Rome: The City Experience
7 days | 10 days with Florence extension |
Join in the rush of Roman life or linger at your leisure—the pace is yours to set.
One could spend an eternity getting to know Rome, but this trip—a full week in the heart of the city—does the trick, too. You’ll balance structured sightseeing and included tours of timeless icons (think: the Colosseum) with plenty of leeway to lose yourself down mazy lanes, laze over an espresso in a cafe, or liven your days with optional outings to other local attractions. And if you’re still craving more, more, more, the extension to Florence will reveal Italy’s Renaissance roots.
Your tour package includes
- 5 nights in a well-located hotel
- 5 breakfasts
- 2 dinners with beer or wine, including a signature farewell dinner experience with a cooking lesson
- Expert Tour Director
- Sightseeing tour with a local guide
- Metro tickets
Included highlights
- Colosseum
- Palatine Hill
- Circus Maximus
- Roman Forum
- Roman cooking class
Itinerary

Overnight Flight1 night
Day 1: Travel day
Board your overnight flight to Rome today.
Rome5 nights
Day 2: Arrival in Rome
Included meal: Welcome dinner
Welcome to Italy! Meet your Tour Director at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Afterward, get to know the rest of your group over an included dinner, served with beer or wine, at a nearby restaurant.
Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Rome
Included meal: Breakfast
From the Forum to the Pantheon to the holy confines of Vatican City, Rome bursts with UNESCO-listed landmarks. Today, you’ll follow in the footsteps of the ancients as you explore the capital of modern-day Italy with a local guide.
- Step inside the iconic Colosseum, the monumental amphitheater where gladiators once battled for glory before roaring Roman crowds. Tour the nearly 2,000-year-old structure, 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.
You won’t want to skip the guided tour of St. Paul’s Basilica—officially known as the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, it’s one of Rome’s four major papal churches. Add it to your itinerary to view the final resting place of St. Paul and take a subterranean journey through Rome’s ancient catacombs.
Prefer to spend the afternoon on your own? Whether you want to take it easy over an Aperol spritz or take in the beauty of the Galleria Borghese’s art collection, the rest of the day belongs to you.
Please note: You must confirm your passport information at least 30 days prior to departure to ensure we can secure your tickets to the Colosseum. Also, the Ancient Rome: St. Paul’s Basilica & the Catacombs excursion may take place on day 6, depending on the day of the week.
Day 4: Free day in Rome
Included meal: Breakfast
Some of the holiest places of the Catholic faith can be found in Rome—specifically in the sovereign Vatican City. Add this morning’s excursion to visit the blessed landmarks of the world’s smallest country (think: St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel) or stay in Rome and explore on your own.
If you’ve worked up an appetite, choose to treat yourself to a culinary-themed evening walk through the lively Trastevere neighborhood and its countless trattorias. Need a moment of respite? Use your free time to visit the picturesque Aventine Hill, home to the peaceful Giardino degli Aranci (Orange Garden) and the famous keyhole view of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Please note: The excursion to Vatican City may take place on day 3, depending on the day of the week.
Day 5: Free day in Rome
Included meal: Breakfast
Exquisite artwork and aperitivi—does it get more Roman than that? For a full-day immersion into the culture of the Eternal City, add today’s optional excursion to your itinerary: You’ll cap a visit to the grand halls of the Capitoline Museums with rooftop snacks and spritzes.
For a self-guided exploration, consider heading to the old Jewish Quarter, where formal museums and streetside memorials pay tribute to a once-established community. (Don’t leave without trying carciofi alla Giudia—simply seasoned, double-fried artichokes.)
Day 6: Free day in Rome & evening cooking class
Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner
The inland ruins of Ostia Antica reveal a port city vital to the Roman Empire. Add today’s optional outing to your itinerary, and you’ll step into a snapshot of ancient life.
Whether you journeyed forth or hung back, you’ll come together with your group this evening for a special farewell dinner. Follow a trained chef in a cooking class and learn how to make pasta by hand, then pair your creations with a glass of beer or wine and dig in.
Flight Home
Day 7: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Transfer to the airport for your flight home—or give your trip an extra renaissance by joining us on the extension to Florence.
Florence extension
The Ponte Vecchio. The Duomo. You could spend hours hopping between Florentine landmarks, so why not do just that? On this extension, you’ll have the chance to explore the Cradle of the Renaissance at your own pace. And if you’re itching to venture out into Tuscany’s storied landscape, our optional jaunt to Siena and San Gimignano has you covered.
Florence3 nights
Day 7: Transfer to Florence & sightseeing tour
Included meal: Breakfast
Today, travel through the scenic Apennine Mountains to Florence—Tuscany’s capital and the world’s greatest treasure trove of Renaissance art and architecture. Then, get to know the city with a local guide.
Head to Florence’s UNESCO-listed historic center and view its exquisite, 15th-century cathedral—the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, or Duomo, which is one of the largest churches in the world.
Learn about the cathedral’s distinctive, marble-clad facade and its instantly recognizable dome, the latter of which was built by Filippo Brunelleschi and has become a symbol of the Renaissance and Florence itself.
Pass Giotto’s Campanile. A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, this bell tower rises nearly 280 feet above the city and features the same red, white, and green marble found on the Duomo’s facade.
Walk past the Piazza della Repubblica, one of Florence’s main squares, to the medieval Ponte Vecchio, an iconic bridge that spans the Arno River and has been lined with shops since the 13th century.
Stroll along the Arno River and through the Uffizi Gallery’s courtyard to the Piazza della Signoria—a beautiful square that’s situated just outside Palazzo Vecchio and is home to several notable statues, including a replica of Michelangelo’s David and the Fountain of Neptune.
Day 8: Free day in Florence
Included meal: Breakfast
To strike out into the famous hills of the Tuscan countryside, add today’s excursion to the medieval settlements of Siena and San Gimignano. Otherwise, hang back in Florence and recharge for a spell. One good recommendation: Escape the crowds and wander through the Boboli Gardens, located behind the grand Palazzo Pitti.
Day 9: Free day in Florence
Included meal: Breakfast
Terribilita (the awe-inducing quality uniquely ascribed to Michelangelo’s work) pervades Florence, and today’s optional outing showcases some of its most sublime examples. If you’d prefer some alone time, scope out a restaurant for a hearty homemade meal. And don’t be afraid to linger: Dopopranzo—the concept of relaxing at your table with post-meal conversation—is welcome.
Finally, join your groupmates in the evening for a farewell drink and toast to a trip well-spent.
Flight Home
Day 10: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
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.

