Highlights of France, Italy, and Greece Tour

What to expect on this itinerary
Three countries, six overnight destinations and an endless reel of highlights: the Pantheon to the Parthenon; Michelangelo to Monet; Acropolis temples to Parisian neighborhoods; Monaco, the Vatican City, and Nafplio. Handcrafted for first-time visitors to Europe, this is an action-packed highlights tour of icons and legends, spanning 3,000 years and just as many postcards.
Customizable Itinerary
Paris – Welcome to France
All the great European cities are built around the water, and Paris’ great artery is the River Seine. Touch down in the French capital, and it’s the river that provides your introduction. Start cruising beneath the Eiffel Tower. Drift past 18th-century neighborhoods, then view the dome of Notre Dame. Travel beneath the famous bridges, the eyes of sculptures looking down on your journey. Watch the city roll by, from street musicians on the boulevards to flea markets and alfresco cafes. Spot people eating picnics on the banks and gaze up at some of the world’s most recognizable buildings. A Seine cruise is an easy introduction to Europe, and it’s perfect after a long journey: just sit back and absorb all the new impressions.
What's Included:
Paris – Parisian Neighborhoods Walking Tour
Paris – Landmarks of the City
Nice – An Expressive Journey Across France
Nice – Highlights of Monaco and Cannes
Rome – Immersed in the Heart of Rome
Rome – The Vatican Museums and More
Florence – Exploring the Renaissance City
Florence – Day Trip to Pisa and Siena
Athens – Amid the Legends
Athens – Full Day of Greek Mythology and Ruins
Nafplio – Another Side to Ancient Greece
Nafplio – Olive Oil and Relaxing on the Coast
Athens – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Discover the heart of Paris, from elegant neighborhoods to world-famous icons
- Stand atop the Athens Acropolis and surround yourself with remains from an ancient civilization
- Explore the Tuscan city of Florence, a fabulous city of art, architecture and great food
- Relax on France’s Cote d’Azur, walking the promenades of Nice and Cannes
- Unearth the heart of Ancient Rome, like the Pantheon and Colosseum
- Spend two days on the Greek coast in Nafplio, where the history is as evocative as the sea views
- Take a trip to Pisa and Siena, make a stop in Monaco, and spend a day in the Vatican City
- Uncover more than just the famous sights as you’re led by local specialist guides
Detailed Description
The marks of history are what this handcrafted tour to Europe is all about. You will have over two weeks to explore Parisian icons, the Vatican City, Ancient Rome, and Ancient Greece. There are six overnight stops in total: Paris, Nice, Rome, Florence, Athens, Nafplio. Such a journey takes you to cobbled neighborhoods, expressive galleries, millennia-old icons, and the highlights of many different eras. There is more than just the famous postcard sights. As expert guides lead the way, you’ll enjoy an authentic jump into the local culture as well.
Three days in Paris is perfect for getting to know the city. First cruise on the River Seine, a timeless introduction provided by the city’s main artery. Then spend a day in the neighborhoods, checking out chocolatiers, patisseries, charming streets and cafe culture. Day three is flexible and focuses on the city’s unmissable landmarks – unmissable defined by you as that could be the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, or Champs-Elysees. Ride the world’s fastest train, the TGV, to the south of France, and two days on the Cote d’Azur. Nice is your base, but you’ll also discover the highlights of Monaco and Cannes, all three destinations full of French glamor and glitz.
Initial Italian impressions come to Rome, your hotel on the same street as the Pantheon. It takes a day to get around the wonders of Ancient Rome and a local historian helps you decipher myth and fiction. Spend day six in the Vatican, from St Peter’s Basilica to the Sistine Chapel, before traveling through the centuries to Renaissance Florence. Art and architecture is the theme of day eight, one that’s continued with a day trip to Pisa, Siena, and Tuscan vineyards. Just like your time in France and Greece, there are many superlative sights on every single day. Sometimes you must scroll through your camera or phone, just to confirm you’ve seen so many epic places in such a short amount of time.
