Best of Venice, Florence & Rome in 10 Days Tour

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 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 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 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 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

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

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 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

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 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

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 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

Could not have been better.

Favorite "WOW" moment

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

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 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

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

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 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

great time - great people

Favorite "WOW" moment

"quite a few"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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 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 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

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

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 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 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

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

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

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 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 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 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

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

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice and Florence"

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 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

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 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 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 3 of 5

The three cities are lovely. I enjoyed the walking tours we had to better explore the history and the cities themselves. Venice was the most unique, Florence had the best food, and Rome had the stuffy ancient buildings.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was probably stepping out to see the duomo up close. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Amazing number of historic and artistic sites…also good food and drink!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While not part of the touching to morning Mass at St Mark’s and seeing the beautiful mosaics in the morning light was WOW…. Florence Uffizi art Wow, wow wow especially aided by a fantastic guide."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was a single traveler, and found the other members and our guide Stephanie very compatible! We mixed and matched touring together, along with extra tours, meals, both included and not included, along with evening nightcaps. The hotels were all wonderful and comfortable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many! I loved the agriturismo, and the cooking class! The majesty of Michelangelo’s David, the magnificent basilicas, and the sights I’ve only read about, such as the Forum and Coliseum."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice gondola ride, wine tasting"

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. "

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

The tour met all my expectations and more. I felt like all the activities and our daily schedules were set up perfectly. You got to see some sites with the group and then you had some time on your own to explore.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The gondola ride in Venice. Our guide knew it was our anniversary and arranged for us to have our own gondola with a singer and guitar player. She put is in the middle of the gondolas for our group, so everyone got to enjoy the singing and playing, along with us. It was quite a memorable night for everyone."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Extremely well organized, great combination of scheduled and free time, our tour guide (Lisa) was outstanding as were all the local guides. Tour was informative, educational, and fun. We had a great group of people who truly enjoyed each others company.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing David - I knew it was going to be spectacular, but it was better than expected."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour and it exceeded expectations. Our guide, Lisa, was terrific. Though we could see the same locations on a self-arranged tour, the content provided by the guides, handling of all reservations, transportation and the comradery with the group made the experience exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The scope of the artwork within the Vatican and Sistine Chapel was incredible to experience. No amount of photos or video compares to experiencing in person."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Being our first trip to Europe as well as our first tour, it set a very high standard! In the Venice, Florence and Rome in 10 day tour we learned more than what I could have researched prior to a trip on our own. The value is in the knowledge and inside information that our tour guide, Lisa, had as well as the additional local guides she coordinated to walk us through this beautiful country and its history. There is nothing like having no stress on a "holiday" abroad, just showing up to enjoy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each time we turned a corner in each respective city to bring something I've only read about to life. Venice - how all canals are simply in everyone's backyard. Florence - seeing the David sculpture and walking the arched paths around Renaissance thinkers/artists streets. Rome - the ancient buildings, the Colosseum and its violent history to entertain. Knowing how Rome was covered in marble at one time and now most has been recycled was intriguing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic 10 days ! pacing was great, and experienced so much more than myself and my wife would have if we did not do a Rick STeve's Tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into the Colosseum "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was exactly what I had hoped it would be and more. Our guide and experts in each city were outstanding! The activities our guide provided for us were well thought out and immensely enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"During our tour it was our 25th anniversary. It happened to fall on the day we were doing the gondola ride in Venice. Lisa arranged for us to have our own gondola as a surprise and the musicians were placed in our boat. I wouldn't be surprised if Lisa hadnt arranged the beautiful purple sunset over the grand canal that night as we took in Venice. It was magical, thoughtful and just blew me away."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

My tour was great until I got robbed in Rome on the last day

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was blown away by the Vatican museum. In my opinion , that should be saved for last on the tour."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well organized, great hotels and restaurants

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Gondola ride — beautiful and peaceful way to experience Venice"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Overall the tour was what was advertised.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed Venice"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very fun and tiring! Description of tour was accurate as we walked a lot. Tour guides were all great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sistine Chapel"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Due to COVID, we experienced multiple tour guides during out 10-day tour of Venice, Florence and Rome. Although unfortunate that we had to be shuffled from guide to guide, I was impressed with the depth of the RS "bench." We not only enjoyed Skyla, but each subsequent leader, Martin, Donald, and Cecilia.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking back from our first night dinner, through the quiet, dark streets of Venice, we crossed the Accademia Bridge and were completely stunned by the beauty of a full moon rising over the dome of Santa Maria della Salute. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was very well organized and for me a good balance of scheduled activities and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment was the Colosseum and Roman Forum."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was fabulous! Unfortunately, Skyla, our tour guide contracted COVID on the second day, and we ended up with four tour guides in all. We appreciated that behind-the-scenes there was probably a lot going on trying to figure out how to keep our tour on target, and we think you all did a great job! The group meals were a great way to help the tour members develop relationships. The hotels were in great locations, which helped us become ‘temporary citizens.’

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many ‘wow’ moments, but being able to see the Grand Canal (full moon) and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (waning) during a full moon was amazing! Walking around these great cities at night, when it was less crowded and still feeling safe was an unexpected memorable experience. Santa Croce Church was another unexpected WOW! moment. The tombs of Galileo, Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and Rossini all under one spectacular roof! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was great but certainly had its glitches. This was my first trip to Italy and my first tour group experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There was no “one wow moment.” The “wow” of the overall trip was all of the incredible original art I was able to see and experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Worth every penny! From getting instructions from Rick Steves on how to get from the airport to our first hotel, until check out if the last hotel we were very well taken care of. The tour was stress free and if any concerns or questions arouse our tour guide was there every step of the way. Margaret is absolutely a fantastic guide and was born to do so. Rick needs to do his best to keep her on his staff, she is invaluable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being present in Venice and seeing everything first hand."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great trip, great guides

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sistine Chapel, Saint Peters"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very much enjoyed the tour. Saw many of the attractions that we wanted to visit with the tour guide and also had plenty of time to explore on our own. Having 3 days in each city gives a good introduction to what each has to offer and therefore enough info to decide if one wishes to explore it further sometime.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Saint Mark's Basilica and Saint Peter's Basilica were both "wow" moments."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a great way to see Venice, Florence, and Rome. There were no long bus rides and only three different hotels. The hotels were nice. The schedule left plenty of free time. Our tour guide, Rianne was outstanding! The group dinners and lunches were fun. The food was great!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed the group cooking class in Florence where we made our own lunch. I think it brought our group together. We made a delicious meal. The wine tasting lunch in Tuscany was also very relaxing and enjoyable with great food and friendly people. Overall, the “wow” moment has to be the centuries old cobblestone streets, churches, and art. Walking the narrow streets in Venice,,, Standing in the Roman forum where Julius Caesar was killed… Being an arm’s length away from Michaelangelo’s work. Wow!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First of all, our tour guide was born to do this. What a perfect fit. Riahne knew so much and was so in love with the culture that she made it exciting for us. Perfect. The venues were all exciting, the food fantastic, and people friendly. Best of all though, was the coffee. OMG how did I ever survive on drip coffee?

