Best of South Italy in 13 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was amazing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many. A few were the home-hosted dinner in Sorrento, Matera, Giovinazzo on the Adriatic coast, the group meals, the art of Naples, etc"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was very satisfied with the pace and the quality of the hotels, restaurants and locations. Marianna, our guide, was exceptional. I was also pleased with the amount of free time that was allotted. The quantity of travelers was okay although a few had a difficult time keeping up with the group. That is not a reflection on the tour or the guide but on the traveler's ability to assess the demands on the activity level.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me it was Giovinazzo. The town was absolutely charming and not touristy. It was relaxing and the people were lovely. My wife and I decided to skip the tour for the first day and just explore the town. We loved it so much we book an AIR BNB for a month next October."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was great. I saw a lot of new things in Italy and had a amazing time with the tour group and guides. Most of the food we got as a group was great as well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the capitoline museum in Rome was a blast. So much rich history and very cool looking artifacts and statues to learn about. I was impressed to see an original Ancient Greek bronze sculpture on display fully intact, have never seen anything like that before. And it also had famous sculptures like the Rome wolf with Romulus and Remus. Our local guide for the museum was very good as well. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved to experience some small towns off the beaten path in southern Italy like Giovinazzo and Matera. Enjoyed the beautiful, spooky olive trees and the smell of the lemon trees. The Amalfi Coast was as charming as everyone says. We would have liked to spend another day in Sorrento. Pompeii's engineering, with sewers, flowing water and architecture was surprising and most impressive, beyond anything we could have imagined. Naples was chaotic, but we loved the architecture of the old palaces.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Considering all the gigantic and historical sites, which were all amazing, our "wow" moment was in a small room in a building seemingly undergoing renovation. It was a musical concert by the group Napolitana. It consisted of an incredibly talented 4 piece band and female singer. Our group sang along, danced, had wine, snacks and lots of fun. Unforgettable."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing. I loved everything! Our guide Marianna was fantastic she was always in tune with her group and so helpful. One example of her caring was I was in search of a silicone candy mold in the shape of Italy for a friend. Up on at one of our hotels I inquired at the desk. They replied oh your the one Marianna had called ahead an inquired . What a nice surprise that was. Our hotels were all great. We all loved Giovinazzo. It was beautiful and next to the sea.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved the two museums in Naples. The best food was at our family meal in their home. They were lovely. Pizza making was great fun. Enjoyed the meal at the olive factory. Loved the boat ride to our destination on the Amalfi Coast. Our hotel in Naples perfect location. Gee I loved everything we did from start to finish."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide Marianna was exceptionally well informed and knowledgeable, professional and friendly, and always with a positive attitude. The guides of the day were wonderful sharing their local knowledge enthusiastically.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have for years wished to see and experience Matera. Absolutely incredible! And, the trulli of Alberobello was also a dream come true."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I did the 13 Day southern Italy tour starting in Rome and ending in Naples. It was my first time to Europe and I was nervous about everything. I read all I could beforehand including Europe Thru the Backdoor and also The Southern Italy guidebook by Rick Steves and watched lots of videos to prepare myself. The trip exceeded my expectations. The tour included the perfect amount of structured activities and left free time to explore on your own. All the local guides seem to love what they do.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The wow moment for me was taking the boat ride and seeing the Amalfi coast from the boat for the first time. So beautiful! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Rick Steve Tour of Southern Italy was wonderful. Each location was unique and provided many memories and thoughts of returning to. Marianna, our guide, was exceptional. Naples was more chaotic than expected because of the national holiday celebrations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Surprising, Naples provided the most WOW events. The musical concert by the group Napolitana was so much more than we ever expected. Incredible talent! Viewing Sanmartino's "Veiled Christ" in the Sansevero Chapel in Naples was breathtaking. An extra day allowed us to attend “Saturday of Mary who unties the knots” celebration at the church of Santa Maria Incoronatella, Our Lady Undoer of Knots. A mass, devotion, ceremony of lighting the knots, a church pack with locals was a blessing."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was very organized and ran smoothly. We never as a group really had to wait for local guides, restaurants or hotels with the exception of the last hotel where some people had to wait a while to get their room. (We did arrive early, so that was somewhat expected). We were well informed of what was happening each day and provided many suggestions of places to see and eat on our free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Sassi di Matera. We had never seen anything like this before. It was so unusual and nothing I would place in Italy. The history is compelling. It was very fun to stay in the "caves" as our hotel. It was so interesting to wander around the area and listen to what the local guide shared about this area."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Tour of Southern Italy with Rick Steves Travel exceeded our expectations in every way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Archeological Museum in Naples. Our local tour guide was exceptional. Same thing in Pompei. Our local guide was exceptional."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My tour guide made everyday special. She told stories that painted pictures of the people, places, history, customs and lives of the people of Southern Italy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many…. Staying in the caves in Matera, seeing the Adriatic, tasting real buffalo mozzarella , seeing Pompei, the blue grotto, having an incredible home cooked dinner with a beautiful Italian family. An amazing trip!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great itinerary. Great guide. Compatible and enjoyable group of travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Matera! Have to see it to believe it!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first time going south of Rome and I loved every minute! We visited so many lovely places that I would have never gotten to by myself like the sleepy fishing village of Giovinazzo and the gorgeous stone city of Matera. Getting to see the Amalfi Coast was also a dream of mine and this tour hit all the highlights and more! Our guide Nancy was wonderful, and our bus driver Giuseppe navigated the tiny windy roads with ease!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were plenty of wow moments on this tour! The first was arriving in the gorgeous town of Giovinazzo. Another was when we first got to see the view of all the stone/cave dwellings in Matera. My top wow moment was a tie between a private boat trip Capri and the Blue Grotto, or when I hiked the Path of Lemons from Maiori and made my way up to Ravello to experience the two beautiful villas and then hiked down to enjoy Amalfi Town. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As usual, I really appreciated the care put into finding us wonderful places and experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Several! Hard to choose one. Matera was unlike any place I've ever been, Pompeii was miraculous, and rhe sculptures in San Severo church in Rome stand out! Also the Trulli houses!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour and guide Nancy B, were exceptional. She was an amazing tour guide, devoting herself to the group and going above and beyond to share the joys of Italy. The tour was well planned, extensive in its scope, and a good blend of different activities showcasing Italian history, geography, culture and food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being in Matera, which is so unique, and the hotel we stayed in, with its cave-like rooms and swimming pools. The experience of the mozzarella farm and olive oil plant. were enjoyable."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a well managed tour that was up to Rick’s standards. Nancy was a great tour guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing Pompei for the second time. This time with a very good tour guide. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From afternoon one to the very end, my husband and I were well taken care of, educated in the culture, and visually stimulated. Italy, very different from our home in northeastern United States, opened our minds and hearts to embrace a new culture. There was “just enough” of each area that we visited. The people were very welcoming and very real for us. It was welcoming to be immersed in a culture so very different from ours here in the United States.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"it is terrifically hard to choose just one WOW moment. My husband was very taken with Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius in the background. What has been uncovered and recovered from Pompeii is astounding after the catastrophic eruption. I truly enjoyed our visit to Capri and especially, the Blue Grotto. I was very surprised to be in a cavernous area. Incomplete darkness, that is until our boatman turned our boat around and we look toward the cave opening and the water that glowed a brilliant blue."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a great trip full beauty, wonder and, learning about the people, culture and history of the South. Our guide, Nancy was awesome and the local guides were wonderful and so knowledgeable about their areas

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I can't pick just one. Pompeii was something I had wanted to see for years the size of the city was so much larger than I had imagined. Matera was so unique, like nowhere else I had ever been. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I have been on seven RS tours; this was certainly the best, surprisingly so. I felt so immersed in the culture, more than on any previous tour. I attribute this to our tour guide. She was knowledgeable, intuitive, informative, responsive, very helpful and funny. I am not Italian, but after this tour, I wanted to be. Thank you for such a great experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Viewing Sanmartino's "Veiled Christ" in the Sansevero Chapel in Naples on the last day of the tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The guide was organized and hardworking

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Capri"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 4th trip to Italy, but first time south of Rome. It is an amazing part of Italy, and it was a well planned, well executed tour. Our guide Caterina was an exceptional leader and teacher. She, my fellow travelers, and the good people of Italy made every day on this tour fun and interesting. It was all wonderful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many "wow" moments. Matera and the caves are beyond amazing. I very much enjoyed Pompeii, a site I had read about since I was young. Reading about a place and actually being in a place is a very different concept. The Pompeii guide did a very good job conveying the seriousness and sacredness of this site. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Wonderful folks on the tour. A wonderful tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dinner at Luigi’s home!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good tour but since we just came from the Sicily tour it was maybe too much like that tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Almafi coast was breathtaking. We hired a driver for the day who took us around to the towns along the coast."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good tour group and experience. Guide received and yielded to feedback. She was very knowledgeable and caring. Well planned experience and fantastic locations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Matera "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a wonderful trip. The more you travel, with an open mind, the more you appreciate other people's culture and their accomplishments. A tour of southern Italy certainly impresses upon the traveler the enormity of artistic talent and cultural beauty of the Italian people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We were treated to a family dinner with wonderful food, stories and singing from our hosts and our fellow travelers. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

everything according to plan. no glitches whatsoever.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"RS tour guide was very knowledgable of south Italy. She was passionate that we learned the culture, tradition, language, history and antiquities."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A wonderful tour with many inclusions shared with great travel buddies.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The boat trip from Salerno to Maiori along the Amalfi Coast."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

well,organized, paced at a reasonable Active level, informative, good variety of activities and fun

