Itinerary
- Day 1
London
After checking into your hotel in London, the afternoon is yours to explore at your own pace. Head to Hyde Park and walk along the Serpentine, browse the shops in Knightsbridge, or stroll toward the Thames to catch views of Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Thistle Marble Arch, London)
Optional Activities
- Walk along the Serpentine in Hyde Park
- Window shop in Knightsbridge boutiques
- Stroll along the Thames to Tower Bridge
- Visit Tower of London
Landmarks Tower Bridge Tower of London Hyde Park Serpentine Knightsbridge - Day 2
London to Paris
Meet your Travel Director and transfer to St. Pancras Station for the high-speed Eurostar train through the Channel Tunnel to Paris. Once you arrive, spend the afternoon checking out spots like the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, the Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde, and the Arc de Triomphe. By evening, join your Travel Director at a local restaurant for the Welcome Dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant in the heart of Paris)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Marriott Rive Gauche, Paris)
Included Activities
- Board Eurostar from London St. Pancras Station to Paris
- Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant in Paris
Optional Activities
- Visit Eiffel Tower
- Visit Notre-Dame Cathedral
- Explore Louvre Museum
- Stroll along River Seine banks
- Visit Place de la Concorde
- Walk 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 an orientation tour covering the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, and Place de la Concorde. The afternoon is free, so you might relax at a sidewalk bistro, walk through the Marais boutiques, or stroll the Tuileries Gardens toward the Louvre. You can see the Mona Lisa or explore the Left Bank's literary history. An optional cabaret experience is available in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Marriott Rive Gauche, Paris)
Included Activities
- Orientation tour with Travel Director featuring Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, and Place de la Concorde
Optional Activities
- Visit a sidewalk bistro for café crème
- Browse boutiques in the Marais
- Stroll through Tuileries Gardens
- Visit Louvre Museum to see the Mona Lisa and Winged Victory of Samothrace
- Explore the Left Bank
- Attend a cabaret performance with dinner
Landmarks Arc de Triomphe Champs-Élysées Place de la Concorde Marais Tuileries Gardens Louvre Left Bank - Day 4
Paris to Bordeaux
Drive south through the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its beautiful gardens on vast estates. Stop at Château de Chenonceau, an elegant château that spans the River Cher. From there, continue to Bordeaux, an active inland port with distinctive 18th-century character.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Gare St Jean, Bordeaux)
Included Activities
- Visit Château de Chenonceau
Optional Activities
- Explore Loire Valley gardens
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 waterfront facades, Grand Théâtre, Triangle d'Or, and the Esplanade des Quinconces. Later, travel to San Sebastián for a progressive dinner with locals, tasting pintxos (Basque snack-sized treats) and local Txakoli wine.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Evening of pintxos dining with locals in the Basque tradition, featuring a wide variety of finger food delicacies with regional flavor, flair and presentation, including local Txakoli wine)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Barceló Costa Vasca, San Sebastián)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Bordeaux's 18th-century architecture with Local Expert
- Progressive dinner with pintxos in the Old Town of San Sebastián with locals
Landmarks Bordeaux Quaysides Grand Théâtre Triangle d'Or Esplanade des Quinconces San Sebastián Old Town - Day 6
San Sebastián to Madrid
Travel through northern Spain's mountains and gorges, passing through the Sierra de Guadarrama tunnel onto the New Castile plateau. Arrive in Madrid, Spain's elegant capital. By evening, drive along the city's grand avenues past its spectacular fountains to see the lights come alive.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Barceló Torre de Madrid)
Optional Activities
- Evening drive along Madrid's grand avenues and past spectacular fountains
Landmarks Sierra de Guadarrama New Castile Plateau 
- Day 7
Madrid
Your Local Expert takes you through Madrid's Old Town, the elegant Paseo de la Castellana, and Plaza de Cibeles fountain. Walk the historic neighborhoods and Old Quarter to see where the city began. Visit the Reina Sofía Museum with an art historian to see Picasso's Guernica, or join an alternative neighborhood tour about social equity and women's movements in Spain.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Barceló Torre de Madrid)
Included Activities
- Sightseeing tour of Old Town with Local Expert
- Visit Paseo de la Castellana
- See Plaza de Cibeles fountain
- Explore Old Quarter with Local Expert
- Visit Reina Sofía Museum with art historian to see Picasso's Guernica
Optional Activities
- Join neighborhood walking tour to discuss social equity empowerment and learn about women's movements history in Spain
Landmarks Madrid Old Town Paseo de la Castellana Plaza de Cibeles Madrid Old Quarter Reina Sofía Museum - Day 8
Madrid to Barcelona
Cross the Castilian plain past Zaragoza and head to Barcelona, a vibrant port city on the Mediterranean. By evening, try local Catalan cuisine and view the city lights from Montjuïc's heights, with lights reflecting from the mountains down to the sea.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Labtwentytwo, Barcelona, Torre Melina Gran Meliá, Barcelona)