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Besides the coffee, it is hard to pick one event or place or moment. I'd probably end up saying St. Peter's Basilica. It was vast and beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a wonderful way to see the 3 cities and not feel rushed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The city of Venice. The art, the buildings, the history, the bridges, no traffic. Rome and Florence really can't compare."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall I had a wonderful experience on my Rick Steve’s tour, it was well organized, really fun and a great balance of activities

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think the part of the tour I was most impressed with was the wine tasting afternoon. It was such a wonderful experience and something I definitely would not have gotten to experience with you the Rick Steve’s tour. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Lorenza, made all aspects of our tour easy and stress free. She kept everyone on time, picked outstanding restaurants and she even gave us some extra sites to see- she is amazing

Favorite "WOW" moment

"David! I couldn’t believe how beautiful and detailed he was- my brain is still buzzing!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our overall experience was very good. We did not care for our Hotel in Venice, however the hotels in Florence and Rome were great. We did not realize the sheer number of people we encountered thinking late September would be less crowded. We learned a great deal about the renaissance and were exposed to so many famous art works! Our guides were thoughtful well spoken, and full of knowledge.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were more than one. Our favorites were the Gondola ride in Venice, the wine tasting, cooking class, statue of David to, and Sistine Chapel to name a few. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a fabulous time, our tour mates were great, Lorenza our guide was wonderful. We experienced a lot in 10 days that only fueled our travel series for the future. All the guides were knowledgeable and detailed. Italy is a beautiful country

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Toss up between David and the Pantheon"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour, knowledgeable guides, amazing sites. The trip of a lifetime!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Rome - the Coliseum, the Pantheon and the Forum. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was well organized. It was an active tour as described when doing research.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All of it! How well organized it was."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide Lisa Smith was outstanding in all aspects...rate 12 stars out of 10.The local guides were also outstanding in terms of passion, depth of knowledge, and communication. We had a great group of 28 people who quickly became travel buddies and friends. As a solo traveler, it was nice to share a lunch, dinner, museum tour, etc. with a new travel friend. Each days activities were well planned with allowance for free time. The hotels were central and certainly had their own personality.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Buying a pre-packaged mozzarella and olive sandwich at a rest area which was absolutely delicious...kidding but true. I found Venice to be my "wow" as there was a surprise around every corner. It was great that you could walk about 20 minutes in every direction to see all of the island. Florence was enjoyable with the variety of museums, basilicas, and trattorias. Rome was an experience with all the history, Vatican crowds, and unexpected urban environment (trash, graffiti, etc.)..still enjoyed."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour and overall it was a wonderful experience. Our tour guide Lisa was extremely knowledgeable and led us through Italy with ease, the local city guides phenomenal, food and wine experiences divine and it was so nice to have all the logistics coordinated for us. As seasoned travelers who often arrange everything ourselves, I felt being on a tour was much more relaxing as we were just told where to be and when.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moment occurred in the beautiful city of Florence. The local guides really brought the history of the city alive and explained the art we saw in the churches and galleries in a fun, easy-to-understand manner. Before I just liked looking at pretty pictures, but afterwards, I felt much more educated and could appreciate the story and meaning behind each one more in-depth. It was a very pleasant surprise."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour was amazing! We had a great group of people and Lisa Smith, our tour guide was top notch! She was extremely qualified and made our experience unforgettable

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many, but one that stands out was our tour of the Accademia Gallery in Venice with our local tour guide, Laura. She made the paintings we saw "come alive" with her knowledge of the time period and artists. Fascinating! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It started with a great guide. Rhianne. Knowledgeable, passionate and well organized.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many great moments to pick just one"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

One word Excellent

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The entire trip was excellent , but visiting the churches of Venice , Florence and Rome was breathtaking "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour guides Many, many activities packed into each day while still allowing free time

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beautiful churches and the artwork, knowing I walked the same streets as Peter and Paul"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thought it was a perfect balance of free time & guided time. The guides were outstanding in their knowledge.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me was the Coliseum. I learned so much about the building of it. I would never had known without our guide."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was the perfect blend of organized activity and free time. Our tour guide, Karin, and all of our local guides were entertaining and informative. It was definitely a LOT of walking and standing, but I felt adequately prepared for it, and I felt a lot healthier for it. I thought spending 3 nights in each city was the perfect amount of time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing St. Mark's for the first time at the end of our Day 1 orientation walk in Venice, followed by our guide, Karin, teaching us how to order Aperol spritzes from one of the bars on the square. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tina is simply amazing as our guide!! She made the experience so special. She took us to such unique places we never would have seen without her.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That’s SO difficult, but probably the wine tasting. We simply can’t replicate that moment. Our hosts were incredible. The wine and food were fantastic plus we learned so much. A bonus was a member of our group played a few songs."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Enjoyed the 3 city tour. Nice group and wonderful guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had lunch at Marco’s farm and one of our group found a guitar and performed after lunch with a breathtaking view as his background. What an experience!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, everything was well-organized and seamless. I appreciated knowing that the 'big' things were taken care of, and that we didn't have to worry about missing out on any must-see places. I also enjoyed the balance between structured and unstructured time, and the nice variety in activities -- from museums and churches to orientation walks, a wine-tasting lunch, and a cooking class. We had a wonderful group!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While there were many, I LOVED the local guides the most. They are so knowledgeable, just bursting with facts and fun stories. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had Fergie for our guide and he was excellent. Tour was well planned and well executed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Gondola ride in Venice. Since a small girl I dreamed of seeing Venice and this was my dream come true. Our guide Fergie arranged music and singing for our moonlight ride. There was a full moon that made this extra special. "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Once in a lifetime trip, beautiful locations, knowledgeable guide, felt very safe and comfortable during the entire trip due to experience of the guide. FERGIE! I’m glad I spent the time and money to go. Negatives were the Venice hotel was NOT good at all and that was the opinion of most I think. The guides were excellent but occasionally spent too much time lecturing. I was surprised that the group was 28 folks which caused some logistical issues, like not enough gondolas.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sunrise at Piazzale Michelangelo, the St Peter’s Basilica, Venice first day in a water taxi."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed each day of the tour beginning with breakfast with our fellow tour members. The days were well planned by our expert tour guide, Ferdinand, with tours led by local guides well versed in telling historical background of the buildings and highlights of the artists and their masterpieces. Free time was appreciated to explore on our own, or rest.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each of the three cities, Venice, Florence, and Rome, displayed their ancient history, however, a side trip to the countryside let us see the beauty of Italy and taste its bounty shared by a local farmer telling his story. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Enjoyed Cristina & getting to know other tour group members. Regional tour guides were outstanding in sharing their knowledge & passion for the arts & the area.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was absolutely blown away by the Colosseum."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful experience. First time using Rick Steve and will do so again. Guides were very well informed and congenial. Every detail well done, from meals to timed entry to busy sites and transportation. Loved it!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many "wow" moments. Turning the corner and seeing Colosseum in real life, the majesty of the Sistine Chapel, gondola ride through the canals of Venice, Uffizi Gallery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful time. Cristina our guide went all out to ensure that we all felt taken care of and had memorable experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Climbing to the top of the Duomo in Florence and enjoying the view even in the rain. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Cristina was patient, competent, knowledgeable, and kind. She covered the history and culture in each city that we visited and made it interesting. She also made sure that individual needs were met. My husband is not a wine drinker. Cristina made sure that he was offered alternatives at all of the group gatherings. The tour covered the must-see sites and some lesser known spots without making us feel overwhelmed. There was enough free time to wander; tour felt balanced.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the David statue! Thrilling!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Surpassed expectations! Three very different cities which whetted our appetite for more!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice - like nowhere else we have been to. So alive and interesting. If we can sneak another couple of wow’s in - the group activities of cookery class and wine tasting were wonderful "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sarah was our amazing tour guide. With a wonderful sense of humor, she easily guided us each day of our trip. She was so knowledgeable. She truly maximized what we could get out of each day and make the most of this trip. Cheers to this delightful tour guide!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Glimpsing the Colliseum for the first time. I couldn't believe I was seeing it with my own eyes!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The guides and sights were all wonderful. It was everything I imagined except for Rick Steves not being there.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice overall. Had not been there previously and it was more wondrous than I imagined."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was great. Our guide Bradford McEwen was exceptional. His knowledge of our entire tour was excellent and he took good care of us in the 97 degree heat. All of the local guides were also awesome.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a couple. Turning the corner and seeing the Colisseum was big, but so was seeing David."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had an amazing time, and while the tour in and of itself would have been great, our tour guide David made it a very memorable trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"How much fantastic artwork, sculptures, and architecture there is everywhere you turn. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

