Top Italy Tours by City and Region: Local Picks Beyond the Big Bus

This tour gets you past the crowds and onto the Arena Floor. AKA the same place gladiators once stood before battle. With your guide, you’ll also explore the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill and learn the gritty, dramatic side of Roman history.

Think of it as Rome’s highlight reel. One ticket zips you past the 2-hour Vatican queue, another right inside the Colosseum, and a comfy coach handles the miles in between. It’s one of the best tours in Italy for travelers with limited time who want to see it all in a single day.

If you want to know what locals really eat, follow a Roman foodie through Trastevere at golden hour. You’ll hit up bakeries, wine bars, and hole-in-the-wall favorites. Plus, indulge in the kind of pasta and street food that put Roman cuisine on the map.

The Appian Way is one of the oldest roads in the world, and this guided e-bike tour lets you ride it without breaking a sweat. Along the way, you’ll pass Roman aqueducts, old tombs, and wide-open parks that feel a world away from the city’s chaos.

Behind an unmarked door in the city center sits a 14th-century palace that even Romans forget exists. This private tour unlocks an extravagant art gallery, jaw-dropping halls, and the Colonna family’s centuries-old secrets.

This tour hits all the highlights, including the Raphael Rooms, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican’s galleries, and St. Peter’s Basilica. Add in rare entry to the Scala Regia passageway and fascinating insights, and it’s an obvious top choice for first-timers who want to see everything.

This express tour is ideal if you want to see St. Peter’s without spending your whole morning doing it. You’ll explore Bernini’s altar, Michelangelo’s Pietà, and the papal tombs in under an hour.

This is one of the only ways to see the Sistine Chapel nearly empty. You’ll tour the highlights of the Vatican Museums after dark, then step into the chapel with a small group for a truly rare and quiet moment.

Start your morning with a climb to the top of St. Peter’s for panoramic views, then follow your guide through the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel before the midday rush hits. It’s a smart route, and a satisfying one.

Your day starts with a scenic drive along the Tyrrhenian Coast, then you’ll explore Pompeii’s bathhouses before heading up Vesuvius for a look straight into the caldera. It’s a big day, but with comfortable transport and a guide leading the way, you won’t have to sort a thing.

Landing in Naples or Sorrento? Jump off the Circumvesuviana, meet your guide over an espresso, and stride past the ticket queue. In two hours you’ll check out the Forum, brothel frescoes, and haunting plaster casts.

If you can’t decide between history and beach time, don’t. This tour mixes a deep dive into Pompeii’s ruins with a lazy afternoon in Positano, where you can shop, sip, or stare at the sea until it’s time to head back.

You’ll ride through rolling hills, coast past cypress-lined roads, and finish it all off with lunch and wine in the countryside. It’s scenic, stress-free, and surprisingly easy, even if you’ve never touched a Vespa in your life.

Your guide whisks you to Botticelli’s and Michelangelo’s greatest masterpieces before a guard unlocks the corridor once reserved for dukes. Inside, you’ll come face-to-face with self-portraits and discover hidden windows that reveal Florence stretching out before you.

Here, your days begin with cappuccino among the vines, roll into cellar tastings or clay-mask facials, and close with farm-to-table dinners under a pergola of fairy lights. You’ll learn how Sangiovese turns into Chianti Classico, then sleep a five-minute stroll from the very rows that grew it.

Beat the queues into Siena’s striped-marble Duomo, then roll past olive groves on your way to San Gimignano. Afterward, a private estate lunch pairs homemade pasta with wines you can’t get at home.

Hear why Michelangelo left David’s ankles slightly oversized, then meander through the historic center before plunging into Renaissance masterworks. Your ticket lets you linger in the Uffizi after the guide signs off, in case you need a second round with Botticelli.

One of the best tours in Italy for sunset lovers, this cruise glides past tufa cliffs, then slips into the Blue Grotto before day-trippers arrive. Dock on Capri just in time for an aperitivo in the Piazzetta.

Follow ancient mule tracks 600 m above the Med while your guide points out wild thyme and half-buried shepherd huts. The finale is a stair-stepped descent into Positano.

Slip on an apron, zest a fresh lemon, and mix Amalfi’s favorite digestivo under the eye of a third-generation producer. You’ll leave slightly tipsy and with a souvenir the mainstream shops can’t match.

Glide past dreamy cliff-side villages, drop anchor in a sapphire inlet, and dive straight off the bow. Between splashes, your skipper pours local Vermentino and points out vineyards clinging to near-vertical rock.

Join a local host in Riomaggiore for an evening of Italian aperitivo culture. You’ll master the art of the spritz, indulge in a homemade dinner, and soak in breathtaking sunset vistas over the Ligurian Sea.

Embark on a guided hike through Cinque Terre’s iconic trails, connecting villages like Manarola and Corniglia. With train tickets included, it’s the perfect adventure for nature enthusiasts.

Departing from Florence, this tour covers the highlights of Cinque Terre. Enjoy guided visits to the villages, free time to explore, and a boat ride along the coast. If you’re eager to visit Cinque Terre but don’t have time for an overnight stay, this is a great pick.

