Italy & Greece (6480)

12 Day Tour from Rome to Athens

2024 Tour Details

Italy and Greece are steeped in history with a treasure trove of ancient sites and scenic beauty. On this affordable Italy and Greece tour, you’ll see the exceptional features these countries have to offer, starting in Rome and ending in Athens. In Italy, you’ll stay in Rome, Florence, and the Venice area; in Greece, you’ll stay in Olympia, Nauplia, and Athens. You’ll also spend one night on a ferry, crossing the Adriatic Sea from Ancona, Italy to Patras, Greece. Visit Rome with a local guide who brings ancient Imperial Rome back to life as you see the Colosseum. Enjoy must-see sights, including Piazza Signoria, in the middle of Florence; the Roman arena in Verona, and Pisa’s famous Leaning Tower. In Venice, take a boat ride to St. Mark’s Square and watch glassblowers create works of art as they have done for centuries – or discover the lagoon at your own pace. Step back in time on your visit to Athens’ Acropolis and the Parthenon, dating back to the 5th century BC, and the most accurate indication of the influence and wealth of Athens at its greatest peak. You’ll also visit Mycenae, dating back to 1350 to 1200 BC, where you’ll marvel at the arches, fountains, ramparts, and amazing masonry still standing. All these elements come together perfectly to create a value-minded Italy and Greece tour like no other!

Adventure is knocking with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, complimentary headsets, private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi, a canal boat ride in Venice and an overnight ferry crossing to Greece. Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!

* For operational reasons, schedule changes for the Rome program cannot be excluded.

Dates & Prices Book Online
800.646.5374
Save $150 per couple on select Cosmos 2024 Europe and North America Tours*
Italy & Greece map

 Photo Highlights

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

Buffet breakfasts daily; 3 dinners, including dinner at a local restaurant in Nauplia


Notes:

Security cruise regulations require clients’ passport information at time of booking.

 Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN ROME, ITALY

Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Italy’s ancient capital using your CosmosGO app. This evening, meet your Tour Director and travel companions.

Day 2 ROME

The “Eternal City” is steeped in history, vibrantly alive and exciting, and absolutely unique! Start the included introduction to Rome’s landmarks from St. Peter’s Square with a Local Guide. Enjoy a drive along the iconic landmarks of the city: the Tiber River, the Caius Cestius Pyramid, the Aurelian Walls, and the Caracalla Baths. Complete the experience with a walk back in time from the Circus Maximus to the Arch of Constantine and to the fascinating Colosseum, symbol of the Roman Empire.*

* For operational reasons, schedule changes for the Rome program cannot be excluded.

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 3 ROME–PISA–FLORENCE

Vistas of rolling hills, cypress trees, vineyards, olive groves, and rural villages form the backdrop of your journey through beautiful Tuscany. Stop in Pisa and enjoy a mini-train ride to see the Square of Miracles and the amazing Leaning Tower, then on to Florence. End the day by joining the optional Gastronomy Experience in a typical restaurant.
Today’s Distance: 273 mi/ 440 km

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 4 FLORENCE

Today, discover the wonders of Florence, starting with a guided walking tour, featuring some of the city’s greatest attractions. See Piazza Santa Croce; world-famous Signoria Square; 13th-century Palazzo Vecchio with its collection of artistic masterpieces; Loggia dei Lanzi; the unique Duomo with Giotto’s Gothic Bell Tower and the Baptistry’s ornate bronze door known as the “Gate of Paradise.”

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 5 FLORENCE–VERONA–VENICE AREA

Travel north and cross the Po River to Verona, setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. Marvel at the ancient Roman Arena, built for gladiator fights but now still used as a popular venue for the festivals and concerts; shop in Via Mazzini, or just wander the cobblestone streets of the city center.
Today’s Distance: 217 mi/ 350 km

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 6 VENICE

Venice is a place of unmatched beauty and a feast of fantastic sights. View the delightful crisscrossing canals, the gondolas, arched bridges, palaces, and piazzas. Your included orientation features a boat ride to St. Mark’s Square and a visit to a Venetian glassblowing workshop. You’ll have time to explore at leisure on your own, sipping a cappuccino or the typical Venetian drink called spritz at one of the many bars or cafés. or join one of our optional excursions, like a ride on one of the most iconic boats in the world, the romantic gondola.

