OnCall International help line, but found it basically useless in making any kind of arrangements - we were on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think my favorite moments were hiking the Dolomite mountains - the views (and the weather) were spectacular!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We thoroughly enjoyed our Rick Steves tour of Italy. Our guide Sarah was amazing. Her knowledge, insights and overall good humor enhanced the experience for us and our travelling companions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many "wow" moments--hiking in the Dolomites, St. Mark's Square in Venice, Cinque Terre, the Uffizi gallery in Florence."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Sarah was the best guide and made the experience great for us. Georgio, the bus driver, was a expert driver and a kind man that was wonderful to be around. The tour was a great way to see many important places and have a true understanding of what you were seeing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Climbing the rough, rocky steps on the Cinque Terre and looking out at the Mediterranean Sea."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I enjoyed the tour while we were there. However, we attracted the dreaded Covid (although symptoms were very mild) and we were immediately removed from the 17 day tour. We were left in Florence to either arrange for new flights home or stay in Italy and find new hotels and transportation.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite Wow moment was hiking in the Dolomites. The views were amazing everywhere we looked. We really had a chance to bond and make friendships with a several of the people on the tour here while hiking. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great tour, enjoyed the time that went by too fast

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Having drinks on a plaza in Florence with my wife in the evening watching the world go by"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The overall experience was great. We enjoyed our time with everyone on the tour, including the guide and driver.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sites of all the old buildings."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful experience in the beauty, history, and culture of tour stops and Italy. Every tour and tour stop incredible and fuels my need to return for more touring in this beautiful country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Rome left me speechless! Everywhere I turned, another incredible piece of history. Stepped off the underground station at the Colosseum and my jaw dropped (despite the hoards of tourists)."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was a great blend of scenery and location (lake, river, sea & hilltop, mountain, cliff and level land), culture and food, transportation (bus, boat, train, subway, funicular, gondola), recreation and education. Tourist spots, historical ruins and artistic legacies alongside fresh open air and quiet spaces were perfectly mixed in throughout the 17 days. I feel like we have just touched the surface of all that Italy is and has to offer.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The camaraderie with the other travellers and the insights and humour of the guide created a very relaxed and enjoyable family-type relationship. I appreciated the wanderings and discovering quaint alleyways, architectural features and impressive buildings."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sights were extremely well thought out

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Rome experience "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful itinerary, truly a "taste" of Italy with both small towns and well-known cities. Our tour guide, Stephanie, was great! She educated us regarding cultural expectations, gave us helpful historical information, and was sensitive to the needs of individual travelers. She went "above and beyond" to make this a memorable trip for all! Our driver, Dino, was an expert at navigating small streets as well as heavy traffic. He also looked after our best interests even when not behind the wheel!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's hard to pick just one! The beautiful Dolomites, the first glimpse of St. Mark's Square & Duomo, our gondola ride in Venice, and viewing Michelangelo's David."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our very first trip to Europe and we were delighted with how well our tour guide, Stephanie , prepared us for what each day would bring, as well as giving us the tools and info to use our free time to wander and "get lost" if we wished. She was outstanding at managing our group and helped keep our nervousness to a minimum while encouraging us to try new things! She made it look easy, and she got us into St. Peters before it closed!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That is a very hard to do! Every stop had something to take our breath away, from trying out the ferries in Varenna and Cinque Terre, to seeing the breathtaking Dolomites and St. Peters Basilica. I would have to say that the lunch we had at the rooftop cafe attached to our hotel in Monorossa ( all to ourselves, looking down at the village, the sea and the beautiful sky) would be one of mine. I fell in love with Rome thought and want to go back!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a great tour. Stephanie our tour guide had fun and interesting excursions for us to participate in such as, meeting with a man who does stain glass windows and pottery in Florence. A oar maker in Vince and olive oil tasting where we took a tracker ride to get to the location. All things I would not know how to set up. The tour size was a bit large.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment came in Venice when we saw how Forcola and oars were made and how each one is specific to each gondolier. It showed me how much skill is required to make the Forcola correctly so the gondolier can make moving the boat look so easy. The shop reminded me of my dads wood shop so it brought me back to my childhood. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our overall impression and tour experience was one of sheer enjoyment in experiencing the sights , sounds, and tastes of Italy for the first time, anticipation of what each day of the tour would bring, and finally sadness and exhaustion after saying goodbye to our great tour members and of course Stephanie our superb tour Mom and Dino our fantastic bus driver. The tour spent the proper amount of time in each city and township and balanced the proper amount of tour and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We enjoyed the quaintness of Varenna and the Dolomites mountains. A “wow” moment was when we hit Venice and saw the canals and bridges. We have always seen them in pictures and to finally see them in person was “wow”, we are here. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The organization on all components of the trip were extremely well thought out and executed. The guide was extremely knowledgeable and provided opportunities for the group that went above and beyond

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It was almost incomprehensible to imagine how the people of those time were able live, work and construct what then did with such beauty "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 1st. Rick Steve's Tour. It surpassed our expectations! Colleen was an outstanding guide and tour manager!! All the places we visited were wonderful and our hotels were all centrally located and very comfortable. We enjoyed making new friends with our fellow travelers. All the group was very friendly and compatible.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wow Moments -- Dolomites & Cinque Terre - great views and hiking - Venice and Rome - seeing all these famous sights for the 1st. time in person - Tuscany & Umbria - hill towns and countryside were unique and beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Best of Italy RS tour was incredible! I couldn't imagine trying to navigate the trip on our own without our knowledgeable RS guide Colleen and the local guides. I learned so much on the history of Italy and how that shaped the country. Italy is a beautiful country with such kind people. I highly recommend this tour and look forward to our next adventure with Rick Steves.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is difficult to narrow down to one "wow" moment, the entire tour was a "wow' moment! However, if I have to choose one "wow" it would be the beauty of Vatican City."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful experience on the tour. The Rick Steves' tour team back home and our guide locally took care of all the important arrangements, which allowed us to enjoy ourselves without being bogged down in planning. The tour combined the perfect mix of planned activities with free time so that we could still have room to brag about all the exploring we did on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many wow moments to choose from, so I'll just list my first big Wow! In Varenna, the first destination of our tour, walking from the train station and viewing the beauty of Lake Como for the first time."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was as expected and more. Our tour guide Colleen was fantastic, very knowledgeable and fun. Roberto our bus driver delivered us to our destinations safely. It was great meeting our tour mates from all over the US and Canada.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many wow moments, but I would say hiking in the Dolomites, the views were breath taking. I also loved Varenna on Lake Como, the Alta Rocca Wine Resort and winery near Orvieto, Siena with itsII Campo and the wonderful dinner we had there along with the locals celebrating the Pallo win. Piazza San Marco in Venice at night with the music. Cinque Terra -pesto lesson and meal (no hiking or boat due to weather) David in Florence, San Gimignano, Assisi and Rome. I really enjoyed everything!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well planned and expertly guided by Colleen. I loved the mix of scheduled activities and free time - it was the perfect balance!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So hard to pick just one! Venice blew me away - the local guide was delightful and so full of impressive knowledge. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was very well organized and our guide Colleen was excellent. Two days in each place was perfect and the additional tours with local guides very informative

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Como was an amazing way to start the tour but the wow moment was the gondola ride in Venice with the surprise if a singer and accordion player. Magical"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Superior tour! From our first group meeting through 17 days of very active sight seeing...we were amazed by the beauty and the art of Italy. Our fellow travelers were all kind, thoughtful and fun people. Colleen our fearless leader (guide), was so knowledgeable and helpful - "Andiamo". A true dream trip of a lifetime!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In Rome, at the Vatican, wandering through St. Peter's and listening to the music being played As a Catholic kid, growing up in a small town in Minnesota, I said to my sister "Did you ever think you would be here?" She shook her head, "No" she said. "Me either" was my reply. That was an awesome moment."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guide was great. So nice that the hotels and transportation and entry tickets were taken care of for us. I would leave out Florence and spend an extra day in Venice and/or Cinque Terre. Too many churches for me.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The iceman. Siena and hiking in the Dolomites were a close second. Demonstrations by the stained glass maker and the Venice focula maker were really interesting. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very pleased. Personal preference to have a few days to linger at some of the destinations. Good blend of structured vs on your own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to name"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was everything and more we hoped it would be. Met some lifelong friends in our group along the way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to tell but I personally enjoyed Verenna, Balsano, Siena and the Altarocca wine vineyard. But have to say it was all very informational and interesting. Guess I truly like the smaller cities. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Trip of a lifetime. An outstanding experience

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have to pick just one? This is really hard. There were soo many. Seeing the David up close. The Sistine Chapel. Putting my feet in the Mediterranean for the first time. A gondola ride. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

