Highlights of Europe (Small Groups, Start London, End Paris, 14 Days)
Description
Summary
Description
Embark on a 14-day journey that will take you through the heart of Europe, from the bustling streets of London to the romantic canals of Venice, the majestic Alps of Switzerland, and the timeless beauty of Paris. This multi-day tour is designed to immerse you in the rich history, culture, and cuisine of each destination. You'll travel in comfort, enjoy expertly guided tours, and have plenty of free time to explore on your own. From the fairy-tale castles of Bavaria to the vineyards of Tuscany, the glittering waters of the Italian Lake District to the iconic landmarks of Rome and Paris, this tour offers a unique blend of guided and independent exploration. Whether you're a history buff, a foodie, or simply love to travel, this tour offers something for everyone.
Included
1 night: Movenpick Hotel Amsterdam City Centre
1 night: Crowne Plaza Heidelberg City Centre
1 night: AC Hotel Innsbruck
2 nights: Hotel Indigo Venice - Sant'Elena
2 nights: Welcome Piram Hotel, Rome
1 night: Hotel Londra, Florence
1 night: Hotel Simplon/Hotel Dino, Baveno, Italian Lakes
2 nights: Hotel Astoria, Lucerne
2 nights: 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.
London: Relax on the smooth, high-speed Eurostar train as you journey from London to Europe via the revolutionary Channel Tunnel.
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: London to Amsterdam
- London
- Amsterdam - Arrival day
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- London Stadium
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Start your journey in London, where you'll meet your Travel Director and board the high-speed Eurostar at St. Pancras Station. Travel through the historic Channel Tunnel to Brussels, then drive to Amsterdam. In the evening, join your Travel Director for a Welcome Reception and enjoy a canal cruise through the heart of the Old City, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 2 – Day 2: Amsterdam to Heidelberg
- Amsterdam
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- Heidelberg Palace
- Welterbe Kulturlandschaft Oberes Mittelrheintal
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Today, take a scenic drive through the picturesque Rhine Valley, dotted with quaint villages and hilltop castles. Hear the legend of the Lorelei Rock as you follow the Neckar River to the city of Heidelberg. Here, you'll visit the historic Heidelberg Castle with a Local Expert.
Day 3 – Day 3: Heidelberg to Innsbruck
- Innsbruck
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- Golden Roof
- Church to Johannes
- Natur Eis Palast
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Travel through the northern Black Forest and the Bavarian Alps. Stop to admire the royal castles of Hohenschwangau and King Ludwig's Neuschwanstein, which is said to have inspired Walt Disney's iconic castle. Once in Austria, continue to the Tyrolean capital of Innsbruck, where you'll tour the city's architectural gems, including the Imperial Palace and the Golden Roof.
Day 4 – Day 4: Innsbruck to Venice
- Venice
- Innsbruck
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Cross the Italian border and journey through the stunning Dolomites. In the hills of Conegliano Veneto, stop at a local family winery to learn about prosecco production and enjoy a tasting. Continue to Venice, the Queen of the Adriatic, where you'll spend the evening enjoying a dinner with wine.
Day 5 – Day 5: Exploring Venice
- Venice
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- Doge's Palace
- Piazza San Marco
- St Mark's Basilica
- Bridge of Sighs
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Start your day with a visit to a traditional arts centre to witness the skill of glassblowers. Take a private cruise to St. Mark's Square and admire the wealth and power of the city as evidenced by St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, and the Bridge of Sighs. The rest of the day is free for you to explore. You might choose to cruise the Venetian lagoon to the island of Burano for a meal of local specialties and wine.
Day 6 – Day 6: Venice to Rome
- Rome
- Venice
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- Archbasilica of St. John Lateran
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Journey into the Apennine Mountains and through the serene landscapes of Tuscany and Umbria. Follow the Tiber River to Rome, the Eternal City. Enjoy a private visit to the Basilica of Saint Praxedes, home to the world's best-preserved Byzantine mosaics. In the evening, experience the warmth of Italian hospitality with a dinner at the home of a Roman local.
Day 7 – Day 7: Exploring Rome
- Rome
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- Sistine Chapel
- 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 world's largest churches, and 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
- Rome
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- Piazza del Duomo, San Gimignano
- Galleria dell'Accademia
- 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 the Piazza della Signoria, the political heart of the city. In the afternoon, shop for quality goods like gold and leather, or visit the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo's 'David.' In the evening, savour an authentic meal at a local trattoria.
Day 9 – Day 9: Florence to Milan
- Florence
- Milan
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- Life Electric
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Travel past Milan, the capital of Lombardy, to the beautiful Italian Lake District. Spend the afternoon at this popular resort and beautiful lake. You might choose to take a cruise to the lovely Isola Bella for a guided tour of the palace and Botanical Gardens. In the evening, enjoy your preferred dining experience from a selection of local restaurants.
Day 10 – Day 10: Milan to Lucerne
- Lucerne
- Milan
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- Lake Brienz
- Stanserhorn
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Leave the Italian Lake District and cross the Swiss border. Explore Mount Stanserhorn on a solar-powered cable car ride to the summit. Enjoy the pristine mountain air and, on a clear day, views as far as Alsace and the Black Forest in Germany. Continue to lakeside Lucerne, where you may choose to enjoy a cruise on Lake Lucerne.
Day 11 – Day 11: Exploring Lucerne
- Lucerne
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- Chapel Bridge
- Jesuitenkirche Hl. Franz Xaver
- 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. Spend the rest of the day at leisure, shopping for chocolate and Swiss watches in the traffic-free Old Town, or venture into the countryside for a delightful horse-drawn carriage ride.
Day 12 – Day 12: Lucerne to Paris
- Paris
- Lucerne
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- Louvre Museum
- Versailles cathedral
- Arc de Triomphe
- Eiffel Tower
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Travel through the rural French countryside of Alsace and Burgundy, famous for its vineyards and wines, to arrive in Paris. During your time in the City of Light, see the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, and the Arc de Triomphe. The evening is free for you to explore the city's vibrant nightlife.
Day 13 – Day 13: Exploring Paris
- Paris
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- Musée de Montmartre
- Le Cachot
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Today, choose to explore the picturesque Montorgueil district or join a foodie tour to sample local treats and delicacies. In the evening, enjoy dinner at the historic restaurant La Coupole, where you'll delight in French cuisine and delicious wine.
Day 14 – Day 14: Departure from Paris
- Paris
- Champs-sur-Marne - Departure day
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Say goodbye to your fellow travellers as your journey comes to an end. Transfers will take you to Charles de Gaulle Airport for your onward journey.
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