Best of Italy and Sicily

Best of Italy and Sicily

27 Views
15 Days From

$5395

$4802

Best of Italy and Sicily

15 Days Starting in Palermo, Italy and ending in Venice, Italy

Visiting: Palermo, Monreale, Agrigento, Taormina, Sorrento, Capri, Pompeii, Rome, Assisi, Pisa, Cinque Terre, Venice

Tour operator:

Trafalgar

Tour code:

ITISZM20

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Physical rating:

Medium

Tour operated in:

English
From: $5395 $4802 Operator discount: -$594 -11%

NB: Prices correct on 22-Oct-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Embark on an unforgettable journey through Italy and Sicily with the "Best of Italy and Sicily" tour. This cultural adventure takes you from the vibrant streets of Palermo to the romantic canals of Venice, exploring iconic destinations like Rome, Florence, and the Isle of Capri along the way. Discover the ancient ruins of Pompeii, the stunning landscapes of Cinque Terre, and the artistic treasures of Florence. Enjoy unique experiences such as a scenic cruise to Capri, a visit to a Venetian glassblowing factory, and a warm Sicilian welcome at a family-owned lemon farm. With expert guides, comfortable accommodations, and delicious local cuisine, this tour offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and relaxation. Whether you're wandering through the medieval streets of Assisi or savoring a mulberry granita in Taormina, this tour promises memories that will last a lifetime.

Highlights

  • content:

    Must-see Highlights

    • Explore Palermo, Agrigento, Pompeii, Capri, Rome, Assisi, Cinque Terre and Florence
    • Discover Taormina, Sorrento and Venice
    • Visit the Norman Cathedral at Monreale, the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, the Isle of Capri, the excavations at Pompeii, the Colosseum in Rome and a glassblowing factory in Venice
    • View Palermo Cathedral, St Peter's Basilica and the ancient sites of Rome, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Santa Croce Basilica and the Duomo in Florence and the Byzantine St. Mark's Basilica in Venice
    • Scenic Cruise to the Isle of Capri and by private launch to St. Mark's Square in Venice

  • content:

    Make Travel Matter®

    Venice: Discover the ancient skill of Venetian glassblowing and play a part in preserving this traditional craft. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

  • content:

    Be My Guest

    Acireale: Daniela and her family will welcome you with the words 'Be My Guest' and treat you as a cherished family member. She will tell you about her life on the farm and interesting information about the house and the lemon and orange groves. Later, after a welcome drink, she will serve her home-cooked cuisine surrounded by the warmth of Sicilian hospitality.

Itinerary

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Day 1: Welcome To Palermo

Location: Palermo

Accommodation: Mercure Centro

Accommodation Name: Mercure Centro

Meals Included: Dinner

The multicultural capital of Palermo is the launchpad for your journey across Sicily and Italy. You’ll have some free time before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travellers for dinner and orientation of the city’s attractions, so why not head straight out to explore its fascinating streets on your own?

Day 2: Enjoy The Views In Monreale

Location: Monreale

Accommodation: Mercure Centro

Accommodation Name: Mercure Centro

Meals Included: Breakfast

Join your Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour, which includes the Teatro Massimo and the old 'La Cala' harbour. Later, travel to Monreale on the slopes of Monte Caputo, overlooking the almond, olive and orange groves of La Conca d'Oro. Here you’ll visit the 12th-century Norman Cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

Day 3: Journey To Ancient Agrigento

Location: Agrigento

Accommodation: Dioscuri Bay Palace

Accommodation Name: Dioscuri Bay Palace

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Take it easy this morning or explore further on the Optional Experience taking in different views of the city. Later, journey onwards to Agrigento to tour the impressive Greek Valley of the Temples, dating back to the 6th century BC, with a Local Specialist. This evening, dinner is served at your hotel.

Day 4: Onwards To Scenic Taormina

Location: Taormina

Accommodation: Caesar Palace Giardini Naxos

Accommodation Name: Caesar Palace Giardini Naxos

Meals Included: Breakfast

Travel through the vineyards of the southern hills towards the seaside resort of Taormina, your home for the next two nights. Enjoy spectacular vistas and a taste of la dolce vita in this hillside town, with some free time on arrival.

Day 5: Taormina Your Way Connect With Locals

Location: Taormina

Accommodation: Caesar Palace Giardini Naxos

Accommodation Name: Caesar Palace Giardini Naxos

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Spend the day relaxing at your chic Sicilian resort. Dive into the warm Mediterranean waters, shop for exquisite hand-painted ceramics on Corso Umberto or indulge in a mulberry granita. Consider joining an Optional Experience to Savoca, the village made famous by ‘The Godfather', and Europe's most active volcano - Mount Etna. This evening, join a Be My Guest experience hosted at a beautiful family owned Sicilian lemon farm overlooking Mount Etna.