At 89, I knew it likely my last scheduled tour of Europe. While I had been on many Road Scholar trips abroad, this is the first time for a Rick Steve’s tour . My plan was to take my daughter and her two teen age daughters to see Italy. I had lived in Europe off and on, and my daughter first visited Venice when she was a teen, like her daughters now. The trip did indeed hit the highlights of tourist attractions in Italy, and did it with two professional and experienced guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Coffee and croissants with four burly lane sweepers in early morning Venice before our hotel buffet opened at a walk-in bakery. Sipping wine on the grand canal, watching the watertaxis go by. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a fantastic trip visiting Venice, Florence and Rome. The tour was the perfect combination of pre-arranged group activities and tours and free time left for exploring on your own. Spending 3 nights in each city allowed us to settle in and gain a true flavor of each location, and provided the opportunity to see the highlights along with some some hidden gems. Local guides helped provide insight, suggestions and great information. I would highly recommend this trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was seeing the city of Florence laid out below me after climbing the Duomo.This was a separately booked tour we arranged before our tour. I’m so glad we did; while the 400+ stairs were not easy, the close-up view of the interior and exterior of the dome was worth it! And the panoramic view over the hills surrounding Florence was wonderful. We made sure to visit the museum as well, which enhanced the experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

In addition to the sites included in our tour itinerary, we went to the island of San Giorgio Maggiore and had views of Venice from the bell tower, we went to the Murano glass museum and to the Frari Church during our stay in Venice. In Florence we added a tour of the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens, the Bargello Museum and a Climb of the Duomo to our schedule. The Rome itinerary was pretty packed. We enjoyed the activity level of the tour and the camaraderie of our tour group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We were in the Accademia, in Florence at closing. Once the crowds cleared out, I was able to take a picture of my son, with the statue of David, all by himself. Rare, very rare! Also, our tour guide, David, brought his band to perform during the last night of our tour. They invited my son to join them for a couple of songs at the end of their performance. He loved it and will remember it forever."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was absolutely incredible!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Vatican and Roman Forum"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We really enjoyed all things about our tour -- the entry to the iconic sites in all of the cities, the local tour guides, the friendly, caring and effiicent Lisa Smtih who looked after us, the easy transportation, the location of the hotels and the fun families who toured with us!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was unexpectedly moved by the Michelangelo statue of Moses in St. Peter in Chains. The church itself was so modest, quiet and not crowded. It was not something that I had on my "bucket list" and I'm so glad we went there. When I posted a photo, many of my friends who had been to Italy previously were disappointed that they missed it. This is the value of a Rick Steves tour!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Such a great tour. Perfect mix of group tours and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the library in Venice that was featured in Indiana Jones and the last crusade. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had never been to Italy before. Rick Steve’s staff was on point with everything. From accommodations to tours. Especially Lisa who was informative and gracious. I would absolutely do a Rick Steve’s tour again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many wow moments. Coliseum and ruins of Rome."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a great tour, full of astounding art, architecture, and food. The group was congenial, and our tour leader was friendly and very competent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's hard to narrow it down. St. Peter's Basilica is certainly a candidate, as was the sculpture of Michelangelo and the later Renaissance painting."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We kept remarking to our fellow tour members how the money we spent on this tour was well worth every penny.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me it was the attention to detail and how much the specialized tour guides added to the experience. If we had gone on our own, we would have missed the richness of what we were looking at each tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a wonderful time on the trip with my family. I appreciated how easy our guide made our vacation. Everything was planned and communicated well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think I had a wow moment every day! Whether it was understanding Italian customs with dining, or coming upon The Birth of Venus in the museum, I felt "wowed" each day!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A++ Tour Guide Daniella- she helped all of us so much with travel logistics, guidance as to what to consider doing when on our own, and how to navigate the cities we were in. Because of her, we felt so comfortable and safe, so quickly, in each location! The behind-the-scenes activity by Daniella and her team members were so successful that we almost never waited anywhere for our guided tours, which is amazing given how busy all the sites were with throngs of travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing that the Coliseum in Rome was just outside our hotel doors!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a terrific tour in every way. Great guides, fun fellow travelers, fantastics sights to see, and everything went very smoothly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"ROME!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was everything we were hoping it would be and more! Everything about the tour was just about perfect. We saw all the things we wanted to see, everything ran smoothly, the guides were terrific, and our fellow travelers were just the nicest group of people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were plenty, but overall probably just the "awe" of walking amongst such ancient history in Rome."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a well organized experience with extremely knowledgeable tour guides. Our overall tour guide was deftly able to handle a group of diverse Americans aging from 16 to early 70s - impressive. Finally, the overall quality of our lodgings were excellent with smart hotel locations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our hike up the Duomo in Florence - on our own - was worth it. Amazing view and a mini adventure! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Saw so much in our time there; very good use of a 24 hour day!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice at night."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Organized, very well put together. We knew what to expect as the tour helps in many ways to prepare everyone. Fun, met new friends, ate well, walked a ton and learned a lot of history! Plus had our own time to explore. Our tour guide Anya was so amazing! She takes pride in what she does and it shows! Definitely will do another tour in the future and would recommend to others! Trip of a lifetime!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Vatican City! Very eye opening as I found out it's a country! Large, beautiful, breath taking, and full of amazing history! Couldn't take enough pictures!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The balance of directed and free time were perfectly matched. With the tour directors guidance and knowledge what was not specifically on the tour plan was described in detail based on varied individual interests. The tour director got to know each of us as individuals. I am of Italian heritage and was introduced on several occasions to the guides as such. These introductions gave me a greater connection to the subjects at hand and often served as a source if pride.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have visited Italy on several occasions so I had a cursory view of the country. This visit was far more in-depth and meaningful. There are too many WOW moments to point out just one or two. I think the visit to Florence was perfect The hotel was close enough to walk to everything of interest and offered a quiet patio for an evening rest and recharge. The "Back Street" walking tours not only served the functional purpose of navigating the city but were historically informative. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A trip of a lifetime for me. I wanted to learn and see the art, history and beauty of Italy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have too many "wow" moments to choose a favorite."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was fabulous. We were able to do so many things we had only dreamed of doing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to count! The bell tower in Venice, Murano & Burano, the backstreet tours of all three cities, the cooking class in Florence, Marco’s vineyard, the gondola la ride (the singer was amazing) the coliseum tour in Rome. I loved all of it!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first time out of the country and my first trip with to a tour group, and it exceeded my expectations. The tour group got along so well and became friends by the end of the tour, and our tour guide made the trip easy, fun, and interesting! My family got to enjoy all the wonders of Italy without the stress of planning and navigating on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice was absolutely mind blowing in its beauty and character. We went to watch a glass blowing tutorial at Murano Island and it was very cool to see."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was excellent! Our group was led by Anja who did a fantastic job of keeping everyone and everything organized. We really enjoyed the local tour guides, their depth of knowledge and passion. The hotels were in great locations for walking to most attractions, especially in Venice and Florence. There was plenty of free time to explore on our own and just the right amount of time with the tour group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wandering into a basilica in Florence one evening and finding an amazing orchestral performance by a high school band from our home state of California!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This tour was well organized and met my expectations! I appreciated our guide, Anja, she was awesome and very committed to our group having a memorable experience. She taught us to enjoy each city and found ways to make each stop just a little more extra special. I appreciated the structure & schedule, local guides & drivers, and how this helped us take in the history of Italy while understanding the experience we were having. A nice balance of group activity and personal time was offered.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In Venice, the Gondola Ride, was extra special because our guide hired someone to serenade us through the canals; it was my birthday so it was unforgettable! In Florence, climbing the Duomo and seeing the whole city was spectacular! In Florence, the art vibe was hard to beat. We had a surprise stop in Umbria on our way to Rome, which was a treat. The beauty of the region was a taste of a trip to our future. Rome was all history, although it was really crowded, it will be unforgettable."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was a truly wonderful experience. Sarah, our guide, was helpful, funny, kind, and patient - she's incredible at what she does. Accommodations were beyond expectations. All local guides were amazing and informative. Our choice to arrive a day early in Venice was a good one - having that extra day made a big difference.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed the visit to Le Velette vineyard in Umbria and the cooking class in Florence. Both were very special and unique experiences we wouldn't have had without being on the tour. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a well thought-out tour with plenty of guided opportunities and downtime each day to explore on your own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was wow'd by the local guides at each stop. They were knowledgeable about each location and related well to the group."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My daughter and I knew this was going to be a real adventure and it certainly exceeded our expectations. It was the perfect balance between city-guided tours and our own explorations into Venice, Florence and Rome. Your Rick Steves' guide, Sarah, was truly amazing. Her patience, kindness, knowledge and enthusiasm made the trip a real joy. I have extolled the virtues of Rick Steves' tours to all of my friends and look forward to more adventures with this organization. THANKS!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many WOWs and so little time to name them all. Every day was filled with wonderful surprises! From viewing the Pieta (I cried) to walking in The Forum on ancient stones, the trip was filled with memories to savor for a lifetime. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was excellent from start to finish. It was very well organized and had a great balance of tour activities and free time. Our guide, Sara, is top-notch. She related well to all the tour members, has a great sense of humor and adapted quickly and well to changing circumstances.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It wasn't a moment. It was the day spent with the guide, Francesca, in Rome. She brought history to life as we toured the Colosseum and the Forum."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Saw all the famous sites. People on the tour were very nice. Sarah our guide was the best!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Piazza San Marco."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized. This was better than I could've planned myself. Jam-packed full of art, history, architecture and cultural information, yet still plenty of time to stroll off on our own and explore. The tour guides in each city were phenomenal!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Marco's vineyard. The beauty, relaxation and wonderful company was amazing. The delicious wine and food helped as well."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was very nice. Would have preferred more time visiting St. Peter’s Square and Basilica

