Your reservations may be made online, over the phone, through our online chat, and in person at ticket booths at select locations. To make an online reservation, search by your location and the date you’d like to cruise on. Reservations can be made with most major credit cards. Reservation can also be made by phone or chat, contact us. If you would like to pay in person, reservations must be made on location at our ticket booths which are at select locations. Please note that tickets at the booth are based on cruise availability, and we cannot guarantee that tickets are available at the booth for every cruise. Please see the City Cruises US and Canada Port Locations section of the FAQ. Full payment is required at the time of reservation.  

For reservations of 1-19, you can manage your reservation through the My Account page.

For reservations of 1-19, you can invite guests to your booking through the Manage Booking Portal using the invite Friends and Family link on your reservation, your guests can purchase a ticket to your cruise and join your table  

We accept most major credit cards for reservations of 1-19 tickets. Visa, Mastercard, Discover, JCB, and Diner Club. Please contact us for information

Can I pay with cash?

You may pay in cash at our ticket booths in Baltimore, Boston, Chicago (Dining Cruises only), New York, Norfolk, Toronto, Philadelphia, San Diego, or Washington, DC.

Please note, full payment is required at the time of reservation.

DO I HAVE TO PAY IN FULL FOR MY RESERVATION?

We accept reservations on an availability basis and full payment is due at the time the reservation is made. We do not hold tickets without payment.

• Child Discounts: Children 4 to 12 may cruise at a different rate than Adults depending on cruise type and port location. Children under 4 cruise free in most locations.
• Military and Senior Discounts: Military and Senior discounts are offered on most of our cruises. Select the senior or military ticket at checkout for your online reservation to secure this rate if available.  Please contact us for more information 

Yes! Digital Gift Cards are the perfect way to give someone an experience that lets them schedule their adventure at their convenience! A City Experiences digital gift card can be purchased anytime and is valid on all City Experiences, City Cruises, Walks, and Devour Tours experiences that take place in the US and in the UK (please note: digital gift cards are currently not accepted at any City Cruises experiences that take place in Canada). Gift cards can be used to pre-purchase experiences and upgrades online or through our contact center but cannot be redeemed for on-board/in-experience purchases. 

For online reservations, search by your location and the date you want to cruise. When prompted at checkout, enter your gift card number in the “Gift Cards” section, or enter your coupon or voucher code in the “Coupon/Voucher Code” section. All gift cards, certificates, coupons, and discount offers must be used and mentioned at the time of booking in order to be honored. Please bring your gift certificate, promotional card, or coupon with you at the time of your cruise and present it to the Host/Hostess on board. If you have a voucher or discount code, you can use your code during checkout on our website or checkout through online chat. Digital gift cards are currently not accepted at any City Cruises experiences that take place in Canada.

CAN I USE MY GIFT CARD ONBOARD?

Gift cards can be used to pre-purchase experiences and upgrades online or through our contact center but cannot be redeemed for on-board/in-experience purchases. Please visit the Gift Card page for more information. 

For more information, please visit here

For more information, please visit here

Tickets are not required for boarding. When boarding, you can check in with your confirmation number and the last name that is on your reservation.

Landing Fee

The Landing Fee, if included on your billing, offsets a wide range of costs unique to a maritime business operation. These may include specialized port facility repairs, percentage payment, employee health care obligations, and other fees, licenses, regulatory, environmental and maritime security costs.

Administrative Fee

An Administrative fee is collected at the time of reservation, related to the cruise and the services included in the ticket. This is not a gratuity and will be used at the discretion of the company. If you wish to purchase additional beverages or food enhancements onboard, we recommend you leave a gratuity onboard based on the quality of service provided to you by your server.

Taxes

In addition to sales tax, we are assessed taxes by some local governments for use of the harbor. They are paid directly and in full to the local government of the appropriate city.

Onboard Gratuities

A service/operations charge is collected at the time of booking, related to the cruise and the services included in the ticket. This is not a gratuity and will be used at the discretion of the company. If you wish to purchase additional beverages or food enhancements on your cruise, we recommend you leave a gratuity on board based on the quality of service provided to you by our crew.

Purchases made with Ticket Assurance may be rescheduled or canceled up to 2 hours prior to the original departure time with a full refund, minus the cost of non-refundable Ticket Assurance. Ticket Assurance is not available on select cruises such as holiday, specialty or partnership cruises, or other experiences as indicated.

CAN I ADD ON TICKET ASSURANCE AFTER I PURCHASE MY CRUISE?

Ticket Assurance must be selected at the time of booking and may not be added post-purchase.

LATE ARRIVALS AND NO-SHOWS

Once payment is received, cruises are non-refundable unless Ticket Assurance is purchased at the time of booking. We are happy to reschedule your cruise date or issue a gift card for the amount paid with 48-hour notice before your scheduled cruise. Cruises are non-refundable and non-transferable within 48 hours of your cruise. We do not compensate for no-shows or late arrivals.

Our cruises are non-refundable final sale, and you have up to 48 hours prior to the cruise to reschedule or receive a gift card. We do not compensate for any late arrivals or no-shows to a cruise.

In the event your cruise was canceled by City Cruises, you will receive three options sent via email and SMS text message to the number we have on file:

 

Option 1: You may transfer to a different cruise date of your choosing. Please note that if you are rescheduling to a lower priced cruise, we will refund you the difference. If you are rescheduling to a higher priced cruise, payment will be required for the difference once the new date is selected. Please note, prices are subject to change based on demand and peak cruise times.