Favorite "WOW" moment

"enjoying the scenery on a boat ride around Capri, visiting Pompeii and listening to music in Naples."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My first RS tour, and it exceeded all of my expectations. Everything was as advertised. Very well organized and executed. Tour guide (Andrea) was superb! Great walking tours with lots of learning about history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Staying in Matera. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was the first time we had done a multi-day group tour. We have used Rick Steve's books on our own. We weren't sure how we were going to feel traveling with a group. We were both very happy with the tour and glad we went. Being on the tour gave us access to guided tours and private meals and luncheons that would have been hard to even know about let alone set up on our own. Being introverts on a group tour was challenging for us but we both are glad we went.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I believe my "wow" moment was the tour of the San Severo (Veiled Christ) in Naples. The carvings and the meaning behind them took my breath away. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Andrea was high energy and a great guide throughout the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Jewish ghetto victims with their brass names at their door. The Galleria Borghese. Paestum.. The Passeggiata in Sorrento."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was nice but I would have maybe enjoyed it if there were less places and more time to stay at some of the more relevant places.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Veiled Christ museum."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great hotels. Wonderful local tires and trip your guides. Dinners were good, but not exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There hotel in Madera."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Not as exciting as the Northern Italy tour, but it was still good

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Matera was unexpectedly wonderful "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour guide, Alfredo, was very knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. We enjoyed the other people in the group and the outstanding local guides as well as access to activities we wouldn't have been able to do without the group. We also liked the amount of "on our own" time compared to the group time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the island of Capri from the top of the chair lift."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Alfredo is a very knowledgeable and personable guide who made the trip a pleasure to be on. We traveled with a wonderful bunch of people who shared the same reasons for wanting to travel on an RS tour. We saw and learned so much about the history of the part of Italy we traveled in. Much more than we could get in any guidebook.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning how the Romans illuminated the streets of Pompeii and discovering the hidden gem in Giovinazzo."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the way Italians drive on the Amalfi Coast."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Alfredo, our tour guide, made the trip special. He is very personable, friendly and willing to share about his life experiences. A Neopolitan native, who speaks 4 languages, he gave great advice re: what to visit and when. It was a diverse and fun group of fellow tourists- it's amazing how you begin the tour as strangers and by the end, you are friends!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Arriving in Matera and seeing it lit up at night. It was spectacular!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our second Rick Steves tour and we enjoyed it as much as the first. Our tour guide, Alfredo, was such a great leader and our stops were all so unique and memorable. There was enough free time to enjoy things separately from the organized tour, and the things we learned and places we stopped were all worthwhile. We are already in the early stages of planning another tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Turning the corner into the old part of Matera. I had no idea what to expect and I was blown away with what was there for us to explore and enjoy. What an incredible city! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Thoroughly enjoyed our itinerary, guides (Alfredo was our lead), amazing sites, comraderie of our group and the pace

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wow moments included the outstanding tour of Pompeii, the cave city of Matera and Ana Capri views. The museum with the veiled Christ sculpture was awe inducing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip met or exceeded my expectations. Our tour guide, Andrea, was phenomenal. He went out of his way to provide both large and small touches to enhance the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's a tie between Matera and Pompeii. Both offered a thought provoking insights into how the ancient peoples of Italy lived. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

fantastic experience, an informative and entertaining cultural experience

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sleeping in a cave hotel in Matera"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Enjoyed all aspects of the tour. Our guide, Andrea, was awesome, all our tour were amazing and the destinations were beautiful!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While in the bus, coming around a corner and seeing the Amalfi coast open up. Breathtaking."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was amazing. Southern Italy is beautiful; our tour guide offered really great extra activities; the guide was very knowledgeable, friendly, and personable; I absolutely was thrilled that we received a really great look at the everyday life along with the historical information.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The dinner with the family in their home; visiting the trullos, the stay in Matera"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first trip to Europe and our first RS tour and served as a great introduction. Our tour guide did an excellent job educating us and preparing us for each location. We enjoyed the other travelers on in our tour group. Most of the locations were interesting and we had a variety of experiences of Italian culture, food and history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Matera. The city was beautiful and quite unique due to its architecture and history. "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Overall I enjoyed what I experienced on the 1st half of the tour the mist. I loved the guide in the wonder museum in Rome. Also Alberobello was interesting and we had a lovely afternoon there. The weather was great, not too warm but very pleasant. I also enjoyed Giovanezza because the hotel was so nice and the location beautiful. By the time We got to Matera, which was so cool, I was very sick with Covid. Lits of people on the bus were coughing and were saying it was just a cold.; it was Covid.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ieven though I was ill, thinking I had a cold, I went to Cimbrone Villa in Sorrento. That was spectacular. I was sick during Pimpeii and the Greek ruins at Paestum, so I missed that. I enjoyed as much as I could, the meal in Naples at rhe family home, but I wouldn’t have gone if I’d known I had Covid. By then I believe others had it and exposed the family. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Enriching experience with excellent guide and activities

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Pompeii"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized,very interesting and informative . All activities were well planned and enjoyable. The group was great with common goals.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Matera! Seeing Amalfi Coast from the boat for the first time."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our first RS tour. We thoroughly enjoyed it, pace was good, plenty of free time. Saw many beautiful and amazing places we would not have seen if we had gone on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The family hosted dinner in Sorrento. Hosts were so welcoming, venue was amazing and it was the best food and wine we had on the tour! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was great. We loved every tour and almost every place we visited, especially the Capitoline Museum, Matera, and Pompei. (We enjoyed the wine tasting in Alberobello, but the town itself didn't do much for us.) The overall guide, Andrea, was great, too. We like how the tour gives us time on our own, and we enjoyed meeting and talking to the others on the tour. It was just a terrific experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many great moments. Seeing Matera, a place we had read about but had never visited, was fantastic. Going to Paestum was also amazing, and we loved seeing Pompei. But the other parts of the tour--for example, the boat ride from Vieste, the archeological museum in Naples, going up to Ravello--we're also great experiences."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Andrea was an excellent guide as we're all the city-specific guides. The itinerary was well planned, there was a good variety of historic and contemporary sites as well as enough free time to explore on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved Matera. I had read about it before, but being there was amazing. The guided tour led by a local guide provided a deeper understanding of the historical reality of life there before people were forcibly resettled. Plus we had a great interaction with a local waitress over Tufino, a cat who lived near the wine bar and had been stuck on a roof for 5 days before being rescued by the fire department just hours."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Now that you have seen Northern Italy, Southern Italy is a charming sequel. Several World Heritage Sites on this tour. Vieste on the Adriatic Coast is wonderful. The boat cruise is unforgettable. The stone trulli houses in Alberobello are cute. Matera is fascinating, but I suggest you do stair training before you go. The buffalo mozzarella farm is interesting, but feels too commercial for a Rick Steves tour. Amalfi Coast, Sorrento, CAPRI, are also wonderful. Best tour guide was at Pompeii.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My spouses "wow" moment was Vieste: The view of sunrise on the Adriatic Sea from the hotel, eating a candlelight seafood dinner on the water's edge, and exploring the coves and grottos by boat. My "wow" moment was seeing Mt. Vesuvius, a recently active somma-stratovolcano, situated in an area inhabited by three million people, and the resting place for Pompeii."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized tour with a great guide, We liked the balance of organized time as well as some free time to allow you to explore on your own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Matera stay was a big wow. The combination of a unique town, staying in a cave hotel, the local guide was very informative and the group meal at a local restaurant all help make the stay special."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well-organized and coordinated, with a good mix of group v individual time. The hotels were comfortable, some included amazing views. I appreciated having the (few) longer bus days broken up with stops.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is hard to pick one “wow” moment, but I would include: 1) boat tour of the Adriatic coast, including visiting the grottos 2) optional dinner out at Antonio’s in Matera 3) dinner at the home of a family in Sorrento 4) optional traditional Neapolitan music concert 5) Francesca’s tour of the Capitoline museum and Jewish Ghetto in Rome 6) Pompeii and Paestum. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great time own our tour. We love everything we did and saw. We were with a wonderful group of people--very friendly, interesting, a pleasure to be with. Our guide, Andrea was very good!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The boat ride in Vieste was such a great tour. It was a beautiful day, amazing scenery and we had not expected to enter the grottoes. We loved it!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved everything. Our guide Andrea was amazing and a delight to be around. The other people on the tour added to our enjoyment. A great mix of people and always someone to visit with or explore each destination. Each city was unique and special. Last I would say a great combination of planned time and free time. We will definitely do another tour at some point.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are so many good memories, but if I had to pick, I would say the dinner at Luigi and Teresa‘s in Sorrento. it was lovely, great food, and the whole family was involved. I feel like this was some thing that I could not do by myself outside of a tour. That was really special."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very much enjoyed the experience and the group lead was very knowledgeable and helpful

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the beauty of the locations we visited"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was one of the best RS tours I have taken. Starting in Rome, crossing the country to Vieste and returning across the country to Naples, everyday was exciting and never boring. Led by our guide Nina, it was a continuing adventure of food, drink, culture, history, and laughs for two glorious weeks.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Standing in the streets of Pompeii, staring at what is left of Mt. Vesuvius and imaging the size of the volcano before the eruption and using my imagination to picture the magnitude of the eruption that berried a region. Documentaries don't do Pompeii justice, you have to see it to experience it."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Nina, led us enthusiastically on our tour of southern Italy. Having been to Rome before we experienced new sights. Visiting’new’ sights such as the city’s of Materra and Vieste, plus the Amauri coast and Naples created a very enjoyable experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touring Vieste."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my third trip to Italy with RS tours, and it was great as always. There was a nice mix of locations and activities, and a nice mix of known places and lesser known interesting places. Rick Steve's travelers always add to the experience, but this group was especially good, which I appreciated as the only participant traveling solo.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Pompeii was the obvious wow, but the Gargano peninsula and Matera definitely rated wows."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Had a fantastic tour! Our first Rick Steve's tour. Appreciated all the many experiences, excellent guides, great mix of history and scenery, group activities and meals! Awesome group to travel with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many! Loved our stays in smaller towns, VIeste, Matera and Maiori and the boat rides and grottos! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

NINA our tour guide was fantastic!!! We have taken 4 Rick Steves tours and she was head and shoulders the best

