Overview
Enjoy the best of Rome with our Roman Holiday tour. Start with icons like the Colosseum and the Forum. Study Vatican City treasures, like the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. Visit the catacombs, and get a guided tour of Ostia Antica, harbor city of ancient Rome. Finish at Hadrian’s Villa, the Emperor’s Tivoli retreat.
Itinerary
Day 1
Overnight flight to Italy (Rome)
Day 2
Arrive in Rome
Meet your Tour Director
Your 24-hour Tour Director will meet you at the airport and remain with your group until your final airport departure.
Day 3
Rome guided sightseeing tour
Colosseum visit with Whisper headset, Arch of Constantine, Forum Romanum visit
LEAP Caesar's Gladiators
Gladiator school visit
Day 4
Vatican City guided walking sightseeing tour with Whisper headsets
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel visit, St. Peter’s Basilica visit
Day 5
Pompeii full-day excursion (optional)
Stop to see the city where time stood still, literally. Once an important Roman city with 20,000 residents, Pompeii was frozen in time nearly 2000 years ago, when Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried the city under 30 feet of mud and volcanic ash. Forgotten for centuries after the eruption, Pompeii was rediscovered in the 1600s and is now completely excavated. On your tour you will learn how Romans of all classes lived their lives--not only from large public structures, but from details like political graffiti, bars and street signs.
Day 6
Catacombs visit
Descend into the early Christian catacombs, dating from the first to fourth centuries. Then, through demonstrations and workshops, you'll see how the gladiators lived, trained, and more.
Ostia Antica guided excursion
Explore the main seaport of ancient Rome to see examples of amazingly preserved buildings and impressive Roman frescoes.
Day 7
Hadrian's Villa visit
Marvel at the grandeur of Emperor Hadrian's retreat, where you can wander through its expansive ruins, admire the stunning architecture, and discover the history behind this UNESCO World Heritage site.
Villa d'Este visit
Embark on a captivating journey to Villa d'Este in Tivoli, a Renaissance masterpiece renowned for its stunning gardens and elaborate fountains. Wander through the villa's beautifully frescoed rooms and marvel at the intricate water features.
Day 8
End tour
Already Included
Transportation to & from your destination
Hotel accommodations
Meals (unless otherwise noted on your itinerary)
Admissions to top attractions (details in itinerary)
Guided sightseeing tours & city walks (details in itinerary)
Tips for local guides and drivers
WorldAssist staff members available 24/7/365 should your group need extra help
Free high school credit for students who choose to complete WorldStrides free online coursework post-program
Professional development credits (CEUs) for educators
Scenes from Italy
Health & Safety
Additional health and safety measures may be available within your respective destination. Refer to your program-specific materials for complete details.
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance
WorldStrides provides over $2.5 million in financial assistance each year to thousands of families. Families with annual adjusted gross incomes of less than $85,000 may qualify. One simple call to Customer Service and you’ll know how much may be available for your trip even before signing up. Please note: financial assistance is given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Payment Plans
Advantage Payment Plan
At program sign-up you can opt to pay in full, or break up the cost of your trip with the Advantage Payment Plan. This plan allows you to pay a small initial deposit, then have your remaining payments spread out into affordable monthly amounts.
EZPay
We offer an EZPay option, which is a simple way to pay for your WorldStrides program by scheduling hassle-free, automatic drafts from your checking account. With EZPay, you'll never be late or miss an installment.
Fundraising Tools
Our easy-to-use tools put students in the driver's seat of their own fundraising efforts. Students can send e-cards, share links on social media, and even send out printed letters through WorldStrides' Gift of Education program. In one click friends and family members can make a direct donation to the trip - with 100% of the money raised going to offset their trip price. Thousands of students pay for their entire trip each year through the Gift of Education.
Also, WorldStrides makes program-specific scholarships available as well as other scholarship resources. Ask your Account Manager for more information about scholarships and fundraising tools.