Itinerary
- Day 1
London to Amsterdam
You'll meet your Travel Director at St. Pancras Station and board the Eurostar train, heading through the Channel Tunnel to Brussels. From there, you'll drive to Amsterdam and check into your hotel. At 17:00, join the Welcome Reception followed by a canal cruise through the tree-lined waterways of the Old City. After that, you'll have dinner with wine at a local restaurant to kick things off.
- Meals
- Dinner (Join your Travel Director and fellow guests at a local restaurant in the heart of Amsterdam for a delightful dinner, served with wine)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Bilderberg Garden Hotel Amsterdam)
Included Activities
- Eurostar train journey via Channel Tunnel
- Canal cruise along tree-lined canals exploring the Old City
- Welcome Reception and dinner with wine at local restaurant
Landmarks St. Pancras Station Channel Tunnel 
- Day 2
Amsterdam
This morning, there's an optional visit to the Van Loon Museum if you're interested. Later in the day, you'll tour the newly refurbished Rijksmuseum with a Local Expert who'll show you Dutch masterpieces including Rembrandt's 'Night Watch' and works by Van Gogh and Vermeer. You'll spend a few hours taking in the collections at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton, Amsterdam)
Included Activities
- Rijksmuseum visit with Local Expert - Dutch art, Rembrandt's 'Night Watch', Van Gogh and Vermeer works
Optional Activities
- Van Loon Museum visit
Landmarks Van Loon Museum Rijksmuseum - Day 3
Amsterdam to Würzburg
You'll head into Germany through the Rhine Valley to Würzburg. Once there, stroll through the Old Town to the Alte Mainbrücke, a 16th century bridge over the River Main with sandstone statues lining it. Then visit the imposing Würzburg Residenz, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where a Local Expert shows you the intricate French, Austrian and Venetian-influenced decorations and lavish staterooms.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Maritim, Würzburg)
Included Activities
- Würzburg Residenz visit with Local Expert - UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Stroll through Old Town and Alte Mainbrücke
Landmarks Alte Mainbrücke Würzburg Residenz Marienburg Fortress 
- Day 4
Würzburg to Prague
After breakfast, you'll drive to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, one of the most well-preserved medieval towns on the Romantic Road. You'll have time to walk the streets and see the old fortifications. Later, continue east through Germany past Pilsen and across the Czech border to Prague. An optional evening river cruise through the city is available if you're not too tired from traveling.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (NH Collection Prague City.)
Included Activities
- Rothenburg ob der Tauber - explore the best-preserved medieval town in Germany, city walls, towers, gates and old town
Optional Activities
- Evening river cruise through Prague
Landmarks Rothenburg ob der Tauber 
- Day 5
Prague
You have an Insight Choice today. Either walk through Prague Castle and visit St. Vitus Cathedral, or join your Local Expert through the Jewish Quarter to learn about Jewish history while tasting Trdelník, a traditional Czech pastry. In the afternoon, see the Marienburg Fortress. The rest of the day is yours to wander around, though there's an optional evening experience available in the Czech countryside if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (NH Collection Prague City.)