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Matera and Pompeii ere incredible."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, my tour experience was great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Pompeii and the Archaeological Museum in Naples. Knocked my socks off."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, Nina, was fantastic. She was super knowledgeable of the history and geography of the areas we toured. All of the local guides were great, with a special shout out to Francesca in Rome. She had such a connection to the places we went that it was an emotional experience. I really enjoyed the smaller towns we stayed in, they were more laid back and a pleasure to wander around and get a feel for what life is like in their town. The bus rides were sometimes long, but necessary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"After being home for a week now, I am still in awe of what life was like in Pompeii. For a civilization that is over 2500 years old, they had many what I would call modern amenities. It is amazing to me how intact many of the ruins are in Pompeii. Our local guide, Gaetano, also did a wonderful job of making us understand what life was like there in the 2nd century BC."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first foray into southern Italy. I had not realized the impact of the kind of government on the development of the region.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Realizing how many features of Pompeii are things that we believe are modern innovations: one-way streets, lane markers, crosswalks, etc. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour loved our 13 days in Southern Italy . 🇮🇹 It was our first Rick Steve’s tour and our first trip to beautiful Italy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Pompeii was our wow moment. So interesting and historical "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The extra tours like Grotto boat ride, Greek Temples, Buffalo farm and Pizza making!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The town of Vieste and it’s beautiful views and Sorrento’s charm"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well thought out and planned. Nina, our tour guide was excellent

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each place was wonderfully surprising and exceeded my expectations "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Really enjoyed our tour and loved seeing parts of Italy I had not visited before. Tour Guide Nina and local guides were exceptional. Special kudos to our Rome guide Francesca, and our Pompeii guide Gaetano, both were fantastic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Nepolitan music concert in Naples, it brought back fond memories from my childhood also, really enjoyed Alberobello and Matera."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Absolutely outstanding - everything we expected and then some. This was our 10th Rick Steves Tour and there's a reason we choose these tours. Nina, our guide, is simply top notch - knowledgeable, caring, fun to be with, professional, understanding of the differing interests and needs of the group members - well, I could go on and on about how great she is. The group members were as expected - adventurous, friendly, eager to learn, open to new and different experiences, and fun to be with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Floating in water at the beach in Maiori on a fabulous day with a bright blue sky and just a few white clouds overhead. A very different "wow" was the Napulitanata concert in Naples. Making and eating our own pizzas was spectacular and the dinner at the home of Luigi and Teresa may go down in history as the best meal I'll ever have in my entire life."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic tour! Each location was so unique & wonderful to experience, & the additional stops along the way were terrific. Staying in Maiori on the Amalfie Coast was awesome - ferry trip to Amalfie town was easy but way too busy & commercial - turned right around & returned to Minori & walked the Lemon Trail back to Maiori which was much more quaint & charming. Capri was a great day trip, & even loved Naples with its gritty charm & great vibe. Nina was a great guide & we loved this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While I was very excited to see Vieste (love being off the main tourist track), my wow moment was actually Matera. The Sassos (Sassi) districts and the rock cave hotel rooms were so amazing! Such a cool and unique experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic tour. Rome has always been one of my favorite cities, but I really enjoyed visiting the coastal regions and the off the beaten path areas of Italy I hadn’t visited before. Our guide Nina and the local guides were knowledgeable and fun. Francesca's tour of the Capitoline Museum was enlightening and it was great meeting her after seeing her on the RS programs all these years!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cruising along the stunning grotto lined coast of the Gargano Peninsula with a brief stop at a secluded beach for a swim in the Adriatic Sea."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great guides all through the trip. The hotels were well located for the sights.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Pompei"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The itinerary was well thought out with a great balance of scheduled and free time. Hotels were centrally located and local guides and special tours and demonstrations were interesting and fun

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A special musical performance our guide, Vanessa, arranged for us in Naples."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a great trip. We enjoyed all the local tours and museums and we were with a great guide. Vanessa was so informative, energetic and organized. She arranged a lot of fun extra activities too. Some days were really busy with lots of travel, so we really appreciated our free days to relax a little. My favorite towns were Rome, Vieste, and Sorrento.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Pompei...our local guide Gaetano was fantastic and also the family dinner with Teresa in Sorrento"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Best of our 10+ trips to Europe. First time with Rick Steve's company. Excellent organization of the 13 days; incredible guides, great mix of free and organized time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Staying in the caves of Matera. Seeing the ancient city of Sassi. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Vanessa, driver, Giuseppe, the hotels we stayed in and the local guides, the tour members, and of course the locales we visited; all of these were outstanding

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not just one, Vieste, the perfect little village in Apuglia, Matera, Pompei. And Pompei had been a long term dream. Gaetano brought it to life for us. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent choice of stops, excellent tour guide, excellent hotels, excellent dinners, excellent excursion guides, enjoyable mix of other guest couples. Tour was well planned, well executed, to the last detail. Vanessa far exceeded my best expectations with regard to knowledge of relevent history, geography, customs, traditions, retaining the group's attention, addressing all questions and concerns, and meeting the schedule. A delightful personality.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many, but walking old Matera was favorite, with hotel rooms tastefully "carved into" the hillside, along with very old cave dwellings still in use until the 20th century."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very Good, up to my expectations

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I can't really pick one out"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour! We really enjoyed everything and especially our tour guide Vanessa who was fabulous!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The caves of Matera "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were delighted with our tour. The itinerary was enjoyable, the tour guide was great, the hotels were great, the tour pace was great and the bus was great. We liked the other people on the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was the boat tour on the Gargano Peninsula."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great locations, excellent guides, lot’s of history!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Veiled Christ chapel was my number one wow moment, Alberobello and Matera a very close number 2 and 3."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour guides and overall tour plan and accommodations were great!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably Pompeii! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour. Loved every day.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fireworks show from our terrace in Matera. Also swimming in the Roman baths under our hotel in Matera ."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first RS tour and we were very pleased! The days were well planned and itinerary well communicated. There was a great mix of activities and some unusual events - like the coastal boat tour on the Adriatic, the visit to the Waterbuffalo Mozzarella farm, dinner with a local family in Sorrento. Good mix of free time with planned time. We enjoyed all our travel companions! Interesting and friendly people. Our guide was fantastic! So knowledgeable, helpful, and fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many to choose from! The Museo Capperla Sansevero in Naples, Matera and the boat trip Into grottos on the Adriatic all stand out in my mind. All the local guides were wonderful and each made their area extremely compelling. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a fantastic group and guide. Everyone got along very well. There was enough free time for us to either take side trips or to rest up after jet lag.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me, it was a toss-up between Paestum & Pompeii. Matera also was very interesting."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Expert southern Italy guide Caterina made for a fantastic tour. Her knowledge of food, wine, culture, history exceeded my expectations of the trip. Loved the balance of free time to explore on our own. The itinerary was what drew me to the tour and it was rich with discovery in every way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Matera and dinner fun at Antonio's."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic tour. Sarah was an amazing guide. South Italy is full of ancient sites and the itinerary was perfect

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being in Pompeii was most WOW. So any really other WOW moments"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was a good introduction to southern Italy to include the most famous sites.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the city of Matera in the moonlight. Who could imagine such a place? And I'm sleeping right in the middle of it!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another wonderful itinerary which was informative and enjoyable in every respect.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Matera … truly a unique experience "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sarah really made southern Italy come alive for us! This tour was a nice mix of iconic sights and hanging with the locals.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing how modern Pompeii was!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Sights never seen before, cities we never thought about visiting, dishes prepared in a whole different light and new friends made. These were only a small part of the tour experience. This was Rick Steve's 2.0 for us. Last year at this time we were in France on the Wine Tour, so we had expectations of what Southern Italy might bring, and it didn't miss the mark. A great tour guide, sights never before seen and, pizza totally unlike home. It all added up to 13 truly great days and memories.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's hard to count the amount of wow's and whoa's on this trip. As a professional designer I can find, a multitude of moments around every street corner or in every museum we visited. I was stunned by the homes built into the hillsides of Matera, the history of a city 7,000 year old, the view from the top of the hillside overlooking Capri, or the understanding the history of Pompeii. To my wife, her "wow" came when we viewed the "Veiled Christ" in Naples. We both stood there awestruck. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was enjoyable and educational at the same time. Our tour guide, Sarah, was exceptional and very helpful. Our travel buddies make us feel at home.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everyday was a “wow”moment. The sites hand-picked for the tour provided us stories and gave us a glimpse of history. But interacting with the locals though sometimes awkward due to language barriers also gave us unforgettable memories."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour guide, Alfredo. Super tour guides in the various cities. Excellent choice of locations and accommodations. Rain or shine, an excellent time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Matera and Pompeii "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

First time visit to Italy and the amount of things to tour provides is a must way to go on first trips

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Pompeii was amazing. Staying in Matera was a highlight."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip was as well organized as our last Rick Steve’s tour, the guide Alfredo excellent in both detail knowledge of the sights we saw and the history of the area. Alfredo’s professional, positive and kind guidance of our group made a huge difference for us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many! The view of the Mediterranean from Ravello. Pompei. The amazing marble “Veiled Christ”. Being able to feel a part of Napoli, as a tourist thanks to Alfredo’s insight."

