
Italy & Greece
11 days | 15 days with Santorini & Athens extension |
Feel the magic of Italy and Greece with a Mediterranean odyssey through Roman relics and sun-drenched vistas
There’s something comforting about arriving in Italy: Azure waves lapping at picturesque seaside towns, piazzas teeming with locals sipping aperitivi, and monuments that have witnessed thousands of years of history all come together to create a sense of timelessness. Linger over a limoncello and savor Italy’s lush Sorrento Peninsula and Isle of Capri before continuing to the ruins of Pompeii and the Eternal City—Rome. Your journey then winds through Greece, where temples and colossal amphitheaters still stand amidst modern metropolises. Extend your trip to Santorini and revel in the sun-splashed island’s iconic whitewashed buildings and pristine beaches.
Your tour package includes
- 9 nights in handpicked hotels
- 9 breakfasts, and 4 dinners served with beer or wine
- 6 sightseeing tours, including a walk through petrified Pompeii
- 1 expert Tour Director, your storyteller and cultural insider
- 5 local guides, versed in the myths behind each monument you’ll see
- Pre-booked transportation, including 1 private deluxe motor coach and 1 on-tour flight
- Entrances to museums, landmarks, and more—so you can skip the lines
Included highlights
- Sailing over the waves and spotting the cliffs that define the island of Capri
- Walking along the ancient stones of the Roman Forum, surrounded by temples and triumphal arches
- Wandering the remarkably preserved streets of Pompeii, frozen in time by volcanic ash
- Imagining yourself in Greek myth as you walk the archaeological site of Mycenae
- Contrasting the ruins atop the Acropolis of Athens with the modern city below
- Savoring creamy cheeses, cured meats, and other Greek specialties on our bestselling excursion
- Digging your toes into the volcanic black sands of Santorini’s beaches (if you add the extension!)
Itinerary

Overnight Flight1 night
Day 1: Travel day
Board your overnight flight to Naples today.
Sorrento Peninsula2 nights
Day 2: Arrival in Naples & transfer to Sorrento Peninsula
Included meal: Welcome dinner
Welcome to Italy! Travel to your hotel on the Sorrento Peninsula, which opens to the Bay of Naples and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Our recommendation for freshening up? Order an espresso con panna, served with a heaping dollop of fresh whipped cream. And take your time—Italians don’t usually take their coffee to go, so sidle up to the coffee bar and savor yours slowly.
Then, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner, served with beer or wine.
Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Capri
Included meal: Breakfast
Join your local guide and sail across the Bay of Naples to the famed Isle of Capri. Known around the world as a playground for chic jet-setters, Capri’s dramatic coastline is dotted with colorful cliffside hotels and lavish villas. You’ll traverse crystalline waters by boat and spend time on the island before returning to the Sorrento Peninsula.
- Boat around the island and bask in the romance of Capri’s caves and grottoes (weather-dependent). You can admire the elaborate White Grotto and Faraglioni rocks as they jut out of the water.
- Stroll through the winding alleys of the village of Capri, lush with Mediterranean flora—palm trees, umbrella pines, and bright pink-and-purple bougainvillea.
- Take a funicular ride to Capri’s upper town and watch the island’s vistas unfurl below you.
- Explore the Gardens of Augustus—a botanical garden with an intimate setting, intoxicating blooms, and a dreamy view of the water.
End the day by adding an excursion to an agriturismo—or farm stay—where you’ll indulge in a four-course, farm-to-table meal, as well as a tour of its fertile grounds. Prefer to spend the time exploring on your own? Enjoy your free evening in the Sorrento region by tracking down the best limoncello.
Rome3 nights
Day 4: Rome via Pompeii
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
En route to Rome, stop at Pompeii for a guided walking tour of the city’s ruins, frozen in time since the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. The former port town lay buried under ash for 1,500 years before being rediscovered, and ongoing excavation continues to uncover remnants of everyday life before disaster struck.
- Discover how Roman citizens lived 2,000 years ago as you stroll through remarkably preserved temples, public baths, and amphitheaters.
- View the excavated ruins of Roman theaters, villas, temples, and baths.
Then, continue to Rome and sit down for dinner, served with beer or wine.
Day 5: Sightseeing tour of Rome
Included meal: Breakfast
Follow in the footsteps of the ancient Romans on a guided, immersive tour of the Eternal City.
