Itinerary
- Day 1
London to Amsterdam
You'll meet your Travel Director at St. Pancras Station and board the high-speed Eurostar, traveling through the Channel Tunnel to Amsterdam. Once you arrive, there's a welcome reception followed by a canal cruise through the tree-lined waterways to check out the Old City. The day wraps up with dinner and wine at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner with wine at a local restaurant in the heart of Amsterdam)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Apollo, Amsterdam)
Included Activities
- Eurostar train journey via Channel Tunnel
- Welcome Reception
- Canal cruise through Amsterdam's Old City
Landmarks St. Pancras Station Channel Tunnel - Day 2
Amsterdam to Würzburg
The route takes you along the Rhine Valley toward Würzburg, where you'll see the impressive Marienberg Fortress. This baroque palace belonged to the Prince-Bishops and ranks among Germany's most important landmarks. A Local Expert then guides you through the UNESCO World Heritage Site Würzburg Residenz, where you'll see the intricate decorations and lavish staterooms.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Maritim, Würzburg)
Included Activities
- Scenic drive along Rhine Valley
- View Marienberg Fortress
- Visit Würzburg Residenz (UNESCO World Heritage Site) with Local Expert
Landmarks Marienberg Fortress Würzburg Residenz Alte Mainbrücke - Day 3
Würzburg to Prague
You're heading to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, one of the best-preserved medieval towns on the Romantic Road. From there, continue east toward the Czech border, passing through Pilsen, famous for its beer. By evening you'll arrive in Prague. There's an optional river cruise available to take in the city from the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Royal, Prague)
Included Activities
- Visit Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Optional Activities
- River cruise through Prague
Landmarks Rothenburg ob der Tauber Pilsen - Day 4
Prague
Prague offers Insight Choice today, so you pick between two activities. Option one is walking through Prague Castle courtyards and visiting St. Vitus Cathedral. Option two means exploring the Jewish Quarter with a Local Expert, learning about Jewish history and traditions while trying Trdelník, a traditional Czech pastry. The rest of your day is free for shopping Bohemian crystal or browsing antique stores.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Royal, Prague)
Included Activities
- Prague Castle courtyards and St. Vitus Cathedral (Insight Choice option)
- Jewish Quarter exploration with Local Expert and Trdelník tasting (Insight Choice option)
Optional Activities
- Antique shopping
- Bohemian crystal shopping
Landmarks Prague Castle St. Vitus Cathedral Jewish Quarter - Day 5
Prague to Budapest
You'll travel through Bohemia's forested countryside into Hungary, following the River Danube as it leads to Budapest. This evening features a scenic dinner cruise with a Local Expert, gliding past UNESCO World Heritage Sites while experiencing Budapest's nighttime beauty, earning it the nickname 'Pearl of the Danube'.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Scenic dinner cruise on the Danube, taking in Budapest's night-time beauty)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Garden Inn, Budapest)
Included Activities
- Journey through Bohemian countryside
- Scenic dinner cruise on the Danube with Local Expert
Landmarks River Danube - Day 6
Budapest
Start by driving along Andrássy Avenue to Heroes' Square, then stroll through Old Town Buda's narrow alleys with a Local Expert, taking in sweeping views from Fisherman's Bastion. Head up Gellért Hill to see the Liberty Statue and Citadella for panoramic city views. From here you'll spot the Chain Bridge and Elizabeth Bridge connecting Buda and Pest across the river.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Garden Inn, Budapest)
Included Activities
- Drive along Andrássy Avenue
- Visit Heroes' Square
- Explore Old Town of Buda with Local Expert
- Fisherman's Bastion visit
- Gellért Hill and Liberty Statue
- View Chain Bridge and Elizabeth Bridge
Landmarks Andrássy Avenue Heroes' Square Fisherman's Bastion Gellért Hill Liberty Statue Citadella Chain Bridge Elizabeth Bridge - Day 7
Budapest to Vienna
Your morning includes a tour of the Liszt Music Academy with a student, followed by a recital at the university founded by Franz Liszt in 1875. After that, you'll pass the Turul Monument, a large eagle statue overlooking Tatabanya, then head toward the Austrian border through farming country to reach Vienna, the imperial capital.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Vienna Park, Hilton Vienna Plaza, Vienna)
Included Activities
- Tour of Liszt Music Academy with student
- Recital at Liszt Music Academy
- Pass Turul Monument
Landmarks Liszt Music Academy Turul Monument - Day 8
Vienna