Option 2: If you are unsure of a new date when you can cruise, you may move your funds to a gift card. Gift cards never expire and can be used to book on our website. For more information on gift cards, visit the Gift Card page.

Option 3: If you are unable to join us on a future date you will receive a full refund back to the original form of payment. Please allow 3-5 business days for the funds to appear in your account.

Note: All 3 options are available to you via the link that was provided in the cruise cancellation notification.

We do not compensate for any late arrivals or no-shows to a cruise, so please arrive in time for check in and boarding. If you need to reschedule, you have up to 48 hours prior to your cruise to change to another date, or we can release your tickets to be used in the future. Once we’re within 48 hours of a cruise, no further changes can be made.

City Cruises sails rain or shine. In the case of severe weather conditions or upon the direction of the U.S. Coast Guard or Transport Canada, we will remain dockside, but provide the full dining service.

There are no age restrictions for most cruises, and all minors require adult supervision. Some cruises may offer a discounted rate for children. Please contact us for more information. 

Bateaux New York Dinners: Children under 6 are not permitted and we do not offer a discounted rate for children. Younger children are welcome aboard Bateaux lunch cruises and other New York dining cruises. 

RIVER, HARBOR, WHALE WATCHING TOURS & WATER TAXIS

Casual attire: jeans, shorts, t-shirts, Sweaters, and sneakers are appropriate. Depending on the season, we recommend bringing extra layers as it may get breezy out on the water. 

SIGNATURE BRUNCH, LUNCH & COCKTAIL CRUISES

Casual attire: khakis, nice jeans, dresses, button-up shirts, and blouses 

SIGNATURE DINNER & PREMIER PRODUCTS

Cocktail attire: collared shirts, blouses, sports coats, slacks, and dresses. Casual jeans, t-shirts, shorts, gym shoes, and flip flops are strongly discouraged. 

Premier Plus (Bateaux and Odyssey Chicago River)

Semi-formal dress code: dresses, collared shirts, dress pants and jackets encouraged. Casual jeans, t-shirts, shorts, gym shoes, and flip flops are strongly discouraged. 

Most cruises board 30 minutes before their departure time. Please check your confirmation email to confirm your cruise boarding & departure time.

Smoking is allowed on the outside decks only, except for Boston, Long Beach, Marina Del Rey, Newport Beach, Sacramento, Mariposa Harbour Tour, Harbor Tours, Sights & Sips Cruises, and Whale Watching Cruises. Please dispose of all refuse in proper receptacles. Do not throw anything into the water. Please help us keep our waters clean.

Cannabis products are not allowed as we operate under US Coast Guard and Transport Canada regulations.

City Cruises offer dance floors and a variety of music to enjoy. Depending on the cruise, it may be background music, a DJ, or a live performance. Entertainment is subject to change. Please contact us if you have any questions

As you board, our Captain and Marine Crew will direct you to your deck. From there the Host/Hostess will show your party to your assigned table(s) if applicable. Decks are never guaranteed for non-private groups. We assign seats based on needs and capacity for each cruise.

Will you announce my special occasion/celebration onboard?

Cake Policy

Cakes may not be stored in our facilities. They must be held at your table due to limited storage space on the ship and must be kept at the guest’s table.  There are no open flames allowed on the vessels including birthday candles. We allow flameless or LED birthday candles. A cake cutting fee may apply, which varies by port.

*Boston and Canadian Dining boats cannot accept cakes. 

DECORATION POLICY

All City Cruises vessels are decorated with linens, votive centerpieces, silver, and china. Small groups without private space can bring table decorations, but early boarding is not allowed. Please do not use confetti or tape any items to the walls of our vessels. 

Vegetarian meals are available on dining cruises and can be arranged at the time of booking. If there are many vegetarians in your group, or if there are any vegans, please indicate this at the time of booking. If you are booking through an Excursion Specialist over the phone or through online chat, please notify the Specialist of any food allergies or other dietary restrictions at the time of booking.

We can accommodate most special dietary needs with advance notice.

When is food served?

Food service for dining cruises begins upon embarking.

Do I need to pre-select my menu before the cruise?

No, you do not need to pre-select your menu. Some of our cruises have multiple entrée options and we have a menu that you will choose from on board. Other cruises will either have a preset menu or offer a buffet with a variety of options. This information will be available when booking online.

Can I bring my own food onboard?

Yes! We encourage our guests to capture their amazing experiences onboard. Please note we prohibit the usage of drones. 

Service animals are allowed onboard. Service animals are defined as animals that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. They are working animals, not pets. Service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered unless these devices interfere with the service animals’ work or the individual’s disability prevents using these devices. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.

Dogs are allowed on Seadog Cruises in Chicago and select pet events in other ports.

Explosives, firearms, illegal substances, or any articles of a dangerous or damaging nature that could be harmful to yourself or others, as determined in our sole discretion, may not be brought onboard any of our vessels.

City Cruises is not affiliated or associated with any fireworks shows or displays and cannot guarantee any fireworks displays for your experience. Therefore, compensation will not be awarded for fireworks displays queries. 