- Stop outside the iconic Colosseum, a nearly 2,000-year-old amphitheater that’s both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven New Wonders of the World.
- Follow the Via Sacra, the ancient Sacred Way that runs along the foot of Palatine Hill, leading you directly into the heart of the Roman Forum.
- Pass through the Arch of Titus as you enter the Forum, a first-century honorific arch that marked triumphal processions into the city center.
- Marvel at the grand Basilica of Maxentius, once one of the largest buildings in the ancient city, and pass the Temple of Vesta, where the sacred flame of Rome was tended by Vestal Virgins.
- View the Curia Iulia, the ancient Senate House where Rome's political elite debated the fate of an empire, and the Temple of Divus Julius, dedicated to Julius Caesar himself.
- Enjoy free time to wander through the Forum on your own, surrounded by ancient ruins and the echoes of a civilization that shaped the world.
This evening, choose to get your hands dirty—with flour, that is—by adding an excursion to a pasta-making class. You’ll learn traditional techniques for preparing and rolling out fresh pasta before digging into the dishes you prepared.
Need a moment of respite? Use your free time this afternoon and evening to visit Aventine Hill, home to the peaceful Orange Garden (Giardino degli Aranci) and a view of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Please note: Travelers should have their passport information confirmed at least 30 days prior to departure to ensure we can secure tickets for entrance to the Roman Forum.
Day 6: Free day in Rome
Included meal: Breakfast
It’s your final full day in Rome. Whether you want to take it easy over a morning cappuccino or admire the exquisite art and architecture of the Galleria Borghese, use your free day at your leisure. You can descend into the eerie underground chambers of the Capuchin Crypt—also known as the Bone Chapel, the way it’s adorned with skeletal remains in a unique display of artistic macabre—or add an excursion to the sacred walls of Vatican City, where the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, and countless masterpieces await.
Please note: On some departures, the optional Iconic Sights: Vatican City excursion may be moved to day 5.
Nafplio2 nights
Day 7: Flight to Athens & Nafplio via Corinth Canal
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Fly to Athens, Greece. Then, stop at the Corinth Canal as you travel to Nafplio. This narrow waterway connects the Gulf of Corinth to the Saronic Gulf and was an important navigational route upon its opening in 1893. While it’s too narrow for today’s modern vessels, its steep limestone walls provide a scenic contrast to the aquamarine waters.
Romantic and slightly out of the way, Nafplio is a thriving seaside town with a rich history that exhibits Roman, Venetian, and Ottoman influences. After settling into your hotel in Nafplio, join your fellow travelers this evening for an included dinner, served with beer or wine.
Day 8: Sightseeing tour of Nafplio, Epidaurus & Mycenae
Included meal: Breakfast
Join your Tour Director on a walk through Nafplio’s charming Old Town: Take in Syntagma Square (alive with locals enjoying a coffee or a nightcap), quaint restaurants, and historical buildings around every turn. For a keepsake to take home, look for shops selling worry beads. Used for relaxation or stress relief across Greece, the city has a storied tradition of producing them.
Visit Greece’s archaeological wonderland of Epidaurus, famous for its amphitheater. Remarkably well preserved, it was constructed toward the latter part of the fourth century B.C. as a site for religious ceremonies. In the theater’s current incarnation, visitors can enjoy performances of Greek dramas, set against a backdrop of the surrounding valley and mountains.
Your guided tour continues in the UNESCO-listed archaeological site of Mycenae. No visit to the eastern Peloponnese would be complete without a visit to the cradle of Mycenaean civilization, which peaked between 1400–1200 B.C. As you walk through the hillside citadel, you’ll come across the remains of homes, storefronts, ancient tombs, and Agamemnon’s Palace.
Athens2 nights
Day 9: Transfer to Athens
Included meal: Breakfast
Nothing can prepare you for the sheer sense of awe you’ll feel when you come face-to-face with Athens, where ancient architecture and artifacts coexist with modern life.
Enjoy a free afternoon in Plaka, a neighborhood largely unbothered by time and modernity, with distinctive red-tiled rooftops, outdoor cafes, and colorful street vendors. Prefer to taste your way through Athens? Add an excursion and remember to say kali orexi—local speak for “have a good appetite.”
