Best of Venice, Florence & Rome in 10 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful lead guide, terrific location guides, fantastic group of fellow travelers, many unexpected pleasant surprises throughout the tour, thoroughly enjoyable itinerary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning about wine at the family vineyard of our utterly stupendous tour guide."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour exceeded my expectations. From our first group meeting to our farewell dinner and everything in between created so many wonderful memories.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite “wow” moments were the cooking class in Florence and the family run winery in Rome-two unique experiences."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was so well planned. Our tour guide Sara was exceptional and incredibly knowledgeable in assisting with additional activities. The entire group became friends and as a single, I always had someone to share experiences with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Just so many! Venice has been on my bucket list forever and did not disappoint. Florence had the most amazing gardens I've ever seen and the Olive Farm tour was a countryside delight! Rome was the pinnacle of amazing monuments with the Vatican City being the most impressive of them all! What a fantastic tour!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was perfect in every way. The guide was knowledgeable, fun, and clear. We saw all the highlights of Venice, Florence, and Rome. The tour was such a value with hotels and many meals included. The other tour members were a joy to meet. Often we were able to skip the line or enter early for the more popular attractions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice is definitely a unique and wonderful sight. The farmhouse lunch at the agritourism olive and grape farm was amazing. The days were filled with cappuccino, pizza, pasta, gelato, and we came home weighing less than when we left due to all the walking."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I loved the balance of having a tour guide and having independent, free time. Our tour guide, Anya, as well as the local guides were very informative. They pointed out activities for us to consider on our own, and taught us how to navigate the cities, as well as teaching about the local history and art. The hotels we stayed in were better than I expected, and everyone in my tour group was very nice.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was in absolute Heaven at the wine tasting in Umbria, with Marco. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip was a wonderful experience--our guide, Anja, was kind, caring, and her enthusiasm was infectious. Our local guides were not only knowledgeable, but their pride for their country was evident through their explanations of significant sites throughout Italy. From cooking classes to wine tasting, museum tours to Renaissance walks, our tour provided a variety of excursions that truly allowed us to partake in the "best of Venice, Florence, and Rome."

Favorite "WOW" moment

"On our tours with the local guides, they consistently instilled a sense of awe in us as we experienced the history and culture of the sites we visited. In particular, the experience of visiting St. Peter's Square early in the day and taking in the quiet and reverent atmosphere was a standout."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent experience. The tour was well planned out and made our first trip to Italy a pleasant one. Our guide Virginia was outstanding. She took care of us from the start and made the entire trip like a family vacation. The sights were awesome, but the people in our group were the true gem of the trip. We went home with a new crop of friends. I am a believer in the Rick Steves tour experience already looking at future trips. Andiamo!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The city of Venice with its canals and the Roman Forum were both so interesting. Probably my wow moment was one of our dinners at the Lancelot Hotel in Rome. We were fortunate to have dinner with another couple and were joined by the chef and owner. He took us to the roof and showed us some of the most breathtaking views of Rome at sunset. It was a view and experience we will not forget!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great program. I wish I rested During some of the free time. Cannot express enough how much we were on our feet. Tour guides were amazing. Virginia is a great facilitator. Great educational tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning about Italian culture."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Italy tour far exceeded our expectations! This was our first experience using a guided tour company in Europe. The ease of having much of the planning, booking, transportation, etc. done for us was wonderful and there was plenty of time in each city for personal exploration or rest, which was initially a concern for us. Our terrific guide, Virginia, and the friendships we created with the other members of the group made the trip even more special. Highly recommend!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each city certainly had at least one moment of "wow" but seeing the Roman Forum and walking in the footsteps of so much history was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for us as educators!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent experience! I have traveled with other tour companies, and I appreciated the "free time" built into our Rick Steves' tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Very difficult to answer this. I think that the visit to St. Peter's Basilica was a wow moment...but eating dinner with the Coliseum as a backdrop was pretty awesome as well. The group dinners (which I had been dreading) were terrific; the restaurants were "off the beaten track" and gave us true authentic experiences. The people in our tour were absolutely great. And, the tour director (Virginia) - NEVER lose her. She was your best asset!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved the tour! Our guide Virginia was outstanding, and the local guides were also great. We would definitely do another Rick Steves Tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"St. Peter’s square in Rome! Walking into the area, we were wowed by the grandeur and majesty!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic tour package to Venice, Florence, and Rome! Skip the line tickets and local guides were great. Our tour guide, Sarah, was amazing. She was always available to accommodate our needs. We were able to see key sites in Italy and had time on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to count - Colloseum, Vatican, Sistine chapel, St. Mark's Basilica, , Galleria (David), Venice canals "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was fantastic! Everything was beautifully planned, the travel agent was outstanding, accommodations Were excellent. Extras like a cooking class were pure joy and certainly not expected.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many “wow “moments that it is hard to pick one. Seeing Michelangelo’s David, a cooking class with the family, the Colosseum, a wine estate on a mountain."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was amazing!! We loved the balance of planned and organized events with the amount of free time we had to explore in the cities as well. Our guide Lisa was fabulous and always had wonderful suggestions and insights into the areas we were in.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our favorite moment was when we visited the vineyard in Umbria! We loved the quiet escape in the middle of the cities. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved having a bit of both worlds... an experienced tour guide who was more than willing to share experience and recommendations and at the same time, our own time and space to explore and adventure in cities on our own. I really enjoyed this experience and would certainly recommend this to any first time travelers to Italy!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would have to say it would be whenever we turned a corner or walked out into an open space and I was just blown away by the majestic beauty of the architecture and design. Venice was great for this, small alleys that suddenly bloomed into beautiful church courtyards or even walking out from the Clock Tower Torre dell'Orologio and into St. Mark's square for the first time! It was truly memorable and that happened over and over again in each city we visited!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Lisa, was knowledgeable about the places we visited and was willing to help whenever asked. She was organized and provided good leadership. She was also personable and easy to talk to.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The grand feeling I got from being immersed in St. Mark's Square, with the boats and ships in the lagoon in Venice."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Going with a Rick Steve’s tour group completely enriched our overall experience. Our tour leader Lisa was outstanding. The tour guides enhanced our visits to historical places whether it was a museum or landmark. Wouldn’t have been the same without them. I would have loved if the tour included the Sistine chapel instead of us booking the tour separately. We soon found out that not all tour guides are equal! The people with toured with were so friendly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Can’t pick one. The art, food, beauty, history, wine, people made the tour! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

was everything and more of what I expected of a Rick Stevers tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the "floating city" of Venice, all its alleyways and water ways."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour leader Lisa and local guides were wonderful!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Duomo in Florence."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great group of travelers, and that added to the experience. The sites speak for themselves. Our guide was very helpful and did a great job of leading us just the right amount.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had been to Rome before, so this time my wow experience was seen Venice from the bell tower of the Church of San Gireogio Maggiore. Had I never been to Italy, my wow would have been seeing the Colosseum and St Peter's Basilica."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was wonderful. It was well organized. The tour guides were very knowledgeable. We went to all of the major historical sights. The tour leader was friendly, kind and helpful. It was our first Rick Steve’s Tour as well as a group tour. It was great meeting new people. Everyone was friendly. We all got along. Overall this was one of the best trips I have ever taken. Thank you Rick Steves.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Umbria. It was the perfect calm between all the hustle and bustle of site seeing "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My husband and I loved being introduced to Venice, Florence and Rome by our tour leader Fotius with his deep knowledge of the cities we were visiting and his wry sense of humor and gentle, calm demeanor.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"June was full on summer crowds & high heat and by day 4 or 5 in Florence, I was in sensory overload one afternoon and we were led to a meeting point for some free time. I remember coming around a corner when there emerged from the crowds the outer edifice of this breathtaking cathedral dressed in red green and white marble with its distinctive dome - the Duomo! (If you watched the Medicis on Netflix or read up on your RS guidebooks..) it is still such a punch in the stomach; a sight to behold…"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I left the trip knowing I had done everything that would give me the full experience of the country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several wow moments, but I loved the making the pasta dinner experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Balance of your time and free time

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Florence and the David and the winery stop"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I really enjoyed the history and organization of the tour. Logistics were flawless (Hotels, Transport). Expectations were communicated from the very beginning (Walking, Packing, Weather, Food, Luggage, Hotel) so no complaints were heard from group. Food Choices were very good. Group asked a lot of questions and never complained about anything.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not necessarily a Wow moment but my favorite part of the tour was Wine Tasting. It was the only "relaxing" vacation event we had. I also have always wanted to see the Colosseum. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide was excellent. The entire tour was well organized. I appreciate having a mix of time with the group and time on our own. Our hotels were all in excellent locations for where we wanted to go.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wandering through the maze that is Venice. The food in Florence. Walking through Rome in the evening. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Active, fun tour with a terrific guide and an enjoyable and kind group of people who relatively quickly became friends; rich history to encounter and learn in these places; a fairly good mix of planned and free time; a beautiful country to visit and learn more about it's people, culture, and history

