Best of Venice, Florence & Rome in 10 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved the cities and the amazing people on our tour. Truly had an amazing time with them. Too many museums for me. Loved the food and prestaurants, loved our tour guide in Florence. She was delightful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"View from Giotto tower, visiting the winery, lunch and cooking class. The David, The Vatican and at Peter’s basilica, the Forum in Rome and everything about Venice "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Italy can be a little bit overwhelming as there is so much history, art, architecture, museums etc… it is hard to fit it all in. This trip could easily have been 2-4 days longer.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Michelangelo’s “David” at the national museum, walking along the Roman Forum. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As a first-timer to Italy I found this tour a great introduction.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"St Peter’s basilica "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was a great experience - Lorenza (our tour guide) was well-versed and often took us on little "diversions" to see something interesting. Visiting the cities in this order was perfect - staying in calm and beautiful Venice then easing into historic Florence before being stunned by the good (and the less so) of Rome. The tour hit the hot spots and there was plenty of private time to see the 2nd tier sites. The hotels were well located and comfortable with great staff.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Pantheon - what a stunning testament to our ability to persevere. Even with the crowds, I went twice just to be immersed in the history."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour guide is a critical piece of the tour experience. Ours, Lorenza, was exceptional (as were specific guides) She was professional, yet personable. I loved how she shared some basic Italian lessons on the bus, the legend of Baco candies, the Italian coffee etiquette to name just a few. The tour itself was terrific and comprehensive. Friends that had been to Italy were impressed at the number of must-sees included. I was enriched and well cared for.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to choose just one, but I loved the visit to Marko’s winery/olive grove/home. The olive oil tutorial has changed how I will buy this critical culinary ingredient forevermore. The food, wine, and setting were a delightful “ah” moment on the tour. The lunch with his wine pairings was probably my favorite tour meal. If only he had job openings…. (Ha). "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide, great group, great destinations

Favorite "WOW" moment

"walking around Venice"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We toured Venice, Florence and Rome..each city was unique. I loved the canals and gondolas in Venice. We enjoyed wine tasting and a fantastic lunch at a farm that had both a grape and olive orchard. The owner described the process of converting the

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The gondola ride in Venice. I loved it."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour guides were great. Lisa was so wonderful. Very knowledgeable. Wasn't happy that we had to do Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel on our own. Other tours got it, RS should have gotten us in. Hotels were so-so. Could have had nicer hotels and more central hotels. Too out of the way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Michelangelo's David and St. Peter's Basilica."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This trip was our once in a lifetime and it truly was.. simply incredible.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is impossible to pick just one. All of the tours, dinners and experiences were a WOW!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It’s was amazing and well coordinated. We experienced many highlights of Italy with a great group of fellow adventurers. Our tour manager Lisa was fantastic as were the local guides who provided background and behind the scene stories of each exhibit. Hotels, transportation and food were excellent!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had so many wow moments seeing original art and architecture that I previously had only seen in history classes. The Vatican, Pantheon, St. Mark’s Cathedral and Doge’s Palace, Canals of Venice, The Duomo in Florence, and the list goes on. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Throughly enjoyed my trip. Lisa, our guide, was both helpful and personable. The hotels, meals, and experiences were lovely. Too many church visits for my taste.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were wow moments in each city so it is too hard to choose 1."

Overall rating: rating 1 of 5

I have previously taken a Rome tour and I took my daughter on this tour. To say this tour was a letdown is an understatement. I was very excited to see things again and for her to experience them. We didn't know before we got there that we would not be able to. Borghese Gallery, inside the colosseum are a couple. There were less meals provided. Our guide was a disappointment, never even mentioned the Bridge of Sighs among other things. Overall, the quality of the tour was poor. Not recommended.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The biggest WOW moment is when we separated from the group and did our own exploring, seeing and doing much more on our own. Last RS tour for me. One of my fellow tour members, who has taken many RS tours, commented on the decline in the quality of the tour. Less meals provided, not having tickets or access to the "must sees", waiting an unreasonable time for an extremely cramped city bus. Our guide left without me, knowing I was ON MY WAY and would be there in LESS THAN A MINUTE. Grade: D"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The VFR tour was a repeat for my husband and me, Did the tour 16 years ago and had fond memories of our trip that we decided to do it all over again. Rome's Vatican Jubilee of 2025 caused the antiquity we cherished to see again scaffolded to be shined up and fountains( without their water due to cleaning. There were far more tourists that happened to be there the same time we were. The Italian transit system underground& bus remains crowded and crunched. Wish we had more passes to museums.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Antiquity is always WOW , however the 'cooking class' in Florence was major fun for Mark and me and new to this particular tour. Our group was broken into smaller groups so as a team we collaborated with the chef's direction to produce an outstanding, hearty 4 course Italian meal from scratch! Also, the visit to the Orvieto Winery and revisiting the farmstead, its underground cellar, then having wine tasting with various cheese and breads made a nice break for relaxation beofre our trip to Rome."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great cities to visit and learn about....Ferdie was an excellent tour manager. Educational and very personable!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Gondola ride with music in Venice....followed closely by the stop for wine-tasting in the country."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Every thing was great and our tour guide Ferdi was very good and a nice person. The only negative was the crowds of people ( other tourists) but that is not your fault or problem.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Roman Forum and the local tour guide."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, Lorenza, was fabulous! She helped us learn about the culture, history, and traditions of Italians and orchestrated so many excursions ensuring we saw key sights in Venice, Florence, and Rome. We appreciated the wide range of activities and delicious meals that our group enjoyed together. Lorenza's attention to detail and strong organizational skills allowed us to relax and enjoy the sights instead of stressing about where to go and what to do. The trip was great! Thank you!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many "wow" moments it's impossible to pick just one! The architecture, mosaics, and art in the churches, museums and Vatican - Amazing! The views of Florence from the top of the Duomo in Florence - breathtaking! The Sistine Chapel in the Vatican - Surreal! The vibrant colors of the houses on the island of Burano - So cool! Wandering through the winding streets in Venice and riding in the Gondola at dusk - So much fun! The Colosseum and Forum - Wow! Umbria - So peaceful!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well organized, the guides were very informative, checked all the boxes on what you would want to see in Italy. With all that being said you still had plenty of time to yourself to explore and enjoy. Laurencia was absolutely awesome.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Pantheon blew me away, with all the details."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very impressed by the overall organization, communication and care of every detail along the way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The inside of the Pantheon in Rome. I didn't expect the inside to be so beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Far exceeded my expectations. This tour was well managed, led by an exceptional leader with a huge sense of humor and a lot of travel savvy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wow moment?: The crowds. I heard about it but until you see it it's hard to imagine. But, it didn't stop us from anything. Another great WOW was how 28 people from all walks of life and different views can come together and have a great time together. It was a great tour. Thanks to Lorenza for making it great, rain or shine!!!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour guide Lorenza was excellent! She was very helpful in so many ways with recommendations on places to go, restaurants outside of our tour. She was very timely with information and kept us on schedule. The group itself consisted of 24 people from all over the United States! The group was very social, energetic and up for everything. We all connected very quickly!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our tour visit to Marco’s family run winery in Umbria was my absolute favorite. Besides being the most incredible host at their beautiful vineyard, he was so engaging and welcoming. We learned so much about olives, olive oil and wine! It was magnificent! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a fantastic vacation! This was our first Rick Steve vacation and the bar is set pretty high for all future vacations. We haven’t stopped talking about our vacation, and planning our next RS vacation.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning the history of the places we visited with the local guides was one of the best part our the trip. It was truly an amazing experience. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Had a fantastic time visiting Venice, Florence, and Rome! We had a great tour group and an even better tour manager. Stephanie was extremely helpful in giving recommendations and in making it a special trip for everyone! The local guides each day were extremely welcoming and knowledgeable! Highly recommend!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many! In Florence, with the recommendation from our tour manager, we walked up to Piazzale Michelangelo just before sunset! Breathtaking views of the city! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was perfect, from the sights to the guides. Loved learning the history and culture every where we went, through our awesome local tour guides and phenomenal tour manager Stephanie!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing how different the culture and every day life is compared to the U.S "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour leader Stephanie was excellent! Experienced, fun, inclusive, smart, organized, knowledgeable, flexible, calm, and a fabulous guide! Schedule was perfect, with a good mix of group activities, and free time. Hotels were top notch!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing St. Peter’s Square and going into the church."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First time taking a tour in Europe and was all that I hoped it would be. Stephanie was an outstanding tour director and also had excellent tour guides within each city.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the Vatican was an extraordinary experience. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very satisfying. Local guides and tour director were excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting historical places, churches and palaces, and museums. Soaking up the history of each city."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a trip of a lifetime! Our tour guide was phenomenal! Stephanie made sure our trip was amazing!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Michaelangelo’s David!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour. Wanted to get a foundation of Italy before venturing to less "city" tours. This tour did the trick with wonderful guidance from our tour group leader