Since water travel involves uncertainties not present in land facilities, City Cruises may, in its sole discretion, remain dockside, substitute vessels, change the course or schedule of the Service, discontinue the Service, or cancel the Service for any reason. City Cruises shall have no liability arising from any such change of course or schedule, change of vessel, discontinuance, cancellation, or other failure to depart from or arrive at any port at the scheduled or announced time.

You can host any kind of event on a City Cruises vessel! We host birthdays, weddings, office parties, anniversaries, bachelor/bachelorette parties, anniversaries, rehearsal dinners, engagement parties, and more. To request more information, visit the Private Events page.

Yes, you can charter a vessel for a private event. We have a variety of boats in our fleet that are perfect for every kind of event.

Do i have to book the whole yacht for my event?

You don’t have to reserve a whole vessel for your event. We host many events and groups of all sizes on our regularly scheduled dining cruises. You can reserve private space on a dining cruise for your event. For more information, visit the Private Events page

The cost of your private event varies by the type of vessel, the kind of event you’re hosting, the size of your group, and what kind of enhancement packages you want to include. For more information on private event pricing and to fill out a form please visit: Private Events

Yes, City Cruises Gananoque operates tours from two port locations. The Gananoque Port (280 Main Street, Gananoque, ON K7G 2M2) offers a 1-Hour 1000 Islands Cruise, 3-Hour 1000 Islands Cruise, and a 5-Hour Boldt Castle Stopover Cruise. The Ivy Lea Port (95 Ivy Lea Road, Lansdowne, ON K0E 1L0) offers a 1-Hour 1000 Islands Cruise with breathtaking views of Heart Island and Boldt Castle (please note: this cruise does not stop at Boldt Castle).

Yes, you can charter a vessel for a private group outing. For private charter bookings, both cash bar and host bar options are available. For food, we offer a special Charter Menu (no outside food or catering is permitted). To inquire about a private charter booking please email [email protected].

For reservations of 1-19, you can manage your reservation through the My Account page on the City Experiences website.

Contactless Payment options of Credit and Debit cards are recommended. Cash is accepted. Please note we do not accept American Express.

No outside food or beverages are permitted; however, our boats are fully licensed and select food & beverage is available for purchase while onboard.

Yes, the port at Gananoque has a land-based restaurant, Dockside Restaurant, serving casual and comfort food. The restaurant is also connected to a Gift Shop featuring City Cruises Gananoque apparel as well as other gifts and souvenirs. Plus, just outside the Restaurant is the Ice-Cream Stop serving cold favourites.

Smoking or vaping of any kind; tobacco, cannabis, or e-juice, is strictly prohibited on our boats or anywhere on our property.

Yes, all main decks of the vessels are wheelchair accessible.

City Cruises Gananoque welcomes guide dogs or service animals on our premises. The service animal is required to always accompany the guest. The guest is responsible for their service animal while on our premises. Service animals are defined as being visibly apparent that the customer requires the animal for reasons relating to a disability. City Cruises Gananoque will request documentation from the guest (i.e., identification card) confirming that the guest requires the animal for reasons relating to a disability. All other animals and pets are not permitted on City Cruises Gananoque property.

Passports are only required for the 5-Hour Boldt Castle stop-over cruise. Please see more details below.

• Passengers on the City Cruises Gananoque Boldt Castle Stop-over Cruise are subject to U.S. Customs & Border Control as Boldt Castle and Singer Castle are located in the U.S.
• Passports, Enhanced Driver’s License and/or Nexus Cards are required for the City Cruises Gananoque Boldt Castle Stop-over Cruise. Birth Certificates for children under the age of 16 may be accepted in lieu of passports.
• Citizens of countries outside of Canada or the U.S. require a visitor’s visa as well as their passport. An approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) will be required as U.S. Customers & Border Control will no longer accept a Visa Waiver Form. Please contact the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for more details. To visit their website click here.
• It is at the discretion of U.S. Customs & Border Control to refuse entry to Boldt Castle to any person(s). In this case, City Cruises Gananoque will not issue any refunds for these instances.

No, the 3-Hour Depths & Discovery Cruise from Gananoque and the 1-Hour Landmarks of the 1000 Islands Cruise from Ivy Lea sail around Heart Island and Boldt Castle but do not stop, therefore passports are not required for these cruises. Please note the 1-Hour Original Heart of the Islands Cruise from Gananoque does not pass Boldt Castle

For your convenience, the price of the Boldt Castle Stopover Cruise includes the Boldt Castle Admission Fee.

• Passengers on the City Cruises Gananoque Boldt Castle Stop-over Cruise are subject to U.S. Customs & Border Control as Boldt Castle and Singer Castle are located in the U.S.
• Valid Passports, Enhanced Driver’s License and/or Nexus Cards are required for the City Cruises Gananoque Boldt Castle Stop-over Cruise. Birth Certificates for children under the age of 16 may be accepted in lieu of passports.
• Citizens of countries outside of Canada or the U.S. require a visitor’s visa as well as their passport. An approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) will be required as U.S. Customers & Border Control will no longer accept a Visa Waiver Form. Please contact the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for more details. To visit their website click here.
• It is at the discretion of U.S. Customs & Border Control to refuse entry to Boldt Castle to any person(s). In this case, City Cruises Gananoque will not issue any refunds for these instances.

