Classical Discovery

8 DAYS
Rome 3 • Athens 3

Basic Inclusions

Accommodations

Accommodations in centrally-located three-star or four-star hotels. Rooming on a triple basis. Double rooms: $50 per night/ per person.

Meals

All breakfasts. All dinners. Dinner with entertainment at Le Terme del Colosseo on Day 4. Greek Cultural Dining Experience on Day 7.

Transportation

Round-trip transportation on scheduled airline. All public transportation tickets included where applicable.

Guide

Services of a specially-trained passports Tour Director throughout. All tips are included in the Program Cost. Whisper headsets included.

Travel Protection

Passports provides and pays for a Post Departure Travel Protection Plan that includes coverage for Trip Interruption, Trip Delay, Medical Expense and Evacuation and more.

Tour Summary

Itinerary Includes

Unlimited public transportation

Days 1-2: Home - Rome

Arrival transfer

Tour director-led walking tour from the Spanish Steps to the Trevi Fountain

Day 3: Rome

Visits to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum: 24-hour public transportation pass in Rome, Headset receiver, Local guide, Visit to the Colosseum

Visit to the Pantheon

Stroll on Piazza Navona

Day 4: Rome

Visit to the Vatican: Local guide, Headset receiver for the Vatican sites, Visit to the Sistine Chapel, Local guide, Visit to St. Peter's Basilica, 24-hour public transportation pass in Rome

Dinner with entertainment at Le Terme del Colosseo

Day 5: Rome - Athens

Departure transfer, Flight to Athens, Arrival transfer

Tour director-led walking tour in the Plaka district

Day 6: Athens

Half-day city sightseeing in Athens: Visit to the Acropolis, Sightseeing stop at the Parthenon, Visit to the Acropolis Museum

Tour director-led walking tour to the Temple of Olympian Zeus: Panathenaic Stadium

Tour director-led walking tour of the National Gardens of Athens

Changing of the Guard Ceremony

Day 7: Athens

Excursion to Cape Sounion: Guided visit of the Temple of Poseidon

Ancient Agora *time permitting: Ascent to the Areopagus (Mars Hill) viewpoint

Greek Cultural Dining Experience

Day 8: Departure

Departure transfer

*Activities that are marked as 'time permitting' may not be possible if your group experiences a delay earlier in the day. Missed activities marked as 'time permitting' will not be refunded.

UNPARALLELED STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE

 
25 E-Z
25 E-Z
25 E-Z
25 E-Z
 

Detailed Itinerary

Days 1-2: Arrival in Rome, Spanish Steps to the Trevi Fountain Walking Tour

Rome is your destination; a wide-bodied jet is your vehicle. Swoop down over the Alps and touch down on the wide concrete runway at Fiumicino Airport. You've arrived in Italy!

Proceed to your centrally-located hotel, settle in and get ready to explore your surroundings.

Tour director-led walking tour from the Spanish Steps to the Trevi Fountain

Enjoy a walk through the heart of Rome as you discover a maze of narrow streets, avenues and iconic sights.

Start at the Spanish Steps, a favorite spot for Romans and tourists alike. These monumental stairs lead from Piazza di Spagna, a square graced by a 17th-century fountain, to the church of Trinità dei Monti on top of the hill. Nearby, you'll see the Keats-Shelley House, last residence of the poet John Keats, the exclusive Babington Tea Rooms, and Via dei Condotti, lined with high fashion boutiques such as Armani, Prada, Versace, and Gucci.

Proceed past picturesque piazzas, restaurants and gelato shops on your way to the Trevi Fountain, which was the terminal of the Aqua Virgo aqueduct. Throw a coin over your right shoulder and into the spray to ensure your return to this wonderful city!

Meals included: Dinner
Overnight: Rome

Day 3: Colosseum and Roman Forum, Pantheon, Piazza Navona

Visits to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum

Walk through the best known monuments of Ancient Rome, the Colosseo and the Foro Romano. Once the heart of a vast empire, the Forum was filled with extravagant buildings and crowded with people from all over the known world.

Headset receiver

A headset receiver is included.

A local guide, specially-trained on the history and culture of Rome and its surroundings, will accompany your group.

Visit to the Colosseum

Step into the heart of ancient Rome with a visit to the majestic Colosseum. This iconic symbol of Roman engineering and architecture invites you to walk through the pages of history. As you stand within its towering walls, you'll be transported back to the era of gladiators, emperors, and epic spectacles. The Colosseum is not just a monument; it's a timeless narrative of Rome's glorious past. Marvel at its grandeur, imagine the roar of a bygone crowd, and experience a pivotal piece of history. Each stone of this ancient arena tells a story of triumph, tragedy, and enduring legacy.

Your combination ticket to the Colosseum and Roman Forum also allows entrance to the Palatine Hill archaeological site and its museum: should time permits, you may want to make your way up the hill to visit the oldest and most prestigious residential area of Ancient Rome.