There's an optional private tour available of Schönbrunn Palace and its formal gardens, a former residence of Maria Theresa. Later, drive around the famous Ring Road to see architectural highlights including the Opera House, Hofburg Imperial Residence, and Parliament Building. A Local Expert takes you through Innere Stadt, Vienna's historic core, where you'll stop for coffee and cake at a cozy café.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Vienna Park)
Included Activities
- Drive around Ring Road
- View Opera House, Hofburg Imperial Residence, Parliament Building
- Walk through Innere Stadt with Local Expert
- Traditional coffee and cake at a café
Optional Activities
- Private tour of Schönbrunn Palace and formal gardens
Landmarks Schönbrunn Palace Vienna State Opera House Hofburg Imperial Residence Austrian Parliament Building Innere Stadt - Day 9
Vienna to Venice
Travel through quiet villages and into Styria's forested mountains, heading toward the Carinthian Lake District. You'll pass Europe's warmest lake, the Wörthersee, then cross into Italy near Tarvisio. Follow mountain valleys and cascading streams down to the Veneto Plain, arriving in Venice by private boat. Later, sip a cocktail on Piazza San Marco with musicians nearby, then walk past the Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs to dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Venetian dinner with wine at a restaurant in the heart of Venice)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio, Venice)
Included Activities
- Scenic drive through Styria and Carinthian Lake District
- Pass Wörthersee lake
- Private boat transfer to Venice hotel
- Cocktail on Piazza San Marco with musicians
- Visit Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs
Landmarks Wörthersee Piazza San Marco Doge's Palace Bridge of Sighs - Day 10
Venice
Explore this romantic city starting with St. Mark's Square, where the magnificent basilica and Clock Tower dominate the space. You'll see the Campanile, Doge's Palace, and the famous Bridge of Sighs. Visit a traditional arts center for a glassblowing demonstration, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience. The rest of your day stays free to shop in arcades or take a cruise to Burano for local specialties and wine.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio, Venice)
Included Activities
- Visit St. Mark's Square and Basilica
- View Clock Tower
- View Campanile
- Glassblowing demonstration at traditional arts centre (MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience)
Optional Activities
- Cruise to island of Burano for meal and wine
Landmarks St. Mark's Square St. Mark's Basilica Clock Tower Campanile Rialto Bridge Burano - Day 11
Venice to Rome
Head into the Apennine Mountains and Tuscany's peaceful landscape to meet your local host for a guided tour of Niccolò Machiavelli's Renaissance home, including a private opening of his office where he wrote 'The Prince'. You'll explore the Italian garden and historic cellar with its underground tunnel to Italy's oldest restaurant. Wine tastings from surrounding vineyards accompany local Tuscan fare. Later, continue to Rome for a private after-hours visit to the Basilica of Saint Praxedes to see Byzantine mosaics and Bernini's first sculpture.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Wine tasting with delicious samples of local Tuscan fare in the historic cellar)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Room 007 Select, Rome)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Machiavelli's house and private office
- Tour of Italian garden
- Historic cellar exploration
- Wine tasting with Tuscan samples
- Private after-hours visit to Basilica of Saint Praxedes
- View Byzantine mosaics
- View Bernini's first sculpture
Landmarks Machiavelli's House Basilica of Saint Praxedes Tiber River - Day 12
Rome
With your Local Expert, visit the Vatican Museums using fast-track entry to bypass crowds and view the Papal art collection. You'll see Michelangelo's famous ceiling in the Sistine Chapel, then head to the cavernous St. Peter's Basilica to see Michelangelo's Pietà and the splendid dome. Cross the Tiber and stand outside the Colosseum, imagining ancient gladiator days. The afternoon is yours to relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Room 007 Select, Rome)
Included Activities
- Vatican Museums visit with fast-track entry
- Sistine Chapel visit
- View Michelangelo's ceiling
- St. Peter's Basilica visit
- View Pietà by Michelangelo
- View St. Peter's Basilica dome
- Exterior visit to Colosseum
Landmarks Vatican Museums Sistine Chapel St. Peter's Basilica Colosseum Tiber River - Day 13
Rome to Florence
Meet Chef Lorenzo at his family farm in Umbria. You'll explore Italian cooking through a pasta demonstration and enjoy a delicious lunch paired with Orvieto Classico wine. After that, continue onward to your hotel in Florence.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Delicious lunch at farm accompanied by Orvieto Classico wine)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Villa Neroli, Florence)