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The immensity, beauty, and history of all the architecture that is still in use and generally good condition today"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was in a fantastic experience. Bea, our tour guide, Was marvelous. She was a mixture of a marine drill sergeant and mother Teresa.. The amount of time spent in each of the three cities was more than sufficient to give us a taste of the culture and the beauty of each. This being our first experience with Steve’s’ tour, we look forward to our next opportunity to go on another Steve’s’ tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The three cities we visited were a great experience. The food was great. The tour group was a bonus! Our tour guide Bea really made the trip go smoothly and made us all feel comfortable and able to talk to her at any time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice had its own special features as well as Florence - the Duomo climb was spectacular. Rome just hit me as Wow. The Coliseum was just breathtaking and the shear age of everything was almost incomprehensible. Vatican experience was wonderful as well. A great surprise was the vineyard stop. So relaxing and gracious hosts with awesome wine and food!! The location was awesome as well. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was exactly what we were looking for. It combined structured activities with local expert guides and free time for our family. Although we did a lot of things, we didn't feel overburdened or burnt out by it. Our tour guide was exceptional and helped us with any questions we had throughout the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty if the hill country of Italy and visit to a farm where we learned about olive oil and viticulture."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour exceeded my expectations! It was just the right mix of planned activities and 'down time' where we could either relax, or visit other sites of our choice. Our knowledgeable and helpful tour guide helped us get acclimated and answered my many questions. The family owned hotels were very comfortable with friendly and helpful staff. I was amazed at all that I got to see and all that I learned. A truly amazing experience!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moment was riding the gondola on the canals in Venice. I had alway heard about this but never thought I would actually experience it myself!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Rick Steves' tour experience surpassed my expectations in a very positive way. The compassion, caring, and education provided by the primary tour guide (Fotios) as well as the historical site guides yielded such a great overall experience. I also appreciated all the tips leading up to the actual tour, which included assurance that I was physically strong and emotionally open for an overall experience given this was my first visit to Italy. The tour was so very well planned!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many wow moments, it is hard to choose just one. Perhaps the greatest was the visit to the Roman ruins, and learning about hearing all the history. We only spent a few hours there, but we could have spent a couple days there. Learning some of the history of the great churches and experiencing the fantastic art-work in Venice, Florence, and Rome also provided such positive experiences, and created new interests for me and an internal drive to learn more history."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I’m a very experienced traveler and I understand there are problems and cultural differences when traveling. Much of the tour was OK however somethings were inexcusable. The Hotel Guerrato in. Venice is extremely noisy from 5 pm to 4 am as the disco and hundreds of screaming drinkers party every night outside the hotel windows. Also, the dining experiences that our tour guide chose for us were very disappointing. The food was of a very poor quality & not well prepared . Got flea bites

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The local guides were great . "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Your curated tour was wonderful; it hit the high spots in every respect. Having local guides to explain the history and background in each city worked for us. Having some events like wine tasting, cooking, gondola ride and local tours by Fotios made it special. Fotios Baroutsos made it a wonderful experience; he was our travel buddy, inspiration, historian, helper, and comic - just all around great hoist …..

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our Wow moment was the entire tour"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our first tour experience and overall it was extremely good. Our guide, Fotos was incredible and very helpful. Our group connected especially at our dinner in Florence. The local guides gave us a lay of the land and truly shared the history, highlights, and love of each of their cities. The ability to have free time to add on museums and activities to our tour plan for ourselves was a plus!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There is not just one wow moment in the tour. In Venice - the island of Burano! The people, the colorful homes and buildings, the little church, and having a panini and raspberry spritz by a little house painted with many colors. In Florence, the Dumo and the fun and interactive cooking class. Who knew pasta could be so delicious. In Rome, the Pantheon and our guide Hilario, as well as Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel. Truly a once in a lifetime trip."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Colleen was an excellent guide- especially at explaining how to find your way around on your own, something I have previously found difficult in Venice. The three cities were amazing and the visit to the farm was fabulous.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to mention."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"uffizi & forum "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very organized and well planned. Colleen was an outstanding tour guide!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the city of Florence. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I met wonderful people. Our guide, Coleene was excellent. very informative, warm and friendly. All sights were awesome.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The side trip to Umbria was my WOW moment. , I learned alot about olive oil. The contrast from city to country for a day was beautiful. The lunch was tasteful, the host was amazing! I loved that farm!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our overall experience was great. The sights chosen to see, the experiences, the restaurants, and the expert guidance made for a memorable trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two favorite moments: rounding the corner at the Academia Museum in Florence for my first glimpse of Michelangelo's David. And, turning the street corner in Rome to see the Colosseum for the first time."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was a good combination of organized group activities and personal time to explore on our own. Colleen is an excellent guide and we appreciated her enthusiasm and detailed explanation of how things work.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many wow moments, especially walking amongst some of the greatest art in the world. But for me personally, seeing Michelangelo’s Crucifix in the Basilica of Santo Spirito in Florence was unforgettable."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great- saw everything we were looking forward to seeing

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The David statue "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Navigating cities like Venice, Florence, and Rome and absorbing/enjoying as much as possible in 3 days would have been impossible without the use of this service. I was grateful to also have the "bones" of the trip organized, like transportation between cities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While the whole trip was a "wow," my wife and I especially loved the wine tasting and visit to the vineyard between Florence and Rome."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Such a great trip. Well planned out and a nice balance of “tour” time and “free” time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved being immersed in the towns. Sleeping, eating and learning about each stop. The cooking class and vineyard tour were a fun and different experience that added to the overall culture immersion."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a great time

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice Bienialle"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was the perfect balance between tour time and our own free time. We appreciated being able to stay 3 nights at each location as that allowed for more in depth touring of the cities. The small group was manageable and allowed for more a personal touch. We were all able to get to know each other and develop lifelong friendships. The local guides really added a unique experience to some of the most special sites. I would highly recommend this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We can't even pick just one. Venice, Florence and Rome are full of "WOW" moments. The art and history of these cities produced "wow" moments on a daily basis. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip was amazing! Italy is such a wonderful place. Nina, the tour guide, and all the local guides were awesome.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite experiences where just wandering around on our own, which was very easy to do after the detailed orientation walks provided by the guides."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

great trip

Favorite "WOW" moment

"lunch in st mark square with music in the background, a Vivaldi concert in Venice, dinner at a family restaurant in Florence, wine tasting in Umbria, I could go on and on. great trip!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful, loved the people, places. food, Ben was fabulous and the local guides were great!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Lunch in Umbria!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every site that we visited was exactly what I wanted to see. I tried the other sites that were in the tour book which were not recommended by Rick Steves and he was right they weren’t that interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Florence. Seeing David. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As this was our first Rick Steve's tour and our first trip to Italy, we really didn't know what to expect. We followed the pre-trip instructions and made reservations for some of sites not covered with tour. The pre-trip guidelines from booking flights, reservations, and packing list was extremely valuable. Our guide was an absolute gem. He had a thorough knowledge of Italy: the language, how to maneuver through the cities, tour sites, and restaurants in a seamless manner.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many "wow" moments that it is hard to pick one. I believe approaching the Pantheon from the Pizza Navona was one of the top ones. Marveling at Michelangelo's David another."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a wonderful experience with the whole tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the green space in Florence "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great people on the tour, wonderful and knowledgeable tour guide, beautiful art and architecture and the delicious and fresh food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Riding the gondola in Venice, visiting the private vineyard in Umbria and the cooking school in Florence."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour was very informative and fun. Tour guide was very knowledgeable and personable. Lisa did an outstanding job of managing the tour.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved the trip. Lisa our guide was fantastic, we enjoyed the group and the meals that we had together. It was just the right amount of being with a guide (the local guides were great too) and then plenty of free time to do our own exploring.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed the lunch cooking class in Florence. We made everything in smaller groups and then sat down to eat it as a big group. So much laughter and fun! Our chef was wonderful at giving directions and making it fun. Thanks for the recipes from the day. We plan on having friends over and recreating the experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Perfect trip for our family of 5, ages 60 down to 24. We all enjoyed being with the group and had plenty of time to explore on our own. Our group leader was invaluable. Her advice was always spot on.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into St Peter’s Basilica. Enhanced by early arrival time, low crowd, thanks to our knowledgeable group leader!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excellent combination of activities and relaxation opportunities, delightful wine tasting at out-of-the-way stone cottage with endearing host. Excellent educational guides with a vast historical knowledge and the ability to tell the stories of many museum and church frescos and paintings.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The "wow" wasn't a moment, it was a trip- to the wine tasting in Umbria; truly gracious, humble, incredibly interesting host and his story were memorable!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour guide, Lisa, was excellent! She was so knowledgeable and patient with all of us. The entire tour was very organized and well planned.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Making our own pasta in groups was fun. So many "wow" moments-all of the beautiful Churches. The trip to the family farm was very cool. Loved the countryside, food and wine tasting!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were very impressed with the pace and scheduling of this 10 day tour in Venice, Florence and Rome. Also the location, ambience and service at hotels was excellent. Our guide Lisa was delightfully upbeat, experienced with each location, customs and helpful with suggestions. The local guides were well educated in the material presented.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's very difficult to pick one wow moment! I would have to say our shared meals in each city stands out in my memory, which definitely includes the pasta cooking class in Florence and the visit to the Agritourism olive/wine tasting in Umbria. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Fantastic Tour, very informative, great balance of organized time and free time. Overall well-curated. Great to have a group tour. Have never done this before. Hotels were fantastic, food overall very good. The tour wasn't perfect but you can't expect it to be with 28 different people on the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking through the Roman ruins. There is no other experience in the world that compares."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was jam packed with the art architecture, and history of the three cities we visited, but it also offered diversity of experiences. Cooking class in Florence, and our visit to the grape and olive farm and winery in Umbria provide a few examples of this.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many, but the Ufizzi in Florence was unforgettable! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour covered all the places I had dreamed of visiting. The free time allowed me to gather the information from the excellent local guides and to explore and get lost and soak in the ambiance. Meeting and spending the few hours in Umbria enjoying the villa and a truly scrumptious lunch with wine and meeting Marco and his wife was a lovely way to relax before going to Rome. All the hotels were comfortable, clean , with very helpful and solicitous staff. Nina is fabulous and fun !! Bon Giorno.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Gondola ride and being serenaded!! Simply fabulous 👍"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great intro to Italy