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Venice from the water for the 1st time, and walking around and seeing gondola through narrow old alleys. Just amazing"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The usual great Rick Steve's experience. Friendly people, educational tour guides, and time to do our own thing. Loved it all!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many wow moments, and I can't say one was my favorite. Among the top, first sight of the Grand Canal in Venice, the Colosseum in Rome, and seeing the wine cellar in Umbria which was more like a wine cave! Never have seen something like that."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great tour leader and selection of local guides. I would have selected "Outstanding" overall as experience, but I believe our group was just too large. Literature on the trip says groups are 20 to 25 people max, but we had 29. That's too many.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The statue of David. Pictures just cannot capture the magnificence of that art. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"David"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Lorenza was fantastic! She is so knowledgeable, great sense of humor, caring and fabulous guide! Hotels were wonderful and staff was helpful and very accommodating! Group dinners were delicious and fun!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We did this tour 2 years ago and came back to enjoy the loveliness of Venice, taking quiet walks at midnight, enjoying backstreet walking tour, feasting on great meals, fun with the group! Florence and Umbria at Marco's wine tasting are our other favorites! Gnocchi to die for, great wine, the Tavola cooking class with the group is so fun, taking in the Galileo Museum, and everything that makes Florence unforgettable! We visited the San Callixtus Catacombs outside of Rome that are incredible!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was a fantastic experience. So glad to have been on Rick Steve's Italy tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many Wow moments during the tour. The overall Venice experience certainly stands out."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything about this tour was top notch. The information provided from the time of booking was so incredibly thorough and helpful. Then from the time of our arrival, the tour was super organized and every detail was planned out perfectly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Climbing to the top of St Peters Basilica during our "on our own time.""

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

All of my expectations were met or surpassed. Our guide, Lorenza, was the best part. The hotels had an authentic feel, were in locations where we had a good feel for life in the locale, and were comfortable enough. The sub-contracted guides were excellent. Most of the meals were great (amatriciana, meh), and I liked the extra treats. RS tours attract the best people! The RS Italy book was a helpful supplement. THANK YOU RICK STEVES and all of his people!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fave: the Intavola cooking class. Yes, it was astounding to see the elaborate paintings, statues, ceilings, & spires, so it may sound philistine that a favorite was making food. I felt closer to the real life of Italy. Close runners-up: 1) The agritourismo in Orvieto. Marco was personable, fun, the countryside was beautiful, & the food was wonderful. We bought two bottles of wine & two cans of his olive oil. Only the oil made it home. 2) The Uffizi was my favorite of the historical sites. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The hotels were superb, especially the Silla in Florence. Lorenza was organized and delightful, as were all the guides, especially Francesca at Vatican City. I loved the back streets tours, our cooking class, and gelato!. Our meals were delicious and the wine flowed very generously. I appreciated having free time to explore museums and cathedrals, and your recommendations. I'm glad we were in the heart of each city. MANY sites were curtained off for "cleaning" -- the only down side.

Favorite "WOW" moment

" I loved our wine-tasting experience in Tuscany with Marko, who was entertaining, educational, and welcoming. After being in such crowded cities it was really nice to be in the country. The food and wine pairings were perfect -- and generous. I felt jealous of the next tour that would be staying there for three days. We bought several bottles of olive oil and wine even though that meant carrying it for the rest of the tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a spectacular tour! Venice, Florence, and Rome were fantastic, so much to see and experience! Venice is so unique being surrounded by water, and everybody there walks. No cars, bikes, motorcycles, scooter, etc. Our tour guide, Lorenza was awesome, very accomodating, and our local guides for each city spoke fluent English and were great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the family owned winery we visited on the way to Rome, in Umbria. The Owner, Marco did a fantastic job of telling us about the history of his winery, Agriturismo Poggio dellaVolara Winery. We had wine tasting and a delicious light lunch."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour itinerary was excellent, the guides were either very good or outstanding and accommodations were merely good enough. The members of the tour group were very pleasant; none were uncooperative with the program.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two "wow" moments were the San Marcos Basilica in Venice and the Michelangelo wooden crucifix sculpture in the sacistre at the Church of Spirito Santo in Florence."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall a good experience, consistent with the prior tour we took last year and met our expectations though the cities were more crowded than we had hoped by taking a September tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Although there were many moments, we found that the cooking class was the most fun. There were 9 of in our group and the chef was a lot of fun and the food delicious. I would note that the rest of our group did not have the same fun experience. Several in the other room complained that their chef was unpleasant and apparently grumpy."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Donald is an excellent tour guide. Entertaining and very informative. Well organized.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many great moments. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every aspect of this tour was magnificent! Our tour guide, Donald, set the joyful tone of our group, sharing his pertinent & interesting knowledge & insights, along with his good sense of humor. It’s evident that the accommodations, meals & activities were thoughtfully chosen. We experienced Italy’s history & culture while having a great time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many “wow” moments. My favorites included the Italian cooking class we took in Florence & the delicious meal that followed, the gondola ride in Venice where we were serenaded with guitar music & singing, & tours of local sites & art masterpieces given by local guides who shared their in-depth knowledge."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Overall the tour was good. It was nice traveling with a nice group of people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice, Florence, Rome. They were all wow moments. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

My wife and I enjoyed the tour very much. Wonderful cities and sights, excellent tour leader and local guides, delicious food and wine, comfortable accommodations, and friendly tour members. The tour lived up to the Rick Steves standard we've come to expect (this is our 3rd RS tour). The tour whetted my appetite to return and experience more of Italy!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"1. Stepping out of the train station in Venice and seeing the boats, the water and the buildings, all laid out before me! It was like the opening scene in a Broadway play. 2. The David statue. Simply magnificent. 3. The Colosseum. Just standing there, marveling, and imagining what it must have been like."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide hit that special balance of helping us have a wonderful tour but not over managing us. The tour also hit all the sweet notes of experiencing Italy in 10 days- from the cities selected for the tour down to the details of the meals that we had.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being nestled in the cities where we could easily go explore on our own. And, of course, the sites and historical things we got to see. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was very well organized and enjoyable. We loved the fact that there was ample free time to explore on our own. Venice was probably our favorite. Getting "Lost" was the most enjoyable part of our Venice experience.. Florence was also very nice. Many museums and churches to explore in all cities.. Rome was also nice but very crowded. Which we anticipated. The Olive farm on the way to Rome was also outstanding. Overall we loved our Rick Steves Tour..

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Cooking Class was our "Wow" moment. Extremely fun and informative. Most of entire tour group thought the meal was our best. Probably because we prepared it on our own. We had a blast with our Chef. He was funny and very entertaining. And lets not forget the wine! Very Good!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, the Rick Steve's Europe tour I took to Italy was phenomenal. The tour guide, activities, plan, and pace, let me see Italy to a level of depth and accessibility that would have never been possible otherwise. Had I gone alone, I would have gotten MUCH less out of my travel experience and first time experiencing the magic of Italy. Very grateful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Several. Venice was stunning and peaceful. Learning about the nuances of cuisine, culture, and everyday life. Favorite "wow" moment was definitely either the cooking class with Fabrizio or Marco's olive estate."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

The tour was very nice but,the dinners were way too long, the hotel in Florence was the worst.An itinerary for the whole trip would have been great. A bunch of us wanted to see the Medici houses. We skipped out of RS tour to go on the first day and the houses were open. Two other couples skipped the second day in Florence and the houses ended up being closed that day. A full itinerary would have been so helpful in planning this.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Don't really have one"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Experienced and knowledgeable tour guides showing us the highlights of each city was phenomenal! The groups were small so it was easy to stay together. We were given enough free time to explore on our own and book other tours if we wanted to. The dinners as a group in each city was great as the tour leader picked food that was known for that area. I wouldn’t have tried these foods on my own. The bus rides to each city were designed to see the country side and stop along the way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was the cooking class in Florence. I can’t wait to try the meal on my own!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very good accommodations, travel plans were excellent. Tour guide was knowledgeable and helpful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cooking class."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything ran so smoothly! We saw all the major sites, were well fed, met some great people/guides and ate our weight in pasta! Good thing we walked 8-10 miles per day or we'd needed 2 plane seats on the way home! LOL!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being serenaded on our gondola ride."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

After a struggle getting to Venice because of a train strike and water taxi strike, we arrived 2 hours late, and met our guide, Sarah, and our tour members. They made us feel welcome, even though we were late and missed introductions. The tour was a great experience, providing just the right amount of learning, especially though local guides in each city, humor, safety, confidence in travel, fantastic food, time on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our tour ushered us into St. Peter’s Basilica, its outward appearance deceiving us as to the magnitude of the interior. The inside oozed solemn pervading peace and quiet dignity. I was awestruck. In a world of man made chaos, this structure retreated into man’s need for hope in almighty God. Beautiful. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We appreciated the organization of the tour. We adored our enthusiastic tour guide who was knowledgable, experienced and competent. We loved the local tour guides giving insights into the art, history and cities that we visited; they really added a lot to the tour. Because we visited cities popular with tourists, we were glad we were on a tour that had already secured tickets for us. We enjoyed meeting the others on the tour and getting to know them a bit.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking and boating around Venice was an eye-opening experience. We loved the uniqueness of Venice: getting around by boat, no cars or bicycles, the gondoliers, the variety of water-based transportation. Everywhere we ate the food was fresh and delicious."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very well organized

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Top of St Peters Basillica"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

