Highlights of Europe (Small Groups, Winter, Start London, End London, 14 Days)
Description
Summary
Description
Embark on a captivating 14-day journey through the heart of Europe, immersing yourself in the rich history, diverse cultures, and breathtaking landscapes of some of the continent's most enchanting destinations. This multi-day tour offers an unparalleled blend of iconic landmarks, hidden gems, and authentic experiences. From the bustling streets of London to the romantic canals of Venice, the historic castles of Germany to the stunning Swiss Alps, and the timeless beauty of Paris, every day brings a new adventure. Enjoy exclusive access to world-renowned attractions, indulge in local cuisines, and engage with the locals, all under the guidance of an experienced Travel Director. Whether you're a history buff, a foodie, or an avid explorer, this tour promises a unique and unforgettable experience.
Included
1 night stay at Movenpick Hotel Amsterdam City Centre
1 night 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
2 nights stay at Hotel Londra, Florence
2 nights stay at Renaissance Lucerne Hotel
2 nights stay at Le Méridien Etoile, Paris
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 to make the perfect Bellini.
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.
Lucerne: Choose from a selection of restaurants on your Dine-Around Evening and hand-pick your preferred ambience, cuisine and drinks for an intimate culinary experience.
Paris: Join an avid local foodie 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.
Paris: Rendezvous with your friends at a typical French bistro for a rousing Celebration Dinner with wine. Bon Appetit!
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 an avid local foodie 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.
The workshop advances UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
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 old 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.
Mount Pilatus: Enjoy a spectacular journey to the summit of Mount Pilatus to witness a panorama of snow-capped peaks as you take in the pristine mountain air.
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.
Lucerne: During your orientation with your Travel Director, see the emotive Lion Monument, Jesuit Church and Chapel Bridge.
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.
Map
Attractions
Daily Itinerary
Day 1 – Day 1: London to Amsterdam via Brussels
- London
- Amsterdam
- Brussels - Arrival day
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- London Stadium
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Begin your journey in London, where you'll meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers. Depart from St. Pancras Station aboard the high-speed Eurostar, passing through the historic Channel Tunnel. Arrive in Brussels and continue your journey to Amsterdam. Enjoy a Welcome Reception as you cruise along Amsterdam's charming canals, exploring the heart of the Old City. End the day with a delightful 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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Depart Amsterdam for a scenic drive through the picturesque Rhine Valley, dotted with quaint villages and hilltop castles. Arrive in 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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- Natur Eis Palast
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Leave Heidelberg and journey through the northern Black Forest towards the Bavarian Alps. Stop to admire the royal castles of Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein before crossing the Austrian border to Innsbruck. Explore the city's architectural gems, including the Imperial Palace and the 14th-century houses of the Old Town.
Day 4 – Day 4: Innsbruck to Venice
- Venice
- Innsbruck
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Continue your journey to Italy, passing through the stunning Dolomites. Stop at a family-owned winery in Veneto to learn about prosecco production and enjoy a tasting. Arrive in Venice, the Queen of the Adriatic, and spend the evening savouring a delicious dinner with wine.
Day 5 – Day 5: Exploring Venice and Burano
- Venice
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- Doge's Palace
- Piazza San Marco
- St Mark's Basilica
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Start the day with a visit to a traditional arts centre to witness the skill of Venetian glassblowers. Take a private cruise to St. Mark's Square and admire the opulence of St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace. Spend the rest of the day at leisure, perhaps cruising to the colourful island of Burano for a meal of local specialties and wine.
Day 6 – Day 6: Venice to Rome
- Rome
- Venice
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Travel through the serene landscapes of the Apennine Mountains and the regions of Tuscany and Umbria to Rome, the Eternal City. Experience the warmth of Italian hospitality with a home-cooked meal at a local's home.
Day 7 – Day 7: Exploring Rome
- Rome
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- St. Clement Basilica
- Capitoline Museums
- Palatine Hill
- Colosseum
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Join a Local Expert for a private tour of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, with exclusive access to the Bramante Staircase. Visit St. Peter's Basilica, one of the world's largest churches, and cross the River Tiber to see the Colosseum. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Day 8 – Day 8: Rome to Florence
- Florence
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- Piazza del Duomo, San Gimignano
- piazza della Signoria
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Drive to the Chianti Hills and the city of Florence. A Local Expert will guide you to the Duomo and Piazza della Signoria. Spend the afternoon shopping for gold and leather goods, or visit the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo's 'David'. Enjoy an authentic meal at a local trattoria in the evening.
Day 9 – Day 9: Florence at Leisure
- Florence
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Spend the day exploring Florence at your own pace. Visit the city's renowned museums and galleries, or relax at a street cafe and soak up the local atmosphere.
Day 10 – Day 10: Florence to Lucerne
- Lucerne
- Florence
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- Chapel Bridge
- Jesuitenkirche Hl. Franz Xaver
- Lion Monument Lucerne
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Travel to Lucerne, crossing the Swiss border. Visit the Lion Monument, stroll across the Chapel Bridge and see the ornate Jesuit Church. Spend the afternoon at leisure, perhaps enjoying a cruise on Lake Lucerne.
Day 11 – Day 11: Exploring Lucerne
- Lucerne
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- Mount Pilatus
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Embark on a scenic journey by cable car to the summit of Mount Pilatus. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, perhaps shopping for Swiss watches and chocolates, or taking a horse-drawn carriage ride in the countryside. In the evening, choose from a selection of local restaurants for your Dine-Around Evening.
Day 12 – Day 12: Lucerne to Paris
- Paris
- Lucerne
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- Louvre Museum
- Eiffel Tower
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Journey through the Alsace and Burgundy regions to Paris. See the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre. Explore the banks of the Seine and the Champs Élysées. Spend the evening at leisure, perhaps attending a world-famous cabaret show.
Day 13 – Day 13: Exploring Paris
- Paris
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Spend the day exploring Paris. Choose to explore the Montorgueil district or join a foodie tour to sample local treats and delicacies. In the evening, enjoy a Celebration Dinner at the historic restaurant La Coupole.
Day 14 – Day 14: Paris to London
- Paris
- London - Departure day
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Bid farewell to your travelling companions as your journey comes to an end. Travel by high-speed Eurostar train back to London. Upon arrival, you are transferred to your hotel, marking the end of your trip.
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