Itinerary
- Day 1
Paris
You'll arrive in Paris and have the afternoon and early evening to settle into your hotel at your own pace. Later, your Travel Director will take you to a welcome dinner at a local brasserie where you can meet the group and get oriented to the city.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner at a local brasserie with Travel Director and fellow guests)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Marriott Rive Gauche, Paris)
Included Activities
- Welcome dinner at a local brasserie
Optional Activities
- View Eiffel Tower
- Visit the Louvre
- Explore Place de la Concorde
- Browse Champs-Élysées
- Visit Arc de Triomphe
Landmarks/POIs Eiffel Tower Louvre Place de la Concorde Champs-Élysées Arc de Triomphe 
- Day 2
Paris
This morning begins with an orientation tour hitting the major Paris sights like the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, and Place de la Concorde. The afternoon is completely yours to fill how you like, whether that's sitting at a café watching the street life, wandering through boutiques in the Marais, taking a walk through the Tuileries Gardens, or checking out the Louvre. If you're interested, there's an optional cabaret show available in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Marriott Rive Gauche, Paris)
Included Activities
- Paris orientation tour with Travel Director: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde
Optional Activities
- Visit Louvre Museum
- Browse Marais boutiques
- Stroll through Tuileries Gardens
- Explore Left Bank
- Moulin Rouge Cabaret and Dinner (EUR 165.00)
Landmarks/POIs Arc de Triomphe Champs-Élysées Place de la Concorde Louvre Tuileries Gardens Marais Left Bank - Day 3
Paris to Bordeaux
You'll drive south into the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its beautiful maintained gardens. The route takes you to Château de Chenonceau, an elegant 16th-century château built right across the River Cher, which is quite a sight. After exploring there, you'll continue on to Bordeaux.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Gare St Jean, Bordeaux)
Included Activities
- Scenic drive through Loire Valley
- Visit Château de Chenonceau
Landmarks/POIs Loire Valley Château de Chenonceau River Cher 
- Day 4
Bordeaux to San Sebastián
A Local Expert will guide you through Bordeaux's 18th-century neighborhoods, showing you the quaysides, Grand Théâtre, Triangle d'Or, and Esplanade des Quinconces. From there you'll head to San Sebastián where the evening involves pintxos, a Basque tradition of small finger food dishes paired with local Txakoli wine while dining with locals.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Evening of pintxos, dining with locals in Basque tradition - variety of finger food delicacies with regional flavours and local Txakoli wine)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Barceló Costa Vasca, San Sebastián)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bordeaux: quayside facades, Grand Théâtre, Triangle d'Or, Esplanade des Quinconces
- Guided walking tour of San Sebastián Old Quarter including Plaza de la Constitucion
- Pintxos dinner with locals in Basque tradition including regional specialties and Txakoli wine
Landmarks/POIs Grand Théâtre Esplanade des Quinconces Old Quarter Plaza de la Constitucion 
- Day 5
San Sebastián to Madrid
The drive takes you through northern Spain's mountains and gorges, then up onto the plateau of New Castile as you head toward Madrid. That evening you'll take a scenic drive through the city, passing grand avenues and fountains all lit up after dark.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Barceló Torre de Madrid)
Included Activities
- Evening drive through Madrid viewing grand avenues and fountains
Landmarks/POIs Sierra de Guadarrama New Castile 
- Day 6
Madrid
Your Local Expert leads a tour of Madrid's Old Town and historic neighborhoods. You'll drive along Paseo de la Castellana, past the Plaza de Cibeles fountain, and through the Old Quarter to see where the city began. Later you'll visit the Reina Sofía Museum with an art historian who can explain Picasso's Guernica in depth.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Riu Plaza España, Madrid)
Included Activities
- Sightseeing tour of Madrid Old Town with Local Expert
- Drive along Paseo de la Castellana and Plaza de Cibeles
- Tour of Old Quarter with Local Expert
- Visit Reina Sofía Museum with art historian to see Picasso's Guernica
Landmarks/POIs Paseo de la Castellana Plaza de Cibeles Reina Sofía Museum Old Quarter - Day 7
Madrid to Barcelona
You'll cross the Castilian plain, passing through Zaragoza, then continue to Barcelona. This evening features local Catalan cuisine, and afterward you can head up to Montjuïc to view the city from above with the lights twinkling below.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton, Barcelona)
Included Activities
- Evening meal with local Catalan cuisine
- Evening viewing of Barcelona from Montjuïc
Landmarks/POIs Zaragoza Montjuïc 
- Day 8
Barcelona
Your Local Expert takes you through Barcelona's Gothic Quarter, walking past the cathedral and through the Roman gate into narrow lanes and old squares. You'll travel along the Ramblas and Passeig de Gràcia through the Eixample district to see Gaudí's Sagrada Família, which is unlike anything else you'll see in the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton, Barcelona)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Gothic Quarter with Local Expert: cathedral, Roman gate, narrow lanes and old squares
- Drive along Ramblas and Passeig de Gràcia