All the hotels were very good in excellent locations. Our guide was fantastic and the itinerary hit most of the key sites while leaving sufficient free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into St. Peter's Basilica. The enormity of the building and the beauty of the exquisite and extensive decoration was mind boggling. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From the moment that we started with our tour group, it was well organized and we quickly formed relationships with the other members of the group as well as our tour guide Sarah. It was definitely a great way to experience Italy without all the hassle of planning a lot of the site tours, hotels and occasional meals.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think when we first got to Venice and walked over the Rialto bridge. At that point I realized that I was in Italy."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour and I was very happy with all aspects of the experience. The time in group vs time on our own was just right. Also enjoyed the 6 meals we had together as a group to get to know each other throughout our time and not just at the beginning or end (or not at all), Our Tour Guide, Sarah, was amazing-knowledgeable, warm, very fun, and on top of everything! I also liked having first names/cities of group in advance for initial conversations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That's a tough one. I would have to say everything about Venice. The first view of the Grand Canal from Rialto Bridge - day and then night views, successfully navigating narrow streets and alleys, rooftop bar/spritz!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved our guide. She was very knowledgeable, helpful and caring. She made the trip for us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved St Peter's Basilica and all that was inside."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide Karen was absolutely terrific!!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many but the wine tasting and cooking class were pretty awesome. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Liked the balance between seeing the sights as a group and our free time to explore.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Viewing the Sistine Chapel while listening to Rick Steve’s podcast. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tours by the local guides, especially Alaria (I might b spelling her name incorrectly)."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A good balance between seeing a lot of memorable sights and personal down time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing St. Peter’s Basilica. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was perfect

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The lunch at the farm outside of Rome."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

St Peter's Basillca

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Olive oil farm"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Gondola ride in Venice."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Outstanding experience! Colleen is an excellent guide; a wonderful combination of knowledgeable and fun. The only reason I marked "very good" instead of "outstanding" was having to arrange our own colosseum and Vatican Museum tickets. While I understand why, one of the primary reasons I choose RS tours is having most of the logistics, including tickets, handled by someone more knowledgeable than me.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moment was that there were too many "wow" moments to pick just one!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had an amazing time on the Venice-Florence-Rome tour. Other than the weather being a bit too hot - everything else went smoothly

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My first view of David in Florence"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Colleen is a wonderful person and tour guide!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many! the Basilica's were beautiful, I loved walking thru the ruins in Rome. I thought about how many people walked those steps before me."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The entire tour exceeded my expectations by far.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The attention to detail in the tour director’s description of the age of some of the paintings and sculptures was very interesting."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was fabulous. So well organized, fun and educational.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All the wonderful art and of course the food!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We could not have asked for a better experience! Excellent!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The winery tour and wine tasting was superb!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Things were well organized and efficiently timed. Everyone was very nice and we had a great time

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Colosseum"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful time. There were beautiful sights, good food, nicely appointed hotels, friendly staff in great locations, and our fantastic tour guide, Colleen, who was so knowledgeable and cared for everything.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All the history, culture, and art of Venice, Rome, and Florence. I especially loved seeing one of my favorite paintings by Botticelli, The Birth of Venus and the statue of David."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We've been bon other tours and this has to be one of the best.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were to many to select just one!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Everything was great. The proportion of guided activities and free time was perfect. All of the little extra things that our guide arranged (like the bead making in Venice) were an added bonus. The only reason I ranked it very good and not outstanding was that it was a little heavy on churches/religion for me. As non-believers, by the time we got to Rome, we were really forcing ourselves to enjoy the churches for the architectural elements

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ironically, my "wow" moment happen when I was completely by myself, and got up early to watch the sunrise from Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence. It was so beautiful. One of the small moments that impressed my husband was visiting the tomb of Galileo. He didn't always pay attention, so when the guide explained what we were looking at, he was surprised and awed that he got to see the final resting spot of such an important person"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a nice combination of tour vs. on-our-own time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"St Peter's Basilica! Incredible that Michelangelo did that 500 years ago without AutoCad and "modern" engineering! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic from start to finish - the guide “Tina” was truly amazing- she brings a true European experience to everyone on the tour. The sites were very interesting and the local guides were both knowledgeable and interesting. Great weather, great accommodations and wonderful food -

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing my wife’s expression of joy when she came around the corner and saw the Duomo in Florence for the first time. Me personally, the Vatican was so fascinating "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was very educational and I found all the various local guides to be expertly knowledgeable. I liked the progression of the 3 cities, Venice to Florence to Rome in that order. It was oppressively hot all 10 days; no fault of yours, but definitely a factor. The heat became more oppressive by the end of the tour. I enjoyed the tour and the 3 cities but felt our group was “overbooked” with activities. My husband and I took 2 half days off the tour on our own to relax which was reinvigoratin

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our inside the colosseum tour which we privately booked (not part of the tour). I loved the colosseum and also, there happened to be a unseasonal and quite long thunder and lightning storm which was very fun and memorable. I feel that the Rick Steve’s guidebook is remiss to recommend not needing to go inside the colosseum and it recommends just walking around the outside. I disagree and feel the interior tour was actually my wow moment. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Toured Venice, Florence and Rome, all of which were new experiences to us and definitely lived up to expectations

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tough call, the gondola ride in Venice, the cooking lesson in Florence and the Wine tasting at the vineyard on the way to Rome were all highlights "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was amazing! Our tour guide Cristina took care of us with the heat and showed us her favorite spots, history, and best ways to enjoy Italy!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So hard to choose but loved the cooking class in Florence and eating our amazing prepared food!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed the culture, history, architecture, and foods of the cities we visited. Cristina provided us with amazing information, stories, and enjoyable time together.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick just 1, being Catholic, visiting Vatican City and the Sistine chapel. The wine experience was also amazing."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The I organization and timing of events was great. The fact that all tours, transports, hotels and several meals were included was a treat. We enjoyed the meals with the group, but the meals were subpar. They did make Accommodations for my diet, and my meals were ok. Our tour guide, Kristina, was always available and was lovely. She and the other tour guides contributed greatly to making this an excellent trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The island in Venice, winery tour, and cooking class were outstanding. We "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a wonderful way to get a "taste" of Italy. Tour was amazing, Tour Guide was even better. The people met were outstanding and just like us, wanting to see Italy in a low pressure mode and have fun. Definitely will be using Rick Steves again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The history and relevance Italy has to the world."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We used Rick Steves books for years when traveling to various European countries. We were excited to join one of his small group tours this summer. We loved our guide, group and the balance of planned group activities and free time to explore on our own. We also loved the historical walking tours and the group meals that introduced us to the cuisine, in each city, when we arrived.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had many wow moments but arriving in Venice and seeing the old city and island for the first time was a great experience. Our tour guide had a gondola ride set up for us the first night we were there and then a Venetian dinner in a quaint restaurant in old town that evening. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thought the tour was well organized and planned to where I got to see everything I wanted to in each city without having to stress. Our tour guide Lisa was exceptional and an amazing help.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really loved getting to go to the winery in Orvieto."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour exceeded my expectations. From our first group meeting to our farewell dinner and everything in between created so many wonderful memories.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite “wow” moments were the cooking class in Florence and the family run winery in Rome-two unique experiences."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful lead guide, terrific location guides, fantastic group of fellow travelers, many unexpected pleasant surprises throughout the tour, thoroughly enjoyable itinerary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning about wine at the family vineyard of our utterly stupendous tour guide."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was so well planned. Our tour guide Sara was exceptional and incredibly knowledgeable in assisting with additional activities. The entire group became friends and as a single, I always had someone to share experiences with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Just so many! Venice has been on my bucket list forever and did not disappoint. Florence had the most amazing gardens I've ever seen and the Olive Farm tour was a countryside delight! Rome was the pinnacle of amazing monuments with the Vatican City being the most impressive of them all! What a fantastic tour!"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceptional tour! Sarah, our tour guide, was the best! She provided so much information and useful tour tips, while making the trip exciting and fun. We loved Venice, Florence, and Rome as each city had it's own uniqueness and history. Hit all the "must see" sights, plus more! Hotels, transportation, tickets, and all logistics were seamlessly taken care for us!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Had a few! Gondola ride in Venice, St. Mark's Basilica, Burano Island, Michelangelo's David, cooking class, wine-tasting lunch at a family-run winery in the rolling hills of Umbria, St. Peter's Basilica, and the ultimate "wow" of the Coliseum."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

all of the tour guides in each city were great! -- Rome and Florence folks were terrific :) and the overall guide for entire journey, Sarah, was just awesome

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Florence and Rome histories....and the vineyard/olive farm was fun as well"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, our tour was excellent! We saw (as best I can figure) all the highlights in Venice, Florence, and Rome, all with an excellent tour guide and with a great group of other travelers. The only real negative of our trip was completely out of anyone's control: it was very hot every day (the coolest day we were in Italy was 89, I think, and it was over 100 degrees when we arrived in Rome).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow moment" was our walking tour of ancient Rome (featuring the Forum and Pantheon. Three times during that tour, I got goosebumps. Being in that place of such deep, grand history with a guide who shares my view that history (and the reason for learning about it) is about the people - the individuals - who have lived their lives in the same places was incredibly moving."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip was a wonderful experience--our guide, Anja, was kind, caring, and her enthusiasm was infectious. Our local guides were not only knowledgeable, but their pride for their country was evident through their explanations of significant sites throughout Italy. From cooking classes to wine tasting, museum tours to Renaissance walks, our tour provided a variety of excursions that truly allowed us to partake in the "best of Venice, Florence, and Rome."

