Itinerary
- Day 1
London
You'll arrive in London and check into your hotel this afternoon. After settling in, the rest of the day is yours to do what you'd like. Consider taking a walk along the Serpentine in Hyde Park if you want something relaxing, or head to Knightsbridge to check out the boutiques. Tower Bridge and Tower of London are also nearby if you're interested in seeing those.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Thistle Marble Arch, London)
Optional Activities
- Walk along the Serpentine in Hyde Park
- Shop in the elegant boutiques of Knightsbridge
- Stroll along the Thames to Tower Bridge and Tower of London
Landmarks Tower Bridge Tower of London Serpentine Hyde Park Knightsbridge - Day 2
London to Paris
Meet your Travel Director and make your way to St. Pancras Station to board the high-speed Eurostar train. The journey through the Channel Tunnel to Paris takes a few hours and you'll be quite comfortable. Once you arrive in Paris, you have the afternoon free to walk around on your own. Later that evening, you'll join the group for dinner at a local brasserie.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner served with wine at a local brasserie in the heart of Paris with Travel Director and fellow guests)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Marriott Rive Gauche, Paris)
Included Activities
- Eurostar train journey from London to Paris via Channel Tunnel
- Dinner at a local brasserie with Travel Director and fellow guests
Optional Activities
- See the Eiffel Tower
- Visit Notre-Dame Cathedral
- Explore the Louvre
- Walk along the banks of the River Seine
- See the obelisk in Place de la Concorde
- Drive along the Champs Élysées
- Visit the Arc de Triomphe
Landmarks St. Pancras Station Eiffel Tower Notre-Dame Cathedral Louvre River Seine Place de la Concorde Champs Élysées Arc de Triomphe - Day 3
Paris
This morning you'll join a local food expert who knows Paris well and can show you neighborhoods where residents actually spend their time. You'll stop at small shops to try local treats and regional specialties as you walk through different areas. After lunch, the afternoon is yours to enjoy the city's energy, or you can opt for an evening cabaret show if that interests you.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Marriott Rive Gauche, Paris)
Included Activities
- Guided food walk through Paris with local food lover - sample local treats and delicacies from patisseries, boulangeries and chocolatiers
Optional Activities
- Paris cabaret show
- Day 4
Paris to Lucerne
You'll drive through Burgundy's rural countryside with its famous vineyards, then pass the Jura Mountains as you head into Switzerland. By evening you'll arrive in Lucerne on the lake. For dinner, you get to choose from several hand-picked local restaurants that work with your group.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Astoria Lucerne)
Optional Activities
- Dine-Around Evening - choose from a selection of hand-picked local restaurants
Landmarks Jura Mountains Burgundy - Day 5
Lucerne
This morning you'll ride an open-top solar-powered cable car up Mount Stanserhorn. At the summit you can walk along scenic paths and look for marmots and other wildlife. A Swiss ranger will talk about the local plants and animals in the area. Back in Lucerne, you'll see the Lion Monument and walk across the covered Chapel Bridge to the baroque Jesuit Church. The afternoon is free to shop for chocolate and watches in the Old Town.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Astoria Lucerne)
Included Activities
- Mount Stanserhorn MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience - ride panoramic open-top solar-powered cable car to summit
- Scenic walks along mountain pathways
- Conservation talk by Swiss ranger about local wildlife and flora
- View the Lion Monument in Lucerne
- Stroll across Chapel Bridge
- Visit the baroque Jesuit Church
Optional Activities
- Shop for chocolate and Swiss watches in the traffic-free Old Town
Landmarks Mount Stanserhorn Lion Monument Chapel Bridge Jesuit Church - Day 6
Lucerne to Innsbruck
You'll travel deeper into the Alps, passing through Liechtenstein and seeing Vaduz with its castle sitting on a hillside. Then you'll drive into Austria and arrive in Innsbruck, surrounded by mountains. Your Travel Director will show you the 14th century houses in the old town, the Imperial Palace, and the distinctive Golden Roof.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (AC, Innsbruck)
Included Activities
- See Vaduz, capital of Liechtenstein with its castle
- Guided tour of Innsbruck Old Town with Travel Director
- View the Imperial Palace
- See the Golden Roof
Landmarks Vaduz Castle Vaduz Innsbruck Old Town Imperial Palace Golden Roof - Day 7
Innsbruck to Venice
After crossing the impressive Europa Bridge, you'll drive through the dramatic Dolomites. Once you cross into Italy, you'll stop at a family-run winery in Veneto to see how prosecco gets made, taste some, and learn to make a proper Bellini. Later you'll arrive in Venice. After the day-trippers leave and things quiet down, you'll have dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant in Venice)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (BW Premier Collection CHC Continental, Venice)