Day 10: Sightseeing tour of Athens
Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner
Meet up with your dedicated local guide, who will introduce you to the highlights of this bustling capital.
- Pass by the Panathenaic Stadium, built entirely out of marble—the only such stadium in the world.
- Continue to Syntagma Square, home to the neoclassical Greek Parliament building, and admire the plaza’s imposing marble steps, fountain, lush shade trees, and the elite ceremonial guards known as the Evzones.
- Reflect on the Arch of Hadrian, built to honor the Roman emperor, and imagine how its Pentelic marble stones were carted more than 11 miles from Mount Pentelikon in 131 A.D.
- View the remains of the sixth-century Temple of Zeus and gaze up at its 16 ornate Corinthian columns.
- Set off on a walking tour around the ancient Acropolis—site of the Parthenon, Temple of Athena Nike, and Erechtheion. You may have seen these enduring icons of antiquity in books and film, but now you’re stepping through the work of craftsmen who quarried and honed these marble blocks thousands of years ago.
- Walk through the Plaka and enjoy free time to wander the narrow streets and charming shops. Situated at the foot of the Acropolis, this district is one of the oldest parts of Athens and is known as “the neighborhood of the gods” due to the dozens of monuments strewn throughout.
Spend a free afternoon in Athens to explore on your own. Head back to the Plaka district, or wander through Anafiotika on the northeast slope of the Acropolis. The neighborhood dates to the 19th century and is chock-full of charming whitewashed cottages and vibrantly hued doors, the likes of which you might have seen—or will see soon—on Greece’s Cycladic islands.
Tonight, celebrate your trip with your group over a farewell dinner, served with your choice of beer or wine.
Flight Home
Day 11: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Transfer to the airport for your flight home. Or, extend your stay to visit inimitable Santorini, where you’ll dive into white-and-cobalt-tinged postcard views of the iconic island. Walk through picturesque fishing villages, enjoy a cruise or local wine tasting (or both), and get your fill of just-caught seafood.
Santorini & Athens extension
Experience island time the Greek way. Extend your trip to Santorini—a volcanic outcrop that beckons with cobalt-domed churches, set against a canvas of Aegean blue and dramatic terrain. Its symphony of history, natural beauty, and the locals’ zest for life is utterly intoxicating. (And that’s before you’ve seen the island’s fiery sunsets.) End your trip with a flight back to Athens’s myth-filled streets.
Santorini3 nights
Day 11: Ferry to Santorini
Included meal: Breakfast
You’ve seen the photos—now get ready to star in them yourself. Board a ferry to Santorini today. Watch for the steep cliffs that plunge into the Aegean and the island’s famed caldera (the large depression formed by a volcanic eruption), dotted with whitewashed buildings.
Day 12: Sightseeing tour of Santorini
Included meal: Breakfast
Your guided tour of Santorini will take you from black sand beaches to jagged cliff-lined shores and back—a stark contrast to the island’s beloved whitewashed buildings and sprays of fuchsia bougainvillea vines.
- Visit the archaeological excavations at Akrotiri, a settlement buried in volcanic ash, where richly pigmented Bronze Age frescoes and other Minoan artifacts survived a devastating volcanic eruption in the 16th century B.C.
- See Mount Profitis Ilias, the highest point on all of Santorini and home to the Prophet Elias Monastery which sits perched atop the summit.
- Stop in small, picturesque Pyrgos, where you’ll weave through the steep streets of this slightly off-the-beaten-path village.
Spend a free afternoon poking around shops and sampling local wine, or opt to join what’s sure to be an unforgettable excursion—a steal-your-breath-away catamaran cruise with views to match.
Day 13: Free day in Santorini
Included meal: Breakfast
Santorini’s nutrient-rich soil lends itself perfectly to growing wine grapes. Get to know the island’s unique vineyards during an excursion to a local winery, complete with a tasting and accompanying lunch.
Prefer to spend the day on your own? You can sample some traditional dishes—like moussaka (a hearty eggplant dish) or tomato fritters—then explore the unique black-pebbled shores and clear waters of Kamari Beach. End the day with a sunset stop at the lighthouse found on the southern tip of the island.
Please note: For an additional cost, you can book a visit to the village of Oia through your Tour Director. The visit will either take place on the evening of day 11 or 13, depending on the ferry schedule.