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Colosseum "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As someone who had never been to Europe, I didn't want to try to plan a trip to someplace I had never been. This took all of the stress away and just let us relax and look forward to our vacation.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think it was the first day and each of the cities - Venice, Florence and Rome. Since I had never been to any of them the unique beauty of each was just stunning. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We knew it was going to be a good tour but it was so much better than we even expected.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many to pick from but we really enjoyed the wine tasting between Florence and Rome. But like I said, there were big "wow" moments every day. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first guided tour experience and it far exceeded our expectations. Having both Sarah, an expat, and Miki, a native, provided varied cultural perspectives and kept things running like clockwork. Loved our tour mates and looked forward to spending time with them each day. We were crazy busy but not crazy stressed, which is **** and $$$$ in our travel review book. Grazie!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The food experiences—cooking class in Florence, wine experience in Orvieto, carefully curated group meals that highlighted local cuisine, the Autogrill stop, snacks from Sarah, pizza, gelato etc. Nothing gets you closer to a culture than the food, but the additional context provided by Sarah and Miki deepened that connection. Oh, and Francesca, our guide at the Forum and Colosseum—a transcendent experience that touched our minds, hearts and souls. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything on our tour of Italy was fabulous!! Our tour guides Sarah and Mekayla were simply amazing! She was very informative, kind, and helpful. All our local guides were wonderful as well. Everything went very smoothly and we saw and experienced everything we expected to see and so much more. Perfect trip!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice!! Simply amazing! I had no idea how truly unique it is! Also our cooking class in Florence was so much fun, seeing the Sistine Chapel with my own eyes, our wine tasting and lunch! All just WOW!!!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our host and guides were outstanding. I especially enjoyed the indepht knowledge each guide provided when visiting a specific location (I learned so much).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The history provided by our guide when visiting an art museum in Venice"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was an ideal way to explore Italy fir the first time. We had such amazing guides and help from the tour book we now feel we can go back on our own with just the Rick Steves tour book to explore even more of this amazing country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every day was a wow moment. Picking one is a challenge. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour EXCEEDED my high expectations! We traveled as a family of 5, ranging in age from 14 to 60 and it worked for all of us. We were just wowed at every turn! We got to see all of the key sites and then some. We learned so much from the knowledgable and friendly local guides. Our tour guide took good care of us - keeping us informed of and "on" schedule, suggesting other outings, and so positive and good humored!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were just so many WOW moments! I loved getting lost in Venice! This is the repeated recommendation, but it is so hard to imagine doing it and there we were -- wandering, tackling it a neighborhood at a time (using that terrific map from the Pensione G.). I loved watching my normally staid family (when it comes to eating), try everything chicchetti! We didn't know what we were eating, but it didn't matter and after seeing all the fresh seafood in the market it was done with no fear."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was very well organized. Meals were fantastic!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several: gondola ride w music, cooking class, wine tasting, visit with Fabio the carpet/tapestry repair man. I also found the guide explaining the Forum…and how we were standing where historical figures stood thousands of years ago amazing. The guides really made history real for me."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour exceeded our expectations. It was well organized and our guide, Helen, was superb! We will definitely be planning a Rick Steves trip in the future.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many. But I would have to point out the Accademia, the Vatican museum, the Roman colosseum, and the Uffizi (and of course the cooking class!). "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a trip of a lifetime. I enjoyed everything. At first, I was concerned about the free time - having to decide what to do to fill it up. However, I realized that it was a great opportunity to rest if needed, to shop as I wanted, and to go back and see things that the tour recommended. Helen Inman was our tour guide throughout the trip and was fantastic! It would not have been as fun, organized and informative without her. She truly cared about the group's experiences as well as safety

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the wine tasting stop, with the lunch and view of the beautiful countryside. Second was Venice itself - such a charming city with narrow alleys and cute shops."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The days all,we’re filled with activities with some down time strategically timed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tours of the churches and the Colosseum. The local guides were fantastic. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The experience was great in that we got to share and expose our adult children to very iconic places in Italy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Gondola ride in Venice being in boat with singer and cooking class in Florence. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was awesome.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"What wasn't! The glass blowing demonstration was outstanding. The Wine tasting was wonderful. Seeing the David was a bucket list item."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first tour with a group and first trip to Europe. It was spectacular and exceeded all our expectations. The balance of guided and free time was perfect. Kept us on track but still had down time by ourselves. The guides for the group and local guides were great

