10 Enticing Mediterranean Tours

Travelers who are planning to visit Europe will find many attractive options in the Mediterranean. Below are 10 Mediterranean tours that highlight the history and culture of countries like Italy, France, Greece and others. Click any link to see itineraries and departure dates.

Best of Italy, 13 days with Trafalgar -- This itinerary begins with visits to the Vatican Museums and Colosseum in Rome before continuing on to the well-preserved remains of Pompeii, the charming island of Capri, the canals of Venice, the stunning Italian Lake District and the Tuscan countryside.

Spain, Portugal & Morocco, 17 days with Globus -- Spend a little over two weeks soaking up the culture of three dynamic countries. Visit the bustling cities of Madrid and Marrakesh and explore the colorful facades of Seville and the hills of Lisbon.

Country Roads of France, 16 days with Insight -- Explore France's Champagne and Burgundy regions, drive along the Grand Prix circuit in Monaco, visit the picturesque lakeside town of Annecy, stroll Nice's riverfront promenade and discover fortified medieval towns. Cap off your trip with sightseeing in Paris.

Albania, Montenegro, Croatia & Slovenia, 12 days with Gate 1 Travel -- This itinerary showcases four Eastern Mediterranean countries. Tour Shkodra, one of Albania's oldest cities, and Durmitor National Park in Montenegro, filled with pine forests and lakes. Dubrovnik, Croatia, is a beautiful walled city, and Bled Castle is the oldest fortress in Slovenia, dating to the 11th century.

A Sicilian Odyssey, 10 days with Tauck -- Roam the Mediterranean's largest island and discover hilltop villages and waterfront cities. Here you'll visit Greek temples, dine at a family-owned winery and see the Sicilian Baroque UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Noto and Ragusa Ibla.

Greek Island Explorer, 10 days with Costsaver -- This adventure reveals ancient empires and sun-kissed isles. Enjoy guided sightseeing in Athens with visits to the Acropolis and Parthenon before heading to Santorini's clifftop villages and Mykonos' whitewashed houses and narrow streets.

Spotlight on the French Riviera, 9 days with Collette -- The French city of Nice serves as home base for this vacation, where guests take guided excursions of the surrounding area. Visit a seaside palazzo in St. Jean-Cap-Ferrat, for example, and learn the secrets of perfume making at the Fragonard Perfumerie.

A Week In... Spain, 8 days with Tauck -- Enjoy special experiences on this weeklong itinerary, like a tapas tasting tour in Barcelona, a private flamenco performance in Seville and a night of traditional Castilian entertainment in Madrid.

Gourmet Tuscany, 8 days with Cosmos -- Using the town of Montecatini as home base, embark on day trips to sample cold cuts at a local butchery, visit a Chianti wine estate and take a cooking lesson at a farmhouse in the Tuscan countryside. Also highlighted are Vinci (the birthplace of artist Leonardo), the walled city of Lucca and Bolgheri, a charming old wine village anchored by a red-brick castle.

Highlights of Croatia, 7 days with Globus -- Discover medieval towns and natural wonders on this introductory tour of Croatia. Amble through lively cobblestone squares in the capital city of Zagreb, stop at Diocletian's Palace in the seaside city of Split, see the baroque walled city of Dubrovnik and explore the stunning waterfalls of Krka National Park.