Favorite "WOW" moment

"On our tours with the local guides, they consistently instilled a sense of awe in us as we experienced the history and culture of the sites we visited. In particular, the experience of visiting St. Peter's Square early in the day and taking in the quiet and reverent atmosphere was a standout."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was perfect in every way. The guide was knowledgeable, fun, and clear. We saw all the highlights of Venice, Florence, and Rome. The tour was such a value with hotels and many meals included. The other tour members were a joy to meet. Often we were able to skip the line or enter early for the more popular attractions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice is definitely a unique and wonderful sight. The farmhouse lunch at the agritourism olive and grape farm was amazing. The days were filled with cappuccino, pizza, pasta, gelato, and we came home weighing less than when we left due to all the walking."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I loved the balance of having a tour guide and having independent, free time. Our tour guide, Anya, as well as the local guides were very informative. They pointed out activities for us to consider on our own, and taught us how to navigate the cities, as well as teaching about the local history and art. The hotels we stayed in were better than I expected, and everyone in my tour group was very nice.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was in absolute Heaven at the wine tasting in Umbria, with Marco. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great program. I wish I rested During some of the free time. Cannot express enough how much we were on our feet. Tour guides were amazing. Virginia is a great facilitator. Great educational tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning about Italian culture."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent experience. The tour was well planned out and made our first trip to Italy a pleasant one. Our guide Virginia was outstanding. She took care of us from the start and made the entire trip like a family vacation. The sights were awesome, but the people in our group were the true gem of the trip. We went home with a new crop of friends. I am a believer in the Rick Steves tour experience already looking at future trips. Andiamo!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The city of Venice with its canals and the Roman Forum were both so interesting. Probably my wow moment was one of our dinners at the Lancelot Hotel in Rome. We were fortunate to have dinner with another couple and were joined by the chef and owner. He took us to the roof and showed us some of the most breathtaking views of Rome at sunset. It was a view and experience we will not forget!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved the tour! Our guide Virginia was outstanding, and the local guides were also great. We would definitely do another Rick Steves Tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"St. Peter’s square in Rome! Walking into the area, we were wowed by the grandeur and majesty!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Italy tour far exceeded our expectations! This was our first experience using a guided tour company in Europe. The ease of having much of the planning, booking, transportation, etc. done for us was wonderful and there was plenty of time in each city for personal exploration or rest, which was initially a concern for us. Our terrific guide, Virginia, and the friendships we created with the other members of the group made the trip even more special. Highly recommend!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each city certainly had at least one moment of "wow" but seeing the Roman Forum and walking in the footsteps of so much history was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for us as educators!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent experience! I have traveled with other tour companies, and I appreciated the "free time" built into our Rick Steves' tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Very difficult to answer this. I think that the visit to St. Peter's Basilica was a wow moment...but eating dinner with the Coliseum as a backdrop was pretty awesome as well. The group dinners (which I had been dreading) were terrific; the restaurants were "off the beaten track" and gave us true authentic experiences. The people in our tour were absolutely great. And, the tour director (Virginia) - NEVER lose her. She was your best asset!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic tour package to Venice, Florence, and Rome! Skip the line tickets and local guides were great. Our tour guide, Sarah, was amazing. She was always available to accommodate our needs. We were able to see key sites in Italy and had time on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to count - Colloseum, Vatican, Sistine chapel, St. Mark's Basilica, , Galleria (David), Venice canals "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was fantastic! Everything was beautifully planned, the travel agent was outstanding, accommodations Were excellent. Extras like a cooking class were pure joy and certainly not expected.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many “wow “moments that it is hard to pick one. Seeing Michelangelo’s David, a cooking class with the family, the Colosseum, a wine estate on a mountain."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved having a bit of both worlds... an experienced tour guide who was more than willing to share experience and recommendations and at the same time, our own time and space to explore and adventure in cities on our own. I really enjoyed this experience and would certainly recommend this to any first time travelers to Italy!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would have to say it would be whenever we turned a corner or walked out into an open space and I was just blown away by the majestic beauty of the architecture and design. Venice was great for this, small alleys that suddenly bloomed into beautiful church courtyards or even walking out from the Clock Tower Torre dell'Orologio and into St. Mark's square for the first time! It was truly memorable and that happened over and over again in each city we visited!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

was everything and more of what I expected of a Rick Stevers tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the "floating city" of Venice, all its alleyways and water ways."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was amazing!! We loved the balance of planned and organized events with the amount of free time we had to explore in the cities as well. Our guide Lisa was fabulous and always had wonderful suggestions and insights into the areas we were in.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our favorite moment was when we visited the vineyard in Umbria! We loved the quiet escape in the middle of the cities. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Going with a Rick Steve’s tour group completely enriched our overall experience. Our tour leader Lisa was outstanding. The tour guides enhanced our visits to historical places whether it was a museum or landmark. Wouldn’t have been the same without them. I would have loved if the tour included the Sistine chapel instead of us booking the tour separately. We soon found out that not all tour guides are equal! The people with toured with were so friendly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Can’t pick one. The art, food, beauty, history, wine, people made the tour! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Lisa, was knowledgeable about the places we visited and was willing to help whenever asked. She was organized and provided good leadership. She was also personable and easy to talk to.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The grand feeling I got from being immersed in St. Mark's Square, with the boats and ships in the lagoon in Venice."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour leader Lisa and local guides were wonderful!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Duomo in Florence."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was wonderful. It was well organized. The tour guides were very knowledgeable. We went to all of the major historical sights. The tour leader was friendly, kind and helpful. It was our first Rick Steve’s Tour as well as a group tour. It was great meeting new people. Everyone was friendly. We all got along. Overall this was one of the best trips I have ever taken. Thank you Rick Steves.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Umbria. It was the perfect calm between all the hustle and bustle of site seeing "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My husband and I loved being introduced to Venice, Florence and Rome by our tour leader Fotius with his deep knowledge of the cities we were visiting and his wry sense of humor and gentle, calm demeanor.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"June was full on summer crowds & high heat and by day 4 or 5 in Florence, I was in sensory overload one afternoon and we were led to a meeting point for some free time. I remember coming around a corner when there emerged from the crowds the outer edifice of this breathtaking cathedral dressed in red green and white marble with its distinctive dome - the Duomo! (If you watched the Medicis on Netflix or read up on your RS guidebooks..) it is still such a punch in the stomach; a sight to behold…"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great group of travelers, and that added to the experience. The sites speak for themselves. Our guide was very helpful and did a great job of leading us just the right amount.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had been to Rome before, so this time my wow experience was seen Venice from the bell tower of the Church of San Gireogio Maggiore. Had I never been to Italy, my wow would have been seeing the Colosseum and St Peter's Basilica."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I really enjoyed the history and organization of the tour. Logistics were flawless (Hotels, Transport). Expectations were communicated from the very beginning (Walking, Packing, Weather, Food, Luggage, Hotel) so no complaints were heard from group. Food Choices were very good. Group asked a lot of questions and never complained about anything.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not necessarily a Wow moment but my favorite part of the tour was Wine Tasting. It was the only "relaxing" vacation event we had. I also have always wanted to see the Colosseum. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide was excellent. The entire tour was well organized. I appreciate having a mix of time with the group and time on our own. Our hotels were all in excellent locations for where we wanted to go.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wandering through the maze that is Venice. The food in Florence. Walking through Rome in the evening. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Balance of your time and free time

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Florence and the David and the winery stop"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I left the trip knowing I had done everything that would give me the full experience of the country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several wow moments, but I loved the making the pasta dinner experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was exactly what we were looking for. It combined structured activities with local expert guides and free time for our family. Although we did a lot of things, we didn't feel overburdened or burnt out by it. Our tour guide was exceptional and helped us with any questions we had throughout the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty if the hill country of Italy and visit to a farm where we learned about olive oil and viticulture."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was in a fantastic experience. Bea, our tour guide, Was marvelous. She was a mixture of a marine drill sergeant and mother Teresa.. The amount of time spent in each of the three cities was more than sufficient to give us a taste of the culture and the beauty of each. This being our first experience with Steve’s’ tour, we look forward to our next opportunity to go on another Steve’s’ tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The three cities we visited were a great experience. The food was great. The tour group was a bonus! Our tour guide Bea really made the trip go smoothly and made us all feel comfortable and able to talk to her at any time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice had its own special features as well as Florence - the Duomo climb was spectacular. Rome just hit me as Wow. The Coliseum was just breathtaking and the shear age of everything was almost incomprehensible. Vatican experience was wonderful as well. A great surprise was the vineyard stop. So relaxing and gracious hosts with awesome wine and food!! The location was awesome as well. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Active, fun tour with a terrific guide and an enjoyable and kind group of people who relatively quickly became friends; rich history to encounter and learn in these places; a fairly good mix of planned and free time; a beautiful country to visit and learn more about it's people, culture, and history