Athens1 night
Day 14: Flight to Athens
Included meal: Breakfast
Spend a final morning on Santorini before flying back to Athens.
This evening, enjoy a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members.
Flight Home
Day 15: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Transfer to the airport for your flight home. And remember—it’s not arrivederci or adio, it’s see you later.
Reviews
Hotels
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.
Sorrento Peninsula - Grand Hotel Cesare Augusto
This cozy hotel is located in Sorrento’s city center. Guests enjoy an outdoor pool, bar, and free Wi-Fi. Nearby, you’ll find Piazza Tasso, Marameo Beach Club, and the city’s many shops and restaurants.
Rome - H10 Roma Città
This contemporary hotel is located in Rome's Marconi district. Guests enjoy the rooftop pool, beautiful views of the city, and fitness room. Nearby you’ll find the Tiber River walkway, Centrale Montemartini, and several dining...
Nafplio - Amalia Hotel Nafplio
This modern hotel is located in the town entrance of Nafplion. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi, balconies, and air conditioning. Nearby, you’ll find Árgos, Tiryns, and the Tomb of Agamemnon.
Athens - Crowne Plaza Athens - City Centre
This lavish hotel is located in Athens' business and commercial district. Guests enjoy the fitness center, the outdoor swimming pool, and the sauna. Nearby, you’ll find the War Museum Athens, the National Garden Botanic Museum,...

Santorini - El Greco Resort
This beautiful hotel is located in Fira. Guests enjoy a spa, pool, and restaurant. Nearby, you’ll find Fira’s shops and restaurants, Monolithos beach, and the black-sand beach of Kamari.
Flights
Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.
Add our airfare and you’ll get:
- Round-trip flight for your tour
- Airport transfers at your destination
- A great price locked in today
- 24/7 support from our dedicated service team
- Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
- Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
FAQ
- This tour visits Italy and Greece. In order to enter these countries, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
- We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
- Beginning in 2026, U.S. and Canadian passport holders must register for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to enter many European countries.
- Passport holders from over 60 visa-exempt countries (including the U.S. and Canada) will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to visit 30 European countries. That means that even if you’ve previously traveled to any of these European countries without a visa, starting in 2026, you’ll need to get ETIAS authorization to visit them again. If you’re traveling to multiple countries with this requirement, you only need to complete the form once. All Go Ahead travelers are responsible for obtaining their own ETIAS travel authorization before departure. For more details, please visit our Help Center.
- If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
- You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code ITG.
- Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Naples and depart from Athens.
- Transfers to and from the airport at the beginning and end of the tour are included for travelers who purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who booked their own flights are responsible for securing their own airport transfers.
- When you arrive in Naples, a Go Ahead representative will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with a Go Ahead sign or a sign with your name(s). If you don’t see a representative immediately, please be patient and stay in the arrivals area. They may be assisting another traveler who has also just arrived and will be back shortly.
Physical Activity Level
This is a high physical activity-level tour. You can expect to regularly be on the move throughout your trip.
Tour Pacing
This is a steadily paced tour. Tour pacing considers how often you’ll switch hotels, what you’ll do each day, and how you’ll get from place to place. You can expect:
- 3 full days of included activities in a row (more if you add excursions)
- Most transportation by motor coach with occasional transport by boat and one flight transfer
- About 3 hours of bus time daily
Walking, Terrain & Physical Considerations
- Travelers should be prepared to walk 2-3 miles per day on city streets, cobblestones, stairs, and hills.
- Stone and marble walkways may be slippery even when dry.
- The terrain around the Roman Forum and the Colosseum includes inclines and uneven stairs.
- Access to the Acropolis requires travelers to navigate a steep hill including uneven stairs with no railing.
- Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance.
- Please note: Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on tour.
Climate Considerations
- In the summer months (June-September), travelers can expect heatwaves with temperatures consistently above 90 F.
- In July and August, Greece experiences Meltemi, or strong winds, which can make for rough ferry rides. Travelers who experience motion sickness should take the proper precautions.
Physical Activity & Tour Pacing Questions
- Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special mobility or luggage-handling assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group enjoys a smooth and informative journey, and they can’t be relied on to provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
- This tour moves at a reasonable pace to avoid missing scheduled stops. The group can’t miss any activities because of an individual’s needs.
