Itinerary
- Day 1
London
Check into your hotel in London, then the afternoon is yours to do as you like. You might take a walk along the Serpentine in Hyde Park, do some window shopping in the Knightsbridge boutiques, or head down to the Thames to see Tower Bridge and the Tower of London from the riverbank.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Thistle Marble Arch, London)
Optional Activities
- Walk along the Serpentine in Hyde Park
- Window shopping in Knightsbridge boutiques
- Stroll along the Thames
- Visit Tower Bridge
- Visit Tower of London
Landmarks Tower Bridge Tower of London Hyde Park Knightsbridge - Day 2
London to Paris
Meet up with your Travel Director at St. Pancras Station and board the high-speed Eurostar train heading through the Channel Tunnel to Paris. Once you arrive, spend the afternoon at your own pace checking out landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Seine, Place de la Concorde, Champs-Élysées, and the Arc de Triomphe. Later in the evening, your Travel Director takes you to a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Join your Travel Director and fellow guests at a local restaurant for a delightful dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Marriott Rive Gauche, Paris)
Included Activities
- High-speed Eurostar train journey from London to Paris via Channel Tunnel
- Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant in Paris
Optional Activities
- Visit Eiffel Tower
- Visit Notre-Dame Cathedral
- Visit the Louvre
- Explore banks of the River Seine
- Visit Place de la Concorde
- Drive along Champs-Élysées
- Visit Arc de Triomphe
Landmarks Eiffel Tower Notre-Dame Cathedral Louvre River Seine Place de la Concorde Champs-Élysées Arc de Triomphe 
- Day 3
Paris
Your Travel Director gives you the lay of the land with an orientation tour covering the Arc de Triomphe, the tree-lined Champs-Élysées, and Place de la Concorde. Afternoon time is free, so you can sit at a sidewalk bistro with coffee, browse boutiques in the Marais, or walk through the Tuileries Gardens toward the Louvre's glass pyramid. Art fans might spend time in the Louvre itself, while others explore the literary Left Bank. If you're interested, there's an optional cabaret experience in the evening with live music and dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Marriott Rive Gauche, Paris)
Included Activities
- Guided orientation tour of Paris including Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, and Place de la Concorde
Optional Activities
- Visit Louvre Museum to see Mona Lisa and Winged Victory of Samothrace
- Explore Tuileries Gardens
- Browse boutiques in the Marais
- Explore the Left Bank
- Dine at a Paris cabaret with dazzling costumes, live music, and sumptuous dinner
Landmarks Arc de Triomphe Champs-Élysées Place de la Concorde Louvre Tuileries Gardens Marais Left Bank - Day 4
Paris to Bordeaux
Head south into Châteaux Country, driving through the Loire Valley (a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its beautiful maintained gardens on large estates). You'll stop at Château de Chenonceau, an elegant French château that spans across the River Cher. From there, continue on to Bordeaux, a busy inland port with distinctive 18th-century character.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Gare St Jean, Bordeaux)
Included Activities
- Scenic drive through Loire Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Visit Château de Chenonceau
Landmarks Loire Valley Château de Chenonceau River Cher 
- Day 5
Bordeaux to San Sebastián
A Local Expert guides you through Bordeaux's 18th-century architecture, including the quayside facades, Grand Théâtre, Triangle d'Or, and the Esplanade des Quinconces (all part of its UNESCO status). After that, you'll travel to San Sebastián where you join locals for a progressive dinner in the Old Town, sampling pintxos (Basque finger-food) and local Txakoli wine.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Enjoy an evening of pintxos, dining with locals in this Basque tradition. Your delicious dinner includes a wide variety of finger food delicacies, each with their own regional flavor, flair and presentation)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Barceló Costa Vasca, San Sebastián)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bordeaux's 18th-century architecture with Local Expert
- Progressive dinner in San Sebastián Old Quarter with locals enjoying pintxos and Txakoli wine
Landmarks Grand Théâtre Esplanade des Quinconces Triangle d'Or - Day 6
San Sebastián to Madrid
Drive through mountains and gorges heading north, then pass through the Sierra de Guadarrama tunnel to reach the plateau of New Castile and Madrid, Spain's elegant capital. As evening arrives, take a scenic drive along the grand avenues and past the city's fountains as the lights come up.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Barceló Torre de Madrid)
Optional Activities
- Evening drive along grand avenues viewing city lights and spectacular fountains
Landmarks Sierra de Guadarrama 
- Day 7
Madrid
Your Local Expert leads a sightseeing tour of Madrid's Old Town, traveling down the elegant Paseo de la Castellana and past Plaza de Cibeles's fountain. You'll walk through the most historic neighborhoods and the Old Quarter to see where the city started. An art historian joins you at the Reina Sofía Museum to discuss Picasso's Guernica.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Riu Plaza España, Madrid)
Included Activities
- Sightseeing tour of Madrid's Old Town with Local Expert
- Visit along Paseo de la Castellana and Plaza de Cibeles
- Visit Reina Sofía Museum with art historian to see Picasso's Guernica
Landmarks Paseo de la Castellana Plaza de Cibeles Reina Sofía Museum - Day 8
Madrid to Barcelona
Cross the Castilian plain (passing Zaragoza along the way) to reach Barcelona, a vibrant Mediterranean port city. In the evening, you'll have delicious local Catalan food, then head up to Montjuïc where you can see the city from above as night falls and lights twinkle from the mountains down to the sea.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton, Barcelona)
