Ultimate Italy

Welcome to Rome! Once known as the 'capital of the world' this richly historic, passionate and elegant city will steal our hearts as soon as we arrive. We'll meet and greet our Contiki crew, before taking to the streets for an included Italian feast. After dinner we'll head on an orientation tour of the city ticking off all the sights in Rome.

Rise and shine, we're headed to another historical heavyweight today... ...but not before stopping off at Siena for lunch. This place has medieval masterpieces (the historic city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site too!). So, soak up all that historic beauty & grab a bite before we head onto Florence. This beautiful city is a certified foodie capital, so we're diving straight into an included feast of local delicacies. Then it's lights out, with dreams of tomorrow's Florentine adventures dancing in our heads.

Florence is basically a giant open-air museum, and today we're hitting it on foot. With a Local Guide, we'll check out Giotto's Bell Tower, Basilica Santa Croce, Piazza della Signoria, and the epic Duomo.

Tonight, it's all about an optional Tuscan evening with a risotto demo, local wine, antipasto, and some ‘dolce' to finish.

Farewell, Florence. We'll never forget you. But we've got more dreamy Italian hot spots to hit up. Now we get to stopover at lovely Lucca, with its charming piazzas, Renaissance architecture and historic cafes. Opt for wines at the local vineyards outside of Lucca. Or it's a perfect spot to grab a bite before we hit the road again. We can't be this way of the world without a sneaky visit to the Leaning Tower of Pisa! And that's exactly what we'll do this afternoon. Welcome to the Italian Riviera! You're going to fall head over heels with this region over the coming days...

Cinque Terre isn't one town, it's five coastal gems, each with its own vibe and postcard views. We'll sort you out with an unlimited hike & train pass. Which means you can cliff-walk, station-hop, and soak up pastel perfection all day long.

This morning, we're hitting the road today to one of the most elegant cities in Europe. Before that, a quick stop to experience the glitz and glamour of Lake Como. The showstopper is the lake itself, of course, and you'll also have the option to get out on the water for a cruise.

Welcome to Milan – all style, all sass. Tonight's free for you to chase down the best eats, sip on local flavours, and see where the night takes you. Your Trip Manager's got the inside scoop on the must-dos.

The dreamy destinations just don't stop coming... Welcome to Verona – Renaissance romance central and the real-life stage for Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. We'll swing by Juliet's house (yep, the actual one!), then it's off to our next dose of Italian romance. Ciao Treviso. This low-key charmer is basically Venice's relaxed cousin.

Tonight's free for you to wander cobbled streets, feast on local bites, and maybe hunt down the OG tiramisu (yep, it was born here). Tomorrow, we take on the real Venice.

Wake-up sleeping beauties! Hop onto our coach because we've got the entire day to explore Venice. We'll be jumping aboard our own private boat and crossing the canal en route to the historical heart of the city. A gondola ride will be up for grabs, or if you wanna escape the crowds, there's also an optional Burano Island Cruise that you'll love. Or you can always choose to get lost on your own and see where the maze takes you. Our day ends where it started in Treviso, where it's time to tuck in for tomorrow.

See ya, Treviso. You'll always have a piece of our hearts. Today we're headed back to Rome with a delicious lil' stop on the way. Home of prosciutto, mortadella, bolognese sauce and many more tasty Italian delights, Bologna is known far and wide as La Grassa (the Fat One). Come hungry, but make sure you're not too full to explore the UNESCO listed porticoes either. It's a free night for dinner and a chance to dine on a wholesome meal in a converted underground wine cellar. All washed down with some fine Italian wine? If you say so.

Rome wasn't built in a day - so get up and get going early to make the most of this ancient city. Take a tour of the famous Colosseum and walk in the footsteps of Emperors and Gladiators with a guide, or snap epic selfies against a background of pink azaleas by the entrance. This is also the day to do a bit of your own exploring.

Tonight, we'll regroup for an included dinner.