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

First time Rick Steve's tour. Too many 2 nite stays. Not nearly enough downtime/personnel time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably Matera"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a fantastic tour! I loved every town we visited and our tour group was so much fun. I also learned so much history, something I really like about RS tours. This was a very active tour, which I really enjoyed, and the scenery was breathtaking. Our guide was fantastic and very knowledgable about the towns we visited. This tour exceeded my expectations!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really don’t think I can choose just one…the entire tour was full of “favorites!” But certainly, the scenery on the Amalfi coast was beautiful. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great overall experience

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Water buffalo"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We thoroughly enjoyed the Best of South Italy tour with Alfredo. This was our second Rick Steves' tour, the first being the Best of Italy tour in 2022. The South Italy tour had more of an archaeological emphasis (Tivoli, Matera, Paestum, Pompeii) than the previous one, which we appreciated. The tour group got along well and Alfredo was a great tour guide. It was a special treat to have a Neapolitan show us his city, which I believe allowed us to gain a deeper appreciation of Naples.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our favorite wow moment was our visit to Matera. We had never heard of the Sassi or Matera, and it was an amazing location from a visual and educational perspective. It was fascinating to learn about the history of this town, including how it gained notoriety through Carlo Levi's book. Getting to stay in a cave hotel was such a unique experience that really added to the wow factor, too. Matera is a terrific example of Rick's back door, authentic Italian experiences that most tourists don't get. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour guides were expert in their knowledge and did their best to help us understand the culture, people and history of Italy. I every city we were give enough information to go on our own and be safe. All the included meals were an experience in learning about the cuisine of the area. Tour group was small and all transportation was on time and comfortable

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touring Pompeii. The guide was a third generation Pompeii tour guide and wanted nothing more then for the group to understand the real life of the Pompeiians before Vesuvias tragically stopped their lives"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved flexibility of RS format: planned time but also gave us free time to explore. Our Tour Coordinator was phenomenal and we had a great group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the tears in our Tour Coordinator after we presented her with a gift as she was so outstanding."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was fantastic!! Our tour guide Beatrice was so wonderful!! She was always there for us giving us so much information about each place we visited, helping with any questions or concerns we might have had. I would definitely take another tour with her.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Amalfi Coast. It was just gorgeous. However, the whole trip was a wow!!!"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I enjoyed several features of the tour and loved the history of Italy. I did feel some of the excursions were a little long and sometimes felt the "business " side of the tour. It's definitely a great way to see a wide variety of the country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite moment was going to Capri, and really loved the boat tour and chair lift excursion."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The whole trip was Outstanding - Itinerary, towns/places we stayed (your team excels in finding out of the way, unique and tourist free places), free time for us to explore, and of course, our WONDERFUL tour guide Bea!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were 2 - the reason I chose this tour is because I REALLY wanted to go to Capri and the Mondo tour you recommended was AWESOME! In fact, I was the only person who had booked that in advance....when others found out I had done that, 9 others decided to sign up too! The other was when our boat ride in Vieste was cancelled due to angry seas, some went down to the sea/lounging area and went swimming in the sea! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our very first Rick Steves tour. We loved our guide, tour mates, and all of the beautiful, and interesting places we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many, but I think my "wow" moment was when we booked a tour of Capri along with some of our tour mates. We took a boat out, and swam in the beautiful sea near the Blue Grotto"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a fantastic tour guide, Beatrice was wonderful and I can't say enough good things about our group. What a wonderful group to travel with. This was my 2nd tour preceded by 21 days Europe pre covid and I highly recommend that trip and the recent southern Italy trip. I like Italy the best of the European countries I visited prior and wanted to do coastal experience. I was not disappointed. Tour was exceptionally managed but I did have a couple of things I would like to recommend.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Really hard to say one thing, the coastal experiences on both sides was beautiful. The most touching moment was in Naples during a museum visit. It was a sculpture of the veiled Christ that portrayed the moments as his body was resurrecting. The detail and the story that accompanied it was quite moving for me. I think the overall friendships and fellowships established stand out for me as well."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were definitely treated with the Best of South Italy that one could pack into a 13 day trip! Led by our amazing tour guide, Beatricé, the itinerary ran smoothly and with loads of fun. She turned a group of strangers into her "traveling family". The result was a very amicable and comfortable environment throughout the trip. Her intimate knowledge and passion for Italy added a whole dimension of learning to the sights and wonders that we were seeing, leaving me wanting much more!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many! Certainly Capri, this being my third time there, never disappoints! The view from Ana Capri looking down on the Faraglioni rocks takes the prize Wow!! The drive along the Amalfi coast is definitely many "wow's"!! The Archealogical Museum in Naples was amazing!! I was very impressed by our local guide in Rome, Francesca. She helped me see with my imagination, to gap the time and space, and "be there" what I'm seeing. Alberobello and Matera, fun and interesting. Great tour"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The guide makes the trip, and Beatrice is truely sensational. Her positive attitude and fun stories kept the group entertained and in good spirits. I loved that she was from Italy and could share the culture, hand gestures, history, and best eats along the way. She helped make suggestions for our days off and organized several apperativo parties. The tour was fast-paced and we were grateful to have seen so much, but we would love another day at some locations. Top-notch trip!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Swimming in the Adriatic Sea looking up at the quaint town of Veiste. I loved the hotel here and could have stayed another day. I like the off-the-beaten-path towns best! Rick Steve's trips do so well at providing local moments - the meal with the family in Sorrento was also a hit, "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We repeated this tour, took it in 2016 and now 2024 their were slight differences, different guide and 2 n in Minoa(amalfi)instead of Positano 🙁😞weather quite Humid/HOT , stormy weather caused no ferries or buses from Minoa🙁😞But thankful for itenary and great guides!!to rise above it all

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Accommodations in Rome/Vieste/Matera/Naples. The boat ride to caves in Vieste the Family dinner in Sorrento "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our second Rick Steves' tour and it did not disappoint! Other than crowds in many of the cities, which can't be controlled, it was great!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The home meal in Sorrento was one of my favorite memories on the trip. The hosts were wonderful as was the food! When we walked through the door, it was like walking into a secret garden and was quite unexpected since it was in the heart of the city."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 4th Rick Steves tour, and it was wonderful as expected. We did a side trip before the tour, and when comparing the experiences/tours we planned for ourselves to those on the RS tour, it's a great reminder why we travel with RS. The incredible guides (tour and local) and the ease of entry into popular sights and travel between locations make the trip feel seamless; all of this allowed us to focus on experiencing the beauty of South Italy, the culture and the people. We will be back!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Matera! Sleeping in the cave, enjoying the thermal baths, meandering the streets and stumbling upon communal ovens and other delights, and learning about the city's complex history. There is something truly remarkable about this place that I cannot put into words, but I felt incredibly lucky to experience it. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was one of the best Italy trips I’ve experienced. Great blend of scheduled guided tours and free time on our own. Our tour guide, Andrea, did a great job keeping us on track, providing information, and inspiring us to embrace the Italian culture. Hotels were in excellent locations being close to the city centers and main points of interests were always within walking distance. Our group of travelers became a family and we visited places that were unique and picturesque.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As suggested in the Rick Steves guide book, we rented bikes on Sunday in Rome and rode up and down the ancient Roman road, the Appian Way, among the cypress trees and umbrella pines. Floating in the Mediterranean Sea looking back at our hotel carved in the cliffs in the village of Vieste. Hiking up to the top of a mountain in Matera and turning around to see a panoramic view of the old ancient city at sunset. Wow! Wow! Wow!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Best of South of Italy tour was our first Rick Steves tour. It exceeded our expectations!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several "wow" moments. Because this tour was our first tour, we did not realize how many "extra special touches" are included in a RS tour. Very well thought out and planned. Boat rides in Vieste and from Salerno to Amalfi Coast were highlights for me. My husband loved all the ruins in Rome, Pompeii and throughout our trip."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I had an enjoyable time in general on the tour. There were a few things that were excellent and other things that were mediocre, but in general I would recommend the tour to others.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Francesca -- hands down the best tour I've had in my life. Francesca's approach is so unique and SO needed to truly appreciate any of the Rome sites."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 4th (but certainly not our last) Rick Steves tour and each one has been an amazing experience. The exceptional guides, our fellow travelers, the itinerary, and - of course - the food... all work together to make these trips remarkable and unforgettable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hands down: Pompeii. Walking the streets of Pompeii had been a lifelong goal and the experience exceeded my expectations. And, of course, the local guide brought it all to life in a way we never could have done on our own."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my second RS tour and it did not disappoint! Great places, Great people, Great food & Great experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too hard to choose just one but visiting Matera was definitely one of my fav moments along with the boat ride on the Adriatic Sea near Vieste. Both were outstanding! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guide, David Tordi, was excellent. So was the itinerary. However, the heat, my age, and my fairly recent knee replacement slowed me down.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the boat trip and caves on Adriatic coast, the veiled Christ sculpture, the views of the Amalfi coast. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Awesome, exhilarating and exhausting!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Pompeii"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Awesome tour! Great guide, bus driver, travel mates, tours, accommodations, meals!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have to say, Materna. Unbelievable how this town was built into the sandstone."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was exceptional. The variety of experiences was a special treat. I was not prepared for the contrasts between Rome and Naples and the wonders of Paestum, Pompeii and Villa Adriana. Vieste was a wonderful treat, a special beach town and an opportunity to get wet and relax. Matera was mind blowing and the Amalfi Coast both exciting and relaxing. Oh, and a word about David. He was exceptional, knowledgeable, helpful, friendly and talented. His music was a treat at our family dinner.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"An impossible question. I'm still processing Pompeii, but the picture that stays in my mind is sunset over Vesuvius from the top of the hill in Napoli. I have the picture to remember it by. Bottom line, there were WOW moments at each stop."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was an amazing tour. Our guide, David, was awesome and plays a mean guitar. The group members became family and friends. I am still processing it all. I am now in the best shape of my life, thanks for pushing my limits.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to note here."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was everything I hoped for. What kept me from rating it as outstanding was that we didn't spend enough time in each city. 3 nights instead of 2 would give people a chance to really experience the area.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So, so many! What stands out the most for me was the time we spent in Vieste and on the Amalfi Coast. Beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour exceeded all my expectations. Our guide, Vanessa, was an absolute treasure - she was a wealth of knowledge, taught us Italian, and went out of her way to make this the vacation of our dreams. All the stops on this tour were worth it and I would not have visited if I was traveling on my own. The food, the travel group 10 out of 10! It was the perfect mix of group activities and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our local guide in Rome, Francesca, really set the stage for this tour. Helping us to better understand and appreciate what we will see for the remainder of the tour. I kept coming back to her words as I visited other sites and museums - she really made an impact. But also everyday there was a wow moment on this tour. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I would describe this trip as spectacular if my friend and traveling companion had not fallen and been hospitalized in Materra