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Rome, I love everything about it except the traffic "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our group totaled about 25 people, but it never seemed that big because we always split into two smaller groups when we went on a guided tour. We had been to Europe several times, but never with a tour group like a Rick Steves tour group. We were pleased with the guided tours but were also pleased with the amount of free time that we had. The hotels were nicer than we thought they would be. The group dinners were very enjoyable. Nina, our Rick Steves guide, was a great help.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We didn't have a "wow" moment. We had seen the major sights before. We went on the tour in order to learn more about the background of the cities and the sights. We were happy with the amount of information provided to us, but there was not a "wow" moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everyday was better than the day before! Excellent experience

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Oh too many! Gondola ride, Marco’s place, the Vatican!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My husband and I greatly enjoyed the entire Venice-Florence-Rome tour. We’ll definitely take a RSE tour again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No one experience stood out. It was all equally outstanding. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great way to see Florence, Venice and Rome

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding! Far exceeded my expectations although I had no idea what to expect as this was my first encounter with Europe. Magical… It feels like a dream to have been there.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many, but I think seeing the Roman forum was the most emotional experience I had. A place I never dreamed I would visit and saw only in textbooks as a child. Being the presence of ruins so old was overwhelming and Surreal"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great trip..Chiara the group leader was outstanding..every detail was awsome..not one complaint..recommend RS to anyone who wants to see a lot..

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Florence was beautiful "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was exactly as advertised and enjoyable. Our guide Chiara was excellent! The tour was very well organized and no time wasted.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The churches in Florence and St. Peter's Basilica were sublime."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour guide was excellent; very knowledgeable & detailed explanations. Walking was strenuous, especially in Rome. Several in our group took random days off because they were too tired. We saw all the important sights we wanted to see

Favorite "WOW" moment

"St. Peter's Basilica, Rome. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thoroughly enjoyed my Rick Steves' Best of Italy tour! It was dreamy. The tour matched every positive review I have heard about a Rick Steves' tour. Chiara was the consummate tour guide providing such great, interesting history along with keeping us safe. I learned so much about art and history, and to see it all right in front of me was truly magical.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One of my favorites was walking thru the city, rounding a corner, and WOW it's the Coliseum, or the Vatican, or the Rialto Bridge, or the Duomo. Just surreal! I also had a great time at the cooking school and the winery. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

great hotels, great guides, great visit to places, especially the museums.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Galileo museum"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a marvelous time. We enjoyed the guide and felt that there was a great balance between scheduled and free time

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We really enjoyed our city guides. They made us feel like locals. Angelo in Florence was a life changing experience. Bringing us to his place of worship and discussing the art and its impact was amazing and personal. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide Chiara was on time ,answered questions and coordinated all the boat and bus travel. This tour to Venice -Florence-Rome is labor intensive. There is much more walking than I thought especially on uneven cobblestone roads and alleys. Crossing roads requires being alert because cars and Motorcycles do not want to stop for pedestrians. The hotels had that old world charm which gave you a flair for living in Italy. Rooms were small but clean and I did have my own bathroom!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had many WOW moments but I guess seeing how old everything is. The roads, the buildings ,the churches, the art and sculptures. This is something you do not see in the USA"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Learned a lot, saw beauty everywhere. The "lessons" by local guides were very relevant.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice!!!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very well run tour. Chiara, our guide was wonderful. Local guides were very good too.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The gondola ride in Venice and the wine tasting experience— the vineyard was so lovely, also the extra Prosecco toast we had with view of Florence, also St. Peter’s Basilica…. there were so many wow moments!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Was WAY more than expected! Chiara our guide was informative, friendly, and entertaining. The local guides added the local flair to each destination. Was a very active tour with enough free time to experience Italy the way we wanted also. Any reservations we had about visiting somewhere we had never been went away very quickly, and we became very comfortable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were two. The cooking class in Florence, with Fabrizio, and the wine tasting and luncheon at the winery. Both were engaging, entertaining and informative. Not to mention very tasty! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding overall trip - packed with sensational artwork / sculpture, ancient Basilica but mixed with fun experiences like cooking school and winery tasting experience. Some of the local tour guides were outstanding with knowledge of fine arts. Florence was my favorite of the cities, but each had super qualities and were quite different all within the same country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing "David" in Florence is hard to match, but Leonardo's Annunciation, Galileo's telescopes, and Donatelo's David all within a few hours was almost as good."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour experience was simply wonderful. Since it is our first trip to Europe together, we had no idea what to expect. Starting with Colleen,she was warm and inviting in her welcoming talk. She was clear in her description of the tour and what to expect.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into Vatican Square almost brought me to tears. The trip to Borano was simply wonderful. I loved the colors of the buildings and of the course the lace. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very enjoyable. Great group and guides

Favorite "WOW" moment

"At Peters"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Coleen was outstanding. When the unexpected happened like the museum worker’s “meeting” at the Uffuzzi Gallery or the mix up with the mini bus in Rome Collen and our local guides did not miss a beat.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The “experiences” were the best-the evening gondola ride, the wine tasting and the cooking school were fantastic and a nice break from tourist destinations."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The wife and I had a wonderful time experiencing the Art, Culture and History of Venice, Florence and Rome. We were amazed at how beautiful the architecture is and the continued efforts to refurbish and restore ancient works. Our agenda remained full, with personal time to explore. We loved our group of 28, and of course our wonderful Tour Guide, Colleen. She was truly a gem that made the trip flow, flawlessly. We are already excited about planning our next Rick Steves Tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was truly amazed at the beauty and grandeur of the St. Peters Cathedral."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Each day was jam packed. I like that you have tour guides and then time to explore on your own and see sites that are of particular interest to you.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to say. Loved the gondola ride (never long enough), the wine tasting and making pasta at the cooking school"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cooking classes and wine tasting "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was traveling solo and signed up to simplify choices, such as hotel and venues, and to have an occasional meal companion. I was blown away by the professionalism of the tour manager and guides and the quality of all the offerings. Way beyond my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The top among many wonderful experiences was the winery visit. It was something i would never have thought of doing - i was mainly interested in the deep history, art, and architecture in the cities, but the history and calm beauty of the winery setting made it a standout experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was amazing! The tours, our guide, and the others in our group were fantastic ! We had so many fun, memorable experiences!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many! Riding in a gondola, seeing David, and going to the Vatican were all incredible!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceeded our expectations! All of our guides were excellent. Stephanie was our everyday guide. She was exceptional. We don't know how she did it! Went out of her way to make sure all of the little details were covered. Provided a lot of extra experiences that we did not expect. She made it special for all of us! A true professional who also made us feel like we were family. So committed and generous with her time. She just to great care of all of us. So glad we decided on a Rick Steves tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice and St. Marks were the highlights for us. The island tours to Burano and Torcello were really great. Our gondola ride. The food! But there really was a wow moment every day. The winery visit was also better than expected. Really enjoyed the views and the winery itself is a treasure. Taking the bus between Venice and Florence and then again between Florence and Rome gave us a great view of the Italian countryside. Loved it."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The 10 day Florence Venice Rome tour was absolutely incredible. Our guide Stephanie was simply awesome from the beginning meet up till many hours after the tour was over. She was so helpful and informative regarding all aspects of our tour. The daily agenda was just the right amount of hi lites and free time. All of the hi lites were met and so much more. We can not not say enough great things about this tour and itinerary. Thank you thank you