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The immensity, beauty, and history of all the architecture that is still in use and generally good condition today"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our first tour experience and overall it was extremely good. Our guide, Fotos was incredible and very helpful. Our group connected especially at our dinner in Florence. The local guides gave us a lay of the land and truly shared the history, highlights, and love of each of their cities. The ability to have free time to add on museums and activities to our tour plan for ourselves was a plus!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There is not just one wow moment in the tour. In Venice - the island of Burano! The people, the colorful homes and buildings, the little church, and having a panini and raspberry spritz by a little house painted with many colors. In Florence, the Dumo and the fun and interactive cooking class. Who knew pasta could be so delicious. In Rome, the Pantheon and our guide Hilario, as well as Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel. Truly a once in a lifetime trip."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour exceeded my expectations! It was just the right mix of planned activities and 'down time' where we could either relax, or visit other sites of our choice. Our knowledgeable and helpful tour guide helped us get acclimated and answered my many questions. The family owned hotels were very comfortable with friendly and helpful staff. I was amazed at all that I got to see and all that I learned. A truly amazing experience!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moment was riding the gondola on the canals in Venice. I had alway heard about this but never thought I would actually experience it myself!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Your curated tour was wonderful; it hit the high spots in every respect. Having local guides to explain the history and background in each city worked for us. Having some events like wine tasting, cooking, gondola ride and local tours by Fotios made it special. Fotios Baroutsos made it a wonderful experience; he was our travel buddy, inspiration, historian, helper, and comic - just all around great hoist …..

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our Wow moment was the entire tour"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Rick Steves' tour experience surpassed my expectations in a very positive way. The compassion, caring, and education provided by the primary tour guide (Fotios) as well as the historical site guides yielded such a great overall experience. I also appreciated all the tips leading up to the actual tour, which included assurance that I was physically strong and emotionally open for an overall experience given this was my first visit to Italy. The tour was so very well planned!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many wow moments, it is hard to choose just one. Perhaps the greatest was the visit to the Roman ruins, and learning about hearing all the history. We only spent a few hours there, but we could have spent a couple days there. Learning some of the history of the great churches and experiencing the fantastic art-work in Venice, Florence, and Rome also provided such positive experiences, and created new interests for me and an internal drive to learn more history."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I’m a very experienced traveler and I understand there are problems and cultural differences when traveling. Much of the tour was OK however somethings were inexcusable. The Hotel Guerrato in. Venice is extremely noisy from 5 pm to 4 am as the disco and hundreds of screaming drinkers party every night outside the hotel windows. Also, the dining experiences that our tour guide chose for us were very disappointing. The food was of a very poor quality & not well prepared . Got flea bites

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The local guides were great . "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great- saw everything we were looking forward to seeing

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The David statue "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Colleen was an excellent guide- especially at explaining how to find your way around on your own, something I have previously found difficult in Venice. The three cities were amazing and the visit to the farm was fabulous.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to mention."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"uffizi & forum "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I met wonderful people. Our guide, Coleene was excellent. very informative, warm and friendly. All sights were awesome.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The side trip to Umbria was my WOW moment. , I learned alot about olive oil. The contrast from city to country for a day was beautiful. The lunch was tasteful, the host was amazing! I loved that farm!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very organized and well planned. Colleen was an outstanding tour guide!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the city of Florence. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was a good combination of organized group activities and personal time to explore on our own. Colleen is an excellent guide and we appreciated her enthusiasm and detailed explanation of how things work.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many wow moments, especially walking amongst some of the greatest art in the world. But for me personally, seeing Michelangelo’s Crucifix in the Basilica of Santo Spirito in Florence was unforgettable."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our overall experience was great. The sights chosen to see, the experiences, the restaurants, and the expert guidance made for a memorable trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two favorite moments: rounding the corner at the Academia Museum in Florence for my first glimpse of Michelangelo's David. And, turning the street corner in Rome to see the Colosseum for the first time."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was the perfect balance between tour time and our own free time. We appreciated being able to stay 3 nights at each location as that allowed for more in depth touring of the cities. The small group was manageable and allowed for more a personal touch. We were all able to get to know each other and develop lifelong friendships. The local guides really added a unique experience to some of the most special sites. I would highly recommend this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We can't even pick just one. Venice, Florence and Rome are full of "WOW" moments. The art and history of these cities produced "wow" moments on a daily basis. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a great time

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice Bienialle"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Such a great trip. Well planned out and a nice balance of “tour” time and “free” time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved being immersed in the towns. Sleeping, eating and learning about each stop. The cooking class and vineyard tour were a fun and different experience that added to the overall culture immersion."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip was amazing! Italy is such a wonderful place. Nina, the tour guide, and all the local guides were awesome.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite experiences where just wandering around on our own, which was very easy to do after the detailed orientation walks provided by the guides."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Navigating cities like Venice, Florence, and Rome and absorbing/enjoying as much as possible in 3 days would have been impossible without the use of this service. I was grateful to also have the "bones" of the trip organized, like transportation between cities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While the whole trip was a "wow," my wife and I especially loved the wine tasting and visit to the vineyard between Florence and Rome."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every site that we visited was exactly what I wanted to see. I tried the other sites that were in the tour book which were not recommended by Rick Steves and he was right they weren’t that interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Florence. Seeing David. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a wonderful experience with the whole tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the green space in Florence "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As this was our first Rick Steve's tour and our first trip to Italy, we really didn't know what to expect. We followed the pre-trip instructions and made reservations for some of sites not covered with tour. The pre-trip guidelines from booking flights, reservations, and packing list was extremely valuable. Our guide was an absolute gem. He had a thorough knowledge of Italy: the language, how to maneuver through the cities, tour sites, and restaurants in a seamless manner.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many "wow" moments that it is hard to pick one. I believe approaching the Pantheon from the Pizza Navona was one of the top ones. Marveling at Michelangelo's David another."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful, loved the people, places. food, Ben was fabulous and the local guides were great!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Lunch in Umbria!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

great trip

Favorite "WOW" moment

"lunch in st mark square with music in the background, a Vivaldi concert in Venice, dinner at a family restaurant in Florence, wine tasting in Umbria, I could go on and on. great trip!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were very impressed with the pace and scheduling of this 10 day tour in Venice, Florence and Rome. Also the location, ambience and service at hotels was excellent. Our guide Lisa was delightfully upbeat, experienced with each location, customs and helpful with suggestions. The local guides were well educated in the material presented.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's very difficult to pick one wow moment! I would have to say our shared meals in each city stands out in my memory, which definitely includes the pasta cooking class in Florence and the visit to the Agritourism olive/wine tasting in Umbria. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excellent combination of activities and relaxation opportunities, delightful wine tasting at out-of-the-way stone cottage with endearing host. Excellent educational guides with a vast historical knowledge and the ability to tell the stories of many museum and church frescos and paintings.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The "wow" wasn't a moment, it was a trip- to the wine tasting in Umbria; truly gracious, humble, incredibly interesting host and his story were memorable!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Perfect trip for our family of 5, ages 60 down to 24. We all enjoyed being with the group and had plenty of time to explore on our own. Our group leader was invaluable. Her advice was always spot on.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into St Peter’s Basilica. Enhanced by early arrival time, low crowd, thanks to our knowledgeable group leader!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great people on the tour, wonderful and knowledgeable tour guide, beautiful art and architecture and the delicious and fresh food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Riding the gondola in Venice, visiting the private vineyard in Umbria and the cooking school in Florence."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved the trip. Lisa our guide was fantastic, we enjoyed the group and the meals that we had together. It was just the right amount of being with a guide (the local guides were great too) and then plenty of free time to do our own exploring.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed the lunch cooking class in Florence. We made everything in smaller groups and then sat down to eat it as a big group. So much laughter and fun! Our chef was wonderful at giving directions and making it fun. Thanks for the recipes from the day. We plan on having friends over and recreating the experience."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour was very informative and fun. Tour guide was very knowledgeable and personable. Lisa did an outstanding job of managing the tour.

