Suggested tours

The tour of the colosseum in Rome shows you parts the structure you can not get too otherwise. Such as the floor level, upper level and below the floor. And the tour is only a few dollars more than the general entry. We weren't aware of the difference so we did not go. If we go back to Rome, that is our first thing to do!

We did 3 tours with Walks of Italy in Rome- all worth the money and very good
Pristine Sistine, Colosseum and Crypts/Catacombs
www.walksofitlay.com
I believe they give a discount for multiple tours and a RS discount- email them

Venice -really enjoyed the Secret Itineraries tour of Doges
https://palazzoducale.visitmuve.it/en/pianifica-la-tua-visita/special-itineraries/secret-itineraries-tour/

You can book a timed entry to St Mark Basilica for a few euros- no need to wait in line- time it so you are in Basilica when it is illuminated
http://www.basilicasanmarco.it

Alessandro's Cicchetti tour was a blast
https://www.schezzini.it

Eating Europe has wonderful food tours-
www.eatingeurope.com
EATWELL 10 for discount

Christine, we are going back and taking our adult sons this time. We did almost the exact things you did, but not the bar tour in Venice.

Can you tell me a little about that? I clicked on the link and it looks fun. Is it more than just a wine tour? You can have other types of drinks, too? (Boys aren’t big wine drinkers, we tell them they have 9 months to become one). Also, how long does it last? It just sounds fun.

I did an "Ecology of Venice" tour with Context Travel, and it was really interesting. It wasn't a typical tour of Venice, seeing the main sights, but it was really a fascinating look at a floating city. I did several of their tours in Italy, and they often offer unique itineraries like this one that are based more about a theme than a particular site.

This past Aug 2019 my wife and I did two tours in Rome. My reviews are posted on the forum at the below links.

Vatican early-morning tour: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/early-morning-vatican-tour-with-sistine-chapel-with-through-eternity-tours-excellent

Colosseum evening tour: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/vip-colosseum-at-night-tour-by-the-roman-guy-a-great-disappointment

To anticipate the question: I do not and never have worked in the tourist industry. We simply spent 3 weeks travelling in Italy this past summer.

For the Uffizi we used the Rick Steves audioguide, and were very satisfied.

Rome-We have done multiple walking tours with Walks of Italy, there is a discount if you book multiple tours and a Rick Steves Discount code also. We have always felt we got our moneys worth. Smallish groups and just enough walking. We did The Vatican (Early entry), Colosseum underground Rome and a walking tour of Florence with the Acadamia/David included in the price.
I second EatingEurope (Formerly Eating Italy) food tours, we have been twice and see neighborhoods and streets we would never have found ourselves.
Cinque Terre- no guide is needed but I am sure you will find some company for that.
Florence- We used Walk About Florence, but these are BIG bus tours and our tour was a full day to three different cities, a lunch at an organic farm and we went to Pisa. Just a taste of each place.
We love walking tours!

Christine, we are going back and taking our adult sons this time. We
did almost the exact things you did, but not the bar tour in Venice.
Can you tell me a little about that? I clicked on the link and it
looks fun. Is it more than just a wine tour? You can have other types
of drinks, too? (Boys aren’t big wine drinkers, we tell them they have
9 months to become one). Also, how long does it last? It just sounds
fun.

Lulu- I want to say the tour was about 3 hours- we then hung around under Rialto bridge for a long time with our tour members because we were all having so much fun.
As I remember it was just wine- and I am not much of a wine drinker either- but Alessandro will explain to you why Italian wine- local wine to be specific- is so much better- he is right- it is. I drink a lot of house wine in Italy.

I'll leave it at that as this thread is debrynklein's about tours in general. Do a search here on forum for "cicchetti" and "alessandro' there are a lot threads, he is recommended by RS and many here have done and enjoyed the tour with him.

We used https://www.througheternity.com/ for tours of the Colosseum/Forum and then the next day we used them for the Vatican. Best tours we've had anywhere in Europe.