- Due to the pace and physical activity level of this tour, wheelchairs and walkers will be difficult to use and aren’t recommended. Please notify Go Ahead Tours before your departure if you plan to bring any mobility aids with you.
- If you have mobility concerns or tour pace questions, please visit our Help Center or send a message to our Customer Experience Team.
- Private motor coaches use steps for boarding, and often don’t provide ramps or lifts.
- This tour utilizes various modes of transportation, including plane, ferry, and private motor coach. To board some of them, you may have to climb raised platforms or steps.
- You must be able to manage your own luggage while on tour, as porterage isn’t guaranteed. This includes when arriving at hotels or airports and boarding trains or ferries.
- Luggage storage on trains is extremely limited, and often requires travelers to lift their suitcases onto racks—sometimes located above their seats.
- You should be prepared to manage your bags during ferry transfers. This includes carrying them up and down boarding ramps, lifting them onto racks, and navigating spaces crowded with other people and motor vehicles.
- A round-trip ferry between Sorrento and Capri and a flight from Rome to Athens are included in the price of your tour (the tour extension also includes a ferry from Athens to Santorini and a flight from Santorini to Athens).
- All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
- Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches, ferries, flights, and other modes of transportation.
- Contact your airline(s) for the luggage restrictions for your itinerary. Please note that on-tour flights may have tighter size and weight limits than your round-trip airfare to and from tour.
- Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any bags or exceed their size and weight restrictions. Be advised: You’re responsible for any luggage fees incurred on all flights.
- Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
- Travelers must be able to manage their luggage throughout tour; porters aren’t guaranteed at hotels or airports.
- Travelers need to be prepared to manage their own luggage during ferry transfer on the tour extension; this includes carrying your luggage up/down the boarding ramp, and managing crowded spaces with other people and motor vehicles.
- We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
- A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
- You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
- It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
- We recommend packing a reusable water bottle to cut down on single use plastic waste.
- Travelers who experience motion sickness should take the proper precautions for the ferry crossings.
- We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
- In case of emergencies, we also recommend packing your medical insurance card in your carry-on.
- Go Ahead handpicks every hotel you’ll stay at, striking a balance between comfort, location, and local charm.
- Specific properties will vary based on your departure date, but are typically three-to-four-star hotels; always include private bathrooms; and usually have in-room safes for valuables. Additionally, your hotels will have Wi-Fi, but access may be limited to common areas. There may also not be elevators.
- Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee that your accommodations will have laundry services or facilities. We recommend checking directly with your hotels once they’ve been confirmed, about 30 days prior to departure.
- Some hotels on this tour are situated on narrow streets; as such, our buses can’t drop you off right out front. In these instances, you’ll have to walk your luggage to the property, no more than a few blocks.
- Please be advised that the strength of the air conditioning in European hotels/buildings is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada.
- Italy operates on the European standard 220-240 volts and uses Types C, F, or L plugs with two or three small, round pins.
- Greece operates on the European standard 220-240 volts and uses Types C, E, or F plugs with two small, round pins.
- Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date.
- Excursions are available for purchase prior to departure, and most excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour directly through your mobile app for an additional $10 USD.
- We recommend purchasing excursions at least 3 days prior to your tour departure. Please note some excursions have advance booking deadlines. Check your tour itinerary for more information to ensure you don’t miss the deadline to add them.
- Optional excursions may be canceled on tour due to reasons like low enrollment, weather or unexpected closures. If an excursion you signed up for is canceled by Go Ahead Tours, you will be refunded the full cost of the excursion. Please note it may take up to 60 days for your refund to be processed.
- Your Tour Director may offer their own optional excursions which can only be purchased on tour via cash (in local currency).
- At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website at cdc.gov.
- If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies, please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to your departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
- If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
- Most of our itineraries include headsets used during certain sightseeing tours so travelers can hear their guides or Tour Director. If you use an assisted listening device, such as a hearing aid or cochlear implant, please visit our Help Center for more information or contact our customer experience team. Please note that at this time not all our destinations offer headsets due to supplier limitations.
- Please note that codeine (commonly found in headache medications) is banned in Greece, and you may face prosecution if you bring it into the country.
- Take proper care with sun exposure, as the sun can be especially strong in some of the regions on this tour.
- The water is safe to drink throughout your tour unless posted otherwise.
- You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code ITG.