SO appreciated the well organized, enjoyable day-by-day adventures. The choice of stops across Italy varied and kept us amazed. Marianna our guide was AWESOME, a kind, thoughtful good spirit who prepared us well for our days. We appreciated the local guides and their insights. We grew more confident about venturing out on our free days. Fellow travelers were a GREAT group of people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Numerous wows: turning a corner and facing another historic, awe inspiring "something"; the breath taking hike in the Dolomites; the meals (a whole pig at the winery! Siena's contrade tour and dinner, pesto making, Autogrills); Cinque Terre, Lake Como, Venice. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything went smoothly as soon as we joined the tour and throughout.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our guide knew it was our 50th anniversary and put musicians in our gondola. We as well as our group and everyone else around were treated to a wonderful accordian player and a lovely young woman with a sweet voice singing some of my favorite Italian songs include one my grandmother used to sing. So moving!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful trip! Exceeded my expectations! The tour was amazing with a wealth of cultural and historical treasures to explore. Every day was well coordinated through the expert hands of our tour leader Marianna- she was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about Italy and really helped to bring my experiences in Italy to life! This was my first RS tour and I was very satisfied with the itinerary and that I was able to get the most out of every moment of the trip

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many favorites on the tour, from Venice to Sienna, even some of the lesser known gems like San Gimignano but my "wow" was hiking the Alp di Suissi and hiking in the Cinque Terra. Seeing the towns from higher perspectives really added to their beauty and I enjoyed that the trip had time for me to explore on my own "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My first thought is that we got everything we paid for and then some. The tour was awesome and it ran perfectly. We were lucky to have the best group to travel with as I know that’s not always the case. The sights and experiences along with the good friends to share them with made this an unforgettable experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were too many Wow moments to mention. I didn’t know a lot about Italy so I had few expectations. With every Duomo I thought “Wow, it’s incredible.” With every small town I thought “Wow, it’s so charming.” With every hill or stairway I thought “Wow, another one.” Every stop along the way brought many, many Wows. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The entire tour exceeded our expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It was "The Best of Italy" there were wow moments at every stop"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was extremely well organized. Trina, our guide, expertly handled a series of problems including: a missing tour member, covid cases (including her own), reservation adjustments caused by delays due to extremely heavy traffic, etc. Cesare, the bus driver, was pleasant and helpful. He skillfully handled the bus on some really treacherous roads. I would have not been able to see the number and variety of sights had I tried to make travel arrangements on my own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The hotel and scenery in the Dolomites. The terrain looked like I was in the Sound of Music! The Seiser Alm hotel amenities were superior. "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I saw many amazing sites and enjoyed my tour group and leaders. However, a few nights we got back to our hotel as late as 10:30 and had to arise by 6:30 or 7:00 am for an 8:30 start the next day. Too many activities crammed into one day. As an example, we had gondola ride in Venice the same day we arrived; back to hotel at 10:30 PM after a very long day (including bus). This would have been more enjoyable the following night in Venice. Last two days in Rome similarly crammed with too much!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Dolomites - and staying at the Alpe di Siuisi Hotel in Compatsch! The scenery and hiking here are amazing, and the hotel and its amenities blew my socks off! Staying in Bolzano would have greatly diminished our experience of this area by the travel time to get there plus the loss of staying in this amazing facility. Please keep this venue as lodging for your future trips, even if you must charge a bit more or this experience. It is well worth it! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 5th Rick Steves Tour and the experience totally met and in many many instances, exceeded my expectations. Our guide, Trina, was extremely knowledgeable and helpful in guiding and preparing us for each experience along the way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Although there were many WOW moments, this was my first stay in the Dolomites.The mountain area and the accommodations were above and beyond expectations as was the stay at Alta Rocca in Ovvieto at the winery ~ Top Shelf!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fabulous!!! Tour was very active and offered so many opportunities for exploring with the group as well as on our own. Two night stays in each stop allowed us to explore and relax. It was convenient to have all the details taken care of…accommodations, driving, tickets, most dinners and entry to multiple tourist sites without the wait.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In Orvieto we visited the cathedral and luckily a wedding was taking place. As an organist, it was shear delight to hear the music in this beautiful cathedral! Ava Maria was mesmerizing for me. One other wow moment at this same location was the impressive Pietà by Scalza….I found it more moving than Michelangelo’s sculpture. Very powerful interpretation. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excellent itinerary, excellent tour guide. Disappointed in several hotels we stayed in - no air conditioning or elevator. Good tour timing, very fun excursions. Good balance between directed events and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into the Vatican, Second choice, view from the hotel in the Dolomites."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was absolutely fantastic in the tour it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We were celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary on the tour.The gondola ride with the music and serenade was something special that can’t ever repeat that moment.In addition ever location we visited had it’s on special wow moment.If there is a place I would want to return it would be the Dolomites.The scenery was beautiful and the hikes awesome."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Absolutely fantastic. Couldn’t asked for anything better. From our tour guide to where we went to the people on the tour. It was really perfect.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Gondola ride with singer and accordion player, a gift from our tour guide celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary. It was very precious. We also fell in love with Sienna, it wasn’t overcrowded and had pristine meandering streets. Loved Il Campo, it’s positively insane and fun. Acts as a core inspiration for the younger generation, there’s no crime. Loved the stained glass demonstration, seeing his work for 9/11 Villanova U. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We were exposed to a nice variety of Italy. Enjoyed our tour guide Vanessa, and had a great time with our fellow travelers

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of Lake Como. Beautiful hotel in Varenna to start our tour with views overlooking the lake. Would have loved to stay longer"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I really enjoyed the itinerary and our tour guide, Vanessa Nicol was great. However, many of the hotels were substandard and meals provided were average at best.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Vanessa arranged a gondola ride for us that included a singer and accordion player which we had requested. It had been on my wife’s bucket list for sometime. It was better than we could have imagined."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was great with lots of great experiences and interesting and useful information from the guide that we had. Vanessa

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Dolomites. Absolutely stunning"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great tour but needed more time at some destinations

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Venice first hand was amazing "

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

Overall the experience was good, we did feel it was more like a religious tour than we would have liked. We traveled through some of the most famous wine regions in the world and didn't even visit a real winery.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Dolomites were amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing, wonderful! First trip to Europe, first tour. Nothing was missed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Dolomites, hands down."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well planned and guided. Very good accommodations and centrally located. Excellent tour guide, very knowledgeable and supportive.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Dolomites. Stayed in unique hotel high in the mountains. Unique experience."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

First time to Italy. The tour was as described. Donald White was excellent. We are going on the RS Southern Italy tour spring 2024 (booked it already).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Donald arranged for gondola rides with music."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We’ll balanced between tour time and free time. Guide Donald very knowledgeable and controlled tour friendly, professionally.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many, but I would have to say, learning history in Sienna about annual horse races, the different communities and how close each community is to residents. The annual horse race parades took place while we were there and it was amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were kept very busy seeing the highlights of every city we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The wine and olive farm in Umbria and the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica were the highlights."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved everything about the tour: the itinerary, the guide, the group, the group time, the independent time. It was a great balance.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow is that I really bonded with some of the other travelers. I went into this expecting a great travel experience. It was a surprise and bonus that I made new friends I plan to keep in touch with. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a fantastic guide and driver! Stephanie's wealth of knowledge and kindness made me feel like we were just visiting an old friend, who had a lot of other friends joining us on a walk. The food the locations, the knowledge, local local guides allowed us to take a walk around inside the history books we have been reading all of our lives. The hotels were great, although having hair conditioner would be nice, as you can't travel with liquids. Some of the hotels made us feel like old friends.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fact that Stephanie asked us what we hoped for when we started was great! I wanted the Stanley Tucci, "Oh My God" moment when tasting great food. I not only got that moment, but fell in love with the multiple times we got to eat at a large family table. It was a feeling, I will try and re-create at home. I LOVED the Contrada and feeling like part of the family. I will now dig into my Italian family history to see if I can have dual citizenship. This was our first overseas trip of a life time"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, Stephanie was amazing! The hotels we stayed in were great. The group meals were delightful. We had a great time in all of our cities. There was the right amount of tours and down time for our personal choice activities. We were given great information for ideas of what to do with our free time by our guide, Stephanie. She was amazing

