Food & Wine: Flavors of Tuscany & Umbria
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Taste the rustic flavors of central Italy.
Tucked-away towns make up the core of Tuscany and Umbria, while the cultural capital of Florence offers urban elegance and historic remnants from the Renaissance. From handmade pasta in heavy sauces to locally produced wines from Chianti, Montalcino, and Montefalco, discover the simple, honest flavors for which central Italy’s medieval villages and sweeping countrysides are known for on this small group Food & Wine Tour.
Your tour package includes
- 9 nights in handpicked hotels
- 9 breakfasts
- 4 lunches
- 3 dinners with beer or wine
- 4 wine tastings
Included highlights
- Mercato Centrale
- Tuscan cooking lesson
- San Gimignano
- Chianti wine tasting
- Montalcino wine tasting
An expert specializing in tours of this region is here to help.
Day-by-day itinerary
Print itineraryBoard your overnight flight to Florence today.
Welcome to Italy! Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers during a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Set off with a local guide on a food-themed walking tour of Florence, the city at the center of the Renaissance.
- Learn about the city’s art and history at Piazza San Lorenzo.
- See Italian cuisine such as Tuscan breads, cold cuts, Chianina beef, tripe, lampredotto, vegetables, and herbs for sale at the Mercato Centrale.
- Stop for a typical Italian breakfast of cappuccino and brioches.
- View the legendary Florence Cathedral, known as the Duomo.
- Pass Giotto’s Campanile, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture.
- Stop in the Pazzi Palace courtyard to try Tuscan croutons topped with chicken liver or olive paté, paired with a glass of Chianti.
- Walk to the lively Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio and see locals picking up their daily groceries.
- Taste finger foods loved by Florentines including coccole, fried dough balls, and veggies meatballs.
This evening, join a local chef for a cooking class where you’ll make pasta by hand, create two kinds of bruschetta and craft tiramisu for dessert. Savor your creations for dinner with accompanying wines.
Enjoy a free day in Florence or add excursions.
Villa Machiavelli Dinner
From $99 per person
Medieval Lucca & Farmhouse Lunch
From $129 per person
En route to the enchanting city of Siena, stop in San Gimignano, “the city of beautiful towers.”
- Explore the small medieval town of San Gimignano on your own.
- Sample some of the city's renowned gelato.
This afternoon, continue on to Chianti to tour a winery and sample some of the region’s fine wines at an agriturismo, or farm stay.
This morning, explore the vibrant city of Montalcino before visiting a winery.
- Spend free time wandering the streets of Montalcino.
- Taste three acclaimed Brunello grape wines and enjoy a light lunch.
Make your way back to Siena and set off on a guided tour of the charming Tuscan city.
- Walk through the Campo, the square that’s the center of civic life, and learn about the Palio horse race that takes place there every summer.
- Enter Siena Cathedral, home to major works of art by Donatello and Pisano.
- Discover the town’s black-and-white marble duomo and see brilliantly colored 16th-century frescoes in the Piccolomini Library.
- End at a local bakery to try ricciarelli, an almond-flavored cookie.
Continue your travels across the Tuscan landscape as you head into the Umbria region.
- Explore the hillside town of Cortona on your own during free time.
- Visit Lake Trasimeno, where Hannibal battled the Romans.
- Enjoy a lunch of traditional Umbrian specialties.
This afternoon, set out on a guided tour of Perugia, the medieval town known for its Etruscan Arch.
- See the Palazzo dei Priori, a medieval palace dating back to 1298.
- View stunning artwork inside the 15th-century Collegio del Cambio.
- See Perugia Cathedral and wander through the tunnels of Rocca Paolina, Perugia’s historic underground city.
- Visit a local cafe to learn about Perugia's famous Baci Perugina chocolates and sample some for yourself.
Settle in to your hotel in the Umbrian countryside tonight.
Enjoy a free day in the Umbrian countryside or add an excursion.
Tonight, enjoy a three-course dinner at a local agriturismo.