Today we're headed to another richly historical and cultural city, known for its naturally beautiful sights and excellent cuisine. Here in the ancient city of Pompeii, you'll have the option to partake in a guided walking tour of the fascinating ancient Roman town that was destroyed by Vesuvius (and then perfectly preserved in volcanic ash!). Hello Naples! We'll settle down in our beautiful hotel (that's just a few mins from the historic city centre). Today we have the option to take a tour, learn about the city, its history and its food culture.

Today we swap city vibes for coastal dreams, chasing some of Europe's most glamorous seascapes along the way. Capri's up next – all dramatic cliffs, luxe cafes, and serious celeb energy. Join the optional cruise for swim stops in turquoise coves that'll have you feeling like you're in a movie. We'll roll into the Amalfi Coast after a day of pastel-perfect towns, sun-bleached buildings, and seas so sparkly they could blind you (in the best way).

We've got a free day on the Amalfi Coast! Lucky us. Plus, there's an optional visit to a lemon farm, run by a local family whose ancestors introduced the crop. Dramatic cliffs and idyllic buildings await us in picturesque Positano. Amalfi's just getting started. Aaaand, we're here. You've got the entire evening for yourself. Roam the streets, taste some wine, live the Italian life we've all dreamed of.

Rome, we're coming back for you! Back in Rome for round three – more history, more foodie finds, and more photo ops.

Tonight, you can join a local chef to whip up your own pasta masterpiece… and then eat every last bite.

Today we're hopping on a speedy flight to the incomparable isle of Sicily. This colourful mix of baroque piazzas and ancient ruins is your perfect Sicilian welcome. We'll explore Catania's UNESCO-listed historic core before sitting down to an included dinner at a local spot.

We've got more spectacular Sicilian towns to explore today, as we head from Catania to Taormina. Perched on a mountainside and serving peak Italian elegance, Taormina is all about la dolce vita. We'll ride the cable car, soak up the sun, and live our best holiday lives. Feeling foodie? Opt for a cooking class with local pros and master Sicilian specialities like arancini and cannoli.

Today's optional is a total thrill - a ride up Mt Etna (AKA Europe's highest active volcano!), passing vineyards and orchards that scream Sicilian magic. Not feeling the volcano vibe? No worries — your day's free to chill on the beach, explore the ancient Roman theatre, or sip a spritz and watch life drift by in true Italian style.

See ya later, Taormina – it's time to visit some historical hotspots. We'll have some free time to check out the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Syracuse. Famed for its rich ancient Roman and Greek history, with ancient amphitheatres and architecture everywhere you look.

Next stop: Noto, Sicily's baroque beauty packed with stunning architecture and legendary landmarks like Corso Vittoria Emanuele. After soaking up the sights, we're heading to an organic farm for a Tastes of Sicily experience - think farm-fresh flavours served straight to your plate. And after a long but lovely day, it's finally time to hit the hay.

Heading from Syracuse we'll arrive in the Valley of the Temples, the perfect base to explore another ancient wonder... Leaving Italy without visiting the Valley of the Temples? Impossible. This mystical valley is a treasure trove of historical and archaeological heritage. We'll discover ancient temples, sanctuaries and a necropolis. Arriving in Cefalù we'll enjoy another included dinner of Sicilian delicacies.

Cefalù is a real gem, home to Sicily's best beaches and most impressive Arabic architecture. Today's all about coastal vibes, soaking up that sun, sea and sand — with plenty of water sports to get involved with. If you're feeling a little more zen, why not opt for the coastal cruise and soak up some scenery instead? Later on, we'll stroll the winding cobbled streets and watch fishermen taking stock of the day's bounties, before exploring the town's foodie and nightlife scene.

It's time to end on a high, as we make our way towards Sicily's sizzling capital. Palermo's a vibrant, colourful city with a food scene that'll blow your mind. But it's also got a complex history with the Mafia. Today, you'll join a walking tour through the historic centre to hear the real story behind Palermo's fight against organised crime and the rise of the anti-Mafia movement. Then, we'll finish strong with a farewell dinner Al Fresco, at the ‘bistro of second chances'.

Time to head home after one final breakfast together (sob). Hug it out, swap social details — and don't be sad. We'll see each other on the road again soon...