Itinerary
- Day 1
Madrid
You'll arrive in Madrid and get settled at your hotel before meeting your guide. Later that evening, head to Plaza Mayor and La Latina where you can pick from several dining options like Indian, Chinese, Spanish, or Middle Eastern cuisine depending on what you're in the mood for.
Optional Activities
- Dine at a restaurant in Plaza Mayor and La Latina neighborhood
Landmarks/POIs Plaza Mayor La Latina - Day 2
Madrid
Start your morning with a comprehensive tour of central Madrid, walking through Paseo del Prado, seeing Cibeles, Neptuno, and Puerta de Alcala before visiting Plaza de Colon and Plaza Mayor. After that, you'll check out Retiro Park and its lake along with the Palacio de Cristal. Next up is Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, home to Real Madrid. The afternoon is yours to explore on your own before heading back to your hotel in the evening.
Included Activities
- Comprehensive city tour of central Madrid featuring Paseo del Prado, Cibeles, Neptuno, Puerta de Alcalá, Plaza de Colón, and Plaza Mayor
- Visit to Retiro Park including lake and Palacio de Cristal
- Admission to Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
Landmarks/POIs Paseo del Prado Cibeles Puerta de Alcalá Plaza de Colón Plaza Mayor Retiro Park Palacio de Cristal Santiago Bernabéu Stadium - Day 3
Madrid to Barcelona
Leave early from Madrid and travel through Castile into Aragon. You'll stop in Zaragoza to see the Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, then continue to Poblet Abbey, a well-preserved medieval monastery. From there, it's on to Barcelona where you'll arrive in the evening.
Included Activities
- Visit to Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza
- Admission to Poblet Abbey
Landmarks/POIs Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar Poblet Abbey - Day 4
Barcelona to Girona
Spend your morning in Barcelona exploring Gaudi's modern architecture, walking down the busy Ramblas, and seeing the city's historical side. Later in the evening, head north into Catalonia and wander through Girona's old town, checking out the colorful houses, former Jewish quarter, and the cathedral.
Included Activities
- City tour of Barcelona
Landmarks/POIs Ramblas Girona Cathedral - Day 5
Barcelona to Chambéry
Travel toward France through Provence and stop in Arles, a UNESCO site famous for its Van Gogh connections. See the Roman theater and Romanesque churches, then grab lunch. After that, visit Carrieres des Lumieres, an underground art gallery in an old quarry. You'll reach Chambery, a charming medieval Savoyard capital, by evening.
Included Activities
- Visit to Roman theater and Romanesque churches in Arles
- Visit to Carrières des Lumières (or Pont du Gard as alternative if unavailable)
Landmarks/POIs Arles Roman Theater of Arles Carrières des Lumières Pont du Gard - Day 6
Chambéry to Leysin
Head into Switzerland and arrive in Geneva. See the Palais des Nations, the English Garden with its flower clock, and the Jet d'Eau fountain. Continue to Gruyeres, a walled village known for cheese, then visit the Maison Cailler Chocolate Factory for a tasting. Stop by Chillon Castle on Lake Geneva's shore before getting to Leysin by mid-afternoon with dinner included.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Palais des Nations in Geneva
- Visit to English Garden and Jet d'Eau in Geneva
- Visit to Gruyères
- Admission to Maison Cailler Chocolate Factory
- Admission to Chillon Castle
- Chocolate tasting at Maison Cailler
Optional Activities
- Visit to nearby Nestlé chocolate factory in Gruyères area
Landmarks/POIs Palais des Nations English Garden Jet d'Eau Gruyères Maison Cailler Chocolate Factory Chillon Castle - Day 7
Leysin to Zurich
Take a cable car up to Glacier 3000 where there's ice and snow year-round. You can walk the suspended bridge between peaks, explore the Ice Cathedral, or check out the Fun Park. Stop in Interlaken for lunch (75°F/24°C expected), then continue to Lucerne, often considered one of Switzerland's nicest cities. Arrive in Zurich by evening with time to see the city center.
Included Activities
- Glacier 3000 cable car ride
- Access to suspended bridge at Glacier 3000
- Access to Ice Cathedral at Glacier 3000
- Access to Fun Park at Glacier 3000
Landmarks/POIs Glacier 3000 Interlaken Lucerne - Day 8
Zurich to Milan
Depart Zurich early and cross the Alps to reach the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland. Stop in Bellinzona to see three medieval UNESCO castles sitting on hillsides and explore the town's charming streets. Then cross into Italy and stop in Como for lunch, a beautiful lake town with gardens and a cathedral. Continue to Milan and visit Piazza del Duomo with free time to wander before heading to your hotel.
Included Activities
- Visit to Bellinzona and its three medieval castles
- Free time to explore Bellinzona city center
Landmarks/POIs Bellinzona Como Como Cathedral Piazza del Duomo - Day 9
Milan to Rome
Travel to Pisa and ride a small tourist train to Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles). You'll see the famous Leaning Tower along with other notable structures at this art complex. From there, it's on to Rome, arriving later in the afternoon.
Included Activities
- Small tourist train ride to Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa
- Visit to Piazza dei Miracoli and Leaning Tower of Pisa area
Landmarks/POIs Piazza dei Miracoli Leaning Tower of Pisa - Day 10
Rome
Start with a three-hour guided tour combining walking through Imperial Rome with a bus ride to see the big sights: 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 an optional Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel visit available. In the evening, transfer to Trastevere for dinner, heading back to your hotel around 8:30 p.m.