• Brunch Cruises during Weekend
• Lunch Cruises during Weekdays
• Dinner Cruises
• Sightseeing Harbour Tours
• Sights and Sips Cocktail Cruises

There are so many fun activities to enjoy near Harbourfront at downtown Toronto.

1. Enjoy Sightseeing Cruises on City Cruises Toronto
2. Visit the Toronto Islands
3. Visit CN Tower
4. Shop and dine in downtown Toronto
5. Have fun at the Centreville Amusement Park
6. Enjoy Dining Cruising with City Cruises Toronto

From boat cruises to island trip and various attractions, you will not be short on options!

Toronto is an amazing city full of attractions, events, and great food. If you are planning on visiting Toronto, make sure to research everything beforehand so you can make the most of your trip! There are plenty of fun things to do in Toronto! For instance, you can visit city’s many attractions and museums, enjoy the diverse food, and drink scene or take part in one of its many annual festivals.  Toronto is known for its various sporting activities too and there is something to enjoy round the year.   Toronto offers something for everyone to enjoy in this vibrant city.  Harbourfront area in downtown Toronto is a popular spot for enjoying various cruises with City Cruises besides host of other activities to keep you busy including visit to the Toronto Islands.

Harbourfront area on the shores of Lake Ontario offers waterfront parks, trails, cruises, restaurants, theatres, and various other attractions. Harbourfont also offer water taxis to the Toronto islands for beaches and Centreville Amusement Park.   The city ferry is also located at the Harbourfront to visit the Toronto islands.  City Cruises operates at the Harbourfront and offer various Sightseeing, Cocktail, Dining and Private cruises. Enjoy a variety of dining and sightseeing cruises or book a private event with City Cruises, along Toronto’s harbourfront while you take in picturesque views of the Iconic Toronto skyline.

Tickets are not required to be printed for boarding of Indy Cruises or Private Events. When boarding an Indy Cruise, please show either a digital or printed ticket with your confirmation number and name. Private Events to not require any form of tickets.

City Cruises Toronto does not own or operate any parking lots in the area. Due to high traffic volume in downtown Toronto and the Harbourfront area, we recommend you take that into consideration when planning your travel time and arrival. For nearby parking options, please review below:

• Harbourfront Centre Parking, 235 Queens Quay, Toronto, ON M5J 2G8
• Southcore Financial Centre, 18 York St, Toronto, ON M5J2T8
• RBC Waterpark Place, 83 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON M5J 2T5

Due to ship-build compliance requirements, our vessels are not fully accessible. The Elite is not accessible. The Oriole can use a ramp to accommodate non-motorized wheelchairs at boarding; however, the bathrooms are located on the lower level. The Northern Spirit can accommodate assisted boarding via the main deck for guests (with limited mobility i.e., walkers) in non-motorized wheelchairs. None of the bathrooms on Oriole, Showboat or Northern Spirit are accessible or have changing stations. The Toronto Odyssey is wheelchair accessible for the main deck (Maple Deck) and has one bathroom that is also wheelchair accessible.

Sightseeing/Lunch cruises are casual. Dinner cruises are business casual. Shirts and shoes must be always worn, and no bathing suits allowed. High heels/stilettos are not recommended on board.

Of course, children are allowed on both lunch and dinner cruises (if the client requests). Limited booster seats available upon request. Some events have age restrictions which guests will be notified of upon booking.

Strollers are permitted on dining cruises. Strollers cannot be kept at the table. The strollers are stowed elsewhere for the duration of the cruise.

Our seating chart is prepared based on the size of the groups onboard. Seating requests are not always guaranteed. We always try our best to accommodate all our groups. A guaranteed window seat can be purchased upon booking.

On all events, beverage service closes at docking, and guests are allowed 30 minutes to disembark.

Once payment is received, cruises are non-refundable unless Ticket Assurance is purchased at the time of booking. We are happy to reschedule your cruise date for the amount paid with 48-hour notice before your scheduled cruise. Cruises are non-refundable and non-transferable within 48 hours of your cruise. We do not compensate for no-shows or late arrivals.

Purchases made with Ticket Assurance may be rescheduled or canceled up to 2 hours prior to the original departure time with a full refund, minus the cost of non-refundable Ticket Assurance. Ticket Assurance is not available on select cruises such as holiday, specialty or partnership cruises, or other experiences as indicated.

All our buffets are completely labelled and can accommodate any major allergy. Vegans and Gluten Free guests have the option of eating from the buffet. If an allergy or dietary restriction of a guest cannot be accommodated with the buffet, we can request a special dish prepared by our chef. For any special meal we must have the guests name and their list of allergies to give to the Chef. With 48hr. notice, guests who follow a kosher diet can select a meal from our kosher caterer to be delivered at an additional charge. The chicken and beef used for the main entrees on our menus is halal.

City Cruises Toronto sails rain or shine. In the case of severe weather conditions or upon the direction of Transport Canada, we will remain dockside, but provide the full dining service. The dining areas on all our vessels are completely enclosed.

Typically, this is not an issue. We stay in the calm inner harbor traveling at most 7-10 knots. If you are very sensitive to sea sickness than please take the necessary precautions before boarding.  We do not offer any motion sickness medication on board.

The Northern Spirit, Elite and Toronto Odyssey are the only vessels to offer full heating on board during the colder months. During the hotter months the Northern Spirit, Elite, Showboat and Toronto Odyssey offer climate-controlled air-conditioning.