Hosted in a cozy kitchen above the coast, this class teaches you how to make traditional Ligurian pesto the old-school way. There’s wine, a seaside breeze, and plenty of good conversation. And by the end, you’ll have the recipe, the technique, and the taste to take home.

If you’re short on time and want to hit the highlights, you’ll want to book this tour. You’ll get fast-track entry into St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, explore hidden backstreets with a local, and float through the canals by gondola.

This express tour gets you past the line and straight into the gold-drenched basilica. Your guide points out the weird, wild, and wonderful details before you climb to the terrace for a skyline view.

Cruise to Murano for live glassblowing, then hop to Burano for lace-making and photo ops in a village that looks like a gelato menu. Transportation’s handled, and there’s just enough time to wander and shop without rushing.

Skip the group shuffle and dive into the grandeur and gossip of Venice’s ruling elite. You’ll explore the palace’s opulent halls, cross the Bridge of Sighs, and hear stories that most guidebooks wouldn’t dare print.

Skip the tourist menus and let a Venetian lead you through one of the city’s coolest neighborhoods. You’ll try cicchetti (Venetian tapas), regional wines, and sit down to a full dinner that’s both authentic and delicious.

Securing tickets to the Last Supper can be a daunting task, often requiring months of advance booking. But this is your backstage pass. You’ll have a strict 15-minute viewing window, then stroll the adjoining cloister and hear how WWII bombs nearly erased the entire fresco.

Board Europe’s steepest rail line and watch Lombardy’s vineyards morph into glaciers. Your guide handles border formalities while you focus on turquoise lakes and spectacular bridges. In St Moritz, window-shop Swiss watches or just chase hot chocolate and lake-view selfies before catching the coach home.

Grab a paintbrush in one hand and a glass of wine in the other—because this is how Milan unwinds. A local artist leads the session while you sip, snack, and (maybe) discover your inner Botticelli. It’s creative, boozy, and the perfect antidote to museum fatigue.

This half-day itinerary checks off Milan’s top two sights. You’ll dive into the Last Supper, skip the lines into the Duomo, and wander the stylish Brera district with a savvy local guide. For time-crunched travelers, it’s a no-brainer.

Step inside one of the world’s most legendary opera houses and hear the stories behind the scandals, stars, and symphonies. You’ll peek into the auditorium and wander through the museum with an expert who knows all the juicy details.

Trade the bustling towns for a serene mountain retreat. This semi-private tour takes you on a scenic drive and a gentle hike to a panoramic picnic spot overlooking Lake Como. Enjoy a spread of regional meats, cheeses, and wines with at most 8 others.

Glide across Lake Como’s sparkling waters on a semi-private boat tour limited to six guests. Sip prosecco as you pass by historic villas and charming villages, all while your skipper shares captivating stories about the lake’s rich history.

Explore Lake Como’s picturesque paths on an easy-to-ride e-bike. This guided tour takes you through elegant villas, lakeside towns, and even into Swiss Merlot vineyards, complete with breathtaking views and cultural insights along the way.

If you’re planning a stay in Milan and want to add on a trip to Lake Como, this tour makes it easy. You’ll enjoy guided tours of Como, Bellagio, and Varenna, and a relaxing boat cruise between towns. It’s the perfect way to experience the lake’s highlights in a day.

Step into a local’s home to master the art of Italian cooking. Learn to make traditional pizza and tiramisù from scratch, then enjoy your creations paired with wine in a warm, friendly atmosphere.

Snorkel in the clear waters around Isola Bella and explore sea caves like the Grotta Azzurra. Cold drinks, coastal views, and a max of 10 guests make this the perfect mid-trip reset.

The Valley of the Temples is spectacular anytime, but at sunset, it’s unreal. This small group tour gets you in as the crowds leave and the light hits just right. Your guide adds myths, legends, and fun facts that bring the ruins to life.

This day trip checks all the boxes: a medieval town with panoramic views, a Marsala wine tasting, lunch, and a stroll by Sicily’s iconic salt flats. It’s everything you wanted Sicily to be, with that annoying planning thing.

Learn how to make the street food Sicilians crave: crispy, cheesy arancini. A local chef will show you how to prep, stuff, and fry them. Then, sit down and enjoy with your classmates and a drink of choice.

Step into a historic pizzeria and learn the art of crafting authentic Neapolitan pizza. Under the guidance of a certified pizzaiolo, you’ll prepare your own dough, select fresh toppings, and bake your creation in a traditional wood-fired oven. Of course, you’ll get to enjoy your handmade pizza paired with a glass of wine or beer.

Explore Pignasecca Market with a local foodie guide and sample a variety of traditional Neapolitan street foods. From savory fried seafood cones to rich meatballs and refreshing limoncello, no dish is left untried.

Head beneath Naples’ bustling streets to uncover the city’s ancient Roman past. But first, follow your guide through the historic center to see Piazza del Gesù and San Gregorio Armeno.