Highlights of Europe (Small Groups, Start Amsterdam, End Paris, 14 Days) (14 destinations)
Description
Summary
Description
Embark on a 14-day journey that takes you through the heart of Europe, from the charming canals of Amsterdam to the romantic city of Venice, the eternal city of Rome, the artistic city of Florence, the beautiful Italian Lake District, the pristine Swiss Alps, and finally, the vibrant city of Paris. This multi-day tour is packed with cultural experiences, historical landmarks, scenic drives, and local cuisine. You'll have the opportunity to explore iconic sites, taste local delicacies, and immerse yourself in the local culture. Whether you're cruising along the canals of Amsterdam, touring the architectural jewels of Innsbruck, savoring sparkling wines in Veneto, or exploring the priceless art in the Vatican Museums, this tour promises a unique and unforgettable experience.
Included
2 nights stay at Crowne Plaza Heidelberg City Centre
1 night stay at AC Hotel Innsbruck
2 nights stay at Hotel Indigo Venice - Sant'Elena
2 nights stay at Welcome Piram Hotel, Rome
1 night stay at Hotel Londra, Florence
1 night stay at Hotel Simplon/Hotel Dino, Baveno, Italian Lakes
2 nights stay at Hotel Astoria, Lucerne
2 nights stay at Paris Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel
6 Dinner with Wine (DW)
13 Breakfast (B)
Amsterdam: Join your Travel Director and fellow guests at a local restaurant in the heart of Amsterdam for a delightful Welcome Dinner, served with wine.
Veneto: Visit a local winery and delight in a tasting of their magnificent prosecco. Meet the vignerons and learn how this local drink has come to rival its well-known counterpart in France.
Rome: Food and family go hand-in-hand in Italy and are pillars of the Italian way of life. Experience it for yourself with an invitation from your local host to join them for a truly Italian, home-cooked meal.
Florence: Enjoy a traditional Bistecca alla Fiorentina dinner in the city known for its delicious cuts of steak.
Baveno: Choose your dining experience from a selection of hand-picked local restaurants, each offering their own unique cuisine and ambience on your Dine-Around Evening.
Paris: Rendezvous with your newfound friends at La Coupole for a rousing dinner with wine.
Choose between two carefully selected activities
Paris: We walk up and down the "quartier" and we see the school, the food stores, the housing situation, the heritage landmarks, the sports facilities and the theatres, in this car-free, pedestrianized, neighbourhood. Landmarks will include passages couverts, perhaps also Patrick Blanc's spectacular jardin vertical 'oasis d'Aboukir', the Napoleonic "Egyptian" district etc.
Paris: Join a local food lover on a walk through the streets of Paris. Visit a variety of patisseries, boulangeries and chocolatiers and sample local treats and delicacies along the way.
Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
Rome: Enjoy exclusive access to the Basilica of Saint Praxedes during an after-hours visit. This 9th-century basilica’s simple facade guards the world's best-preserved Byzantine mosaics. The history of the church springs to life as you admire the interior’s treasured collection, including Bernini's first sculpture and the renowned mosaics, illuminated for your visit. This once-in-a-lifetime experience is a rare and unforgettable insight into Rome and its religious history.
Venice: Witness the ancient skill of glassblowing, now practised by precious few masters. Watch artisans create delicate works of art using rare traditional practices. The workshop's master craftsmen teach visitors about the traditional craft of glassblowing and its history which dates back to the 15th century. Every visit helps to support the workshop and the survival of this traditional craft. This workshop directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Stanserhorn: Journey to the top of Mount Stanserhorn on a panoramic, open-top cable car powered by solar energy, and enjoy spectacular views from the summit. Walk along beautiful scenic pathways, keeping an eye out for marmots and other native animals, with the chance to hear a conservation talk by a Swiss ranger, to learn about local wildlife and flora. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 7 & 15: Affordable and Clean Energy & Life on Land.
Amsterdam: Cruise along the waterways, discovering the architectural gems of the old city, including mansions dating from the Golden Age of the 17th Century.
Heidelberg: Venture inside the magnificent castle built in red sandstone, overlooking the Student Prince’s town. See the massive Heideleberg Tun built into the cellar in 1591, visit the Apothecary Museum and enjoy panoramic views of Heidelberg and the Neckar Valley.
Rome: Discover the history, the construction and the legends of the iconic Colosseum as you stroll around the exterior of this amazing structure.
Florence: Join a Local Expert to view the multi-coloured marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, adorned by Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise. Visit the political heart of the city, Signoria Square. See the area around Santa Croce Basilica, famous for the quality of its luxury goods.
Lucerne: See the emotive Lion Monument, Jesuit Church and Chapel Bridge.
Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
Heidelberg: Explore one of Germany's most enchanting cities during your orientation with your Travel Director.
Innsbruck: Nestled amidst majestic mountains, Innsbruck is a beautiful city offering a unique combination of nature, history, and culture. Stroll the streets of the picturesque Old Town, with your Travel Director, learn about its history and admire the Baroque and Gothic architecture.
Venice: With your Travel Director cruise to St. Mark's Square and see the Doge's Palace, Bridge of Sighs and St. Mark's Basilica.