Day 6: Travel To Sorrento

Location: Sorrento

Accommodation: Grand Parco del Sole

Accommodation Name: Grand Cesare Augusto

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we cross the Strait of Messina to mainland Italy by ferry, driving north through rustic Calabria and past Salerno to our hotel in Sorrento where we’ll spend the next two nights. Tonight perhaps consider an Optional Experience to explore the famous culinary culture of Southern Italy.

Day 7: Visit The Isle Of Capri

Location: Capri

Accommodation: Grand Parco del Sole

Accommodation Name: Grand Cesare Augusto

Meals Included: Breakfast

Cruise to the Isle of Capri where you’ll enjoy a guided walking tour of Capri town with a Local Specialist. Window-shop along Via Camerelle and watch the beautiful people in the Piazzetta before returning to Sorrento. This afternoon perhaps consider a drive along the famed Amalfi Coast to Positano, a true Mediterranean gem. You will have the evening at leisure to indulge in a little limoncello in one of Sorrento's many cafés.

Day 8: Explore Pompeii’S Ruins And Rome

Location: Pompeii

Accommodation: Grand Tiberio

Accommodation Name: Grand Tiberio

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed ruins of Pompeii where a Local Specialist will take you on a walking tour. For centuries this city was lost to the world, but its rediscovery in the 18th century revealed a time capsule of well-preserved ruins, providing insights into the day-to-day life of a Roman city centuries ago. Later, admire the dramatic coastline as you drive north from Pompeii to the 'Eternal City' of Rome. This evening, Roman flavours and ancient ruins take centre stage as you dine at Ristorante Pancrazio, built over the ruins of the first-century BC Theatre of Pompey. Indulge in a selection of signature Roman dishes handed down over four generations since 1922.

Day 9: Explore Ancient Rome And The Vatican City

Location: Rome

Accommodation: Grand Tiberio

Accommodation Name: Grand Tiberio

Meals Included: Breakfast

Rome was once the capital of the world and is a city with an irrepressible spirit. Join your Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour. Cross the Tiber river and in Ancient Rome see the Circus Maximus and enjoy a visit to the mighty Colosseum. Throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain on an optional experience discovering piazzas and fountains of Rome with a Local Specialist this afternoon. Spend the rest of the day exploring the city your way.

Day 10: Off To Historic Assisi

Location: Assisi

Accommodation: Grand

Accommodation Name: Cristallo

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Today, drive north to the mystical medieval hilltop town of Assisi, most famous for being the birthplace of St. Francis. Join a Local Specialist  for a tour of the Basilica of St. Francis to view its magnificent frescoes and carvings.

Day 11: Admire Pisa And On To La Spezia

Location: Pisa

Accommodation: NH La Spezia

Accommodation Name: Firenze & Continentale La Spezia

Meals Included: Breakfast

We venture to Pisa to visit the Square of Miracles and view the Leaning Tower that bears this city's name. A short drive north takes us to La Spezia, known as the 'Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea'. Tonight is free to explore as you wish.

Day 12: Enjoy Colourful Cinque Terre And Florence

Location: Cinque Terre

Accommodation: Grand Mediterraneo

Accommodation Name: Grand Mediterraneo

Meals Included: Breakfast

Join a Local Specialist to visit Cinque Terre, a series of centuries-old seaside villages clinging impossibly to rugged cliffs that plunge into the Ligurian Sea. Continue later to Florence, once a vibrant republic under the rule of the dynamic Medici family, whose love for art and antiquities created one of the world's most cultural cities. Tonight perhaps consider dinner in the famed Tuscan Hills.

Day 13: Journey To Venice

Location: Venice

Accommodation: Le Boulevard Lido

Accommodation Name: Le Boulevard Lido

Meals Included: Breakfast

The magnificent marble Duomo, Santa Croce Basilica, Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria feature on your walking tour with a Local Specialist through Florence's historic streets. Later, journey north to Venice, the 'Queen of the Adriatic'.

Day 14: Cruise The Canals Of Venice Make Travel Matter

Location: Venice

Accommodation: Le Boulevard Lido

Accommodation Name: Le Boulevard Lido

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Embark on an orientation cruise by private launch to the gateway of Venice, St. Mark's Square, which Napoleon once called the 'drawing room of Europe'. See the Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Basilica and the Bridge of Sighs, where prisoners would have one last look at their beloved city before facing imprisonment. Next, witness the centuries-old craft of glassblowing. Your unforgettable MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience helps keep alive this delicate tradition for which Venice is justifiably famous, and you’ll watch in awe as masters of their craft shape molten glass into the exquisite pieces that adorn homes all over the world. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore more of the sights or consider an Optional Experience, navigating the city's elegant canals aboard a traditional gondola. Tonight, join your fellow travellers for dinner and toast to shared memories that will linger long after the evening ends.

Day 15: Farewell Venice

Location: Venice

Meals Included: Breakfast

For now, it's a fond ciao Venezia as you say goodbye to new friends and prepare to depart for your journey home.