Rome - UNAWAY Hotel Empire Roma
This historic hotel is located in the heart of Rome. Guests enjoy the Venetian architecture, a piano bar, and an on-site coffee house. Nearby, you’ll find the National Museum of Rome, Villa Borghese, and Trevi Fountain.

Florence - Hotel Executive
This charming hotel is located in the historic center of Florence along the River Arno. Guests enjoy the beautiful lounge bar with live music, original frescoes, and fitness center. Nearby you'll find the Opera House, Piazza...
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
- In order to enter Italy, 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 your destination 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 RWE.
- Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in and depart from Rome (or Florence on the tour extension).
- Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have 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 Rome, 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 low physical activity-level tour. You can expect short walks and low-intensity activities throughout the course of the tour.
Tour Pacing
This is a steady-paced tour. The pace of a tour itinerary considers how often you’ll switch hotels, the amount of planned daily activities, and how you’ll get from place to place. You can expect:
- Most transportation by motor coach
- Daily drive time varies
Walking, Terrain & Physical Requirements
- Travelers should be prepared to walk 2-3 miles per day on city streets, cobblestones, stairs, and hills.
- Cobblestone streets can become slick when wet.
- The terrain around the Roman Forum and the Colosseum includes inclines and uneven stairs.
- 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 90F.
Physical Activity & Tour Pace 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 rest of the group cannot miss any scheduled activities because of the needs of an individual.
- Due to the pace and physical activity level of this tour, mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walkers will be difficult to use and are not recommended. Please notify Go Ahead Tours before your departure if you plan to bring these on tour with you.
- If you have mobility concerns or tour pacing questions, please visit our Help Center or send a message to our Customer Experience Team.
- Most transportation on this tour is by private motor coach. Private motor coaches have steps required to board and often do not provide access to ramps or lifts.
- 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 and boats.
- Some airlines may impose additional charges if you exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you’re responsible for any baggage fees incurred.
- Contact your airline(s) for the baggage size and weight restrictions on your 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, airports, and boarding water taxis.
- 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.
- 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 air conditioning in European hotels and buildings is often not as strong or cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada.
- Italy operates on the European standard 220-240 volts and use Types C, F, or L plugs with two or three 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 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 or contact our customer experience team. Please note that at this time not all our destinations offer headsets due to supplier limitations.
- The water is safe to drink throughout your tour unless posted otherwise.
- This tour includes two 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.
- 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.
- On the tour extension, Tuscany is world-famous for its wine, oil, sauces, and pasta. Menus favor subtle, lighter pastas and desserts made with nuts, fruit, and honey. Try a dish featuring the region’s Chianina beef, perhaps the most prized breed of cattle in all of Italy. For wine, popular Tuscan reds include Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which are primarily made from the Sangiovese grape. Well-known white wines are also made around the San Gimignano region.
- 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 $10USD to $12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and $4USD per person per day for your driver.
- If applicable, we also recommend $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 this 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 traveling 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 is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
- Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.
- Your Tour Director will be leading your group throughout your journey. You will have the same Tour Director throughout your tour.
- The role of the Tour Director is not only to provide information and context on the destinations you visit, but also to confirm services, coordinate inclusions, prepare each days’ activities and support travelers while on tour. As such, they must focus on the success of the group, and cannot provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
- One of the benefits of traveling with EF Go Ahead Tours is our on tour emergency support team.
- Our extensive network of offices around the world, and our integration of ISO 31000: Risk Management Guidelines, help our dedicated 24/7 Emergency Service teams anticipate and address on-tour challenges in a flexible and iterative way.
- This team supports travelers and Tour Directors using a combination of extensive training, simulations, incident response planning, and decades of experience to help manage emergencies if they arise, ranging from personal health concerns or injuries to major world events.
- As needed, On Tour Support can facilitate additional support for travelers on tour, arrange assistance from outside specialists, and liaise with local and international authorities to help solve on-the-ground issues. In addition, the team is dedicated to supporting and facilitating communication between travelers and families in the event of an emergency while on the road or at home.
- Italy is 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and 6 hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
- When it’s noon in New York, it’s 6pm in Italy.
- 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.
















































































