Rome: The City Experience 7 days / City Stays
About This Experience
You’ll fall in love with Rome. We mean, really fall for it. Make the Eternal City your home away from home, and step wholeheartedly into the Roman experience. Delve behind the city’s surface bustle. Mingle with the vibrant people who go about their lives in the shadow of ancient ruins. And even walk underneath its streets. We promise, you’re going to leave feeling like a local.
Your Tour Includes
Round-trip airfare & transfers
5 nights in handpicked hotels
Breakfast daily, 1 three-course dinner with beer or wine
Multilingual Tour Director
Private deluxe motor coach
Why You'll Love It
History is tangible in Rome’s ancient ruins
Cappuccino, gelato, pizza—need we say more?
No one will blink an eye when you ask for thirds
The works of Michelangelo, up close & personal
Legendary landmarks are everywhere
Locals help you see the city like a Roman
Overnight Flight1 night
Rome5 nights - hotel info
Day2
Day3
Overhead, underfoot, Rome is rich in ruins
Breakfast
Colosseum
Today’s guided sightseeing tour of Rome introduces you to the landmarks of the Roman empire: the Colosseum and the Forum Romanum. After your tour, enjoy the balance of the day at leisure or join our optional excursion into the city’s catacombs.Included meals: breakfast Included entrance: Colusseum
Optional Excursions
Catacombs & St. Paul's $65* pp
Descend into Rome’s ancient catacombs, where early Christians buried saints and popes alongside commoners. A local guide will lead you through burial chambers before your visit to the Basilica of St. Paul, one of the four most important basilicas of Rome, originally founded by Constantine the Great. The Basilica also houses the tomb of St. Paul. Please note: Shorts and sleeveless shirts are not permitted within the basilica. Also, this excursion involves extensive walking and may be inadvisable for claustrophobic travelers.
Day4
Toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain if you like what you see
Breakfast
Stroll across the Spanish Steps today, meeting place for all of Rome, then see Bernini’s captivating Fountain of the Four Rivers and stop at the legendary Trevi Fountain, where centuries of visitors have tossed coins to ensure their eventual return to Rome. Those interested in classical sculpture might choose to plan a visit to the Capitoline Museums, which houses a collection assembled in the 15th century by a pope who loved the arts. Otherwise, take an optional tour of Vatican City to see inside St. Peters Basilica, gaze up at the Sistine Chapel, and experience Michelangelo’s Pietà. Tonight, opt to join our Dinner with Tenors for a sumptuous, serenaded meal.Included Meals: breakfast
Optional Excursions
Vatican City $85* pp
This guided tour takes you inside the world’s smallest state, Vatican City. Upon arrival, you'll first visit the Vatican Museums, which recently celebrated a 500-year anniversary and hold many of the world's most important Classical and Renaissance-era sculptures. Next, you'll visit the Sistine Chapel, where you'll gaze on what is perhaps Michelangelo's greatest masterpiece. Finally, you'll visit the enormous St. Peter’s Basilica, the epicenter of the Roman Catholic faith. The artists whose efforts have contributed to its glory are some of the best Italy has ever known, including Bramante, Peruzzi, Raphael and Michelangelo. Masterpieces await at every turn, from Bernini’s magnificent bronze canopy to Michelangelo’s Pietà. Please note: This excursion is not available on Sunday. Advanced reservation and booking is required prior to your final payment deadline.
Optional Excursions
Dinner with Tenors $79* pp
End your day with an elegant four-course dinner at one of our favorite Roman restaurants. While you dine, you’ll be treated to some of opera's best-loved arias…and you might even join the singers on stage. Don’t miss this lighthearted evening of food and fun!
Day5
See it like you want to—explore the city your way
Breakfast
The Sant’Angelo Castle, one of Rome’s less touristed stops, once guarded the entrance to the Vatican and now contains a collection of antique arms and armor. You can visit this treasure or opt to leave the cacophony of Rome behind for an excursion to Florence by train. Journey by train on a day trip to the timeless city of Florence, birthplace of the Italian language, the Renaissance and opera. Guided sightseeing of Florence introduces you to the city’s Renaissance splendor. Marvel at Brunelleschi’s masterpiece—Florence’s massive pink, white and green Duomo. Then enter the church of Santa Croce, where the tombs of Galileo and Michelangelo as well as the Dante Memorial are displayed. Included meals: breakfast
Optional Excursions
Florence by Train $199* pp
Journey by train on a daytrip to Florence, birthplace of Italian language, the Renaissance and opera. A guided tour introduces you to the old city's three main squares, beginning with Piazza della Signoria, home to the Romanesque Palazzo Vecchio. You'll also explore the Piazza del Duomo, offering beautiful views of the Cathedral, Baptistry and elegant belltower. Finally, you'll walk through the Piazza del Santa Croce. Here, enter the Church of Santa Croce, where the tombs of Galileo, Machiavelli and Michelangelo are displayed. Please note: Shorts and sleeveless shirts are not permitted within the church.