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite time was spent in our agriturismo. We had spend several days in wonderful cities. It was just a nice change to sit out in the country and enjoy the view and peace."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, Stephanie, was excellent! She was very informative and well organized. The bus was comfortable.and the driver was very good. The hotel accommodations were clean and comfortable. The local guides added detail to the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The wow moment was the view of the Dolomites from the top of the chair lift."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a wonderful, chance of a life time tour. Great tour guide, great places to visit, great hotels with great locations, great food, great bus driver. Tickets to museums etc were all provided and was easy to get in to the places. The food experiences was the best food ever and a lovely experience as well. It was a long time dream come true!!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Outside of Italy itself, my favorite wow moment was all the extras that our tour guide thru in and all the wonderful knowledge shared. Loved having local tour guides share their expertise as well. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Trip of a lifetime with amazing sights, food, and culture. But, the agriturismo rooms had either no A/C or broken A/C and temps were in the 90s. None of us slept more than a few hours those two nights. There were no screens so people who left the windows open for ventilation woke up covered in mosquito bites. The Vatican was miserable: hot, overcrowded, and you can't linger to look at the beautiful art without getting yelled at. Felt like a modern version of selling indulgences to tourists.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Borghese in Rome - astounding sculptures by Bernini and other masters. We went on our own but I think it should be included instead of the Vatican. We saw a fantastic concert in Venice and scurried back to our hotel amid a thunderstorm. Splashing through five-inch high water in darkened Venetian alleys was the coolest experience!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceelent tour overall. My favorite cities to visit were Venice and Sienna.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite part of the tour were the contradas of Sienna, and getting a personal tour into the chapel of one of them. All of the local guides were excellent throughout the tour. I also enjoyed seeing the Roman Forum and again, we had an excellent tour guide who had outstanding visuals that helped us imagine what this area used to be like in its full glory, or even just before the excavation in the 1800s. Also loved the Gondola ride in Venice! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was my first Rick Steve's tour, so i could have maximized my experience by reading a little more carefully and planning ahead a little better, but overall the experience was very good. I remember looking at one of the group photos on the website and wondering how the Best of Italy '23 group would be like. Met some interesting and cool people on the tour, including "Ferdi and the Local Guides".

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The best moment for me was the tour of Assisi. Our group was mesmerized by the local guide. He transported us. He spoke about the historical significance of Assisi, but more memorably the famous people that visited and performed there. When he spoke about Dionne Warwick, and "the look on her face when she was about to take the stage", he got choked up, we got choked up. Stardust!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was a dream trip to visit Italy. Our guide and fellow travelers really made the trip memorable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Sienna and experiencing the enthusiasm and passion they have for their town/Contrada. Also swimming in the Mediterranean for the 1st time in Cinque Terre."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a wonderful experience! Our tour guide Daniela was great! We had a good group of people and we saw and did amazing things!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sorry but I didn't have one 'wow' experience; every place we went had it's own unique and wonderful experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was everything described in the materials and guidebook plus additions along the way. It was successful in giving me a true picture of the antiquities of Italy and a good feel for the culture of present day Italy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had many "wow" moments from the tour. I'm tied on my favorite. The 2 nights we spent in Cinque Terre including the walk from Monterosso al Mare to Vernazza. Seeing the dome of the Pantheon crackless after 2,000+ years of existence."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I knew that the Italy tour would be great; however, what really made it wonderful was our tour guide,Daniella. She really knew about the sites we were seeing and provided lots of historical, geographical, cultural and political insights. However, what made it the best was her. She was funny, caring and an absolute delight.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Way too many "wow" moments to list them here."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Rick Steves 17 Day tour of Italy far exceeded our expectations. We couldn't have had a better guide for our group than Daniela Wedel.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking in the Dolomites with Daniela and the group."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was outlined by Rick Steve's Company, but Daneila Wedal took it to the next level by enhancing our days with other stops and dining.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent trip, experienced more with my travel group than I would have on my own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Local guides and our Rick Stieve guide were able to explain/educate and add to the experience. There were many wow moments."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I'm very satisfied overall. The guide was excellent. I was not happy with most of the hotel choices.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably hiking in the Dolomites."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Daniela was amazing at navigating the crowds, the sites and difficulties that arose. She was always positive, helpful, informative and fun!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lots of WOW moments…one of them was walking the cinque terre path to the other villages "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour met and exceeded our expectations in every way. It was our first Rick Steves tour, but it won't be our last. The itinerary truly gave us the "best of Italy" in terms of the locations and activities. There was a great mix of big city excitement and rural relaxation. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and had a knack for meeting the individual needs of all group members. Our hotels were located right in the heart of the action allowing us to get to the sights quickly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many that it's difficult to pick just one. One location I was really looking forward to was the Alpe de Suisse. and it didn't disappoint. As we hiked through the idyllic countryside with majestic mountains ringing our lush green valley, I thought everything was perfect. Then what should appear but a herd of contented cows, peacefully grazing as their bells provided an alpine soundtrack to our adventure. Pinch me - am I dreaming this Italian Alps paradise? "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It really was the best of the best of northern Italy. Beautiful scenery and world class museums, cathedrals, art, history and culture. We really had a great group of adventurous folks who made it fun and the spirit made it better for all. Our guide was fun, warm hearted and added her insights all along the way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Michaelangelo's David, And Sistine chapel ceiling were world class art I wanted to see, but really the whole tour group, and leader made it great."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful tour with a great group of 23 friends and our outstanding guide, Lorenza, and driver, Sauro! We enjoyed seeing many different cities and regions, as well as learning much about the history, art, and people of Italy. Our guide provided us all with a great personal experience, and we had a few extra moments that really added to the depth of the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many - we even all said “wow” in unison for several of them! The list includes the beauty of Lake Como, the walk we took in the Dolomites, our farmhouse anniversary dinner, St Peter’s Basilica, a street fair/fundraiser in Siena, and our stop in the American World War II cemetery near Florence. Lots of wow!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was excellent from beginning to end! We were able to focus our attention on enjoying the sights, sounds, tastes, and places of our Italian adventure while our experience guide and capable driver, took care of all of the logistics and planning. This is exactly what we are hoping for, and we were delighted!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The views in the Tuscany region were so beautiful that it looked like we were standing in the middle of a painting! The views of Cinque Terre, as we approached from the water were stunning! The masterpieces of sculpture and art in all of the places we visited were breathtaking."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall I have a very good experience. It met expectations and I enjoyed the places we visited and the hotels provided.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Cinque Terre, Lake Como and the Dolomites. Hotels we stayed at we above my expectations and most were exceptional."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first group tour experience so I chose to lessen the chance of my being disappointed by choosing a well established tour company. Rick Steves and his people exceeded my expectations at all times and I was comfortable just relaxing and enjoying the experience knowing our guide and her support system had it all under control.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The panoramic views from The Alps. Best morning walk ever."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful experience with an exceptional guide, Sarah, and a great group of fellow travelers. As this was our 4th Rick Steves tour, we knew there would be unexpected and non-touristy experiences along the way and we were not disappointed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Dolomites took my breath away. My favorite "wow" moment was high on the Panoramic Trail. There were snow capped mountains all around and beautiful Alpine green meadows at our feet. Sarah played "The Hills Are Alive" from the Sound of Music and we couldn't help but sing!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour once we got to the meeting point. The tour itinerary was very extensive but it was the personality and knowledge of Sarah our tour guide that made the trip exceptional. I liked the mix of scheduled tours with free time. The size of the group was a good size. The tour guide modified trip slightly to adjust to the situation and the group. This made the tour even more enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved all the personal experiences that we were exposed to that we would never have had if we had traveled on our own. The dinner and session on the farm, the dinner in the contraband in Siena, the pesto lesson, demonstration by the stain glass and focula maker were such a treat. The hike and lunch in the Dolomites was incredible."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every place we visited was worthwhile and many could justify at least one more day. Our guide was outstanding in managing the complex logistics and keeping a positive attitude throughout the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Maybe the iceman. It was amazing to hear more details of the story which I was already somewhat familiar with and see all the gear that was found with him."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wild Boar Pasta "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was great, and our guide Sarah was fantastic. We enjoyed the mix of scenic towns and big city experiences - the history and culture of the various Italian regions and stunning views of the Dolomites, Lake Como, and Cinque Terre. The bus was quite comfortable, and although it appears to be a lot of bus time, several non-itinerary stops along the way made it much more tolerable. Well done!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me, the Trail of Witches hike in the Dolomites was great. Stunning views and a semi-challenging trail made it special. My wife enjoyed the "surprise" stop at the hilltop town of San Gimignano near Siena. A great stop that was not on the itinerary."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We thoroughly enjoyed the tour, and we were delighted with the experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I thinking it was seeing Venice for the first time after having seen so many images and its being described by friends."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guide was great, and I appreciated that our tour took care of the details- transportation, hotels, tickets, many meals- so that I could focus on being where I was. I had been to Italy before and was happy to revisit Venice, Florence, Siena and Rome, but I specifically wanted the "Best of Italy" itinerary to see places I hadn't seen before like Lake Como, the Dolomites, Cinque Terre and Umbria, and it was a perfect mix of locales for me.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Looking back at Vernazza from the Vernazza-to-Monterosso trail. It is the iconic view of Cinque Terre that I loved seeing for myself. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour guide was professional, helpful, informative and great fun. I think there are a few parts of tour that could be changed

