Itinerary
- Day 1
London
You arrive in London and head to your hotel to get settled. The afternoon is free to explore the city at your own pace. Consider walking through Hyde Park along the Serpentine, browsing the shops in Knightsbridge, or heading down to the Thames to see Tower Bridge and Tower of London up close.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Thistle Marble Arch, London)
Optional Activities
- Walk along the Serpentine in Hyde Park
- Shop in the elegant boutiques of Knightsbridge
- Stroll along the Thames to Tower Bridge and Tower of London
Landmarks Tower Bridge Tower of London Hyde Park Knightsbridge 
- Day 2
London to Amsterdam
Meet your Travel Director and head to St. Pancras Station to catch the high-speed Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel to Brussels. From there, you'll travel by coach to Amsterdam. This evening there's a Welcome Reception with a scenic canal cruise past 17th-century merchant houses, historic churches, and the Skinny Bridge. After the cruise, you'll have dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Dinner (Toast to the travels ahead during your dinner of modern European cuisine at a local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Apollo, Amsterdam)
Included Activities
- High-speed Eurostar train journey from London to Brussels via Channel Tunnel
- Welcome Reception canal cruise in Amsterdam
Landmarks Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge) St. Pancras Station 
- Day 3
Amsterdam to Würzburg
The scenic drive along the Rhine Valley toward Würzburg takes you past the impressive Marienberg Fortress, a baroque palace built by the Prince-Bishops. Once you arrive in Würzburg, a Local Expert guides you through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Residenz to see its detailed decorations and lavish staterooms.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Maritim, Würzburg)
Included Activities
- Visit Würzburg Residenz UNESCO World Heritage Site with Local Expert
Landmarks Marienberg Fortress Würzburg Residenz - Day 4
Rothenburg ob der Tauber - Pilsen - Prague
Early morning takes you to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, one of Germany's best-preserved medieval towns on the Romantic Road. From there, you continue east toward the Czech border, passing through Pilsen, famous for its beer production. By evening you'll be in Prague with an optional river cruise through the city's heart.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Royal, Prague)
Optional Activities
- River cruise through Prague
Landmarks Rothenburg ob der Tauber Pilsen 
- Day 5
Prague
You have two activity options in Prague to choose from. First option: walk through Prague Castle courtyards and visit St. Vitus Cathedral. Second option: join a Local Expert through the Jewish Quarter to learn about its history and traditions, plus taste Trdelník, a traditional Czech pastry. After your choice, the rest of the day is yours to browse antique shops or buy Bohemian crystal.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Royal, Prague)
Included Activities
- Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral tour with Local Expert (Insight Choice option)
- Jewish Quarter guided tour with Local Expert and Trdelník tasting (Insight Choice option)
Optional Activities
- Browse antique stores
- Shop for Bohemian crystal
Landmarks Prague Castle St. Vitus Cathedral Jewish Quarter (Josefov) - Day 6
Prague to Budapest
You'll travel through the forested countryside of Bohemia, then follow the River Danube into Hungary toward Budapest. That evening a Local Expert joins you for a scenic dinner cruise, gliding past UNESCO World Heritage Sites while the city lights reflect off the water.