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 7 VENICE AREA–ANCONA (EMBARKATION)–OVERNIGHT FERRY CROSSING TO PATRAS, GREECE

Travel across the flatlands of the Po Delta to reach Ancona on the shores of the Adriatic Sea, to embark on the ferry for the crossing to Patras, Greece. Accommodation will be in two-berth cabins with private shower and toilet.
Today’s Distance by coach: 186 mi/ 300 km

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 8 PATRAS (DISEMBARKATION)–OLYMPIA

During the crossing, enjoy the ship’s amenities. Disembark in Patras and drive south into the Peloponnese to Olympia.
Today’s Distance: 63 mi/ 100 km (excluding overnight ferry)

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 9 OLYMPIA–NAUPLIA

Enjoy time at leisure or make the most of this morning by taking the optional tour of the sites of ancient Olympia, including the ruins of the Temple of Zeus. In the afternoon, enjoy the rugged scenery of the Peloponnese on the way to Nauplia. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Today’s Distance: 124 mi/ 201 km

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 10 NAUPLIA–MYCENAE–ATHENS

Morning visit with a Local Guide to the impressive ruins of Mycenae, an ancient city of Homer’s epics. Later, stop to view the Corinth Canal, built between 1881 and 1893.
Today’s Distance: 87 mi/ 140 km

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 11 ATHENS

Join the included sightseeing tour of Athens, featuring the highlights of the ancient capital and a visit to the Acropolis. Explore the shops and museums or take the tram to the coast. In the evening, enjoy the lively atmosphere of the tavernas in the old Plaka district with its narrow streets and sound of bouzouki music, or join an optional traditional Greek dinner.

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 12 ATHENS

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

Breakfast Breakfast

 Tour Director

With COSMOS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

FRANCESCO NARDIN

Escorting tours for more than 5 years

“Buongiorno everyone! I'm Francesco Nardin and I've been rendering my services as a Cosmos Tour Director in Italy, Greece, South France and Spain. Following in the footsteps of my parents, I've always loved travelling and exploring new countries, meeting new people and cultures. Clients need to know what Italy is, what is the feeling of the Mediterranean breeze and how much we can offer to them... this is why I'm here, to create memories and to turn travel dreams into real experiences. Bellissimo!”

Tour Director - FRANCESCO NARDIN

 Accommodations

 Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyCosmos site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 USD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 USD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 USD)
$$$$ (Over $150)


Rome
Florence
Venice
Verona
Olympia
Athens

Rome

Treasures of Rome and Dinner

Treasures of Rome and Dinner

Enjoy a tour of Rome and relax over a 3-course dinner with dessert, local wine, and authentic Roman atmosphere!

Price Range: $$

Florence

Tuscan Dinner

Tuscan Dinner

Enjoy a wonderful dinner in the delightful Tuscan countryside, featuring authentic traditional dishes using the finest local ingredients.

Price Range: $$

Highlights of Uffizi Gallery

Highlights of Uffizi Gallery

Come face-to-face with the world's greatest masterpieces when you skip the long lines and head right into the Uffizi Gallery on this extraordinary guided tour!

Price Range: $$

Venice

Venetian Dinner

Venetian Dinner

The magic of Venice comes to life as you enjoy an unforgettable evening at one of the city's most celebrated local restaurants.

Price Range: $$$

Venetian Lagoon Cruise with Burano Visit

Venetian Lagoon Cruise with Burano Visit

Experience the floating city from the water as you cruise along the lagoon to charming Burano Island for free time to explore on your own.

Price Range: $

Gondola

Gondola

When in Rome, do as the Romans -- and when in Venice, head right for the gondolas! Hop aboard a traditional gondola for a ride through the magical Venetian canals

Price Range: $$

Verona

Magic of Verona

Magic of Verona

Discover Verona by coach and by foot on this guided introduction to the city forever tied to ancient Rome and Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet".

Price Range: $

Olympia

Discover Ancient Olympia

Discover Ancient Olympia

This ancient site is the most famous of Greek sanctuaries, where Zeus was worshiped and where his ivory and gold statue was counted among the Seven Wonders of the World.

Price Range: $

Athens

Greek Dinner & Culture

Greek Dinner & Culture

Enjoy an unforgettable evening of authentic Greek food, culture and music at this fun dining experience.

Price Range: $$

 Private Touring

Private Touring: Cosmos European Private Touring enables you to experience all of the attractions, sights and highlights of your selected Cosmos tour as a private experience - delivered just for you and your traveling party. With Private Touring, you'll have your own dedicated Tour Director, your own private transportation and driver, and your own professional local guides. All with greater flexibility in pace and your experience. For your selected tour, there will be additional per-person cost for the size of your party - from 1 to 24. This additional supplement is reduced with each traveler you add to your party. Here's a sample of the additional cost:

6 guests in a party: $1,994*
18 guests in a party: $558*

Contact Cosmos or your preferred travel agent for pricing for your specific party size as well as any other information on Cosmos Private Touring.

*Supplement pricing is per person (USD) and will be added to the standard published price for your given departure date and is based on availability. Supplement price is valid for 2021 travel year. Occasionally some included and optional activities & excursions may be operated with other guests. Additional restrictions may apply. Not applicable for custom groups. No Group allowances or promotions are available on Private Touring. Published itineraries only. Note that blackout dates may exist where the Private Touring option is not available.


The "Starting at" or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per passenger based on double occupancy and does not include International airfare; additional fees/charges are not included. If a price is crossed out, the new price includes a limited time promotional offer(s) – please review current promotions or deals for additional information. Some tours require intra-vacation flights (and in some cases intra-vacation segments must be purchased from Cosmos).