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Lemon Trail was extraordinary but I think the dinner in the private home was the best!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Vanessa was an excellent guide who related to everyone on the tour. Food, tours, and hotels were top notch, and the recommendations for lunch/dinner and free time were wonderful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My “wow” moment was visiting Pompeii. It would have been even better if we also had the opportunity to tour Herculaneum, too, since it is better preserved and not as crowded since it is not as famous."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was wonderful. I slipped and fell in the Stassi during the first half of the tour, and spent the rest of the time in the hospital.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many! The woman who gave us a tour of the first museum in Rome was spectacular. I have been to Italy before, and to other European cities, and she is the best I have ever experienced. I could imagine Rome with its thousands of sculptures painted in lifelike colors. The scale of Hadrian’s villa was a revelation. The size reminded me of Versailles; a full town unto itself. Dancing in the street in Vieste. The Amazing Sassi."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What an amazing tour with our excellent guide Vanessa. We could not have imagined a better way to learn about and appreciate southern Italy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many "wow" moments this is difficult to answer but we both decided that the home-hosted dinner in Sorrento certainly qualified as a major "wow" moment for both of us. What an amazing evening that was!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall this tour was fabulous! It was the right balance of organized activities and free time. Our tour guide Vanessa was incredible. She was knowledgeable, caring and related well to everyone.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything was outstanding, but my wow moment was the dinner hosted by the family in Sorrento. The food was amazing, and it felt like we were one big family sitting around the dining table together."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is the second Rick Steve's Tour of Italy that our family of four has done, back to back Summers. Both trips were amazing and provided an active, informational, and logistically easy (no managing hotel reservations, transportation, tickets and guides). Never disappointed with our accommodations or provided meals. Had wonderful experiences in each city and with each guide. Had a great group on our tour and had many fun adventures, often running into one another during our free time & dinners

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Anytime we were on the water (Vieste, Maiori, Sorrento/Capri) was extra special."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was great to travel to the lesser known places in Italy and have a guide who had everything organized, allowing us to experience everything without worrying about transportation, accommodations, etc.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved Vieste and our dinner in Sorrento."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is my second Rick Steve's tour. Our family went to Italy last year (Venice, Florence, and Rome). We had the same guide, Sarah and Francesca led us through Rome again. Both are amazing guides. Our tour group was cool. The people were really engaging with my brother and I, even though we are younger (17 and 16). It was a great experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Swimming off Capri."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is the best experience I have had. People, Sara, the places we visited!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every day had a wow moment. Two things stand out to me thought. Pompeii was eye- opening and our guide was fantastic. The other moment was seeing the statue of the Veil of Christ. The work that went into it is amazing and the details unbelievable. A truly moving piece."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very much enjoyed traveling with other "intellectually curious" folks of varied ages. If I were to advise someone in the future, I would advise against Southern Italy after early May. Too hot. Happily all hotels were air conditioned, which would be a MUST. Loved the hotels that had pools or beaches at the end of a hot day.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Pompeii blew my mind. I had no idea of the size of that city, nor the extent of what remained intact after 2600 years! Also loved the beach time to swim in the Adriatic Sea. We had a beautiful day for that ride and the swim, and so, wish we could have swam longer. We were given the info on how to do that, by Sarah, our guide, but opted for the private pool and beach at the hotel which was also wonderful!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very Wonderful from beginning to the very end.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Boat tour along the coast at Vista and visiting the Grattos and the beach for a swim in the Adriatic Sea."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The southern Italy tour my wife and I took was fantastic. It was everything I was hoping we would experience. Nina our tour guide did an excellent job of sharing her passion and knowledge of the region. Sometimes keeping 28 people moving in the right direction with tact and warmth can be a challenging job. Nina was fantastic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Vieste caves we visited in the tour boats was the best! Totally enjoyed the Amalfi coast line and all the boats rides was also amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every place we visited was 5 star in our book.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The destination of Vieste was my wow moment. I love that town. Hotel, food and boat tour were wonderful. Would have liked another day."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was great, much like other Rick Steve's tours we have done in the past. Group was made up of many folks who had travelled before thus making for a great group of folks.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" comes from when I used that phrase to describe the roads going into our first beach town. The driver was amazing! He always got us to where we were going as if the roads were all easy and I know the roads were not that."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my fourth Rick Steves' tour. The experiences, guides, hotels, stops and are stellar. The Southern Italy tour did not disappoint.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our dinner at a family's house in Naples was unforgettable. From the company to the food, and camaraderie, it was a spectacular experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was my first tour with Rick Steve's. My sisters have been on two tours and were so excited about their experiences. I was so happy to be able to join them on this trip. It really exceeded my expectations. Marianna was our tour guide. Her sparkling personality and remarkable experience brought all the group together and melded us into a family. She was so caring and giving and so much fun!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved all of the guides. It wasn't tour by rote. They were able to get you excited about their cities and museums. I loved Pompeii, guess that was my wow, and our guide knew just how to navigate the site. Totally awesome! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Marianna made our trip very special. Her knowledge of the country and her personal experiences added so much value. All the special guides in Key cities we so good. They provided so much great info and made the experience feel. So personal. Hotels were all in great locations and staff went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of planned group lunches and dinners were all well planned and food was delicious.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our boat ride to grottos was awesome. Also our tour of Pompei was so good. I was not looking forward to to another "museum tour" but it turned out to be so enlightening and amazing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was amazing, 13 day was active, great group leader, tour leaders were confident, amazing group, food was amazing, great walks and fun bus ride.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being with our group with dinners but loved the water tours to perfect coves, blue grotto on the Adriatic coast. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour! Fantastic guide, interesting itinerary, congenial tour mates

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Pompeii"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

my trip was wonderful. The tour guides were very knowledgeable and friendly. The hotels were friendly clean and in an area easy to explore from,fabulous breakfasts included. I met friends I hope to know a lifetime.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved Viesta and boat tour in the grottos. it’s hard to pick just one…. matera, Pompeii the tours the foods the laughs all greater than could have imagined "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour itself was wonderful. We have been on many Rick Steves tours, so obviously they are a good match for us. Unfortunately, we did pick up a stomach bug on this tour, hence only the Very Good rating, but of course that is not a reflection of Rick Steves tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I don't remember a specific "wow" moment on this tour. Nevertheless, I was really looking forward to seeing Pompeii, and it did not disappoint. In fact, it was more spectacular than I imagined, and the everyday artifacts from Pompeii located at the Archaeological Museum in Naples were impressive, as were the huge statues from the Caracalla Baths. My husband was most impressed with our visit the Capri, which was not part of the tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

great time seeing new sights and meeting new people

Favorite "WOW" moment

"visiting Pompeii"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great tour guide and bus driver and a wonderful experience with a great group of fellow travelers. We went to many places I wasn't familiar with and we learned so much!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many but visiting Pompeii, Alberbello, Matera and Paestrum were tops. Had a delightful dinner at an italian family's home that was really memorable."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a fantastic experience. Our guide Marianna was fantastic and took great care of us so everyone had a great time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"2 things stand out... the boat tour that went into all of the grottos along the coast, and the tour of Pompei with the fabulous local guide."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour, well planned with great hotels and activities. Our guide, Sarah Corfield, couldn't have been better. All of the local guides really knew their stuff.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking to the summit of Mt Vesuvius and looking over the crater rim. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 4th Rick Steve's tour and Italy is by far our favorite. We did Northern Italy several years ago but the Southern Italy tour gave us unusual things to see and not so many churches as Northern! Our guide: Sarah, was an absolute treasure and made the trip very memorable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two of my favorites Vieste for it's quiet beauty and small town feel. Matera for the sheer history and the experience to wonder what life was like for these people. We tend to like the small quiet towns and try to embrace the culture. Love leaving the big cities behind us once we see the sites and history. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first European trip and Rick Steves' Tour. It was everything we had hoped for and more! It provided the perfect blend of planned group activities along with enough free time to do what we wanted to do!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While Vieste was the highlight of the tour, because my grandmother came to the States from Vieste in 1927, I'd say the "Wow!" moment was our stay in Matera! From our accommodations in the "cave hotel" with underground pool, to the sights of Matera itself, it was a breathtaking segment of our tour. To think that we slept and walked where people have slept and walked for more than 4,000 consecutive years is mind blowing! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a wonderful tour with more interesting sites to see than we expected. Our tour guide Sarah was wonderful relating her knowledge of the Italian culture and customs along the way. She added so much to our travel experience with her delightful and graceful personality. We enjoyed the comfort of the bus including our skilled chauffeur on those narrow Italian roads. Our guides including Francesca were fabulous and patient answering our questions at museum &archaeological sites

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Amalfi coast has incredible beauty and always amazes with its beauty when you cruise on it. Taking a tour through the Adriatic Sea and experiencing the medieval towns of Alberobello and specially Matera along the way was a unique historical and moving experience. We were delighted to be hosted by a local Italian family in their farm with lemon groves. They treated us to a magnificent Italian culinary feast by the grandmother in a traditional Italian kitchen in Sorrento. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Rick Steves' Germany was great, but Rick Steves' Tour of South Italy was beyond expectations!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Pompeii was my "wow" favorite. The Local guide made the city come alive. His comparison of the civilization of Pompeii vs today was most informative and thought provoking."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide (Sarah), great group, great food, great itinerary! We saw and learned so much!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Nearly every day had a “wow” moment! Some of the “wows” were things done during free time, like St. Peter’s Basilica, or the chairlift ride on Capri, but visiting Hadrian’s villa, Paestum, Pompeii and seeing all the art and architecture that’s lasted over 2,000 years was astounding."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Beyond expectations. Every night in the heart of the things to see and do. Outstanding guide service provided by a gracious, well informed Sarah. Sarah’s gentle but firm guidance kept us together and on track. Her ability to teach about Italy and the Italian language really helped us understand where we were. Her lectures on longer buss rides where interesting and helped us know what was coming.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Vieste. Two days in paradise. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Alfredo, did an excellent job of preparing our group for each stop on the tour. He was a vast storehouse of knowledge with an excellent sense of humor. He immediately melded our tour group into a cohesive unit. The beautiful scenery and historical artifacts/ruins at each stop provided excellent learning experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Vieste and the Adriatic coast were so beautiful and peaceful after the hustle, bustle of Rome. Alberobella was a special high point as we gazed at the stone trulli houses. The caves and historical artifacts seen throughout the tour as well as terrific local guides made the trip very special. The water buffalo farm was such a special treat with an "up close" introduction to the buffalo. Lunch at the buffalo farm was fantastic. Paestum and its Ancient Greek temples were truly great to see."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour guide (Alfredo) was informative and attentive. His knowledge and humor made the trip fun and relaxed. The hotel rooms were great and the staff friendly and strived to make our stay comfortable. The views and adventures were memorable and at times exciting. We got to see how italy was and is.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The bus ride though the mountains, seeing the ruins. The food, the coast."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Enjoyed the sites, our guide, the local guides, and the tour group