The Water Taxi is operated by a separate privately owned company. To coordinate guests arriving/leaving via water taxi, the taxi will need to be booked by the guest who will then communicate the time of the booking to the coordinator. The coordinator will communicate the arrival time of the water taxi to the on-board manager and captains so that they can ensure the vessel is in the inner harbour to meet up with the water taxi. *Water Taxis are subject to availability at the discretion of the water taxi company. Their services are weather dependent and seasonally available.

We aim to fill bellies and minds and so our tours are so much more than a just a tasting experience! Your guide will tell you about the city, its history, monuments, and food evolution. During your experience you will learn loads about local culinary history, the current food scene, typical plates, and ingredients.

All tour tickets must be purchased in advance through this website. We don’t allow walk-ups or cash payments on the day. You can book a tour through this website up until one hour before the tour start time. But our tours do often sell out in advance, and we’d hate you to miss out so to ensure you get the time and date you want, please book well in advance.

If you’d like an invoice, please contact us at BEFORE purchasing and we’d be happy to arrange this for you.

When you book your tour through our secure booking system, you will be able to pay with credit card.

Yes, always. We use a secure connection and your personal data and credit card details are encrypted. Our secure server uses ‘Secure Socket Layer’ (SSL) technology, the online industry’s standard. Our SSL certificate has been issued by Cloudflare.

Of course you can! One of the great things about our tours is the chance to meet other fellow foodies. If you’re still the only one booked 36~48 hours before your tour, we’ll get in touch with you to offer a couple of options: switching to a different tour that has other guests booked on or a full refund.

We love having curious kids and their parents on our daytime tours! Keep in mind that there is a fair bit of walking involved and the samples may not always be what children are used to. Any doubts, just get in touch.

Children under 5 who won’t be eating can come along free of charge on our small-group tours! Just make a note when booking so we know they’ll be joining you. We remind parents that strollers can be cumbersome on the small streets and there’s often no room for them in the eateries, so please use carriers for babies when possible.

Finally, please note that most of our evening tours are for adults 18 and over.

Given the traditional and often small establishments we visit, we’re unable to exceed the guest limits on a tour. But please get in touch and we’ll let you know what your options are.

There’s no official waiting list. If a tour is full, please feel free to contact us and we’ll see if we can open another tour.

Our tours start right on time so that the food doesn’t get cold. When you book a tour you will receive an email confirmation from us with the meeting details for that tour. It is essential to be on time (we recommend arriving 15 minutes early) as we are unable to wait for latecomers, and you will not be able to catch up to the group. Late arrivals and no-shows are nonrefundable. This is applicable to any tour participant that fails to arrive, or arrives after a tour’s departure.

There are bathrooms are stops throughout each tour (though not necessarily at all stops). Please check with your guide.

Not only are they allowed, they’re encouraged! And please share your experience with us by tagging any pictures with our social media accounts!

Our tours do include some time to shop at certain food shops, however unscheduled stops are discouraged for the sake of finishing the tour on time and out of respect to other guests. If you’d like to return to any shops or stops for shopping after the tour, please ask your guide for directions.

Grab an umbrella and get ready for some delicious food! Our tours are held rain or shine. Please check the conditions and dress appropriately.

Unfortunately, due to small alleyways and multilevel restaurants, our tours are not wheelchair or baby stroller accessible.

Gratuities are greatly appreciated, although never expected nor mandatory. The standard gratuity in the tour industry is 10-15%.

Currently our small group tours are offered exclusively in English, but if you would like a private experience in another language, please get in touch and we can see if it is possible to accommodate your group.

All payment must be made by credit card, either over the phone with our Customer Service agents or directly through our website’s booking engine, which transmits your credit card data securely and assures you the highest level of protection. Our guides cannot accept cash as payment for your tour.

Our tours are all-inclusive packages that include all tickets and reservations fees in advance, often with exclusive early access or “skip the line” privileges to avoid long waits and cannot be used with other tickets or passes to the various museums and historical sites included.

It means the tour price listed on our website includes all tickets, reservations, and entrance fees. There won’t be any nasty surprises on the day of your tour, so you could leave your wallet at home (unless you felt like tipping your tour guide or grabbing a snack after your tour.)

It’s really up to you. If you enjoyed your tour and feel like you received exemplary service from your guide, it is customary to leave a tip at the end of the tour. It’s not obligatory though and we won’t hold it against you if you don’t – nor will your guide.

You can view a complete summary of our policy here.  For any further questions about our cancellation policy, please feel free to chat with us.. Contact Walks via telephone: From the US (toll-free): +1-888-683-8670, or International: +1-202-684-6916.

Yes! You can purchase a gift card on our website here.

True to our name, most of our tours involve walking for at least half, if not the majority of the time. With the exception of a few of our day trips, driving tours, or boat excursions, you can expect to walk a fair amount. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.

Want to tour with us but concerned about keeping up with the group’s pace? For any further questions about our cancellation policy, please feel free to chat with us.. Contact Walks via telephone: From the US (toll-free): +1-888-683-8670, or International: +1-202-684-6916 and we may be able to arrange a private tour just for you and your group.

Every tour is different but for the most part, those with mobility limitations have difficulties on a group tour for a variety of reasons. Our group tours utilize multiple areas that are not accessible like staircases, narrow passages, and uneven surfaces of archeological sites.