Assisi & Umbrian Farm Lunch
From $109 per person
Set off into the rolling hills of the Montefalco wine region today.
- Pay a visit to the village of Bevagna, where you'll have free time to explore its medieval center.
- At an Umbrian vineyard, enjoy a tasting of red Sagrantino and white Umbrian wines, accompanied by a lunch of local specialties.
Travel to Rome today, stopping in the Etruscan hilltop town of Orvieto along the way.
- Enter the Chapel of San Brizio to view its intricate frescoes and paintings.
- Enjoy a farewell lunch and wine tasting featuring Umbrian specialties.
Then, continue on to Rome.
Transfer to the airport for your flight home or extend your stay in Rome.
Follow in the footsteps of the ancient Romans on a guided tour of the Eternal City.
- View the Arch of Constantine and soak up over 2,000 years of history in Imperial Rome.
- View the outside of the Colosseum, the largest amphitheater of the Roman Empire.
- Pass the Imperial fora, Piazza Venezia, and the Campidoglio as you walk to the city’s Jewish ghetto neighborhood.
- Step inside a local bakery to sample kosher Roman delicacies.
- End the tour at the Portico d'Ottavia.
Enjoy a free afternoon in the city or add an excursion.
Please note: On some departures, the Rome sightseeing tour may take place on day 12 and the Iconic Sights: Vatican City excursion may take place on day 11.
Food of Rome: Walking Tour of Trastevere
From $135 per person
Spend a free day in Rome or add an excursion.
This evening, enjoy a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members.
Iconic Sights: Vatican City
From $125 per person
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Book for just $99 down
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Reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
Overall rating 4.7 out of 5
5 out of 5 stars
This was a great trip the planing and logistics were spot on Natasha our tour guide was fantastic and informative will definitely be booking another tour soon.
5 out of 5 stars
The Tuscan and Umbrian Food and Wine tour was better than we could have ever imagined. My daughter and I joined this tour for her Senior Grad trip and were simply delighted. Every place we visited was our new favorite place. Our group was fantastic and our tour guide, Ronan, was the best. The hotels...
4 out of 5 stars
The itinerary was great, the tour director David was excellent, but the included dinners could and should have been much better for a food and wine tour.
Traveler photos
Hotels, flights & FAQ
Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.Hotels
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.This charming hotel is located in Florence’s city center. Guests enjoy a restaurant, courtyard, and fitness center. Nearby, you’ll find the Uffizi Gal...
This elegant hotel is located in La Fortezza neighborhood of Siena. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi, a fitness room and a restaurant. Nearby, you'll find Piaz...
This luxury hotel is located in Santa Maria degli Angeli, just outside of Assisi and surrounded by the beautiful Umbrian Countryside. Guests enjoy the...
This historic hotel is located in central Rome. Guests enjoy a restaurant, bar and lounge, and fitness area. Nearby, you’ll find the train station, Te...
Flights
- Round-trip flight for your tour
- Airport transfers at your destination
- A great price locked in today
- 24/7 support from our dedicated service team
- Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
- Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
- Find out more about flights
FAQ
Print FAQ- In order to enter Italy, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
- We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
- Beginning in 2025, U.S. and Canadian passport holders must register for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to enter many European countries.
- Passport holders from over 60 visa-exempt countries (including the U.S. and Canada) will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to visit 30 European countries. That means that even if you’ve previously traveled to any of these European countries without a visa, starting in 2025, you’ll need to get ETIAS authorization to visit them again. If you’re traveling to multiple countries with this requirement, you only need to complete the form once. All Go Ahead travelers are responsible for obtaining their own ETIAS travel authorization before departure. For more details, please visit our Help Center.
- If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact your destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
- You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code TOT.
- Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Florence and depart from Rome.
- Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost if they are arriving or departing on the standard day.
- When you arrive in Florence, a Go Ahead representative will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with a Go Ahead sign or a sign with your name(s). If you don’t see a representative immediately, please be patient and stay in the arrivals area. They may be assisting another traveler who has also just arrived and will be back shortly.
