Splendors of Italy & Greece

Welcome to Italy, or “Buongiorno in Italia” as the locals say! After your flight has landed, go through customs, grab your luggage and make your way to the Arrivals Hall where a private driver will be waiting for you with a sign with your name and/or Tenon Tours on it. Your private driver will transport you by boat to your hotel in the heart of the Floating City. 

Once you drop your bags at your hotel, the morning is yours! Built on over 100 small islands on the Adriatic Sea, Venice is lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces, sweeping views of the Grand Canal and its small counterparts, and a romantic atmosphere that is unlike any other. Venice is completely walkable via small bridges between islands. 

In the late afternoon, enjoy a privately guided walking tour with a local to discover the best of Venice at your own pace. 

Enjoy breakfast in your hotel before joining a small group tour of the islands of Murano and Burano! These islands are the most famous and traditional tourist destinations among the small islands in the Venice Lagoon. 

Visit a glass factory, where you’ll watch a glassblower creating beautiful pieces of glassware, a Murano tradition that dates back to 1291. Hear a bit about the island’s history from your guide, who tells you about Murano’s prosperity in the 1400s and 1500s, when it was the center of glassmaking in Europe. During your visit, you will also have the opportunity to buy a piece of glass on-site! 

The tour will then continue towards Burano, an island known for its lace production, which dates back to the 16th century and was once the best in Europe. While you visit local shops and a museum to admire high-end lace on display, admire the island’s brightly colored fishermen’s houses. Burano is the most charming island in the Lagoon and here you will also have the opportunity to enjoy lunch at a restaurant of your choice (not included) before returning back to Venice by boat. 

This evening you will enjoy an enchanting 30-minute private gondola ride to appreciate the beauty, charm, and colors of this unique city. You’ll see Venice as the local noblest and wealthiest families did for centuries as you are gently guided by the gondolier through the calm waters of the old city, passing under ancient and imposing bridges and admiring the architectural masterworks of Venice. 

Tuscany awaits! After breakfast, you will have a private transfer to the Venice Santa Lucia Rail Station where you will board the 1st class train to Florence. The total journey is just under 2 hours with zero changes required. Upon arrival in Florence, you will have a private transfer to your hotel in the city center. 

With a local guide, you will experience the highlights of the city on a 3-hour private tour this afternoon. With its wealth of Renaissance art and centuries-old architecture around every turn, there’s no shortage of cultural heritage on display to tour. Step inside the Galleria dell’Accademia and set up close to David, Michelangelo’s sculptural masterpiece, as well as the unfinished works known as the Slaves. 

Enjoy the remainder of the day strolling through the city. Florence is full of stunning public squares, but not many will give you a proper taste of the city’s real cosmopolitan life.

Today is dedicated to Pisa and Livorno! We’ve included a private driver for you today to be at your disposal as you journey from Florence to the town of Pisa and a stop in Livorno. 

Upon arrival in the historical town of Pisa, renowned for its architectural masterpieces, head to Piazza dei Miracoli with the celebrated Leaning Tower, the Baptistery, and the Cathedral. View the unrivaled masterpiece of Romanesque art constructed between the 11th and 12th centuries and other important monuments. Here you will enjoy a 3-hour privately guided tour of the city with a local to get an in-depth view of the history and culture of this amazing town. 

Next, head to Livorno to spend time at your leisure! Livorno is a charming city located on the Western coast of Tuscany.

Your driver will take you back to Florence for the evening! An amazing spot for dinner in Florence is Zsa Zsa. Make sure you make reservations (or we can take care of that for you in advance at any restaurant you like).

This morning is free for you to explore Florence at your leisure! 

We recommend visiting the Boboli Gardens or the craft shops of the Oltrarno this afternoon. Here you can find a wealth of tiny artisan shops, from shoemakers, goldsmiths, and leather bookbinders, to shops for ceramics and inlaid stones. 

This evening, you will enjoy an enchanted experience in Chianti! A beautiful, Tuscan dinner will be prepared for you among the vines. You will indulge in seasonal, Tuscan specialty courses paired with exquisite wines produced by the estate itself.

This morning you will meet one of our famous chefs and you will learn how to cook a nice Tuscan meal in the heart of Florence. First, you will go shopping with the chefs at the central market, picking up the ingredients for your lunch. From here, you will start putting your hands on the ingredients to create your own meal, driven by the expert guidance of our Chefs. Enjoy the meal you’ve prepared yourself, accompanied by two glasses of Chianti wine.

After an amazing meal, why not look to stretch your legs and burn a few calories? We’ve included a guided walking tour for you both this afternoon of the Florentine Hills.

Say farewell to Florence today as you meet your driver to take you back to the Florence Rail Station where you will enjoy 1st class train tickets to Rome. Upon arrival in Rome, you will greet another driver who will take you to your centrally located hotel in the heart of the city. 

After enjoying free time for lunch and relaxing, you will be greeted by a private guide for a gentle stroll through the streets and alleys of the city center to visit the most famous squares, fountains and palaces of baroque architecture. 

Another beautiful day in Rome! Included today is a 3-hour tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica with a small group and early entrance for the best experience. 

Your tour starts with a warm welcome from your expert local guide who will accompany you directly into the Vatican Museums with skip-the-line access. Explore beautiful galleries of the Vatican, Gallery of Maps and even Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel! Afterward, explore the side chapels and the hidden crypts of St. Peter’s Basilica and see Michelangelo’s “Pietá” while learning why this is the only work he ever signed.

Today you will travel to the most important sites of the archeological area – the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill! 

