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Lucca, Portofino & the Cinque Terre

Escorted Tour
8 days from
£1859 pp
based on 2 people sharing
View dates & prices

No distance separates Lucca and Pisa from Portofino, the Cinque Terre, and Genoa; however, the treasures they offer create a diverse experience.
 

In Pisa’s Square of the Miracles there’s the Leaning Tower, cathedral and baptistry, but much less well known are the colourful villages that cling to the Ligurian coastline.

Take in two of Italy’s most desirable regions: Tuscany and the Italian Riviera. They’re delightfully different from each other, but both are evocatively scenic. First, we visit Tuscany, always a favourite destination for art, architecture and stunning countryside, staying in Lucca, the birthplace of Puccini. It’s one of Tuscany’s most graceful towns, with a historic quarter nestling inside preserved Renaissance walls. Then discover Porto Venere, the Cinque Terre’s unspoilt villages with their riot of colour, and Portofino’s stunning harbour, plus of course Genoa, with its fascinating mix of medieval alleyways and imposing Palazzi.

This Italy tour offers contrasting cultures, centuries of history and ravishing landscapes, all crying out to be discovered. 

At a glance

  • 7 nights in four-star superior accommodation
  • Return flights & transfers
  • Expert Tour Manager
  • Checked luggage
  • Daily breakfast & 3 dinners
  • 7 included experiences
  • New smaller group sizes for 2025 & 2026*

*Maximum of 36 on a classic tour and maximum of 26 on a signature tour.

Offers

Make the most of having Europe on your doorstep - save up to £150 on select 2025 departures!

Hurry - availability is limited, and it's first come, first served.

The price has already been discounted, check the availability table and secure your holiday!

View our new lower prices on European tours in 2025

What's better than exploring worldwide destinations for the first time? Doing it all with your friends. You and nine or more of your friends or family can travel for less with our group offer, available on all tours, ocean and yacht cruises, and river cruises of 6 nights or less. 

Choose to receive 10% off your group’s booking costs back or one free place – simply call 01283 901216 and speak to a member of our dedicated groups team.  

Read more about this groups offer

Your itinerary

Airline map of arrivals and departures in Italy
Day
1

Arrival in Lucca

Fly to Lucca and transfer to your hotel on arrival.

Day
2

Lucca & free afternoon

Hear the fascinating tales of Lucca's history on a guided tour, and then spend the afternoon exploring at your leisure.

The Walls of Lucca in medieval city Lucca, Italy
Guided tour of Lucca
Free afternoon in Lucca

Lucca

After breakfast we take a tour with a local guide who will bring the story of Lucca to life. The city was founded by the Etruscans, and its well-preserved walls date from the Renaissance. As we explore the centre, you’ll notice the rectangular grid pattern which originated with the street plan of Roman times, while the oval Roman amphitheatre is another evocative reminder of millennia past.

Free afternoon in Lucca

This afternoon you can experience more of Lucca’s wonders, exploring its cobbled streets, strolling along its shady promenades and relaxing in its elegant piazzas. As the birthplace of Puccini, Lucca hosts numerous concerts celebrating his work. You can often hear talented vocalists during rehearsals, which adds a wonderful acoustic dimension to your enjoyment of this beautiful city.

Day
3

Pisa & free afternoon

Travel to Pisa for a guided tour, then return to Lucca for an afternoon at leisure before a delicious Tuscan-inspired meal at a local restaurant.

A low ground shot of the leaning tower of Pisa and the Campo dei Miracoli building, Italy
Guided tour of Pisa
Free afternoon in Lucca
Evening meal at a local restaurant serving Tuscan cuisine

Pisa

After breakfast, it’s just a short drive to Pisa for a guided tour that takes you to the heart of this historic city.

You’ll marvel at how such a relatively small space can accommodate such magnificence. The Leaning Tower – one of the world’s most instantly recognisable silhouettes – is your iconic introduction to the rest of the piazza.

We conclude our visit with the Camposanto, a huge cemetery reputed to contain soil from Golgotha – the site of Jesus’s crucifixion. The great and good of Pisan society wanted to be laid to rest in holy ground and the arched Gothic cloister is lined by sarcophagi and huge frescoes, some in the process of being restored to their former glory.

Free afternoon in Lucca

In the afternoon we return to Lucca for you to relax or explore at your leisure.

