Itinerary
- Day 1
Rome
You'll arrive in Rome and settle into your hotel before meeting up with your travel group for dinner. The evening features a Family Fun pizza-making experience where you'll learn to hand-toss dough and create an authentic pizza from scratch, picking up some real Italian technique along the way.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner with travel companions)
Included Activities
- Pizza-making experience with expert instruction
- Dinner with travel companions
- Day 2
Rome
A local guide takes you through Rome's open-air museum, crossing the Tiber into Ancient Rome for a detailed tour of the Colosseum. From there, you'll head to a nearby vantage point to take in the sweeping views of the Circus Maximus, getting a sense of how massive the ancient entertainment venues actually were.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Local Specialist guided sightseeing tour of Rome
- In-depth guided visit to the Colosseum
- Viewing of Circus Maximus from vantage point
Landmarks/POIs Colosseum Circus Maximus - Day 3
Florence
You start in medieval Siena, strolling through Piazza del Campo with its distinctive shell shape and imagining the legendary Palio bareback horse races that happen there. Later you'll travel to Florence to explore the Renaissance birthplace and see how the city drove innovation centuries ago. By evening you're heading to a 12th-century castle in the Tuscan countryside for dinner with the Baj Macario family, who'll share stories and serve homegrown produce.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditional Tuscan buffet in castle grand hall with homegrown produce)
Included Activities
- Exploration of Siena including Piazza del Campo
- Viewing of Fountain of Joy and striped cathedral in Siena
- Be My Guest dinner at 12th-century Castello del Trebbio with Baj Macario family
- Traditional Tuscan buffet at castle
- Exploration of castle cellars
- Olive oil and wine tasting at castle
Landmarks/POIs Piazza del Campo Siena Cathedral Fountain of Joy (Fonte Gaia) Castello del Trebbio - Day 4
Florence
A local specialist guides you through Florence's Medici treasures, walking to Piazza della Signoria and viewing the marble Duomo. You'll watch demonstrations of Florentine leathercraft and gold work, then spend your afternoon as you like. That could mean exploring the Boboli Gardens, checking out the Uffizi Gallery, or taking an optional trip to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa before heading back to Florence.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Local Specialist walking tour of Florence
- Visit to Piazza della Signoria
- Viewing of marble Duomo with bell tower and baptistery
- Demonstration of Florentine leathercraft
- Demonstration of 18-carat gold workmanship
- Viewing of Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise on baptistery
- Exploration of area around Santa Croce Basilica
Optional Activities
- Visit to Boboli Gardens
- Visit to Uffizi Gallery to view masterpieces
- Optional excursion to Leaning Tower of Pisa with Tuscan dinner and music
- Gelato tasting in Florence
Landmarks/POIs Piazza della Signoria Florence Cathedral (Duomo) Baptistery of Florence Boboli Gardens Uffizi Gallery Santa Croce Basilica Leaning Tower of Pisa - Day 5
Venice
After crossing the Apennine Mountains, you reach Bologna where a local guide shows you the Kissing Towers and Neptune's Fountain. You'll try the local food scene with traditional dishes like tortellini and Spaghetti Bolognese. In the afternoon you travel to Venice, arriving with time to explore the city or take an optional gondola ride through the famous canals.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional Bolognese cuisine including tortellini and Spaghetti Bolognese)
Included Activities
- Local Specialist exploration of Bologna
- Viewing of medieval Kissing Towers in Bologna
- Viewing of Neptune's Fountain (Il Gigante) in Bologna
- Experience of Bologna's gastronomic cuisine including tortellini and Spaghetti Bolognese
Optional Activities
- Gondola ride through Venice's canals
- Lagoon cruise to island of Burano with meal
Landmarks/POIs Kissing Towers (Due Torri) Neptune's Fountain (Il Gigante) Burano - Day 6
Venice
You'll take a private launch to St. Mark's Square and see the Doge's Palace, Bridge of Sighs, St. Mark's Basilica, and the Campanile. At a glass factory you'll watch master craftsmen demonstrate the centuries-old Venetian glassblowing tradition. There's a Family Fun experience where you create your own Carnival mask, and if you're interested, an optional afternoon lagoon cruise to colorful Burano for a meal.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Private launch cruise to St. Mark's Square
- Guided tour with Travel Director of Venice's highlights
- Viewing of Doge's Palace
- Viewing of Bridge of Sighs
- Viewing of St. Mark's Basilica
- Viewing of Campanile with five bells
- Venetian glassblowing factory visit and demonstration
- Carnival mask-making experience with opportunity to create and paint own mask
Optional Activities
- Lagoon cruise to Burano with food and drinks
Landmarks/POIs St. Mark's Square Doge's Palace Bridge of Sighs St. Mark's Basilica Campanile - Day 7
Switzerland
You'll travel through the Italian Lake District toward Switzerland this morning, stopping for lunch in Como, the laid-back lakeside town that historically connected Central Europe and the Mediterranean. From there you continue through Alpine landscapes, passing Lugano and going through the St. Gotthard tunnel before arriving in Engelberg.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Free time in Como
Landmarks/POIs Lake Como Como Lugano St. Gotthard Pass - Day 8
Lucerne
You'll walk across the iconic 14th-century wooden Chapel Bridge with its flower-lined design, then see the Lion Monument, a massive sandstone sculpture honoring Swiss Guards who died during the French Revolution. In the afternoon you can take an optional mountain excursion, or spend time sampling Switzerland's chocolate instead.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Viewing of Chapel Bridge, oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe
- Viewing of Lion Monument
- Orientation tour with Travel Director including Old Town Hall
- Alpine views during travel via Brünig Pass
- Viewing of turquoise lakes and Bernese Oberland peaks
Optional Activities
- Swiss Countryside & Carriages excursion
- Mount Titlis excursion
- Lake Lucerne cruise
- Swiss chocolate tasting
Landmarks/POIs Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke) Lion Monument Old Town Hall Lucerne Mount Titlis - Day 9
Paris
You cross the Rhine River and travel through the Burgundy wine region into France, arriving in Paris this evening. There's time to walk up grand boulevards and through tiny cobblestone lanes, getting a feel for the city before tomorrow's main attractions.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Travel through Burgundy wine region
Landmarks/POIs Burgundy Wine Region - Day 10
Paris
A local specialist takes you through Paris, showing you hidden squares and secret lanes tucked away in the city. You'll drive along the Champs-Élysées with views of the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower, then enjoy a leisurely Seine River cruise with views of bridges and riverside life. That evening you'll celebrate with your travel group and Travel Director at a special dinner marking the end of your trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Special celebration dinner with travel companions and Travel Director)
Included Activities
- Local Specialist guided sightseeing tour of Paris
- Drive along Champs-Élysées
- Viewing of Arc de Triomphe
- Viewing of Eiffel Tower
- Leisurely cruise on Seine River with views of bridges and city life
- Special celebration dinner with travel companions and Travel Director
Optional Activities
- Nouvelle Eve Cabaret and Dinner
- Montparnasse and Paris Illuminations excursion
Landmarks/POIs Champs-Élysées Arc de Triomphe Eiffel Tower Seine River - Day 11
Paris
It's time to say goodbye to your fellow travelers as your European family adventure comes to an end.
- Meals
- Breakfast