- This tour includes four dinners: They may be set menus, buffets, or family-style meals, depending on the location. Dinners also include one glass of beer, wine, or a soft drink, as well as water.
- Breakfast each morning is also included at the hotel and is typically buffet style with hot and cold options.
- The cuisine of Southern Italy is often what diners think of when imagining Italian flavors—pasta with tomato sauces, olives and olive oil, zucchini, veal, and fish are all featured prominently on menus throughout the region.
- Roman food is typically freshly prepared and varies depending on the season. Must-try bites include cacio e pepe (a simple dish of pasta, cheese, and pepper) and supplí (a fried rice ball similar to Sicily’s arancini).
- For more authentic meals, try local trattorias, small restaurants set away from the main piazzas. A typical Italian meal includes wines and the occasional beer, followed by a few sips of after-dinner drinks like grappa or limoncello.
- Greece’s warm climate ensures a constant supply of fresh, high-quality fruits and vegetables. Salads served with aromatic olive oil, feta cheese, and oregano are plentiful. Simple grilled fish and meat are integral to Greek cuisine, as well as squid and octopus. Don't miss the spinach and cheese pies, called spanakopita.
- At the conclusion of your tour, it is customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
- We recommend tipping the equivalent of $10USD to $12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $4USD per person per day for your driver.
- If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
- Tips can only be paid in cash.
- If you are traveling to multiple countries with different currencies and the same Tour Director, ask them what currency they prefer for their tip.
- The cost of porterage is included in your tour price, and it is not necessary to tip baggage handlers.
- You will use the euro on tour.
- Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
- We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
- You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
- International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
- Plan ahead and bring cash to tip your tour director, local guides, and bus drivers. We also recommend keeping coins in the local currency on hand, as some public bathrooms may charge a fee for use.
- To help you feel prepared before going on tour, we strongly recommend downloading the EF Go Ahead Tours mobile app. It’s free and provides information about important deadlines and entry requirements, as well as your detailed itinerary, packing tips, and more. You can also connect with fellow travelers through the app’s chat feature.
- Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
- There’s no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
- Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.
- Your Tour Director will lead your group. Their role is not only to provide information and context on the destinations you visit, but also to confirm services, coordinate inclusions, prepare each day’s activities, and support travelers while on tour. As such, they must focus on the success of the group, and can’t provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
- One of the benefits of traveling with EF Go Ahead Tours is having access to our 24/7 Emergency Support Team.
- Our extensive network of global offices and our integration of ISO 31000 Risk Management Guidelines help this dedicated team anticipate and address on-tour challenges in a flexible, iterative way.
- Using a combination of extensive training, thorough incident response planning, and decades of experience, this team assists travelers and Tour Directors in case of emergencies—stepping in for everything from personal health concerns and injuries to major world events.
- Our On-Tour Support team can also provide additional help to travelers on tour, arranging assistance from outside specialists and liaising with local and international authorities as needed. And if there’s an emergency on the road or at home, the team will facilitate and support communication between travelers and their families.
- Italy is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and six hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
- Greece is two hours ahead of GMT and seven hours ahead of ET.
- When it’s noon in New York, it’s 6pm in Italy and 7pm in Greece.
- When you travel with Go Ahead Tours, you’ll make a positive impact on the places you visit and the people and animals you meet along the way. That’s because our three core Responsible Travel commitments—protecting the environment, supporting local communities, and promoting animal welfare—are at the heart of every tour we offer.
- Travel, when done responsibly, can have an enormous socioeconomic impact on communities. To maximize your impact, eat at locally owned restaurants and shop at small businesses. Ask your Tour Director to point out restaurants they recommend.
- Prepare for your trip: Be aware of monetary norms such as tipping and negotiating in a market; learn about the destination’s forms of etiquette; and take some time to learn a few words in the local language.
- When interacting with locals, make sure to ask people for permission before you take their picture, and approach cultural differences with empathy and an open mind.
- Go Ahead Tours encourages travelers to limit their waste while on the road, especially single-use plastics. You can cut back on generating plastic waste by packing your own toiletries, using electronic documents, and bringing a reusable water bottle and shopping bag. If you need to use plastics or paper, please recycle.
















































