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were too many WOW moments ,because everything was incredible…food, sites, people, guide amazing"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Fantastic and knowledgeable guides. The tour was packed with the top “must see” destinations and good thought was put into active vs. passive activities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loves Florence and all its sights!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a wonderful ten days! My sister had never been to Europe, so the two weeks we were together were such a fun experience. Our tour guide, Stephanie, was terrific. We saw the “biggies” in each city and thoroughly enjoyed every moment.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We went up to the top of the Campanile in Venice. It was clear and gorgeous, and really gave us that view of Venice as an island. Marvelous."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour, very active with a lot of walking. Good mix of planned activities and free time. There were throngs of tourists in all 3 cities, but this is to be expected. The hotel in Venice was rather bare bones but still comfortable enough.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All the little streets and alleyways in Venice, so different from anything I’ve seen before. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was the 4th RS tour I've been on. Everything was great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The light show at Trevi Fountain"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was my first trip to Europe and everything went smoothly. I loved taking my trip using a tour company. My tour hostess, Deborah, was fantastic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Forum in Rome."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Deborah was a wonderful guide! She gave great recommendations for free time activities. The tour was fast paced and very active. A lot was packed in a short period of time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Several things were "wow" moments, the gondola ride, David, the vineyard visit and the Colosseum and Forum."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent guide, excellent local guides.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

So very well organized. Guides were great Accommodations were right in the heart of the city. Group dinners were excellent

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was so impressed by Deborah my tour guide. She handled the 24 of us with precision through crowds, trains, buses, and a scramble to get us to a timed entry event when the train broke down. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Could not have expected and received more value for what we hoped for!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The country of Italy as a whole continuous WOW moment for me. Having never been to Europe before, I didn't know what to expect and I was VERY pleasantly surprised and amazed but the country from the top of the boot to the bottom."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The guides, hotels and tours were outstanding. The guides are knowledgeable, professional, pleasant and friendly. The hotels were clean and centrally located with decent food and helpful staff. The tours were exceptional. We were on the go; walking a great deal, but this allowed us to see so much more than we like would have on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The ancient ruins in Rome."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour and it did not disappoint. Our hotels, tour guides and schedule were wonderful. We loved it so much we have signed up for another tour next yesr!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was very impressed with all of our tour guides. Our general guide, Deborah, was great. The knowledge of the local guides was so impressive and we learned so much. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is our 8th RS trip, so we are big fans. Itinerary great, good hotel selection, meals good, strong tour leaders, great local guides. Lots of walking. We averaged 6-7 miles every day and that was only to support the itinerary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The art, architecture, and history in Italy is all wow. We have been to Italy several times and would go back again."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was over to soon which is in my experience means it was a great tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This was an Italy tour. Venice…Florence…. Rome…3 days in each. For Venice it was the evening gondola ride, where our tour guide personally arranged for us to have an opera singer accompanied by a guitarist. In Florence, we did a cooking class which really brought the group together. On the way to Rome we stopped at a winery and olive oil farmers in Umbria, they fed us, had a wine tasting and gave us a day Out in the Italian countryside.. Got to do a shout out to our tour guide, Lisa."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Strong itinerary, excellent guides, great transportation, good/well-located accommodations, adequate group meals, overwhelming crowds in Rome. We wished for an extra day in Florence. Having well in advance (>60 days) more detailed information about the itinerary (particularly the estimated times group activities would conclude in the morning and start in the evening) would have helped with planning required, time-specific advanced booking for sites like the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Michaelangelo’s David and Botticelli’s Birth of Venus notwithstanding, my favorite “wow” moments happened in things we did in our free time: mosaics in St. Mark’s Basilica, Wave Glass experience in Murano, Santa Maria in Cosmedin (I felt like I was swept back to the 8th century!), St. Zeno’s chapel in Santa Prassede, Bernini sculptures at the Borghese Gallery, mosaic floors many places. We also enjoyed Eating Europe food tours in each city. And were delighted by flying in and out over the Alps."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first tour experience after a fair bit of traveling on our own, and it more than lived up to our expectations. Our guide, Lisa, was fantastic! Everything was well planned and organized. Hotels were nice and well located (Venice was our favorite). We enjoyed the mix of informational guided activities and time to explore on our own. Lisa went out of her way to assist with free time planning, and each recommendation she gave us was spot on (gelato, restaurants, etc.).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's cliché, but it's really impossible to pick just one. For true wow "moments" it's probably a tie for me between seeing the Duomo dominating the skyline in Florence for the first time from the bus or walking around a corner and suddenly seeing the Colosseum right in front of us in Rome. For wow "experiences", the cooking class was great fun, getting lost in the back streets of Venice was magical and the vistas from atop Brunelleschi's dome in Florence were amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well organized. They seem to have thought of everything. Very knowledgeable people ran the tour and guided us in the museums, walks etc..

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to write."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Better than expected. Lisa pulled us together during the introductory meeting. This is my second Rick Steve’s tour and I highly recommend them to my friends and family.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Saint Peter’s Basilica. The artwork, chapels, and staff are extraordinary. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first tour experience and our first time in Europe in many years. We started our vacation with a 10 day Venice - Florence - Rome tour and it provided exactly what we were looking for: hotels, tickets, meals, transportation, education, fun and new friends. We liked the balance of time together and time on our own. Our tour guide, Anja, was amazing!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Only one? How about one from each City! Venice: The beauty of St Marks Basilica, especially the golden mosaics inside. Florence: The glory of David, especially with the unfinished Prisoners providing a glimpse into how Michelangelo worked. Rome: Rounding the corner and seeing the Colosseum for the first time, how large it is and all the other buildings and areas around it."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a marvelous introduction to Italy with a taste of three very different cities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment was seeing Michelangelo's David in person. Unlike many art pieces, it was larger and more impressive in person."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was just the right mix of time with the group, and time to explore on your own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are too many. But arriving in Venice was certainly spectacular. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceeded my wildest expectations. Excellent in all respects! Our tour guide, Anya, couldn't have been better, and I though the group of fellow tour members were all great friends by the end of the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Uffizi Gallery, without a doubt."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Had an incredible time and really enjoyed every moment.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Absolutely loved seeing "David" ... and I also loved coming upon members of the tour group in lots of the places we were visiting in our off hours. Those were really nice surprises and it was a big WOW how much we all got along and enjoyed each others' company. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first experience on a guided tour and it exceeded my expectations!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing things in real life that I have only read about or seen photos of."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Getting to our hotel in Venice was frustrating and very stressful The vaporettos were on strike until 1, we were misguided by public employees who were telling us to wait at one location then directed us to another location , spent 30 euros on tickets that we never used and the individual who was assisting us repeatedly asked for a tip We ended up walking to the hotel … It would have been a lot simpler to have included in the cost of our tour transportation expense to use the taxis

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything the food the architecture the museums "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a wonderful time. Our guide Anya was exceptional. However, 2 members of our group had cochlear implants, and the headphone wouldn't work for them. And trying to stand next to the guide and lip read didn't work either. But we all worked hard and it was a great experience. Getting to know all the members of the tour group. None of us thought the amichi program would be helpful, but we became like a large family with everyone watching out for the others.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Getting together with Anya "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being immersed in the art, culture and history that is Italy. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour organization was outstanding. The mix of free time and group events was very good. Our guide Donald was great about informing us about what to expect each day. Everything went very smoothly. Our local guides were excellent as well. We enjoyed our group meals very much. Overall it was an outstanding experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Florence at sunrise from the Piazzale Michelangelo was amazing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour had a good pace and was well-planned by Rick Steves' group. In particular I liked the balance of structured time with 'free' time. And, given the huge crowds in Venice, Florence, and Rome, our tour guide did a great job helping us work around/through the crowds. Finally it was a great experience to share with my husband, sister, and brother-in-law.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the wine tasting where we could see Orvieto in the distance. Given all the crowds in Venice, Florence, and Rome, it was nice to be in a peaceful quiet area (the winery)."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I really liked our tour guide, he was very personable and knowledgeable, he set a good tone for the week. We had a nice group of travelers, everyone was so friendly. On this tour especially there was so much to see. Its a very active tour, filled with iconic sites I liked haveing knowledgeable guides to explain the details and history of the artwork

