Munch (Start Rome) (Start Rome, end Madrid)
Overview
Highlights
- See the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Piazza Venezia, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon & Piazza Navona
- Pizza Party
- Discover the Secrets of Michelangelo's Florence – see where his David was gifted to the Florentines, Ponte Vecchio, the Medici Palace & much more on our locally guided walking tour of Florence
- See the Duomo, Basilica Santa Croce, Giotto's Bell Tower, the Baptistry & Piazza della Signoria
- Learn about Florence's leather craft with a demonstration
- See the Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Visit the towns of Monterosso & Portovenere
- Cruise Along the Scenic Coast (Weather Permitting, Summer Only)
- Food Tour of Nice Old Town
- Rub shoulders with the rich & famous with a visit to a Monte Carlo casino
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Itinerary
Kicking off in ye olde pasta town, we’ll check into our hotel before our first team catch up. The munching & exploring will begin pretty much immediately as we see Rome’s most glorious icons & experience a traditional pizza party.
This morning we’ll hit the streets for a locally guided tour. From the Colosseum to the Sistine Chapel, the day’s sights will be trumped only by the optional cooking class by evening. Turn down the chance to get taught the secrets of this country’s soulful cuisine by a local? We wouldn’t dare.
Armed with a cappuccino and a crostata (an Italian breakfast tart), we’ll give Rome a “ciao bella” and hit the road for Florence, travelling through some of the county’s finest countryside en route. Did we mention this was wine country? May as well stop along the way ...
Today in your Free Time, why not take a trip to the world’s oldest Gelateria – the pistachio is our personal favourite. If you’re keen to stay on the sweet theme you can grab a slice of castagnaccio, a Tuscan chestnut cake of sultanas and pine nuts. We’ll also take a guided walking tour of the city, seeing all the most iconic sights & learning of the region’s leather craft art.
This morning we’ll board the coach and drift into a hazy bread induced coma. The birth town of pesto is on our horizons… Before we venture out of Tuscany, we’ll find ourselves in the region of one of the world’s greatest icons. Grab a few slices of Italian cheesy dou...
This morning we’ll take our final looks at the vistas of the Italian Riviera. Save your sobs for another occasion, we have another Riv just around the corner. Trading our calzones for croissants and our spaghetti for snails, we arrive on the French Riviera. Sapphire ...
Fresh stems of lavender and local honey can be yours after a morning sipping coffee whilst strolling the markets. Later we’ll be guided on a food tour of Nice Old Town, sampling the unique flavours of the glorious plains of southern France. Stay tuned for spicy saffro...
Drop by stunning Aix-en-Provence for lunch and check out the historic Cours Mirabeau, the town’s lively central area,busy with cafes, fountains and people. A night in Avignon means you’ll get a real taste of the Provencal lifestyle and look into the town’s Roman herit...
This morning we say goodbye to our home on the Rhône River and head south. Out of France, we’ll border hop into the land of sangria, paella, tapas…pretty much an endless list of treats here in Spain. Settling into the Spanish way will be fast tracked by a sensory delighting Tapas class. You can then hit the streets for some late night churros – they taste even better in their homeland.
First stop: Montjuic. The hilltop has full-blown vistas of the city and it’s where we stop to check out the 1992 Olympic Games complex. Afterwards, get a look into Spanish architect Gaudi’s wild imagination with his Art Nouveau masterpiece, the Sagrada Família church....
Barcelona This morning we wave adios to the coastline to make some inland discoveries, heading to the Spanish capital and garden mecca of Madrid. Pretty bridges, cloud reflecting canals & Baroque buildings will split up our journey from Barcelona to Madrid. Here ...
From a dazzling royal palace to the grand buildings and fountains of Plaza de España, Madrid will offer more than a tasty escapade of paella and tangy Gazpacho. We’ll go out with a bang and a banquet of great food, with an optional farewell dinner.
Dive into one last team breakfast and get ready for some heartfelt goodbyes. Today we wrap up our time on tour and return to our real life where we don’t Instagram every single meal. Best plan another food trip pronto.
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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
Contiki Reviews & Ratings
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Molly O'Dwyer
Apr 2024
Active New Zealand
I already want to go back to NZ on another contiki. One of the best experiences of my life!
Molly O'Dwyer
Apr 2024
Incredible Tour Manager and Bus driver!
Our tour manager and Bus driver were incredible. They made the trip...
Trusted Customer
Apr 2024
Anonymous
I loved how everything was organized and planned for me
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We’re firm believers that life’s greatest experiences are made better by the people you share them with. That’s why Contiki invented group travel for young people in 1962 and we’ve spent the past 53 years perfecting it. You’ll explore amazing destinations with a group of 18-35 year olds from around the world who share your passion for adventure, good times and creating memories that define what it is to be young, wild and free.
No two travellers are the same and we know that, which is why we offer eight unique ways to explore the world. We have a number of options to choose from to create a vacation that’s perfect for you, from budget to accommodation style.
We're all about exploring the world with like-minded people, which is why we only run trips for 18-35 year olds, to celebrate being young, spirited and curious. You can expect to join a group of 18-53 awesome people from around the world on our Europe, Australia, North America and New Zealand trips, and in Asia and Latin America it's all about small group adventures with up to 25 travellers. Don't worry if you're not traveling as a couple or with a friend from home – though there are plenty of pairs, 50% of our travellers set off solo, meaning you'll have a ton of opportunities to make new friends.
With over 270 trips around the world and plenty of departure dates to work into your schedule, you'll never be short of options on where to go for your next great adventure.
About the company:
Contiki are the world leaders in social youth travel. We’ve been providing amazing travel experiences for young travellers, from 18-35 years old, since 1962. Imagine how good you would be at something if you had been doing it for more than 60 years?
Everything about Contiki is deeply rooted in our core values ‘Make Every Moment Count’ and ‘We’re about people’. We don’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk and live by our brand philosophy of ‘Travel.Together.’ which means to travel with one another, the destinations we visit, the cultures we enjoy and the environment, too.
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