Day6
Rare paintings line an even rarer Gothic church
Breakfast
For a peek inside Rome’s only example of Gothic architecture, make a visit to the Santa Maria Sopra Minerva Church, where you’ll see one of the lesser-known works of Michelangelo and the tomb of the painter Fra Angelico. You might also opt to head south and explore the ruins of Pompeii on today’s optional excursion.Included Meals: breakfast
Optional Excursions
Pompeii with Lunch $165* pp
Travel to Pompeii for a guided tour of the famous ruins. Discover how Roman citizens lived 2,000 years ago, before Mount Vesuvius erupted in and smothered the town of Pompeii in a flood of volcanic ash. Visit the excavated ruins of theaters, villas, temples and baths. Lunch is included. Please note: Travel time to Pompeii is approximately 2.5 hours each way.
Extend Your Stay
Add Rome $299*
Only in Rome can you sip cappuccino at a cafe in front of the Pantheon, buy grapes at a centuries-old market, and have an audience with the pope—all in one morning. For a mix of spectacular art, grand history and exuberant street life, no other city comes close.
Rome2 nights - hotel info
Day1
Clink glasses where the Pope summers
Breakfast
Spend today exploring Rome as you please. Consider joining an optional excursion to Castel Gandolfo & Wine Tasting. Leave the hustle and bustle of Rome behind for an afternoon spent exploring Lazio’s wine region. Begin your excursion with a stop at Castel Gandolfo, a beautiful village draped on the shores of Lake Alban, about 30 km outside of Rome. It is here that the Pope usually spends his summers. You’ll have the opportunity to see his summer home, which was built by the same architect who designed the facade of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. You will stop to admire Bernini’s fountain. Travel to one of Ariccia’s vineyards for a tour of the winery and a wine tasting, where you will sample a variety of wines as well as the winery’s homemade olive oils and other specialties.
Optional Excursions
Castel Gandolfo & Wine Tasting $75* pp
Leave the city behind and enjoy an afternoon in Lazio’s wine country. Begin your excursion with a stop at Castel Gandolfo, a gorgeous village draped on the shores of Lake Albano. You’ll have the opportunity to see the Pope's summer home from across the lake. Later, you'll travel to a vineyard in nearby Ariccia for a wine tasting, where you'll sample a variety of wines as well as homemade olive oils and other specialties.
Day2
You’re practically a local, now relax like one
Breakfast
Enjoy your final day in Rome wandering through the city's many piazzas, taking in views from each of the seven hills or just sipping a cappuccino in a sidewalk cafe. Alternatively, consider joining our optional excursion to the Borghese Gallery & Museum, located at Villa Borghese.
Optional Excursions
Borghese Gallery & Museum $69* pp
Today, take a guided tour of the Borghese Gallery, home to one of Italy's finest art collections. Situated in the former Villa Borghese Pinciana, the gallery consists of 20 rooms spanning two floors and features major works by Bernini, Raphael, Canova, Titian and Caravaggio. Please note: This excursion requires advanced booking at least 30 days before your departure.
Passport & Visa
In order to enter Italy, U.S. & Canadian citizens need a valid passport. The expiration date must extend at least six months beyond the date of your return home. No visa is required for U.S. or Canadian citizens. If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact the Italian consulate for your specific entry requirements.
Health
There are no recommended immunizations for travel to Rome.
Cuisine
One of the most enjoyable aspects of traveling is the delightful variety of local cuisine. Most of the staples of the Italian diet have already become favorites in America, but on your tour, be sure to try those less familiar pasta sauces and the vast range of cured hams, cheeses, rustic breads and desserts.
Transportation / Walking on tour
Round-trip flights arrive in and depart from Rome. When you first arrive in Rome, a Go Ahead representative will meet you after clearing customs. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
Baggage Allowance
Airlines have varying weight restrictions on luggage. Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage. Please contact your airline or refer to its website for detailed information regarding your airline’s checked baggage policies. Bear in mind that your luggage will probably weigh more on your return trip due to souvenir shopping. We allow only one suitcase per person. One carry-on bag is also permitted, provided that it does not exceed 45 inches (length + width + height). There may be times when you will have to handle your own bags, and you’ll find that lightweight luggage provides a distinct advantage. Make sure you label your baggage and carry valuables, medication and documents in your carry-on luggage.