- Meals
- Dinner (Scenic dinner cruise along the Danube with views of UNESCO World Heritage Sites)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Garden Inn, Budapest)
Included Activities
- Scenic dinner cruise in Budapest with UNESCO World Heritage Sites views
Landmarks Danube River 
- Day 7
Budapest
Budapest's iconic landmarks await as you drive along Andrassy Avenue to Heroes' Square. A Local Expert leads you through the Old Town of Buda, then you'll ascend Gellért Hill for sweeping views of the Danube, the Chain Bridge, and the Elizabeth Bridge that connect Buda and Pest.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Garden Inn, Budapest)
Included Activities
- Stroll through the Old Town of Buda with Local Expert
- Visit Fisherman's Bastion and Gellért Hill
- See Liberty Statue and Citadella
Landmarks Heroes' Square Fisherman's Bastion Gellért Hill Citadella Liberty Statue Chain Bridge Elizabeth Bridge Andrassy Avenue - Day 8
Budapest to Vienna
Start the morning with a tour of the Liszt Music Academy and a recital by a student at this institution founded in 1875. After that, you'll continue past the Turul Monument, a large eagle statue overlooking Tatabanya, and through farming country to the Austrian border and Vienna.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Vienna Park, Hilton Vienna Plaza, Vienna)
Included Activities
- Tour of Liszt Music Academy with student and recital
Landmarks Liszt Music Academy Turul Monument 
- Day 9
Vienna
The morning offers an optional private tour of Schönbrunn Palace and its formal gardens, Maria Theresa's residence. Next comes a drive around Vienna's Ring Road, showcasing the Opera House, Hofburg Imperial Residence, and Parliament building. Later a Local Expert walks you through Innere Stadt, the historic core, where you'll enjoy traditional coffee and cake at a cozy café.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Vienna Park)
Included Activities
- Walk through Innere Stadt with Local Expert
- Traditional coffee and cake at a cozy café
Optional Activities
- Private tour of Schönbrunn Palace and formal gardens
Landmarks Schönbrunn Palace Vienna Ring Road Vienna State Opera House Hofburg Imperial Residence Austrian Parliament Building Innere Stadt (Vienna First District) - Day 10
Vienna to Venice
You'll journey through quiet villages and Styria's forested mountains into the Carinthian Lake District. The route passes the Wörthersee, Europe's warmest lake, then crosses into Italy near Tarvisio. By late afternoon you arrive in Venice by private boat. This evening includes a cocktail at Piazza San Marco with live music, then a stroll past the Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs before dinner in the San Marco district.
- Meals
- Dinner (Savor a Venetian dinner with wine in a restaurant in the heart of this historic city)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio, Venice)
Included Activities
- Arrival by private boat to Venice hotel
- Dinner at a local restaurant in San Marco district
Optional Activities
- Cocktail and live music at Piazza San Marco
Landmarks Piazza San Marco Doge's Palace Bridge of Sighs Wörthersee 
- Day 11
Venice
Your Venice day starts at St. Mark's Square with its magnificent basilica and Clock Tower. You'll explore the Campanile and Doge's Palace, connected to ancient prisons by the famous Bridge of Sighs. A MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience takes you to watch traditional glassblowers at a local arts center. The rest of the day is yours to shop in small arcades or take a cruise to Burano island for local specialties.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio, Venice)
Included Activities
- Visit to St. Mark's Square and basilica
- MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience: Traditional glassblowing workshop visit
Optional Activities
- Cruise to the island of Burano for local meal
Landmarks St. Mark's Basilica Clock Tower (Torre dell'Orologio) Campanile Doge's Palace Bridge of Sighs Burano - Day 12
Venice to Rome
You'll head into the Apennine Mountains and Tuscany's peaceful landscapes. A local host guides you through Niccolò Machiavelli's Renaissance home with special access to his study where he wrote 'The Prince'. After exploring the Italian gardens and historic cellar with its secret underground tunnel, you'll have a wine tasting paired with Tuscan food. Later you continue to Rome for an exclusive after-hours visit to the Basilica of Saint Praxedes to see its Byzantine mosaics and Bernini's first sculpture.
- Meals
- Lunch (Tasting of locally made wines and samples of delicious Tuscan fare at Machiavelli's home)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Room 007 Select, Rome)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Machiavelli's home with private office opening
- Italian garden and cellar exploration at Machiavelli house
- Wine tasting of locally made wines with Tuscan fare samples
- Exclusive after-hours visit to Basilica of Saint Praxedes
Landmarks Machiavelli House Basilica of Saint Praxedes Tiber River 
- Day 13
Rome
Your Local Expert guides you through Rome's papal and imperial sites. You'll have fast-track entry to the Vatican Museums to skip crowds and see the Papal art collection. Inside the Sistine Chapel you'll view Michelangelo's ceiling, then continue to St. Peter's Basilica to see his Pietà and the splendid dome. After crossing the Tiber to stand before the Colosseum, the afternoon is free for leisure.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Room 007 Select, Rome)
Included Activities
- Vatican Museums with fast-track entry and Local Expert
- Sistine Chapel visit
- St. Peter's Basilica visit
- Colosseum exterior visit
Landmarks Vatican Museums Sistine Chapel St. Peter's Basilica Colosseum Tiber River - Day 14
Rome to Florence
Chef Lorenzo meets you at his family farm in Umbria for an entertaining pasta demonstration and delicious lunch with Orvieto Classico wine. Afterwards you'll continue on to your hotel in Florence.
