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Florence, Tuscany & the Italian Riviera

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Florence, Tuscany & the Italian Riviera

with Lake Como extension

Duration: 9 or 11 days
Group size: 15-30
Reviews: 40

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Get to know Italy at its finest.

Slow down and learn the true meaning of la dolce vita as you explore three of Italy’s most inviting destinations. Walk in the footsteps of Michelangelo and Dante in Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, and take in Tuscany’s iconic red rooftops and green hills. Then, make your way to the sunny, colorful shores of the Italian Riviera and Cinque Terre.

Your tour package includes

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

Included highlights

Florence Duomo
Giotto's Campanile
Basilica of Santa Croce
Ponte Vecchio
Lucca’s city walls

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Day-by-day itinerary

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Overnight Flight1 night

Day 1: Travel day

Board your overnight flight to Florence today.

Florence4 nights

Day 2: Arrival in Florence

Included meal: Welcome dinner

Welcome to Italy! Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.

Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Florence

Included meal: Breakfast

Get to know Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, as you make your way through the UNESCO-recognized historic center with a local guide.

View the legendary Florence Cathedral, known as the Duomo
Pass Giotto’s Campanile, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture
Step inside the Basilica of Santa Croce, burial site of Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and Galileo
See the medieval Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria, the center of Florentine life

Enjoy free time in Florence or add an excursion.

Tuscan Cooking Class & Dinner

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 4: Free day in Florence

Included meal: Breakfast

Spend a free day in Florence or add excursions.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Excursion (additional cost)

Fiesole Villa Dinner

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 5: Free day in Florence

Included meal: Breakfast

Enjoy a free day in Florence or add an excursion.

Siena & San Gimignano: Tuscan Hilltowns

Excursion (additional cost)

Italian Riviera3 nights

Day 6: Italian Riviera via Lucca

Included meal: Breakfast

Known for its Renaissance-era walls, Lucca sits in the heart of Tuscany. You’ll get to know the town on a guided tour.

Walk along a section of the city’s walls and learn about their illustrious history
Take in impressive views of the classic red-tiled rooftops, medieval churches, and swath of cypress trees below
Descend into the center of town to view the Palazzo Pfanner, Guinigi Tower, and Basilica of San Frediano
Enter San Martino Cathedral and San Michel in Foro, a basilica known for its intricately inlaid facade

This afternoon, continue to the Italian Riviera.

Day 7: Sightseeing tour of Cinque Terre

Included meal: Breakfast

Join your Tour Director to discover Cinque Terre, an idyllic cluster of five villages set on seaside cliffs.

Head to Sestri Levante, where you’ll board a train to Monterosso
Soak in views of the pebble beach that the village is known for
Travel by boat along the dramatic coastline to Riomaggiore
Learn about Via dell'Amore, one of the area’s most famous hiking paths, which connects two of the five villages
Take a train to Vernazza and admire the colorful houses that dot the waterfront
Enjoy short walks through each village before spending free time exploring, shopping, and eating
Admire the Liguria region’s varied landscape as you transfer back to your hotel

Please note: The boat ride is weather-dependent. In the case of inclement weather, you’ll visit the villages by train. In addition, the specific villages you visit may vary.

Day 8: Free day on the Italian Riviera

Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner

Enjoy a free day on the Italian Riviera or add an excursion.

Then, celebrate your trip at a farewell dinner this evening.

Villages of the Italian Riviera & Lunch

Excursion (additional cost)

Flight Home

Day 9: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the Genoa airport for your flight home or continue your trip to explore Lake Como.

Extension to Lake Como

Lake Como is arguably one of the Lombardy region’s loveliest spots, with Alpine landscapes and ritzy villas galore. It’s also a go-to locale for the rich and famous, but you don’t need to be George Clooney to visit. Just extend your journey alongside your Tour Director.

Lake Como2 nights

Day 9: Transfer to Lake Como & sightseeing tour

Included meal: Breakfast

Head north to beautiful Lake Como, located in the foothills of the Alps, where your Tour Director introduces you to the waterfront city of Como.

See Como’s eclectic architecture, glittering lakefront, and mountain scenery
View Como Cathedral, one of the last Gothic cathedrals built in Italy

Day 10: Free day in Lake Como

Included meal: Breakfast

Spend a free day in the Lake Como area or add an excursion.

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

Lake Como Cruise & Bellagio

Excursion (additional cost)

Flight Home

Day 11: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the Milan airport for your flight home.

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Reviews

4.8 average

Our reviews are authentic and unedited.

Absolutely wonderful!

02/28/2020 by 9th time traveler Sherry M.

