The Best Excursions and Tours Along Italy’s Coast

Known for its incredible food, world-class art and fascinating history, it’s no wonder Italy is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. While there's no wrong season to visit such a beautiful country, the best time might be in the spring or the fall, when the weather is mild and the summer crowds aren't at their peak.

Italy contains more World Heritage sites than any other country. With so many options, it can be hard to decide how to plan your visit — that’s why we asked our Shore Excursions team to pick their favorite Italian experiences.

Key Takeaways: Best Tours of Italy

●  When you're on a cruise that stops in Italy, taking shore excursions to see more of the country is a valuable way to use your time.

●  Top attractions include ancient architecture and ruins, art museums, charming villages and world-class restaurants.

●  There's plenty to do, whether you're in Rome, Florence, Naples or one of the many smaller towns up and down the coast.

●  It's easy to get started planning your next voyage to Italy — you can book a cruise vacation any time.

1. Rome Culinary Walking Tour

What: Take a walking tour of Rome’s most renowned markets and eateries while learning about the city’s time-honored culinary traditions. Savor authentic Roman cuisine in the heart of the so-called Eternal City.

Cool factor: Some of the incredible foods you’ll sample may include fried codfish from a popular Jewish Ghetto delicatessen, pizza Bianca from the famous Campo de’Fiori market, and fried risotto balls in the Trastevere neighborhood.

Find it in: Rome, Italy

2. Marmore Falls Hike and Stroll Through Medieval Narni

What: Navigate down the soft rapids of the Nera River on a raft, then enjoy free time to explore the hilltop medieval village of Narni, known for its narrow stone streets and panoramic views.

Cool factor: Along the way, you’ll see the stunning Marmore Falls: a dramatic, man-made cascade created by ancient Romans and still one of the tallest waterfalls in Italy.

Find it in: Rome, Italy

3. Tour of the Pope's Summer Residence in Castel Gandolfo

What: Tour the Pope’s private summer residence, the Pontifical Villas in Castel Gandolfo, admiring the 15^th-century farmhouse, gardens, fountains and Roman ruins. Then head to Vatican City to see the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica.

Featured Attraction: The Sistene Chapel. The legendary frescoes that cover this breathtaking place of worship, including those completed by Michelangelo in the 16th century, must be seen to be believed. Conclaves to elect new Popes are held here.

Cool factor: You’ll be among the first to see the residence: Pope Francis decided in 2014 to open the Pontifical Villas to the public for the first time in their history.

Find it in: Rome, Italy

4. Driving Tour of Iconic Roman Locations in an Ape Classico

What: Hop into an Ape Calessino, an iconic Italian three-wheeled vehicle that’s kind of like a covered Vespa. Ride around Rome, checking out the Colosseum, the Forum, the original city walls and more.

Featured Attraction: The Colosseum. Built nearly 2,000 years ago, this monumental ancient stadium is now part of an archaeological park that also contains the ruins of the Forum and the Palatine Hill, the historic location where Rome was founded. You can discover centuries of Roman history within this space.

Cool factor: The Ape was originally used to help rebuild the city of Rome after World War II.

Find it in: Rome, Italy

5. Cycling Trip Through Naples

What: Take an epic pedaling journey to see the art, history and culture of Naples, including a 12th-century castle, the city’s most famous square, the San Carlo Opera House and more.

Cool factor: You’ll ride through the small fishing village of Borgo Marinari, where sirens seduced Ulysses.

Find it in: Naples, Italy

6. Three-Stop Tour of Capri, Sorrento and Pompeii

What: Visit the most iconic destinations near Naples in one day: The seaside town of Sorrento, the idyllic isle of Capri and the archeological ruins of Pompeii, the ancient Roman city that was destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted in the year 79 AD.

Cool factor: See the incredibly well-preserved ruins of Pompeii (thanks to their sudden burial in more than a dozen feet of ash) firsthand.

Find it in: Naples, Italy

7. Tuscan Farmhouse Experience: Culinary Delights in Florence and Pisa

What: Tour the family-run Martelli pasta factory, where they’ve been making four shapes of pasta since 1920. You’ll learn to make authentic Italian pasta in the kitchen of a countryside wine estate.

Cool factor: Chow down on a three-course meal, paired with a tasting of five local Tuscan wines.

Find it in: Livorno (Florence), Italy

8. Guided Tour of Cinque Terre

What: Take a guided tour through two of the amazing towns along Italy’s Ligurian coast. You’ll see the historic sights of Portovenere and taste a few of the local delicacies (including bruschetta, salami, wine and pesto) in Monterosso al Mare, which is one of the five villages of Cinque Terre.

Cool factor: Picturesque views and photo ops of the coastline from a motorboat that will take you from Portovenere to Monterosso al Mare.

Find it in: Livorno (Florence), Italy

9. Florence Highlights Tour

What: Visit the highlights of the Renaissance city of Florence, including the Accademia Museum (home of Michelangelo’s "David"), the Piazza del Duomo and the Ponte Vecchio.

Featured Attraction: The Accademia Museum. "David" isn't the only masterwork by Michelangelo on display at this world-class museum, which holds the largest collection of his sculpture work anywhere. Other attractions include legendary paintings by Botticelli and Lippi and violins by Stradivarius.

Cool factor: You can’t visit Florence without sitting down to a proper Florentine meal — and it’s included with your tour. Florence is the birthplace of gelato, so make sure you top things off with a sweet, cold treat.

Find it in: Livorno (Florence), Italy

10. Visit The Tuscan Countryside

What: Explore two of Tuscany’s lovely hilltop Medieval villages, San Gimignano and Volterra, and visit a rustic country farmhouse to sample Tuscan cuisine and wines.

Cool factor: San Gimignano is known for its striking towers, and Volterra for its sparkling piazzas and 1st-century Roman theater.

Find it in: Livorno (Florence), Italy

Ready To Sail Away to Italy?

The attractions in Italy are so diverse and so numerous that you truly can't go wrong. Whether you're admiring the art in a world-famous gallery or exploring ruins that date back thousands of years, you won't regret making the journey. Even if you based your trip solely around delicious meals, there's too much to try for just one voyage.

From coastal villages to iconic landmarks, Royal Caribbean makes it easy to explore Europe your way. Now that you know all the best shore trips Italy has to offer, it's time to explore cruises to Italy and start planning.