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The chairlift ride to Mount Solaro and the views from the top in Anacapri"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Alfredo was an excellent guide and so were the local guides

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Matera"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The activities, the guide, the food and the transportation were all top notch. The group was small and a fun bunch of different ages and experiences. Not having to do all the planning and driving was huge for me. Our guide was so smart and interesting and was available for whatever we needed. Our hotels were centrally located but not huge and they all had great breakfast buffets. Our group meals were abundaza! No scrimping ever on the food!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The locations were the wow moments. The views along the Amalfi coast were just like a movie. Naples was definitely my favorite for its diverse areas of the city and its walkablility. It might be better to have an extra day there. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I compare my experience to another recent tour, which I enjoyed (slightly) more. My main reasons: The group felt a little closer on the first tour, the second tour felt a little less organized as regards communications from our leader, and the places visited were notably more crowded. The latter is simply because the places are popular, and I understand that RS avoids these places in summer. If not for the recent comparison, I would rate overall as a 5. Maybe more "wow" moments on the 2nd tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Certainly the Capitoline Museum tour in Rome with local guide Francesca was spectacular: "consider a museum like a library - you cannot possibly read all the books, and you can't see everything." A very close second was a tie between Hadrian's Palace and the cave dwellings in Matera. Close third is Naples Archeological Museum."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great itinerary with visits to gorgeous and interesting towns historically and culturally; fabulous local guides

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Magical twilight in Matera!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Everything and everyone was great!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One of our “wow” moments was on our day off. We had a private boat tour around the Isle of Capri! The Amalfi coast is truly beautiful. During the tour, we had several “wow” moments. One of my favorites was Vieste. Our view from our room was spectacular! Pompeii was both beautiful and very sad. I guess I had a “wow” moment in every city."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first trip to Europe and was surprised to find the amount of graffiti and scooter/Fiat 500 traffic in Rome. Once out of Rome, the trips next two weeks turned out to be beautiful. The weather this time of year in Italy, May 17th - June 1 was absolutely gorgeous. It only rained once while we were inside a museum. The tour was very informative and just what we needed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Starting the tour in Rome, when entering each of the hotels during the tour was my wow moment. The view from our room in Vieste was amazing being up about 200 feet and a cliff on the right with a full moon, unbelievable. Another wow was the room in Matera with a 20-foot domed ceiling. The Buffalo Mozzarella farm, the streets in Naples, the beach in Sorrento and many more."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first time doing a tour and now I understand why so many people are repeat customers. Our wonderful tour leader Bea handled all the things that might be stressors with independent travel. Everything about the stops was so well planned out. And the local tour guides were really interesting and fun. With a special shout out to Francesca, who changed the way many of us see the items in museums.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I knew nothing about Vieste before we got there and everything about our time there was a wow moment. I would love to go back someday. I booked this tour for Matera and Pompeii and both exceeded my expectations. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding sights and guides

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Matera"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The trip overall was great, the variety of places we visited was fantastic to see and experience in person. All of the accommodations were great and comfortable. For me the firm beds in all the rooms were a great change from American hotels. Then there was the food and wine...yeah for REAL food. Lastly, our guide was a real "hoot" and MADE the trip a real treat.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many cool moments. One wow moment was sharing a baked salt encrusted fresh fish with our guide at a restaurant she recommended. Another was watching a sunset in a restaurant where you could see Mt. Vesuvius across the bay and look back on the town of Serrento as all the colorful houses lite up by the sunset. The trip fill many of my bucket list items with the history and arts on display in the various museums our in full view."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

My overall tour experience was very good. We had an experienced, knowledgable, enthusiastic tour leader from Rome (although sometimes information given was confusing), great local guides, and an itinerary that allowed us to see areas and things we wanted to see. Some places were crowded which distracted some from my enjoyment, but we managed as best we could with the help of our leader and the local guides. I am happy I was on this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many "wow" moments. Two that immediately come to mind--the tour we had in Rome of the Capitoline Museum with Francesca. She gave an incredible tour unlike any other, that added so much to everything else I saw on the trip. The other that immediately comes to mind is the the archaeology museum in Naples, where we saw many items that were in perfect shape that had been totally covered by the ash from Mt. Vesuvius, as well as original Greek sculptures. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From Cheri Harding: Excellent tour guides (we adored Nancy); excellent accommodations and meals; excellent activities (save for day 8); great mix of guided and explore on our own time. In comparison to our 2 previous tours; lacking in education on how to navigate on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"From Cheri: Good wow was surprisingly the food. Bad wow was the how crowded it was. Was not this crowded in the London or Paris city tours."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This wasn’t what a tour is in most people’s mind. It is a lifetime experience. The group size is perfect. The tour guides are outstanding- I was in awe of their vast knowledge. Nancy made the experience fun- her knowledge, sense of humor made this an exceptional tour experience. This tour had the perfect amount of group experiences and on your own time. This was my first Rick Steve’s tour- it won’t be my last

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is difficult to choose one. The scenery along the Italian coasts is magnificent. The boat tour along the coast was definitely a highlight. The quality of the tour guides made the trip much more meaningful. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Incredible learning adventure of Roman, Greek and modern history. It opened my eyes more fully to the history of mankind through its forays into development of government and religion and finally into the current nation building configuration. We extended our tour on both ends to more fully see what the full region had to offer.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We extended the tour on the end to climb Mount Vesuvius (super wow factor to see the overall region) and to see the Herculeum (nicer, more compact and more beautiful than Pompei)"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Perfecto - beautiful scenery, delicious food, great company. Nancy is a top notch guide. She did a great job of tending to the individual needs of each and every tour member. Excellent guides made learning Italian history in Rome, Matera, and Pompeii come to life. I could image living in those times and residing in those places. The Amalfi coast is jaw-droppingly beautiful. Dining with a local family was a special treat. The final dinner was perfect. Highly recommended!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Amalfi coast is jaw-droppingly beautiful and truly captivating. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding! Nancy is a truly excellent guide, full of caring for everyone on the tour. The balance between group and solo activity time was perfect. The local guides were fantastic, the drivers excellent, and we had a great group of travelers, friendly and energetic. Each section of the trip had something different to offer; natural beauty, fascinating history, tremendous art, local culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was split between four places - the Capitoline brought Ancient Rome to life for me, priming me for Paestum. This was absolutely stunning - these temples still have a spirit in them, and that prepared me for the third - Pompeii. To walk through that ancient city, and learn how it's people lived gave me a real feeling of connection, and then finally, the Archaeological museum in Naples, which brought Pompeii from black and white into color."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Awesome tour. Tour guide. Our tour guide Nancy was outstanding

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Matera"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was very impressed and thoroughly enjoyed the diversity of the regions and communities we visited and experienced. Our primary tour guide provided her knowledge and love for the region which enriched my experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved exploring the many sites which are thousands of years old that helped create the world we live in today, but our boating excursions, which allowed us to view the beautiful coastal communities and landscapes, were my favorite “wow” moments. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide and local guides made this trip one that was unlike any other as well as the sites visited

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Pompeii"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first RS tour and overall it was a great experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was walking into my room in Vieste and having an amazing ocean view balcony in that beautiful and quiet town."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellence starts at the top. Nina's knowledge, personality, humor and patience made this trip very memorable. She brought the group together and made the tour a success. We smiled. we laughed, we learned a lot. And, we got yummy regional treats daily . All of the local guides were exceptional, especially Francesca in Rome and Gaetano in Pompeii. This was our 7th RS Tour and to us, the quality of the tour director and local guides is what sets RS apart from all other tour operators

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to choose 1. The Capitoline Museum, Pompeii, Cappella Sansevero, the view from Vieste and the dinner with Luigi and Teresa were fantastic experiences. All far exceeded my expectations. If I had to choose one, it would be Sansevero and the veiled Christ."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great itinerary to see many places I never would have known about. Our guide Marianna was excellent, as have been all of our Rick Steves' tour guides.We had a diverse group of fellow-travelers that also added to the enjoyment of our tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Experiencing Pompeii was likely the number one moment, but seeing the Greek temples was also impressive."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 5th Rick Steves' tour. As usual, it was great. Marianna, our guide, was wonderful. There were so many unexpected special moments: the incredible dinner at the Gargiulo's in Sorrento, the gelato at Gelateria David in Sorrento, the boat ride to and drinks in Maiori, the buffalo mozzarella farm and more.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment was the art and culture in Naples, which I had previously regarded as just a big and dirty city."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fascinating look at a part of Italy new to me. Good company, nice accommodations, and another view of history and art. I liked the way we got an early start at popular sites thanks to our guide's schedule.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to say just one, but I'd guess if I have to pick one, it was seeing the newly-refurbished rooms (and their bright frescos) in Pompeii."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I enjoyed myself very much. Although I realized it from the start by looking at the itinerary, in the end I thought six hotels in 12 days was a bit too frenzied.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Veiled Christ in Naples. I cannot overstate the impression it made in me. It was truly awe inspiring."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My second RS trip. Enjoyed seeing the countryside by bus. Liked getting off the beaten track in Gargano Peninsula. Chairlift to top of Capri was fun, as was boat ride around Capri.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the buffalo mozzarella and ricotta farm."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Very good guide. Enjoyed most of the sights. Could have skipped some.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The day in Capri"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Terrific! Our tour guide Marianna was fantastic. She has a lot of personality, and being a local Naples resident, was very knowledgeable about the areas we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Matera was incredible. People have been living in that area for 9,000 years. The 1,500 hand carved caves (Sassi), over the centuries, became homes, then apartments, churches, even palaces. Now some of them are hotels. The hotel we stayed in, Locanda di San Martino, was a good example. My room, I believe, was originally carved out of the hillside. The basement had a spa, with mosaic tiled floors! Yes, there were tourists, but not the overwhelming crush of crowds like at other Italian areas"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