Optional Activities
- Dine on local Catalan cuisine
- View Barcelona from Montjuïc at night
Landmarks Montjuïc 
- Day 9
Barcelona
Your Local Expert takes you through the heart of the Gothic Quarter, showing you the cathedral and leading you through Roman gates to tour the narrow lanes and old squares. After that, you'll travel along the Ramblas and Passeig de Gràcia, then into the Eixample district to see Gaudí's Sagrada Familia.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton, Barcelona)
Included Activities
- Guided exploration of Gothic Quarter with Local Expert
- Travel by the Ramblas
- Drive along Passeig de Gràcia to witness Modernist architecture
- Visit Sagrada Familia
Landmarks Gothic Quarter Roman Gate Ramblas Passeig de Gràcia Sagrada Familia - Day 10
Barcelona to Nice
Head around the Mediterranean Sea toward the French Riviera, arriving in Nice. You'll get that unforgettable first view of the Bay of Angels. Walk along the Promenade des Anglais and soak in the atmosphere of the Côte d'Azur, a stretch of coast long favored by artists, aristocrats, and film stars.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Stroll along Promenade des Anglais
- Explore the Bay of Angels and Côte d'Azur atmosphere
Landmarks Bay of Angels Promenade des Anglais 
- Day 11
Monaco
Explore the glamorous Côte d'Azur today. Take a drive along part of Monaco's famous Grand Prix circuit (where Formula 1 racing has happened since 1929). You'll choose between the Oceanographic Museum (over 6,000 marine species) or the Royal Palace of Monaco and its 19th-century Cathedral. The rest of the day is yours to relax and enjoy the sun-drenched elegance of the Riviera.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Apollinaire, Nice)
Included Activities
- Drive along Monaco's Grand Prix circuit
- Wander the old town with Travel Director to see Royal Palace and yacht-filled harbor
Optional Activities
- Visit Oceanographic Museum
- Visit Royal Palace of Monaco
- Visit Monaco Cathedral (19th-century, final resting place of Princess Grace)
Landmarks Grand Prix Circuit Oceanographic Museum Royal Palace of Monaco Monaco Cathedral 
- Day 12
Nice to Florence
Cross into Italy and follow the arc of the Italian Riviera before reaching Pisa. Visit the Square of Miracles with a Local Expert to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa (where Galileo supposedly did experiments on velocity and gravity), the 11th-century cathedral, and the baptistery with its mosaics and marble designs. Then drive through Tuscany to Florence.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Square of Miracles in Pisa with Local Expert to see Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Visit Pisa Cathedral and baptistery
Landmarks Leaning Tower of Pisa Square of Miracles Pisa Cathedral Pisa Baptistery - Day 13
Florence
Walk with your Local Expert to the marble cathedral and baptistery, where Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise are recreated in their full detail. You'll visit Piazza della Signoria, still Florence's political center and home to Renaissance statues like Neptune and David along the Palazzo Vecchio. The afternoon is free for shopping or further exploring the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (NH Firenze, Florence)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of cathedral and baptistery with Local Expert to view Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise
- Visit Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio
Optional Activities
- Shop or explore Florence freely in the afternoon
Landmarks Florence Cathedral Baptistery of Florence Piazza della Signoria Palazzo Vecchio - Day 14
Florence to Rome
Spend time enjoying the rolling landscapes of the Chianti hills and Umbria, then pass through the Apennine Mountains to reach Rome, the Eternal City. You'll see classical antiquities, medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces, and Baroque churches throughout. In the evening, toast the end of your Mediterranean journey over delicious Italian food and wine.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Toast your Mediterranean journey with delicious Italian cuisine and wine)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Radisson Blu GHR, Rome)
Landmarks Chianti Hills Umbria Apennine Mountains 
- Day 15
Vatican City
A Local Expert shows you Rome's grandeur starting with Vatican State. Visit the Vatican Museums with their priceless collections, see Michelangelo's ceiling in the Sistine Chapel, and visit St. Peter's Basilica to view Michelangelo's Pietà and Bernini's Papal Altar. The afternoon is yours to shop or relax at a café, then you'll get an exclusive after-hours visit to the Basilica of Saint Praxedes with its well-preserved Byzantine mosaics.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Radisson Blu GHR, Rome)
Included Activities
- Visit Vatican Museums with priceless papal treasures
- Visit Sistine Chapel to see Michelangelo's ceiling
- Visit St. Peter's Basilica to see Michelangelo's Pietà and Bernini's Papal Altar
- Exclusive after-hours visit to Basilica of Saint Praxedes with Byzantine mosaics
Optional Activities
- Shop at trendy boutiques
- Relax at sidewalk cafés
Landmarks Vatican Museums Sistine Chapel St. Peter's Basilica Basilica of Saint Praxedes - Day 16
Rome
Rome is yours to explore today at your own pace. There's an optional trip to Pompeii (the town frozen in time after Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD), or you can spend the day shopping along Via del Corso, Via Nazionale, or the designer stores near the Spanish Steps.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Radisson Blu GHR, Rome)
Optional Activities
- Visit Pompeii, frozen in time after Vesuvius eruption in 79 AD
- Shop at Via del Corso boutiques
- Shop at Via Nazionale boutiques
- Shop at designer stores near Spanish Steps
Landmarks Pompeii Via del Corso Via Nazionale Spanish Steps - Day 17
Rome
Say goodbye to the glories of Italy as your journey concludes.
- Meals
- Breakfast