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing The Duomo on Florence was definitely a wow moment "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved 98% of what we experienced in this tour! Donald White was fantastic and I was extremely impressed with the depth of knoweldge the local guides provided. We hit all the high points and had plenty of time to explore on our own. Our group was also a highlight of this adventure. We made many new friends and hope to keep in touch.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were more "wow" moments than I can share. However, if I had to pick one from each city, 1st would be St. Marks in Venice and the fascinating stroy of the recovery of St. Marks remains. 2nd would be in Florence and the incredible Duomo! The size and scale of that structure is beyond impressive! 3rd would be in Rome. Walking through the Forum where the cradel of the Roman empire was born as well as the Vatican! Wow on all fronts!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour met and often exceeded expectations. It was a good balance of group activities and free time. Our guide Donald is a consummate professional and was a lot of fun. He chose excellent, well located restaurants for the group dinners. The buses were very clean and comfortable. As advertised, this is one of the most active tours but I never found it to be physically overwhelming.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow moment" was taking a break from the often crowded must-see sights and enjoying Alessandro's Classic Venice Bars Backstreet Tour. Three of us from the tour joined with four other "Ricksters" who were traveling independently. We had a relaxing time munching on cicchetti, drinking local wines, and being entertained by and learning from Alessandro. He's quite a character! It was a great way to end a very busy day."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I learned a great deal about the history of these three cities and a tremendous amount about art and art history. I felt like at was in "Art History 101" course, or maybe 201 - more advanced.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to Florence - David statue and the Basilica - but so much about Michelangelo and other artists. The Vatican museum in Rome was also unforgettable. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a very well thought out itinerary. We loved Venice!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice and its quaint streets filled with gelato, pastries, pizza, and restaurants And of course the Aperol Spritz!!! Florence and its massive, beautiful churches. Rome and its history."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour covered most of what we wanted to see in Italy. Maybe too many churches

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sculpture of David. Breathtaking. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Lisa s was outstanding! She got the group to hit every mark. The group itself was great-really nice people. The tour covered all the highlights of three cities and a farm!! Plus it was not difficult to customize some personal time. Lisa S made herself available to help.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Just seeing Venice. It was so much more beautiful than the documentaries disclose. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well planned, good hotels, good itineraries, excellent guides (tour and local).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Have toured Europe and the world since a boy in the 60s, worked and lived in Europe for 6 years - 4th time to Italy. First guided tour ever - enjoyed relaxing and being taken care of! First time for wife - so she has all the “wows”. Enjoyed traveling with some other couples - made some life long friends."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a wonderful time on this tour. It was our first Rick Steves tour and our first group tour as I have always done the planning for our previous trips, so it was delightful to have others plan and take that worry off of my plate. Our guide, Lisa, was wonderful and so helpful when we had questions and she had great suggestions for some of our downtime. Our local guides were also rich with knowledge and fun to listen to. Our group was also kind and fun to travel with!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think one favorite "wow" moment (there were quite a few to choose from) was when we were on our way to Rome from Florence and stopped at an Agriturismo for lunch and met the owners where they had a beautiful lunch prepared for us that was paired with their wines and we learned about their olive oil. Plus they had puppies and the scenery was just amazing. It was like everything just slowed down for a few hours and we got to soak up a beautiful area and amazing people. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour more than met my expectations! The tour's leader Lisa was truly remarkable with her planning, direction, support and personal care for all of us. The tour was just the right balance of sightseeing as a group combined with time alone explore each destination on your own accord.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many but the three that stood out most included the trip to rural Tuscany wine tasting, the Gondola ride in Venice (for some reason was really fun!) and seeing Michelangelo's sculptures (pieta, David, christ). "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first guided tour and we were extremely pleased with the Rick Steves experience! We had an amazing Tour Guide, Lisa Smith. We highly recommend her!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many, but I have to say it was magical to be so close to Michelangelo's masterpiece David. I've seen pictures, but nothing like seeing it up close to appreciate it fully. Thank you for getting tickets ahead of time so we didn't have to wait!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful experience on our first tour! We travelled with our 11 year old daughter.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Waking up in Venice on day 1 was my WOW moment! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From start to finish the tour went smoothly. It had an even mix of guided events and free time. It was well organized with enthusiastic tour and local guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our local guide in Florence brought us around a corner to face the grandeur of the Duomo just as all the bells were ringing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Visiting all 3 big cities in Italy were amazing. Each destination had unique highlights which were iconic to see.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Roman Forum & Colosseum were my top places to see, while enjoying gelato in Rome was very fun too. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a phenomenal whirlwind ride. So much to see. It was a great blend of group time and on-your-own time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s hard to pick one, but probably the coliseum in Rome "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was outstanding. Our tour mates, guides, and schedule were all exceptional. We are already planning our next trip with Rick Steves.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beautiful winery in Orvieto that used to be a monastery--the villa, old church, garden and outstanding wine. It was a perfectly timed respite from the crowds and all the sites and sounds of the cities. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Really a nice trip. There is no way for an individual to be able to line up everything that was done for us. I think trying to figure all the details out would take up a lot of time and would have never seen half the different things we did see.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That’s hard to pick which wow was my favorite to many to choose from."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved our tour guides, Tina & Mattie - tour was fabulous!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Oh gosh so many!! The many surprise treats for our tour guides!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our two tour guides, Tina & Matti, were fabulous. So helpful, informative, kind and fun! They really made this tour exceptional; in addition to the local tour guides who were so knowledgeable. I really loved the variety of things that we did - from the museum tours to the cooking class. So fun!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had so many "wow" moments that I can't say just one. Venice was incredible! The artwork in Florence was breathtaking including the sculpture of David. In Rome, it was the Colosseum and the Pantheon. However, there were so many incredible sights - Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Stairs, the Vatican and the Vatican museums! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was such an amazing experience. I wasn't really sure what to expect but it went well beyond anything I could have imagined. Tina is an incredible guide and made everyone feel so welcome and at ease. She was always available to answer questions and assist in any way needed. All the little extra experiences were such a great touch and really added to the experience. I would definitely do another Rick Steve’s tour and have already recommended it to several people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The group meals and the little extras. The group meals were so beyond what we expected and more food than I think anyone expected. All of the group meals were so amazing! The added "extras" like the terrace in Venice, jewelry making experience, and art class were all unexpected optional experiences and they were each worthwhile and enjoyable."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was exceptional in every way possible. From our tour guide Tina to most of the local guides. They were amazing at giving us local historic info., regional customs and interesting rid bits of the people and the places. I love museums and all things old. From Tina and the local guides I felt so enriched by their knowledge. Most of all I experienced the commitment and true care in what each showed us and shared. It’s the best tour experience I have had. I had an amazing time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed the cooking class immensely. When I first saw it on the itinerary I was unimpressed. But, it was fun, educational (I love to cook and making pasta from scratch was not as hard as I thought!), and most important it brought the group together for me. I saw another side to many of my traveling companions and were transformed into friends. Brilliant. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Where do I even start? I loved the experience so much from the sites and experiences to the hotels and restaurants. However, it was our amazing tour guides that truly made it special!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are so many but the terrace lookout over Venice was definitely one of them as well at Matti singing in the restaurant!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was a combination of adventure, education, fun, and just a lot of "WOW" ness

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me, a man of limited culture, (if any), I think the realization that the statue of David was more than a statue, it was a moment in time. A moment we all face at some point in life. I had no idea. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It went far beyond my expectations. Lots of time for sightseeing and spending time with the guides and our group, but also a lot of free time to explore and shop.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into the Coliseum in Rome. I got goose bumps. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

As a 76 year old with bad knees, I wasn’t certain about it. A visit to my doctor and a steroid injection before the trip helped and even though I packed my collapsible cane and it was more walking than I was used to but, it was manageable. Everything was perfectly paced and I had no physical limitations. Everything was great and I enjoyed everyday.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Uffizi gallery and all of the museums in Venice, Florence and Rome were much more than I experienced on a previous tour. The guides were the best and so knowledgable. Of course, Venice with all the bridges were the most challenging, but my roommate and I kept up and only got lost once. But, it was all fun! I wouldn’t change anything. I learned so much and gained a renewed appreciation of the history and of the Italian culture. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was great! The guides were nice & helpful & the hotels were very good!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"St. Mark's Square in Venice! It was amazing. I had a lot of fun taking the cooking class in Florence."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We were busy enough and not too busy. Our guide was talented and so helpful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed the wine tasting at the winery between Florence and Rome. So peaceful and majestic. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The history and presentation was incredible