We had a nice group and a sweet guide. There was perhaps a bit too much free time. Hotels were all very nice and the breakfasts absolutely outstanding! The Mercedes bus was very comfortable and clean, and our driver was very pleasant. He even helped carry me back from our group dinner after I'd injured my knee!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The boat ride along the Adriatic out of Vieste was pretty cool, especially the grottos. The family-style dinner at the Sorrento family home was another highlight."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Rick Steves tours don't disappoint. This was our 5th tour. We did the Best of Italy and now the South Italy tour. Seeing Italy was a big bucket list item. Done. Maybe Sicily in the future, though.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment was Matara. Our local guide, Analisa, was great explaining about the old and new town. Staying in the Sassi neighborhood and our hotel being built right inside the wall of a cave. It was so cool."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our 9th Rick Steves tour and they are always excellent. Southern Italy has many unique and beautiful sites.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our Pompeii tour with guide Gaetano was my wow moment. Gaetano and local guide Francesca in Rome are exceptional, bringing to life the people and stories of ancient Italy. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We experienced something new and amazing every day of this tour. We saw wonderful sights such as Matera, Pompeii, and the Amalfi coast. However, some of the short stops such as Paestum and Hadrian’s villa were exceptional too. Caterina, our tour guide, as well as the local guides were all fantastico!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Matera was definitely a “Wow” moment. Just imagining people living in the caves 10,000 years ago up until the 1950’s was amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Vey interesting

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Boat ride into the grottos, saying in the cave hotel in Matera."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Southern Italy was fabulous!! We went to so many unique locations no one I knew existed. From the first day, I knew we were in for the time of my life.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had so many “ Wow” moments it’s difficult to describe. I think the boat ride through the grottoes was breathtaking. I was overwhelmed with the color of the water, the accuracy of the driver, and the amazing grottoes themselves. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first guided tour, and it had a great variety of experiences and locations, form ancient ruins and museums, to boat rides, and food experiences. All the hotels were comfortable and well located. We enjoyed the two free days on the Amalfi coast and Sorrento. Caterina was nothing short of exceptional - she was engaging, upbeat, and great at problem solving when there were unexpected hiccups.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many, but two standouts were the cave hotel in Matera and the boat ride in Vieste. "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

The tour started off very slow and boring for me but switched on at Matera.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Matera's old town area is charming! Standing on the terrace outside our cave/room first thing in the morning and looking out over the hillside with its interlocking building complex was amazing."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Vieste! The boat ride was really great! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was well organized (both by Rick Steves staff and our Guide, Vanessa), and Vanessa added a great deal of enthusiasm to the tour, making it a fun, inclusive experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Dinner at a small restaurant right across from the hotel in Matera, which offered a wonderful meal and experience for no more than 20 people. So small, intimate, and very unique."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The sights that we saw were outstanding but the amount of people in many cities and some of the tour areas was not pleasant to me. I am hard of hearing with hearing aids. Since the guides are local, I had trouble understanding them with all the background noise when the microphone was clipped to their shirt. If they held the microphone and spoke into it, I could understand most of what they said as the guide did in Naples during the tour of the archaeological museum.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The boat tour out of Viesta where we went along the Adriatic coast and into some of the caves carved into the limestone by the sea. Pompeii and then the archaeological museum where many of the treasures of Pompeii where stored was also very exciting but the crowds were a drag."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I was disappointed that so many tour members were sick, and not masking while we were in close contact. I unfortunately got sick when I returned home. Our Tour guide tried to set an example by wearing her mask, but did not enforce it until we were midway through the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have two wow moments, The San Severo Museo marble carving of Jesus covered in lace, as well as our Tour of Pompeii. Both tours left me speechless and in awe."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide, food and people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"truly experiencing Pompei"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour manager, Vanessa, was outstanding. She was very outgoing and her enthusiasm was contagious. Many places we visited in this tour would be difficult to get to by oneself due to lack of railroads and the need to drive steep, windy roads. I was very glad to be in the capable hands of Massimo, our driver. I especially appreciated the two days we had to “take a vacation from your vacation”. I loved Vanessa’s little “surprises” she had for us!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beautiful town of Vieste. I loved the sea caves boat tour and exploring this whitewashed town that jutted into the Adriatic. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Delightful guide, great group, fantastic weather, something new to discover daily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Swimming in the beaches, festival in Vieste, folk music and dance Naples"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was an excellent tour of southern Italy, specifically for us, the Gargano Pennisula and the Amalfi coastline! The local guides where amazing and our group was very compatible and a lot of fun to travel with. The food and wine were excellent, and the home cooked dinner in Sorrento was delicious!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This was our 8th Rick Steves tour and without a doubt our "WOW" moment was our guide Vaneesa! Her love of being a guide, her knowledge, humor, diplomacy, planning, patience were all outstanding! Vaneesa made this tour for us, and we will always remember her when we reflect on Southern Italy! Thank you again!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Nice balance of guided vs free time. Vanessa was excellent. Appreciated the group size limited to 26. Hotels were nice.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Pompei and Paestum were stops worthy of “wow”. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Vanessa was a fabulous guide - energetic, upbeat, knowledgeable, funny, kind. The locations were beautiful, the other tour members friendly, the hotels fine, the food delicious. I was so glad to have a chance to see a bit of Puglia and to finally get to Pompeii. I liked staying in Maiori on the Amalfi Coast as it was less frenetic than some of the other towns there. I appreciated our two free days on the Amalfi Coast and in Sorrento. I also enjoyed the big cities of Rome and Naples.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Opening my window in the Matera hotel and seeing a panoramic view of the caves and buildings built into the ravine. Other amazing views along both sea coasts, and through the mountains. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first RS tour, and we definitely will book again. Everything was well organized, the lodging was good, and we enjoyed the guides and attractions we saw. The orientation walks at each new location were helpful when we had free time. Enjoyed having the free time on our own to do things independently, as well. The balance of group activity vs free time was good. Group meals have an opportunity to get to know others in our group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The viewpoint at Matera, it looked like we were in Jerusalem! and the exploring of the Gorge were a highlight. To see the recently unearthed frescos in the archaeological excavation also made quite an impression. And, the tour & guide Gitano at Pompeii were informative and entertaining. Lastly, the family hosted dinner was the best food! My husband was singing Volare on the way back to the hotel, and he never sings…maybe it was the wine. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This tour encompasses a nice variety of experiences: Roman and Greek ruins, museums and art, food, sea, cities, smaller towns, hiking opportunities, and shopping opportunities. Like so many places in Europe these days, some areas definitely felt over-touristed and nearly unmanageable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the power and beauty of the sea and the rocky coast; also, there were poppies almost everywhere at this time of year, which were just lovely. But the wow moment had to be the sculptures in Naples' Cappella Sansevero. Had I not seen these works for myself, I'd have said it was impossible to do what these sculptors did with marble."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great location of the hotels! Hoteliers were very responsive to our needs, and appreciated our business, often going out of their way to improve our experience. Beatrice was a marvel! Knowledgeable, fluent, problem solved. Just great! The local guides were totally awesome. Massimo, our bus driver, was super! I can't imagine handling a car on those roads, or in that traffic, let alone a tour bus!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The dinner at the house of Teresa and Luigi (I hope I got that right) near Sorrento, was fabulous! It helped us connect with a greater understanding of Italian life by interacting over food."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Beatrice was a wonderful guide, and she made everything very clear and easy. The local guides were also outstanding, and I learned a great deal on this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The boat cave tour at Vieste. It was breathtaking."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great tour! The local guides were so informative and I learned so much about each site we visited. It was very active with all the cobblestones and lots of stairs but doable if you're in good shape. All the hotels were good. The thermal baths in Matera were fun, but you really had to talk in whispers or get into trouble! Food was pretty consistently great even at the 'rest stops' along the way. We had a nice group of people as well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Not one in particular, just the overall amazing views and sights from each stop. Pompeii and museum tours were outstanding."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic friendly tour of S Italy, with wonderful choices of towns, hotels, and restaurants, unforgettable expert guides, and new lifelong friends. Two night stays were great, free time was very important, and encouragement to meet everyone, and chat with locals, trying the language, was a blast. Lucky with weather, and the bus and driver Massimo were so comfy and reassuring.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tie for Ravello’ s Villa Cimbrone garden and view, and the view from our room in Vieste. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour introduced me to things and sights that have not done or seen before.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Looking down the coast line from Villa Rufolo, Sorrento, i saw such beautiful blue water ocean, red roof houses and green grass along the coast."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful trip. Guide (BeA) was super! Local guides outstanding. Group melded well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every day had a wow moment. Enjoyed Matera and Pompeii probably the most. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was an excellent overview of Southern Italy- combining archaeological sites like Pompeii and Paestum, with art and beautiful scenery on the Amalfi Coast and in Sorrento. Our guide Bea kept the group on track, telling us about Italian history and culture. The local guides were also excellent on the walking tours and at the major archaeological sites.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"An optional four and a half mile hike along the Amalfi Coast called Path of the Gods that Bea helped arrange for us. We saw spectacular views and ended in Positano and Amalfi for lunch and delicious pastries. Another great day was a trip to Hadrian’s Villa outside of Rome. We had an excellent local guide who explained the history and architecture of the site."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. This was our 5th Tour with Rick Steves' Europe, and high expectations set in the previous 4 were pretty well met, once again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We booked a Mondo Guides tour of Capri for our free day in Sorento, and had a completely fun and wonderful day...this was the biggest wow moment, but not the only one."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Our guide Marianna was awesome! Would have loved an extra day in Sorrento and one less day in Naples since there isn't a lot to love in Naples. Skip the Naples local tour and just do the archeological museum. Out of the 5 RS tours done this was the least favorite. Rome is too crowded and Naples just not worth it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved our Pompeii tour and guide Guitano. Matera was pretty impressive too."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Marianna is a wonderful guide and took great care of the group. I enjoyed all the towns that we stayed in. The history, the food and the people were amazing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We felt very lucky that the weather was good and we were able to go out for the boat ride in Vieste. I had fun petting the water buffalo and the lunch was delicious.Touring Pompeii with local guide Gaetano, and then seeing the items that were excavated in the museum in Naples. The mosaics, glass and silver works were so beautiful. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Beautiful what more can you say, sorry delicious the food too. Nice bus nice weather, Katerina was very good, the trainee was good, your basic Rick Steves tour, excellent!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Ravello was my wow moment. After visiting the town we went to lunch in the far garden site. Upstairs is the view of the whole coast and excellent foot and fantastic service. I think a few of us had a 2 hour lunch up there. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This trip was favored with great people, good weather, smooth connections and attractions that exceeded expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Taking in the view from the balcony of our room in Vieste"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Saw many interesting things that I was not familiar with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was most impressed with visiting the cave house in the Sassi area. Quite impressive to see where and how people lived thousands of years ago."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a wonderful tour experience. The group was very compatible, our guides - Katarina and apprentice Andrea - were outstanding. There is so much to see in this underappreciated area of Italy and I'm grateful to have gotten the chance to do so with this group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Francesca in Rome is always a "wow" moment. Also, our hotel on the Adriatic, so much good food, and our tour of Pompeii. But the top "wow" was seeing and staying in the Sassi in Matera. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our overall guide and local guides were all very good. The exception was our guide in Naples She droned on and on and was just not interesting. Also, the day was very long and not well thought out.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Pompeii ! A magical experience with a very good guide. Second place goes to all the scenery of the Amalfi Coast! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall, it was a great adventure. I do have some suggestions for improvements so hopefully I will have an opportunity to share those. Marianna was a great guide and the other members of the group were like minded travelers which is always a bonus.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The best WOW moment of the trip was the Blue Grotto which was not on the tour but we are thankful we decided to go there. As far as the tour, I would say it was the boat ride in Vieste since it was amazing to be inside them and we got drenched which was memorable."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a very lovely tour of southern Italy. I liked the itinerary. It covered all the things I wanted to see including ancient sites, villages, and cities. The tour guide was excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Pompeii. How can you not get blown away by the vastness of this site. The local guide was fantastic. I can't imagine how he does this every day with so much enthusiasm. He really made the ancient streets hum with life."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour covered a wide variety of sites each offering a different taste of Italy. The guide Marianna was excellent. A great fun tour group. This is an active tour with a new surprise at every stop.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Pompeii was incredible, the boat ride on the Amalfi coast and the dinner with the local family was a wonderful experience."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