Visit to the Pantheon

Inside the "Temple to All the Gods," you will understand why it has been called one of the better-preserved and most harmonious monuments of antiquity.

Stroll on Piazza Navona

Walk through the plaza built on the site of Domitian's Stadium. Lined with grand buildings and trendy cafes, this oblong square is adorned with statues and fountains, notably Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Rome

Day 4: Vatican, Rome, Dinner with Music at Le Terme del Colosseo

Visit to the Vatican

Discover outstanding masterpieces collected for the Vatican Museums since the early 1500s. See exceptional statues from antiquity, such as Laocoön and His Son and the Apollo Belvedere, as well as stunning Renaissance paintings, notably the The School of Athens fresco in the Raphael Rooms.

A half-day local guide, well-educated and specially-trained on the history and culture of Vatican City, will accompany your group.

Visit to the Sistine Chapel

Marvel at Michelangelo's Last Judgment and brightly-colored ceiling frescoes in the Cappella Sistina.

Local guide
Visit to St. Peter's Basilica

Enter the sanctuary recognized as the world's largest church. The Basilica di San Pietro also houses priceless works of art, in particular Michelangelo's Pietà and Bernini's Dove of the Holy Spirit.

Free Time in Rome

The afternoon is unscheduled.

Dinner with entertainment at Le Terme del Colosseo

Tonight, enjoy dinner with entertainment at the restaurant Le Terme del Colosseo, which is located between the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, in halls with arched ceilings and exposed stone. It offers a variety of Italian dishes accompanied by musical entertainment titled "Roman Fantasy," with singers in costume.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner with entertainment at Le Terme del Colosseo
Overnight: Rome

Day 5: Flight to Athens, Plaka District Walking Tour

Depart Rome and fly over the Adriatic Sea to Greece and its capital city, Athens.

Tour director-led walking tour in the Plaka district

Explore the picturesque Plaka, Athens' oldest neighborhood, which is nestled around the northern and eastern slopes of the Acropolis. Narrow streets, plazas, tavernas and countless shops are the trademark of this pedestrian area, which is popular with street performers and vendors. You'll find jewelry and native crafts in abundance.

Pause to view a gem of the Byzantine period, built c. 1050 AD. Known for its wall paintings and mosaics, the Church of Panagia Kapnikarea now stands in the middle of Ermou street, one of the busiest in the Plaka district.

Hadrian's Arch Photostop

You may want to stroll to Hadrian's Arch, built by the Roman Emperor in AD 131, and to the colossal ruins of the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the largest temple in Greece, which dates back to the 6th century BC.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Athens

Day 6: Athens City Sightseeing, Temple of Olympian Zeus Walking Tour, National Gardens Walking Tour, Changing of the Guard Ceremony

Enjoy a coach tour of Athens, old and new.

See modern Athens, with the Greek Parliament, the 1896 Olympic Stadium, the Plaka district and Syntagma Square, where you may see the picturesque Evzones goose-stepping their way through the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Visit to the Acropolis

Visit the awesome monuments built by Pericles on the Acropolis during Athens' Golden Age in the 5th century BC. On that hill, the goddess Athena reigned supreme. You'll see the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, and the Erechtheion with the Kore Porch, famous for its Caryatid columns.

Sightseeing stop at the Parthenon

Of course, you'll visit the centerpiece of the Acropolis, the 2,500 years old yet ageless Parthenon. For this huge temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, architects skillfully avoided straight lines and right angles to counterbalance the unsightly optical illusion called optical sagging, which deforms straight lines.

Visit to the Acropolis Museum

Delve deeper into antiquity at the contemporary archaeological museum open in 2009 at the base of the Acropolis hill, in the hope that it will one day house the superb and much disputed 5th century BC Parthenon Sculptures that were moved to England in the 19th century by Lord Elgin. For now, visitors can view a Permanent Collection with artifacts from the 7th century BC to the 5th century AD, and peer at excavations through a glass floor.

Tour director-led walking tour to the Temple of Olympian Zeus

Your walk takes you past Hadrian's Arch, built by the Roman Emperor in AD 131, on your way to the colossal ruins of the Temple of Olympian Zeus, also called the Olympieion. The largest temple in Greece, it was begun in the 6th century BC and completed by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD.

Panathenaic Stadium

The Panathenaic Stadium, often referred to as Kallimarmaro which means "beautifully marbled," is a historic venue located in Athens, Greece. It is remarkable not only for its architectural elegance but also for its rich history that spans centuries.

Tour director-led walking tour of the National Gardens of Athens

Discover the serene beauty of the National Gardens of Athens, a peaceful oasis in the heart of the city. This lush, green haven offers a delightful escape from the urban hustle, inviting visitors to wander through its well-kept paths, shaded by tall trees and vibrant floral displays. The gardens, rich in history and natural charm, feature a variety of native and exotic plants, tranquil ponds, and ancient ruins. Ideal for leisurely strolls, picnics, or quiet reflection, the National Gardens provide a picturesque setting that captivates both nature enthusiasts and those seeking a moment of tranquility amidst their Athenian exploration.