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wow moments happened a lot, Michalangelo's David was probably the best, but the Bardini Gardens in Florence, Burano in Venice would be very close seconds "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The overall experience was very positive, allowing us and our grandson to comfortably visit and learn about the 3 cities we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Arriving in Venice by boat, seeing the Lagoon for the first time with Dylan."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Quick paced but with enough time to explore on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Entering a room at the Uffizi in Florence and experiencing "Madonna Enthroned" by Giotto. Breaktaking. I was filled with awe and emotion and my eyes filled with tears. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was fun but exhausting. We stayed very busy but towards the end I personally was a little burned out on art and churches.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I don’t know. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

So much fun, and such an amazing learning experience! Our Rick Steves tour guide, Colleen Murphy was fantastic!! along with all of the local guides throughout the Venice, Florence, and Rome tour! So much to see and do, with ample time to immerse yourself into the heart of these Italian cities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All of the amazing Art and Museum’s in each of the 3 cities visited!! David is a masterpiece along with amazing guides to give you the perfect understanding of each piece."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wow! Our Best of Italy tour was amazing. 10 days between 3 cities was just the right amount of time. We learned so much on the guided tours, but we also got enough time to do our own exploring. This was definitely a trip of a lifetime.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the statue of David in Florence was incredible. I wasn't expecting the emotional impact until I was standing right in front of the statue in the Accademia. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour turned out to be the vacation of a lifetime. I had dreamed of visiting Italy after seeing it briefly many years ago, and Rick Steves delivered. This tour hit all the highlights while still allowing plenty of free time to search out unexpected treasures in each city. The group was the perfect size and everyone got along well, which made it even more fun. By the end of the tour, we were like a big family. Our guide, Colleen Murphy, was amazing. She really made it fun!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many! One of my favorites was the cooking class in Florence. What fun! I'm not much of a cook, but working with the others in our tour group and taking direction from our Italian chef was so much fun. The meal we prepared was one of the best on the whole trip! I also loved the stop at the Tuscan winery/olive farm on the way to Rome. What a gorgeous place to relax for a bit! It was like being in a movie. A much-needed respite after the busy days we'd had thus far."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a fabulous trip, beginning to end.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Michaelangelo’s David"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour guide, wonderful opportunities to see all of the highlights of the areas we traveled, delicious meals

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's difficult to just give one, but I would have to say our visit to the winery in Tuscany. Our host was so gracious and the wine and food pairings were out of this world delicious! The scenery was absolutely beautiful and if we could have, we would have elected to stay here a few days to enjoy the area."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was great with all very knowledgeable local guides and Colleen was always helpful and attentive to our needs. .

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I love the St. Peter’s basilica."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

One week back home and my heart and memories still overflow. New to traveling outside the US, we ultimately opted for a group tour rather than navigating on our own. So glad we did! Colleen was a gem, and the local city guides were fantastic - full of passion and historical knowledge. A perfect balance between group and free time, allowing us to customize our days to our interests. The hotel and group restaurant/meal selections were great. A treasured time of my life, with hopes to return!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each day brought something wonderfully different, so narrowing it to one favorite "wow" moment is an impossible ask. I love to cook, so thought the cooking class would be enjoyable but a been-there-done-that experience. Boy, was I wrong. It was an absolute blast, and the lunch we prepared was excellent! The wine tasting and lunch at Poggio della Volara was wonderful, with Marco both entertaining and informative. Maybe the statue of David. I've seen countless photos, but in person...breathtaking!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour exceeded my expectations. A good balance of planned activities and free time to explore.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In Florence, during our introductory walk: turning a corner and seeing the Doumo for the first time. It brought tears to my eyes!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was fantastic! Very well planned.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Gondola ride in Venice"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour captures the unique character of each of the three cities. Our guide, Daniella, was sensible, kind, and joyful, and always reminded us to just pause and drink in the experiences instead of rushing through--very important on a tour like this filled with major sites and works of art. It would have been easy to just get caught up in "checking off the list." Our local guides were very good. I feel like I understand the development of art so much better now.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Standing on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence watching as the sunset was fading behind a street performer singing "Volare" while everyone sang along... Wandering a beautiful garden in Venice far from the crowds (on the advice of our guide)... seeing Michelangelo's other pieta in the Duomo's museum, which had a reproduction there that visitors could actually touch--I felt like I could touch the face of God. It was very moving....seeing St. Agnes in Ecstasy with sun pouring in the window above..."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Even though I’ve been to Italy three times in the past few years, this was my favorite trip. The hotels we stayed at were close to the action but not overly noisy, the local guides were superior in their knowledge and expertise to what I’ve experienced in the past, and our leader Daniela was wonderful. I especially liked how she taught us how to get around in each city and her overall knowledge of Italy. She made each person feel welcome and handled issues that came up with ease.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite “wow” moment is a tie between our Italian cooking lesson in Florence and our wine and food pairing in Umbria. I had never made homemade pasta before and now I want to give it a try at home. Pulling the whole meal together with our smaller group was a blast. The Umbria winery and vineyard Tenuta le Velette was beautiful and charming, better than I hoped it would be. Our Hostess made the experience fun and entertaining."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved our guide! He was wonderful!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tuscan wine tasting and lunch."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We loved the tour. We had flexibility. Tomas, our tour director was very kind and helpful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the Roman Collisium "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Thomas Cole, our tour guide, was excellent. His depth of knowledge of Italy made the experience great. Liked all the activities that the tour had planned. All were fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the David Statue. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a fabulous time on our Italy tour. We had a great cohesive group and an amazing tour guide, Thomas Cole.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My 'wow' moment was Torcello for the afternoon which was an added plus from our tour guide. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A great group of friendly people and wonderful guide!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Umbria wine country visit, looking David in the eyes in Florence, and stepping into St Peters in Vatican "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I saw what I expected to see, everything went smoothly, the group was friendly and helpful, and our guide was fantastic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Entering the Colosseum in Rome, and thinking about what happened on that very spot two thousand years ago."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved everything about the tour. Our guide Thomas was incredible and went above and beyond to ensure that everyone had an amazing trip. The local guides were all great as well. We loved having free time to explore on our own almost every day, and Thomas provided excellent recommendations on what to do and see. This was our first group tour, but it definitely won't be our last! We are already looking where to go next!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Forum lit up at night was the favorite, but there were so many wow moments throughout the trip! We loved the view from the terrace of our hotel in Florence and enjoyed socializing there with others from the group. The cooking class was so much fun and definitely not something we would have done on our own. We also loved the trip to the winery with amazing views, food, and of course wine!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great guide, fun group. Liked the mix of tours and free time. Hotels well located.