What's Included

  • An expert Travel Director and professional Driver

    The tour includes the services of an expert Travel Director and a professional driver.

  • Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted

    Accommodation is provided in cherry-picked hotels that are tried and trusted.

  • All porterage and restaurant gratuities

    All porterage and restaurant gratuities are included in the tour package.

  • All hotel tips, charges and local taxes

    The tour covers all hotel tips, charges, and local taxes.

  • Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals

    Daily breakfast and up to half of your evening meals are included.

  • Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras

    The tour includes must-see sightseeing and surprise extras.

  • Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing

    Audio headsets are provided for flexible sightseeing.

  • Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)

    Travel is in a luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation such as rail journeys.

  • Ferry across the Straits of Messina to mainland Italy

    The tour includes a ferry crossing across the Straits of Messina to mainland Italy.

  • Return cruise to the Isle of Capri

    A return cruise to the Isle of Capri is included in the tour.

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What's Not Included

  • Personal expenses

    Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.

  • Travel insurance

    Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.

  • Optional excursions

    Optional excursions and activities not mentioned in the itinerary are not included.

  • Flights

    International and domestic flights to and from the tour start and end points are not included.

Dining Summary

  • 6 Dinner (D)
  • 14 Breakfast (B)

Mode of Transport

Travel in luxury with an air-conditioned coach equipped with Wi-Fi, enjoy scenic ferry rides across the Straits of Messina, and a return cruise to the Isle of Capri, ensuring a comfortable and memorable journey.

Accommodation

Stay in cherry-picked hotels such as Mercure Centro in Palermo, Dioscuri Bay Palace in Agrigento, and Grand Tiberio in Rome, ensuring comfort and convenience throughout your journey across Italy and Sicily.

Check out our Q&As

  • What unique experiences are included in the tour?

    The tour includes a 'Be My Guest' experience at a Sicilian lemon farm where you will be treated to home-cooked cuisine and learn about the farm's history. Additionally, there is a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience in Venice where you will witness the ancient craft of glassblowing, supporting sustainable cities and communities.

  • What kind of transportation is used during the tour?

    The tour uses a luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries, and includes a ferry across the Straits of Messina to mainland Italy and a return cruise to the Isle of Capri.

  • Are there any guided tours included in the itinerary?

    Yes, the tour includes guided tours with Local Specialists in several locations such as the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, the Isle of Capri, Pompeii, and the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi.

  • What meals are provided during the tour?

    The tour provides breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals, including 6 dinners and 14 breakfasts.

  • What is the starting and ending point of the tour?

    The tour starts in Palermo and ends in Venice.

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    The beauty of taking a guided holiday with us is that you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Vaccination against Covid-19 is not mandatory to travel with Trafalgar. However, we strongly recommend that guests are vaccinated before travelling. Please note that airlines and/or other authorities may have different requirements. It is the guest's responsibility to comply with these requirements at all times.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Since 1947

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Trafalgar is a founding partner of the TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2008. So far, the charity has donated more than US$2 million to help underprivileged communities and support sustainable tourism around the world.

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

Reviews of this operator

Renato Arrieta  

Best tour I joined so far

14-Jan-2023

My first time with Trafalgar and I see no reason why I should not join them again.

Feefo Trusted Reviews
King Ng, Lafayette, California  

Very well planned trip with timely breaks during the coach ride..

08-Nov-2021

It was a well organized tour group and we hit lots of interesting and beautiful scenes. Like our previous trips with Trafalgar, tourists were treated with well manner and professional tour guide/director, making our trip very enjoyable and delightful!

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Trusted Customer  

Best of Egypt

14-Jan-2023

We really did see the best of Egypt and beyond. Our tour guide, Mohammad, guided us through the rich history and the urban and rural life of such a unique and delightful country. We felt very safe and pampered.

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Marshal Daguio  

Wonderful Best Of Turkey

06-Nov-2021

It was my first time with Trafalgar Tour and I had a wonderful trip from day 1 till the last day. The Tour Director, Yocel Atik is very knowledgeable and Excellent. The health director and coach driver are helpful and supportive as well. The hotels selected were comfortable especially Rixos Hotel and Movenpick Hotel. The Best of Turkey is better than I expected.

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Barbara, Canada  

Irish Experience

09-Nov-2021

I am single and travel alone. I always feel secure and well-looked after when I travel with Trafalgar

Feefo Trusted Reviews

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Operator discount: -$594

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Operator discount: -$60

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Operator discount: -$60

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Operator discount: -$60

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Operator discount: -$60

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Operator discount: -$60

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Operator discount: -$60

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Operator discount: -$60

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Operator discount: -$60

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$5725 $5665

Operator discount: -$60

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Oct 29, 2026 - Nov 12, 2026
$5550 $5490

Operator discount: -$60

Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    Trafalgar requires a minimum deposit of 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of trafalgar charges.

    Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.

    At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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