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Barcelona, Southern France & the Italian Riviera

with Rome extension

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This tour itinerary varies by year.

Duration: 12 or 14 days
Group size: 15-38
Reviews: 192

Discover some of the world’s most sought-after destinations.

Enjoy memorable culture, architecture, and Mediterranean food on this guided trip, pausing to take sunny siestas in Barcelona and relaxing riposos in Italy. Sip sangria by La Sagrada Família, meander amid ancient ruins in Nîmes, and tour seaside villages, all while sneaking in opportunities to brush up on your Spanish, French, and Italian.

Your tour package includes

10 nights in handpicked hotels
10 breakfasts
4 dinners with beer or wine
7 guided sightseeing tours
Expert Tour Director & local guides

Included highlights

La Sagrada Família
Carcassonne
the Arena of Nîmes
Pont du Gard
Cape Ferrat

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Day-by-day itinerary

Print itinerary

Overnight Flight1 night

Day 1: Travel to Barcelona, Spain

Board your overnight flight to Barcelona today.

Barcelona3 nights

Day 2: Arrival in Barcelona

Included meal: Welcome dinner

Welcome to Spain! Meet your fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.

Day 3: Guided tour of Barcelona

Included meal: Breakfast

Discover why Barcelona is touted for its unparalleled architectural landmarks, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Step inside La Sagrada Família, Gaudí’s famous masterwork-in-progress
Drive along Passeig de Gràcia, past Gaudí’s “House of Bones”
Visit Montjuïc, site of the 1992 Olympic Games, and Mirador de l’Alcalde Park
Pass Plaça d’Espanya and the soaring monument to Christopher Columbus

Enjoy a free afternoon in Barcelona or add an excursion.

Park Güell & La Pedrera

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 4: Free time in Barcelona

Included meal: Breakfast

Spend a full free day in Barcelona or add excursions.

Montserrat

Excursion (additional cost)

Flamenco Dinner Show

Excursion (additional cost)

Montpellier1 night

Day 5: Travel to Montpellier via Carcassonne

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Set off for Montpellier, France, today. Stop en route in the fortified city of Carcassonne to tour the medieval fortress settlement, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Later, sit down to an included dinner with your group.

French Riviera2 nights

Day 6: Travel to the French Riviera via Nîmes

Included meal: Breakfast

Make your way to Nice and the French Riviera by way of Nîmes, where a local guide shows you around the city.

See remarkably preserved Roman buildings, including the Maison Carrée
Visit the Arena of Nîmes, built around A.D. 100 and seen in the film Gladiator
Walk along the Pont du Gard, a UNESCO-listed Roman aqueduct

Day 7: Guided tour of Cape Ferrat & Nice

Included meal: Breakfast

Set out to explore the French Riviera today.

Enjoy views of the Mediterranean Sea from the cliffs of Cape Ferrat
Tour the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its gardens
Stop to explore Nice’s Old Town on your own before returning to your hotel

Italian Riviera2 nights

Day 8: Travel to the Italian Riviera via Monaco

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Leave France for the Italian Riviera today. Stop en route to explore the tiny principality of Monaco with your Tour Director.

Visit Le Rocher, or the Rock of Monaco, to see the cathedral and Old Town
Stop outside the Prince’s Palace, first built as a fortress in the late 12th century

Sit down to an included dinner with your group this evening.

Day 9: Guided tour of Cinque Terre

Included meal: Breakfast

Discover Cinque Terre, an idyllic cluster of five villages set on seaside cliffs.

Travel by boat along the coast for dramatic cliffside views (Weather permitting; you may travel by train instead of boat)
Stop for free time to explore the seaside villages of Vernazza and Monterosso (Please note: Specific Cinque Terre villages visited may vary)
Admire Liguria region’s varied landscape on a scenic train ride from Monterosso to your hotel in the Santa Margherita Ligure area

Florence2 nights

Day 10: Guided tour of Florence

Included meal: Breakfast

Set off to Florence, the city at the center of the Renaissance, and meet your local guide.

Visit the legendary Florence Cathedral, known as the Duomo
Pass Giotto’s Campanile, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture
Walk past Piazza della Repubblica to the medieval Ponte Vecchio
Stroll along the Arno River and through the courtyard of the Uffizi Gallery to Piazza della Signoria, center of Florentine life

Day 11: Free time in Florence

Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner

Enjoy a free day in Florence or add an excursion.

Later, join your group for a farewell dinner in Florence.

San Gimignano: Medieval Sights & Tuscan Flavors

Excursion (additional cost)

Flight Home

Day 12: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home or continue on to explore Rome.

Extension to Rome

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 vibrant street life, no other city comes close.

Rome2 nights

Day 12: Sightseeing tour of Rome

Included meal: Breakfast

Follow in the footsteps of the ancient Romans on a guided tour of the Eternal City.

Soak up over 2,000 years of history in Imperial Rome, viewing the Arch of Constantine and the Arch of Titus
Enter the Colosseum, the largest amphitheater of the Roman Empire
Stop at the ruins of the Forum, once the setting of parades, elections, and trials
Pass by Palatine Hill to see Circus Maximus, the stadium where ancient Romans raced chariots, and the Baths of Caracalla

Day 13: Free day in Rome

Included meal: Breakfast

Spend a full free day in Rome or add excursions.

This evening, enjoy a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members.