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved Lake Cuomo, Dolomites"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We liked the overall itinerary of the tour and places we went. The guide and bus driver were excellent and the other tour members were pleasant as well. We are not religious, and the extent of religious sites grew a bit tiresome at times, although we understand the historical significance.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The wow moment was the Sisteen Chapel and David. We really enjoyed the Dolomites as well. j"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Roman ruins."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

17 days in Italy tour was for our 50th wedding anniversary & it did not disappoint. Sara was an incredible, experienced, knowledgeable, fun guide. Our bus driver, Massimo made us feel safe. Our group, very diverse, was wonderful, we will miss them all! The hotels were clean, with nice meals and in unique in so many wonderful ways! We went on several town/city tours as a group,- plenty of time to choose our individual preferences. Lots of favorites with memories for us to hold on to. Great tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Dolomites were incredible to see. The clouds coming and passing over/around the steep, ruggedness was incredible to see.We took the”easier route hike” and at the end we’re not so sure easier was the best description. It was a beautiful hike, but much longer than we anticipated. At the end of the day my Steps Tracker said 8 miles. I’d also recommend hiking poles, mostly for the hike down, where the incline & loose gravel made it difficult to get a grip on the trail. Overall a wonderful hike!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We enjoyed the tour thoroughly. This is the first time we visited Italy. The comprehensive and thoughtful tour logistic arrangements completely allowed us to focus on enjoying the tour contents. The itinerary covered the most key areas that interested us, plus some "bonus" stops that we did not know. The hotel choices were excellent in their location and service quality. The tour guide (Ferdie) were so professional, knowledgeable, and courteous. We wish to see him again in our next tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are a few stops on tour that were not mentioned in the published itinerary, such as San Gimignano, that were so interesting."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good lead tour guide and group of people. Mix of group and free time good. Several highlights include: Dolomites (day of hiking); Cinque Terre (hotel great; pasta demo and dinner great); Winery stay including hotel, surroundings, visit to Orvieta, and meals great. Several missteps include: landslide front of tour that prevented train access to hotel in Varenna - lack of communication from tour company to advise contacting hotel to get from ferry to hotel well above Lake Como (physically hard).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Definitely being in Dolomites for one day of free time - hiking the beautiful hilltops and mountain views. Second misstep was having a last minute change of hotel from printed itinerary which resulted in the group not staying in mountain chalet or having special meal there. Rebooked hotel was in rather large city (Bolzano) with limited mountain views so not nearly as charming as staying in mountains as planned. Email from tour company as to why the location change would have been preferred."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first guided tour as we've done Europe trips on our own with Rick's guide books in the past. We loved the experience. It was great to have the itinerary and hotels booked as well as all of the transportation and travel details once we arrived. All of this takes so much time to plan and figure out! We loved our tour guide, Ferdi. Had an excellent bus driver, Roberto. Great comradery with the others on the tour. Got to see and experience so much! Enjoyed the local tour guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are too many wow moments. I keep getting asked this question and struggle picking a favorite. I think seeing and experiencing Lake Como by ferry for the first time and enjoying our wonderful hotel in Varenna was a wow. Also, experiencing the beauty and uniqueness of Venice again was a wow. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This is the best organized tour I have ever had in my thirty year’s traveling experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The first sight of San Gimignano because it’s unexpected."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic tour! The hotels are wonderful, the guide is great, the food outstanding. Every detail was thought of.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The wine resort. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful time on the Best of Italy tour. We were so lucky to have Ferdi for our guide. He was informative, kind, funny, knowledgeable. He was the perfect blend for a guide. Without a doubt, he was the reason our tour was so much fun. We had a wonderful group of fellow travelers. This was our 5th Rick Steves tour, and it did not disappoint! The Itinerary was excellent. A well put together tour full of fun and laughter.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The gondola ride that Ferdi arranged for us was one of my favorite moments. We started at dusk and ended with the lights on the Grand Canal. We will never forget that evening. And the visit to Assisi was one that really touched my heart. What a beautiful city! Of course, the hike in the Dolomites was breathtaking as well. This tour had more than one wow moment. I would recommend this tour in a heartbeat. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Miles of walking, fantastic food, culture, architecture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the winery was a delightful respite"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved the volume of places we saw.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cinque Terra"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excellent experience and accommodations. Bus transport comfortable and efficient. Great driver and guide. Special tours turned out to be wonderful. Stained glass, pesto, and forcola making were unique and memorable. Wish sequence was Academia then Uffizi so we could have spent more time at the Uffizi. Bad timing due to holiday prevented a return to Uffizi the next day. Wanted more time in Assisi. Would have preferred a short stop in Lucca to San Gemignani (Rick really down on SG in the guide)I

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Italy in general. Loved Varenna, Alpe di Suisse, First sighting of the Grand Canal, St Mark's, Cinque Terre, the bridges over the Arno at dusk, Assisi, Orvieto, both side of Rome (ancient and Catholic Baroque). The Sistine Chapel and Upper Assisi basilica were amazing. We did The Last Supper and Scrovegni on our own. We had to make separate plans for St Peters due to event. Also, Galleria Borghese was stunning, had to stay an extra day on our own for it."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The only stress was getting through the Milano train station. It should be mentioned that the ticket validation machines are the small "yellow" ones on the track and that we could buy a ticket to get off in Varenna, not the end of the route. From Varenna on we were overwhelmed with the entire tour. Our entire group were fun and easy to travel with. Our tour guide Trina, was amazing and even our bus driver Dino was the best! We loved the locations and felt we got a doctorate in Art History!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There was a WOW in every place we visited. Probably the ancient architecture, the churches were like walking through a Ken Follett novel. But also the Dolomite Mountains which was like a scene from The Sound of Music!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Trina was an excellent tour guide! Our 3rd RS your and she’s the best! Lodgings were better than before! Great bus driver- we loved Dino! Not too large of a tour ….. keep them small please..

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Alpe de Suise in the Dolemites!!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Surprisingly, turning the corner and seeing David."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very educational and enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the David."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guides, great group. Trina, our guide, did a great job with both the history, art, and practicality of the tour. Dino, our driver, navigated around several issues. The group meshed well and enjoyed each other’s company. Whew! This tour should be called a taste of Italy! We saw so many cities that you would want to go back to and see in a more relaxed pace. Essentially, we got one full day in each city. The only disappointing thing was cold showers at the agritourismo.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment on the tour was seeing the David at the Academia in Florence."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We weren’t sure what to expect, as this was our first tour, our first experience of Rick Steves’ organization, and our first significant trip abroad — and this was far beyond what we’d hoped or imagined! It was outstanding in every aspect, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the whole experience!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Favorite? Impossible to pick out just one. Every day brought a new and wonderful surprise, or actually set of surprises. Endless “wow” moments."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We saw the most of northern Italy you could see in 17 days.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sitting on our balcony in Monterosso in Cinque Terre drinking a glass of Prosecco at sunset. Life doesn’t get much better. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Paris and Italy was sensational

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Paris the Eiffel Tower when I walked out of our room. Sacre couer. Love the green fields in Italy, lake Como and Balzono. Venice was awesome, as was all of Italy. My bucket list complete,"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful time and made many new friends on the tour. We have never taken a tour in the past and we’re concerned that we wouldn’t have adequate free time but it was a good mix of group events and free time to peruse our own interests. Several of our group had previously been on a Rick Steves tour and that gave us confidence we were in for a very positive experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"After touring Saint Marks cathedral we went to a restaurant on the square for a bite of lunch and a little people watching . That’s when it hit us we were really experiencing Italy. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was magical and surpassed my expectations!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sitting atop a terrace in Cinque Terra with amazing views over the mediterranean sea. We had a local family (82 year old grandmother, her daughter and granddaughter host our group. We sipped champagne as they demonstrated their family pesto recipe. The views were spectacular and I loved seeing this 3 generation family share their passion for Italy. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful time, fantastic food, great companions and a top hat guide. The hotels were located for easy walking and exploring. The guide went beyond her job to find a running guide for us in Rome and live music for our Anniversary trip on the waterways of Venice.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our guide made each and every experience well worth our time. Special drinks on a snow covered peak, cookies on the bus and a joyful smile.The Wow was her ability to bring together a very diverse group of people into a team in such a short time."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first trip to Europe and our first Rick Steves experience. Both did not disappoint. We had been planning this trip since 2019. The trip exceeded our expectations. The tour was eventful and filled with sights that we don't think we could have gotten on our own. Our guide Karin was absolutely fabulous. We've been home a week now and we're already planning another Rick Steves trip for next year.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several "wow" moments. When you're touring Lake Como, Venice, Florence, Pisa, the Cinque Terre, Asissi, Siena, then finally Rome, the "wow" are many and almost daily. Of them all, the biggest "wow" moment was when I first walked into St. Mark's Basilica in Venice. I was literally in awe. But that was just one of many "wows.""

