Itinerary
- Day 1
Rome
You'll arrive at Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport and head to your hotel in Rome. The rest of the day is open for you to wander around the city at your own pace. Later in the evening, you'll meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers for dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Savour a dinner accompanied by the rich tremolo of some of Italy's best-loved operas)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Bettoja Massimo D'Azeglio, Rome)
Included Activities
- Dinner with Travel Director
- Day 2
Rome
Start the morning with a walking tour led by a Local Expert through Rome's iconic sites. You'll toss a coin at Trevi Fountain and check out the Pantheon, then have free time to spend in Piazza Navona. That evening, you'll get an exclusive after-hours visit to the Basilica of Saint Praxedes with the Rector, where you can see the 9th-century Byzantine mosaics lit up specially for the group.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Bettoja Massimo D'Azeglio, Rome)
Included Activities
- Morning walking tour with Local Expert including Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and Piazza Navona
- Private visit to Basilica of Saint Praxedes with Rector
Landmarks Trevi Fountain Pantheon Piazza Navona Basilica of Saint Praxedes - Day 3
Rome to Florence
Your Local Expert guides you through Vatican State, starting at the Vatican Museums with fast-track entry so you'll skip the crowds. You'll see Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling, then drive through Umbria and Tuscany to Florence. There you'll visit the Duomo with its Gates of Paradise and walk through Piazza della Signoria to see the Renaissance sculptures and buildings.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Bettoja Massimo D'Azeglio, Rome), Hotel (Villa Neroli, Florence)
Included Activities
- Visit Vatican Museums with fast-track entry
- Sistine Chapel visit
- Travel through Umbria and Tuscany to Florence
- Duomo visit with Local Expert
- Piazza della Signoria exploration
Landmarks Vatican Museums Sistine Chapel Florence Cathedral (Duomo) Gates of Paradise Piazza della Signoria - Day 4
Florence to Rapallo (Italian Riviera)
You'll travel to the Italian Riviera and explore Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a Local Expert. A boat brings you to one of the fishing villages where you can wander the medieval streets or relax on the beach. From there, head to your resort on the Italian Riviera for an authentic Italian dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Authentic Italian cuisine)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (B and B Park Hotel Suiss, Santa Margherita Ligure), Hotel (B&B Park Suisse Santa Margherita Ligure)
Included Activities
- Cinque Terre exploration with Local Expert
- Boat visit to one of the fishing villages (weather permitting)
- Dinner with authentic Italian cuisine
Landmarks Cinque Terre - Day 5
Rapallo to Lucerne
Travel north from the Italian Riviera, passing Milan and the Italian Lake District by way of Lake Lugano. You'll go through the Saint Gotthard Tunnel, one of the world's longest road tunnels, into the Swiss Alps. After passing through mountains and valleys, you'll reach Lake Lucerne with time to relax this afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Astoria Lucerne)
Landmarks Lake Lugano Saint Gotthard Tunnel Lake Lucerne - Day 6
Lucerne
This morning, take an open-roof solar-powered cable car up Mount Stanserhorn for views of the Alps and chances to see marmots. A Swiss ranger gives a talk about conservation in the region. Back in Lucerne, you'll see the Lion Monument carved into rock, the Chapel Bridge, and the Baroque Jesuit Church, with leisure time after. This evening, choose from several fine restaurants for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dine-Around evening - choose from a selection of fine restaurants and hand-pick your preferred ambience, cuisine and drinks for an intimate culinary experience)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Astoria Lucerne)
Included Activities
- Mount Stanserhorn cable car experience with solar-powered open-roof deck
- Scenic pathways and wildlife viewing
- Conservation talk by Swiss ranger
- Lion Monument visit
- Chapel Bridge stroll
- Baroque Jesuit Church visit
Landmarks Mount Stanserhorn Lion Monument Chapel Bridge Jesuit Church - Day 7
Lucerne to Paris
You'll drive through the rural Burgundy countryside known for its vineyards, heading into Paris. During a city drive, you'll see the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, the Seine with its bridges, Place de la Concorde, and the Champs-Élysées leading to the Arc de Triomphe. Your evening is free to explore, or you can catch one of the city's famous cabaret shows.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Le Méridien Etoile, Paris), Hotel (Le Meridien Paris Arc de Triomphe)
Included Activities
- Sightseeing including Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Louvre, Seine banks, Place de la Concorde, Champs-Élysées, and Arc de Triomphe
Optional Activities
- Visit world-famous cabaret shows
Landmarks Eiffel Tower Notre-Dame Cathedral Louvre Seine River Place de la Concorde Champs-Élysées Arc de Triomphe - Day 8
Paris
You'll choose between two activities this morning. Either walk through the Montorgueil district to experience local life, or join a food lover to visit small shops and sample French patisseries, boulangeries, and chocolatiers. That evening, you'll have dinner at L'Alsace, the iconic restaurant once frequented by entertainer Josephine Baker.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Refined French cuisine at the iconic restaurant L'Alsace)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Le Méridien Etoile, Paris), Hotel (Le Meridien Paris Arc de Triomphe)
Included Activities
- Dinner at iconic restaurant L'Alsace with refined French cuisine
Optional Activities
- Insight Choice - Explore Montorgueil district with community focus
- Insight Choice - Join local food lover on walk through Paris to visit patisseries, boulangeries and chocolatiers and sample local treats and delicacies
Landmarks Montorgueil District L'Alsace Restaurant - Day 9
Paris to London
Say goodbye to your fellow travelers as the trip wraps up. You'll take the high-speed Eurostar train back to London, and from there get transferred to the Insight Vacations London hotel where your journey ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast
