Italy · HALF-DAY

The 15 Best Half-Day Tours in Italy

28 tours  ·  from $21 a head

Good half-day tours fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.

Murano, Burano and Torcello Half-Day Sightseeing Tour - Murano: glass, canals, and a short introduction
Half-Day, Murano & Burano Island Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Venice

Murano, Burano and Torcello Half-Day Sightseeing Tour

1.Murano, Burano and Torcello Half-Day Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 7,928 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $25Our pick

Travel by shared motorboat from Venice to Murano, Burano, and Torcello in about four and a half hours. You’ll watch a Murano glass-blowing demonstration, stroll Burano’s colorful lanes, and see Torcello’s Santa Fosca, Attila’s Throne, and Devil’s Bridge. Commentary is offered in English, with morning and afternoon departures.

“I expected more in Burano, it was a boring experience to all 3 islands, not entertaining or exciting at all. No energy from the people who live on the islands, selling their products. They almost seemed frustrated we (tourists) are there.”

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Milan's Must See: Half-Day Tour of Last Supper, Duomo & La Scala - Starting beneath the Galleria’s glass roof
Cathedral Tours in Milan, Duomo & Cathedral Tours, Half-Day, Last Supper Tours, Opera & Classical Concerts, Opera and Classical Concerts in Milan, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Milan

Milan’s Must See: Half-Day Tour of Last Supper, Duomo & La Scala

2.Milan’s Must See: Half-Day Tour of Last Supper, Duomo & La Scala

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 4,193 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $130

In about 3.5 hours, you’ll walk through central Milan with a guide, enter the Duomo and La Scala, and view Leonardo’s Last Supper at Santa Maria delle Grazie. Guides such as Massimo and Andrea have led especially engaging outings. The pace is brisk, the group can reach 40, and the tour ends at the Last Supper site.

“Great guide! Very knowledgeable and timely, open to questions and friendly. The tour was well worth the money! Highly recommend!”

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Venice: Murano and Burano Half-Day Lagoon Trip - The ride from Venice sets the tone
Half-Day, Murano & Burano Island Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Venice

Venice: Murano and Burano Half-Day Lagoon Trip

3.Murano and Burano Half-Day Lagoon Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 3,083 reviews · 4 - 4.5 hours · from $21Best value

Take a Gran Turismo speedboat from Venice to Murano and Burano. Watch a short glassblowing demonstration, then explore Burano’s painted houses, lace shops, canals, and leaning bell tower. Multilingual guides such as Olga, Nicole, and Camilla provide commentary in several languages. The tour costs $21 and allows about an hour on each island.

“Great demo (short and sweet) Short stay in Murano - not long enough to see town (suited us) and just over an hour in Burano.”

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From Naples or Sorrento: Pompei Half-Day Tour - Entering the archaeological park with skip-the-line admission
Half-Day, Pompeii & Herculaneum Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Naples

From Naples or Sorrento: Pompei Half-Day Tour

4.From Naples or Sorrento: Pompei Half-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 2,645 reviews · 4 - 6 hours · from $75

Travel by air-conditioned van from Naples or Sorrento to Pompeii, where a live guide leads you through the Forum, baths, House of the Vettii, Lupanar, shops, and arena. Guides such as Alysse and Roberta have earned praise for clear, engaging explanations. You also get limited free time before returning.

“Our guide was amazing. Great job. She was so amazing and passionate about her job. She loved people, babies and animals along the tour. I wish I would have written down here name. The drivers were very courteous, but traffic was bad.”

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From Venice: Murano and Burano Half-Day Island Tour by Boat - Murano glass: a short demonstration with a large payoff
Cruises & Boat Tours, Half-Day, Murano & Burano Island Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Venice

From Venice: Murano and Burano Half-Day Island Tour by Boat

5.Murano and Burano Half-Day Island Tour by Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 2,489 reviews · 3 - 9.5 hours · from $34

Travel from Venice by boat to Murano and Burano with an English or Spanish-speaking guide. Watch a glassblowing demonstration, see traditional lace making, and enjoy free time among Burano’s colorful houses. Guides such as Flavia, Claudia, Nicole, and Alessia are often praised for clear explanations and helpful local tips.

“the tour was very interesting. The glass blowing demonstration was amazing. Our guide Nicole filled us in with Venetian history, just enough to whet my appetite for more! We had a lovely lunch in Burano, a very pretty village where the lace is made.”

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From Florence: Chianti Half-Day Afternoon Tour - Getting to Villa Costanza without wasting money
Chianti & Tuscan Countryside Tours, Half-Day, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Florence

From Florence: Chianti Half-Day Afternoon Tour

6.Chianti Half-Day Afternoon Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 2,328 reviews · from $55

Travel from Florence to Chianti by air-conditioned bus for two winery visits, seven wine tastings, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, bread, and salami. You will also get free time in Monteriggioni. Guides such as Marta, Andrea, and Marco have been praised for clear, lively explanations. The T1.3 tram to Villa Costanza takes about 20 minutes.