Fly from Florence to Athens and immerse yourself in the city’s history, from memoirs to Zeus and Athena to tightly-packed neighborhoods beneath the Acropolis. Then escape to the coast. Breathe in the salty air, check out the turquoise, and watch the sunset from a medieval castle. There’s a huge amount of history in Nafplio as well, but mostly the experience is about sitting back and recollecting what has gone before. Two weeks doesn’t sound like a lot of time to explore the highlights of France, Italy, and Greece, but Europe is always quick to show you how small it is. In two weeks, you don’t just travel through three countries you cover 3,000 years of Western civilization.
Starting Price
$4,900 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 1395 reviews
We enjoyed all of the planned tours in Italy and Greece. Favorites included the Vatican, Colosseum, Roman walking food tour, and a day exploring the Tuscany wine region.
We loved all of our hotels (favorites being our hotel on Via Emilia in Rome and then our hotel on Nikodimou Street in Athens). All of our drivers at our various locales were always on time, even early, and were friendly and engaging.
We did have various questions come up and any time of day/night, Zicasso's travel professional and the tour company were responsive and so helpful.
Our long-awaited 45th anniversary trip came off seamlessly. I appreciate all of the time and planning that went into planning our venture. I will happily recommend you to our friends and family.
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My first solo trip was something I had dreamed about for years. I wanted it to be more than sightseeing. I wanted adventure, comfort, safety, and freedom without the stress of planning it all alone. Through Zicasso, I was connected to two specialists and Zicasso's travel consultant stood out immediately. She delivered an itinerary that gave me everything I asked for and more: maximum cities, maximum fun, and maximum value, all without compromise.
Before deciding, I researched and compared tours, packages, and individual prices online. The travel consultant’s proposal came out on top for value and content. While the other agent offered fewer cities and activities at a higher price, her plan was ambitious without being overwhelming. She booked my trains, arranged private transfers where needed, and selected boutique-style hotels that exceeded expectations. I was honestly surprised at how good they were. I stayed at hotels in Interlaken, Florence, and Sorrento. Each was clean, comfortable, and perfectly located for exploring. I had prepared myself for budget trade-offs, but instead, I found thoughtfully chosen hotels that balanced affordability with real quality.
Every document, train ticket, and activity confirmation was uploaded into the app. It became my lifeline throughout the trip, with every detail at my fingertips. The structure gave me confidence, while still leaving me free to explore.
Switzerland came first: Zurich, Lucerne, Interlaken, and Zermatt. Each city felt like stepping into a postcard. Interlaken gave me the adrenaline rush of skydiving, while Zermatt charmed me with its close-knit magic and alpine beauty. Italy unfolded with equal ease: Lake Como, Venice, Florence, Sorrento, Amalfi, and Rome. Every destination felt curated, yet natural, from gondola rides in Venice to boat tours on the Amalfi Coast.
What I loved most was the balance between structure and freedom. Pre-booked activities and restaurant reservations gave me a strong framework, but I could just as easily decide to spend an afternoon wandering Florence, eating gelato, or sitting in a piazza. The rhythm of the trip was perfect, structured enough to tick off bucket-list highlights, yet relaxed enough to feel like a real vacation.
Food was freestyle, but memorable. Highlights included a Japanese-Peruvian restaurant in Zurich with its elegant Japanese-Peruvian flavors, a different Japanese restaurant, a restaurant in Como with its modern fusion menu, an Indian restaurant for comforting classics, and international favorites like those in one of the restaurants in Rome. Between those meals and plenty of gelato and crepes, every stop added its own flavor to the journey.
As a solo traveler, safety mattered. I felt comfortable walking around in the evenings and was usually back in my hotel by 1am to stay rested for the next day. What really gave me peace of mind was the travel consultant’s constant support. Communication was fast and responsive. I never had to wait long for answers, whether through the app or email. There was a moment when I made a mistake with the trains and missed an activity. She immediately stepped in and worked to reschedule it or secure a refund that same day.
Earlier in the planning process, I also had a card issue due to an address error. Even though policy would not normally allow it, she and her team patiently waited until I received the refund before finalizing the booking, just weeks before my trip. That flexibility and care spoke volumes.
The difference was clear. She used my budget to its fullest potential, giving me more destinations, more experiences, and better hotels than the alternative option. She managed to combine the efficiency of a fully organized tour with the freedom of independent travel. Everything was planned, yet everything was still mine to shape.