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour guide, Lisa, was excellent! She was so knowledgeable and patient with all of us. The entire tour was very organized and well planned.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Making our own pasta in groups was fun. So many "wow" moments-all of the beautiful Churches. The trip to the family farm was very cool. Loved the countryside, food and wine tasting!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding! Far exceeded my expectations although I had no idea what to expect as this was my first encounter with Europe. Magical… It feels like a dream to have been there.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many, but I think seeing the Roman forum was the most emotional experience I had. A place I never dreamed I would visit and saw only in textbooks as a child. Being the presence of ruins so old was overwhelming and Surreal"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour covered all the places I had dreamed of visiting. The free time allowed me to gather the information from the excellent local guides and to explore and get lost and soak in the ambiance. Meeting and spending the few hours in Umbria enjoying the villa and a truly scrumptious lunch with wine and meeting Marco and his wife was a lovely way to relax before going to Rome. All the hotels were comfortable, clean , with very helpful and solicitous staff. Nina is fabulous and fun !! Bon Giorno.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Gondola ride and being serenaded!! Simply fabulous 👍"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great way to see Florence, Venice and Rome

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our group totaled about 25 people, but it never seemed that big because we always split into two smaller groups when we went on a guided tour. We had been to Europe several times, but never with a tour group like a Rick Steves tour group. We were pleased with the guided tours but were also pleased with the amount of free time that we had. The hotels were nicer than we thought they would be. The group dinners were very enjoyable. Nina, our Rick Steves guide, was a great help.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We didn't have a "wow" moment. We had seen the major sights before. We went on the tour in order to learn more about the background of the cities and the sights. We were happy with the amount of information provided to us, but there was not a "wow" moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My husband and I greatly enjoyed the entire Venice-Florence-Rome tour. We’ll definitely take a RSE tour again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No one experience stood out. It was all equally outstanding. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everyday was better than the day before! Excellent experience

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Oh too many! Gondola ride, Marco’s place, the Vatican!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Fantastic Tour, very informative, great balance of organized time and free time. Overall well-curated. Great to have a group tour. Have never done this before. Hotels were fantastic, food overall very good. The tour wasn't perfect but you can't expect it to be with 28 different people on the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking through the Roman ruins. There is no other experience in the world that compares."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was jam packed with the art architecture, and history of the three cities we visited, but it also offered diversity of experiences. Cooking class in Florence, and our visit to the grape and olive farm and winery in Umbria provide a few examples of this.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many, but the Ufizzi in Florence was unforgettable! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great intro to Italy

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Rome, I love everything about it except the traffic "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide Chiara was on time ,answered questions and coordinated all the boat and bus travel. This tour to Venice -Florence-Rome is labor intensive. There is much more walking than I thought especially on uneven cobblestone roads and alleys. Crossing roads requires being alert because cars and Motorcycles do not want to stop for pedestrians. The hotels had that old world charm which gave you a flair for living in Italy. Rooms were small but clean and I did have my own bathroom!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had many WOW moments but I guess seeing how old everything is. The roads, the buildings ,the churches, the art and sculptures. This is something you do not see in the USA"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thoroughly enjoyed my Rick Steves' Best of Italy tour! It was dreamy. The tour matched every positive review I have heard about a Rick Steves' tour. Chiara was the consummate tour guide providing such great, interesting history along with keeping us safe. I learned so much about art and history, and to see it all right in front of me was truly magical.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One of my favorites was walking thru the city, rounding a corner, and WOW it's the Coliseum, or the Vatican, or the Rialto Bridge, or the Duomo. Just surreal! I also had a great time at the cooking school and the winery. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour guide was excellent; very knowledgeable & detailed explanations. Walking was strenuous, especially in Rome. Several in our group took random days off because they were too tired. We saw all the important sights we wanted to see

Favorite "WOW" moment

"St. Peter's Basilica, Rome. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

great hotels, great guides, great visit to places, especially the museums.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Galileo museum"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Was WAY more than expected! Chiara our guide was informative, friendly, and entertaining. The local guides added the local flair to each destination. Was a very active tour with enough free time to experience Italy the way we wanted also. Any reservations we had about visiting somewhere we had never been went away very quickly, and we became very comfortable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were two. The cooking class in Florence, with Fabrizio, and the wine tasting and luncheon at the winery. Both were engaging, entertaining and informative. Not to mention very tasty! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great trip..Chiara the group leader was outstanding..every detail was awsome..not one complaint..recommend RS to anyone who wants to see a lot..

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Florence was beautiful "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Learned a lot, saw beauty everywhere. The "lessons" by local guides were very relevant.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice!!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was exactly as advertised and enjoyable. Our guide Chiara was excellent! The tour was very well organized and no time wasted.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The churches in Florence and St. Peter's Basilica were sublime."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a marvelous time. We enjoyed the guide and felt that there was a great balance between scheduled and free time

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We really enjoyed our city guides. They made us feel like locals. Angelo in Florence was a life changing experience. Bringing us to his place of worship and discussing the art and its impact was amazing and personal. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very well run tour. Chiara, our guide was wonderful. Local guides were very good too.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The gondola ride in Venice and the wine tasting experience— the vineyard was so lovely, also the extra Prosecco toast we had with view of Florence, also St. Peter’s Basilica…. there were so many wow moments!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Each day was jam packed. I like that you have tour guides and then time to explore on your own and see sites that are of particular interest to you.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to say. Loved the gondola ride (never long enough), the wine tasting and making pasta at the cooking school"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour experience was simply wonderful. Since it is our first trip to Europe together, we had no idea what to expect. Starting with Colleen,she was warm and inviting in her welcoming talk. She was clear in her description of the tour and what to expect.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into Vatican Square almost brought me to tears. The trip to Borano was simply wonderful. I loved the colors of the buildings and of the course the lace. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The wife and I had a wonderful time experiencing the Art, Culture and History of Venice, Florence and Rome. We were amazed at how beautiful the architecture is and the continued efforts to refurbish and restore ancient works. Our agenda remained full, with personal time to explore. We loved our group of 28, and of course our wonderful Tour Guide, Colleen. She was truly a gem that made the trip flow, flawlessly. We are already excited about planning our next Rick Steves Tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was truly amazed at the beauty and grandeur of the St. Peters Cathedral."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding overall trip - packed with sensational artwork / sculpture, ancient Basilica but mixed with fun experiences like cooking school and winery tasting experience. Some of the local tour guides were outstanding with knowledge of fine arts. Florence was my favorite of the cities, but each had super qualities and were quite different all within the same country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing "David" in Florence is hard to match, but Leonardo's Annunciation, Galileo's telescopes, and Donatelo's David all within a few hours was almost as good."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very enjoyable. Great group and guides

Favorite "WOW" moment

"At Peters"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Coleen was outstanding. When the unexpected happened like the museum worker’s “meeting” at the Uffuzzi Gallery or the mix up with the mini bus in Rome Collen and our local guides did not miss a beat.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The “experiences” were the best-the evening gondola ride, the wine tasting and the cooking school were fantastic and a nice break from tourist destinations."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceeded our expectations! All of our guides were excellent. Stephanie was our everyday guide. She was exceptional. We don't know how she did it! Went out of her way to make sure all of the little details were covered. Provided a lot of extra experiences that we did not expect. She made it special for all of us! A true professional who also made us feel like we were family. So committed and generous with her time. She just to great care of all of us. So glad we decided on a Rick Steves tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice and St. Marks were the highlights for us. The island tours to Burano and Torcello were really great. Our gondola ride. The food! But there really was a wow moment every day. The winery visit was also better than expected. Really enjoyed the views and the winery itself is a treasure. Taking the bus between Venice and Florence and then again between Florence and Rome gave us a great view of the Italian countryside. Loved it."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Fantastic and knowledgeable guides. The tour was packed with the top “must see” destinations and good thought was put into active vs. passive activities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loves Florence and all its sights!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cooking classes and wine tasting "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was amazing! The tours, our guide, and the others in our group were fantastic ! We had so many fun, memorable experiences!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many! Riding in a gondola, seeing David, and going to the Vatican were all incredible!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a wonderful ten days! My sister had never been to Europe, so the two weeks we were together were such a fun experience. Our tour guide, Stephanie, was terrific. We saw the “biggies” in each city and thoroughly enjoyed every moment.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We went up to the top of the Campanile in Venice. It was clear and gorgeous, and really gave us that view of Venice as an island. Marvelous."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour, very active with a lot of walking. Good mix of planned activities and free time. There were throngs of tourists in all 3 cities, but this is to be expected. The hotel in Venice was rather bare bones but still comfortable enough.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All the little streets and alleyways in Venice, so different from anything I’ve seen before. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was traveling solo and signed up to simplify choices, such as hotel and venues, and to have an occasional meal companion. I was blown away by the professionalism of the tour manager and guides and the quality of all the offerings. Way beyond my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The top among many wonderful experiences was the winery visit. It was something i would never have thought of doing - i was mainly interested in the deep history, art, and architecture in the cities, but the history and calm beauty of the winery setting made it a standout experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was the 4th RS tour I've been on. Everything was great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The light show at Trevi Fountain"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The 10 day Florence Venice Rome tour was absolutely incredible. Our guide Stephanie was simply awesome from the beginning meet up till many hours after the tour was over. She was so helpful and informative regarding all aspects of our tour. The daily agenda was just the right amount of hi lites and free time. All of the hi lites were met and so much more. We can not not say enough great things about this tour and itinerary. Thank you thank you

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were too many WOW moments ,because everything was incredible…food, sites, people, guide amazing"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was my first trip to Europe and everything went smoothly. I loved taking my trip using a tour company. My tour hostess, Deborah, was fantastic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Forum in Rome."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Deborah was a wonderful guide! She gave great recommendations for free time activities. The tour was fast paced and very active. A lot was packed in a short period of time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Several things were "wow" moments, the gondola ride, David, the vineyard visit and the Colosseum and Forum."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour and it did not disappoint. Our hotels, tour guides and schedule were wonderful. We loved it so much we have signed up for another tour next yesr!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was very impressed with all of our tour guides. Our general guide, Deborah, was great. The knowledge of the local guides was so impressive and we learned so much. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent guide, excellent local guides.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Could not have expected and received more value for what we hoped for!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The country of Italy as a whole continuous WOW moment for me. Having never been to Europe before, I didn't know what to expect and I was VERY pleasantly surprised and amazed but the country from the top of the boot to the bottom."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The guides, hotels and tours were outstanding. The guides are knowledgeable, professional, pleasant and friendly. The hotels were clean and centrally located with decent food and helpful staff. The tours were exceptional. We were on the go; walking a great deal, but this allowed us to see so much more than we like would have on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The ancient ruins in Rome."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