That doesn’t mean it’s a hard no on every one of our tours. First, check the FAQ section of the tour page on our website. Usually, we communicate whether a site is accessible for those with mobility limitations there.

For Walks of Italy, we are unable to accommodate wheelchairs on most of our group tours for a variety of reasons. For example, at the Vatican Museums, wheelchair users are required to follow a different route not accessible to those not in wheelchairs. At the Colosseum, lifts are often out of order, requiring more complicated solutions. In most cases we can serve wheelchair users on a pre-arrange private tour (subject to availability), to allow the guide to adapt the route to their particular requirements. Please do get in touch with us before you book, however, and be aware that guests are responsible for propelling their own chairs – guides will be unable to do this.

For some tours, we can arrange a private tour modified with any limitations in mind. Please reach out to us via chat if you would like to discuss this possibility. Contact Walks via telephone: From the US (toll-free): +1-888-683-8670, or International: +1-202-684-6916 and we may be able to arrange a private tour just for you and your group.

Every tour is different but for the most part, those with mobility limitations have difficulties on a group tour for a variety of reasons. Our group tours utilize multiple areas that are not accessible like staircases, narrow passages, and uneven surfaces of archeological sites.

That doesn’t mean it’s a hard no on every one of our tours. First, check the FAQ section of the tour page on our website. Usually, we communicate whether a site is accessible for those with mobility limitations there.

Every tour is different but for the most part, strollers are difficult on a group tour. Some sites won’t allow strollers inside, while driving tours and day trips don’t have extra storage space within the vehicle.

That doesn’t mean it’s a hard no on every one of our tours. If you contact us, we can see if we can arrange something.

When a stroller is allowed, please ensure it is small, lightweight, and foldable.

It’s hard to say and differs from one tour to another. For our most popular or limited-availability tours; such as the VIP Colosseum Tour, Alone in St. Mark’s Basilica, the Pristine Sistine, Best of Milan with Last Supper Tickets, or the Rome Pasta-Making Class; we would recommend booking as soon as you can as these services often sell out months in advance. Other services such as our walking tours or regular food tours (not the cooking class) can usually be booked two to three weeks in advance, and we may have space on a standard Vatican or Colosseum tour a few days in advance – or even on the day of running! If you know what tour you want to book though, we would always say to book as soon as you can.

We don’t maintain a waitlist as we receive so many requests, we simply can’t follow up properly with everyone. We recommend checking periodically to see if space becomes available on a sold-out tour.

When we have space! If you can’t book on our website, a tour may be off-sale because it’s within a day or two of the start time.

Every tour requires a few items to be best prepared.

• Comfortable shoes. We #takewalks so making sure you can navigate along uneven surfaces, dirt paths, cobblestone, etc. is essential.
• Water. Humans need water so we suggest bringing some along!
• Sunshield. A hat, sunglasses, parasol, and/or sunscreen will help in those warmer months.  There are several attractions that are not well shaded.
• Weather shield. A coat, rain jacket, and/or umbrella, and layers are suggested for cooler months. (Remember our tours run rain or shine!)
• Photo ID. Some tours/sites require photo ID with date of birth on it.
• Confirmation ID. Make sure this is easily accessible.
• Student ID. If you booked a student ticket, you will need to provide your student ID.

We strongly encourage you to print your confirmation letter, mostly because it contains valuable information regarding the meeting point, Walks’ contact details, photos, and maps to help you get there. Those tech-savvy individuals might want to bookmark it on your phone so you can easily pull it up for your own reference.

A physical or digital copy of this confirmation email is not required to join your tour. Your guide (or tour coordinator) will have your name in our database so if you know the name on the booking, you’re set!

Our tours run rain or shine, and our guides are great at navigating through various weather conditions to ensure you’re as comfortable as possible. They will find shade where they can, overhangs to pause under – stuff like that.

On very rare occasions if the weather is particularly dramatic some sites may close (e.g. the Colosseum may close in case of flooding). If time allows and we have prior warning, we will contact you as soon as we find out.

Due to the religious nature of holy sites such as churches and catacombs, all individuals regardless of gender and age must cover their shoulders and knees.
During warmer seasons, you can bring extra covering (scarves, sweaters, sarongs, etc.) to put on just before entering.

True to our name, we #takewalks! Most of our tours involve walking for at least half, if not the majority of the time. We strongly recommend wearing comfortable shoes where you can navigate a variety of surfaces including cobblestone, pavement, dirt pathways, and city streets.

Once you book, you will receive an email confirmation. This confirmation will show you the meeting point address, a short description of how to locate once at that address, and a meeting time. We meet for a tour 15 minutes prior to the tour start time so we can get everyone checked in, and ready to #takewalks!

We generally (with a few exceptions) use meeting points that can be easily located on Google Maps.

Here is an example:

Meeting Point: Via delle Terme di Tito, 72 (Oppio Caffè) Meet directly across the street from Oppio Caffè at the gated entrance to Colle Oppio Park.

This meeting point is located at Via delle Terme di Tito 72 which you can easily put into Google Maps and find the exact location. Then once you arrive at that address (which is Oppio Caffè), you would look across the street to the gates of Colle Oppio park and see your guide waiting for you!