Included Activities
- Pasta demonstration with Chef Lorenzo
- Lunch at farm with Orvieto Classico wine
Landmarks Chef Lorenzo's Farm - Day 14
Florence
Start the morning with a Local Expert viewing Florence's multicoloured marble cathedral, bell tower, and baptistery with Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise. Visit Piazza della Signoria, the political heart of the city and an open-air gallery of Renaissance art. The afternoon is yours to explore freely, with the option to take a side trip to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Villa Neroli, Florence)
Included Activities
- View Cathedral with Local Expert
- View bell tower
- View baptistery
- Visit Piazza della Signoria
Optional Activities
- Optional visit to Pisa and Leaning Tower
Landmarks Florence Cathedral Campanile Baptistery of Florence Piazza della Signoria Leaning Tower of Pisa - Day 15
Florence to Lucerne
Head north toward the Italian Lake District via Lake Lugano, then venture into the Swiss Alps, passing through the Saint Gotthard Tunnel, one of the world's longest road tunnels. You'll travel past towering mountains and rushing torrents down to scenic Lake Lucerne. Upon arrival, see the Lion Monument carved into limestone, honoring the Swiss Guards who died during the French Revolution. Stroll across the covered Chapel Bridge and view the baroque Jesuit Church.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Astoria Lucerne)
Included Activities
- Pass through Lake Lugano region
- Travel through Saint Gotthard Tunnel
- View Lion Monument
- Cross Chapel Bridge
- View Jesuit Church
Landmarks Lake Lugano Saint Gotthard Tunnel Lake Lucerne Lion Monument Chapel Bridge Jesuit Church - Day 16
Lucerne
An open-top cable car powered by solar panels takes you up Mount Stanserhorn as part of a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience. On a clear day, you'll see views reaching toward Alsace and the Black Forest in Germany. Walk scenic pathways watching for marmots and native wildlife, and hear a conservation talk from a Swiss ranger about local flora and animals. Your day stays free to explore Lucerne's traffic-free Old Town for chocolate or take a horse-drawn carriage into the countryside. This evening offers a Dine-Around with several restaurant options.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Astoria Lucerne)
Included Activities
- Mount Stanserhorn cable car ascent (solar-powered)
- Scenic pathways walk
- Conservation talk by Swiss ranger
Optional Activities
- Shopping for chocolate in Old Town
- Horse-drawn carriage ride and farmer meeting
- Dine-Around dining experience
Landmarks Mount Stanserhorn Old Town Lucerne Alsace Black Forest - Day 17
Lucerne to Paris
Travel through Burgundy's rural French countryside, famous for vineyards and wines, arriving in Paris. You'll see the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre's imposing facades. Discover the Seine's romantic banks with its bridges, see the obelisk in Place de la Concorde, and drive along the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. The evening is free, offering countless chances to experience Paris's atmosphere, perhaps catching a famous cabaret show.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Le Meridien Paris Arc de Triomphe)
Included Activities
- Journey through Burgundy countryside
- View Eiffel Tower
- View Notre-Dame Cathedral
- View Louvre
- Explore Seine riverbanks and bridges
- View Place de la Concorde obelisk
- Drive along Champs-Élysées
- View Arc de Triomphe
Optional Activities
- World-famous cabaret shows
Landmarks Eiffel Tower Notre-Dame Cathedral Louvre Seine River Place de la Concorde Champs-Élysées Arc de Triomphe - Day 18
Paris
Insight Choice gives you two options today. Explore community life in the Montmargueil district, or join a local food enthusiast discovering where Parisians spend their daily lives through small shops and local treats. After that, head to dinner at the iconic restaurant L'Alsace for refined French cuisine.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Refined French cuisine at the iconic restaurant L'Alsace)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Le Meridien Paris Arc de Triomphe)
Included Activities
- Montmargueil district exploration (Insight Choice option)
- Local food tour with sampling (Insight Choice option)
- Dinner at L'Alsace restaurant
Landmarks Montmargueil - Day 19
Paris to London
Your journey concludes as you bid farewell to your traveling companions. Board the high-speed Eurostar train back to London, and upon arrival you're transferred to your London hotel where the tour ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Eurostar train journey back to London
Landmarks St. Pancras Station