This evening we dine at a local restaurant serving traditional Tuscan cuisine.

Day
4

Porto Venere

Drive north past Carrara’s enormous gleaming quarries to the picturesque village of Porto Venere, and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

View of Porto Venere harbour, Italy
Visit Porto Venere
Lunch in a local restaurant at Porto Venere

Stay at Grand Hotel Savoia

Our morning drive north takes us past Carrara’s enormous gleaming quarries, source of the finest marble, which has been used in masterpieces by sculptors from Michelangelo to Henry Moore and fashioned since Roman times into the great monuments now dotted across Italy’s landscapes and beyond. Our exploration of the extraordinarily arresting coast of Liguria brings us to the Gulf of the Poets, an evocative name for an inspiring area.

One of its highlights is the picturesque village of Porto Venere, its fortress high on the hillside overlooking an array of colourful multi-storeyed houses lining the harbour. A stroll along the promenade reveals a network of narrow medieval lanes leading to the church and castle. We will enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before continuing to Genoa, where we stay for the rest of the tour.

Day
5

Genoa

Wander the medieval streets of Genoa on a guided tour, then spend the afternoon at leisure.

View of Genoa seaport with yachts in Genoa, Italy
Guided tour of Genoa
Free afternoon in Genoa

This morning we enjoy a guided tour of Genoa, followed by free time in the afternoon. Known as 'La Superba' at the height of its maritime power, Genoa was one of Italy's four major maritime republics and it is still home to Italy's largest Port.

We start exploring the heart of Medieval Genoa, famous for its narrow lanes called 'caruggi', interspersed with imposing late-Renaissance palaces built by Genoa's wealthiest families in the 16th and 17th century. Today, it is a vibrant and eclectic city with so much to offer, from the regenerated port area or ornate palazzi and museums.

Day
6

Cinque Terre

Spend the next two days exploring the charming villages of the surrounding coastline by boat.

Colourful buildings along the cliffside of Cinque Terre over the Mediterranean sea
Visit the Cinque Terre by boat

We spend the next two days exploring the splendours of the surrounding coastline in the manner to which local people have been accustomed for millennia – by boat. Our private charter takes us to the extraordinary Cinque Terre, which translates as ‘Five Lands’. We visit a selection of these five villages – Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore – cut off from the landward side by rugged terrain and steep coastline, making them almost unreachable by car. The dramatic locations, the vivid colours and the way the villages seem to fuse organically with the rugged topography make this one of Europe’s principal scenic highlights. Seafood dominates menus here, anchovies being a local speciality, while steeply terraced hillsides produce fine olives and the ingredients for pesto. Immerse yourself in your surroundings and a lifestyle that has changed very little over time

Day
7

Portofino

Set sail for Portofino, enjoying the beautiful vistas as we cruise along, before returning to Genoa for an afternoon at leisure.

Aerial view of the Portofino Village on the Ligurian Coast of Italy
Sail to Portofino
Free afternoon in Genoa

You can watch fine watercraft quietly going about their business on the shimmering waters as we sail the short distance to Portofino. Arriving here by boat gives you a real sense of the way in which this historic fishing village established itself and thrived around its own superb natural harbour, with a setting of cypress trees and olive groves. A walk to the headland offers a life-affirming view and the scents of thyme, pine and wildflowers hanging heavy in the air.

We return to Genoa in the afternoon, where you will have a bit more free time to enjoy this intriguing coastal city, or simply relax and seek out a local restaurant for dinner.

Day
8

Return home

Transfer to the airport for our flight home.

Hand-picked hotels

Exterior of the Grand Hotel Guinigi in Lucca, Italy

Grand Hotel Guinigi

Lucca, Italy

4 stars

Chosen as a wonderfully tranquil base for our tour.

Exterior of the Grand Hotel Savoia Genova in Italy

Grand Hotel Savoia

Genoa, Italy

4 stars

Chosen for its opulant historic decor and superb location close to Piazza Principe Station.

Extras & upgrades

Opt for a convenient door-to-door service with transport from your home to your choice of regional airport or train station, available as an added optional with every holiday. This can be added to your booking after you've booked online by our reservations team a call, or when you're booking over the phone.

