GENOA & THE ITALIAN RIVIERA:
A TRIP INTO THE HISTORY, ART, FOOD & WINE
September 15 - 23, 2027
Let’s travel to Genoa, a city of UNESCO-listed palaces, sweeping rooftop panoramas, and panera, a creamy coffee gelato you won't find anywhere else!
Our week will be spent going deeper into Liguria than most visitors ever get: visiting nearly 200-year-old basil greenhouses where Genoese pesto is still made with a mortar and pestle, a noble palace for a hands-on cooking class, and into the hidden arcades of Chiavari where a candlemaker has been at work for five centuries.
There are boat trips to a medieval abbey sitting right on the beach at San Fruttuoso, a walking wine tour through the alleys of Rapallo, and a cooking class held on a vineyard estate outside La Spezia. The Cinque Terre and Portofino are on the itinerary too, but approached on local terms, away from the tourist trail. This is Liguria truly lived!
PLEASE NOTE: All initial deposits must be made by Sept 15, 2026.
Day 1 – September 15 : ARRIVAL IN ITALY
Today is your arrival day — welcome!
Individual arrivals. Transfers are not included, so please make your own way to your hotel in Milan city centre (approximately 1 hour from Milan Malpensa Airport).
Optional Private Transfers:
• Private transfer for 2 people by car from Milan Malpensa Airport to Milan city centre: €205
• Private transfer for up to 6 people by minivan from Milan Malpensa Airport to Milan city centre: €285
Alternatives: Taxis are always available at the airport, and there are choices of metro and bus options available, with similar travel times. Check in at your charming hotel, unwind after your journey, and start soaking up the authentic Italian atmosphere.
Overnight in Milan
Meals: no meals
Day 2 – September 16: WELCOME TO GENOA: A CITY FULL OF SURPRISES
After breakfast and check-out, meet with the rest of the group in the hotel lobby, where your driver will be waiting for the transfer to Genoa (departure no later than 9:30 AM, approximately 2 hours’ drive).
Arrive at your elegant city-centre hotel and leave your luggage at the reception (your room may not yet be ready, but a dedicated area will be available for you to enjoy a wonderful aperitif and welcome drinks).
Your local guide will welcome you to Genoa and introduce the programme for the week ahead. You will also have time to get to know your fellow travellers while toasting the beginning of your journey with local wines and food, served as a light lunch.
Once refreshed, set off on a guided walking tour of the city (half-day tour).
Discover the charm of Genoa, a city of hidden beauty and timeless elegance. Stroll along the majestic Via Garibaldi, a UNESCO World Heritage site lined with the magnificent “Rolli” palaces, once home to noble families and ambassadors. Admire their frescoed façades and step back into the golden age of the Republic of Genoa.
Continue uphill towards one of the most breathtaking viewpoints in the city, where Genoa unfolds beneath you like a living postcard of rooftops, sea, and history. Along the way, indulge in a taste of local sweetness: stop at a historic chocolate shop and discover traditional Genoese delicacies, including the famous “panera”, a creamy coffee-flavoured gelato unique to the city.
Return to your hotel and enjoy some free time before getting ready to reunite with the whole group for dinner.
Overnight in Genoa
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3 – September 17: LOCAL PESTO FROM FIELD TO TABLE & A SPECIAL COOKING CLASS
Today, get ready for a special day discovering the most famous Ligurian recipes. First, you will learn how basil is grown, where it thrives, and why the Genoese variety is so special. Then, you will discover the traditional method of making pesto using a mortar and pestle.
Discover the secret behind the key ingredient of the world’s most famous green sauce! Join a unique experience as we take you to historic basil greenhouses, where local producers have been cultivating Genoese basil for nearly two centuries. You will visit the farm, see firsthand how this highly prized basil—renowned worldwide—is grown, and learn fascinating facts about its production.
You will then enjoy a live step-by-step demonstration of traditional pesto making. At the end of the experience, enjoy a tasting of freshly prepared pesto served with fresh focaccia.
Then you’ll reach Genoa historical center and enter a noble palace where our local culinary expert will welcome you to participate in a complete cooking class followed by lunch – details to be defined. After the experience, head back to the hotel to relax. Dinner on your own.
Overnight in Genoa
Meals: breakfast, lunch
Day 4 – September 18: COOKING CLASS ON THE GENOA COASTLINE
Get ready to discover a hidden side of Genoa—one of its most authentic and treasured areas: the elegant seaside district of Nervi.
Head to a boutique venue for an unforgettable cooking class (3 hours, from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM), followed by a gourmet lunch featuring the dishes you have prepared. Details to be defined.