Clothing and Packing Tips
To ensure you’re comfortable while out exploring, we recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered. For sightseeing, we suggest bringing a sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers, as well as a lightweight sports jacket or rainwear. If you’re planning a visit to a high-end restaurant or performance, you may also want to bring dressier attire. Also, please remember that it’s preferable to avoid showing bare legs or shoulders during visits to churches or other religious sites (entrance may be denied on this basis).
Currency
The euro is the currency you’ll use on tour. Better rates of exchange are usually available in your destination countries, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive. We advise that you take a combination of bank/ATM cards and credit cards, as needed. We suggest that you inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans, so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
Tipping
At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity. We recommend tipping in your tour country’s currency, the equivalent of $3USD/CAD per person per day for your driver and $6USD/CAD to $9USD/CAD per person per day for your Tour Director. If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD/CAD per local guide. Tips can only be paid in cash. Please keep current local currency exchange rates in mind when tipping.
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Rome: An Amazing Tour
This was an amazing tour that I would advise everyone I know to take a part of! I enjoyed every minute of our journeys and delighted in learning more about the culture, foods and various historical places laid about the city of Rome; and country of Italy. In addition, the Go Ahead Tour Guide was exceptionally pleasant to be around and very conscientious about all of our individual and collective concerns. I was also very impressed with the additional tour guides and their extensive knowledge of Italy which made all the excursions come to life. Thank you Go Ahead Tours. -Merle J.
Great Trip
xactly as described and tour director, Daniella, could not have been better.
Rome City Experience
This is an exceptional tour. Our tour guide, Antonio, was wonderful. Each destination we went to was better than the one before. Our hotel, Hotel Universo, was very well located, our room was spacious and clean and breakfast each morning was very good. This was our first "City Experience" tour and we found that we were able to really enjoy the city. The high points are offered in the tour but we had plenty of time to discover things for ourselves. I highly recommend this tour.
A Tour for Any Age
My mom and I took the Rome City Tour. She's 84 years old. Our tour guide accommodated the pace to what was comfortable for mom. We never felt like we were a drag on the group. We had enough down-time to do what we wanted to do. We had a great time at the Dinner with the Tenors. We highly recommend it. The trip to Florence was easy, relaxing, and great fun. The site tour guides were very informative and made the city come alive. Mom is still talking about her great time.
Wonderful trip
Vania was fabulous - knowledgeable, kind, patient, hard-working. Hotel was great and ina wonderful location. Pompeii - beyond expectations. Assisi - could have spent several days there. Florence - glad we took the train. Scavi Tour was something I'll never forget. Johanna - guide for Vatican and Coliseum was incredibly knowledgeable - excellent guide. Buses were very nice. Toast to Rome night tour was great. My only regret was that there was so little time to shop - but wouldn't have sacrificed any of our sight-seeing, so............maybe next time.
My Travel Blog of the Excellent "Rome City Stay"
We arrived in Rome on Feb. 18, 2011 for the "Rome City Stay". Everything about the trip was excellent. The tour director, Nicola, was a delight, knowledgeable, and always willing to be helpful. We were glad we did the optional tours of the "Catacombs & St. Paul" and "Florence By Train." The hotel and location was great. I just completed by travel blog about the trip. Please check it out to see all the wonderful things we did on the Go Ahead, Rome City Stay trip. http://thefarmersmeanderings.wordpress.com/
Rome Trip
Trip was full of places to visit, sights were better than expected, $ 5 call home card was ineffective after several tries. Cost were slightly higher at restaurants than expected due to seating fees. We were led to believe we could go at our own pace but i felt rush at each excursion and felt I had to keep pace with the group or be left behind. The Pope's summer home was a disapointment. ( a lot of money to see a sttuco wall)
Great city to rome...
I enjoyed walking around Rome from our centrally located hotel. The people were gracious and always willing to assist with any questions. Our tour director was fantastic. I enjoy time to myself and this allowed me the time with others and time to explore on my own.
Perfect honeymoon trip!
My husband and I had never had a chance to go away in our 7 years of marriage. This was the perfect balance of enjoying the company of others and time to ourselves. Vania, our tour director worked with everyone to make their trip an individual trip and encouraged each of us to "explore". The stories we shared were fun and fabulous. I can not wait to plan my next trip. Choosing which one to take will be the challenge.
BEST TRIP EVER - LOVED IT SO MUCH!
We went to several different cities, enjoyed learning about Rome, the culture and people. The shopping and cuisine were great too!