Travel connections

All transfer times listed here are approximate, and dependent on traffic. If you have a question regarding transfer times please don't hesitate to contact us

Arrival airport or train stationFirst hotel locationTransfer time
Pisa AirportLucca40 mins
Final hotel locationDeparture airport or train stationTransfer time
GenovaPisa Airport2 hrs 30 mins

 

FAQs

The price of this holiday is per person based on two people sharing a twin room. Single rooms are subject to availability at the relevant supplement. The price includes: 

  • Return flights from a selection of regional airports, plus all hotel transfers
  • Seven nights in four-star and four-star superior accommodation inclusive of all local taxes, with breakfast and three dinners  (one will be taken at a local restaurant)
  • The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout

UK Citizens do not require a visa to enter Italy however must have a valid passport. For the most up-to-date passport and visa information visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy/entry-requirements

We are unable to accept responsibility if you are unable to travel because you have not complied with any passport/entry/immigration requirements.

Important note: Visiting the Cinque Terre and Portofino by boat is subject to weather conditions. If safety concerns mean we can’t sail to the Cinque Terre on Day 6, we’ll travel by rail instead, visiting a selection of villages. If we’re unable to sail to Portofino on Day 7, we’ll travel there by the only other method of transport allowed – local bus.  When assessing the weather, the captain’s decision to sail or not is final, so please consider this when booking this tour.

Fact File

  • Currency: Euro
  • Flight time: Approx. 2 hrs 20 mins
  • Language: Italian
  • Time zone: GMT+1
  • Country: Italy

The deposit for this holiday is £250pp, then the remaining balance of the holiday is due a minimum of 75 days before you depart.

holiday summary

Escorted Tour


8 days from

£1859 pp based on 2 people sharing

View dates & prices
8 days from
£1859 pp
based on 2 people sharing
View dates & prices