Included Activities
- Three-hour guided city tour combining walking tour through Imperial Rome and panoramic bus ride
- Visit to Arch of Constantine
- View of Colosseum exterior
- Visit to Imperial Forums
- Visit to Circus Maximus
- Visit to Baths of Caracalla
- Visit to Basilica of Saint Mary Major
- Visit to Pyramid of Cestius
- Visit to Castel Sant'Angelo
- Transfer to Trastevere neighborhood
Optional Activities
- Visit to Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
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 - Day 11
Rome to Florence
Leave Rome heading north through nice landscapes and arrive in Florence. Go straight to Piazzale Michelangelo for city views, then walk toward the historic center for lunch. A local expert guides you through the old town, showing you Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo, and Piazza della Signoria, which feels like an open-air museum. The afternoon is free to explore, and evening has many restaurant choices with international cuisines available.
Included Activities
- Visit to Piazzale Michelangelo
- Guided walking tour of Florence historic center including Ponte Vecchio, Duomo, and Piazza della Signoria
Landmarks/POIs Piazzale Michelangelo Ponte Vecchio Florence Cathedral (Duomo) Piazza della Signoria - Day 12
Florence to Venice
Cross the Apennines through nice mountain scenery and reach Venice. Take a boat across Giudecca Canal to the Island of Venice where a local guide shows you St. Mark's Square. Visit the Murano Glass Factory to see how this ancient glass gets made. You'll have free time to explore on your own. Your accommodation is in the Mestre district.
Included Activities
- Boat transfer across Giudecca Canal to Island of Venice
- Guided visit to St. Mark's Square
- Tour of Murano Glass Factory
Landmarks/POIs St. Mark's Square Murano Glass Factory - Day 13
Venice to Salzburg
Leave Venice heading toward Austria and arrive in Innsbruck with time to walk through the historic center and have lunch in this Austrian Tyrolean capital. Travel through scenic mountain roads to Kitzbuhel, a charming village known as a ski resort destination. Explore this location, then continue to Salzburg, arriving by end of day.
Included Activities
- Time to explore Innsbruck city center
Landmarks/POIs Innsbruck Kitzbühel - Day 14
Salzburg to Vienna
Get to know Austria better by exploring Salzburg in the morning, Mozart's city with its Renaissance and Baroque center and grand castle backdrop. Travel through lakes and mountains to reach St. Wolfgang, a popular pilgrimage site. Continue to Traunkirchen on beautiful Traunsee Lake. An included cruise takes you to see four castles on the lake before stopping in Gmunden. Then head to Vienna, arriving in the evening.
Included Activities
- Morning exploration of Salzburg
- Visit to St. Wolfgang
- Included cruise on Traunsee Lake viewing four castles
Landmarks/POIs Salzburg St. Wolfgang Traunsee Lake Traunkirchen Gmunden - Day 15
Vienna
Take a panoramic tour with a local guide exploring this impressive city's wide avenues, beautiful palaces, large parks, and lively city center. The afternoon is yours to explore on your own. In the evening, transfer to Grinzing, an old wine-growing village that's now part of the city, known for traditional taverns. You'll have free time to dine in the area.
Included Activities
- Panoramic city tour of Vienna with local guide
- Guided exploration of majestic avenues, palaces, and parks
- Transfer to Grinzing district
Optional Activities
- Dine at a traditional tavern in Grinzing
Landmarks/POIs Grinzing - Day 16
Vienna to Budapest
After about three hours of travel, you'll arrive in Budapest, Hungary's capital. First stop is Vaci utca, a busy shopping street with free time for lunch. Then take an included boat trip on the Danube River to see historic Buda on one bank and modern Pest on the other. A panoramic tour follows to explore the 'Queen of the Danube.' You'll have free time after, and a Magyar show with dinner is available in the evening.
Included Activities
- Visit to Váci utca with free time
- Included boat trip on the Danube River
- Panoramic tour of Budapest
Optional Activities
- Optional Magyar show with dinner included
Landmarks/POIs Váci utca Danube River Buda Pest - Day 17
Budapest to Prague
Depart Budapest early for Bratislava, Slovakia's capital, sitting along the Danube with a nice historic center. You'll have time to explore and grab lunch before heading to the Czech Republic. Arrive in Prague in the evening at Old Town Square, a central spot that gives you a fantastic introduction with vibrant energy and lots of activities. Free time to dine at restaurants serving Czech, Chinese, Indian, or Italian food before returning to your hotel.
Included Activities
- Visit to Bratislava with free time to explore
- Transfer to Old Town Square in Prague
Optional Activities
- Dine at a restaurant in Old Town Square area
Landmarks/POIs Bratislava Old Town Square - Day 18
Prague
Spend the day in Prague, Europe's Baroque gem. A local guide leads a panoramic tour highlighting the city's great monuments. Visit Prague Castle with admission included and take an included boat ride on the Vltava River. The afternoon is free to explore the city on your own.
Included Activities
- Panoramic city tour of Prague with local guide highlighting outstanding monuments
- Admission to Prague Castle
- Boat ride on the Vltava River
Landmarks/POIs Prague Castle Vltava River - Day 19
Prague
After breakfast, your trip comes to an end, leaving you with wonderful memories from this journey across Europe.
- Meals
- Breakfast