Physical Activity Level
This is a high physical activity-level tour. You can expect to be on the move on a regular basis throughout the course of the tour.
Tour Pacing
This is a brisk-paced tour. The pace of a tour itinerary considers how often you’ll switch hotels, the amount of planned daily activities, and how you’ll get from place to place. You can expect:
- One 1-night stay
- Most days full of included activities (more if you add excursions)
- All transportation by motor coach
- Daily bus time varies and can be lengthy
Walking, Terrain & Physical Requirements
- Travelers should be prepared to walk 2-3 miles per day - this includes city streets, cobblestones, stairs, and hills.
- Stone pathways and cobblestone streets can become slick when wet.
- Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance.
- Please Note: Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on tour.
Climate Considerations
- In the summer months (June-September), travelers can expect heatwaves with temperatures consistently above 90F.
Physical Activity & Tour Pace Questions
- Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special mobility or luggage handling assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group enjoys a smooth and informative journey, and they can’t be relied on to provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
- This tour moves at a reasonable pace to avoid missing scheduled stops. The rest of the group cannot miss any scheduled activities because of the needs of an individual.
- Due to the pace and physical activity level of this tour, mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walkers will be difficult to use and are not recommended. Please notify Go Ahead Tours before your departure if you plan to bring these on tour with you.
- If you have mobility concerns or tour pace questions, please visit our Help Center or send a message to our Customer Experience Team. We’re here to help!
- Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches.
- Some airlines may impose additional charges if you exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
- Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights.
- Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
- Travelers must manage their own luggage throughout tour as porters are not guaranteed. This includes at hotels and airports.
- We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
- A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
- You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
- It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
- We recommend packing a reusable water bottle to cut down on single use plastic waste.
- We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
- We recommend packing your Insurance Card (from your primary insurance provider) in your carry on luggage.
- Go Ahead handpicks every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm.
- Accommodations are typically three to four star hotels.
- All accommodations include a private bathroom.
- Most rooms will include a safe for valuables.
- Your hotels will have Wifi, but it may be limited to common areas.
- Elevators in hotels are not guaranteed.
- Some hotels on this tour require travelers to walk with their luggage a few blocks as buses cannot drop travelers off right out front.
- Please be advised that the strength of the air conditioning in European hotels/buildings is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada.
- Italy operates on the European standard 220-240 volts and uses Types C, F, or L plugs with two or three small, round pins.
- We cannot guarantee that your hotel accommodations will have laundry services or facilities. We recommend checking directly with the hotel once they are confirmed about 30 days prior to departure.
- Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date.
- Excursions are available for purchase prior to departure, and most excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour directly through your mobile app for an additional $10 USD.
- We recommend purchasing excursions at least 3 days prior to your tour departure. Please note some excursions have advance booking deadlines. Check your tour itinerary for more information to ensure you don’t miss the deadline to add them.
- Optional excursions may be canceled on tour due to reasons like low enrollment, weather or unexpected closures. If an excursion you signed up for is canceled by Go Ahead Tours, you will be refunded the full cost of the excursion. Please note it may take up to 60 days for your refund to be processed.
- Your Tour Director may offer their own optional excursions which can only be purchased on tour via cash (in local currency).
- At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website at cdc.gov.
- If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies, please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to your departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
- If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
- Most of our itineraries include headsets used during certain sightseeing tours so travelers can hear their guides or Tour Director. If you use an assisted listening device, such as a hearing aid or cochlear implant, please visit our Help Center for more information or contact our customer experience team. Please note that at this time not all our destinations offer headsets due to supplier limitations.
- The water is safe to drink throughout your tour unless posted otherwise.
- You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code TOT.
- This tour includes four lunches and three dinners. Included meals may be plated set menus, buffet or family style depending on the location. The menus for each meal are curated to give travelers a taste of each region’s specialties, while delving into the historical and cultural significance of ingredients. For beverages, travelers will typically have the option of one glass of beer, wine, or soft drink and water, coffee and tea.
- Breakfast each morning is also included at the hotel and is typically buffet style with hot and cold options.