Your guide (or a tour coordinator) will be at the meeting point 15 minutes prior to the tour start time. They will be holding a sign with the Walks logo and the words “MEET HERE” on it.

Our meeting point sign looks something like this:

We understand you might have trouble getting around a new city. We strongly recommend allowing plenty of time to arrive for your tour – but things happen.

Please note that we ask all guests to arrive at the tour meeting point at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start time of their tour.

If you have difficulty finding the meeting point or are delayed along the way, please call any of the following emergency numbers: the emergency phone number in Italy, +39-069-480-4888 or for tours in Paris, +33-176-36-0101 not our regular Customer Service number.

If you are running late, it’s best to contact us so we can reach out to your guide.
This is not always possible for all tours – our guides are with other clients and are already on the tour (we ask them not to use their phones during their tour). But in some cases, a few minutes delay can be remedied. Most times, guides leave the meeting point within 5 minutes of the tour start time.

In some cases, we may be able to reschedule your tour with a small amendment fee depending on availability. You must contact us within 24 hours of the missed tour to make this amendment.

Thanks in advance for thinking of us! Headsets are a valuable asset to us and the sites we visit. We typically can arrange to pick up the headset from your hotel if you have already left the tour area. For any further questions about our cancellation policy, please feel free to chat with us.  Or, contact Walks via telephone: From the US (toll-free): +1-888-683-8670, or International: +1-202-684-6916 as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept private requests at this time. To provide the highest quality services, we devote our resources to small group tours to guarantee an intimate and personal experience and the best possible value for our clients. If you require a wheelchair itinerary, please reach out to us.

Yes. Our tours are all given in English. We don’t offer multi-language tours, which means you’ll never have to wait while a tour guide speaks first in English, then in German, then in Italian. (Believe us, it happens!)

We do our very best to accommodate dietary restrictions – we know food is important to everyone! We do need a heads-up of your dietary needs well before your tour so it is best to contact us as soon as you book – feel free to email us at [email protected]. Contact Walks via telephone: From the US (toll-free): +1-888-683-8670, or International: +1-202-684-6916.

In some instances, substitutions are just not possible. For example, our Pasta Making Class, by its nature, is not suitable for celiacs nor is the pizza-making part of our Rome Food Tour.

For guests with severe food allergies, we recommend avoid taking a food tour and being very careful with all food in a foreign country, which isn’t always labeled to U.S.-standards.

Not only do we love art, history, and culture – we LOVE food. Our guides are all locals who want you to have an incredible experience while visiting their city. They would be delighted to point you in the direction of their favorite spots in the area. Just ask them!

Dress code at Catholic churches and religious sites (such as the catacombs) requires that both women and men cover their shoulders and knees. In summer we recommend that men wear t-shirts and long shorts that cover their knees. For women, if you are wearing a strapless top or dress, bring a cardigan. If you are wearing shorts, we recommend bringing a sarong to wrap around you inside.

Due to a new set of rules, you may only carry a small backpack or handbag inside the Colosseum. As there is no bag storage at the Colosseum, guests who bring large bags on their tour may be unable to join their group. All visitors undertake a more thorough security check at the Colosseum, which can cause delays.

YES! Any tour that covers the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill include a lot of walking (that applies even more to our Best of Rome tour). Our tours shouldn’t present too much of a challenge to anyone with a normal fitness level in good health. If you want to visit the Colosseum but are concerned about the activity levels, consider our Colosseum by Night Tour.

Probably not. Our Crypts, Bones & Catacombs Tour includes a visit to the Rome Catacombs, which are a series of long underground passages. While they are quite open and moderately well-lit (and perfectly safe), they may not be suitable for anyone with particularly bad claustrophobia. If you think you are likely to experience panic in these situations, we recommend that you do not opt for this particular tour.

Seeing all of Rome in a single day is pretty tiring. We do leave time for a lunch break during which you can rest, and our guides are always very conscious to pace our tours to suit your group. For guests with a normal fitness level and good health, it won’t be too much but if someone in your party has issues with mobility or fitness, we would recommend that you take the Best of Rome and Vatican Highlights on separate days, to give you time to rest in between.

Our Rome Food Tour can be tailored to suit most dietary requirements so long as you give us enough notice to prepare. The pizza-making section of the tour is not suitable for coeliacs. Our Pasta-Making Class, by its nature, is not suitable for coeliacs but should be okay for everyone else. While we will do our best to accommodate guests with food preferences or allergies, please note that it will not always be possible to make a substitution – for example the bread, meat and cheese shop on the Rome Food Tour will always be visited and tastings cannot be substituted. For guests with severe food allergies, we recommend not taking a food tour and being very careful with all food in Italy, which isn’t always labeled to U.S.-standards.

The Vatican Museums have a very strict dress code, requiring that all visitors cover their shoulders and knees. Men should be careful to wear long shorts, while women should wear skirts beneath the knee or trousers. If you are wearing a sleeveless top, please bring a cardigan with you. Guests who arrive at the Museums without the appropriate dress may be refused entry.

According to Vatican Museum rules, only small bags can be brought inside the Museums. Handbags and small backpacks (no larger than 40cm x 35cm x 25cm) may be carried inside but anything larger than that, plus large umbrellas, must be checked at the cloakroom. Items may be left at the cloakroom without charge but please note that you must return to this spot to collect your belongings before 5pm or return the following day. As our tours mostly end at St. Peter’s Basilica this is quite inconvenient, as you will be required to walk about 20 minutes from there back to the entrance of the Museums. In the case of our Vatican Highlights Tour, guests may have to leave the tour early to reach the cloakroom before it closes and will not be able to visit St. Peter’s Basilica.