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The itinerary of this tour was perfect for our first visit to Italy! We saw the big sights in the big cities, exactly what we were looking for. Nina was a most congenial and well-informed guide. Our group was filled with friendly people who all got along, stayed on time and stayed flexible with unforeseen changes - no grumps!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My “wow” moment is probably more of an “aaaaahhh” moment. I loved our wine tasting and lunch at Marco’s agriturismo between Florence and Rome. The beautiful countryside, wonderful wine, and beautifully presented fresh, delicious food all came together to create a very special afternoon."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We really enjoyed the group activities. Our tour guide - Nina- was fantastic! It was nice to have free time to explore our own interests.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The stop for lunch/wine tasting at the vineyard/olive tree farm. The farm was beautiful. The food and wine was delicious. We bought olive oil to bring home!!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Nina was awesome. It was obvious that she enjoys her job and she did a great job interacting with all of us both as a group and individually. Nina kept us well informed about what we needed to do and had great suggestions on what to do on our free time. We liked that we had a lot of free time to explore on our own. The city orientation walks were really helpful. The visit to Marco's farm was my favorite part of the trip. It was a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the cities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As I mentioned, Marco's farm was amazing. It was beautiful and quiet. We could tell that he had a great passion for his farm and was very proud of it. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

All facets of the tour ran smoothly as our guide was well prepared and organized.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The gondola ride in Venice which included a guitar player and singer in our boat for my wife's birthday."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was just an amazing experience. The guides were informative and helpful, but there was enough free time to explore all the cities on our own and those are the moments I will think back on the most.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Standing on the plaza in front of St. Marks in Venice. It was a place that I learned about in college, but experiencing it in person really took my breath away!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour was good but definitely there was something missing and a different feel than other tours. Maybe because going to major attractions has been more difficult and tour companies aren't getting the the times they prefer so being in the crowds is an adjustment for guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Riding the gondola in Venice with the singer on the boat. The sound in the narrow waterways was amazing and seeing people come out to hear is was something I won't forget. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved every minute of this wonderful tour! Our guide, Stephanie, was just fantastic. She was organized, attentive, covered all the details, fun, smart and took good care of us. It was a good mix of structured and free time....so much fun!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many "wow" moments...it's hard to choose a favorite. The sculptures and paintings at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence just blew my mind. Also, I was so moved standing at Michelangelo's David at the Accademia Gallery that I had to hold back tears...it was so beautiful. St. Mark's square, walking the streets of Venice, the gondola ride...all amazing. Visiting the winery/olive farm in Orvieto may have been my favorite day...all so beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my seventh tour with Rick Steves Europe and, as always, it did not disappoint! With the knowledge of Stephanie, our tour guide, I learned an amazing amount of Italian history. And it was not even my first time in Italy!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Having been to Florence on a prior tour, I won’t repeat Michelangelo’s David as a “wow” moment. But I will say, the Cooking Lesson that we had at In Tavola Firenze was my moment from this trip. I was very pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it. Gustov was an amazing chef and made the entire experience memorable!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From start to finish I was given all the information I needed (my questions were anticipated), guidance to follow timeline for documentation and payment, plus an amazing guide who excited the entire group when she’d say, “I have an idea. Do you trust me?” We always knew we were in for an adventure above and beyond the already amazing itinerary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I located and met a shop owner in Florence who shared my (fairly rare) maiden name (Mastrantuono). Aside from that, Venice astounded me, and I loved the island of Burano and Stephanie’s, “I have an idea, do you trust me” spontaneous trip to the island of Torcello. I also really loved the olive grove/vineyard in Orvieto. Sorry can’t just pick one wow moment!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was pleased with the overall agenda as well as the items our guide Stephanie added to it (our boat trip to the islands of Burano and Torcello, for example). The group meals were fantastic and I really enjoyed our gelato walks.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I visited Venice, Florence and Rome a number of years ago while on the “Best of Europe in 21 Days Tour” so my wow moment will be different than most people in that I really enjoyed our Italian Cooking Lesson. I am not much of a cook so I was skeptical going into it but the chef/instructor brought the process of making pasta down to earth and also made it a lot of fun. Afterwards we all sat down and enjoyed our pasta with a chicken and mushroom sauce and our desert with a glass of vino."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first tour and it was AMAZING in all aspects of what we saw and experienced. From the sites, to the guides who led us through the museums, to the dinners. And out tour guide went above and beyond every day.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Colosseum in Rome just for the sheer size of it."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall wonderful. Exceeded my expectations. Lots of walking!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to narrow it down: Michelangelo's David, The Vatican Museum, and the cooking class in Florence take the three-way tie for favorite "wow" moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Though we have travelled to Europe previously, this was our first experience with a tour group and it was awesome!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice ~ actually realizing that life is so dialed in on island without use of vehicles and is so clean!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent planning and execution for the whole trip. This was my first group tour, and I am delighted. The guides were very knowledgeable, courteous and fun. Loved the wine tasting stop on our way to Rome.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Looking from the top of the hill overseeing Florence was one of the best wow moments. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had an absolute "blast" on the tour. Everything was done to perfection.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many WOW moments! Each day was unique, each had its own special moments and we really enjoyed ourselves. "

I experienced Italy in such a depth, it felt almost spiritual.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"On our way from Florence to Rome, we stopped at a family-run winery for a wine tasting lunch. Cecilia, the sixth-generation winemaker gave us an unforgettable tour of what she called "a wine experience." She should have her own TV show!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour exceeded my expectations. Everything was professional and well-planned.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The highlight was visiting a winery in Tuscany and absorbing the surrounding countryside - just breathing the air."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

First RS trip. Very well organized tour handled by a very knowledgeable and experienced tour leader (Chiara), with a good balance of group and non-group time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The more 'unique' experiences such as the gondola ride in Venice, the cooking class in Florence and the wine tasting in Umbria. "

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

Our guide was great. Hosted tours and events great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"St. Peter’s "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

First time in Italy and first time on a Rick Steve's tour. In spite it being cloudy with some rain for most of the trip, it was a interesting, informative, and fun. It was a good balance of guided activities and free time to explore on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We were wowed by the scale and opulence of the Vatican."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a very thorough tour - all the sites you would want to see with excellent specialty guides made this an excellent experience. Our main guide, Chiara, was outstanding with her knowledge of the history Italy and the cities we visited and gave excellent recommendations from restaurants to additional sites you might want to consider.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"To pick one highlight would be the wine tasting in Orvieto. The location was beautiful, and the winemaker very educational and fun. The food pairing and discussion was enlightening and excellent!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were a family of 5 and did the Venice/Florence/Rome tour in early May. It was fantastic! Nina D was our tour guide who was tremendous, everything was very organized and when Mother Nature tried to interrupt our plans, there was a work around.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was probably seeing the Sistine Chapel but the cooking class was a lot of fun as well. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

we had a great time. Saw many wonderful things and had some great experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to name, The David. The La Pieta. The Vatican. The food. Gelato. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first tour and my first Rick Steves tour. I had no idea of what to expect. I had an amazing experience. I’m not a super social or outgoing person and the tour was perfectly balanced with social and alone time, when needed. The pace of the tour was perfect too. I felt it was just long enough in each city to get the feel and layout before moving on again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We have irritating dietary needs. Nina went out of her way to provide us with plenty of food to eat! Silly, I know but this was my wow moment. I did not expect this kind of service and attention to dietary details. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This is my first tour experience in my life. This is why I rated it with a very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The wow moment was when I realized how organized Nina was with the activities that were planned. She said that we must be flexible because the weather wasn't cooperating and had to do some activities out of order. It all worked out splendidly. Kudos to her."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was very well organized, our tour guide was amazing, and the people we were with were fun and respectful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"St. Peter's Basilica"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

