Europe from West to East end Budapest

Welcome to the start of your grand European tour! Upon your arrival at the airport, we will transfer you to your hotel. Check the information boards in the hotel reception area for details of the welcome meeting with your guide and fellow travelers.

Start your day with a city tour of Lisbon, the Portuguese capital of the 7 hills. Explore the alleys, the tiles, the 'saudade', and the Atlantic light. Visit the Belem neighborhood, the departure point of the great Portuguese navigators of the 15th century. In the afternoon, you have free time to explore Bairro Alto and its viewpoint. Optionally, you can take an excursion to the towns of Sintra, Cascais, and Estoril. In the evening, return from the bustling Restauradores Square to the hotel.

We leave Portugal early in the morning, crossing the beautiful region of Alentejo. We stop for a coffee in Estremoz, a charming town with a medieval castle and cobblestone streets. We then cross into Spain and visit Cáceres, where you can have lunch and a walk through its historic center. We continue to Madrid, arriving in the evening and transferring to Plaza Mayor, full of restaurants and life.

The morning starts with a comprehensive tour through the center of Madrid, including the Paseo del Prado, Cibeles, Neptuno, the Gate of Alcalá, Plaza de Colón and Plaza Mayor. Then we will visit Retiro Park, an oasis in the city center, where we will see the lake and the Glass Palace. Entrance included to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, the football stadium of Real Madrid. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your own leisure. At the end of the evening we will return to the hotel.

In the morning we leave for Aragón through the lands of Castile. In Zaragoza, we make a brief stop to see the Pilar Basilica. We continue to the Monastery of Poblet, surrounded by its walls in a beautiful site that is one of the best-preserved medieval monasteries in the world. Following this we will continue to Barcelona, arriving in the evening.

In the morning we will enjoy the city tour of Barcelona, open to the Mediterranean Sea, famous for Gaudí and its modernist architecture, for its promenades and memories of the Universal Exhibitions and Olympics that took place there. Barcelona is considered one of the most beautiful and interesting European cities. In the evening we will leave Barcelona towards the north of Catalonia. Before the accommodation in the hotel we will have a walk through Girona, contemplating its historic center of a great beauty, highlighting its colorful houses, the old Jewish quarter and the cathedral.

We leave for France, crossing Provence. We will make a stop in Arles, a small world heritage city where we will remember Van Gogh, and can see Roman theatre and small Romanesque churches. Time for a stroll and lunch. We carry on and include admission to Carrieres de Lumiere, an impressive show of art, image and sound underground, in former quarries. Chambery, arrival and accommodation in the charming capital of Savoy, a medieval city with a beautiful old town and a great castle.

We travel to Switzerland. In Geneva, we will go to the Palace of Nations, the pretty English Garden, and we can admire the 'Jet d'Eau', the tallest fountain in Europe. We go on to the picturesque walled village of Gruyeres, known worldwide for its cheese. Nearby there are several of the main chocolate factories in Switzerland, and we will visit the Cailler chocolate factory, with a tasting included! After this we go on to Chillon Castle, built in the waters of the lake. We will continue travelling through smaller roads amidst bucolic mountain landscapes and very picturesque wooden villages. Arrival in Leysin, a beautiful little holiday village with spectacular views of the Rhône plain and Mont Blanc. Dinner included.

Today's stage has beautiful high mountain scenery. We include the cable car ride up to Glacier 3000, where you can walk on the suspended bridge in the gap between two mountain peaks, enter the Ice Cathedral or 'play' in the Fun Park. We will make a stop in Interlaken to have lunch. Among very picturesque lakes we continue to Lucerne, one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland. Continue to Zurich, where there is time for a stroll downtown before going to the hotel.