Optional Activities
- Try delicious local Catalan cuisine
- View the city from Montjuïc at night
Landmarks Montjuïc 
- Day 9
Barcelona
Your Local Expert guides you through Barcelona's Gothic Quarter, including the cathedral and Roman gate. Walk narrow lanes and old squares, travel along the Ramblas and Passeig de Gràcia, then move into the Eixample district to see Gaudí's Sagrada Família.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Labtwentytwo, Barcelona, Torre Melina Gran Meliá, Barcelona)
Included Activities
- Explore Gothic Quarter with Local Expert including cathedral and Roman gate
- Walk through the Ramblas
- Walk along Passeig de Gràcia
- Visit Sagrada Família
Landmarks Gothic Quarter Barcelona Cathedral Roman Gate Ramblas Passeig de Gràcia Eixample Sagrada Família - Day 10
Barcelona to Nice
Head around the Mediterranean to the French Riviera and arrive in Nice. See the Bay of Angels for the first time, then stroll along the Promenade des Anglais to soak in the Côte d'Azur's cosmopolitan atmosphere, a playground long favored by European society.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Apollinaire, Nice)
Optional Activities
- Stroll along the Promenade des Anglais
Landmarks Bay of Angels Promenade des Anglais Côte d'Azur 
- Day 11
Nice to Monaco
Experience the glamorous Côte d'Azur, long popular with artists, aristocrats, and film stars. Drive along part of Monaco's Grand Prix circuit where Formula 1 cars race through the streets since 1929. With Insight Choice, visit either the Oceanographic Museum founded by Prince Albert I or the Royal Palace of Monaco and the 19th-century cathedral where Princess Grace is buried. The rest of the day is yours to relax in the sun.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Apollinaire, Nice)
Included Activities
- Drive along Monaco's Grand Prix circuit
- Wander old town with Travel Director to see Royal Palace and yacht-filled harbor
Optional Activities
- Visit Oceanographic Museum of Monaco
- Visit Royal Palace of Monaco
- Visit Monaco Cathedral
Landmarks Monaco Grand Prix Circuit Oceanographic Museum of Monaco Royal Palace of Monaco Monaco Cathedral 
- Day 12
Nice to Pisa to Florence
Cross into Italy and follow the Italian Riviera arc toward Pisa. Walk through the Square of Miracles with a Local Expert to see the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa (where Galileo reportedly conducted gravity experiments) and the splendid 11th-century cathedral and baptistery with their marble and mosaic decorations. Then travel through Tuscany to Florence.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (NH Firenze, Florence)
Included Activities
- Visit Leaning Tower of Pisa with Local Expert
- Visit Pisa Cathedral
- Visit Pisa Baptistery
Landmarks Square of Miracles Leaning Tower of Pisa Pisa Cathedral Pisa Baptistery - Day 13
Florence
Walk with your Local Expert to Florence's marble cathedral and baptistery, where Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise have been recreated. Visit Piazza della Signoria, still Florence's political center and an open-air gallery of Renaissance art. You'll see statues like Neptune and David along the Palazzo Vecchio's front. The afternoon is free for shopping or more exploring.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (NH Firenze, Florence)
Included Activities
- Visit cathedral and baptistery with Local Expert including Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise
- Visit Piazza della Signoria
Optional Activities
- Shop in Florence boutiques
- Continue exploring Florence independently
Landmarks Florence Cathedral Florence Baptistery Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise Piazza della Signoria Palazzo Vecchio - Day 14
Florence to Rome
Relax and take in the grand landscapes of the Chianti hills and Umbria as you travel. Pass through the Apennine Mountains to reach Rome, filled with ancient ruins, medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces, and Baroque churches. By evening, raise a toast with delicious Italian cuisine and wine to mark the end of your Mediterranean journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Delicious Italian cuisine and wine)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Radisson Blu GHR, Rome)
Optional Activities
- Enjoy delicious Italian cuisine and wine in the evening
Landmarks Chianti Hills Umbria Apennine Mountains 
- Day 15
Rome
A Local Expert introduces you to Rome's grandeur, beginning at Vatican State. Tour the Vatican Museums with their priceless collections gathered by the Popes. See Michelangelo's famous ceiling in the Sistine Chapel and visit St. Peter's Basilica to view Michelangelo's 'Pieta' and Bernini's carved Papal Altar. The afternoon is free for shopping near trendy boutiques or relaxing at a sidewalk café.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Radisson Blu GHR, Rome)
Included Activities
- Visit Vatican Museums
- Visit Sistine Chapel
- Visit St. Peter's Basilica
Optional Activities
- Shop in trendy boutiques
- Relax at a sidewalk café
Landmarks Vatican State Vatican Museums Sistine Chapel St. Peter's Basilica - Day 16
Rome
Explore Rome at your own pace. You have the option to visit Pompeii, the city frozen in time by Vesuvius's eruption in 79 AD, or spend time browsing boutiques along Via del Corso, Via Nazionale, or the designer shops near the Spanish Steps.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Radisson Blu GHR, Rome)
Optional Activities
- Visit Pompeii
- 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
Bid farewell to Italy's glories as your journey concludes.
- Meals
- Breakfast