After lunch, meet your local guide for a walking tour of the area, including the famous “Passeggiata di Nervi”, a spectacular cliffside promenade suspended between sea and sky, offering breathtaking views over the Ligurian coast. Once an old railway line, today it is one of Genoa’s most scenic walks, lined with Mediterranean vegetation and dramatic sea views.
You will also explore the magnificent “Parchi di Nervi”, a collection of historic villa gardens transformed into a lush public park. This peaceful oasis is home to centuries-old trees, exotic plants, elegant villas, and art spaces, blending nature, culture, and sea views in a uniquely charming setting.
Return to your hotel and enjoy some free time before getting ready to reunite with the whole group for dinner.
Overnight in Genoa
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5 – September 19: PORTOFINO AND BEYOND
After breakfast, a private transfer will take you to your accommodation in Rapallo, where you can leave your luggage before starting your tour with the local guide.
Explore the picturesque villages in the heart of Portofino Natural Park at your own pace with your knowledgeable and passionate local guide. Start from the picturesque village of Santa Margherita Ligure once called the “salotto” of the entire Gulf, famous for its painted facades, its lush gardens, and villas overlooking the sea. Enjoy a panoramic trip by public boat and reach the post-card-perfect village of Portofino. You'll be fascinated by the arch of colorful houses and the lovely "piazzetta" overlooking the water. Then reach San Fruttuoso by boat, an amazing cove with a medieval abbey built right on the beach, restored and protected by FAI, the Italian National Trust. You’ll fall in love with these unique towns!
Lunch in San Fruttuoso (included) in a restaurant overlooking the sea. After lunch, back to Rapallo by ferry and check in at your charming hotel. Evening at leisure.
Overnight in Rapallo
Meals: breakfast, lunch
Day 6 – September 20: CHIAVARI TRADITIONAL ARTISANS’ AND RAPALLO WINE WALKING TOUR
After breakfast, meet your private driver who will transfer you to Chiavari. Travel like a local discovering the most authentic side of the Italian Riviera just a few minutes away from the famous Portofino village. With your expert and passionate local guide, discover Chiavari, a hidden gem not touched by tourism yet. Wander along the old alleyways lined with ancient arcades. Explore the lively open-air food market and find out old food shops passed down from generations. Be charmed by the traditional artisans' shops such as the woodcarver or the one producing candles for the last five hundred years. Enjoy a relaxing pause in an old pastry shop and taste local cookies. Enter a traditional "Trattoria" and taste the delicious Farinata, a sort of chickpea flour pancake that will delight your taste buds! The tour takes approximately 3 hours.
Get back to your hotel to relax and spend some time at your own pace. In the late afternoon roundtrip transportation to Rapallo is included.
Do as the locals do and experience the ritual of the Italian “aperitivo” which is a drink paired with a ‘generous’ snack, enjoyed at the end of the workday before dinner. Follow our passionate wine expert through the narrow alleys of the picturesque old center of Rapallo and walk from shop to shop for a wine tour on the go. There will be 5 stops. At each stop, you will experience a different Ligurian delicacy, paired with a different local, artisanal wine of excellence. Then for the last stop, we will head to a traditional, Italian "bottega", where you will enjoy a selection of Italian cold cuts, salami, and the famous Parmigiano Reggiano cheese while our food and wine expert will talk about the secrets and the traditions of Italian gastronomy.
Overnight in Rapallo
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7 – September 21: AUTHENTIC CINQUE TERRE TOUR WITH LUNCH AND WINE TASTING
A private experience through the Cinque Terre, one of Italy’s most iconic UNESCO-listed coastal destinations, renowned for its colourful cliffside villages, terraced vineyards, and breathtaking sea views. Following our insider track, you will discover the most authentic spirit of this unique area, beyond mass tourism. Your expert local guide will accompany you throughout the day, sharing local insights, suggesting the best viewpoints, and recommending carefully selected places to enjoy regional specialties, from simple cafés with scenic views to traditional settings rich in atmosphere.
Moving at a relaxed and comfortable pace, and avoiding tourist traps, you will explore a selection of the most characteristic Cinque Terre villages, each offering its own charm: picturesque harbors, terraced hillsides overlooking the Ligurian Sea, postcard-like waterfront scenery, and narrow alleys rich in history and local life. The highlight of the day will be a traditional lunch experience in a truly genuine setting, where you will enjoy a curated tasting of local wines paired with typical appetizers and Km 0 products, followed by a delicious lunch. From here, you will also enjoy a spectacular panoramic view from above, offering a breathtaking outlook over the Cinque Terre coastline. After lunch, the journey continues with your local guide for further relaxed exploration of the Cinque Terre area before returning to the starting point.