“So fun! Informative and great wine. Beautiful wineries/views”

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From Florence: Half-Day Pisa Tour and Optional Leaning Tower - Meeting at Stazione Montelungo
Half-Day, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Florence

From Florence: Half-Day Pisa Tour and Optional Leaning Tower

7.Half-Day Pisa Tour and Optional Leaning Tower

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,539 reviews · from $37

Travel from Florence to Pisa by air-conditioned coach with a multilingual escort, explore Piazza dei Miracoli, and choose a guided cathedral visit or free time. Add the Leaning Tower climb for skip-the-line access and a rare view from the top. Guides such as Sara, Martina, and Roberta are known for clear instructions and lively stories.

“We loved our day trip to Pisa. It was the perfect length. Reading the reviews prior to our experience, I was worried we would not have enough time to climb the tower, take pictures, use the restroom, get a snack, etc. We had time for everything, & it went smoothly. It was a perfect amount of time. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable & informative. We would definitely do this experience again! Camille, our guide, & her crew were excellent!”

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From Palermo: Monreale and Cefalù Half-Day Trip - Cefalù, from Norman cathedral to the beach
1-Day Tours, Half-Day, Tour Reviews, Tours in Palermo

From Palermo: Monreale and Cefalù Half-Day Trip

8.Monreale and Cefalù Half-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,354 reviews · 6 hours · from $71

Travel from Palermo to Monreale and Cefalù in an air-conditioned minivan, with free time at both stops. Explore Monreale’s Norman cathedral, then enjoy Cefalù’s Duomo, medieval washhouse, museum, beach, and restaurants. Drivers such as Enzo, Sergio, Marco, and Vincenzo may offer local tips, but this is mainly transport rather than a fully guided tour.

“Great day. Monreale is fabulous. No need to buy your ticket for Monreale in advance - just buy on the door. And Cefalù a beautiful place to take some lunch and sun. Emiliano was great.”

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Genoa: Half-Day Tour to Portofino - Portofino in 70 to 80 minutes
Half-Day, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Genoa

Genoa: Half-Day Tour to Portofino

9.Half-Day Tour to Portofino

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,123 reviews · 4.5 hours · from $30

Travel by ferry from Genoa’s Porto Antico to Portofino and back, with coastal views, passing Camogli and San Fruttuoso Bay. You get roughly 70 to 80 minutes in Portofino for the harbor, San Giorgio church, boutiques, and gelato. This is independent sightseeing, not a guided tour.

“We had an amazing trip to and from Portofino. The boat was super. We were at the back and stood the whole way. It’s was magnificent! Our Captain pulled in at several towns to pick up and drop off people . We travelled just along the coastline and the views were stunning Portofino was beautiful but unfortunately there was a cruise ship in the harbour so the little town was packed with people, you could not move about easily. We just had 70 minutes there before returning to Genoa. We had some food and a drink which was exceptionally expensive because of where we were. We got back on the…”

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Half-Day Excursion to Pisa and the Leaning Tower from Florence - The first view of the Square of Miracles
Half-Day, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Florence

Half-Day Excursion to Pisa and the Leaning Tower from Florence

10.Half-Day Excursion to Pisa and the Leaning Tower from Florence

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,027 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $47

Travel from Florence to Pisa by coach with an English-speaking tour leader, then explore the Square of Miracles with a local guide or on your own. The guided option includes the Cathedral and can add skip-the-line access to the Leaning Tower. Expect about six hours, some brisk walking, and a group of up to 50 people.

“It was a nice tour. Wish we would have had some free time inside the church to explore a little more but all in all a nice tour. Nice to hear about the history of Pisa.”

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Pisa: Half-Day Afternoon Tour from Florence - Piazza dei Miracoli and the first sight of the tower
Half-Day, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Pisa

Pisa: Half-Day Afternoon Tour from Florence

11.Half-Day Afternoon Tour from Florence

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 822 reviews · from $44

Travel from Florence to Pisa by comfortable air-conditioned coach with an English or Spanish-speaking guide. Explore Piazza dei Miracoli, see the Cathedral and Leaning Tower, then use free time for photos, shopping, or Piazza dei Cavalieri. The Leaning Tower and Baptistery require separate tickets.