In every way the tour exceeded our expectations: the tour guide, the fellow tour members, the local guides, the itinerary, the accommodations, the balance of group activities and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Maybe St. Peter's Basilica but its hard to mention just one. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour delivered everything that was promised and more than was expected. Just enough food, friends, group activities and solo experiences to make it a perfect trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Coliseum coming into view for the first time. Touching its walls and walking the same paths taking by Roman citizens thousands of years ago. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From start to finish this was a wonderful experience for my wife and I. So well organized by our tour leader Lisa Smith...what a wonderful person who made everyone feel welcomed from the start...she was so kind and so knowledgeable about every city were visited. The hotels were comfortable. The daily itinerary was chock-full of key sites of each city. The local guides in each city were passionate, very knowledgeable and FUN! Group dinners were at fine restaurants with great food!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Are you really asking for just ONE? No chance. ALL of Venice (the MAZE city), the canals and bridges...St Marks Square and Basilica: the Palace; the food. Florence: favorite city. Climbing to the top of The Dome!; Uffizi Gallery: great artwork everywhere; gelato; the Boboli Gardens; the food. Rome: the Pantheon; the Spanish Steps; The Vatican experience; the Colosseum. Winery experience and Cooking Class.The people of Italy. Were ever we went we found the warmth and hospitality the people."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another wonderful tour. So many highlights hit. In the "free time" areas, highlighting items not covered in the particular city would be helpful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica--mosaics that look like paintings."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I think the tour guides did a good job explaining everything. It was great not having to worry about transportation or hotels. Our guide on the tour was always there if we needed anything

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was visiting the Colosseum"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Enjoyed the variety of different things to see and do. Loved the tour guides from each city that gave us a personalized look at each city. Also liked the balance of tour activities and down time to do what we wanted to do.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was seeing the Duomo cathedral in Florence and climbing the dome. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was great. Plenty of sights, food, planned activities and free time to explore on your own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our cooking class in Florence was so much fun."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I found the time in Venice and Florence to be wonderful. The cities were easy to navigate and the art was awesome. While the sites from antiquity in Rome were amazing, I found the time there to be a bit frenetic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are two: seeing the facade of the Duomo in Florence and Michelangelo's David."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first time to travel with a tour group and we were apprehensive, but we are very, very, happy with our experience. We loved everything about the tour, from the lodging and food, to the transportation and itinerary, and especially our tour guides. Both Bea and the local guides. We knew we would get to see many things we've been wanting to see for a long time. What we didn't expect was how much we would learn about the places we would see.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our local Rome guide Francesca's deep dive into what really was the story of the Coloseum and the Forum. Or the first time we saw the Pantheon. There are so many, I can't name one. This particular tour had wow moments daily."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I joined this tour because I had never been to Europe. My children and close friends who are long time travelers insisted that I travel with a Rick Steve’s Tour. Honestly, it exceeded all my expectations. Our over all hostess was above and beyond special as she made our trip safe and special and FUN every day

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have to sum it up with the individual city tour specialist that made each of their cities come alive. Everything was “wow” through their eyes. And at the end of our 10 days together I felt especially thankful for our tour hostess, Beatrice. I can only express it best by saying that she really took good care of us, marking sure that we were safe, knowledgeable, had what we needed AND wanted, gave great advice and took us to the best restaurants where she seemed to know everyone. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was very impressed with the level of organization.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the David in Florence."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a trip of a lifetime.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to count...but the gondola ride in Venice, the cooking class in Florence, the wine tasting in Umbria, seeing the David, the Sistine Chapel and the Pantheon..."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Absolutely loved it! With this being my first time to Europe I felt like I was able to see all the major and important parts of history, art, and best parts of each city we visited. I really enjoyed there being time to go out and explore on our own and having time as a group to adventure and eat together. I was truly amazing with all the things I experienced on this trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had many wow moments however a few that stand out were the duomo, St. Peter’s basilica, st. Marc’s square, the coliseum, and our wine tasting tour in Florence. All of these places were very awe striking and really enlarged my perspective of the world and the regions during the times. "

Amazing and organized. So much to see and one is better than the other.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the group activities, like cooking class. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

In spite of our delay to meet the group we had a fantastic time with our fellow travelers and our wonderful tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Of all the fun things the gondola ride in Venice was a blast with the singers and great weather. But we had many other wow moments to share. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our fifth Rick Steves’ tour. It was mostly the best of times, but it also had a few difficult moments. The special things that make us return time and again were mostly present, though there were a few small things that gave us the sense that perhaps some cost-cutting was at play in terms of meals and site visits. Per usual, our guides and fellow travelers were wonderful, as were the special events.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a fantastic exploration of all of the key sites in Venice, Florence and Rome. All of the guides were great, and we had a fun group of people. There is so much to see, and so much information to absorb, this tour did a great job of balancing that with time on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"An impossible question. Hiking up to the Piazzale Michelangelo to see all of Florence on a gorgeous, sunny day. Likewise finding the cafe at the top of the Bardini Gardens and having an aperol spritz with a view of the city from the terrace. Standing before the David, in St. Peter's Basilica, and the Colosseum. Eating our way through the cicchetti bars in Venice and taking in the view of Orvieto from Tenuta Le Velette. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Effortless and very well planned tour. Our guide Lisa was terrific and the local guides were equally great. Very knowledgeable and friendly too. Easy access to the sites and the planned dinners were great. Overall a first rate experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many! But our first "Wow" moment was arriving in Venice and seeing the canal and beautiful historic buildings."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour focusing on the three major Italian destinations-Venice, Florence and Rome. Really enjoyed learning about and experiencing all three while also getting a glimpse of the countryside between the three.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One in each city-Gondola ride in Venice, David in Florence and the Colosseum in Rome. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great time. The local guides were tremendous. They knew so much and were fun too.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think I was prepared to be disappointed in the colosseum and was actually very taken with it and the forum. I would not have been without the local guides enthusiasm and knowledge."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I have dreamed about going to Italy since I was 20 years old and heard about the renaissance. I could not imagined how wonderful Italy and this trip was. I am 65 years old.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sistine chapel"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Lisa Smith, was an excellent tour guide. We got all we expected and more from the Rick Steves tour. We experienced a tour of a lifetime.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The gondola ride in Venice with the serenade by a local musician. Another WOW moment though not part of the tour was my boyfriend asked me to marry him by the canals, and I said YES!!!!!!!!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Lisa Smith was an outstanding tour guide, she did a great job in getting us to see all the highlights on the tour and then some. We felt we were in good hands on the Rick Steve's tour and we were very satisfied.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many wow moments, it is hard to pick one, but if had to pick one, it would be the gondola ride with musical accompaniment. The music was echoing off of the walls, it was beautiful. The most Wow moment that I had, but not part of the tour, was that i asked my girl friend to marry me by the canals of Venice and she said, YES!!!!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent! The tour was very well organized, and the published itinerary was on target and executed. The itinerary which included the major attractions to see in each city, would have been sufficient for on its own. However, the windows of free time within the tour provided the flexibility to explore other attractions on our own while in each city. Our RS Tour Guide, Lisa Smith also made for an excellent trip. She was the glue that made sure everything ran smoothly and a great tour resource.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Colosseum. We've all seen it many times on tv and in pictures but to actually step foot in such an iconic symbol of ancient Rome that was constructed and began hosting games almost 2,000 years ago was my wow moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was the ideal introduction for my first trip to Europe. I needed someone to "hold my hand" by selecting the right hotels, arranging transportation, and providing expert guides to interpret the sights and history along the way. I had considered doing it myself but experienced sensory overload every time I sat down to the computer... too many choices!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"What, just one?!?!? It must be strolling along Venice's streets, turning a corner and having the Duomo suddenly smack you in the brain. The last time I felt awed by the presence of something so massive and breath-taking was my first view of El Capitan in Yosemite. For all the years I had dreamed of visiting Europe, I knew that Florence was the must-have experience, and it did not disappoint."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We saw some of the highlights of Italy. Some days there was a lot of walking in Venice, Florence and Rome. As usual with Rick Steve's tours, more information was provided than I could absorb.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed seeing the Grand Canal in Venice. I also enjoyed the local guide Coleen's stories about Venice and the artwork in the Accademia Gallery. The cooking class in Florence was fun. Seeing St. Peter's Cathedral and the Roman Colosseum were both impressive."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Lisa, our tour guide was wonderful. Planning and details were excellent. As on our previous RS tours we enjoyed the camaraderie of sharing the whole experience with our fellow tour members.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have two favorites: 1. Riding through the canals of Venice in the gondolas with the musicians. 2. Sampling wine, cheese and other goodies and learning about olive oil production in Umbria. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Honestly, no notes. The tour was extremely well thought out with unique touches mixed in with all the classic sites. The group dinners helped us experience the local cuisine but free meals also allowed us to do things at our own pace. The orientation walks with the local guides were extremely helpful to understand each city we were visiting. Lisa, our overall tour guide did a great job managing our group and making sure everyone was well taken care of. I would recommend this tour to others.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Extremely hard to pick, but probably seeing the Uffizi gallery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