So very well organized. Guides were great Accommodations were right in the heart of the city. Group dinners were excellent

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was so impressed by Deborah my tour guide. She handled the 24 of us with precision through crowds, trains, buses, and a scramble to get us to a timed entry event when the train broke down. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is our 8th RS trip, so we are big fans. Itinerary great, good hotel selection, meals good, strong tour leaders, great local guides. Lots of walking. We averaged 6-7 miles every day and that was only to support the itinerary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The art, architecture, and history in Italy is all wow. We have been to Italy several times and would go back again."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Better than expected. Lisa pulled us together during the introductory meeting. This is my second Rick Steve’s tour and I highly recommend them to my friends and family.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Saint Peter’s Basilica. The artwork, chapels, and staff are extraordinary. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was over to soon which is in my experience means it was a great tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This was an Italy tour. Venice…Florence…. Rome…3 days in each. For Venice it was the evening gondola ride, where our tour guide personally arranged for us to have an opera singer accompanied by a guitarist. In Florence, we did a cooking class which really brought the group together. On the way to Rome we stopped at a winery and olive oil farmers in Umbria, they fed us, had a wine tasting and gave us a day Out in the Italian countryside.. Got to do a shout out to our tour guide, Lisa."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Strong itinerary, excellent guides, great transportation, good/well-located accommodations, adequate group meals, overwhelming crowds in Rome. We wished for an extra day in Florence. Having well in advance (>60 days) more detailed information about the itinerary (particularly the estimated times group activities would conclude in the morning and start in the evening) would have helped with planning required, time-specific advanced booking for sites like the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Michaelangelo’s David and Botticelli’s Birth of Venus notwithstanding, my favorite “wow” moments happened in things we did in our free time: mosaics in St. Mark’s Basilica, Wave Glass experience in Murano, Santa Maria in Cosmedin (I felt like I was swept back to the 8th century!), St. Zeno’s chapel in Santa Prassede, Bernini sculptures at the Borghese Gallery, mosaic floors many places. We also enjoyed Eating Europe food tours in each city. And were delighted by flying in and out over the Alps."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well organized. They seem to have thought of everything. Very knowledgeable people ran the tour and guided us in the museums, walks etc..

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to write."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first tour experience after a fair bit of traveling on our own, and it more than lived up to our expectations. Our guide, Lisa, was fantastic! Everything was well planned and organized. Hotels were nice and well located (Venice was our favorite). We enjoyed the mix of informational guided activities and time to explore on our own. Lisa went out of her way to assist with free time planning, and each recommendation she gave us was spot on (gelato, restaurants, etc.).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's cliché, but it's really impossible to pick just one. For true wow "moments" it's probably a tie for me between seeing the Duomo dominating the skyline in Florence for the first time from the bus or walking around a corner and suddenly seeing the Colosseum right in front of us in Rome. For wow "experiences", the cooking class was great fun, getting lost in the back streets of Venice was magical and the vistas from atop Brunelleschi's dome in Florence were amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first tour experience and our first time in Europe in many years. We started our vacation with a 10 day Venice - Florence - Rome tour and it provided exactly what we were looking for: hotels, tickets, meals, transportation, education, fun and new friends. We liked the balance of time together and time on our own. Our tour guide, Anja, was amazing!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Only one? How about one from each City! Venice: The beauty of St Marks Basilica, especially the golden mosaics inside. Florence: The glory of David, especially with the unfinished Prisoners providing a glimpse into how Michelangelo worked. Rome: Rounding the corner and seeing the Colosseum for the first time, how large it is and all the other buildings and areas around it."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was just the right mix of time with the group, and time to explore on your own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are too many. But arriving in Venice was certainly spectacular. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first experience on a guided tour and it exceeded my expectations!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing things in real life that I have only read about or seen photos of."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Had an incredible time and really enjoyed every moment.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Absolutely loved seeing "David" ... and I also loved coming upon members of the tour group in lots of the places we were visiting in our off hours. Those were really nice surprises and it was a big WOW how much we all got along and enjoyed each others' company. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a marvelous introduction to Italy with a taste of three very different cities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment was seeing Michelangelo's David in person. Unlike many art pieces, it was larger and more impressive in person."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a wonderful time. Our guide Anya was exceptional. However, 2 members of our group had cochlear implants, and the headphone wouldn't work for them. And trying to stand next to the guide and lip read didn't work either. But we all worked hard and it was a great experience. Getting to know all the members of the tour group. None of us thought the amichi program would be helpful, but we became like a large family with everyone watching out for the others.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Getting together with Anya "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceeded my wildest expectations. Excellent in all respects! Our tour guide, Anya, couldn't have been better, and I though the group of fellow tour members were all great friends by the end of the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Uffizi Gallery, without a doubt."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Getting to our hotel in Venice was frustrating and very stressful The vaporettos were on strike until 1, we were misguided by public employees who were telling us to wait at one location then directed us to another location , spent 30 euros on tickets that we never used and the individual who was assisting us repeatedly asked for a tip We ended up walking to the hotel … It would have been a lot simpler to have included in the cost of our tour transportation expense to use the taxis

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything the food the architecture the museums "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I learned a great deal about the history of these three cities and a tremendous amount about art and art history. I felt like at was in "Art History 101" course, or maybe 201 - more advanced.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to Florence - David statue and the Basilica - but so much about Michelangelo and other artists. The Vatican museum in Rome was also unforgettable. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being immersed in the art, culture and history that is Italy. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour met and often exceeded expectations. It was a good balance of group activities and free time. Our guide Donald is a consummate professional and was a lot of fun. He chose excellent, well located restaurants for the group dinners. The buses were very clean and comfortable. As advertised, this is one of the most active tours but I never found it to be physically overwhelming.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow moment" was taking a break from the often crowded must-see sights and enjoying Alessandro's Classic Venice Bars Backstreet Tour. Three of us from the tour joined with four other "Ricksters" who were traveling independently. We had a relaxing time munching on cicchetti, drinking local wines, and being entertained by and learning from Alessandro. He's quite a character! It was a great way to end a very busy day."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved 98% of what we experienced in this tour! Donald White was fantastic and I was extremely impressed with the depth of knoweldge the local guides provided. We hit all the high points and had plenty of time to explore on our own. Our group was also a highlight of this adventure. We made many new friends and hope to keep in touch.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were more "wow" moments than I can share. However, if I had to pick one from each city, 1st would be St. Marks in Venice and the fascinating stroy of the recovery of St. Marks remains. 2nd would be in Florence and the incredible Duomo! The size and scale of that structure is beyond impressive! 3rd would be in Rome. Walking through the Forum where the cradel of the Roman empire was born as well as the Vatican! Wow on all fronts!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I really liked our tour guide, he was very personable and knowledgeable, he set a good tone for the week. We had a nice group of travelers, everyone was so friendly. On this tour especially there was so much to see. Its a very active tour, filled with iconic sites I liked haveing knowledgeable guides to explain the details and history of the artwork

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing The Duomo on Florence was definitely a wow moment "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour organization was outstanding. The mix of free time and group events was very good. Our guide Donald was great about informing us about what to expect each day. Everything went very smoothly. Our local guides were excellent as well. We enjoyed our group meals very much. Overall it was an outstanding experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Florence at sunrise from the Piazzale Michelangelo was amazing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a very well thought out itinerary. We loved Venice!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Venice and its quaint streets filled with gelato, pastries, pizza, and restaurants And of course the Aperol Spritz!!! Florence and its massive, beautiful churches. Rome and its history."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour had a good pace and was well-planned by Rick Steves' group. In particular I liked the balance of structured time with 'free' time. And, given the huge crowds in Venice, Florence, and Rome, our tour guide did a great job helping us work around/through the crowds. Finally it was a great experience to share with my husband, sister, and brother-in-law.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the wine tasting where we could see Orvieto in the distance. Given all the crowds in Venice, Florence, and Rome, it was nice to be in a peaceful quiet area (the winery)."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well planned, good hotels, good itineraries, excellent guides (tour and local).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Have toured Europe and the world since a boy in the 60s, worked and lived in Europe for 6 years - 4th time to Italy. First guided tour ever - enjoyed relaxing and being taken care of! First time for wife - so she has all the “wows”. Enjoyed traveling with some other couples - made some life long friends."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first guided tour and we were extremely pleased with the Rick Steves experience! We had an amazing Tour Guide, Lisa Smith. We highly recommend her!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many, but I have to say it was magical to be so close to Michelangelo's masterpiece David. I've seen pictures, but nothing like seeing it up close to appreciate it fully. Thank you for getting tickets ahead of time so we didn't have to wait!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour more than met my expectations! The tour's leader Lisa was truly remarkable with her planning, direction, support and personal care for all of us. The tour was just the right balance of sightseeing as a group combined with time alone explore each destination on your own accord.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many but the three that stood out most included the trip to rural Tuscany wine tasting, the Gondola ride in Venice (for some reason was really fun!) and seeing Michelangelo's sculptures (pieta, David, christ). "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Lisa s was outstanding! She got the group to hit every mark. The group itself was great-really nice people. The tour covered all the highlights of three cities and a farm!! Plus it was not difficult to customize some personal time. Lisa S made herself available to help.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Just seeing Venice. It was so much more beautiful than the documentaries disclose. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a wonderful time on this tour. It was our first Rick Steves tour and our first group tour as I have always done the planning for our previous trips, so it was delightful to have others plan and take that worry off of my plate. Our guide, Lisa, was wonderful and so helpful when we had questions and she had great suggestions for some of our downtime. Our local guides were also rich with knowledge and fun to listen to. Our group was also kind and fun to travel with!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think one favorite "wow" moment (there were quite a few to choose from) was when we were on our way to Rome from Florence and stopped at an Agriturismo for lunch and met the owners where they had a beautiful lunch prepared for us that was paired with their wines and we learned about their olive oil. Plus they had puppies and the scenery was just amazing. It was like everything just slowed down for a few hours and we got to soak up a beautiful area and amazing people. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour covered most of what we wanted to see in Italy. Maybe too many churches

