Itinerary
- Day 1
Madrid
You'll arrive in Madrid and get transferred from the airport to your hotel, giving you time to settle in and rest. Later in the evening, head over to Plaza Mayor and La Latina, where you can try some tapas and explore Madrid's most popular neighborhood for dining and nightlife. There are plenty of restaurant options to choose from depending on what you're in the mood for.
Optional Activities
- Flamenco Night with Dinner (70 EUR) - includes transportation, 2-course dinner with dessert, wine/water/sangria, flamenco show with dancers, singers and musicians
- Dine at tapas restaurants in Plaza Mayor and La Latina - various cuisines available (Indian, Chinese, Spanish, Middle Eastern)
Landmarks/POIs Plaza Mayor La Latina - Day 2
Madrid
This day covers a lot of central Madrid. Your morning starts with a guided tour hitting Paseo del Prado, Cibeles, Neptuno, Puerta de Alcalá, Plaza de Colón, and Plaza Mayor. Then you'll head to Retiro Park to see the lake and Palacio de Cristal. After that, stop by Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, where Real Madrid plays. By afternoon, you'll have free time to walk around on your own before returning to the hotel in the evening.
Included Activities
- Comprehensive city tour of central Madrid - Paseo del Prado, Cibeles, Neptuno, Puerta de Alcalá, Plaza de Colón, Plaza Mayor
- Retiro Park visit - lake and Palacio de Cristal
- Santiago Bernabéu Stadium admission - home of Real Madrid
Landmarks/POIs Paseo del Prado Cibeles Puerta de Alcalá Plaza de Colón Plaza Mayor Retiro Park Palacio de Cristal Santiago Bernabéu Stadium - Day 3
Zaragoza - Barcelona
You'll leave Madrid early and travel through Castile toward Aragon. Along the way, stop in Zaragoza to visit the Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, then continue to Poblet Abbey, which is one of Europe's best-preserved medieval monasteries. From there, it's on to Barcelona where you'll arrive in the evening and get settled at your hotel.
Included Activities
- Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar visit - Zaragoza
- Poblet Abbey admission - one of the best-preserved medieval monasteries in the world
Landmarks/POIs Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar Poblet Abbey - Day 4
Barcelona
Start your morning with a panoramic tour of Barcelona that takes you through the Ramblas and shows you Gaudí's modernist buildings and architecture. The afternoon is yours to explore the city at your own pace. By evening, head to Maremagnum, a contemporary waterfront complex with shops, entertainment, and restaurants where you can walk around and grab dinner with views of the sea.
Included Activities
- Panoramic city tour of Barcelona - Ramblas, Gaudí's modernist architecture, and historic sites
Optional Activities
- Guided visit at La Sagrada Familia with Antoni Gaudí (60 EUR) - 1 hour 50 minutes, includes priority entrance, specialized guide, and audio devices
Landmarks/POIs Ramblas Maremagnum - Day 5
Barcelona to Paris
You'll head to the train station for a high-speed rail journey to Paris that takes just over 6 hours. It's a comfortable ride through some nice scenery. Once you arrive in Paris, transfer to your hotel. Your guide will reach out to you in the evening or leave information at the hotel reception about what comes next.
Included Activities
- High-speed train Barcelona to Paris - approximately 6+ hours
- Day 6
Paris - Versailles - Montmartre
This morning you'll visit the Palace of Versailles and wander through its gardens. After returning to Paris, head to Montmartre, the neighborhood known for its artists, galleries, and cabarets with a real bohemian feel. Later, take a panoramic city tour with a local guide who'll show you Paris's major avenues and important monuments before bringing you back to the hotel.
Included Activities
- Panoramic city tour of Paris with local guide - avenues and iconic monuments
- Montmartre exploration - bohemian neighborhood with artists, painters, and cabarets
Optional Activities
- Palace of Versailles visit - admission not included
- Evening variety show
Landmarks/POIs Palace of Versailles Montmartre - Day 7
Paris
Start with the Eiffel Tower and go up to the second floor for great views of the city. Then you'll take a relaxing boat cruise on the Seine that lasts around 1 hour and 15 minutes, which is a nice way to see the city from the water. The afternoon is free, so you can explore Paris however you'd like and check out whatever interests you.
Included Activities
- Eiffel Tower visit - second floor admission included
- Seine river cruise - approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes
Optional Activities
- Paris by Night panoramic tour (40 EUR) - 3 hours, includes Arc de Triomphe, Alexander III Bridge, Opera House, Eiffel Tower illuminated, Champs-Élysées, Notre Dame Cathedral, Louvre, with photo stops
Landmarks/POIs Eiffel Tower Seine River - Day 8
Beaune - Lyon
Today you're traveling through Bourgogne, the region famous for vineyards and wine. You'll stop in Beaune, a charming town with flower-lined streets, and visit the hospice and wine museum. After lunch and a walk around town, continue to Lyon, which sits on the Rhône River and was once the capital of Roman Gaul. Ride a cable car up to Notre-Dame de Fourvière for views of the city, then have time to explore on your own.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch included in Lucerne)
Included Activities
- Beaune visit - flower-filled streets, hospice and wine museum exploration
- Cable car to Notre-Dame de Fourvière, Lyon - scenic city views
Landmarks/POIs Beaune Notre-Dame de Fourvière - Day 9
Geneva - Neuchâtel - Zurich
You're heading to Switzerland now. When you arrive in Geneva, you'll pass by the Palace of Nations and check out the English Garden with its famous flower clock and the Jet d'Eau fountain. After lunch, drive through scenic areas along Lake Geneva and Lake Neuchâtel. Stop in Neuchâtel for a walk by the lake, a stroll through the historic center, or a visit to the 10th-century castle if you'd like. You'll reach Zurich in the late afternoon.