- Tour of Eixample district to view Gaudí's Sagrada Família
Landmarks/POIs Gothic Quarter Ramblas Passeig de Gràcia Eixample Sagrada Família - Day 9
Barcelona to Nice
You'll head around the Mediterranean toward the French Riviera, arriving in Nice where you can take in the famous Bay of Angels. A walk along the Promenade des Anglais lets you soak up the cosmopolitan feel of the Côte d'Azur.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Stroll along Promenade des Anglais
- View Bay of Angels
Landmarks/POIs Bay of Angels Promenade des Anglais Côte d'Azur 
- Day 10
Nice to Monaco
This day focuses on the glamorous Côte d'Azur and Monaco. You'll drive a section of the famous Grand Prix circuit. Then you can choose between visiting the Oceanographic Museum with its 6,000 marine species or the Royal Palace of Monaco and its 19th-century Cathedral. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy the sun-soaked elegance of the French Riviera.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Apollinaire, Nice)
Included Activities
- Drive along Monaco's Grand Prix circuit
- Wander Monaco's old town with Travel Director
- View Royal Palace and yacht-filled harbour
- Admire Italian Renaissance frescoes and State Apartments of the Prince's Palace
Optional Activities
- Visit Oceanographic Museum of Monaco (Insight Choice)
- Visit Royal Palace of Monaco and 19th-century Monaco Cathedral (Insight Choice)
Landmarks/POIs Grand Prix Circuit Royal Palace of Monaco Monaco Cathedral Oceanographic Museum of Monaco 
- Day 11
Monaco to Florence
You'll cross into Italy and follow the Italian Riviera before reaching Pisa. With a Local Expert, you'll visit the famous Leaning Tower in the Square of Miracles alongside the splendid 11th-century cathedral and baptistery with their mosaic and marble decorations. After that you'll continue through Tuscany to Florence.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Stop to see Leaning Tower of Pisa in Square of Miracles with Local Expert
- View 11th-century cathedral and baptistery decorated with mosaics and marble
Landmarks/POIs Leaning Tower of Pisa Square of Miracles Pisa Cathedral Pisa Baptistery Tuscany Italian Riviera - Day 12
Florence
Your Local Expert walks you to Florence's marble cathedral and baptistery, where you'll see Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise displayed in full detail. You'll also visit Piazza della Signoria, Florence's political heart and an open-air collection of Renaissance sculptures including Neptune and David. The afternoon is yours for shopping or further exploring.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (NH Firenze, Florence)
Included Activities
- Walk to marble-clad cathedral and baptistery with Local Expert
- View Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise
- Visit Piazza della Signoria - political heart of Florence and open-air Renaissance gallery
Optional Activities
- Jewels of the Renaissance - priority entry to Accademia di Belle Arti with local guide, including Michelangelo's David (EUR 47.00)
- Shop or explore independently
Landmarks/POIs Florence Cathedral Florence Baptistery Piazza della Signoria Palazzo Vecchio Accademia di Belle Arti - Day 13
Florence to Rome
You'll take in the rolling landscapes of the Chianti hills and Umbria, passing through the Apennine Mountains on your way to Rome. That evening you'll have Italian cuisine and wine to celebrate the journey through the Mediterranean so far.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Italian cuisine and wine to toast your Mediterranean journey)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Radisson Blu GHR, Rome)
Included Activities
- Evening dinner with Italian cuisine and wine
Landmarks/POIs Chianti Hills Umbria Apennine Mountains 
- Day 14
Rome
A Local Expert introduces Rome starting with Vatican State. You'll go through the Vatican Museums and see Michelangelo's ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. Then you'll enter St. Peter's Basilica to view Michelangelo's Pietà and Bernini's Papal Altar. The afternoon is free for shopping or rest. That evening there's an exclusive after-hours visit to the Basilica of Saint Praxedes.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Radisson Blu GHR, Rome)
Included Activities
- Vatican State introduction with Local Expert
- Visit Vatican Museums
- View Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo's ceiling
- Visit St. Peter's Basilica: view Michelangelo's Pietà and Bernini's Papal Altar
- Exclusive after-hours visit to Basilica of Saint Praxedes with illuminated Byzantine mosaics
Optional Activities
- Shop in trendy boutiques
- Relax at sidewalk café
Landmarks/POIs Vatican State Vatican Museums Sistine Chapel St. Peter's Basilica Basilica of Saint Praxedes 
- Day 15
Rome
Rome is yours to explore at your own pace. You can shop in the boutiques around the city or take an optional trip to Pompeii, the ancient Roman city buried by Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD and preserved as one of the world's most significant archaeological sites.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Radisson Blu GHR, Rome)
Optional Activities
- Shop in Via del Corso, Via Nazionale, or designer stores near Spanish Steps
- Pompeii and the Bay of Naples - ancient Roman city buried in 79 AD, plus panoramic tour of Bay of Naples and Abbey of Montecassino (EUR 100.00)
Landmarks/POIs Via del Corso Via Nazionale Spanish Steps Pompeii Mount Vesuvius Bay of Naples Abbey of Montecassino - Day 16
Rome
Your time in Italy and on this Mediterranean journey comes to an end today. Safe travels as you depart.
- Meals
- Breakfast
