Italy & Greece for Foodies

Itinerary

1. Day 1 Arrival in Rome

   The capital of Italy is a vibrant, energetic and stylish city. While thoroughly modern in sensibility, Rome is also home to some of the world’s most important works of classic art and architecture. This city has been an epicenter for culture, politics and religion for more than 2,500 years. From the Spanish Steps to the Vatican, there are more than enough sights to keep even the most active tourists busy and even somewhere as popular as Rome you can find places just off the tourist trail and bustling with locals. But it’s also nice to slow down and enjoy Rome’s famous cafes and restaurants, which can be just as beguiling as the buildings. Lounge with an espresso on the Campo de Fiori and watch the changing light on the fountains and the facades. Visit the Vatican and explore some of the world’s most beautiful churches. Rome really comes alive at night, when restaurants and wine bars bring a renewed vitality to the city. You’ll also have opportunities for day trips to local vineyards, olive groves, and other places producing regional delicacies. No matter what your interests, or what kind of holiday you’re looking for, Rome will be an enjoyable destination.

   After you land at Rome's Fiumicino airport you will be met in the arrivals hall by a driver holding a sign with your name on. The journey to your accommodation in the center of Rome should take around an hour.

2. Day 2 Your First Full Day in Rome

   

   Gelato, Espresso and Tiramisu Group Walking Tour

   This 2.5-hour tour will be a sweet indulgence! Meet your small group at Piazza della Minerva at the statue of the elephant, and get ready to taste the best coffee, gelato, and tiramisu in Rome! Combining Italy’s famous coffee with desserts that have become world-famous, this personalized tour will take you through lovely neighborhoods.

   • Activity Level : Light
   • Duration : 2 hours

   Included in your vacation package price

   

   Guided Group Wine & Food Pairing Dinner Near the Pantheon

   This 2.5-hour tour and degustation is perfect for foodies. You'll start with an aperitif as you soak up the atmosphere. Then you'll head for dinner, enjoying sumptuous Roman specialties while you get the special treatment from the owners of the restaurant. We can't think of a better way to enjoy a Roman dinner!
   

   • Activity Level : Easy
   • Duration : 2 hours 30 minutes

   Please ask your travel advisor for the cost to add this to your package

3. Day 3 Your Second Full Day in Rome

   

   Small Group Food Tour - Campo de' Fiori, Jewish Ghetto, Trastevere

   Food lovers, here's your chance to experience Rome’s enchanting squares and neighborhoods while tasting your way through some of the city’s best shops, restaurants, and markets, discovering the secrets of Italian cuisine. Meet your friendly, local expert food connoisseur in the city center, and get ready to stroll through a number of neighborhoods to visit the most famous food markets, groceries, coffee shops, ice cream shops, and restaurants. Taste some of the delicious food and wines the city is famous for, including pizza bianca, mortadella, gelato, and supplì. From fried artichokes or zucchini flowers in the Jewish ghetto to spices and vegetables in Campo de Fiori, you'll ignite your senses and burn some calories while you enjoy walking amongst the beauty around you.

   • Activity Level : Light
   • Duration : 3 hours 30 minutes

   Included in your vacation package price

   Watch the video

   

   Cooking Class in the Jewish District Group Tour

   Learn how to make authentic Roman-style pasta, fried seasonal specialties, and Grandma’s dessert from scratch in a cozy restaurant in the Jewish section of Rome's center. You'll meet your host at Piazza Mattei, in the heart of the former Jewish ghetto, then head to the restaurant where the chef awaits you to reveal secrets and recipes. This is a hands-on class, but if you'd prefer to be a spectator, you can relax while watching the chef work, all while enjoying your own glass of wine. You'll learn how to make homemade pasta from scratch, clean and prepare seasonal vegetables for frying, and create a simple and tasty dessert that all Roman grandmas used to cook for local kids. As you do so, you'll also learn about the history and legends of the Jewish quarter and its unique foods. Just please keep in mind that the restaurant can accommodate vegetarian/gluten-free diets but not kosher.
   

   • Activity Level : Easy
   • Duration : 2.5 hours

   Please ask your travel advisor for the cost to add this to your package

   Watch the video

4. Day 4 Traveling to Bologna by Train / Arrival in Bologna

   Today it's time to bid arriverderci to the Eternal City. You're headed to Bologna. The high speed train service gets you there in about two hours. We've included standard class tickets in your package but can upgrade these to business class for an extra fee. We will also arrange for a driver to take you to Roma Termini station in plenty of time for your departing train.