Included Activities
- Insight Choice - Prague Castle courtyards and St. Vitus Cathedral, OR Jewish Quarter with Local Expert and traditional Czech pastry tasting
- Marienburg Fortress visit
Optional Activities
- Evening experience in the Czech countryside
Landmarks Prague Castle St. Vitus Cathedral Jewish Quarter Marienburg Fortress - Day 6
Prague to Salzburg
You'll cross the Austrian border and head to Salzburg, the city of Mozart and 'The Sound of Music.' A Local Expert shows you the formal gardens of Mirabell Palace with fountains and statues from the 'Do, Re, Mi' scene, Residence Square, the imposing fortress and cathedral, plus Mozart's birthplace on Getreidegasse. Later, enjoy authentic Farm-to-Table dining with homemade dishes at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Enjoy a wonderful Farm-to-Table dinner, freshly prepared from locally sourced ingredients)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Wyndham Grand Salzburg Conference Centre)
Included Activities
- Mirabell Palace formal gardens - 'Sound of Music' locations
- Residence Square visit
- Salzburg fortress, cathedral and Mozart's birthplace on Getreidegasse with Local Expert
- Farm-to-Table dinner with locally sourced homemade dishes
Landmarks Mirabell Palace Residence Square Salzburg Fortress Salzburg Cathedral Mozart's Birthplace 
- Day 7
Salzburg to Venice
Start with a leisurely morning in Salzburg shopping for local marzipan specialties. If you're up for it, there's an optional visit to Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle's Nest) for impressive alpine views. Then you'll travel down the Tauern Mountains, cross into Italy and continue to Venice. You'll be staying in a peaceful, authentic Venetian district away from the main tourist areas.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio, Venice)
Included Activities
- Travel through Tauern Mountains and Italian Alps to Venice
Optional Activities
- Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle's Nest) - alpine views and historic architecture
Landmarks Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle's Nest) 
- Day 8
Venice
Take in this romantic city by seeing the Campanile and Doge's Palace on St. Mark's Square, and the Bridge of Sighs. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience to watch traditional glassblowers at a historic arts centre. The rest of the day is at leisure for shopping, or you can optionally cruise the Venetian lagoon to Burano island for a meal of local specialties and wine.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio, Venice)
Included Activities
- St. Mark's Square - Campanile and Doge's Palace
- Bridge of Sighs and ancient prisons
- MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience - traditional glassblowing workshop
- Introduction to Venice with Travel Director - canals, squares and landmarks
Optional Activities
- Cruise to Burano island for meal of local specialties and wine
Landmarks St. Mark's Square Campanile Doge's Palace Bridge of Sighs Rialto Bridge - Day 9
Venice to Rome
You'll travel through the Apennine Mountains into the peaceful landscapes of Tuscany and Umbria. Following the course of the Tiber River, you'll head to Rome, the Eternal City. Once you arrive, settle in and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant this evening to unwind from your journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Bettoja Massimo D'Azeglio, Rome)
Included Activities
- Dinner at local restaurant
- Day 10
Rome
This morning, take a walking tour of Rome's art, antiquity, piazzas and palaces with a Local Expert. You'll toss a coin into Trevi Fountain, see the Pantheon, and have free time in Piazza Navona. This evening, you'll have exclusive after-hours access to the Basilica of Saint Praxedes with a private welcome from the Rector, where you'll see the 9th-century Byzantine mosaics and legendary well.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Savour a four-course dinner complete with wine, to the rich tremolo of some of Italy's best-loved opera)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Villa Neroli, Florence)
Included Activities
- Morning walking tour with Local Expert - Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona
- Exclusive private visit to Basilica of Saint Praxedes with Rector welcome - 9th-century Byzantine mosaics, well and chapels
Landmarks Trevi Fountain Pantheon Piazza Navona Basilica of Saint Praxedes - Day 11
Rome to Florence
Start with the Vatican State and its Museums featuring priceless papal treasures. You'll get fast-track entry to skip crowds and see Michelangelo's ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. Then continue through Umbria and Tuscany to Florence. With a Local Expert, you'll visit the multi-colored marble Duomo with the Gates of Paradise, then Piazza della Signoria lined with Renaissance fountains and statues.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Villa Neroli, Florence)
Included Activities
- Vatican Museums with fast-track entry
- Sistine Chapel - Michelangelo's ceiling
- St. Peter's Basilica
- Duomo Florence with Local Expert - Gates of Paradise
- Piazza della Signoria - political heart of Florence
- Santa Croce Basilica
Landmarks Vatican Museums Sistine Chapel St. Peter's Basilica Florence Cathedral (Duomo) Piazza della Signoria Santa Croce Basilica 
