Northern Italy's Highlights & Cinque Terre (LV)

10 days from Milan to Milan

2026 Tour Details View 2025 Tour Details »

Parmesan and prosciutto. Ferraris and Fiats. Ruins and the Riviera. Some of Italy’s greatest indulgences can be found up north. Italy’s “Fabulous Five,” the pastel-hued cliffside fishing villages along the Mediterranean, start the count of the numerous joys you’ll experience on this Undiscovered Tour of Northern Italy. In addition to finding the freshest seafood along the coast, you’ll relish a balsamic vinegar tasting in the epicurean city of Modena, a parmesan cheese tasting near Verdi’s hometown of Busseto, a risotto lunch at a Vercelli rice factory, and a wine tasting in vineyard-dotted Gabiano. To spice things up, you’ll speed over to the Ferrari Museum in Maranello and strut your stuff down the streets of Milan. Leading you to the fabulous, the famous, and the fashionable, this tour is the way to see Northern Italy in style.

Small-Group Discovery Dates Available

Select Globus 2021 Europe tours are limited to an average of just 24 guests per tour. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Globus European tour, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery Europe vacation is the perfectly sized tour—without the crowds.

We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect tour—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides (with headsets to hear every word), to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi, plus a boat cruise and train ride along the Cinque Terre. Enhance your free time with your GlobusGO mobile app!

Dates & Prices Book Online

800.268.3636

Northern Italy's Highlights & Cinque Terre map

Photo Highlights

Meals

Meals & Itinerary

Full buffet breakfast daily; 2 lunches; 3 three-course dinners

Notes:

This tour requires navigating stairs to board the Cinque Terra train which may pose a challenge to guests with physical limitations or reliant on mobility devices such as wheelchairs.

Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN MILAN, ITALY

Welcome to Milan! At 5 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel.

MILAN-CATHEDRAL.jpg

Dinner

Day 2 MILAN–BUSSETO–PARMA

Style & Taste in Northern Italy MILAN Guided walking tour includes sights of the Sforzesco Castle, the Galleria, La Scala Opera House, and the Duomo. Free time before continuing to Busseto.
BUSSETO See the birthplace of composer Giuseppe Verdi with free time for lunch before a Parmesan cheese tasting at a local caseificio (cheese-making factory).
99 mi / 160 km

LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES Bite into 1,000 years of Italian tradition with a Parmesan cheese tasting in Busseto. Learn about the rich history that has passed the test of time with authentic ingredients of passion and perfected recipes in local caseifici (cheese making factories) of the Italian pastoral landscapes.

PARMA.jpg

Breakfast

Day 3 PARMA. EXCURSION TO MODENA & MARANELLO

Cathedrals & Classic Cars PARMA Guided sightseeing includes sights of the cathedral, bell tower, and octagonal baptistry. Free time to visit the cathedral.
MODENA Enjoy a Balsamic vinegar tasting at the renowned Acetaia Leonardi.
MARANELLO Visit the Ferrari Museum. Free time this afternoon and evening.
112 mi / 180 km

LOCAL FAVORITE
CULTURE & TRADITION Creating classic Balsamic Vinegar requires the patience learned through four generations of devotion and respect for the 18th-century traditions at Acetaia Leonardi farm. The farm sits on 27 acres of vineyards where Trebbiano and Lambrusco grapes are grown to produce this delicate balance of sweet and sour Modena specialty.

MODENA-VINEGAR.jpg

Breakfast

Day 4 PARMA–LUCCA

Treasured Time in Tuscany LUCCA Orientation walk, followed by free time this afternoon and evening.
99 mi / 160 km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURAL GEMS Within the walls surrounding the medieval city of Lucca, the modern world fades away. Whilst you walk, see the Piazza Anfiteatro, San Michele Square, the Roman Amphitheatre, the soaring clock tower, and the Guinigi Tower topped with a hanging garden roof – just to name a few of the impressive sights you’ll find in this historic city in Tuscany.

LUCCA.jpg

Breakfast

Day 5 LUCCA–CINQUE TERRE–GENOA

Sights to Sea Scenic drive en route to La Spezia.
CINQUE TERRE Take a guided boat ride (weather permitting) to Monterosso. Free time before continuing the journey by train.
GENOA Dinner at local restaurant.
124 mi / 200 km

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EPIC RIDE Take a stunning cruise on the coast of Cinque Terre and take in fascinating views of the sea, sky, and centuries-old seaside villages on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline.