This trip was everything I wanted: good food, beautiful views, safety, and absolute reliability. It was an organized journey with freestyle flexibility, which is exactly what solo travelers dream of. The travel consultant’s planning let me chase adventure while always knowing I had a safety net. Switzerland and Italy gave me memories I will never forget, but it was the behind-the-scenes planning that made it possible. If you want a trip that is your way, your budget, your pace, but without the endless hassle of managing it yourself, the travel consultant at this agency is the person who can make it happen. My first solo trip became my dream trip and that is the highest praise I can give.
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We had a wonderful trip. Zicasso’s travel agency was excellent. We had a support group that we could rely on the whole trip. They were great.
We started in Geneva. Then went to a wedding in Saint-Sixt, where I had trouble getting a ride to the wedding. The travel company was able to help me, which was very appreciated. Afterwards, we went to Nice, Monaco, and Cannes. Then we took a train to Paris. All the hotels were wonderful and the tour guides were excellent.
I would have given the travel company five stars, but our trip to Florence didn’t go as smoothly. We probably should’ve left it out as it was a bit out of the way and we had to get back to Geneva to fly home. We flew to Florence and had an excellent guide for the Uffizi Gallery. Unfortunately, there was some mix-up with the Leonardo Da Vinci museum and we were given tickets to the kids' museum. It was a long walk to the museum and my back started to kill me, so it was too hard for me to get the right tickets and go later that day.
The next day we had a driving tour of Tuscany, which was very nice, with a stop for lunch at a winery. We had a lot of trouble understanding our driver. We do not speak Italian and the driver spoke English with a very heavy accent. He was very nice, but we did have a communication problem.
We had difficulty getting back to Geneva as our flight from Florence was, I think, canceled. I am not entirely sure, but the travel company hired a driver to take us to Rome to fly to Geneva. I never totally understood exactly what happened. The driver was driving 85mph in a van, which made the drive horrific for me. I’m not used to being in a car at that speed. I was so grateful when the trip was over and we made it to the airport alive. The rest of the trip was fine. We reached home with no other issues.
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We did a custom trip with Zicasso’s tour operator. We visited Normandy and Paris, France, and Florence and Rome, Italy. Every tour was fantastic, planning was super-simple, and our travel agent was very responsive! We would absolutely plan another trip with this travel company.
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Our trip to Greece was fantastic. Zicasso’s tour company provided us with a wonderful itinerary for Athens and the islands, and we continued our third week to visit the mainland of Greece, from Meteora to Delphi to Olympia, Mystras, and Nafplio.
The tour company was with us throughout our visit, assisting continuously with any challenge or change of itinerary needed. Their service was absolutely outstanding.
I thank you all for the recommendation and especially the tour company’s team members for their services.
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Zicasso's travel specialist asked for our interests, to which we replied history, art, food, and wine. When queried about accommodations, our preferences were that they have character and be varied. Our expectations were exceeded.
We were two couples who had a spectacular survey trip of Italy. Our agent addressed our request for history by arranging private tours with expert guides. We visited multiple eras: ancient times at the Egyptian Museum in Turin and the Colosseum in Rome; medieval times at the Medici palazzos; Byzantine times with views of the frescoes in Puglia; and modern history during a delightful food tour of Turin that featured historical cafés renowned for their political meetings and plotting.
We indulged in a smorgasbord of art and history, as it is readily available wherever you journey in Italy. The guides and drivers were knowledgeable, pointing out treasures in the palazzos, the Vatican, the public squares, cafés, the cathedrals, and churches. Food tours featured cheese, capicola and truffle tasting. Multiple types of wines and vineyards were sampled, the settings varied and the offerings enjoyed.
Accommodations could not have been better chosen. We enjoyed staying at a converted fortified monastery and a historic 16th-century palace. We appreciated the sunset over Turin from the upper deck of the hotel and enjoyed hidden privacy in Rome in our suites.
During the trip, our guide shepherded this complex trip and promptly addressed any issues that occurred (delayed trains and coordinating tour guides). Unequivocally, each tour was unique and well picked by our agent. We strongly recommend this agency to help you have a fantastic trip to Italy!
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