This 3-hour tour allows you to skip long entrance lines with a small group of 15 people or fewer and a local expert guide. You will explore the first and second levels of the Colosseum. Next, you’ll head over to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, where you’ll also skip entrance lines with special access to Roman Forum tickets. The ruins aren’t always easy to interpret, but your guide will be on hand to help transport you back in time with their wealth of knowledge. 

The remainder of the day is yours in Rome! Eating out is one of Rome’s great pleasures. For contemporary fine dining and five-star wine, there is any number of refined restaurants, but for a truly Roman meal head to a local pizzeria or neighborhood trattoria. That’s where the locals go to indulge their passion for thin, crispy pizzas, humble pasta dishes, and cool white wines from the nearby Castelli Romani hills. 

Enjoy one last breakfast in Rome before heading to Sorrento! Meet your driver in the lobby of your hotel who will escort you to the Rome train station where you will enjoy 1st class tickets to Naples. Once in Naples, a private driver will be waiting for you to take you to your hotel in Sorrento with a 2-hour stop in Pompeii with a local guide. 

After your visit to Pompeii, you will head to a local winery for lunch and wine on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, with our compliments! 

You will then arrive in Sorrento. Sorrento is a wonderful resort town that spreads over a natural terrace above the sea for beautiful views.

Experience the beautiful towns of Amalfi, Positano, and Ravello with a chauffeur private driver-guide today! 

Turquoise seas and cinematic piazzas aside, the region is home to some of Italy’s finest hotels and restaurants. It’s also one of the country’s top spots for hiking, with well-marked trails providing the chance to escape the crowds. 

You will then visit Positano. Positano is a true paradise, developed vertically within a tangled overlay of streets, alleys and shops that expose the colorful Positano fashions well-known all around the world. Known as a top holiday destination across the world, Positano boasts a pebble beachfront and steep, narrow streets lined with boutiques and cafes. The Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta is a must-see in the area and features a tiled dome and a 13th-century Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary. 

Today you will discover Capri Island on a small group boat tour! 

Your tour begins with pick-up from a designated meeting point or hotel and transfers to the port of Piano di Sorrento. From here, you will depart to the Island of Capri, sailing along the Sorrento Coast.

Along the tour, there will be some stops for swimming and snorkeling, and a relaxing break with snacks and drinks offered on board. Wrap up the tour with 3-5 hours to explore on land!

Your departure from Capri to Sorrento includes a limoncello tasting – the perfect ending to this wonderful day!

Say farewell to Italy this morning as you meet a driver who will take you to Naples airport to catch a short, non-stop flight to Athens. 

Upon arrival in Greece, a private transfer will be waiting for you to take you directly to your hotel in the heart of Athens. If your room is not yet ready upon arrival, you may leave your luggage securely with the concierge and begin exploring at your leisure.

Enjoy a yummy breakfast and then get ready for a wonderful group tour of Delphi! 

At the foot of Mount Parnassos, within the angle formed by the twin rocks of the Phaedriades, lies the Pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi, which had the most famous oracle of ancient Greece. 

You can also enjoy a visit to the Sanctuary of Apollo (entrance not included). Serving as the heart of Ancient Delphi, the hillside Sanctuary of Apollo is where pilgrims would journey to hear prophecies from the god Apollo, voiced through his chosen oracle (a woman from the local area). 

Say farewell to Athens and get ready for some relaxing days in Naxos! Depart from your hotel after breakfast and enjoy a private transfer to the Piraeus port, where you will enjoy economy-class tickets to Naxos. 

Once you’ve docked in Naxos, you will meet your next driver who will escort you to your hotel where you will check in for the next two nights of your trip.

Spend the day at your leisure! You may also wish to spend time at Plaka Beach! Naxos is renowned for its long, sandy beaches with shallow, turquoise water, and Plaka is the best of them all. 

While dining in Naxos, we’d recommend a stop at Doukato, one of the Cyclades’ best eating experiences, in a magical setting that was once a monastery, church and school. Another recommendation is Maro’s Tavern. 

Say farewell to the friends you’ve made in Naxos and pack your bags as you meet your private transfer for a journey back to Naxos port where you will enjoy economy class seats on the speedboat to Santorini! 

As you approach Santorini, it’s hard not to be awed by the sheer cliffs that soar above a turquoise sea, by the fact that you’re flying in an immense crater of a drowned volcano, and that before you lies an island shaped by an ancient eruption cataclysmic beyond imagining. 

For dining in Santorini, consider Selini Restaurant, an absolutely unique fine-dining experience with more than 30 years of history in Santorini. Selini’s lovely terrace, along with its marvelous culinary creations, will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your trip. 

You are in for a special treat today as you enjoy a semi-private 4.5-hour tour through Santorini focusing on the incredible wineries and delicacies this island offers! 

This tour and experience are one of the best choices if you want to explore the magic world of the Santorini volcanic wines. On this adventure, you will enjoy a stimulating tasting experience under the guidance of experienced wine experts at three selected wineries and you will learn all about the local grape varieties and the viticulture of Santorini. 

For another wonderful dining experience, we recommend Kapari Wine Restaurant. The sunsets here are unbeatable and the food is exceptional in every sense of the word! 

Your Greek adventure is nearing an end and it’s been an incredible experience! On your final day, this evening you will enjoy a sunset sailing tour of Santorini in a small-group setting. 

Here you will explore the beaches, bays, and islands around Santorini. Along the way, jump off to swim and snorkel at the Red and White Beaches; take a dip in the volcanic hot springs; and tuck into a delicious lunch on board. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

Check out of your hotel this morning and meet your private transfer to the Santorini airport to check in and get ready for departure home! Your flight will need to connect to Athens, so if we need to extend the trip by a day and add an additional night in Athens, we can. Most flights depart from Santorini pretty early in order to get you to Athens on time for your flight home! 

We hope you’ve had an amazing time in Greece! Αντίο!