our guide Dimitri was outstanding. We did things and went places that I would not have done if I wasn't with this tour group. this was my first Rick Steves tour. I will definitely do it again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many "wow" moments but I think my favorite was the wine tasting at a very old local winery in the countryside outside of Rome."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was very well organized and I felt the itinerary was just right

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cooking class in Florence "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Dimitri Rigas was a wonderful tour guide, he made the whole experience even better. Hotels were nice, only compliant was no elevator in Venice. Restaurant choices were also excellent.

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Vaporetti ride at sunset was amazing as was the winery. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The whole tour was outstanding, from the sites to dining to hotels and our guide, Dmitry...along with local guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Toss up between the ancient sites in Rome and lunch/wine pairing in Umbria"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was fantastic! It was as described ( both in terms of the sites to be seen, how strenuous it would be, and the local guides) and met our expectations. It exceeded many!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the David. I actually broke down into tears it was so beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every aspect of the tour exceeded our expectations. Donald and Chiara, our tour guides, were friendly, professional, knowledgable, and fun to "vacation" with. The boutique hotel accommodations, at our three destinations, were comfortable, beautifully decorated, and charming. The staff at each location provided excellent service, a comfortable and helpful environment and were always professional, courteous and responsive to our requests.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Venice gondola ride was a special and memorable event as we had the singer and accordion player ride along in our gondola. We enjoyed the passion of our local guides in the three locations- Venice, Florence and Rome. They were not only extremely knowledgeable about the subject matter but the love and interest they had for sharing their passion for the subject was evident in their presentations."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved Donald’s knowledge of the places and his humor added charm to the cities we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was amazed at the at the places we went to. The tour guides and the historical references to the sites, paintings, etc. are amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From the beginning until the last day I felt that our trip was top priority for our guide. He was amazing!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Getting up early and going to St Peters Basillica by 7:00am. The line was short and it was a WOW moment for me. It was amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Could not be more pleased with our first Rick Steve’s tour! My husband and I were delighted with the tour guides who were flexible humorous and very knowledgeable. We were extremely happy with the agenda plus the side trips that the guides were able to arrange. The food was wonderful. The hotels were very very nice. We particularly liked having time to ourselves to explore as well as partake in the tour activities. Overall, it was a wonderful tour, and I hope to do it again soon.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It would be difficult to choose just one wow moment, but we both liked the trip to the olive grove and the cooking school experience. Obviously, these are in addition to the amazing sites that were on the tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful! From the leadership and attention of our tour manager to the local guides enthusiastic walks through neighborhoods and museums - I loved it! The pace was just right for me and I appreciated the balance of free time with structured touring. Also being able to spend several days in each city was a huge plus. I got a 'feel' for the area we were in and am excited to return. The RS audio guide was also a BIG plus - thanks Rick!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I took an early morning walk through Rome from our Hotel Smeraldo (great location!). The streets were free of crowds. Walking past the Pantheon, stopping for pictures at the Trevi Fountain, and eventually climbing the Spanish Steps was very special "wow" memory. Oh, and who could forget the attending the Pope's audience in St. Mark's Square - thanks to our tour manager, Lisa, for picking up tickets for us!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My tour of Italy was exceptional from beginning to end. Our tour guide, Lisa, was experienced, knowledgeable, friendly, and helped to make this a memorable experience for my husband and myself. I would highly recommend your company and this particular tour to anyone interested in seeing Italy!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There wasn’t just one wow moment. There were several in each city we visited. In Venice, I loved the gondola ride, visiting Burano, and all the delicious food and drink. In Florence, I fell in love with the city. I enjoyed all of the tour activities as well as the extra activities that Lisa made for our group!! My personal favorite, was the cooking class! Our stop at an olive and vineyard farm in Umbria was also a highlight of the tour!! All of Rome was exceptional, from the sights to the food!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour surpassed my expectations! We were able to see the main highlights in each city, with a little down time to rest or explore further. It included 2 wonderful experiences with a cooking class, and wine tasting, and our lovely guide added in a rooftop view of Venice and a sunset experience in Florence

Favorite "WOW" moment

"If I had to pick one experience I would pick the gondola ride in Venice. I loved the beauty of Venice, and as a special added touch we had musicians on one of our gondolas. The singer really loved to entertain and hearing him belt out some classic tunes as we floated down the scenic waterways was certainly a memorable moment"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

V, F, R is a very well thought out tour. We see the highlights, but don't stuff in absolutely everything. I especially liked the backroads walking tours of each city. They were so crowded that getting off the beaten track was a real eye opener.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite moment with the group was our happy hour up on Piazalle Michelangelo in Florence. We hiked up to the top, Lisa brought wine and snacky poos, and the sunset over Florence did not disappoint."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a wonderful trip through Italy! My people in my group were amazing and our guide Lisa was outstanding!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our lunch in Tuscany was so nice and the hosts were so welcoming. Really enjoyed learning about their winery and olive oil farm. It was such a beautiful area! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Just absolutely the most magical and meaningful experience I've ever had! Definitely the trip of a lifetime!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That's very hard to pick one, but if I had to I guess it would be seeing St. Peter's basilica. Also, a wonderful evening with our new friends over dinner the last night in Venice. Also, too, our 28th wedding anniversary dinner in Florence which our tour guide, Lisa Smith, arranged for us. It was all magical."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It is a very busy tour! Even though we had a good amount of time on our own a LOT was packed into the half days with the group. I am still processing all we saw in such a short period but it was wonderful. Lisa was so in tune with the group and was a fantastic and caring tour director.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was stunned by the Michelangelo Christ on the Cross sculpture in the sacristy of the church in Florence. It was one of those moments where the perfection of the art and the placement of the piece all came together to create this moment where you were just speechless."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide was nothing short of exceptional! She made sure every last detail of our trip went smoothly and was always there for questions or advice. The local guides were very knowledgeable, too. We enjoyed being taken care of and not having to wonder if we could get tickets for places or where we were going- it was all taken care of. The “extras” like going to a quiet island, cooking class, sunset get together, and the trip to a vineyard for lunch we’re truly special.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our most enjoyable, fun moments were every shared meal with our group. The food and drink were fantastic and it was fun to get to know everyone in our group. I don’t know if every group gets along like ours did but we all seemed to have a blast when we were together. We also loved the afternoon listening to Marco tell about his vineyards and olive oil production. His wife cooked us a delicious meal and we were all so relaxed that several tour members said they didn’t want to leave. Lots of wow,"