For those who travel to Europe once in a lifetime and wish to see the maximum, from London to Vienna to Rome to Madrid and Paris, this is THE vacation to explore the European continent. Visit many of the famous cities and sights in Europe with two-night stays in London, Lucerne, Vienna, Venice, Rome, Nice, Barcelona, Madrid, and Paris. Then there’s the high-speed Eurostar train ride from London to Brussels, a canal cruise in Amsterdam, a Rhine cruise, the Black Forest, the Rhine Falls, Liechtenstein, Innsbruck, a walking tour with a Local Guide in Salzburg, a private boat transfer in Venice, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, St. Paul de Vence, Arles, Burgos, Bilbao with a visit to the Guggenheim Museum, Biarritz, and Bordeaux. From Bordeaux, take the high-speed “TGV” train to Paris. Sightseeing tours in all major cities include the major sights, as well as highlight features such as the Doges’ Palace in Venice, the Colosseum and Sistine Chapel in Rome, Michelangelo’s David in Florence, the Prado Museum in Madrid, and a ride up to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. On this tour, you see all the European continental coasts: the English Channel, the North Sea coast, the Italian and French Rivieras, and the Bay of Biscay. This vacation across ten European countries will leave you with memories and stories to last a lifetime!

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Tour Itinerary

Day 1

Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2 Arrival in London

The London Eye, also known as the Millennium Wheel, England
Uniformed Hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.

Day 3 London

Sightseeing with a Local Guide includes all the famous landmarks: Knightsbridge with Harrods  Story , the Houses of Parliament

Overlooking The Houses of Parliament along the north bank of the Thames River and Big Ben  Story aboutHouses of Parliament , Whitehall’s mounted horseguards and Buckingham Palace  Story aboutBuckingham Palace. Highlights are a visit to ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL and the ceremonial pageantry of the Changing of the Guard  Story aboutChanging of the Guard, if held. Afternoon at leisure. (B)

Day 4 London–Brussels

View the magnificent Gothic and Baroque architecture on the Grand Place in Brussels, Belgium
Meet your Tour Director and travel companions and transfer to the railway station to board the EUROSTAR TRAIN to Brussels, proud capital of Belgium and the European Union. Enjoy a walk to GRAND’ PLACE with its baroque guild houses and gothic Town Hall, and famous Manneken Pis. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel. (B,D)

Day 5 Brussels–Amsterdam

Enjoy the lovely canals of Amsterdam, Holland

Antwerp’s Grote Markt is still the heart of the old city

and into the Netherlands. In Amsterdam visit a major DIAMOND CENTER to appreciate how a rough mineral is transformed into a sparkling jewel. Next, enjoy a CANAL CRUISE, the best way to see the 700-year-old capital. Afternoon free. An optional excursion to the quaint fishing village of Volendam can be arranged. (B,D)

Day 6 Amsterdam–Heidelberg, Germany  Story aboutMark Twain's Heidelberg–Rhineland

Germany’s amazing landscapes along the Rhine river

A passing glance at the Dutch region best known as the locale of A Bridge Too Far on the way to Germany. During your break in Cologne Pay a visit to Cologne’s awesome gothic cathedral, visit the awesome twin-spired gothic CATHEDRAL. The afternoon’s highlight is a romantic RHINE CRUISE  Story aboutA Short Wine Guide, famous for its red-walled castle. (B,D)

Day 7 Rhineland–Lucerne, Switzerland

Enjoy some time in the wonderful town of Lucerne

A scenic day! Morning stop in the lush valleys and pine-clad hills of the BLACK FOREST

The Black Forest in southwestern Germany, renowned for its cuckoo clocks. On the Swiss border, take your pictures of the thundering RHINE FALLS, then continue to picture-book Lucerne. (B,D)

Day 8 Lucerne

Admire Thorwaldsen’s LION MONUMENT  Story aboutLion Monument on your walking tour of the Old Town, then, cross the famous covered CHAPEL BRIDGE

The iconic Chapel Bridge in Lucerne is the oldest wooden bridge in Europe

to the Jesuit Church. Afterwards, shop for Swiss watches and choose from our optional activities: climb a mountain by cable car or take a cruise on the fjord-like lake. Why not sign up for a folklore party with yodeling and alphorn blowing for a first-hand impression of Alpine merrymaking? (B)

Day 9 Lucerne–Liechtenstein–Innsbruck

Enjoy some time exploring the beautiful Innsbruck–Salzburg
The Hohensalzburg Fortress is the largest fully preserved fortress in Europe, Austria
A church on an Austrian mountaintop In the morning, stop for a short visit of Vaduz, capital of the the pocket-sized Principality of Liechtenstein on your way to Innsbruck, Austria’s Olympic resort in the Tyrolean mountains

View the majestic mountains of the Tyrolean Valley. Enjoy a pleasant walk through its quaint medieval lanes to Emperor Maximilian’s GOLDEN ROOF. In the afternoon, take the scenic route to Salzburg. (B,D)

Enjoy a walking tour with a Local Guide through the historic center to admire exquisite MIRABELL GARDENS

Visit the world famous Mirabell Gardens, the Great Festival Hall, ST. PETER’S CHURCHYARD, the monumental Domplatz, and take pictures of Mozart’s birthplace. Then, travel past the Sound of Music country to the Danube Valley and Vienna. (B)

Day 11 Vienna

Sightseeing with a Local Guide features vistas of Prater Park

Visit Vienna's famous ferris wheel, also known as the Riesenrad

with its Ferris wheel and the United Nations City on the Danube. Pass the State Opera House, the Jewish quarter, and stop at the Hofburg Palace, winter residence of the Imperial family. Marvel at the impressive courtyards and famous Heldenplatz, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral View the Romanesque and Gothic architecture of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. A special visit to the STRAUSS HOUSE is included and an optional excursion to Schönbrunn Palace is available. (B)