Included Activities
- Palace of Nations pass-by - Geneva
- English Garden visit - flower clock and Jet d'Eau fountain
Optional Activities
- Neuchâtel walk by the lake
- Neuchâtel historic town center exploration
- Neuchâtel 10th-century castle visit
Landmarks/POIs Palace of Nations English Garden Jet d'Eau Lake Geneva Lake Neuchâtel Neuchâtel Castle - Day 10
Zurich - Rapperswil
Your guide will show you around Zurich, Switzerland's largest city and its financial and cultural center. Then you'll take a scenic cruise on Lake Zurich that lasts nearly 2 hours with short stops at small villages along the way. You'll get off in Rapperswil, a nice village with a medieval castle, and then take the train back to Zurich to end the day.
Included Activities
- Zurich city exploration with guide
- Lake Zurich scenic cruise - approximately 2 hours with stops at charming villages
- Rapperswil village visit - medieval castle area
- Return train journey Rapperswil to Zurich
Landmarks/POIs Lake Zurich Rapperswil Castle - Day 11
Interlaken - Grindelwald - Lucerne - Zurich
Today features mountain and lake scenery in the Interlaken region. First stop is Grindelwald where you'll have coffee and take a cable car up the mountain. From there, walk along a winding path to a suspended bridge with glacier views. Lunch is provided on the mountain. Then head to Lucerne, one of Switzerland's nicest cities, where you have time to walk around and see what interests you. Later, return to Zurich.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch on the mountain included)
Included Activities
- Grindelwald cable car excursion
- Suspended bridge walk - glacier viewpoint
- Mountain lunch included
- Lucerne city exploration
Optional Activities
- Mount Titlis full-day excursion (180 EUR) - altitude 3,028 meters, includes aerial cable cars, Rotair revolving cable car, glacier cave, Cliff Walk suspension bridge, Ice Flyer chairlift, snowtubing, multilingual guide, coach transportation from Zurich Bus Station and Lucerne. Note: This excursion must be purchased in advance and conflicts with the main day itinerary.
Landmarks/POIs Grindelwald Mount Titlis Lucerne - Day 12
Bellinzona - Como - Milan
You're leaving Zurich early to cross the Alps into Italy's Swiss region. Stop in Bellinzona to see three medieval castles that are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and wander the streets a bit. Then enter Italy and stop in Como for lunch, a beautiful lakeside town with nice gardens and an impressive cathedral. Continue to Milan, where your guide shows you Piazza del Duomo before checking into the hotel.
Included Activities
- Bellinzona visit - three medieval UNESCO World Heritage castles and historic center
- Como visit - Lake Como gardens and cathedral
- Milan Piazza del Duomo tour
Landmarks/POIs Bellinzona Castles Como Cathedral Piazza del Duomo - Day 13
Pisa - Rome
Head to Pisa and take a small tourist train to Piazza dei Miracoli, also called the Square of Miracles. You'll have time to see the beautiful art complex and the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. From there, continue on to Rome, which you'll reach later in the day. Get settled at your hotel and rest up for tomorrow.
Included Activities
- Small tourist train to Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles)
- Leaning Tower of Pisa and art complex visit
Landmarks/POIs Piazza dei Miracoli Leaning Tower of Pisa - Day 14
Rome - Vatican City
Your morning includes a 3-hour guided tour of Imperial Rome combining walking 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 ends at Vatican City around 11:00 a.m. Afternoon is free to explore on your own. In the evening, transfer to Trastevere neighborhood for dinner, returning to the hotel around 8:30 p.m.
Included Activities
- 3-hour guided city tour of Imperial Rome - walking and panoramic bus portions
- Arch of Constantine viewing
- Colosseum exterior viewing
- Imperial Forums viewing
- Circus Maximus viewing
- Baths of Caracalla viewing
- Basilica of Saint Mary Major viewing
- Pyramid of Cestius viewing
- Castel Sant'Angelo viewing
- Transfer to Trastevere neighborhood
Optional Activities
- Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel guided visit (70 EUR) - 3 hours, includes entrance tickets with priority lane, specialized authorized guide, audio devices. Minimum 20 people required. Recommended to purchase in advance due to high demand.
- Baroque Rome tour - 2 hours 30 minutes (40 EUR) - includes transportation by bus from St. Peter's Square to Piazza di Spagna, then walking tour of Plaza de España, Fontana de Trevi, Piazza Colona, Pantheon, and Piazza Navona, with specialized guide and audio devices. Minimum 15 people required.
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 Trastevere - Day 15
Departure
After breakfast, your trip comes to an end. You'll leave with great memories of everything you've experienced across Spain, Switzerland, and Italy.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet)