Rome: During your orientation with your Travel Director see the medieval buildings, including Renaissance palaces and Baroque churches, scattered throughout the city.
Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
Destinations
Map
Attractions
Daily Itinerary
Day 1 – Day 1: Amsterdam
- Amsterdam - Arrival day
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Welcome to the charming city of Amsterdam. Spend your day at leisure, exploring the heart of the Old City. In the evening, join your Travel Director for a Welcome Dinner, where you'll get to know your fellow travelers as you cruise along the quaint, tree-lined canals.
Day 2 – Day 2: Amsterdam to Heidelberg
- Amsterdam
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- Heidelberg Palace
- Welterbe Kulturlandschaft Oberes Mittelrheintal
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Take a scenic drive through the Rhine Valley, where you'll see quaint villages and hilltop castles. Follow the Neckar River to Heidelberg, where you'll visit the historic Heidelberg Castle with a Local Expert.
Day 3 – Day 3: Heidelberg to Innsbruck
- Innsbruck
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- Schlegeis Alpenstraße - VERBUND Tourismus GmbH
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Travel towards the Bavarian Alps, stopping beneath the royal castles of Hohenschwangau and King Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein. Once in Austria, continue to the Tyrolean capital of Innsbruck, where you'll tour the architectural jewels of the city.
Day 4 – Day 4: Innsbruck to Venice
- Venice
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Cross the Italian border and journey through the Dolomites. Stop at a local family winery in Veneto to discover the art of prosecco production and savor a tasting of these luxurious sparkling wines. Continue to the romantic city of Venice, where you'll enjoy a dinner with wine in the evening.
Day 5 – Day 5: Venice
- Venice
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- Piazza San Marco
- Bridge of Sighs
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Wake up ready to embrace the romantic city of Venice. Witness the skill of glassblowers at a traditional arts center and take a private cruise to St. Mark's Square. Admire the Doge's Palace and its adjoining Bridge of Sighs. The rest of the day is free for you to explore.
Day 6 – Day 6: Venice to Rome
- Venice
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Head into the Apennine Mountains and venture through the peaceful landscapes of Tuscany and Umbria. Follow the course of the Tiber to your hotel in the Eternal City of Rome. In the evening, you're invited into the home of a Roman local to experience Italian hospitality at its best, as you enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal with your host.
Day 7 – Day 7: Rome
Day 7: Rome
- Vatican Museums
- St Peter's Basilica
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Join a Local Expert for a private tour of the priceless art housed in the Vatican Museums and the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel. Explore St. Peter’s Basilica, one of the largest churches in the world. Cross the River Tiber to see the Colosseum, the largest amphitheatre of the Roman Empire. Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure.
Day 8 – Day 8: Rome to Florence
- Florence
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- piazza della Signoria
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Drive to the Chianti Hills and the city of Florence. A Local Expert will accompany you to the Duomo and Piazza della Signoria. Spend a leisurely afternoon shopping for quality goods, like gold and leather, for which Florence is famous. In the evening, savor an authentic meal at a local trattoria.
Day 9 – Day 9: Florence to Italian Lake District
- Florence
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Travel past Milan to the beautiful Italian Lake District, a favorite retreat of the rich and famous. Relax and enjoy an afternoon at leisure at this popular resort and beautiful lake. In the evening, choose your preferred dining experience from a selection of hand-picked local restaurants.
Day 10 – Day 10: Italian Lake District to Lucerne
- Lucerne
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- Stanserhorn
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Enjoy your last moments in the charming Italian Lake District before crossing the Swiss border. Explore Mount Stanserhorn on a unique experience, as an open-top cable car takes you up the summit. Continue to lakeside Lucerne where the afternoon is at your leisure. You may choose to enjoy a cruise on Lake Lucerne with its dramatic vistas.
Day 11 – Day 11: Lucerne
- Lucerne
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- Lion Monument Lucerne
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Visit the emotive Lion Monument, carved into a limestone cliff, and stroll across the Chapel Bridge to see the ornate Jesuit Church. With the day free, there is plenty of time for shopping for delectable chocolate and glamorous Swiss watches in the traffic-free Old Town. Perhaps venture into the countryside for a delightful horse-drawn carriage ride and meet the local farmers?
Day 12 – Day 12: Lucerne to Paris
- Paris
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- Notre-Dame de Paris
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Journey through the rural French countryside of Alsace and Burgundy regions to arrive in the vibrant City of Light, Paris. During your time in Paris, see the impressive Eiffel Tower, the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral and the imposing facades of the Louvre. The evening is free for you to enjoy the lively atmosphere of this glittering city.
Day 13 – Day 13: Paris
- Paris
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Today you can choose to explore community life in the picturesque Montorgueil district or join an avid foodie to explore small shops and sample local treats and delicacies. In the evening, enjoy a Celebration Dinner at the historic restaurant La Coupole, delighting in French cuisine and delicious wine.
Day 14 – Day 14: Departure from Paris
- Paris - Departure day
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Bid farewell to your travelling companions as your journey comes to an end. Transfers arrive at Charles de Gaulle Airport.
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