Day 12 Vienna–Venice

Venice is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Italy
Scenic Semmering Pass, stately Styrian crossroad towns, and Carinthian lakes and resorts provide the ever-changing Alpine backdrop to today’s journey through the loveliest parts of Austria to the northern tip of the Adriatic Sea. Tonight is your chance to sample Venetian fare. (B)

Day 13 Venice

Enter in style by PRIVATE BOAT to meet your Local Guide. Highlights of your walking tour are ST. MARK’S SQUARE and the byzantine BASILICA, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS  Story aboutBridge of Sighs. Also watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects. Later, enjoy Venice at your own pace  Story aboutVenice or join an optional gondola ride. (B,D)

A scenic drive through the fertile northern plains, across the wooded Apennines and the wine- and olive-clad Tuscan hills, home of Chianti, brings you to the “Eternal City.” (B)

Day 15 Rome

Sightseeing with your Local Guide starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS  Story aboutVatican Museums

The Sistine Chapel is world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings and The Last Judgement. Continue to monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA. Cross the Tiber and visit the COLOSSEUM  Story aboutThe Colosseum and the ROMAN FORUM  Story aboutThe Roman Forum, where Roman legions marched in triumph. Then, time for independent activities and exciting optional excursion possibilities. (B)

Day 16 Rome–Florence

See the vineyard covered hillsides of Tuscany

Drive to Florence, “Cradle of the Renaissance.” Enjoy your walking tour with a Local Guide and visit Michelangelo’s celebrated David in the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS, the magnificent CATHEDRAL, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE  Story aboutLa Piazza Della Signoria. Also check out the shops with Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry. (B,D)

Day 17 Tuscany**–Pisa  Story aboutPisa–Nice, France

Focus on Pisa this morning for pictures of its amazing Leaning Tower. Then, a scenic drive past a string of Italian and French Riviera

Take in the beautiful sites of the French Riviera resorts towards the Principality of Monaco. Follow the panoramic Moyenne Corniche and stop at one of the famous PERFUME FACTORIES before arriving in Nice. (B)

Day 18 Nice. Excursion to St. Paul de Vence

This morning visit the picturesque hilltop town of St. Paul de Vence. Then a lazy afternoon to dabble in the blue Mediterranean or stroll along the elegant Promenade des Anglais. Tonight, an optional excursion is available to Monte Carlo. (B)

Day 19 Nice–Arles–Barcelona

The gorgeous shores of Barcelona, Spain

Follow in Van Gogh’s footsteps on your way to Arles, where he painted more than 300 canvases. Walk to the famous Roman Amphitheater and enjoy time to stroll around and browse through the shops. Next, continue through the endless vineyards of the Languedoc-Roussillon, stretching most of the way to the Spanish border. Overnight in Barcelona, the proud capital of Catalonia. (B,D)

Day 20 Barcelona

Sightseeing with a Local Guide features the Columbus Monument Columbus Monument, elegant tree-lined Ramblas and Plaza de Cataluna, historic buildings along Paseo de Gracia, the Church of the Holy Family, a panoramic view of the city and harbor from Montjuïc Hill, and a visit to the CATHEDRAL OF SANTA EULALIA. Afternoon at leisure. (B)

Day 21 Barcelona–Madrid

The Plaza de Toros in Madrid

Rustic Catalonian and Aragonian landscapes on your journey to the fertile Ebro Valley. Then, wind your way through three sierras to Madrid on the plateau of Castile. (B)

Day 22 Madrid

The capital of Spain since 1561, Madrid today is a strikingly modern city, the showcase of a country resolutely turned towards the future. Sightseeing with a Local Guide features the Puerta del Sol, Plaza de España with its monument to Cervantes, the Parliament, Cibeles Fountain

View the stunning Cibeles Fountain in Madrid, elegant Calle Alcala, and Paseo de Castellana. Then the highlight: a visit to the palatial PRADO MUSEUM
The Prado Museum features renowned collections of European art dating from the Romanesque through the Impressionistic era

with its priceless art treasures. Afternoon at leisure. Tonight your Tour Director will suggest a typical Spanish dinner. (B)

Day 23 Madrid–Burgos–Bilbao

North to Burgos for a short visit, then, continue to Bilbao for a guided visit to the famous GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM. (B,D)

Day 24 Bilbao–Biarritz, France–Bordeaux

Back into France. Visit Biarritz, an ancient fishing village turned trendy seaside resort. Skirt the sandy dunes and swamps of the Landes region in Gascony on the way to Bordeaux. An orientation tour on arrival acquaints you with this historic port. (B,D)

Day 25 Bordeaux–Paris

This morning the high-speed “TGV” TRAIN whisks you to Paris. Afternoon at leisure to explore the world capital of chic and style  Story aboutFrench Fashion at your own pace: shop for perfume and fancy fashion accessories, or join an optional excursion to the lavish baroque Palace of Versailles. (B)

Day 26 Paris

Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide includes the most famous sights: the Opéra, Louvre  Story aboutLouvre Notre Dame Cathedral  Story aboutNotre Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe standing in the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle and Champs-Elysées. For a bird’s-eye view, take the elevator to the second floor of Paris most famous landmark: the EIFFEL TOWER  Story aboutEiffel Tower. An optional excursion to the famous Louvre Museum is available, and tonight, a lively cabaret show might just be the ticket! (B)

Day 27

Your homebound flight from Paris arrives the same day. (B)

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