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, Greece, Spain and others. Click any link to see itineraries and departure dates.

Mediterranean Highlights, 13 days with Trafalgar -- A route through Spain, France, Monaco and Italy offers guided sightseeing and free time in destinations like Barcelona and Florence. Shop for local specialties at a Provencal market and enjoy a traditional Tuscan meal at a farmhouse surrounded by olive groves and vineyards.

Hidden Treasures of Southern Italy, 9 days with Globus -- Hotel stays in Naples and Alberobello bookend this southern Italy itinerary. Tour the underground caves of Castellana Grotte, enjoy a special wine tasting at the Manduria wine museum and visit the regal Palazzo Reale in Naples.

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.

Glories of Greece, 7 days with Insight Vacations -- This round-trip route from Athens explores the country's mainland. Visit a monastery atop Meteora's rock formations, walk through the Lion's Gate at Mycenae and tour Olympia, site of the original Olympic Games.

Croatia & Slovenia, 10 days with Gate 1 Travel -- In Croatia, stop at Diocletian's Palace in Split, explore the beautiful walled city of Dubrovnik and see the stunning waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes. Highlights in Slovenia include its capital city, Ljubljana, and the 11th-century Bled Castle.

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

Mediterranean Flavors, 13 days with Cosmos -- This itinerary skims the coasts of France, Spain and Italy, stopping in destinations such as Marseille, Nice, Rome and the cliff-hugging villages of the Cinque Terre.

Best of Italy, 13 days with Trafalgar -- This trip begins with visits to the Basilica Santa Maria and the Colosseum in Rome before continuing on to Pompeii, Capri, Venice, the Italian Lake District and Tuscany.

Spanish Fiesta, 14 days with Globus -- Join a tour that circles through Spain, starting in Madrid, where you'll visit the world-class Prado Museum. See the site of the "running of the bulls" on Calle Estafeta in Pamplona, enjoy a traditional horchata in Valencia and visit Alhambra Palace in Granada.

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.