Changing of the Guard Ceremony

Make your way to Syntagma Square or to the Presidential Palace, where the Changing of the Guard takes place every hour, daily.

On Sunday, the pageantry is even more impressive when the Guard departs Syntagma Square at 11 am for the Monument of the Unknown Soldier. There's nothing like watching the Evzones, their historic uniform, their immobility on duty when standing still, their high steps, and the slow motion of their movements during a ceremony.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Athens

Day 7: Excursion to Cape Sounion, Ancient Agora, Greek Cultural Dining Experience

Excursion to Cape Sounion

Today's excursion takes you to Cape Sounion, a spectacular rocky promontory that overlooks the Aegean Sea at the southernmost tip of Attica. There may not be a better candidate for the site Homer called "the sacred cape."

Guided visit of the Temple of Poseidon

Discover the temple dedicated to the God of the Sea as it rises, in all its Doric beauty, framed by sky and waves. Your guide will tell you how it was constructed, c. 440 BC, on the ruins of an archaic temple destroyed by the army of the Persian king Xerxes. Lord Byron found inspiration on this site in 1810 for his poem The Isles of Greece,. You'll see his name carved on one of the columns, but no one can tell who's responsible for the misdeed.

Ancient Agora

Visit the Ancient Agora, a marketplace which became the political heart of the city and the birthplace of democracy. You'll walk in the footsteps of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, the orator Demosthenes (famous for talking with pebbles in his mouth), the historian Xenophon, the Apostle Paul, and many, many more.

See the Hephaisteion, started in 445 BC and the best-preserved classical temple in Greece, the Tholos, seat of the Athenian government, and the Odeon of Agrippa, built in 15 BC. Walk past the ruins of the House of the Cobbler Simon, of the Stoa Basileios and of the Stoa of Zeus Eleutherios, all places where Socrates was reported to have discussed philosophy, and see the State Prison where he was detained and where he drank the hemlock cup in 399 BC.

Excavations have uncovered the site of the Stoa of Poecile, which gave its name to the Stoic school of philosophy founded by Zeno of Citium, who began teaching there in 301 BC.

Monastiraki

Immerse yourself in the vibrant heart of Athens with a walking visit to the iconic Monastiraki, a historic district that seamlessly blends the ancient with the eclectic. As you stroll through the bustling flea market, each step takes you on a journey through time, where the past echoes in the shadow of the Acropolis and the centuries-old Hadrian's Library. Monastiraki is a treasure trove of history, where Greek, Ottoman, and Roman influences intertwine in the architecture and the cobblestone alleys. Explore the charming shops offering everything from antiques to local handicrafts, savor traditional Greek flavors at a nearby taverna, and soak in the panoramic views of ancient ruins against the modern cityscape.

Ascent to the Areopagus (Mars Hill) viewpoint

In the footsteps of ancient Greeks, climb up to the top of prominent outcrop first known as Areopagus and later called Mars Hill, which offers a great view of the Acropolis (steps chiseled into the rock may be slippery when wet).

Before the 5th century BC, this was the seat of the Council of Elders (similar to the Roman Senate). The Acts of the Apostles, a book of the New Testament, states that the Apostle Paul delivered on this hill, in 51 AD, his most dramatic exhortation, known as "Sermon on an Unknown God."

Greek Cultural Dining Experience

Immerse yourself in the rich traditions of Greece with our Athens Cultural Dining Experience. Enjoy an evening filled with authentic Greek cuisine, lively music, and traditional dancing, all set in a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere. This unforgettable night captures the essence of Greek culture, offering guests a unique opportunity to savor local flavors while enjoying performances that showcase the country's rich heritage. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, this experience promises to be a highlight of your journey in Athens. Join us for an enchanting evening that blends culinary delights with cultural entertainment, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Meals included: Breakfast, Greek Cultural Dining Experience
Overnight: Athens

Day 8: Departure

It's the birthplace of Western Civilization that glides by under the right wing of your jet airplane as you head for home. Arrive home later today, eager to share your adventures with family and friends.

Meals included: Breakfast
 

CUSTOM TOURS

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Rome City Sightseeing

Spanish Steps to the Trevi Fountain Walking Tour

Visit to the Colosseum and Roman Forum

Stroll on Piazza Navona

Vatican Museums

Visit to the Vatican

Sorrento, Italy

Sorrento, Italy

Plaka District Walking Tour

Athens City Sightseeing

Athens City Sightseeing

The Parthenon

Sightseeing Stop at the Parthenon

Temple of Olympian Zeus

Excursion to Cape Sounion

Visit the Ancient Agora

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