- Tuscany is world-famous for its wine, oil, sauces, and pasta. Menus favor subtle, lighter pastas and desserts made with nuts, fruit, and honey. Try a dish featuring the region’s Chianina beef, perhaps the most prized breed of cattle in all of Italy. For wine, popular Tuscan reds include Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which are primarily made from the Sangiovese grape. Well-known white wines are also made around the San Gimignano region.
- In Umbria, don’t miss sampling both the reds and whites produced around Orvieto and Perugia.
- For more authentic meals, try local trattorias, small restaurants set away from the main piazzas. A typical Italian meal includes wines and the occasional beer, followed by a few sips of after-dinner drinks like grappa or limoncello.
- At the conclusion of your tour, it is customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
- We recommend tipping the equivalent of $10-$12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
- If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
- Tips can only be paid in cash.
- The cost of porterage is included in your tour price, and it is not necessary to tip baggage handlers.
- You will use the euro on tour.
- Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
- We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
- You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
- International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
- Plan ahead and bring cash to tip your tour director, local guides, and bus drivers. We also recommend keeping coins in the local currency on hand, as some public bathrooms may charge a fee for use.
- To ensure you feel prepared before traveling on tour, we strongly recommend you download the EF Go Ahead Tours mobile app. The app is free and provides important deadlines, entry requirements, your detailed itinerary, packing tips and more. You can also connect with fellow travelers through the chat feature in the app.
- Wifi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
- There is no Wifi on any of the motor coaches.
- Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.
- Your Tour Director will be leading your group throughout your journey. You will have the same Tour Director throughout your tour.
- The role of the Tour Director is not only to provide information and context on the destinations you visit, but also to confirm services, coordinate inclusions, prepare each days’ activities and support travelers while on tour. As such, they must focus on the success of the group, and cannot provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
- One of the benefits of traveling with EF Go Ahead Tours is our on tour emergency support team.
- Our extensive network of offices around the world, and our integration of ISO 31000: Risk Management Guidelines, help our dedicated 24/7 Emergency Service teams anticipate and address on-tour challenges in a flexible and iterative way.
- This team supports travelers and Tour Directors using a combination of extensive training, simulations, incident response planning, and decades of experience to help manage emergencies if they arise, ranging from personal health concerns or injuries to major world events.
- As needed, On Tour Support can facilitate additional support for travelers on tour, arrange assistance from outside specialists, and liaise with local and international authorities to help solve on-the-ground issues. In addition, the team is dedicated to supporting and facilitating communication between travelers and families in the event of an emergency while on the road or at home.
- When you travel with EF Go Ahead Tours, you’ll make a positive impact on the places you visit, and the people and animals you meet along the way. That’s because our three core Responsible Travel commitments—protecting the environment, supporting local communities, and promoting animal welfare—are at the heart of every tour we offer.
- Travel, when done responsibly, can make an enormous socio-economic impact to communities. To maximize your impact, eat at locally owned restaurants and shop at local businesses. Ask your Tour Director to point out restaurants they recommend.
- Prepare for your trip: be aware of the monetary norms such as tipping and negotiating in a market, learn about the destination’s forms of etiquette, and take some time to learn a few words in the local language.
- When interacting with locals, make sure to ask people for permission before you take their picture, and approach cultural differences with empathy and an open mind.
- EF Go Ahead Tours encourages our travelers to limit their waste while on the road, especially single use plastics. You can avoid single use plastics by packing your own toiletries, using electronic documents, and bringing a reusable water bottle and shopping bag. If you need to use plastics or paper, please recycle.
- Environment: On this tour, we recommend the use of a reusable water bottle, as the local drinking water is safe for travelers. Your Tour Director can provide additional guidance on local water standards. Make sure to bring a reusable water bottle to cut down on single use plastics.
If you are interested in visiting any of Florence's many museums during your free time, we recommend that you make reservations in advance. See uffizi.org for the Uffizi Gallery or accademia.org for the Accademia Gallery. Please note that the museums are closed on Mondays.
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4.7 out of 5 stars