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beautiful country "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I have travelled to Europe several times however, this was the first experience with a guided tour group. I was blown away by the organization, level of knowledge of our guides and the quality of hotels, meals, bus transports and excursions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every day presented 'wow' moments. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were blown away by the thoughtful planning that provided the right balance of tour time, personal time, and group time. The group of 25 were wonderful. Our two tour leaders were amazing and helpful but never hovered. There were unexpected extras, like a taxis back to the hotel after a really long day and chocolate on the bus. We will definitely plan another Rick Steves' tour but we can't imagine it how it could possibly match our Italian experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had heard that Venice was unique, but you need to see it to believe its uniqueness and beauty."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a great time. Good mix of structured tour activities with free time to hit any personal preferences. Tour guides were wonderful and so were the art historians who guided some of the museum and world history site tours. The wine tasting, cooking class and painting class were nice breaks from the typical museum walks.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"St Peter's Basilica especially climbing to the top of the dome. So beautiful! The status of David was a close 2nd."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

There aren’t enough superlatives to convey what an extraordinary experience it was.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Quite moments on the private terrace of our hotel in Venice. . . . bottle of wine, gondolas silently gliding by below. Ah. . . . . . . . . . ."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very satisfying. It exceeded our high expectations. It was precisely planned and executed. Our guides were knowledgeable, attentive, humorous and friendly. Marijan was brilliant and Saso was an ideal assistant. We felt secure with them and complete confidence in them.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The lagoon tour of the Venice lagoon."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

That you can bring together a group of strangers, add not one, but two incomparable guides, provide a robust and entertaining itinerary, sprinkled with positivity, compatibility, and fun, and end up with a vacation of a lifetime is nothing short of extraordinary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Having to pick one 'wow' moment from the trip is like picking a favorite child, but the after-hours, optional group visit to the art studio of Caterina Balletti in Florence was incredibly fun and memorable. It provided a tangible and modern-day look at Italian life which nicely balanced all the tours of historical sites and imagery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Awesome

Favorite "WOW" moment

"hard to say the whole trip was outstanding form the wine tasting at the winery to the cooking class in Venice."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Having been to Italy before, this was a great 'reintroduction!' Our guide Tina was fantastic; she took great care of everyone, and her love of Italy was contagious! Our group was a lovely mix of people, and the local guides were knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their cities. It was the right mix of 'tour' time and personal time to explore. They say you walk a lot (and they're right!) but it was worth it - it's the best way to see everything! We appreciate all of the attention to detail.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to count - the night time gondola ride, the amazing food, Marco and Gavia's farm, Michelangelo Park in Firenze, fun at the cooking class, Francesca in the Forum, and seeing many new things, while having time to revisit old favorites"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed this trip very much. Great guides and great comraderie.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The evening gondola ride was special."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was my first trip to Europe and I had a great experience. Everything was well planned and organized. The restaurants were all very nice with great food and the tours of historic places were exciting and fun. The extra activities such as the vineyard and olive tree farm stop and the gondola ride were great also.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For historic sites I would say the Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. I also had a lot of fun at the olive farm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Could not ask for a better travel experience! From our guide to the hotels, everything was perfect!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The whole tour was full of "wow" moments. There are too many to have just one favorite. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tina our guide was amazing! The tour was packed with fun and informative information about the history and culture of the places we explored. The other guest were some of the greatest people to meet and have this experience with. The accommodations were unique and memorable with staff that was enjoyable and on point.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There was too many wow points to just pick one. Not only was Tina an excellent guide but the guest guides also had a great passion for the history and culture for the places they were introducing.....it made the experience that much more enriching than I could have imagined. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very well except that one place in Rome we stayed. Not a nice one , very dirty and its too small. No cleaning during our stay. We don’t want to use that one. The breakfast room was too small. Its different one in Florence. We like that one , they change our beds daily and our room was fantastic. We would appreciate our tour guide very well. Tina Hiti was very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our tour guide, the Venice was beautiful and Fliorebnce was Venice , Florence and Rome was beautiful "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our 5th RS tour and we still love it . Tina best of all tour guides very organized, thoughtful n caring , franchesca best local guide speaks from the heart. Restaurants could be better , last dinner being the worst, Hotel in Florence the best in everything including breakfast, hotel in Rome the worst, dirty with bugs crawling in the bathroom staff not friendly at all. Transport very comfortable. Great variety of activities the best the cooking class in Florence . Wish there’s a guide in Vatican.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ancient Rome is unforgettable and cooking class so much fun"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the David in the Uffizi in Florence and climbing the Dome!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My tour of Italy was exceptional. Great guides and good comradery.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the majestic Duomo in Florence as well as the statue of David."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well organized, the right amount of filled time and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Florence remains the Queen of cities in Italy. Hadn't been there for 18 years and still wonderful. Same wow for the Sistine Chapel, even though we did that on our own. "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I enjoyed the trip very much. Our tour guide was wonderful. The tours that were supplied were fantastic but we did not have enough curated visits. There was too much free time and we should have had more guided tours to the most important sights. We had to sramble to find guides to take us to sights that needed guides. We should have had a guide accompany us Igor example the Doge palace and St Mark’s Basica in Venice.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The guided tours in Florence. Just seeing the David was a wow moment but I wish we had a guide the audio tour was not enougj"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was very impressed! I was initially anxious being the only solo traveller in my group, but everyone was very friendly and I also had no trouble navigating on my own. It was a perfect mix of guided portions of art/historical elements, out of the box treats (like visiting the winery and cooking class) and free time. Very much looking forward to my next trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The first wow moment was definitely the Basilica at St. Mark's in Venice. It just kept adding on from there. All of Florence was a wow - it is just so beautiful. But the camaraderie and friendliness of the group of people on this tour is what made it so special, and as a solo traveller, I am thankful for that!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Had an amazing time. Exceeded all my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many wow moments, but if I had to pick one it was the statue of David."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Excellent except for specific problems I will outline later.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wine tasting on the hillside."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything and everyone exceeded my expectations. I was impressed by our tour guide’s level of experience and knowledge, but most importantly, his attention and concern for the members of our tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite “wow” moment happened in Venice at the start of our tour. Our tour guide Dimitri taught us how to navigate the streets of Venice and we were able to move around the city and take in the sites without the aid of Google Maps or a paper map. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was a wonderful mix of structured learning, experiencing and tasting moments with a group, along with ample time for personal exploration and solo or couples' discoveries.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think seeing the works of our greatest artists in history in person. No picture or show can capture the in-person experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Having never been on a tour before, I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy being on someone else’s schedule. Turns out, the tour was amazing, filled with helpful information on history, art, & geography.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Something I never would have done on my own—A gondola ride in Venice! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cooking class"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed my first time on tour. My tour guide was fantastic. Very personable and helpful. Everywhere we visited was outstanding and had great local guides to show us around.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pinpoint one wow moment from our tour but, Walking around the roman forum and Palatine hill really blew my mind. Amazing history and views. You could walk around there all day. And so much to see around that area of Rome. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

as a solo traveler going be really hard to go back solo never experience such group people over overwhelm experience