For me the tour was very good, but not outstanding as I rated all my previous RS tours. Our tour guide Marianna was fantastic and the group was fun and good company. We saw a lot of amazing sites, but some of the locations were a bit too tourist oriented. The 3 seaside towns we stayed in were charming, but not as captivating as other parts of the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Matera was fascinating and so beautiful. Loved our boat ride in Vieste and getting splashed as we headed for the grottos. I also really enjoyed our home cooked meal with Teresa and her beautiful family, plus the sing-along on our ride home. Also loved the Archeological museum in Naples."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were able to see much of southern Italy, eat great food, and enjoy great company!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Sitting on a rooftop terrace in Sorrento overlooking the bay, having a spritz."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Saw a lot, learnt a lot, great guides and food and lodging.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The sculpture of shrouded Christ at the museum San severo in Naples "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful experience exploring southern Italy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It had been a life goal to see the Amalfi coast. My favorite “wow” moment was on the top deck of the water ferry and watching as Positano slowly appeared! The gorgeous city looked to be dripping down the hillside and into the water! So memorable!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour had everything! Beautiful settings, history, delicious food, and a merry band of travelers to share it all with!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to count. Walking through Pompeii, with Gaetano bringing it to life! Hotel overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, boat ride along the Amalfi Coast, and the largest lemons we've ever seen in Sorrento!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was just wonderful. I'm all about the food, wine and shopping. Our tour group was the best. Like Rick says, no grumpy people. Our tour guide Marianna always referred to food in her talks so I was a happy camper.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The boat ride from Salerno to the Amalfi Coast. Our captain gave us an extra ride to the tip of the Amalfi Coast. So pretty...And of coarse Pompeii."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour guide was very good and we had a great variety of experiences throughout the tour. It seems as though more could have been provided; lots of free time and there was no dinner in Matera even though the itinerary said there would be. Our guide made good use of the time on the bus providing us with cultural information and the frequent stops were appreciated. The food was mostly good but not as good as we had expected considering Italy’s culinary reputation.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lots of wow moments on this trip. Arriving at the ancient city of Matera was an incredible experience. We had never seen anything like it before. Touring Pompei with our excellent local guide was also quite amazing."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

The tour guide (Marianna) was great, not that much the local tour guides. Most of the places visited were really nice, beautiful sea side, breathtaking views and friendly locals. Unfortunately, Rome and Naples are overrated

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Pompeii was my “wow” place. It’s amazing to think and imagining how people lived there thousands years ago. Matera was also amazing; it’s incredible the living conditions of the people not to long ago "

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was my first experience on a tour. The fellow travelers were all so nice. Our guide Ann was an amazing leader that added great personal experiences to the information that made it fun to digest the vast amounts of knowledge she shared with us. Gaetano (our Pompeii guide) was excellent too. He is very energetic and you can see he loves Pompeii. Francesca (our Rome guide) was every bit as knowledgeable as she is on the show with Rick.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was really looking forward to the tour of Pompeii and the castings of the citizens caught up in the disaster have always interested me. Gaetano did not disappoint in describing daily life for the Pompeii citizens."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The entire trip was magical.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Pompeii, the tour was exhalent. I had been anticipating a good tour, but the guide made the tour exhalant. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

In addition to seeing actual statues and mosaics that were pictured in my Latin textbooks so long ago, I savored the smaller towns where we stayed and the people we met there. Ann, our tour guide was wonderful, and the local guides always selected the more important art, etc, providing real insights to increase our understanding. I will always remember the Vieste pharmacist, who spoke little English, helping me buy bandaids and then leaving his shop to help us buy a sun hat for my husband.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many "wow" moments! Vibrant frescos still being unearthed in Pompeii were spectacular. Cone-shaped trulli houses in Alberobello were cute, but the ancient cave houses of the Sassi of Matera were truly amazing. The rock-hewn cave church with its layered frescos was unique. And I'll never forget petting the water buffalo at the mozzarella farm and watching one cow amble over to enjoy the body scrub, smiling as the brushes went over both sides of her head before moving on to her sides. "

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

Too much time spent on the local tours, it could have been done in 30 minutes, but it took them two hours to three hours. We could all be free in the museums and meet up at the end for a certain time

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I did not have any, but I did enjoy the Rome stop"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

1st RS/group tour (tho' 30 year fan). Good balance of scheduled & free time; caring & convivial group - no drama queens;/kings. Ann kept us organized & informed; Hotels in great locations; Local guides, especially Francesca (Rome) and Gaetano (Pompeii), did an amazing job of conveying their expertise & passion for the subject & love of their city; Aurelio, our dapper bus driver with a steady, calm hand on the wheel, and impressive quality of the group dining, all made for a wonderful experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The experiences! Viesti: boat & cave tour. Rooms with a View: Viesti balcony over the Adriactic; Matera cave room overlooking the ancient town. Our Big Night Dinner in Sorrento where 3 generations graciously welcomed us for a delightful homemade meal & wine. Surprising little things felt very special often eliciting an emotional response and/or a cerebral opera aria."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well informed guides and the tour made the most of every minute I was in Italy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Francesca and her insight regarding Rome. I thought I knew many things about Rome, it's monuments and art, but she took everything to the next level. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Sarah was great and our local guides were also outstanding. Our communal meals were all at good restaurants and our meal with a local family was fantastic and lots of fun. The itinerary was well thought out and covered both coasts.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Amalfi Coast and our hike up the Lemon Tree Path in Maiori was magical."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As expected based on our previous Rick Steves Tours, this was an exceptionally well put together and orchestrated tour. Our guide, Sarah, was superb, the other tour members were wonderful travel companions, and the balance between group and self-directed time was just right. The hotels and group meals were all wonderful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Pompeii, the grottos and sunrise in Vieste, the Sassi homes and hotel in Matera"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent. As always, organized. Clear instructions on meeting times and daily activities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The concert prior to our final dinner in Napoli. Talented performers who have remodeled a former taxi space to an intimate venue. Always love music."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed the tour of south Italy immensely. I learned so much about the history and culture of the region.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would have to say my WOW moment was learning how to appreciate art and the ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome."

Overall I loved this tour. I enjoyed seeing another side of Italy. Several of the towns we visited I probably would not have seen if we were doing this on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment was walking out on to the balcony of our room located in the Sassi area of Matera and seeing how this area was built. One can not describe the amazing view. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Sarah, our thoughtful and available tour guide, provided many personal insights into the Italian culture. She gave great recommendations for places to eat or visit during our down time. She (and Uncle Rick) treated us to a fun Limoncello Spritz happy hour in Maiori with savoy and sweet pastries. Paola shared her experiences as a student in the Italian school system. Giuseppe skillfully drove our large bus on winding, cliff hugging roads & always greeted us with a welcoming smile.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Francesca, passionately sharing her love of Rome & its living history. The scent of orange blossoms on Vieste’s light & lovely streets with stunning sunrises and our beautiful boat tour that slipped in and out of blue grottoes. The thrill of seeing the Sassi, in Matera, & floating in our hotel’s underground pool. I loved sleeping in the cave room, with the windows opened on the city, trying to imagine the lives and dreams of the people who carved out & inhabited this same space centuries ago."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excellent guide, couldn’t have been better. Specific tour guides were knowledgeable and engaging. Hotels excellent, planned group meals very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Pompei"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastico! Sarah , our primary guide was great. She was informative, organized , personable , and approachable. The intinerary was well planned and had a perfect balance of group and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many wonderful memories. If I had to pick one, I’d say the private boat ride in Vieste. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was outstanding. Our guide, Sarah, is exceptional at her job. The other tour members were friendly and fun. There were so many remarkable experiences on this tour. We enjoyed them all!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many wow moments. The Vieste boat tour and the many grottos come to mind. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Highlights: Vieste, Matera so interesting - almost hard to believe the town's story, boat ride from Salerno to Maori - loved the geography, Pompeii

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Looking out over the Adriatic from the Hotel Sego."