** The itinerary is designed to remain flexible and fully adapted to the group’s comfort and pace. Private transfers will be arranged where needed to ensure maximum comfort, particularly to facilitate access to elevated or less easily reachable areas and to avoid unnecessary walking or steep climbs.
**You will travel between villages by short train rides (approximately 5 minutes), while a private transfer will be provided, when necessary, especially for access to the lunch location, ensuring a seamless and comfortable experience.
**The itinerary is indicative only; the number of villages visited will depend on the group’s pace (maximum 3 villages).
Overnight in Rapallo
Meals: breakfast, lunch
Day 8 – September 22: COOKING CLASS AND LUNCH & THE VILLAGE OF SESTRI LEVANTE
In the morning, a private transfer will take you to the location of the cooking class, held in a historic colonial-style estate just outside the city of La Spezia. Surrounded by vineyards and immersed in nature, the Podere is the perfect setting to experience authentic food and wine traditions. At the end of the class, savor a delicious lunch featuring the dishes you’ve prepared. Details to be defined.
After lunch, you will stop in the romantic village of Sestri Levante, where you can explore at your leisure and soak up the charming atmosphere of the famous Baia del Silenzio—a picturesque, sheltered bay known for its crystal clear waters, pastel-coloured houses, and timeless, peaceful ambiance.
In the afternoon, a private transfer will take you back to your hotel. Enjoy a farewell dinner at walking distance from your hotel.
Overnight in Rapallo
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9 – September 23: DEPARTURE DAY
Today is your departure day. After breakfast and check-out, a private transfer to Milan Malpensa Airport is included (one transfer for the whole group). It is strongly advised to book an afternoon flight from Malpensa, as the travel time from Rapallo is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, and you will need to arrive at the airport 3 hours in advance. If the flight times of all guests differ significantly, we will need to revise the transfer arrangement.
Meals: breakfast
Alternative Airports
• Genoa Airport is approximately 40 minutes from Rapallo and is the closest airport.
• Pisa International Airport is approximately 1h40m from Rapallo.
Rates for private transfers are available upon request. We suggest waiting until we have more details regarding attendees and travel arrangements.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
• 8 overnight stays in 4 or 5 star hotels with breakfast: 1 Milan, 3 Genoa, 4 Rapallo
• Private group transport from Milan to Genoa (2 hrs) and from Rapallo to Milan Malpensa Airport (2 1/2 hrs)
•7 lunches (3 of which follow a cooking class)
•4 dinners, including 2 in Genoa + 2 in Rapallo
•3 three course cooking classes (1 in a noble palace, 1 in a boutique hotel, 1 in a country estate)
• Half-day private tour guide in Genoa
• Private visit to the Basil Farm with pesto demonstration and tastings
• Half-day private tour guide in Genoa Nervi
• Full-day private tour guide with ferry tickets (Santa Margherita, Portofino, San Fruttuoso) • Lunch in San Fruttuoso
• Half day Private tour guide in Chiavari
• Food tastings in Chiavari
• Rapallo wine tasting on the go with rich aperitif/dinner tastings
• Full-day private tour guide in Cinque Terre
• All private transportation during the trip
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
• Transfers from Milan Malpensa airport to Milan Hotel
• Meals and beverages other than those mentioned above
• Travel insurance: We highly recommend clients to apply for an insurance that compensates them in the case of unforeseen circumstances, resulting in delays and change of arrangements not included in our cancellation POLICY.
• Flights
• Credit card fee
• Tips
Important Note: This area of Italy is very hilly and there is a fair amount of walking. Even though all efforts will be made to adjust to the pace of the group, this trip is not recommended for people with mobility issues. Please contact Shelley with any questions at 646-236-0605.
COST
€7000 per person. Single Supplement +€1150
Deposit of €2,100 (+single supplement if appicable) is due by September 15th, 2026.
Remaining balance must be received no later than June 1st, 2027.
If a participant cancels for any reason, the following conditions apply:
• From Nov 1, 2026 to May 14, 2027 (121+ days before departure): Full refund minus a €500 administrative fee per person and any non-refundable expenses already incurred.
• From May 15 to June 14, 2027 (120–91 days before departure): A cancellation fee equal to 30% of the total tour price will apply (the deposit may be used to cover this amount).
• From June 15, 2027 onwards (90 days or fewer before departure): No refund will be provided.
No refunds will be given for no-shows, late arrivals, failure to pay the balance by the due date, or voluntary withdrawal after the tour has commenced.