Favorite "WOW" moment

"almost everything and more"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Elena, was wonderful. She was energetic, cheerful, knowledgable and kept our dampened spirits up despite the fact that is rained nearly every day of our tour. We saw many amazing sites in Italy that I have always wanted to see. The accommodations, transportation, local guides, museum entrances, etc. all went smoothly and were well planned out. We enjoyed the variety of experiences from seeing ruins, to art, to the cooking class, to wine tasting and eating traditional food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is quite difficult to pick just one moment from this extensive tour but if I had to choose I feel seeing the art of Michelangelo: David, the Pieta, Moses, and the Sistine chapel would have to be my "wow" moment! These were magnificent to see in person."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My tour was absolutely amazing!! Touring Italy was my top Bucket List item. The RS Tour met all of my expectations, exceeded them, and provided numerous additional gold-star experiences. Will most definitely travel with RS in the future! Thank you Elena & RS for the experience of a lifetime.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I expected the Tuscan Region to be my favorite so was extremely shocked to have far preferred the beauty, uniqueness, and warmth of the island."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Good variety of tours, great guides, and fun group of people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved being immersed in authentic culture."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A very memorable experience. Our tour guide, Elena, was fantastic. I enjoyed our time going through the historic cities, having excellent food every day, and learning about the history and culture of Italy. Even though the weather wasn't great, I think every day on the trip was amazing in its own right. There were some issues with the hotels, mainly the beds weren't always the most comfortable, but it wasn't too much of an issue.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going on the gondola ride through the canals of Venice. Our gondola was right behind another that had a live music accompaniment on it, and the entire experience was just magical."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall selections and the people involved were top knotch.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into St Peter’s Basilica. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour was great and Nina was its backbone. She went above and beyond the call to duty! Loved experiencing three different worlds, in one tour package.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Local guides helped me understand art, I usually don’t know what I`m looking at. View from top of St Peter`s Dome."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nina was terrific. She evidenced powerful skills in cultivating a caring, cohesive group of travelers. The tour itinerary provided a helpful balance of guided experiences and opportunities to choose additional sights to explore.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In Venice, our local guide, Corine, did a superb job of teaching us how to read a painting. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall experience was great! I’m thankful to see art museums, museums and some sites that I probably would never do on my own. Rick Steves tours exposed me to things I never wouldn’t do.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the immense size of St Peter’s basilica. I knew it was big but I didn’t know it was THAT big! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nina our guide was extraordinary 12/10, she was knowledgeable, effecient, thoughtful and available... and super fun. The 10 days were packed with goodness. Super impressed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Nina followed by St Peters Basilica "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful overall experience! This tour checks all the boxes and allowed us to spend enough time in 3 major/historic cities (we would love even more!). Our first RS tour set the bar high for our next vacation, beginning with our fabulous guide, Nina. Her knowledge, experience & enthusiasm kept us engaged and excited for each day. Nina set the table and we all dug into the feast of Italy. Our travel mates also made this a great experience and why we would do this type of tour again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every day felt like a wow moment that we didn't want to end. All 3 cities pack their own wow factor for different reasons. Rome is a feast for all of the architecture and history...from St Peter's Basilica to the Forum. Florence is a delight for all the senses and felt like a painting (the beauty of the city with the Arno River and bridges, the art, the architecture, and the food/wine). Venice is simply magical and a delight to get lost in with the water, many bridges and narrow streets."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steve’s tour and it did not disappoint. We had an amazing trip, easily one of the best vacations we’ve had and we will sign up for another.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many but the history in the trip was my wow moment. Walking into these iconic places was awesome. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great experience with great guides and I never felt lost or unsafe.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touring Cici’s winery!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Had a wonderful experience and learned a lot about Italy!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cooking class"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Cecillia was an amazing guide and made the overall trip and travel a truly life changing experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Local guides in venice(Elizabeth?) and in rome truly providing deep insight to the museums and art. I truly never would have appreciated everything without their through and passionate everything"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The knowledge and access of our group’s leader and supporting local guides was first class!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our wine tasting experience was so very authentic I will never forget it."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was wonderful- the sites, the museums, the food and our accommodations. Daniela was a fantastic guide. It was evident she enjoys Italy. She was very knowledgeable, handled logistics well, was incredibly upbeat, flexible and had great sense of humor. Local guides provided lots of local color and in-depth information.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cooking class and the winery visit are at the top of the list because it gave us a break from being tourists. Venice was like no other place I have visited. The ancient parts of Rome took my breath away. The David was probably #1- I can’t describe how it felt to see it in person!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The guides were great and helped to put understanding into what we were seeing. Felt like I was getting everything out of the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The story of Michelangelo and the Cestine Chapel "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was challenging, entertaining, thought provoking, and physical. Our guide, Daniela, was excellent and tremendously flexible when meeting challenges.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many "wow" moments: walking over the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, seeing the David up close in Firenze, walking through St. Peter's Basilica (although we had done it before, it never ceases to amaze)."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour with great guides. Daniella was awesome. A little tough on us sometimes but that was good for the group. We saw everything that are the highlights from each city which was very important. 10 days was just right for me, my wife and my daughter. Very honest and truthful about all the walking required. We walked and climbed stairs a lot. 20k steps per day is normal. Will train better for the next one which we are planning now. Very pleased and happy with the tour. Thanks

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Florence cooking class, seeing the David and all the included meals with the group. Very fun and delicious."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A wonderful tour to 3 very different Italian cities that was a perfect introduction to Italy

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Michelangelo's Moses in the church of San Pietro. I saw so many awesome paintings and sculptures, but this one to me, was magnificent."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We felt well taken care of. The planned experiences were incredible!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to mention them all ....but standing on the Rialto Bridge was awesome!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very enjoyable. We saw everything in Italy I wanted to see. Very informative. We had plenty of touring but also "down" time on our own. A nice balance.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Uffizi Gallery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was well-organized, a nice group of travelers, excellent tour guide (Anya). I especially appreciated the pacing, with time for rest and for going out solo.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All of Venice was a "wow" moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My tour was well organized and led by an excellent guide who was with the group during the entire tour, led the group on walking tours, offered guidance about getting around the cities visited, and arranged for excellent group dinners and transportation. The tour offered very knowledgeable special guides for specific sites, and scheduled plenty of free time to explore or visit sites of particular interest to individuals.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There was more than one "wow" moment. One such moment was the sight of the snow capped Dolomite Mountains in the distance while we were transported by boat to islands in the Venetian lagoon."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent locations and guidance in the cities on our tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The views inFlorence and Rome on clear sunny days!"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Loved the insider information/guides in Venice and Florence. Wondered why the Rick Steve's guide wasn't Italian...didn't seem like Anya knew Rome very well-her info about various transportation options after the daily tour activities ended was wrong and could have left us stranded-although we managed fine. The hands on activity was great. The stop at the agri-farm-tour seemed more like a sales event than real information.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The food in Florence was just amazing. Who knew they did meat!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

felt it was well organized, pace was good, Rick Steve's guide was outstanding. The mix of cultural, tourist and independent time was good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the Rome historical sites were amazing. an unexpected wow moment was visiting the St Peters in Chains church in Rome. Also was impressed via visiting the Doge's Palace in venice"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was terrific! The people in our group were friendly and easygoing, the tour guide Marijan and his intern Karen were relentlessly upbeat and helpful, the activities were educational and fun, the little extras (bathroom breaks, candy) meant a great deal. I especially appreciated the way Marijan and Karen did everything to guide us in making choices for our free time. It was a good mix of free time and scheduled activities, but I lean toward more scheduled activities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's hard to choose, but I would say our trip in Tuscany up to Poggio della Volara for a fascinating talk by Marco about wild boar, olive oil, and wine and a delicious lunch prepared by his charming wife Guiva (sp.?). The setting was beautiful, his dogs were adorable, and the chance to purchase some of his olive oil and soap was appreciated. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was so mind blowing with all the information from our tour guides. They were very knowledgeable about Italy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite WOW moment was touring The Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica. We even were lucky and got to see the Pope! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Could not have been better.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"M's "David" in the Accademia in Florence."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour guides were both accommodating and flexible with weather conditions and unexpected public transportation issues. The primary tour guide ( Marijan) led us through the city streets with helpful advice and suggestions while also providing background information about what we were seeing . Our situation included an extra guide (Karen) in training whose background as an American expat provided interesting insight between the American and Italian cultures.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Although there were many wow moments, my favorite was realizing that Venice not only lived with water as a way of life ( transportation, food, historical culture) , but also is currently living in fear of flooding and trying to find a way of controlling rising water levels. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was really wonderful; packed full of beautiful sights, historical, culinary, and most informative. Italy is a place that books don't do justice to--- Both the Rick Steve's guide(s) and the local guides gave interesting information filled with insights one may not otherwise get.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Pope at St. Peter's basilica. It was not on the tour, but what a wonderful experience to share with everyone when we arrived home!!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Appreciate local expertise of tour guide Marjain,private buses to the next city, advance tickets to sites so we didn’t have to wait in line, private water boat transportation in Venice, overall helpfulness of marjain, restaurant recommendations. I learned a lot and very thankful for all the sites we were able to see.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Umbria - visiting the vineyard, having the personal lunch with the owner with all the food from their land,"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

great time - great people

Favorite "WOW" moment

"quite a few"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every day was very well planned to make the most of our time in each of the three cities we visited. That is one of my favorite things about these tours is because it takes expertise to make efficient use of our times as well as organize the logistics of tickets and transportation. The local guides are always excellent, especially for the art museums. The hotel locations were ideal for being convenient to the sights and in charming neighborhoods.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Uffizi museum as shown by our “insider” guide. It was my art museum dreams come true. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was overwhelmed with the joy I experienced with this tour. Our guide was outstanding in his knowledge and also his improvising skills on the fly. Our group was a wonderful mix of people from all over the country and the fact that we are encouraged to interact is definitely a plus. The local tour guides were all outstanding. The meals we shared together were all great and fun. The cooking class was my favorite even though I thought I would not care for it. All in all a fantastic experience

