Imagine yourself strolling through the cobbled streets of Rome, marveling at the Colosseum’s grandeur, or tossing a coin into the Trevi Fountain for eternal love. Then, picture yourself gazing at the Eiffel Tower’s twinkling lights as you cruise down the Seine River in Paris, indulging in buttery croissants and sipping strong coffee at a sidewalk cafe. This dream becomes reality with our exclusive Italy & France tour package!
This unforgettable adventure whisks you away to the heart of European culture. Immerse yourself in the rich history of Italy, exploring the ancient ruins of Rome, the artistic treasures of Florence, and the romantic canals of Venice. In France,wander the majestic Palace of Versailles, climb the iconic Eiffel Tower, and lose yourself in the world-renowned Louvre Museum.
Welcome to Rome! Upon arrival, we will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. Later, our guide will greet you and provide all the necessary information, which you can also check in the informative panels in the hotel reception area. In the evening we will arrange a transfer to the Via Cavour area, a great introduction to Rome, where you will find restaurants serving Italian, Indian, Chinese and international food.
In the morning, we have a scenic tour, which will be a great introduction to “The Eternal city”. We will visit the tiny state of the Vatican, the epicenter of Christianity in the world. You will be able to visit St. Peter’s Basilica. We include the entrance to the Imperial Forums, an impressive architectural complex formed by monumental buildings and squares, center of the political activity of Imperial Rome.At the end of the evening we arrange a transfer to Trastevere area for a stroll in the narrow cobbled streets of the district with hidden treasures, such as some modest medieval churches, small shops with the most peculiar of objects or scenes of daily life. Many trattorias (informal Italian eating establishments) and osterias (inns) imbued with the Italian spirit will be ready to serve you local dishes. Other restaurants serving Indian, Chinese and international food can be found in this area. Return to hotel.
We will leave Rome for northern Italy. In PISA, we include a little train from the tourist car park to the monumental Square of Miracles, where the popular Leaning Tower is located. Lunch included. We continue amidst beautiful scenery with the Mediterranean. SESTRI LEVANTE, a short stop to enjoy this small tourist town by the sea. We continue to the French Riviera; NICE, arrival at the end of the afternoon.Note: on some dates accommodation may be given somewhere near Nice on the Côte d´Azur.
We spend a short time in NICE to enjoy the “Promenade des Anglais” (Walkway of the English). We continue to SAINT MAXIME, a delicious small coastal town, to stroll through its port and its historic center where the “Square Tower” of the sixteenth century stands out. From there we will take a tourist boat to cross the beautiful bay and arrive by sea to SAINT TROPEZ, in its old fishing port we can see some of the most luxurious yachts in the world. Time to stroll and have lunch. We continue to MARSEILLE, France´s second city, to see its vibrant “Vieux port” (old port).
Villages, landscapes, history, today we see some of the most beautiful places in Provence. ARLES, a world heritage city, shows us its legacy of the Roman and medieval times and reminds us of Van Gogh. In LES BEAUX, we have the chance to visit this small medieval village and we will include admission to the CARRIERES DE LUMIERE, an impressive show of art, image and sound underground, in some former quarries. Time for lunch and stroll in AVIGNON, with its immense Palais des Papes. We continue to LYON, where we can walk through the World Heritage Site old town and we will include the cable car to climb Notre Dame de Fourviere, a huge basilica from where we have a great view over the city.Note: When due to closure or influx of public it is not possible to obtain tickets for the show of Carrieres de Lumière, as an alternative there will be a transfer to the Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard.
We will set off from Lyon and head to the Burgundy region. We stop at TOURNUS, a quaint little town with an imposing stone gate and a large abbey. After that, we will travel to BEAUNE. Time to have lunch and explore a bit through the wine capital of Burgundy. We recommend you to visit the wine museum or the historic hospice. Next, we will visit the CASTLE OF SAVIGNY situated in the heart of this winemaking region. The castle was built in the 15th century and houses some extraordinary museums (museum of motorbikes, racing cars, planes and helicopters!). We continue to DIJON, capital of Burgundy, which boasts of lively streets as well as numerous medieval and Renaissance buildings, among which, the palace of the dukes stands out.
We leave Dijon for FONTENAY ABBEY, a world heritage site, where we include admission to this Cistercian center. After this, we will make a stop in SEMUR EN AUXOIS, a medieval city surrounded by impressive walls. Still in Burgundy, we will have time for lunch and a stroll in VEZELAY, one of France’s most beautiful villages, where its immense basilica was one of the starting points of the Way of St James. In the afternoon we continue our route to PARIS. Arrival in the evening.
We come into contact with the history of France in the immense Palace of Versailles (admission not included) with its beautiful gardens. After that, on our way back to Paris, we head to Montmartre, and take a cable car (included) to go up to this bohemian neighborhood known for its painters, artists and cabarets. To contemplate the beauty of the impressive avenues and monuments of Paris, you will have the city tour with a local guide. Return to the hotel. Optionally you can attend the variety show.
We go to the center of Paris, starting by the Eiffel Tower area. You will have the opportunity to go up to the second floor of this remarkable metal monument (ticket included). Then we enjoy a boat cruise along the River Seine, which divides the north of Paris from the south. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore as you choose.Note: in some cases the waits to go up the Eiffel Tower are long. Thus the climb may take place at a different time (or on Sunday), if it is considered convenient for organizational reasons.
After breakfast, end of our services.