“When you find the Meeting Place, don’t expect to see any signage identifying the tour companies name. Right around the specified meeting time, a tour bus and their staff wearing a blue shirt will appear under the large tree at the bottom of the brick ramp to the trains above. Once checked in, we boarded the bus to Pisa. This tour is well organized and there is even time for your to grab a bite and shop after the local guide is finished with the tour. Pisa is a little town with a very large tourist attraction. Lots of vendors surrounded the historical site. Was a great experience.Read more”

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From Florence: Chianti Hills Half-Day Tour with Wine Tasting - Walking the rows and reading the vineyard
Chianti & Tuscan Countryside Tours, Food & Drink, Half-Day, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Florence, Wine Tours, Wine Tours in Florence

From Florence: Chianti Hills Half-Day Tour with Wine Tasting

12.Chianti Hills Half-Day Tour with Wine Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 703 reviews · 5 hours · from $48

Leave Florence by air-conditioned Gran Turismo bus for Chianti’s vineyard roads, a walk among the vines, vinegar-cellar visit and guided tasting of seven wines with Tuscan cheeses, cold cuts and olive oils. Guides such as Chiara, Emma and Jordano have led lively tours, while the exact wineries and visit order can change.

“The trip was great, I only wished the guide had given more info on the way to the wineries. The first winery we visited - Pietra Serena definitely had the views and the second place - Poggio ai Laghi definitely blew me away with their presentation of wines and tastings. Overall an amazing experience, will absolutely recommend!!!”

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From Naples: All-Inclusive Mount Vesuvius Half-Day Tour - The climb through Vesuvius National Park
Half-Day, Mount Vesuvius Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Pompeii

From Naples: All-Inclusive Mount Vesuvius Half-Day Tour

13.All-Inclusive Mount Vesuvius Half-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 674 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $75

Travel from your Naples hotel, station, or cruise port to Vesuvius National Park by air-conditioned minibus. Your Italian driver handles transport and the €11 park ticket, then gives you roughly 1.5 to 2 hours to hike independently around the crater. Expect a steep, loose trail, big Bay of Naples views, and no regular guide on the mountain.

“Giovanni was a great driver, very punctual, polite and showed us some great places and recommendations while picking everyone up. The volcano was great!”

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Peschiera: Half-Day Lake Garda Cruise with Lunch - From Peschiera toward the southern shore
Cruises & Boat Tours, Half-Day, Italian Lakes & Dolomites Tours, Lunch Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours in Lake Garda

Peschiera: Half-Day Lake Garda Cruise with Lunch

14.Peschiera: Half-Day Lake Garda Cruise with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 652 reviews · 4 hours · from $74

Set out from Peschiera on a four-hour cruise of southern Lake Garda. Your guide, often Francesca, Elena, or Valentina, explains the lake in Italian, English, and German as you pass castles, islands, Sirmione, and the Grottoes of Catullus. Lunch includes pasta with vegetable sauce, a drink, and a swim from the boat.

“A 4 hour trip to see the majestic Lake Garda and some of its highlights. The boat does not dock anywhere over the 4 hours except to have a short swin which I can highly recommend. This is a great value trip with views of Lake Garda that will live long in our memories”

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From Sorrento: Pompeii Half-Day Skip-the-Line Tour - The ride from Sorrento to the ruins
Half-Day, Pompeii & Herculaneum Tours, Skip the Line, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Sorrento

From Sorrento: Pompeii Half-Day Skip-the-Line Tour

15.Pompeii Half-Day Skip-the-Line Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 541 reviews · from $80

Meet Gray Line Amalfi Coast in central Sorrento for an early air-conditioned coach ride to Pompeii. A guide such as Lulu, Mimi, or Eugenio handles the journey, while an archaeological guide leads about 2.5 hours inside the ruins. Expect frescoes, mosaics, baths, bakeries, villas, and an ancient amphitheatre, with skip-the-line entry included.

“This was a great tour. Our local guide Eugenio and our Archaeologist in Pompeii were both outstanding guides. We received plenty of local history as well as the history of Pompeii and Vesuvius. 2-2.5 hours is a good amount of time to explore the ruins, it is a big site but you still get to see the key points. Transportation was also good”

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New in Half-Day

★ 4.8Porto Conte: Half-day catamaran tour with aperitifFrom $91228 reviews
★ 4.6Half-Day Tour to Pisa and the Leaning TowerFrom $105197 reviews
★ 4.4Mount Etna: Half-Day Guided Tour and HikeFrom $70264 reviews
★ 4.5Milano Marittima: Riviera Romagnola Half-Day Boat Tour224 reviews
★ 3.9Murano and Burano half-day trip from Punta Sabbioni JesoloFrom $29204 reviews
★ 4.9From Taormina, Naxos, & Letojanni: Mount Etna Half-Day TripFrom $85296 reviews
★ 4.5Mount Etna Half-Day Tour and Wine Experience214 reviews

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