Included Activities
- Cross the Europa Bridge
- Visit local family winery in Veneto
- Taste prosecco wines and learn prosecco production
- Learn how to make the perfect Bellini
- Meet the vignerons
- Dinner at a local restaurant in Venice
Landmarks Europa Bridge Dolomites Veneto - Day 8
Venice
This morning you'll explore Venice's most famous sites including the Campanile and Doge's Palace at St. Mark's Square, and cross the Bridge of Sighs that connects to the old prisons. You'll also watch glassblowers work at a traditional arts center. The rest of the day is up to you. Shop in the small arcades or take a boat trip to Burano island to eat local specialties.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (BW Premier Collection CHC Continental, Venice)
Included Activities
- View Campanile on St. Mark's Square
- Visit Doge's Palace
- Cross the Bridge of Sighs
- MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience - witness glassblowing at traditional arts center
Optional Activities
- Shop in small arcades
- Cruise the Venetian lagoon to island of Burano
- Meal at Burano with local specialties and wine
Landmarks Campanile St. Mark's Square Doge's Palace Bridge of Sighs Burano - Day 9
Venice to Florence
You'll see rolling Tuscan hills and stop for lunch on a veranda at Il Poggio. There you'll taste the farm's wines and try freshly made olive oil with an authentic Italian meal using local ingredients. Later, a Local Expert will walk you through Pisa to see the baptistery with its detailed marble work, the bell tower, and the famous Leaning Tower. Then you'll continue to Florence.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at Il Poggio with authentic Italian meal prepared with locally sourced ingredients, wine and views of rolling Tuscan hills)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ambasciatori, Florence)
Included Activities
- Lunch at Il Poggio with views of rolling Tuscan hills
- Taste farm wines and freshly produced olive oil
- Guided tour of Pisa with Local Expert
- See the baptistery with intricate marble facade
- View the colonnaded bell tower
- See the Leaning Tower
Landmarks Il Poggio Tuscany Pisa Baptistery Leaning Tower of Pisa - Day 10
Florence
With a Local Expert, you'll walk to the marble cathedral and baptistery to see Ghiberti's recreated Gates of Paradise. Next is Piazza della Signoria, still the political center of Florence and basically an open-air museum of Renaissance statues like Neptune and David in front of Palazzo Vecchio. Around Santa Croce Basilica, you'll find shops selling gold and leather goods, and you'll have free time to shop or keep exploring.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Indigo, Florence)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of cathedral and baptistery with Local Expert
- View Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise
- Visit Piazza della Signoria
- View statues including Neptune and David at Palazzo Vecchio
- Visit Santa Croce Basilica area
Optional Activities
- Shop for gold and leather goods
Landmarks Florence Cathedral Baptistery Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise Piazza della Signoria Palazzo Vecchio Santa Croce Basilica - Day 11
Florence to Rome
You'll drive through the vineyards of Chianti, passing Lake Trasimeno, one of Italy's largest lakes and the location of an ancient battle involving Hannibal and his war elephants. From there you'll head into the Apennine foothills to reach Assisi, built on a steep hillside. A Local Expert will take you to St. Francis's tomb and show you Giotto's beautiful frescoes in the basilica. Then you'll continue toward Rome along the River Tiber valley.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Radisson Blu GHR, Rome)
Included Activities
- Visit Basilica of St. Francis with Local Expert
- See the tomb of St. Francis
- View beautiful frescoes by Giotto in the basilica
Landmarks Chianti Lake Trasimeno Apennine Mountains Assisi Basilica of St. Francis River Tiber - Day 12
Rome
You'll visit the Sistine Chapel and see Michelangelo's ceiling. Then you'll cross the River Tiber to see the Colosseum and the Circus Maximus, the ancient chariot-racing track. You'll also get a private visit to the Basilica of Saint Praxedes, and the Rector of the basilica will welcome you personally. That evening you'll celebrate your journey through Europe with dinner and wine at a local restaurant in Rome.
- Meals
- Dinner (Four-course dinner with wine to the rich tremolo of some of Italy's best-loved opera at a local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Radisson Blu GHR, Rome)
Included Activities
- Visit the Sistine Chapel and view Michelangelo's famous ceiling
- View the Colosseum
- View the Circus Maximus
- Private visit to the Basilica of Saint Praxedes with welcome from Rector
- Dinner with wine at a local restaurant
Landmarks Sistine Chapel Colosseum Circus Maximus Basilica of Saint Praxedes River Tiber - Day 13
Departure
Today you'll say goodbye to Italy, taking with you memories of the cities, landmarks, and landscapes you've seen throughout your trip. The experiences and places you've visited will stay with you long after you leave.
- Meals
- Breakfast
