Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival
You'll be transferred to your hotel where you can get settled and comfortable. Stop by the information boards at reception to pick up details about how your tour kicks off, and then you have the rest of the day to rest up before things get going.
- Day 2
Paris - Versailles - Montmartre
Start with the Palace of Versailles and walk through its gardens, then head back into Paris to check out Montmartre with its artists and cabarets. Later you'll take a panoramic tour through the city to see the main avenues and landmarks. If you're interested, there's an optional variety show you can catch in the evening.
Included Activities
- Panoramic city tour of Paris with local guide
Optional Activities
- Evening variety show
- Palace of Versailles visit (entrance not included)
Landmarks/POIs Palace of Versailles Montmartre - Day 3
Paris - Eiffel Tower - Seine River
This morning you'll go to the Eiffel Tower and visit the second floor. From there, you'll take a boat cruise along the Seine for about an hour and fifteen minutes. The rest of your afternoon is free to wander Paris on your own and see what interests you.
Included Activities
- Eiffel Tower visit with access to second floor
- Seine River boat cruise (approximately one hour and fifteen minutes)
Landmarks/POIs Eiffel Tower Seine River - Day 4
Paris - Bourgogne - Beaune - Lyon - Chambéry
You'll travel through the Bourgogne region known for vineyards and local wines. Stop in Beaune to see the flower-filled streets and historic hospice, then continue to Lyon where you can take a cable car up to Notre-Dame de Fourviére for city views. Depending on your group, you might stay in Chambéry instead, a medieval city with a nice historic center and castle.
Included Activities
- Cable car ride to Notre-Dame de Fourvière in Lyon
Landmarks/POIs Beaune Lyon Notre-Dame de Fourvière Chambéry - Day 5
Lyon - Geneva - Three Lakes Region - Zurich
Head into Switzerland and explore Geneva's main sights including the Palace of Nations, the English Garden with its flower clock, and the Jet d'Eau fountain. From there, travel through scenic routes along Lake Geneva and Lake Neuchâtel, passing vineyards with mountains in the background. You'll stop in Neuchâtel to see the historic town and its 10th-century castle before arriving in Zurich late in the day.
Optional Activities
- Walk by the lake in Neuchâtel
- Explore Neuchâtel historic town center
- Visit Neuchâtel castle
Landmarks/POIs Palace of Nations English Garden Jet d'Eau Lake Geneva Lake Neuchâtel Neuchâtel Neuchâtel Castle - Day 6
Zurich - Lake Zurich - Rapperswil
Your guide will walk you through Zurich, showing you Switzerland's biggest city and its status as a financial and cultural hub. Later, you'll take a scenic lake cruise lasting nearly two hours with stops at small villages, then get off in Rapperswil to see its medieval castle. Return to Zurich by train so you can experience the Swiss rail system.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Zurich city center
- Lake Zurich scenic cruise (nearly two hours) with stops at villages
- Train journey from Rapperswil to Zurich
Landmarks/POIs Zurich Lake Zurich Rapperswil Rapperswil Medieval Castle - Day 7
Zurich - Grindelwald - Interlaken - Lucerne
This morning head to the Interlaken region to see mountain landscapes and lakes. Stop in Grindelwald for coffee, then take a cable car up the mountain and walk to a suspended bridge with glacier views. Lunch is included on the mountain. After that, travel to Lucerne for time to explore before heading back to Zurich. An optional full-day trip to Mount Titlis is available if you want.
- Meals
- Lunch (Mountain lunch in Grindelwald)
Included Activities
- Cable car ride in Grindelwald
- Suspended bridge walk with glacier views
- Mountain lunch (included)
Optional Activities
- Optional full-day Mount Titlis excursion (€180) - includes rotating cable car to 3,028m summit, Glacier Cave, Cliff Walk suspension bridge, Ice Flyer chair lift, snowtubing
Landmarks/POIs Grindelwald Interlaken Region Mount Titlis Lucerne - Day 8
Zurich - Bellinzona - Como - Milan
Leave Zurich early and cross the Alps into the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. See Bellinzona with its three medieval castles that are UNESCO World Heritage sites on hillsides. Then enter Italy and stop in Como, known for its lakeside gardens and cathedral. Continue to Milan where your guide shows you Piazza del Duomo before you check into your hotel.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Piazza del Duomo in Milan
Landmarks/POIs Bellinzona Bellinzona Medieval Castles Como Como Cathedral Milan Piazza del Duomo - Day 9
Milan - Pisa - Rome
Take a small tourist train to Piazza dei Miracoli where you'll see one of Italy's most famous art complexes, including the Leaning Tower of Pisa. From there, continue on to Rome, arriving later in the afternoon.