   

   You can upgrade your transfer

   Bologna by Private Transfer with a Stop in Assisi

   Upgrade for an additional cost

   Bologna is the capital of Emilia Romagna and makes a fantastic base for exploring the legendary 'food valley'. The city's history stretches back a few hundred years before Christ and it is home to the oldest university in Europe. These facts are responsible for two of the nicknames Bologna owns with pride. La Dotta – 'the learned one' and La Grassa – 'the fat one'. Truly you're never far from a spectacular meal in Bologna, as long as you're not vegan. Emilia Romagna might not be a name that's as well known as neighboring Tuscany but its food specialties are renowned the world over. The king of Italian cheeses: Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma and traditional Aceto Balsamico are all from around here and a visit to see how they're produced is a must. Petrolheads will also find much to love in Emilia Romagna. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Ducati and Maserati are all produced close by and have museums or factory tours available. If 'slow food' and fast cars aren't your thing then Bologna still doesn't disappoint. A thriving arts scene means you'll easily find a more cultured diversion, from art galleries to operas. And if you want to work up an appetite, the gently leaning Asinelli Tower's almost 500 steps will help you burn some calories. From the top you'll see why Bologna has another nickname 'La Rossa' – the red one, as you gaze out over the red tiled roofs of the old city, which escaped WWII largely undamaged by Allied bombing raids.

   Bologna's train station is on the edge of the historic center of the city where your hotel is located. We'll arrange for our driver to pick you up from the platform and take you to your centrally located accommodation.

5. Day 5 Your First Full Day in Bologna

   

   Bologna Group Walking Food Tour

   Delve into the gastronomy of Bologna with a walk through the Quadrilatero market, the real beating heart of the local specialties. Enjoy three tastings in the company of a local guide while learning fun facts about typical Bolognese food. At the end of the tour, spoil yourselves with a sweet treat.

   • Activity Level : Light
   • Duration : 2 hours

   Included in your vacation package price

6. Day 6 Your Second Full Day in Bologna

   

   Emilia Romagna Food Classics: Parmigiano, Balsamico and Prosciutto Private Day Trip

   This eight-hour excursion is full of delicious tastings. From cheese to prosciutto to balsamic vinegar and wine, you'll tour the countryside with a local guide, stopping in at family-run producers of local delicacies. At each stop you'll learn about the production process then get to taste what they make. At the end of the day you'll be taken back to your accommodation. It's a delicious day-trip. Bring an appetite!

   • Activity Level : Easy
   • Duration : 10 hours

   Please ask your travel advisor for the cost to add this to your package

   

   Food Valley Private Gourmet Experience

   Your day begins with an early visit to a Parmigiano Reggiano dairy farm, where you'll see the entire cheese-making process and enjoy a tasting. Next, you'll tour a Traditional Balsamic Vinegar producer in Modena, followed by a vinegar-tasting and light lunch. In the afternoon, visit Parma for a tasting of Prosciutto di Parma and learn about its production. Finally, you'll be returned to your accommodations after a full day of Emilia's finest culinary experiences.

   • Activity Level : Light
   • Duration : 8 hours

   Please ask your travel advisor for the cost to add this to your package

7. Day 7 Traveling to Athens / Arrival in Athens

   Our driver will pick you up from your accommodation and take you to the airport in plenty of time for your departing flight to Athens.

   Although it's hard to not keep craning your head to take in the spectacle of the Acropolis at the center of town (especially when it's lit up at night), there's more to Athens than its dense concentration of ancient ruins. Athens is a center for contemporary art, with modern galleries sitting beside museums stuffed with art dating back millennia. This combination of the old and new is especially clear at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, a spectacular open-air theater that has hosted concerts and plays for nearly 2,000 years. The city's culture is also reflected in its diverse food and drink, which combines traditional Greek favorites with influences from across the Mediterranean, and the world, as fitting Athens' deep history as a humming harbor hub. While Athens' variety is enough to keep you busy, from the hidden back alleys of the center, to the city's showy coast, the city works well as a base for day trips, whether down the coast, or to the Peloponnese. Head to oracular Delphi, or hunt for where Lord Byron's carved his name into the monumental Temple of Poseidon at the tip of Cape Sounion.

   Upon your arrival in Athens, a driver will meet you and drive you to your centrally located accommodation. The drive takes about 45 minutes, depending on traffic.