All of our Vatican tours start at an easy-to-find location near the entrance to the Museums. In the case of our Pristine Sistine, and Full Day Vatican tours, you will end at St. Peter’s Basilica, which is a 20-minute walk from the entrance to the Museums. For our Vatican Highlights Tour, you have a choice. Your tour ends inside the Sistine Chapel where you are welcome to stay or continue exploring the Museums. Alternatively, follow your guide for special skip-the-line access to St. Peter’s Basilica.

Yes. All of our Vatican tours include skip-the-line access as standard. This means that we use the special group entrance with pre-reserved timed-entry tickets, so you’ll never have to wait in long general access lines. For extra special entry, check out our Pristine Sistine Tour. Any of our group tours that visit St. Peter’s Basilica also include skip-the-line access there.

Most do – our Pristine Sistine, Complete Vatican, and Full Day Vatican tours include guided tours of St. Peter’s Basilica and, although our Vatican Highlights Tour doesn’t include a guided tour, you can follow your guide for special skip-the-line access, getting you inside the basilica to explore on your own. Please note, however, that St. Peter’s Basilica is a functioning church and is often used for religious ceremonies. The basilica is therefore closed on occasion without previous warning. In these cases, we do endeavor to warn you and your guide will provide you with a longer tour inside the Vatican Museums.

Please note that St. Peter’s Basilica is closed most Wednesdays when the Papal Audience takes place in St. Peter’s Square.

No, non, ne, nee, absolutely not. And the Sistine Chapel guards are scary, so we don’t recommend trying it.

No. Tours of the Vatican Scavi (a.k.a. the Vatican Necropolis) may only be booked directly through the Vatican authority responsible for caring for them. Access is limited to only a few groups a day and tours are in huge demand though, so we recommend booking a few months before your trip where possible. For reservations email [email protected].

We don’t – nor should anyone else! Tickets to the Papal Audience are provided free by the Vatican. Tickets are sometimes available from the Swiss Guard at the entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica, by the bronze doors, between the hours of 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm the day before. Tickets are limited to only 10 per person however and are not guaranteed.

Yes! All Walks of Italy services will run rain or shine. On some very rare occasions, when the weather is particularly dramatic, some sites may be closed. In these cases, we will try to contact you in advance, where possible.

Although you are unable to carry large backpacks around the Doge’s Palace, there is a free bag check at the entrance. Feel free to leave handbags and purses here too and collect them after your tour.

Unfortunately, children under the age of 6 years old are not allowed to join the Doge’s Palace Secret Passages tour due to Doge’s Palace safety policy.

The Doge’s Palace Secret Passages Tour visits the secret archives and hidden passages of the Palace. This means that the tour does enter some small, relatively dark spaces between rooms. If you are nervous of this or suffer from claustrophobia, we advise that you don’t take this tour.

There is no AC, so the passages can become quite hot over the course of the Doge’s Palace Secret Passages Tour.

At St. Mark’s Basilica, as at all Catholic churches and religious sites, visitors are asked to cover their shoulders and knees. For men this means long shorts or trousers, while women should wear long skirts or trousers. If you are wearing shorter shorts, please bring a sarong or similar to cover up. If your top is sleeveless, we recommend that you bring a cardigan.

With enough notice, we can tailor our Venice Food Tour to suit most dietary requirements, although this tour is not suitable at all for coeliacs. Please contact our Customer Service team at [email protected] as far in advance as possible to allow us to prepare. While we will do our best to accommodate guests with food preferences or allergies, please note that it will not always be possible to make a substitution, so that guests may enjoy fewer tastings than others. As we are visiting local businesses, we cannot guarantee that there may not be traces of some ingredients. If you have a very severe allergy, we recommend that you do not take our food tour and that you are particularly careful in Italy, where food is often not marked to U.S. standards.

That depends on where you’re going! Venice gondolas are best for the atmosphere and travel quite slowly. They are therefore best for the small quiet back canals of the city. If you are traveling between two points, however, or want to tour busier waterways such as the Grand Canal and the wider lagoon, we’d recommend a motorboat.

Dress code at Catholic churches and religious sites requires that both women and men cover their shoulders and knees. In summer we recommend that men wear t-shirts and long shorts that cover their knees. For women, if you are wearing a strapless top or dress, bring a cardigan. If you are wearing shorts, we recommend bringing a sarong to wrap around you inside.

Currently, you can. Guards at the Accademia have relaxed rules around photography inside the gallery so you are allowed to take photos of David, although we cannot guarantee how long this will last.

With enough notice, we can tailor our Florence Food Tour to suit most dietary requirements. Please contact our Customer Service team at [email protected]

as far in advance as possible to allow us to prepare. While we will do our best to accommodate guests with food preferences or allergies, please note that it will not always be possible to make a substitution, so that guests may enjoy fewer tastings than others. As we are visiting local businesses, we cannot guarantee that there may not be traces of some ingredients. If you have a very severe allergy, we recommend that you do not take our food tour and that you are particularly careful in Italy, where food is often not marked to U.S. standards.