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour guide, Karin, was super. I was amazed with her skills in keeping a large group together and focused with each city visited. Her knowledge of history was super and most enjoyable. All the guides in each city were super. Paul Costa(sp) really stood out with the way he would engage the group and making history fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My WOW moment was learning about Sienna. The unique history of this city was very interesting with how they evolved with districts, horse racing, and family. And basic concepts of life hold strong today. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved the entire experience, From our excellent guide Karen, to the sites, food, and hotels.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice and CinqueTerra were both wows!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was very good, bordering on outstanding. There were only a couple of things that kept this tour from being outstanding and neither were within the tour guides control. First, the weather could have been better. The poor weather impacted our ability to hike in the Dolomite’s. Despite the weather our guide, Karen, did a great job improvising and we still had a great time. The second issue was the fact the Vatican museum was stupidly busy. That I completely blame on the Vatican.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Otzi, hiking the Cinque Terre and running in Rome. The Ice Man was fascinating. I recall hearing about the discovery years ago, but to actually visit the museum, see Otzi’s remains and learn about his life and death is something i will remember for the rest of my life. However, personally for me, I think my “wow” moment was running in Rome. My buddy Jay and I had arranged a 15K sunrise running tour. We saw all the major sites, essentially empty and watched the city come to life. Beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Schedule was a comfortable pace and itinerary was great

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Gondola ride in Venice and Sienna"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour even though it was a bit fast paced. Perhaps a one or tow 3 night stays in one place would allow for down time, illiness etc.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visting artisan studios such as Remi the forcole maker in Venice and Masimo the stain glass artist in Senia. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The overall experience was great and wonderful memories were created.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking the Cinque Terre and celebrating our Anniversary with a pesto making class and delicious meal."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

While we weren’t able to finish the tour, the trip was outstanding up until we left. Great tour leader, local guides and itinerary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Oddly, seeing Otzi at the S. Tyrol Museum in Bolzano. Unexpected and fascinating."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful. Our guide Sarah always addressed any problems which was not often

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being in Cinque Terre."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had never been to Europe and booked this for our 30th wedding anniversary. It exceeded my expectations!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were seeing the scenic natural beauty of Lake Como and the Cinque Terra were breathtaking. Also Saint Marks in Venice was spiritually moving. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour experience was amazing! Vanessa just made everything exciting and fun! This was our first time traveling with an "organized tour" and it far exceeded any expectation.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is hard to pick a favorite. I just felt like I was in a motion picture seeing all the things I have seen in movies."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It exceeded all my expectations. The accommodations were stellar and the food was excellent. We had a great tour guide and she made the whole trip so enjoyable. I really enjoyed that we had a lot free time to explore on our own. The guided tours in the cities we visited were so educational and helpful to understand the culture and life in ancient Italy. Just loved it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our first night in Varenna we were lucky to have a lakeside room with a view of Lake Cuomo. It was so beautiful. What a way to start your trip."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Vanessa, really created a great experience for all of us. This trip is a dream come true. We were able to see so much in just 17 days. That was a bit aggressive, but we knew that is how it would be. I do like the fact that we were in each are for 2 nights. The art, history and architecture just amaze me. While it rain just about every day, we were all troopers and didn't let it stop us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hmmmmm.....my "wow", I had a few! Umbria and Tuscany wowed me and Cinque Terre really wowed me too. I have wanted to go to Cinque Terre for years! I would love to have been able to spend more time there. Maybe we will go back."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was simply amazing! From start to finish, this trip exceeded every expectation.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many “Wow” moments! Sunrise at Lake Como; the Spring flowers blooming on the Dolomite meadows; the Grand Canal opening up in front of our gondola; the David and “prisoner” sculptures; the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the 11:00 chant in the Baptistry; Cinque Terra; the Tuscany hills; San Gimignano; relaxing at the vineyard; Orvieto and the Etruscan caves; Rome! The food and regional suppers…so delicious! I was simply “wowed” from start to finish. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The gondola ride with music arranged by our guide Vanessa!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The towns/sites visited provided a great sampling of the different regions of northern Italy, and Vanessa provided a perfect blend of history, religious significance, Italian language lessons and humor as she guided us through the 17 days. We experienced an unusual amount of rain for this time of the year, but she even made the best of that through her upbeat personality. 2 things I didn't like: Vatican Museum tour was VERY rushed, and seems like we crammed too much into 2 days in Rome.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many it's hard to choose one, but the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, and the Roman Forum would all be at the top of the list."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

17 days full of new sights, old art, new drinks (aperol of course), old architecture, and new friends. The guide, Stephanie, was superb. The itinerary was busier than I expected, but I wouldn't have missed any of it. The hotels were better than I expected, but often noisy so those earplugs and white noise really helped. The ancient towns were a joy to explore, especially with the chance to meet artisans in several towns and cities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are more than one: when the meat was served at the Bolzano restaurant, Donatello's David, views when hiking the Cinqueterra, when Stephanie surprised me with a postcard of the St Frances chapel where I couldn't take a photo, the map room in the Vatican...."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was incredible! Starting with our guide!!! The accommodations were great! It was fun meeting the fellow travelers; they all were so enjoyable! Of course the sights of Italy are awesome! The extra added excursions so added to our experience (glass blowing, fulcrum craving, stain glass, gondola serenade, and much more). And the food and wine were of course delicious!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Only one “wow” moment?? Each stop was wonderful and had its own exceptional experiences. Hiking in Varenna with views of Lake Como! The tram ride and hike in the Dolomites! Venice was awesome no cars and the local guide was great! Cinque Terra was a dream with the ocean views and hiking! The Siena/Tuscany area was beautiful! And Orvieto and the Agriturismo was so beautiful and relaxing And Rome was much more enjoyable than expected!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was wonderfull! It gave us as first time travelers to Italy a great look at the most notable sites in northern Italy. Each of our hotels were within easy walking distance from the sites and we had free time to see interesting sites that were not on our tour allowing us Rosenurg maximize our tour experience. When closures happened our guide was great at leading us to great alternative sites and activities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The history and art was astounding! From Ott's the ice man in 5000 BC that they now know a remarkable amount about, to the Sassi, Etruscans and Greek from the first 5 centuries BC, how advanced Pompai was in 79 AD to the Renaissance art of the 14th century. I have never before been exposed to such a wide range of historic sites and art."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As a single female I was originally reluctant to participate in a Rick Steves tour. However, I am very glad that I did it anyway. I was very pleased with the Best of Italy tour that I took in May 2023. For starters, we had a wonderful tour guide, Stephanie B who provided a lot of information and care with just the right approach. I had previously toured Italy using Rick's guidebooks, but this tour let me know just how much you can miss by doing it yourself. I will go again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sum of the parts! WOW! I want to do it again. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My experience on this tour was just wonderful. Our tour guide, Stephanie is outstanding and made the trip remarkable! I feel fortunate to have traveled to so many unexpected places in Italy and gain knowledge of the Italian culture, history and exquisite art. I feel blessed to have experienced a terrific adventure and the many friendships long the way. Thank you Stephanie!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are so many "wow" moments on the trip for me. The beauty of Lake Como and walking in the Dolomites stands out and I have to say the mid-evil surroundings of Siena I will never forget. I loved that city!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing travel experience from the best guide, Stephanie, to bus driver, Dino, to a wonderful group to spend 17 days, to the very well planned cities including the unplanned stops between cities like the American Cemetery, & beautiful San Gimignano. Lots of walking & steps so you do need to be fit enough to keep up & carry your own luggage. My husband & I are 72 & very active, walking daily & exercising so it was perfect for our lifestyle. We never could have covered so much unguided!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Staying at Alta Roca Wine Resort outside Orvieto, Varenna & Cinque Terre in the evenings after the cruise ship tourist go back to their ship & you get to enjoy the beautiful towns without the crowds! Learning about the horse races in Sienna, the stained glass presentation & of course the statue of David in Florence, ride on a vaporetto in Venice, the Ice Man museum in Bolzano, & the gorgeous hike from one hill town to another in Cinque Terre."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Nice tour that made it easy and convenient to see different cities and attractions