Availability

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We've found you 31 holidays

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  • Classic Tour
  • Signature Tour
Tour style Date Departs Departing from Accommodation Price from Call to action
Classic Tour
12 Apr 2025 06:00
  • Outbound:
    Date:
    12 Apr 2025
    Travelling with:
    Easyjet
    From:
    London Gatwick Airport
    Departure:
    06:00
    To:
    Pisa Airport
    Arrival:
    09:15
    Class:
    Flight - A - 23kg
  • Inbound:
    Date:
    19 Apr 2025
    Travelling with:
    Easyjet
    From:
    Pisa Airport
    Departure:
    12:40
    To:
    London Gatwick Airport
    Arrival:
    13:55
    Class:
    Flight - A - 23kg
Grand Hotel Guinigi 4* £1,859 pp Book now
Outbound:
Date:
12 Apr 2025
Travelling with:
Easyjet
From:
London Gatwick Airport
Departure:
06:00
To:
Pisa Airport
Arrival:
09:15
Class:
Flight - A - 23kg
Inbound:
Date:
19 Apr 2025
Travelling with:
Easyjet
From:
Pisa Airport
Departure:
12:40
To:
London Gatwick Airport
Arrival:
13:55
Class:
Flight - A - 23kg
Classic Tour
12 Apr 2025 10:05
  • Outbound:
    Date:
    12 Apr 2025
    Travelling with:
    Easyjet
    From:
    Manchester Airport
    Departure:
    10:05
    To:
    Pisa Airport
    Arrival:
    13:35
    Class:
    Flight - A - 23kg
  • Inbound:
    Date:
    19 Apr 2025
    Travelling with:
    Easyjet
    From:
    Pisa Airport
    Departure:
    14:10
    To:
    Manchester Airport
    Arrival:
    15:40
    Class:
    Flight - A - 23kg
Grand Hotel Guinigi 4* £1,859 pp Book now
Outbound:
Date:
12 Apr 2025
Travelling with:
Easyjet
From:
Manchester Airport
Departure:
10:05
To:
Pisa Airport
Arrival:
13:35
Class:
Flight - A - 23kg
Inbound:
Date:
19 Apr 2025
Travelling with:
Easyjet
From:
Pisa Airport
Departure:
14:10
To:
Manchester Airport
Arrival:
15:40
Class:
Flight - A - 23kg
Classic Tour
04 May 2025 06:30
  • Outbound:
    Date:
    04 May 2025
    Travelling with:
    Easyjet
    From:
    London Gatwick Airport
    Departure:
    06:30
    To:
    Pisa Airport
    Arrival:
    09:45
    Class:
    Flight - A - 23kg
  • Inbound:
    Date:
    11 May 2025
    Travelling with:
    Easyjet
    From:
    Pisa Airport
    Departure:
    10:25
    To:
    London Gatwick Airport
    Arrival:
    11:40
    Class:
    Flight - A - 23kg
Grand Hotel Guinigi 4* £1,899 pp Book now
Outbound:
Date:
04 May 2025
Travelling with:
Easyjet
From:
London Gatwick Airport
Departure:
06:30
To:
Pisa Airport
Arrival:
09:45
Class:
Flight - A - 23kg
Inbound:
Date:
11 May 2025
Travelling with:
Easyjet
From:
Pisa Airport
Departure:
10:25
To:
London Gatwick Airport
Arrival:
11:40
Class:
Flight - A - 23kg
Classic Tour
04 May 2025 17:20
  • Outbound:
    Date:
    04 May 2025
    Travelling with:
    Ryanair
    From:
    Birmingham Airport
    Departure:
    17:20
    To:
    Pisa Airport
    Arrival:
    20:35
    Class:
    Flight - A - 20kg
  • Inbound:
    Date:
    11 May 2025
    Travelling with:
    Ryanair
    From:
    Pisa Airport
    Departure:
    21:00
    To:
    Birmingham Airport
    Arrival:
    22:20
    Class:
    Flight - A - 20kg
Grand Hotel Guinigi 4* £1,899 pp Book now
Outbound:
Date:
04 May 2025
Travelling with:
Ryanair
From:
Birmingham Airport
Departure:
17:20
To:
Pisa Airport
Arrival:
20:35
Class:
Flight - A - 20kg
Inbound:
Date:
11 May 2025
Travelling with:
Ryanair
From:
Pisa Airport
Departure:
21:00
To:
Birmingham Airport
Arrival:
22:20
Class:
Flight - A - 20kg
Signature Tour
08 May 2025 08:05
  • Outbound:
    Date:
    08 May 2025
    Travelling with:
    BA - British Airways
    From:
    London Heathrow Airport
    Departure:
    08:05
    To:
    Pisa Airport
    Arrival:
    11:20
    Class:
    BA - Groups
  • Inbound:
    Date:
    15 May 2025
    Travelling with:
    BA - British Airways
    From:
    Pisa Airport
    Departure:
    12:20
    To:
    London Heathrow Airport
    Arrival:
    13:45
    Class:
    BA - Groups
Grand Hotel Guinigi 4* £2,449 pp Book now
Outbound:
Date:
08 May 2025
Travelling with:
BA - British Airways
From:
London Heathrow Airport
Departure:
08:05
To:
Pisa Airport
Arrival:
11:20
Class:
BA - Groups
Inbound:
Date:
15 May 2025
Travelling with:
BA - British Airways
From:
Pisa Airport
Departure:
12:20
To:
London Heathrow Airport
Arrival:
13:45
Class:
