Immerse yourself in the enchanting allure of Italy and France. Experience the rich history, culture, and beauty of these two iconic countries. Uncover fascinating tales about ancient ruins, magnificent cathedrals, and charming villages tucked away from the usual tourist paths. With an expert local guide leading the way, you’ll gain insights into each destination’s unique character and cultural significance. This immersive experience allows you to truly connect with the heart and soul of Italy and France.
Popular Itineraries for France & Italy Tours
Although every tour we build is unique, there are some popular routes and itineraries that we are asked for frequently. Our sample itineraries provide some ideas for you to consider as a basis for your own private tour combining time in both Italy and France. Whether you’re keen on exploring the enchanting streets of Paris or wandering through the vineyards of Tuscany, there’s something for everyone. Imagine strolling along the sun-soaked Amalfi Coast in Italy one day and marveling at the iconic Eiffel Tower in France the next. These tours offer an array of experiences that cater to different interests and preferences.
For each of these itineraries you can get a rough idea of the price using the Price Guide function. We cover many more destinations than those listed in these popular itineraries combining France and Italy. Our expert trip planners will work with you to incorporate any places in Italy and France you want to go.
* Starting price is per person, based on double occupancy in 3 star accommodation, in the most affordable month an itinerary is offered. Airfare to Europe is not included.
Click on your choice of itinerary, select number of travelers in your party, month of travel, and desired star level of accommodation to get an approximate price. Submit the enquiry form with any additional details and we can start planning your customized trip.
France & Italy Tour Reviews
Our Italy & France tour packages provide a hassle-free way to see both these captivating countries. We take care of all the details. All you have to worry about is enjoying the one-of-a-kind experiences that will make this the vacation of a lifetime. Below you’ll find some recent testimonials from guests who have visited Italy and France with our help recently.
Every tour was better than the previous. The entire trip was just perfect. We are so grateful to Art and our amazing local contacts. We had no concerns or fears because we knew information and support was just a text away!
Visited : France, Italy
Itinerary : Paris, Florence, Rome
Rating :
If you want to have an amazing vacation without all the stress that goes into the planning and worries of something going wrong and having no recourse you need JayWay Travel! JayWay truly listened to everything my family wanted in our vacation and delivered a beautiful and memorable experience!
Visited : France, Italy
Itinerary : Paris, Florence, Venice, Monopoli, Otranto, Rome
Rating :
Using Jayway helped with the ease of planning and anxiety of traveling to a different country. The access to a local representative was very reassuring and comforting. We were able to just relax and enjoy or trip. Everything went smoothly and we made it back home safe. We had a beautiful trip.
Visited : France, Italy
Itinerary : Paris, Venice, Rome, Positano
Rating :
France & Italy: A Perfect Pairing
These European neighbors have much in common; breathtaking landscapes, beautiful coastlines, bustling capitals and cuisines that both countries are rightly proud of. However you choose to divide your time, and whatever your interests and priorities for your trip, we will craft a perfectly balanced custom itinerary for you.
Culinary Rivals
It’s no secret that the Italians and French enjoy a delicious rivalry. Whether the contest is in cheeses (Italy has nearly 10 times more varieties than France), world-renowned wines or anything else comestible, there’s a battle to be won. As our guest in both countries we will show you the very best, from expert-led cheese-tasting classes to family-owned winery visits, to reservations for the finest Michelin-starred degustation menus.
Just want to hit the highlights?
If you want to hit the main hotspots, you could start your trip in Rome, the eternal city. Here you can visit the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, Roman Forum and many more archeological sites of Ancient Rome. Picture yourself in Florence’s historical center, the cradle of the renaissance, where you can admire the signature Duomo, Michelangelo’s David at the Uffizi and stroll across the Ponte Vecchio, or St Mark’s Square in Venice, the iconic floating city. A quick flight to Nice places you squarely on the French Riviera, from where you can easily stroll La Croisette in Cannes and roll the dice in a Monaco casino. The lavender fields of Provence are the backdrop for the next stage of your adventure. Then finish your trip in the City of Light, Paris. See the Old Masters in the Louvre and the Musee d’Orsay, and while away your final evening in a cozy brasserie, enjoying your last taste of Europe. Until next time.
Or dig deeper?
But that’s just the beginning of the story and our knowledge of both these countries goes much deeper than that. Normandy, the site of the D-Day landings, is of great importance to many of our guests. The Loire Valley is scattered with stunning castles and picturesque vineyards. Alsace, and its capital Strasbourg will show you yet another side of France. In Italy, a stop in the beating red heart of Emilia Romagna, Bologna, is a must for foodies and car lovers alike. The Amalfi Coast gets all the press, but over on the Adriatic coast Puglia delivers a more laid back coastal experience. Sicily is an essential if you’re interested in antiquity, rich as it is in ancient Greek temples and more. Check out all the destinations we offer in France and Italy.
You’re in the best hands
Our Italy and France expert travel advisors and trip planners will work with you to create your dream vacation itinerary. You’ll stay at the very best hotels, apartments, even farmstays. You choose how you want to spend your days, either enjoying day trips and city tours with our trusted partners or taking a day off to wander on your own. Before you arrive and during your trip our on-the-ground staff in both France and Italy are on hand by phone or email for any help you need. With staff in both countries, we’re perfectly placed to create the most memorable trip you’ve ever experienced.
Why Travel with JayWay?
You only travel somewhere for the first time once. By taking a custom tailored trip you get a seamless trip, to your choice of destinations and at your own pace, planned by professionals and supported by locals on the ground in Europe.