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We enjoyed the "mix" of big city and nature. Our Rick Steve's guide, Stephanie,and the local guides, shared insightful information and did it in a fashion that inspired us to learn more. We appreciated the balance of planned activities with free time to explore on our own, which also came with good recomendations. We found our tour group to be cohesive and encouraging.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Turning a corner in the Florences's Academia and first seeing Michelangelo's David. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Absolutely amazing. We will definitely be taking another RS tour. A perfect amount of being guided around and being on our own. Our guide Sarah was amazing, very helpful and knowledgeable and took good care of us. A few things had to be rearranged due to weather but we didn’t miss anything at all. Our hotels were fabulous. It was nice to have the tour company take care of all the details and driving so we really felt like we were on vacation. Loved that it was a small group tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything about the tour was a “ wow” moment. The people, food, history, art, scenery. If I had to pick two it would be Cinque Terre and Lake Como. The little hill towns are beautiful. Although our stay at Altarocca winery resort was also a wonderful experience. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My tour of Italy was everything I hoped it would be and more. From Lake Como to Rome I learned so much about the history of each of the regions we traveled in and the scenery was breathtaking. The people of Italy are lovely as was our guide, who was so knowledgable and charming. Lastly, I really enjoyed getting to know the other travelers in our group!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every day in Italy is full of ‘wow’ moments, but there are standouts. Walking in the Alpe di Siusi, with the jagged tops of the Dolomites peaking through the clouds was a moment in time I hope to never forget. The same is true of attending a performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons in Venice, in a historic venue where chamber music has been performed for centuries!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My tour experience was incredible! I have never been to Italy before and this was the tour to do; besides having the best Rick Steves tour guide ever....Sarah Shortreed! All the work that went into having a successful tour; all the behind the scenes to make it all happen was seamless. The sights, the sounds, the food, the extra knowledge, history that we learned and saw was priceless and I will never forget. It was a trip of a lifetime for me.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many...starting with the Lake Como village of Varenna...hiking the Dolomites..exploring Venice...seeing Michelangelo's David...Pisa's Leaning Tower...being awestruck at the beauty of Cinque Terre's villages...going behind the scenes to see how stain glass windows are created.. and how the Gondola paddles and stands are made...staying at a winery... going to the Florence and American Cemetery and Memorial...ROME..SISTINE CHAPEL..COLOSSEUM..ST. PETER'S BASILICA..memories forever!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A wonderful experience-my first with Rick Steves. The guide, itinerary and group were fantastic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think I have two...Varenna and the Lake Como region was so beautiful, as was the experience visiting Cinque Terra. Each village had its own true color and personality."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My Italy dream came true! The tour not only met but exceeded my expectations. I saw everything I hoped to see and more. Some days were quite demanding, logging10 miles once, and close to that several on others, but every step was worth it. Our tour group was filled with nice folks. Last but not least was our tour guide.....the SUBERB Sarah! She's a gem. This will not be our last Rick Steves tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My first view of Lake Como from our hotel terrace on day one to St Peter's Basilica in Rome on our last day. Honestly, everyday held a wow moment for me. Cinque Terre was charming and San Gimignano & Venice made quite an impression."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very enjoyable, fun tour group and excellent main guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Viewing "David" in Florence was truly magnificent."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was all we hoped it would be. I'm so thankful that no one got sick, no one got hurt, and everyone got along so well!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think going on gondola ride in Venice was a highlight. I never thought I'd actually get to do that! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing trip, beyond my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's very difficult to pick just one, here's mine. The Cinque Terre area and the charming town of Monterosso. We stayed at the Hotel Pasquale and had a room with balcony facing the Sea. We could have stayed here many more days."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was everything we expected, and more. The pace was brisk, but manageable, and the content made all of our effort worthwhile. The hotels were fantastic, the coach and driver were outstanding, and the group activities were enjoyable. Our guide, Sarah, made it all even better.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"From a number of "wow" moments, I would select viewing the Cinque Terra villages from the ferry as my favorite wow moment. Every image looked like a postcard. The colorful villages carved into the seaside cliffs are amazing."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Enjoyed being with enthusiastic, positive fellow travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Cinque Terra. Lived up to and exceeded the hype."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First trip to Europe. Was impressed how every day was so well planned out and our guide (Sarah) was the absolute best!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Iceman ‘Otzi’ How amazing that a 5,000+ year old preserved man and many of his belongings were found and preserved. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was great. It was so scenic and informative. It was nice to get a flavor of different regions of Italy. The food was outstanding, the guide was first rate, and the group was easy to get along with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The scenery at Lake Como and Monterosso were my favorites."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Colleen was our wonderful, knowledgeable guide and she was friendly, professional and a great resource and perfect spokesperson for your tours. Loved the mix of travel, train , bus and boats. Great taste of local food, people & culture. Fantastic mix of hotel choices, My friends are all envious of my travels.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Very hard to pick one....Loved visiting the Ice man in Boizano and seeing that part of Italy. Beautiful. Another wow was Siena and the dinner and history of the Horse race. The Altarocca winery resort was fantastic, a great mix of the ancient nearby town and views that knock your socks off at the Winery. A real treat and much needed rest. The whole trip was a thrill for me."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had an excellent tour guide - Colleen. She had great depth of knowledge, enthusiasm, energy and the personality to lead the group. She gave us a history lesson for each stop along with a lot of local insight to make each place enjoyable. Seems like we saw the highlights at each stop. Hotels were good all in the middle of town, We always had good food tour provided or on our own. Are fellow travelers were very nice and really helped make it a great experience. Local guides were very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taking water taxi into Venice was pretty good. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was amazed and proven wrong about tours! I really had no idea how personal and special this trip was going to be. I experienced so many off the beaten path truly special moments that the average tourist never gets. The intimacy of everything was 180 degrees from what I was expecting of a group experience. We really felt the essence of everywhere we went by the incredible relationships and networking Rick Steve’s tours have. I am still in awe of the vast way my expectations were surpassed!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was blown away by all the genuine beautiful relationships my guide had with her local guides, restaurant owners, and artisans. I loved how excited they were to see her, she was always meeting someone during her free time catching up with their lives. In turn, I then felt that sense of community passed on to us that created several incredible demonstrations and culture opportunities that I was not expecting. I would never have gotten close to that intimacy in each city on my own trip. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Colleen did an outstanding job leading our Italy tour, providing useful information and addressing traveler concerns.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Special workshop activities coordinated by Colleen--stained glass, gondola part craftsman and wood carver in the Dolomites stand out as really special experiences we would have missed if not participating in the Rick Steves' tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved the variety of places that we visited. I also thought the itinerary was well planned with busy days intermingled with less busy days.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Very hard to pick one "wow" moment. The stunning architecture everywhere, the serenity and relaxation of the wine resort near Orvieto, the beauty of each of the places we visited, the wonderful people we met at the hotels, and on and on. So many wonderful experiences."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Never been on a tour group experience before. Definitely the smaller group is the way to go. Nice to relax and have someone handle all the details. Our guide was phenomenal. They could make or break the tour. In our case Collen rocked.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stepping out of the Metro and seeing the Colosseum for the first time. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding. The tour went really smooth. The tour guide was a walking computer about all things about ITALY.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have 2. The Gondola ride in Venice. Walking into St Peter's Basilica. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Love Italy, fun group, exceptional guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our Alpine meadow was covered with snow! The views from the Bolzano cable car were absolutely stunning. And the “Otzi the Iceman” museum was informative and fascinating."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Best of Italy tour was really a great way to experience a huge amount of the country and see the enormous variety between different regions of Italy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Favorite "wow" moment was our gondola ride in Venice. We decided to take a two-person romantic gondola ride to celebrate my birthday. Thanks to our guide we had a great recommendation of a good stand to go to. As we entered the grand canal, the bells at the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute starting to chime and it was the most magical and almost otherworldly few moments."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It felt like a firehose -- so many places, stories, experiences in such a short period of time. That has both its advantages and disadvantages. I loved seeing what we saw, but it was hard to take it all in.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Angelo, our guide for Florence, was superb and passionate, especially in giving us background on Michelangelo's David. My appreciation for the work of art increased greatly as a result of his explanation."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was fantastic! Our tour leader was very knowledgeable and kept our happy little group on time and on task. The sites we visited were arranged so that our local guides were the best at their jobs and were very experienced.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to list… it would look like our tour itinerary. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our experience was so much better than expected. It was our first visit to all of the areas except for Rome. As advertised, the tour required strenuous walking on uneven surfaces. Highlights were Cinque Terra, Varenna on Lake Como, Altarocca in Umbria, and the side tours of local artisans in Venice and Sienna.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The American Cemetery in Florence, walking into Cinque Terra from the train, and opening our hotel window looking our on the piazza in Varenna."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour lived up to my expectations and beyond!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many “wow” moments, but the first was at the Villa Carlotta gardens above Lake Como."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The best way to see Italy for the first time! All the details had been taken care of, and we just went with the flow.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Saint Mark's Square in Venice. Something you have seen in pictures and videos before, but it was an emotional experience for my wife and me."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