We will leave Zurich early in the morning and cut across the Alps in order to reach the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. Alongside the route we will get to see beautiful lakes and snow-capped mountains. In Lugano, the cosmopolitan capital of the Italian Switzerland built next to its beautiful lake, you will have time to have a stroll and have lunch. Next, we will reach the enchanting little town of Morcote famous for its flowery stone houses. We will then travel to Italy. Arrival in Milan where the guide will take us to the impressive Duomo Square. Here you will find a variety of local and international restaurants to have dinner at. Transfer to the hotel.

Today we continue our journey towards Pisa. On a little tourist train, we will travel to the Piazza Dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), where there will be time to admire one of the most alluring and beautiful art complexes in Italy, including the well-known Leaning Tower of Pisa. Then, we continue to Rome, arriving at the end of the day.

In the morning, we have a scenic tour, which will be a great introduction to 'The Eternal city'. We will visit the tiny state of the Vatican, the epicenter of Christianity in the world. You will be able to visit St. Peter's Basilica. We include the entrance to the Imperial Forums, an impressive architectural complex formed by monumental buildings and squares, center of the political activity of Imperial Rome. At the end of the evening we arrange a transfer to Trastevere area for a stroll in the narrow cobbled streets of the district with hidden treasures. Many trattorias and osterias imbued with the Italian spirit will be ready to serve you local dishes.

Today we will leave Rome, heading north. This route has beautiful landscapes. Arriving in Florence, we head straight to the impressive Piazzale Michelangelo. In the evening we take a tour with a local expert, walking through the historic center, taking in places such as the Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo, and Plaza della Signoria. This city is truly an outdoor museum. Enjoy some leisure time to explore. In the evening you will have time for dinner, as, in this district you can find many restaurants serving international cuisine.

Today we enjoy stunning mountain landscapes while crossing the Apennine Mountains. We will arrive in Venice and take the boat and cross the Giudecca to the Island of Venice. With a local guide, we will visit the marvelous St. Mark's Square. Afterwards we will visit the Murano Glass Factory. It is fascinating to see the technique of how this ancient glass is made. Enjoy some time at leisure to explore. Accommodation in the Mestre district.

We will depart from Venice, travelling to Austria! Arrival in Innsbruck, time to stroll in the historic city center and have lunch. After this, we travel along a very beautiful scenic road between the mountains to Kitzbühel – Arrival and time to see this picturesque little village, a famous ski resort where we can enjoy the snow for most of the year! Free time. Dinner included (vegetarian option available).

Departing in the morning, we include a cable car ride in Steinplatte up to the high mountains in the alpine region, with snow 9 months a year and fantastic scenery. The great landscapes on the platform in the void and the exhibition of dinosaurs will leave us unforgettable memories. We will continue to explore Austria, traveling between the mountains, and arriving in Salzburg. Our guide will accompany us through the beautiful streets of this city's historic center, declared a World Heritage site. We make our way between lakes and mountains in the next stage. Our next stop is in St. Wolfgang, a famous place of pilgrimage in Austria. We continue to Traunkirchen with its beautiful Traunsee Lake, where we take a cruise to see four castles, disembarking in Gmunden. After this we continue to Vienna, arriving in the evening.

Today we take a scenic visit around this impressive city with a local expert. Here we experience its majestic avenues, its palaces and the vibrant city center. Free time in the afternoon. In the evening we include a transfer to the neighborhood of Grinzing, an old wine-growing village annexed to the city and known for its traditional taverns. Free time to dine in one of its typical restaurants.

In about 3 hours of travel we arrived in Budapest, capital of Hungary. We head first to the lively area of Vaci Utca. Free time for lunch. Afterwards we have an included boat trip to discover the city from the Danube River, the historic 'Buda' on one bank of the river and the cosmopolitan 'Pest' on the other. The views are unbeatable. Afterwards, we'll begin the panoramic tour of the 'Queen of the Danube'. Free time. In the evening we will offer you an optional Magyar show with dinner included.

After breakfast, our grand European tour comes to an end. We hope you have enjoyed this journey through some of Europe's most iconic cities, towns, and villages. Safe travels!