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sculpture of David. Breathtaking. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From start to finish the tour went smoothly. It had an even mix of guided events and free time. It was well organized with enthusiastic tour and local guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our local guide in Florence brought us around a corner to face the grandeur of the Duomo just as all the bells were ringing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful experience on our first tour! We travelled with our 11 year old daughter.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Waking up in Venice on day 1 was my WOW moment! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was outstanding. Our tour mates, guides, and schedule were all exceptional. We are already planning our next trip with Rick Steves.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beautiful winery in Orvieto that used to be a monastery--the villa, old church, garden and outstanding wine. It was a perfectly timed respite from the crowds and all the sites and sounds of the cities. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Really a nice trip. There is no way for an individual to be able to line up everything that was done for us. I think trying to figure all the details out would take up a lot of time and would have never seen half the different things we did see.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"That’s hard to pick which wow was my favorite to many to choose from."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Visiting all 3 big cities in Italy were amazing. Each destination had unique highlights which were iconic to see.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Roman Forum & Colosseum were my top places to see, while enjoying gelato in Rome was very fun too. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a phenomenal whirlwind ride. So much to see. It was a great blend of group time and on-your-own time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s hard to pick one, but probably the coliseum in Rome "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved our tour guides, Tina & Mattie - tour was fabulous!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Oh gosh so many!! The many surprise treats for our tour guides!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our two tour guides, Tina & Matti, were fabulous. So helpful, informative, kind and fun! They really made this tour exceptional; in addition to the local tour guides who were so knowledgeable. I really loved the variety of things that we did - from the museum tours to the cooking class. So fun!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had so many "wow" moments that I can't say just one. Venice was incredible! The artwork in Florence was breathtaking including the sculpture of David. In Rome, it was the Colosseum and the Pantheon. However, there were so many incredible sights - Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Stairs, the Vatican and the Vatican museums! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was exceptional in every way possible. From our tour guide Tina to most of the local guides. They were amazing at giving us local historic info., regional customs and interesting rid bits of the people and the places. I love museums and all things old. From Tina and the local guides I felt so enriched by their knowledge. Most of all I experienced the commitment and true care in what each showed us and shared. It’s the best tour experience I have had. I had an amazing time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed the cooking class immensely. When I first saw it on the itinerary I was unimpressed. But, it was fun, educational (I love to cook and making pasta from scratch was not as hard as I thought!), and most important it brought the group together for me. I saw another side to many of my traveling companions and were transformed into friends. Brilliant. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was such an amazing experience. I wasn't really sure what to expect but it went well beyond anything I could have imagined. Tina is an incredible guide and made everyone feel so welcome and at ease. She was always available to answer questions and assist in any way needed. All the little extra experiences were such a great touch and really added to the experience. I would definitely do another Rick Steve’s tour and have already recommended it to several people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The group meals and the little extras. The group meals were so beyond what we expected and more food than I think anyone expected. All of the group meals were so amazing! The added "extras" like the terrace in Venice, jewelry making experience, and art class were all unexpected optional experiences and they were each worthwhile and enjoyable."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Where do I even start? I loved the experience so much from the sites and experiences to the hotels and restaurants. However, it was our amazing tour guides that truly made it special!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are so many but the terrace lookout over Venice was definitely one of them as well at Matti singing in the restaurant!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was a combination of adventure, education, fun, and just a lot of "WOW" ness

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me, a man of limited culture, (if any), I think the realization that the statue of David was more than a statue, it was a moment in time. A moment we all face at some point in life. I had no idea. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It went far beyond my expectations. Lots of time for sightseeing and spending time with the guides and our group, but also a lot of free time to explore and shop.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into the Coliseum in Rome. I got goose bumps. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was great! The guides were nice & helpful & the hotels were very good!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"St. Mark's Square in Venice! It was amazing. I had a lot of fun taking the cooking class in Florence."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

As a 76 year old with bad knees, I wasn’t certain about it. A visit to my doctor and a steroid injection before the trip helped and even though I packed my collapsible cane and it was more walking than I was used to but, it was manageable. Everything was perfectly paced and I had no physical limitations. Everything was great and I enjoyed everyday.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Uffizi gallery and all of the museums in Venice, Florence and Rome were much more than I experienced on a previous tour. The guides were the best and so knowledgable. Of course, Venice with all the bridges were the most challenging, but my roommate and I kept up and only got lost once. But, it was all fun! I wouldn’t change anything. I learned so much and gained a renewed appreciation of the history and of the Italian culture. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We were busy enough and not too busy. Our guide was talented and so helpful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed the wine tasting at the winery between Florence and Rome. So peaceful and majestic. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

That you can bring together a group of strangers, add not one, but two incomparable guides, provide a robust and entertaining itinerary, sprinkled with positivity, compatibility, and fun, and end up with a vacation of a lifetime is nothing short of extraordinary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Having to pick one 'wow' moment from the trip is like picking a favorite child, but the after-hours, optional group visit to the art studio of Caterina Balletti in Florence was incredibly fun and memorable. It provided a tangible and modern-day look at Italian life which nicely balanced all the tours of historical sites and imagery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very satisfying. It exceeded our high expectations. It was precisely planned and executed. Our guides were knowledgeable, attentive, humorous and friendly. Marijan was brilliant and Saso was an ideal assistant. We felt secure with them and complete confidence in them.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The lagoon tour of the Venice lagoon."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The history and presentation was incredible

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beautiful country "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Awesome

Favorite "WOW" moment

"hard to say the whole trip was outstanding form the wine tasting at the winery to the cooking class in Venice."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a great time. Good mix of structured tour activities with free time to hit any personal preferences. Tour guides were wonderful and so were the art historians who guided some of the museum and world history site tours. The wine tasting, cooking class and painting class were nice breaks from the typical museum walks.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"St Peter's Basilica especially climbing to the top of the dome. So beautiful! The status of David was a close 2nd."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I have travelled to Europe several times however, this was the first experience with a guided tour group. I was blown away by the organization, level of knowledge of our guides and the quality of hotels, meals, bus transports and excursions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every day presented 'wow' moments. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

There aren’t enough superlatives to convey what an extraordinary experience it was.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Quite moments on the private terrace of our hotel in Venice. . . . bottle of wine, gondolas silently gliding by below. Ah. . . . . . . . . . ."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were blown away by the thoughtful planning that provided the right balance of tour time, personal time, and group time. The group of 25 were wonderful. Our two tour leaders were amazing and helpful but never hovered. There were unexpected extras, like a taxis back to the hotel after a really long day and chocolate on the bus. We will definitely plan another Rick Steves' tour but we can't imagine it how it could possibly match our Italian experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had heard that Venice was unique, but you need to see it to believe its uniqueness and beauty."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our 5th RS tour and we still love it . Tina best of all tour guides very organized, thoughtful n caring , franchesca best local guide speaks from the heart. Restaurants could be better , last dinner being the worst, Hotel in Florence the best in everything including breakfast, hotel in Rome the worst, dirty with bugs crawling in the bathroom staff not friendly at all. Transport very comfortable. Great variety of activities the best the cooking class in Florence . Wish there’s a guide in Vatican.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ancient Rome is unforgettable and cooking class so much fun"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the David in the Uffizi in Florence and climbing the Dome!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Could not ask for a better travel experience! From our guide to the hotels, everything was perfect!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The whole tour was full of "wow" moments. There are too many to have just one favorite. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed this trip very much. Great guides and great comraderie.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The evening gondola ride was special."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tina our guide was amazing! The tour was packed with fun and informative information about the history and culture of the places we explored. The other guest were some of the greatest people to meet and have this experience with. The accommodations were unique and memorable with staff that was enjoyable and on point.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There was too many wow points to just pick one. Not only was Tina an excellent guide but the guest guides also had a great passion for the history and culture for the places they were introducing.....it made the experience that much more enriching than I could have imagined. "