Italian Riviera & French Coast Tour | Guided Small Group Tour | 7 Days

DAY 1                    MILAN – GENOA

Make your own way to Starhotels Anderson (Piazza Luigi di Savoia 20, Milan) for departure at 08.30am from Milan to Genoa. Visit of this seaport, one of the largest of the Southern Europe, the first in Italy; 6th city of the country, this town has an important history, as a Maritime Republic. Its historical centre has grown around the dock, is full of narrow and characteristic streets and has a medieval origin. Continue to the modern zone of “Ancient Port”, restored for the 500 years of America discovery by Christopher Columbus. Here we find the Aquarius, the second biggest in Europe. Lunch at your own. Accommodation in hotel and evening for personal interests. Overnight in Genoa.

DAY 2                    GENOA – RAPALLO – SANTA MARGHERITA – PORTOFINO – GENOA

Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will be invited to taste focaccia, a typical local kind of bread in both versions, regular and with cheese. Departure to Rapallo, famous tourist centre. Visit of the old town where a long promenade ends with the beautiful castle of Dragut. Then, road to Santa Margherita, beautiful seaside city of Riviera di Levante (Eastern Riviera), located in the Tigullio Gulf. Lunch at your own. In the afternoon, visit of Portofino. Around a little square, you can have a nice view of a group of high, coloured and picturesque houses. In the small port, during the high season, you can see expensive yachts from every part of the world. Finally, return to Genoa with a panoramic road. Overnight in Genoa. (B)

DAY 3                    GENOA – THE EASTERN COAST: PORTOVENERE – CINQUE TERRE – GENOA

Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Portovenere, a fishermen village located at the end of La Spezia Gulf. Visit. Ferry to Cinque Terre (if the atmospheric conditions doesn’t permit the boarding, the visit will be with a panoramic itinerary by bus/minivan and train.) Heritage of the UNESCO, these 5 fishermen villages, symbolize a group unique in the world for its beautiful landscape and the medieval style of their buildings. Visit of the little village of Vernazza and Monterosso, the biggest of the five villages, characterized by long beaches and narrow streets full of restaurants and handcraft shops. Lunch at your own. In the afternoon coming back to Genoa. Overnight in Genoa. (B)

DAY 4                    GENOA – THE WESTERN COAST: LAIGUEGLIA AND FINALBORGO – MONACO – NICE

Breakfast at the hotel and outgoing to the western coast of Liguria. Arrival to Laigueglia, a picturesque and little village of fishermen with its nice corners and small beaches. Visit. Later, departure to Finalborgo, a typical medieval village at the bottom of the mountains where the Alps meets the Apennines. Lunch at your own. In the afternoon, outgoing to Monaco. You can see the strong influence of Liguria in this city dominated by Grimaldi prince palace. Visit through the narrow streets of the centre to take picture of the Aquarius, and the Cathedral in which princess Grace was buried. Then, short route around the city of Montecarlo, famous everywhere for its characteristic Grand Prix. You can observe the futuristic palace Grimaldi Forum and probably the most important European casino (if the tour will be by coach, the area around the casino is not allowed to this kind of vehicle). Departure to Nice. Overnight in Nice. (B)

DAY 5                    NICE – ST. RAPHAEL – ESTEREL COAST – ANTIBES – NICE

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, visit of Nice, the main town of the French Coast, an ancient city of the Italian region Piedmont that joined France in the second half of the 19th century. Considered a leader in the international tourism, Nice is worldwide famous for its Promenade, the beauty of its elegant district and buildings and its multicultural food. Later, departure to St. Raphael, famous for its beaches but especially for a great number of stars who spend their holidays in the neighbourhood. Lunch at your own. Back to Nice, through the Esterel Coast, best known as Corniche d’or, due to its wonderful panorama. Small beaches but also great peaks and rocks surround a clear and shining sea. On the way, visit of Antibes, a little would town extremely loved by artists, especially the Spanish painter Pablo Picasso. Overnight in Nice. (B)

DAY 6                    NICE – ST. PAUL DE VENCE – GRASSE – CANNES – NICE

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to St. Paul de Vence. This is a small medieval village, that still presents the old wall, built by Frank I in 1537; Chagall and Prévert have spent many years of their artistic career here. Grasse is famous to produce perfumes but also presents a nice inner city, with Hotel de Ville and Notre Dame Cathedral. Visit of the perfume factory of Fragonard with guide. Lunch at your own. Outgoing to Cannes, probably the most modern town of the district: beach resort, place of many cultural events, as the Film festival, celebrated in the middle of May. Back to Nice. Overnight in Nice. (B)

DAY 7                    NICE – EZE – NOLI – MILAN

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Eze, a beautiful medieval village on the hills between Nice and Italian border. Visit of the old town. Then, departure to Liguria with a stop for visiting Noli, the old fifth Maritime Republic, characterized by narrow streets and old Genoese walls. Lunch at your own. Continuation to Milan. End of services. (B)

ACCOMMODATION:

SUPERIOR CATEGORY:

GENOVA: Starhotels President, or similar

NICE: Hôtel Le Grimaldi by HappyCulture, or Hôtel Mercure Nice Centre Grimaldi, or similar

DELUXE CATEGORY:

GENOVA: Starhotels President (Deluxe Room), or similar

NICE: Boscolo Nice Hôtel & Spa, or similar

Includes:

–          6 nights’ accommodation

–          Breakfast at the hotel

–          Bus at disposal for the mentioned itinerary

–          Bilingual (English and Spanish) speaking escort guide/driver up to 8 people (driver and guide with more than 8)

–          Cruise by boat at the Cinque Terre (in case of bad conditions of weather, the excursion will be by bus/minivan and panoramic train)

–          Focaccia and focaccia with cheese tasting in Liguria

–          Visit to the perfume factory in the French Coast

–          Local guide in Genoa, Cinque Terre and Nice

–          Audio guide during the cruise at the Cinque Terre

–          Free Wi-Fi on board

Excludes:

–          Meals (except breakfast at the hotel)

–          Beverages

–          Entrances

–          Porterage

–          City taxes

–          Tickets

–          Tips and extras in general

–          Anything not listed under ‘includes’

Things to Note:

–          A minimum of 2 participants are required for tour to operate.

–          Hotel rooms may not be available for check-in before 2:00 p.m.

–          Hotel taxes, service charges and tips for baggage handling are not included in the tour price.

–          Tour can be a combination of regular tours; therefore coach changes may be required. The same people may not be travelling throughout the tour.

–          Entrance fees to sights are not included and are to be paid locally

–          A government tourist tax may need to be paid locally upon arrival at your hotels.

–          Itinerary may be modified at anytime.

–          Between November 1st and March 31st, the ferry service at Cinque Terre does not operate. The itinerary will be by bus/minivan between La Spezia and Manarola (in place of Portovenere) and by train from Manarola to Monterosso via Vernazza.

–          During the high season (April to October), the ferry services operate when the weather conditions permit them. In case this condition cannot be respected, the same activity will be replaced with the winter alternative as specified above.