So glad we booked this tour. We went places we would not have gone on our own. Loved the experiences included in the tour. Stain glass demonstration, fulcrum demonstration, pesto making demonstration!!! Such nice additions to the trip. We were fortunate to have a great inclusive tour group that made our trip extra special! We will definitely stay in touch with many of our new friends.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I can't pick one! Loved entire Cinque Terra experience, loved learning about the Paleo di Sienna horse race and had so much fun at the social club dinner. (Especially the crazy jockey less winner!) Lake Como, Venice, art in Florence. I will stop now. 🤣"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great itinerary, super group of people and a fantastic tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This site wasn't on our guided itinerary, but the Teatro Marcello in Rome was within walking distance of our hotel and my husband and I found it fascinating. It wasn't crowded at all, so a much better experience than the Coliseum. We also immensely enjoyed Orvieto, the cathedral was stunning and the organist was practicing which made the whole experience even better."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Best of Italy in 17 days was our first Rick Steves tour, but it will NOT be our last! We enjoyed every minute and were so lucky to have great weather the entire time. Our tour guide (Stephanie) was simply wonderful, and she took excellent care of us while we navigated the beautiful towns and cities along the way. We were with an amazing group of fellow travelers and we truly enjoyed getting to know them during this tour. We can’t wait to book our next adventure with RSE!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being from the east coast, we don’t get to see mountains on the regular, so the trip to the Dolomites was pretty awesome. But there were so many wow moments, the Sistine Chapel, the gardens of Villa Carlotta, the murano glass making and stained glass making demonstrations…it was all so much fun."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour manager, Stephanie, was great. She always had a contingency plan “B” and “C” if plan A didn’t work out. She was just married a few days before our trip began and you’d think, she’d ask to be rescheduled. But as chance would have it, her new husband was our bus driver! Stephanie was so professional and committed to her responsibilities for the entirety of the trip. She gave us a wonderful personal & historical perspective on living in Italy. She is the best!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s hard to pick out one thing..because there were so many things that I didn’t realize. But I have 2 that were most memorable for me. The first: had lunch in a little restaurant off the main drag of the historic center of Pisa. And I had the best Cacio e Pepe ever..better than in Rome! The 2nd was seeing how many of the ancient buildings were still being used, albeit repurposed. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Can't express how much we enjoyed the Tour, Guide, Sites, and experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into the Sistine Chapel"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A very enjoyable tour. This was our second Rick Steves' tour and both were great! The tour guide and local guides were professional and knowledgeable. The bus was in excellent condition and the driver was very helpful. The tour locations were terrific, but the season did have an impact (the winter weather limited the Dolomite experience and the May Day holiday made the crowds at the Vatican Museum a significant detractor.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice. A magical place. I didn't expect I would like the gondola (I thought it was a hokey tourist thing), but it turned out to be a high point."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nancy Benedetti was the perfect tour guide! I am SO glad she was our guide--so knowledgable and helpful! My fellow tour-mates were lovely people. I am married, but did this trip solo, and everyone was so welcoming, kind, and friendly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had a few: the Florence duomo at night, the Orvieto and Siena duomos, the Vatican, the beauty of Lake Como, the mountains of the Dolomites, and the Mediterranean at Cinque Terre. There were several times I was moved to tears during the tour. Orvieto stands out as that place for me. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was hesitant to book a bus tour, as I did not think that we were "bus tour people". This tour exceeded our expectations! Not only was our guide Nancy AMAZING, but the overall itinerary was incredible. It was expertly put together with the right amount of group activities, travel time, as well as personal downtime.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Absolutely LOVED the Dolomites. The view from our balcony was spectacular. Mountains and nature fuel my soul. Crowds do not. Therefore, I was not looking forward to Rome. OMG... Rome was incredible! An absolutely must see. You can't go to Italy without visiting Rome! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Best of Italy tour exceeded expectations. We had a fun group, excellent guide, talented bus driver, perfect weather, and a good balance of activity & down time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many and each town or village had unique characteristics. I did enjoy hiking in the Dolomites, the gondola ride in Venice, exploring Siena, Assisi, Pisa, and Orvieto. I had been to Florence, Rome, and Cinque Terre on a previous tour, but it was just as exciting to revisit the museums and sites. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved the whole thing. A great variety of places and experiences. Nancy was incredible.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many I can't even pick a favorite. The lake day in Varenna. Hiking in the Dolomites. Many of the places in Rome. The fact that Nancy knew the answer to every question we asked her, she was like a walking textbook. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My husband and I were scheduled for the 9 days Venice, Florence and Rome trip in March of 2020. Needless to say that was one of the first tours that need to be cancelled due to covid. We long anticipated our recent 17 day Best of Italy tour. We took a few precautions like getting the latest covid booster and wearing our masks during crowded indoor venues and during transportation. We thoroughly enjoyed the tour particularly the bucket list items such as the statue of David!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We enjoy hiking so the Dolomites provided that energetic physical and natural beauty and stillness."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A great tour! I loved the varied locations, scenery, hotels, food, and history. Starting in Varenna on Lake Como was a stunning location to start the tour! We were very fortunate to only experience a slight sprinkle one evening in Florence and only a few times did we have cloudy skies. The weather was great with temperatures mid 60’s to upper 70’s everyday! Each new destination had new and different things to explore. Our tour guide and group were easy to get along with and this helped a lot!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were two I thought were wow moments! The first was seeing Lake Como from Varenna! The lake was so serene and the deep blue color of the lake against the surrounding villages and mountains were like picture postcards! The second wow moment was doing the Witch’s hike in the Dolomites. I enjoyed seeing the Austrian Alps in the distance, loved the alpine meadows with the grazing cattle and horses, and viewing the villages below on our hike back to the resort!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A bit regimented at times but overall enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The gondola ride in Venice, at night with a musician. The moon and lights reflected in the water."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great overview of Italy. Great group of people. Greatly enjoyed the trip.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fabulous tour guide (Sarah Shortreed) added so much to our experience! Great blend of humor, history & advice. Loved that the hotels were situated near important sites. Lovely bus; amazing meals.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Vatican City!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was wonderful, like always. We saw so much of Italy that we knew we wanted to see and so many things we didn't know about. Our tour guide, Sarah, was amazing, as all of our guides have been in the past. I am amazed at the quality of guides that Rick Steves employs. After past tours I didn't think we could have another guide as great as the one we had, but then we do!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Florence American Cemetery was both amazing and emotional, and something I didn't know about. Also, the ruins in Rome were unbelievable."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The overall tour experience was very good. We appreciated the beauty and history of Italy. The tour attendees on our bus were outstanding. Each stop was somewhat unique and has its special attraction. I spent a few days in Milan and will need to go back to see more. Lake Como was beautiful and relaxing as was the Dolomites. All of the stops were entertaining and educational.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was very surprised by the size of structures that were built over 2000 years ago and that some of them survived natural and man made disasters. The frescoes were amazing. I had many wow moments, but I couldn’t get enough of Rome in general. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful new friends, amazing locations and awesome guide!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to highlight just one, but I would mention the Dolomites and Coliseum."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

An wonderful tour of Italian highlights and antiquities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking out of the metro and seeing the Coliseum for the first time."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall the whole trip was a WOW experience. Our tour guide Sarah, made the whole trip more fun with her wit, charm, and positive attitude. All but one of the hotels were excellent. The food was fantastic. The sites and tours that Sarah took us on were all memorable and informative. The size of our tour group was perfect with 24 people, and they were all a pleasure to get to know and share the experience with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite WOW moment was on our first night of the tour in Varenna. Sarah took us all to a local family's apartment for dinner. The whole family made us all feel welcomed. The husband was a chef, so the food was top notch. The chef showed us how he makes the pasta during our dinner. The 4 course meal with wine and after dinner drinks was just a great experience for me, with a local family. We would have never got that experience if we would have been traveling on our own."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide was outstanding. I enjoyed getting to know the other people on the tour. There was a great balance between planned tours and free time. The hotels were great. I appreciated that breakfast was served at each hotel, the tour guides at each destination were outstanding. There were so many unique planned cultural experiences in the different locations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every moment was a WOW moment for me! It would be hard to pick just one. We were blessed to have good weather on our tour of Italy. I really enjoyed hearing from the artisans who have perfected their craft (Venice, Sienna)."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Sarah was wonderful. All the things we saw and hotels were great. All the local guides were great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me the wow moment's were many, but I will pick Lake Como and the Dolomites were the best."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"group dinners Cinque Terre altarocco"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful beginning to end! Meeting new people and seeing the incredible sights made for a memorable tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many wow moments to choose from but seeing the awe inspiring Sistine Chapel gave me goose bumps!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour exceeded my expectations. Our tour guide, Deborah, was amazing in every way. She was informative, fun, beyond helpful, and kept us abreast of tour timetables. Hotels and meals were great! I had never done a whirlwind tour with only 2 nights (1 1/2 days) in each town. I might have preferred 3 nights in Venice and Florence and omit 1 stop. Really enjoyed our tour mates, very sweet & interesting people. Overall, I would recommend a Rick Steves tour to anyone.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many wow moments. The Dolomites and Alpe di Suisi were spectacular. Other highlights for me were all of Venice and Franco's oar locks demo, Florence museums, Sienna & the Contrade dinner and Palio horse races, San Gimignano and Tuscany hillsides, Pesto dinner in Cinque Terre."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent, marvelous, wonderful, and exceptional!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not just one WOW moment. There were multiple moments. Most had to do with the Guides and their knowledge and caring for all the needs of the travel group."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My expectations were exceeded. From start to finish I felt like everything was very well planned and thought out . The tour guides were outstanding to beat. We felt like a family. The bus driver was amazing not only with his driving skills but his friendly and caring demeanor. Everywhere we went I felt the true reputation on the Rivk Steves company. It was outstanding t