Go Ahead continues to wow me with awesome tour directors. Maria was a breath of fresh air. She was so cheerful, funny, interesting and helpful. Our tour was wonderful start to finish. This was my 10th tour with EF/Go Ahead and I recommend your company to everyone I speak with about travel.

Trip of a lifetime special thanks to our Tour Director

08/05/2019 by 3rd time traveler Craig R.

This was our second tour to Italy w/ GoAhead Tours. The hotels selected in Florence and Rapallo were a nice upgrade from previous trip. Location and quality of accomodations were excellent. Our tour guide Alessandra Fiandra went above and beyond to inform, manage and assist at every turn. She was g...

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07/31/2019 by 2nd time traveler Anonymous

Florence portion should be shorter. Day trips were good but more free time to explore would have been nice. Tour Director. Alessandra, so helpful, knowledgeable, available. Consider other airlines...very bad experiences on Al Italia.

Exploring Tuscany

05/31/2019 by 2nd time traveler Pamela S.

This was our first GoAhead tour. It was even better than we expected. A perfect balance of walking tours and free time. The hotels were all centrally located and/or had a spectacular view. Our tour guide, Bojan, was always professional and organized with the itinerary. His knowledge of the history o...

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Northern Italy is breathtaking

05/31/2019 by 3rd time traveler Anonymous

This was my fourth trip to Italy but my first to the north. Its beauty is breathtaking and far less "touristee" than southern locations. My memories are mostly very positive. Like other tours I've taken, and not be Catholic, I felt we spent too much time in churches. What could have taken 20 to 3...

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Hotels, flights & FAQ

Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.

Hotels

We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.

Grand Hotel Cadenabbia

This historic hotel is located in Cadenabbia. Guests enjoy restaurant options, a garden, and outdoor pool. Nearby you’ll find Villa Carlotta, the Bota...

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Hotel Pierre

This elegant hotel is located in the historic center of Florence. Guests enjoy room service, free Wi-Fi, and a bar. Nearby, you’ll find the Duomo, Pia...

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Grand Hotel Bristol

This Art Nouveau-style hotel is located in Rapallo. Guests enjoy a spa, fitness center, and restaurants. Nearby, you’ll find Portofino Natural Park, M...

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Flights

Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.

Add our airfare package and you'll get:

Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes

Find out more about flights

FAQ

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Passport & visa requirements

In order to enter Italy, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
There is no visa required for U.S. or Canadian citizens.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact your destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.

Tour pace

You will walk for at least 2.5 hours daily across uneven terrain, including paved roads and cobblestone streets, with some hills and stairs.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times.
Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.

Transportation & arrival information

Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Florence and depart from Genoa (or Milan Malpensa on the tour extension). A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. 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.
Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
Please note that the transfer between your hotel in the Lake Como region and the Milan Malpensa airport on the tour extension is typically more than an hour drive. Please contact us with any questions regarding this transfer.
All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.

Baggage allowance

Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.

Clothing & packing tips

We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).

Health

There are no major health risks associated with traveling to Italy.
At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.

Cuisine

Tuscany is world-famous for its wine, oil, sauces, and pasta. Menus favor subtle, lighter pastas and desserts made with nuts, fruit, and honey. Try a dish featuring the region’s Chianina beef, perhaps the most prized breed of cattle in all of Italy. For wine, popular Tuscan reds include Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which are primarily made from the Sangiovese grape. Well-known white wines are also made around the San Gimignano region.
On the Italian Riviera, a taste of the region’s famous basil pesto is a must. Delicious seafood dishes are popular along the shore, but true Ligurians favor simple, traditional recipes like minestrone soup and farinata, an unleavened chickpea pancake.
For more authentic meals, try local trattorias, small restaurants set away from the main piazzas. A typical Italian meal includes wines and the occasional beer, followed by a few sips of after-dinner drinks like grappa or limoncello.

Electricity & air conditioning

Italy operates on the European standard 220-240 volts and uses Types C, F, or L plugs with two or three small, round pins.
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
Your hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.

Connectivity

Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

Time zones

Italy is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and six hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
When it’s noon in New York, it’s 6pm on tour.

Currency

You will use the euro on this tour.
Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.

Tipping

At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $7USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
Tips can only be paid in cash.

Purchasing excursions on tour

Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour.
Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for optional excursions.
Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information.

Museums in Florence

If you are interested in visiting any of Florence's many museums during your free time, we recommend that you make reservations in advance. See uffizi.org for the Uffizi Gallery or accademia.org for the Accademia Gallery. Please note that the museums are closed on Mondays.

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202020212022

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2020

Florence, Tuscany & the Italian Riviera

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