- Day 12
Florence to Cinque Terre to Santa Margherita Ligure
Head to the famous Italian Riviera and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cinque Terre, one of Italy's most beautiful landscapes. With a Local Expert, you'll approach one of the fishing villages by boat (weather permitting) and spend time exploring the medieval quarter or sandy beach. Continue to your resort in Santa Margherita Ligure and have authentic Italian cuisine with dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Savour authentic Italian cuisine with a delicious dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (B and B Park Hotel Suiss, Santa Margherita Ligure)
Included Activities
- Cinque Terre UNESCO World Heritage Site - boat visit to fishing village with Local Expert
- Dinner with authentic Italian cuisine
Landmarks Cinque Terre - Day 13
Santa Margherita Ligure to Lucerne
You'll pass Milan as you head north through the Italian Lake District via Lake Lugano. Enter the Swiss Alps, passing through the Saint Gotthard Tunnel, one of the longest road tunnels in the world. Travel alongside towering mountains and rushing torrents down to scenic Lake Lucerne where you have leisure time for the rest of the afternoon to settle in.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Astoria Lucerne)
Included Activities
- Saint Gotthard Tunnel passage - one of the longest road tunnels in the world
Landmarks Lake Lugano Saint Gotthard Tunnel Lake Lucerne - Day 14
Lucerne
Explore Mount Stanserhorn on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience with a panoramic open-top solar-powered cable car to the summit for mountain views reaching Alsace and the Black Forest (weather permitting). Walk scenic pathways and possibly spot marmots while a Swiss ranger talks about local flora and conservation. Return to Lucerne to see the Lion Monument, Chapel Bridge and baroque Jesuit church. Afternoon is free for shopping, and you'll enjoy a Dine-Around Evening with restaurant choices.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Choose from a selection of restaurants on your Dine-Around Evening and hand-pick your preferred ambience, cuisine and drinks for an intimate culinary experience)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Astoria Lucerne)
Included Activities
- Mount Stanserhorn MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience - solar-powered open-top cable car to summit
- Scenic mountain pathways and wildlife spotting
- Conservation talk by Swiss ranger about local wildlife and flora
- Lion Monument, Chapel Bridge and Jesuit church in Lucerne
- Dine-Around Evening - choice of fine restaurants
Landmarks Mount Stanserhorn Lion Monument Chapel Bridge Jesuit Church - Day 15
Lucerne to Paris
Journey through the rural French countryside of Burgundy, famous for its vineyards and wines. You'll arrive in Paris, the City of Light, and see the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Louvre facades, romantic bridges over the Seine, Place de la Concorde obelisk and drive along the Champs Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. With evening free, explore the lively atmosphere or catch one of the world-famous cabaret shows.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Le Méridien Etoile, Paris), Hotel (Le Meridien Paris Arc de Triomphe)
Included Activities
- Drive and coach tour of Paris highlights - Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Louvre, Seine bridges, Place de la Concorde, Champs Élysées, Arc de Triomphe
Optional Activities
- World-famous cabaret shows
Landmarks Eiffel Tower Notre-Dame Cathedral Louvre Place de la Concorde Champs Élysées Arc de Triomphe River Seine 
- Day 16
Paris
You have an Insight Choice today in Paris. Either discover community life in the car-free Montorgueil district with its schools, shops, heritage landmarks and theatres including passages couverts and Patrick Blanc's vertical garden, or join a local food enthusiast visiting patisseries, boulangeries and chocolatiers while sampling local treats. Later, you'll dine at the iconic restaurant L'Alsace, a favorite of French entertainer Josephine Baker.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (With your newfound friends indulge in refined French cuisine during your dinner at the iconic restaurant L'Alsace)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Le Méridien Etoile, Paris), Hotel (Le Meridien Paris Arc de Triomphe)
Included Activities
- Insight Choice - Montorgueil district walk exploring community life, OR foodie walk through Paris sampling local treats at patisseries, boulangeries and chocolatiers
- Dinner at iconic restaurant L'Alsace with refined French cuisine
Landmarks Montorgueil District L'Alsace Restaurant - Day 17
Paris to London
In the morning, say goodbye to your travelling companions and travel by high-speed Eurostar train back through the Channel Tunnel to London. On arrival, you'll transfer to the Insight London hotel where your trip ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Eurostar high-speed train return journey via Channel Tunnel
Landmarks Channel Tunnel - Day 18
London (Optional Extension)
This is an optional extension day in London. Your accommodations end and the tour concludes, but you can stay longer if you'd like to explore the city further or simply head home.