CINQUE-TERRE.jpg

Breakfast

Dinner

Day 6 GENOA

The Italian Riviera GENOA Join the guided tour to discover the highlights of the Old Town, including sights of San Lorenzo Cathedral, the Ducal Palace and Christopher Columbus’ childhood home followed by a pesto demo and tasting. Enjoy free time this afternoon and evening.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURE & TRADITION Genova may be less well known than other Italian cities, but it never fails to surprise and delight. It has one of the largest medieval city centers in Europe, and its wonderful location, between the mountains and sea, set it up to be a longstanding maritime power. It is the birthplace not only of Christopher Columbus but also of one of the world’s favorite pasta sauces – pesto! This delicious sauce created from garlic, basil, pine nuts, parmesan cheese and olive oil, is proudly present on the menu of many restaurants and is traditionally served with the “trofie” pasta.

GENOA.jpg

Breakfast

Day 7 GENOA–GABIANO–TURIN

Carafes at the Castle GABIANO Enjoy wine tasting and lunch at the castle.
143 mi / 230 km

LOCAL FAVORITE
CULTURE & TRADITION Gracing the hills above the Po Valley, the Castello di Gabiano has made history as early as the 8th century. Once the site of sieges and wars, the castle has passed through noble families through time to become one of the oldest and largest manors in Monferrato. Today, its tradition of winemaking is shared with tastings of vintages aged in its cellar barrels in the tradition passed down since the 12th century.

GABIANO.jpg

Breakfast

Lunch

Day 8 TURIN

Monumental Mysteries TURIN Guided sightseeing includes sights of the Mole Antonelliana and a visit to the cathedral.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ART & ARCHITECTURE Turin abounds of a wealth of Baroque, Rococo, Neo-classical, and Art Nouveau treasures. Stroll the elegant squares to see the monument of Mole Antonelliana – a former synagogue with its 87-meter-high panorama deck. Visit the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, which houses the most holy relic in the Catholic Church – the Shroud of Turin.

TURIN.jpg

Breakfast

Day 9 TURIN–VERCELLI–MILAN

The Dish on Risotto VERCELLI Visit a rice factory followed by a risotto lunch.
MILAN Farewell dinner at a local restaurant this evening.
130 mi / 210 km

LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES Visit Vercelli, the heart of Europe's rice production, where the tradition of delicious risotto is born. It’s here that the round rice grain called japonica is grown. This round grain keeps its shape during the cooking process to release that beautifully creamy texture of risotto that we all know and love. The fine art of rice farming in Italy now combines tradition with technology to tend these fields with loving care.

VERCELLI.jpg

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 10 MILAN

Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

MILAN-ARCH-AND-TRAM.jpg

Breakfast

Tour Director

With GLOBUS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

SILVIO CACACE

Escorting tours for more than 20 years

“Travelling that leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller. This is what happened to me travelling around my home country of Italy, a place renowned for its remarkable architecture, fine artworks, delectable food and wines, and superb hospitality. Showing people my country, enthralling them with captivating stories, sharing with them my passion and enthusiasm, and making them happy has become my main goal in life. Join me on a Globus tour so you can see for yourself how life is beautiful in Italy.”

Accommodations

Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyGlobus site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 CAD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 CAD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 CAD)
$$$$ (Over $150)

Parma

Lucca

Turin

Parma

Delicacies of Parma cuisine

Discover the flavors and foods that made Parma famous during a delightful dinner and pasta-making demonstration at an old farmhouse in the Italian countryside.

Price Range: $$$

Montechiarugolo Castle and Light Dinner

Visit 13th-century Montechiarugolo Castle with its opulent décor, collection of ancient artifacts unearthed around Parma, and its "gentle ghost", then enjoy a traditional light dinner at a local restaurant!

Price Range: $$$

Lucca

Tuscan Dinner

Enjoy a wonderful dinner in the delightful Tuscan countryside, featuring authentic traditional dishes using the finest local ingredients.

Price Range: $$$

Turin

Turin with Piedmont-Style Dinner

Discover the tastes of the Piedmont region on this marvelous 4-course dinner with drinks at a historic Turin restaurant!

Price Range: $$$

Private Touring

Private Touring: Globus European Private Touring enables you to experience all of the attractions, sights and highlights of your selected Globus tour as a private experience - delivered just for you and your traveling party. With Private Touring, you'll have your own dedicated Tour Director, your own private transportation and driver, and your own professional local guides. All with greater flexibility in pace and your experience.

For your selected tour, there will be additional per-person cost for the size of your party - from 1 to 24. This additional supplement is reduced with each traveler you add to your party.

Here's a sample of the additional cost:

6 guests in a party: $3,891*
18 guests in a party: $908*

Contact Globus or your preferred travel agent for pricing for your specific party size as well as any other information on Globus Private Touring.

* Supplement pricing is per person (CA) and will be added to the standard published price for your given departure date and is based on availability. Supplement price is valid for 2020 and 2021 travel years. Occasionally some included and optional activities & excursions may be operated with other guests. Additional restrictions may apply. Not applicable for custom groups. No Group allowances or promotions are available on Private Touring. Published itineraries only. Note that blackout dates may exist where the Private Touring option is not available.

The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.

View Ebrochure | Sign Up for Travel Deals

Top