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cooking class. Never expected it to be do much fun. And on top of it all eating what we made was even better. It was all delicious "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a fantastic combination of historic/popular sights in these iconic cities! Our guides, Marijan and Karen were so incredibly knowledgeable and the local guides were amazing art and culture historians, with some sass to boot! We split into groups of about 12 to tour locally which made it better to connect to our surroundings. It was a great combination of scheduled tours and activities along with down time to spend as we pleased. Hotels were good and conveniently located.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many...all the art, scupltures, Venice is like being in a fantasy land with the canals, zigzags, buildings. The Duomo, Coliseum & St Peter's Basilica were amazing. Unexpectedly really enjoyed the cooking class, the chef in charge made it so fun with his "Mama Mia's!" and the lovely wine cellar where we ate. The trip to Umbria for wine tasting and the presentation by the owner there was a great diversion. So impressed with our guides in handling a last moment transportation change flawlessly."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Exceptional tour of Italy! History of each site we toured, and city was overwhelming but amazing. Accommodations were very good, clean with accommodating friendly hotel staff. Breakfast each morning was above standard, except for the coffee (not a fan). Outstanding tour guide’s friendly educated, and they go up and beyond to help people in the tour. Local tour guides, extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic with a sense of humor. At times the tours were too rushed for pic taking. Exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A trip like this there isn’t just one wild factor. The history alone is hard to comprehend. I guess just standing & looking around being present in Venice, Florence and Rome is WOW. My feet walked streets that were centuries old in my hands touched bricks that survived centuries. I looked at statues and paintings that were centuries old all breathtaking."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I can't imagine that any Tour experiece could be conducted any better. From the moment that we met the Daniella our tour guide and the rest of the group it was an 10 days of non stop fun and amazement. The experience was was further enhanced by the local guides who provided what I called a PhD level of knowledge for specfic sites. Daniella provide enough information so that when you had free time you were able to safely explore on you own and fumble with the language. We will do it again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Truely the whole 10 days was a "wow moment" in the lives of myself my wife and 2 adult children. From the Sicily in whole to Florence and The David then on to the the 7th generation vinyard in Umbria region ending in Rome with the Colossuem and Sistine Chappel it was literally the vacation of a lifetime."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Most amazing time, lots of walking but all worth it

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the inside of the colosseum "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Daniela, our tour guide, was exceptional!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being inside the colosseum"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour exceeded our expectations. We are happy that we chose to go with a Rick Steves tour instead of planning it ourselves.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Perhaps it was the wine, but my favorite "wow" moment was the family-run winery between Florence and Rome! It was so beautiful that it didn't seem real."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Knowledgeable and personable tour guides, great travel buddies, wonderful sights and experiences. All in all, a marvelous trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many highlights, but St. Peter’s Basilica was my personal favorite."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first RS tour and we were absolutely amazed! Everything about this tour was fantastic, Our tour guide Daniela was the best, our local tour guides and bus driver were great, the hotels were fine and centrally located. The itinerery was a nice mix of guided tours and free time to discover on our own. I would highly recommend this RS tour and looking forward to the next one!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many "WOW" moments! The David, the Pieta, the Grand Canal, St. Marks Basilica, the Vatican, the Colosseum, St. Peter's Basilica and the Pantheon to name a few."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Brilliant! Exceeded high expectations. Enjoyed our fellow travelers, the itinerary, the guides, the free time, ALL.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Almost impossible to choose. If you make me, I’ll pick the Roman Ruins. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Learned a lot of history on tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Statue of David "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very informative tour. Side trip to vineyard and cooking class was fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In each city Danielle took us on walking tours when we arrived. Helped to know what was there and how to get around."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As travelers, who usually plan our own itineraries, we wondered if we would enjoy having things planned for us. It turned out that it was very stress, relieving to have someone else worry about transportation, plans, tickets, standing in the right line, and dealing with unexpected hiccups. We enjoyed meeting the other people on our tour and we’re blessed with two excellent guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Coming out of the Colosseum in Rome, we were surprised to find the place swarming with police and a pro Palestinian protest rally coming up the street toward us. Our tour guide swiftly chains our plans, and we made an escape through the metro system. We had to take several trains and dodge pick pockets in the Rome subway. Our guide was calm, and was able to communicate with us through our radios the whole way."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our second Rick Steve's tour, having toured Scotland in 2022. We loved out Scotland tour so we wanted to do another one. The tour was great and we enjoyed all the other people on the tour and our tour guides were great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Colosseum in Rome was the most outstanding site to me. I loved all the cities, Venice with all the canals, Florence with the statue of David and Rome with all the many attractions. "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Great experience to see Venice Florence and Rome. Felt that we were always moving in a tight schedule.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice and the boat ride and especially the gondola night ride"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Trip of a lifetime! All guides were great, especially Lisa and Iris. Well planned and great overall experiences. I had an injury (no one's fault) and every effort was made to accommodate me and still allow me to participate.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cooking class, the winery and the guide of the Imperial Forum"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Because of our tour guides, Lisa and Iris, organization skills, knowledge and enthusiasm, the trip was a delight.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our favorites were the cooking class in Florence, the tour of the Le Velette vineyard and the tour of the Coliseum. We also loved walking around and getting to know Venice, feeling a bit like a local!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour guides were fabulous! I enjoyed knowing I could speak to Lisa about anything regarding to our tour. She was funny and very relatable. Iris was knowledgeable and interesting to talk with at dinner.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The city of Venice was so charming!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Live up to and surpassed my expectations!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All 3 of our stops had their wow moments but I found Venice to have the most. Loved getting lost in the maze of side streets! Made every trip back to our hotel a different and fun adventure."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was the first time I traveled with a tour group and I loved it! All the details were taken care of so I could enjoy the experience so much more. Our group got along really well and did things together in our free time. The guide, Chiara, was amazing! She’s an encyclopedia of knowledge about the areas we toured.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The island of Burano blew me away with its beauty. The experiences, pasta making class and wine tasting, are also my favorite memories."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Chiarra was an excellent guide, but disappointed with a few wait times to get into most popular venues

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Excellent group meals"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was one of the best vacations we have ever taken. The sights, the food, the wines were beyond compare. The organization was seamless from check-in at Pensione Guerrato in Venice, through the Hotel Silla in Florence, to Hotel Ludovisi in Rome. The motor coaches were comfortable and relaxing. But the highlight was our guide, Chiara Baroni. She was caring, passionate and so knowledgeable about the history and the culture of Italy. She was also funny and charming. A perfect tour companion.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was seeing Michelangelo's David in the Accademia Gallery of Florence. A close second was admiring the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. But the beauty of all the art in the three cities was breathtaking."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great itinerary, wonderful principal and local guides, well-planned organization, all hotels nearby activities and major sights, great guide suggestions for non-tour activities and meals, smooth transfers between cities and modes of transportation.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For the activities included in the tour, seeing the Colosseum and surrounding ruins and Michelangelo's David. For recommended side activities on our own, we loved the views of Venice from the Campanile at San Marco and city views of Florence and Vatican City/Rome from the cupola climbs we did at both the Florence Duomo and St. Peter's Basilica, plus a walk to Piazza Michelangelo in Florence."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As advertised, lots of walking. Our tour guide Chiara was informative and kept us busy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice and Florence"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guide was amazing and really went above and beyond to help us with questions. The specialty guides were also amazing!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The David! We almost skipped it due to sore feet and rain, so glad we didn't. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great time. Super tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were too many to count."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We did many things that we could not have done on our own. I loved the interactions with the local tour guides and hosts. The location of the hotels was excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"St. Peter's Square and Basilica were huge. Also, the cooking class introduced me to pasta making, and the ensuing meal was delicious."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very active and informative. Immersed into the crowds rather than ‘protected’ added to the cultural experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into St Peter’s Cathedral and being wowed by the immensity and grandeur."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This trip was the best I have been on! The itinerary was everything I was looking for and it did not disappoint. Guides both the main and local were very informative and made seeing the locations all the better. The group we travelled with was a great group of people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"When we first arrived at a city and did the walk-about tour, I would be listening to the local guide talk about the city and then turn a corner and wham there was the place I always wanted to see. This happened in Florence and seeing the Duomo."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

An excellent way for first time visitors to discover and enjoy many of the interesting things about northern and central Italy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing how large and complex the Roman ruins are in Rome."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well organized . Expectations spelled out clearly. Great people involved at every aspect.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All of Rome"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This tour was a great introduction to the art, architecture, history, and culture of three of Italy's iconic cities. There was a good mix of group activities and free time in all 3 cities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A tie between seeing Venice for the first time from the air and coming around a corner in Florence and seeing my favorite sculpture, Perseus with the Head of Medusa, in the Loggia dei Lanzi."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

overall we really enjoyed the tour and experience. It was what we have come to expect from a Rick Steves tour. All parts of the trip were prepared and planned and moving around the country, city, and areas was smooth.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"tour guide in Rome (Francesca) was amazing, as far as the city, Venice was the highlight of the trip."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice gondola ride, wine tasting"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Hit the highlights of each city in Italy and it was truly the best of each city.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The trip to the Vatican."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first trip to Europe. Our guide Stefanie was fantastic. The quality of the logistics planning reflects the experience that the Rick Steves’ organization has to work with. The balance of planned excursions with free time was perfect. The communication we received before we left on the trip allowed us to be well prepared. We were glad that we packed and only a carry-on bag as suggested. The local guides were excellent as well. We are already looking forward to our next trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice was amazing. "