Highlights of Europe (Small Groups, Winter, Start London, End Paris, 14 Days)
Description
Summary
Description
Embark on a captivating 14-day tour that takes you through the heart of Europe, from the bustling streets of London to the romantic canals of Venice, the historic ruins of Rome, the artistic splendor of Florence, the serene beauty of Lucerne, and the vibrant life of Paris. This multi-day tour is designed to give you an immersive experience of Europe's rich history, culture, and natural beauty. You'll travel in comfort, stay in carefully selected accommodations, and enjoy a variety of activities and meals that showcase the best each destination has to offer. Whether you're marveling at ancient castles, savoring local cuisine, or exploring iconic landmarks, this tour promises a journey of discovery and delight.
Included
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 head to St. Pancras Station to board the high-speed Eurostar. Travel through the historic Channel Tunnel to Brussels, then drive to Amsterdam. Enjoy a Welcome Reception and a canal cruise in the heart of the Old City, followed by a delightful dinner with wine at a local restaurant.
Day 2 – Day 2: Amsterdam to Heidelberg via Rhine Valley
- Amsterdam
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- Heidelberg Palace
- Welterbe Kulturlandschaft Oberes Mittelrheintal
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Take a scenic drive through the picturesque Rhine Valley, passing quaint villages and the legendary Lorelei Rock. Arrive in Heidelberg and visit the historic Heidelberg Castle with a Local Expert.
Day 3 – Day 3: Heidelberg to Innsbruck via Black Forest
- Innsbruck
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- Golden Roof
- Ambras Castle Innsbruck
- Church to Johannes
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Travel through the northern Black Forest and the Bavarian Alps, stopping to admire the royal castles of Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein. Cross into Austria and arrive in 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 via Dolomites
- Venice
- Innsbruck
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- Fontana Delle Tette
- Venetian Arsenal
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Cross the Italian border and journey through the stunning Dolomites. Stop at a family winery in Conegliano Veneto to learn about prosecco production and enjoy a tasting. Continue to Venice, the Queen of the Adriatic, and spend the evening savoring a delicious dinner with wine.
Day 5 – Day 5: Exploring Venice
- Venice
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- Doge's Palace
- Piazza San Marco
- Canale dei Buranelli
- St Mark's Basilica
- Bridge of Sighs
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Start your day with a visit to a traditional arts center to witness the skill of glassblowers. Take a private cruise to St. Mark's Square and admire the riches of St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, and the Bridge of Sighs. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure, perhaps taking a cruise to the island of Burano for a meal of local specialties and wine.
Day 6 – Day 6: Venice to Rome via Apennine Mountains
- Rome
- Venice
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- Archbasilica of St. John Lateran
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Travel through the serene landscapes of the Apennine Mountains, Tuscany, and Umbria to reach Rome, the Eternal City. Visit the Basilica of Saint Praxedes and marvel at the world's best-preserved Byzantine mosaics. In the evening, experience Italian hospitality at its best with a dinner at a local Roman 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 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 via Chianti Hills
- Florence
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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 Piazza della Signoria. Spend the afternoon shopping for quality goods or visit the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo's 'David.' In the evening, enjoy an authentic meal at a local trattoria.
Day 9 – Day 9: Exploring Florence
- Florence
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Spend the day at your leisure in the Tuscan capital. Explore the city's magnificent museums and galleries, or relax and soak up the atmosphere in one of the many street cafes.
Day 10 – Day 10: Florence to Lucerne
- Lucerne
- Florence
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- Chapel Bridge
- Jesuitenkirche Hl. Franz Xaver
- Bourbaki Panorama Lucerne
- Lion Monument Lucerne
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Travel across the Swiss border to Lucerne. Visit the emotive Lion Monument, stroll across the Chapel Bridge, and see the ornate Jesuit Church. Spend the afternoon at your 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 pristine mountain air and spectacular views. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure, perhaps shopping for delectable chocolate and glamorous Swiss watches in the traffic-free Old Town or venturing into the countryside for a delightful horse-drawn carriage ride.
Day 12 – Day 12: Lucerne to Paris
- Paris
- Lucerne
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- place de la Concorde
- Champ de Mars
- Louvre Museum
- Versailles cathedral
- Arc de Triomphe
- Eiffel Tower
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Journey through the rural French countryside to arrive in the vibrant City of Light, Paris. See the impressive Eiffel Tower, the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral, the imposing facades of the Louvre, and the obelisk in the centre of the Place de la Concorde. Drive along the Champs Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. Spend the evening at your leisure, perhaps visiting one of the world-famous cabaret shows.
Day 13 – Day 13: Exploring Paris
- Paris
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- Musée de Montmartre
- Le Cachot
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Choose to explore community life in the picturesque 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, delighting in French cuisine and delicious wine.
Day 14 – Day 14: Departure from Paris
- Paris
- Champs-sur-Marne - Departure day
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Bid farewell to your travelling companions as your journey comes to an end. Transfers will take you to Charles de Gaulle Airport for your onward journey.
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