8. Day 8 Your First Full Day in Athens

   

   Athens Markets and Chronicles Small Group Tour

   On this Old Districts of Athens tour, discover the treasures of Athens with a local by your side, exploring the streets filled with cultural, historic, and culinary icons. Follow the footsteps of the locals with your guide and experience the heart of Athens with its ruins, temples, markets, mosques, retail hot spots, and fresh produce. These are the same places and roads where the ancient Greeks walked more than 2000 years ago!

   • Activity Level : Light
   • Duration : 4 hours

   Included in your vacation package price

9. Day 9 Your Second Full Day in Athens

   

   Delicious Athens Food Small Group Tour

   Eat your way through Athens! Discover Greek flavors and their history, with a walk through some of the city’s most interesting neighborhoods, rarely visited by tourists. Taste olive oils, Greek cheeses, tsipouro drink, honey, souvlaki, tapenades, baklava, Greek coffee, sweets, and a variety of Greek tapas.

   • Activity Level : Light
   • Duration : 3 hours 30 minutes

   Included in your vacation package price

   

   Beat the Heat Acropolis Group Tour

   There's no better time to wander around the Acropolis than the afternoon or early in the morning when the crowds are long gone and the summer heat has eased. During this two-hour small group tour, you'll be shown around the most iconic landmark of Athens by a knowledgeable local guide.

   • Activity Level : Moderate
   • Duration : 2 hours

   Please ask your travel advisor for the cost to add this to your package

10. Day 10 Traveling to Naxos by Ferry / Arrival in Naxos

    

    Naxos awaits you today! A driver will pick you up from from your accommodations and take you to the port of Piraeus, where you'll catch your ferry to Naxos. The duration of the journey is around 3 hours 30 minutes/5 hours 30 minutes based on your preferred departure time.

    The largest island in the Cyclades, Naxos frequently appears lists of the most authentic Greek islands and for good reason, as it is large enough to not rely solely on tourism. Gracefully lying in the heart of the Aegean, this dazzling Greek jewel is an ideal destination for those who wish to indulge in life's simple pleasures, great food, and gorgeous sandy beaches. What visitors love most about Naxos is the genuine rural charm found in the island’s picturesque mountainous villages, which dot the rugged landscape. Naxos has been the source of quality marble for centuries, and its ancient marble quarries, and their products, are some of the island's many highlights. Naxian marble was used to create the extraordinary sculptures that can be admired on the island of Delos and the archaeological site of Delphi. At sunset, enjoy a leisurely walk along the harbor of Chora (Naxos' old town) towards the island's most imposing landmark: the Portara. This massive marble doorway dates back to 530 B.C. and was built to honor the god of light, Apollo, although it was never fully completed. The myths and legends surrounding the island of Naxos are worth the trip alone. After sunset, head to one of the local tavernas found inside the fortified walls of the Venetian castle, the Kastro.

    Upon arriving at the port, you'll be taken to your accommodations in Naxos.

11. Day 11 Your First Full Day in Naxos

    

    Naxos Town Group Food Tour

    On this tour, indulge in a culinary adventure, savoring local delights like fine Naxian cheeses paired with wine, traditional Naxian potatoes, and savory phyllo snacks. Traverse from the historical port to the majestic castle, winding through the charming Venetian Old Town adorned with vibrant fruit stands, aromatic herb stalls, and quaint alleyways. Delight in various traditional mezes and local delicacies, all while gaining insights into Naxos's rich culinary heritage and the people behind its regional cuisine.

    • Activity Level : Light
    • Duration : 3 hours and 30 minutes

    Included in your vacation package price

12. Day 12 Your Second Full Day in Naxos

    

    Naxos Villages Group Food Tour

    On this tour, you will explore the island’s local culture, from village to village, meet people, and taste traditional products! This culinary journey goes through picturesque Naxian villages, indulging in wonderful food at each stop. It begins with traditional starters in a charming small village off the beaten path. Then, passing marble quarries, you will ascend to the highlands to relish cheese, wine, and flavorful main courses in Apeiranthos. Save room for dessert because in Chalki, the former island capital, you'll sample Naxos' renowned citron liquor at a century-old distillery and savor a delectable locally prepared custard pie. Return with cherished memories and an authentic taste of Naxian life!

    • Activity Level : Light
    • Duration : 5 hours

    Included in your vacation package price

13. Day 13 Departure Day

    Based on your flight schedule, we will arrange for a driver to pick you up at your hotel and take you to the airport.