• Crowd at Trevi fountain, Rome

October Tour News

Hi from Rick: Embracing Italy’s Bella Chaos

Yes, Italy is my favorite country in Europe. It's an inviting piazza of memories waiting to be yours: An intimate moment with a Botticelli, learning how tasty a tomato can be, becoming a regular at the corner bar after your second caffè macchiato, and blushing at how much romance local lovers can pack onto a Vespa. Immersed in such bella chaos, where conversations are issimo (Italian slang for "over-the-top") and any pasta can be a party, you realize there's a good reason for Italy's tourist crowds.

Sure, Italy's greatest cities — Venice, Florence, and Rome — are crowded these days. And Rome will be busier than ever in 2025, as the pope's declared it a Jubilee Year and invited his flock from around the globe to the Vatican on a pilgrimage of peace and hope… Read more

In this issue


Young couple in Piazza Signoria, Florence

Slideshow: The Best of Venice, Florence & Rome, Day by Day

Italy's three greatest cities are like fine gelato — why settle for just one flavor if you can get three scoops at once? This tour takes you from Venice's timeless St. Mark's Square and Basilica… Read more


Raves About Touring Italy’s Great Cities

Italy is overflowing with art, history, culture — and flat-out fun! So, when it comes to its three greatest cities — Venice, Florence, and Rome — you don't need to take our word for it… Read more


Italy guide Cecelia Bottai

Meet Our Talented Italy Guides

All our Italy tours are led by a remarkable team of hand-picked guides, who expertly turn Italy's buffet of travel delights into an unforgettable experience. To help you get acquainted, here's what… Read more


Italy guide Francesca Caruso headshot from video

Video: Digging into the Layers of Rome

Rick’s favorite local guide in Rome, Francesca Caruso, talks about why she loves sharing her passion for her hometown with Rick Steves tour members and how digging into the many layers of Rome… Watch the video


Lessons of Fascism in Europe

Join us Oct. 21 for this special Election 2024 edition of Monday Night Travel, as Rick takes us on a thought-provoking trip that goes back a century to track the rise of fascism in Europe… Register