Ultimate Greece and Italy Guided Combination Tour | YMT Vacations (2024)

Arrive in Athens, Greece, the land of great philosophers, artists and the birthplace of democracy. If you purchased airline tickets from YMT Vacations, you will be transferred to your hotel where the balance of the day is at leisure. This evening, you’ll get a chance to meet all your fellow travelers and your YMT Tour Director at the welcome briefing and dinner at the hotel. (D)

Moxy Athens City or similar

Enjoy a half-day sightseeing tour of Athens. You will see the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch, the Parliament, the monument of the Unknown Soldier, and Constitution Square. Then it’s on to the most famous site in Athens—the Acropolis, atop which lies the stunning 2,500 year old Parthenon Temple built to honor the goddess Athena. Finally, this morning you will visit the new Acropolis Museum. The afternoon is at leisure and you are free to explore the Plaka district in the shadow of the Acropolis, Athens’ oldest and most picturesque neighborhood. The maze of cobblestone pedestrian streets is lined with shops, boutiques, souvenir stands and flea market stalls that beckon all who enter. You will have plenty of time to browse through the many shops and souvenir stalls or you can relax in one of the many tavernas or cafes. This evening you can experience an optional fun and entertaining Greek night. (B)

Today you will have the full day to explore more of this ancient city. We recommend you join our full-day optional tour to Delphi and the Temple of Apollo, one of the most important archaeological sites in Greek history. Delphi was the center of the ancient world and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It sits at the foot of mount Parnassus, in a landscape of unparalleled beauty overlooking the Gulf of Corinth. .If you are looking for a shorter adventure, consider joining the food market tour of Athens (B)

This morning, we take the short drive to the port of Piraeus to board your ferryboat and cruise toward the islands. This afternoon, we arrive at the island of Mykonos, famous for its windmills, whitewashed buildings, and domed churches. This charming island is just 33 square miles, and has a resident population of around 10,000. This evening, you can enjoy a plethora of exceptionally fresh seafood in the waterfront cafes and tavernas in the area of Mykonos Town known as Little Venice. (B, D)

Today is free for you to explore this magical island. If you choose to wander on foot, the central part of Mykonos Town is closed to traffic during most of the day, and has

whitewashed cubic houses, a labyrinth of narrow streets, and lovely churches and chapels. We also offer an optional tour to the neighboring Island of Delos, fabled birthplace of

Artemis and Apollo. After a 45 minute boat ride, you can explore the ruins of the ancient Minoan civilization, including the Agora, temples of Apollo, and the Hippodrome, as well as

the amphitheater and more. In the afternoon, you’ll have plenty of time to explore more of the island or relax on one of the many sandy beaches. (B)

After breakfast at the hotel, we leave Mykonos and take a ferry to the island of Santorini. On arrival, you’ll witness the island’s spectacular volcanic cliffs. Santorini is one of the most

photographed Greek Islands, famous for its whitewashed houses of Fira, perched on the side of the caldera. On the southern side of the island, the resorts of Kamari and Perissa

are well known for their black volcanic sand. Santorini is also renowned for producing some of the best wine in Greece. Consider taking part in the optional tour of Oia and Fira with

an included wine tasting to experience the best this island has to offer. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant (included). (B, D)

You have a full day to explore this unique island paradise at your own pace, or join our optional Island Highlights Tour where you’ll visit and see all the main sights. These will include Akrotiri, a Bronze Age settlement that was destroyed by a volcanic eruption during the 17th century BC and was preserved in perfect condition; the Red Beach; and several beautiful traditional villages. (B, D)

The last morning in the islands is yours to relax on the beach, or explore the array of shops for last minute souvenirs and gifts before we head to the port around lunchtime for our early afternoon ferryboat departure for Athens. We arrive back in the evening at the port of Piraeus and take the short transfer to Athens for the last overnight stay in Greece. (B)

Moxy Athens City or similar

Transfer to Athens airport to check in for your flight to Rome. A YMT representative will welcome you at Rome Airport and you will be transferred to your hotel. This evening learn about the next stages of your tour in Italy, then relax over a tasty Italian dinner. (B, D)

Hotel H10 Roma or similar

This morning, take a guided tour of Vatican City, home of the Pope. Explore the Vatican Museums, which house some of the most important and valuable art treasures in the world. Visit the Sistine Chapel to see floor-to-ceiling biblical frescoes painted by Michelangelo in around 1512, St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square. (B)

A full-day sightseeing tour includes the highlights of this Eternal City. Today’s sights include outside views of the Roman Forum, once a marketplace and center of daily Roman life, the Piazza Navona and the renowned Spanish Steps along with the fabled Trevi Fountain. (B)

Depart Rome this morning and travel north into the picturesque Umbrian countryside. We stop and take the funicular up to the ancient town of Orvieto, where you can explore the rich history of this charming town and admire a variety of Etruscan, Medieval, and Renaissance art. The Orvieto funicular (a cliff cable railway) first opened in 1888 and uses water and gravity to transport its cars up and down the hillside. We then continue north and by late afternoon arrive at Montecatini Terme, a beautiful spa town that was built around its mineral water springs, where we spend the next two nights. (B)

Today’s full-day excursion starts with a short drive toward the Mediterranean coast and the city of Pisa. See the Leaning Tower of Pisa and enjoy a walking tour of Florence, during which you can see the 13th century Duomo with the Brunelleschi dome and Giotto’s Campanile (bell tower). See Ghiberti’s golden “Gates of Paradise” doors at the marble-clad Baptistery of St. John, the Piazza della Signoria and the Ponte Vecchio, the medieval bridge spanning the River Arno, complete with shops built along it. (B)

Hotel Boston or similar

We drive northeast and stop in Bologna. Probably best known for its culinary tradition, Bologna also has an impressive history and is home to one of the world’s oldest universities, founded in 1088. Enjoy some time on your own and perhaps pasta with authentic bolognese sauce (ragu alla bolognese in Italian) before we continue toward the Adriatic coast. We’ll arrive in the Venice area by late afternoon and will stay just a few miles across the lagoon from the historic city. (B, D)

Enjoy a sightseeing tour of this amazing city, now a World Heritage Site, built on an archipelago of 117 islands in a lagoon. Transfer by boat to St. Mark’s Square where you’ll begin your walking tour to see the lavish Doge’s Palace, (entrance not included) and the fabled Bridge of Sighs as well as the Rialto Bridge, Venice’s oldest, spanning the Grand Canal. This afternoon you are free to wander through the labyrinth of canals and alleyways, lined with boutiques and souvenir shops, or perhaps relax and “people watch” over an espresso or tasty Italian gelato. If you want to get out on the water, there are a variety of boat rides available (not included) from water taxis to the traditional gondolas. (B)

Today we head through the lush northern Italian landscape to Verona. A city best known as the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, it also offers wonderful examples of Medieval and Renaissance art and architecture. Our walking tour includes the Duomo (cathedral), Piazza delle Erbe with the famous Torre dei Lamberti (high tower), and of course the house of Juliet, with its famous balcony. Continue west to Milan, capital of the region of Lombardy. Your panoramic sightseeing tour highlights will include Piazza del Duomo, the main central square surrounded by several important buildings, such as Milan’s Gothic cathedral and the Royal Palace of Milan. You’ll also have a chance to see Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, an impressive and ornate indoor shopping arcade built in 1865, as well as La Scala Opera House. (B, D)

Novotel Malpensa or similar