Save Precious Time
Planning an amazing trip takes time. Our friendly travel advisors and experienced trip planners will listen to your needs and craft your personal dream itinerary. We will maximize your vacation time and enjoyment – we know the best way to get around and how to spend your hard-earned time off.
Have Peace of Mind
You’re in safe hands from the very beginning. Even before you arrive your dedicated tour manager in Europe will be in touch to help you prepare. When you arrive they’ll meet you and be available by phone, email and IM for the rest of your journey with us, for anything you need.
Make Memories Forever
Travel can create memories that last a lifetime. You’ll return home with indelible recollections of beautiful sunsets, magical vistas, fascinating stories, and meals so delicious you’ll want to fly back every time you think of them. This is why we do what we do.
Frequently Asked Questions about Travel to France & Italy
Most of our guests travel to Italy and France from the US by air, unless they are already traveling in a neighboring country.
Starting in Rome, Paris or Venice makes sense, depending on your route. Buying an open jaw ticket is usually only a little more than a standard return and we’ll include any intra-European flights in your package. Our travel advisors will help you pick the best flights for your itinerary.
It very much depends on your priorities. If you want to visit the most famous places then Rome, Florence, Venice, Paris, Provence and the French Riviera might be top of your list. If you’ve been to Italy before but not to France, we can arrange a trip combining lesser known Italian destinations such as Bologna, Siena or Lucca with France’s most popular destinations such as Paris, Nice, Lyon and Normandy. Wherever takes your fancy, we can build an itinerary around anything that’s on your must-see list.
Absolutely! That’s the whole point of working with a custom tour operator like us. We’ll work with you to tailor the perfect trip for you, so you can be sure you have enough time to see what you want, without having to worry about any of the details like how do you get to the train station, or making reservations at a local restaurant. We take care of all of that!
Our tour packages are designed to make touring Italy & France effortless. From working with our travel advisors and expert trip planners to craft your ideal itinerary, to the moment you get on the plane to return home, we will take care of everything. Your custom tour package will include accommodation, airport transfers and any kind of transportation between destinations, walking tours, day trips, and most importantly the support of our local staff in Europe. They’ll be in touch with you before your trip to finalize any details, and when you land we’ll give you a local SIM so you can be in touch by phone, email or instant messsage. It’s like having a tour director, but still traveling “independently”.
Our Italy and France packages start from around $350 per person per day. The largest element is often accommodation, but private full day tours can increase the cost. All our sample itineraries have a price guide function to give you an idea of the cost for different levels of accommodation, month of travel and number of travelers.
No. As our tours are completely customized to you, you choose the dates, and destinations you want to visit.
The best time of year for your trip will depend on what you want to do. Italy can be a great place to travel year round. France’s many climate zones mean that mild weather can be found most of the year, but locals tend to leave the cities in peak summer, heading for the coast or mountains. If you want to swim then you should travel between mid June and mid October. If you are more interested in sightseeing and avoiding the hottest time of year then mid July and August could be too warm for you. High season on the islands and in coastal destinations like Amalfi or the French Riviera is the opposite in the cities, so while July and August are the most expensive times of year to travel to summer hotspots, the cities, provided the heat doesn’t bother you, can be a good deal.
We can arrange rental cars for all or part of the trip, but bear in mind that dropping off a rental in another country incurs high one-way fees and taking a car on a ferry adds significantly to the cost. Your JayWay trip planner can arrange for separate rentals where needed so you can avoid unnecessary expenses and have the freedom to get around by car when you need. In France or Italy’s countryside in particular a car is useful. Should your trip be mostly city-based, then trains and private transfers will be much more convenient.
Among all the guided tours we offer in Italy and France, many of our most popular are culinary-based, whether food tours or cooking classes, but it’s impossible to overlook the importance of seeing the main sites like the Vatican (especially early in the morning before the crowds arrive), or the Colosseum, and in Paris, the Louvre. Visiting these sites on a private or small group tour will make the experience much more rewarding.
Absolutely. Your itinerary will be customized to your wishes. You don’t have to fill every day and we encourage leaving some free time aside simply to appreciate the destinations you’re visiting. Getting lost in Venice’s narrow streets, with just the occasional glimpse of St Mark’s Campanile and encounter with the Grand Canal to guide you, is part of the fun!
We don’t sell cruises of France and Italy. We believe you enjoy a far richer experience by spending as much time as possible on land, soaking up the culture and enjoying the local cuisine, while taking part in a more responsible type of travel. So many of the riches of both countries lay far from cruise ports that to try and visit on a cruise would short-change you on the delights you should be enjoying.
This is mostly a question of how many places you want to see. Each time you move to another destination, you’ll spend half a day traveling. For this reason we recommend three nights in most destinations. Fewer destinations means less time and money spent moving between them, and more time soaking up the atmosphere and seeing the sights.
There are train connections between Northern Italy and France. Milan to Nice takes about 5 hours and requires one change of plane. Add on 3 and a half hours if traveling from Venice, making a flight a quicker option. One of our favourite train options takes you along the coast from Nice to Cinque Terre in about four hours.
The quickest way to travel between Italy and France is by air. Flights between major tourist destinations in both countries are quick (maximum 2 hours) and relatively cheap thanks to lots of low-cost airlines providing service. We can include these intra-European flights in your vacation package to simplify your planning.
Yes, thankfully the Euro is the currency of both Italy and France, so any coins and banknotes you have left after the first country can be used in the second.