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many it's hard to pick one. Cinque Terre was amazing and I enjoyed the pesto dinner. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding tour guide and bus operator, as well as very friendly tour group. Well organized and executed. Wonderful, fun trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many to choose from. One Duomo grander than the next. Scenic Lake Como; great food and fun group dinners. Rome was the culmination! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The 17 Day Best of Italy was truly the experience of a lifetime. Our RS Guide Vanessa, the several local guides and our driver showed us the Italy I have always dreamed of. In addition to what's on the itinerary there were so many unexpected treats and treasures in each of the 20+ towns I spent time in as part of this trip. I will treasure my memories forever.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I can't chose one "wow" moment, so I'l narrow it down to this: Being in the same room with some of the most incredible pieces of art I could imagine (Pieta, Sistine Ceiling, Michelangelo's Prisoners, Laocoon, Caravaggio's Medusa ... to name just a few). The views! (from the trail between Monterossa and Vernazza to those in the Alpe di Suisi, from the Accademia Bridge to floor of the Colloseum...Italy does not disappoint. The food (eat the pasta, drink the house wine...tried and love it all)."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour was very well organized and our tour guide Vanessa was fantastic. I would highly recommend Rick Steve's tours to everyone.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Honestly, my "wow" moment was the effort and concern of our guide and the Italian people to make sure that I had wonderful gluten-free food at every meal. As a celiac, finding gluten-free food is the scariest part of travel and it was not an issue on our tour thanks to the efforts of our guide and hosts."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was much more fun than I expected it to be. I think our guides knowledge and wonderful sense of humor are responsible for my increased enjoyment and for making time spent on the bus just breeze right by! Vanessa was also VERY helpful at finding gluten free food options for us, which also made our trip more enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The stay at the Altarocca Wine Resort was a welcome change of pace. The scenery of Orvieto in every direction from the Resort was absolutely breathtaking. I could have another day there in order to take advantage of some of the spa services that were offered."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well-crafted itinerary with diverse locations and educational experiences

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everyday on the tour bus with our outstanding and knowledgeable tour guide Vanessa"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I can’t imagine having experienced my first time in Italy any other way. I feel like I got the absolute most out of my trip and it was stress free!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For our first meal together on the tour, our guide arranged a home cooked meal from a retired chef in his home. The generosity if him and and his family and the stories he had to tell is a night I won’t soon forget. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

well planned and orchestrated

Favorite "WOW" moment

"swimming un the Ligurian"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The cities and the order of travel was very workable. Having a bus, instead of public transportation, made traveling between sites comfortable. The diversity of locations gave a nice overview of this part of Italy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Sistine Chapel, David, and the Coliseum area."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was very well done. Not having the stress of doing the planning ourselves or finding our way around was so helpful. It just enhanced our experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Umbria. Our vision of the "real" Italy. Beautiful countryside. Calm and peacful."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We enjoyed the group travel experience, especially because it allowed us to feel comfortable with Covid precautions in place. The choice of cities included on our 17 Day tour of Italy was good. The hotels, guides, bus comfort, and daily events were all excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A simple hike at Castle Ruth, a stay in a beautiful vineyard spa, and the sights of Rome were definite highlights of the trip."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide was excellent, the logistics were handled very well, and we saw and did things we never could have done on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking in the Dolomites."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lake Como"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fabulous! The variety of experiences, cities and villages, planned events...the itinerary is well tuned. Our guide Donald was just excellent and contributed to the overall enjoyment of the experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our local guides in Florence for the Accademia Gallery (Paolo) and the Uffizi Gallery (Paul) were incredible. Their comprehensive story telling, sincere passion and broad knowledge of history combined with their entertaining personalities was astounding. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful tour, itinerary, guide, and fellow tour members! Our tour guide, Donald, was a wealth of information with a side of comedy. Very knowledgeable on the history and the how not to get lost. He taught us to to navigate the cities using trains, subways, taxis, and buses. It was a godsend and made touring easier by saving our energy. We had taken the Best of Europe tour several years ago and wanted to return to Italy. It was exactly what we hoped it was going to be!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"1) Alpe di Suise!! Beautiful mountains, meadows, and people. 2) Eating a pesto dinner after watching “Nana” make it from scratch. 3) Altaroco, our accommodations in Orvieto. Walking through the vineyard and olive groves and relaxing for a needed day of rest. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guide, Donald White, really made the tour fantastic. Great info about the cultural customs, awesome sense of humor and lots of relate to info made the tour so great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Dolomites, unbelievable!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well planned, I especially appreciate the effort on the part of RSE to give us the opportunity to connect with the locals

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking around the witches walk in the Dolomites. The beautiful, vast, spectacular scenery was definitely a “wow”."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was all is what it was built up to be. The team leader (Donald White) and the local guides were all terrific - very knowledgeable and articulate. The whole tour was nicely orchestrated. No surprises.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While the art, buildings, cathedrals, etc. were all "things to see in one's lifetime," I personally real enjoyed the more outdoorsy sites (Lake Como, the Dolomites and particularly Cinque Terre). The stay at the vineyard (altarocco) was a nice treat as well. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our group leader Stefanie is stellar. Very knowledgeable and personable. Our many guides throughout the many cities were absolutely brimming with enthusiasm and the intimate knowledge of the particular site/city.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This was actually after coming in before the tour started. We came up out of the subway in Milan and the Duomo took our breath away! It was unearthly shimmering spiritually enlightening. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour met or exceeded most of my expectations and I was sorry to see it end. All of the two night stops on the tour could have been destinations on their own merits and there were none that I would change. The non overnight stops, such as Mantua, were excellent. The guide was exceptional and the other members of the group were friendly and engaging. The hotels were generally very good and well located in each cite. The Florence hotel was my personal favorite but the others were fine.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"1) Visiting the topc cites in Florence up close and with good weather; 2) Lake Como; 3) Dinner at the Social Club in Siena; 4) Collesseum and Panthion in Rome; Climbing to the top of the monastery cemetary in Monterosso (Cinque Terre). Many more candidates."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a "trip of a lifetime" for me, so I had high expectations. The tour met and almost always exceeded my expectations. From our guide, Stefanie, to our local guides, to our driver, to the locations and activities, I cannot imagine a better experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"If I have to pick just one "wow" moment, I would say it was the evening in the contrada in Siena. Entering the awards room where we ate, seeing the centuries of tradition and the amazing hand-crafted awards, and talking with the younger generation of proud Sienese contrada members brought me to the surprising realization that I was truly experiencing a part of Italian history, tradition and culture. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every day was special. This was the right mix of group activities and free time for us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hiking Cinque Terre's coastal trail from Corniglia to Vernazza. We started at dawn--roosters were crowing in little Corniglia--and had this beautiful trail all to ourselves. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was our first experience with Rick Steve’s tours and Italy, it was beyond our expectations. Looking forward to many more trips with you!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s hard to pick a wow moment because the whole trip was a wow experience "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall the Italy tour was a fantastic experience. The sites that were selected to visit where amazing and I believe all of the cities were ones we would have picked if we planned the tour. I didn’t expect the speed of the tour at each city to be as fast as it was, but I understand as we hit so many cities in really just 15 days as day one and 17 where just bookends of the trip. Many days getting up at 6:30 to make sure we had breakfast and meet the team was tiring. Many of the older folks agree

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Picking one favorite “wow” is tough. I believe the time in Rome and walking through the Ancient Rome are and the coliseum was most impactful. Being somewhere close to where Christ, Paul and Peter walked gave me chills. Close 2nd was Sistine Chapel. "