Included Activities
- Small tourist train ride to Piazza dei Miracoli
Landmarks/POIs Piazza dei Miracoli Leaning Tower of Pisa - Day 10
Rome - Vatican - Trastevere
Start with a three-hour guided tour that combines walking through Imperial Rome and a panoramic bus ride. You'll see the Arch of Constantine, Colosseum exterior, Imperial Forums, Circus Maximus, Baths of Caracalla, Basilica of Saint Mary Major, Pyramid of Cestius, and Castel Sant'Angelo. The tour wraps up at Vatican City around 11:00 a.m. with optional Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel available. By evening, transfer to Trastevere for dinner at a local restaurant before returning to your hotel around 8:30 p.m.
Included Activities
- Three-hour guided tour of Imperial Rome (walking and panoramic bus)
- Evening transfer to Trastevere neighborhood
Optional Activities
- Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel guided visit (€70, 3 hours) - includes priority lane entrance, expert guide, and audio devices
- The Baroque Rome tour (€40, 2.5 hours) - optional excursion around beautiful squares and fountains including Plaza de España, Fontana de Trevi, Piazza Colonna, Pantheon, and Piazza Navona
Landmarks/POIs Arch of Constantine Colosseum Imperial Forums Circus Maximus Baths of Caracalla Basilica of Saint Mary Major Pyramid of Cestius Castel Sant'Angelo Vatican City Vatican Museums Sistine Chapel Trastevere Plaza de España Fontana de Trevi Piazza Colonna Pantheon Piazza Navona St. Peter's Square - Day 11
Rome - Madrid
Head to the airport early this morning to catch your included domestic flight to Madrid. Once you arrive, you'll get another hotel transfer. Your guide will call you in the late afternoon or check reception at your hotel for more information about what comes next.
- Day 12
Madrid - Retiro Park - Santiago Bernabéu
Start with a comprehensive tour of central Madrid hitting spots like Paseo del Prado, Cibeles, Neptuno, Puerta de Alcalá, Plaza de Colón, and Plaza Mayor. You'll also visit Retiro Park to see the lake and Palacio de Cristal, and tour Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home of Real Madrid. The rest of your afternoon is yours to do as you please, with a return transfer to your hotel in the evening.
Included Activities
- Comprehensive guided tour of central Madrid
- Retiro Park visit with lake and Palacio de Cristal
- Santiago Bernabéu Stadium admission and tour
Landmarks/POIs Paseo del Prado Cibeles Neptuno Puerta de Alcalá Plaza de Colón Plaza Mayor Retiro Park Palacio de Cristal Santiago Bernabéu Stadium - Day 13
Madrid - Zaragoza - Poblet Abbey - Barcelona
Leave Madrid early and drive through Castile to Zaragoza to see the Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar. Continue to Poblet Abbey, one of the best-preserved medieval monasteries around. Then head to Barcelona, arriving in the evening.
Included Activities
- Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar visit in Zaragoza
- Poblet Abbey visit (admission included)
Landmarks/POIs Zaragoza Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar Poblet Abbey - Day 14
Barcelona - Maremagnum
Take a panoramic tour of Barcelona to see one of Europe's most interesting capitals. Check out the famous Gaudí modernist architecture, the busy Ramblas, and historical sites like the Universal Exposition and Olympics locations. Enjoy free time in the afternoon, then transfer in the evening to Maremagnum, a modern entertainment and dining complex by the sea, where you can walk around and pick from different restaurants.
Included Activities
- Panoramic guided tour of Barcelona
Optional Activities
- Guided visit at the Basilica La Sagrada Familia by Antoni Gaudí (€60, 1 hour 50 minutes) - includes priority lane entrance, authorized specialist guide, and audio devices
Landmarks/POIs Barcelona Sagrada Familia Ramblas Plaza de Colón Maremagnum - Day 15
Barcelona - Departure
After breakfast, your European journey comes to an end. You'll head out with great memories from all you've seen and done over these past weeks.
- Meals
- Breakfast