- Meals
- Lunch (Delicious lunch with Chef Lorenzo accompanied by Orvieto Classico wine at his family farm in Umbria)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Villa Neroli, Florence)
Included Activities
- Pasta demonstration and lunch with Chef Lorenzo at family farm
Landmarks Orvieto Classico Wine Region - Day 15
Florence
A Local Expert leads you through Florence's iconic religious and artistic landmarks, the multi-colored marble cathedral, bell tower, and baptistery with Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise. Then you'll visit Piazza della Signoria, the political heart of the city and its open-air Renaissance gallery. The afternoon is yours to explore, and you have the option to visit Pisa and see the famous Leaning Tower.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Villa Neroli, Florence)
Included Activities
- Visit Florence cathedral, bell tower, and baptistery with Local Expert
- Piazza della Signoria and Renaissance masterpieces with Local Expert
Optional Activities
- Visit Pisa and see the Leaning Tower
Landmarks Florence Cathedral (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore) Campanile di Giotto Baptistery of Florence Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise Piazza della Signoria Leaning Tower of Pisa - Day 16
Florence to Lucerne
You'll head north toward the Italian Lake District via Lake Lugano, then continue into the Swiss Alps, passing through the Saint Gotthard Tunnel, one of the longest road tunnels in the world. After traveling alongside towering mountains and rushing streams, you'll reach scenic Lake Lucerne. You'll see the Lion Monument carved into limestone, commemorating Swiss Guards who died during the French Revolution, and stroll across the historic covered Chapel Bridge.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Astoria Lucerne)
Included Activities
- View Lion Monument at Lake Lucerne
- Stroll across Chapel Bridge
- Visit baroque Jesuit Church
Landmarks Lake Lugano Saint Gotthard Tunnel Lake Lucerne Lion Monument Chapel Bridge Jesuit Church 
- Day 17
Lucerne
A MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience takes you up Mount Stanserhorn on a solar-powered open-top cable car to the summit. On clear days you'll see views reaching to Alsace and the Black Forest in Germany. You can walk scenic pathways spotting marmots and wildlife, or take a horse-drawn carriage into the countryside to meet local farmers. The Old Town offers chocolate shopping, and this evening you'll choose from several restaurants for a Dine-Around.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dine-Around Evening: Select from a choice of fine restaurants to choose your preferred ambience, cuisine and drinks)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Astoria Lucerne)
Included Activities
- Mount Stanserhorn exploration via solar-powered open-top cable car (MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience)
- Scenic pathway walks with wildlife spotting
- Conservation talk by Swiss ranger
Optional Activities
- Shop for chocolate in the Old Town
- Horse-drawn carriage ride to meet local farmers
Landmarks Mount Stanserhorn Lucerne Old Town - Day 18
Lucerne to Paris
You'll journey through Burgundy's rural countryside, famous for its vineyards and wines, to reach Paris. During your time here you'll see the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre. You can explore the banks of the Seine with its romantic bridges, see Place de la Concorde's obelisk, and drive along the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. The evening is free to enjoy Paris's atmosphere, perhaps catching a world-famous cabaret show.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Le Meridien Paris Arc de Triomphe)
Included Activities
- View Eiffel Tower
- View Notre-Dame Cathedral
- View Louvre facade
- Explore Seine riverbanks and bridges
- See Place de la Concorde obelisk
- Drive along Champs-Élysées
Optional Activities
- Attend a world-famous cabaret show
Landmarks Eiffel Tower Notre-Dame Cathedral Louvre Seine River Place de la Concorde Champs-Élysées Arc de Triomphe - Day 19
Paris
Your Paris exploration begins with Insight Choice. First option: explore the Montorgueil district to find community life and local character. Second option: join a local food lover to discover neighborhoods where Parisians live, visiting small shops and sampling local treats. This evening you'll have refined French cuisine at L'Alsace, an iconic restaurant.
- Meals
- Dinner (Refined French cuisine at the iconic restaurant L'Alsace)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Le Meridien Paris Arc de Triomphe)
Included Activities
- Montorgueil district exploration (Insight Choice option)
- Paris food discovery walk with local food lover (Insight Choice option)
- Dinner at iconic restaurant L'Alsace
Landmarks Montorgueil District L'Alsace Restaurant - Day 20
Paris
Your journey comes to an end as you bid farewell to your traveling companions. Transfers will take you to Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Landmarks Charles de Gaulle Airport