BA - Groups
Signature Tour
08 May 2025 07:00
  • Outbound:
    Date:
    08 May 2025
    Travelling with:
    Easyjet
    From:
    Bristol Airport
    Departure:
    07:00
    To:
    Pisa Airport
    Arrival:
    10:15
    Class:
    Flight - A - 23kg
  • Inbound:
    Date:
    15 May 2025
    Travelling with:
    Easyjet
    From:
    Pisa Airport
    Departure:
    10:50
    To:
    Bristol Airport
    Arrival:
    12:10
    Class:
    Flight - A - 23kg
Grand Hotel Guinigi 4* £2,449 pp Book now
Outbound:
Date:
08 May 2025
Travelling with:
Easyjet
From:
Bristol Airport
Departure:
07:00
To:
Pisa Airport
Arrival:
10:15
Class:
Flight - A - 23kg
Inbound:
Date:
15 May 2025
Travelling with:
Easyjet
From:
Pisa Airport
Departure:
10:50
To:
Bristol Airport
Arrival:
12:10
Class:
Flight - A - 23kg
Signature Tour
08 May 2025 08:05
  • Outbound:
  • Inbound:
Grand Hotel Guinigi 4* £2,449 pp Book now
Signature Tour
08 May 2025 07:00
  • Outbound:
  • Inbound:
Grand Hotel Guinigi 4* £2,449 pp Book now
Classic Tour
17 May 2025 09:00
  • Outbound:
    Date:
    17 May 2025
    Travelling with:
    Vueling
    From:
    London Gatwick Airport
    Departure:
    09:00
    To:
    Florence Airport
    Arrival:
    12:20
    Class:
    Flight - A - 23kg
  • Inbound:
    Date:
    24 May 2025
    Travelling with:
    Vueling
    From:
    Florence Airport
    Departure:
    13:15
    To:
    London Gatwick Airport
    Arrival:
    14:40
    Class:
    Flight - A - 23kg
Grand Hotel Guinigi 4* £2,029 pp Book now
Outbound:
Date:
17 May 2025
Travelling with:
Vueling
From:
London Gatwick Airport
Departure:
09:00
To:
Florence Airport
Arrival:
12:20
Class:
Flight - A - 23kg
Inbound:
Date:
24 May 2025
Travelling with:
Vueling
From:
Florence Airport
Departure:
13:15
To:
London Gatwick Airport
Arrival:
14:40
Class:
Flight - A - 23kg
Classic Tour
01 Jun 2025 06:45
  • Outbound:
    Date:
    01 Jun 2025
    Travelling with:
    Easyjet
    From:
    Bristol Airport
    Departure:
    06:45
    To:
    Pisa Airport
    Arrival:
    10:00
    Class:
    Flight - A - 23kg
  • Inbound:
    Date:
    08 Jun 2025
    Travelling with:
    Easyjet
    From:
    Pisa Airport
    Departure:
    10:35
    To:
    Bristol Airport
    Arrival:
    11:55
    Class:
    Flight - A - 23kg
Grand Hotel Guinigi 4* £1,979 pp Book now
Outbound:
Date:
01 Jun 2025
Travelling with:
Easyjet
From:
Bristol Airport
Departure:
06:45
To:
Pisa Airport
Arrival:
10:00
Class:
Flight - A - 23kg
Inbound:
Date:
08 Jun 2025
Travelling with:
Easyjet
From:
Pisa Airport
Departure:
10:35
To:
Bristol Airport
Arrival:
11:55
Class:
Flight - A - 23kg
Classic Tour
01 Jun 2025 08:00
  • Outbound:
    Date:
    01 Jun 2025
    Travelling with:
    Ryanair
    From:
    London Stansted Airport
    Departure:
    08:00
    To:
    Pisa Airport
    Arrival:
    11:05
    Class:
    Flight - A - 20kg
  • Inbound:
    Date:
    08 Jun 2025
    Travelling with:
    Ryanair
    From:
    Pisa Airport
    Departure:
    11:30
    To:
    London Stansted Airport
    Arrival:
    12:50
    Class:
    Flight - A - 20kg
Grand Hotel Guinigi 4* £1,979 pp Book now
Outbound:
Date:
01 Jun 2025
Travelling with:
Ryanair
From:
London Stansted Airport
Departure:
08:00
To:
Pisa Airport
Arrival:
11:05
Class:
Flight - A - 20kg
Inbound:
Date:
08 Jun 2025
Travelling with:
Ryanair
From:
Pisa Airport
Departure:
11:30
To:
London Stansted Airport
Arrival:
12:50
Class:
Flight - A - 20kg
Classic Tour
19 Jun 2025 10:00
  • Outbound:
    Date:
    19 Jun 2025
    Travelling with:
    Vueling
    From:
    London Gatwick Airport
    Departure:
    10:00
    To:
    Florence Airport
    Arrival:
    13:20
    Class:
    Flight - A - 23kg
  • Inbound:
    Date:
    26 Jun 2025
    Travelling with:
    Vueling
    From:
    Florence Airport
    Departure:
    14:25
    To:
    London Gatwick Airport
    Arrival:
    15:50
    Class:
    Flight - A - 23kg
Grand Hotel Guinigi 4* £1,999 pp Book now
Outbound:
Date:
19 Jun 2025
Travelling with:
Vueling
From:
London Gatwick Airport
Departure:
10:00
To:
Florence Airport
Arrival:
13:20
Class:
Flight - A - 23kg
Inbound:
Date:
26 Jun 2025
Travelling with:
Vueling
From:
Florence Airport
Departure:
14:25
To:
London Gatwick Airport
Arrival:
15:50
Class:
Flight - A - 23kg

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