This comprehensive vacation begins in London, then crosses the English Channel by ferry and arrives in Brussels by motorcoach. Continue to Germany for a leisurely Rhine River cruise. Through Bavaria, visit Nuremberg on the way to the Czech capital of Prague. Then travel into enchanting Bohemia and Moravia before reaching “waltzing” Vienna with its State Opera, Hofburg Palace, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Cross Austria and the Styrian Alps to Venice, where a canal boat ride takes you to St. Mark’s Square. Here you’ll also encounter the Bridge of Sighs, Doges’ Palace, and the Basilica. Travel south to the “Eternal City” of Rome and to Renaissance Florence for highlights like Santa Croce, Signoria Square, and the beautiful Duomo. Stop in subtropical Lugano and spend two nights in scenic Lake Lucerne. Your final two nights are in Paris, the “City of Light,” with guided sightseeing and free time to make your own discoveries. A Channel ferry returns you to London for an overnight and free time to explore on your own!
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in London, England. Check into your hotel. In the afternoon you may want to start exploring the lively British capital. Uniformed hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.
Day #2 London. A full day to savor our rich program of optional activities: take a panoramic tour of London’s landmarks, visit the Tower of London, or choose an excursion to Windsor Castle. Tonight, maybe a leisurely cruise on the River Thames? (B)
Day #3 London–Brussels, Belgium. Leave London in the early morning and head through the lush English countryside to the Channel port, where you board your ferry for the Continent. Here your Tour Director and luxury coach meet you and you’re off to Brussels. (B)
Day #4 Brussels–Rhine Cruise, Germany–Würzburg. Drive south this morning to the shores of the mighty Rhine. Your included Rhine steamer cruise is today’s highlight with some legendary sights such as the Lorelei rock. An easy and relatively short drive southeast to Würzburg, a baroque city famed for its cathedral, bridges, palace, and gardens. (B,D)
Day #5 Würzburg–Nuremberg–Prague, Czech Republic. Travel eastwards today, making a first stop in Nuremberg, an ancient city still showing its medieval walls with rampart walks and an 11th-century castle. It is also famous for its 1945 trials of the Nazi leaders and war criminals. Continue by way of the world’s beer capital, Pilsen, to Prague, capital of the Czech Republic, for an overnight. (B)
Day #6 Prague–Vienna, Austria. The wealth of gothic and baroque architecture perhaps inspired Dvorak and Smetana, both Prague composers. The included guided sightseeing features landmarks such as the Jewish Quarter, Charles Bridge, and the Old Town Square with the Astronomical Clock. This afternoon, motor from Bohemia into Moravia and continue southwest for a few more miles before crossing into Austria for two nights in its splendid capital, Vienna. This evening, enjoy an optional Viennese concert. (B)
Day #7 Vienna. There’s so much to see on your included sightseeing tour: the State Opera, Parliament, and the Town Hall. Stop for a stroll in Heroes’ Square to view the Hofburg and take an inside visit of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. In the afternoon, an optional trip to the Palace of Schönbrunn. (B)
Day #8 Vienna–Velden–Venice Area, Italy. Breathtaking scenery as you travel across Austria to Velden and beautiful Lake Wörth for a short visit. Next, into Italy by way of Tarvisio, then through the flat and fertile plains of Venetia to the Venice area for two overnights. (B)
Day #9 Venice Area. The included orientation starts with a boat ride and is followed by some time to soak up the atmosphere of this unique city and a chance to watch Venetian glassblowers. Don’t miss out on the optional gondola trip. (B,D)
Day #10 Venice Area–Assisi–Rome. Today, travel south across the Po plain into the very heart of the Apennines, dotted with towns and villages perched on the mountain sides. Stop in Assisi, where St. Francis was born in 1182. Visit the world-famous basilica with its beautiful frescoes by Giotto. Reach Rome in time to join the optional Rome by Night excursion. (B)
Day #11 Rome. The “Eternal City”—a city steeped in history, vibrantly alive and exciting, and absolutely unique! Included sightseeing with a Local Guide starts in St. Peter’s Square, followed by a visit to the Roman Forum and the mighty Colosseum. (B)
Day #12 Rome–Florence. This morning, join the optional excursion to the Vatican Museums before driving northward through the Tuscan countryside to reach Florence in the late afternoon. On the included walking tour with a Local Guide, discover most of the city highlights: Piazza Santa Croce; beautiful Piazza Signoria; Palazzo Vecchio; Loggia dei Lanzi; and, to top it all, Piazza del Duomo and its cathedral with the Giotto Campanile, and the magnificent East Door of the Baptistry, known as the “Gate of Paradise.” (B,D)
Day #13 Florence–Lugano, Switzerland–Lake Lucerne. Across the Lombardy plains this morning to Italian Switzerland’s subtropical resort of Lugano. Here you take a break to stroll along the lakeside promenade before climbing towards the St. Gotthard Tunnel. Emerge on the German-speaking side of Switzerland and then descend into the gentle landscape around Lake Lucerne. (B,D)
Day #14 Lake Lucerne. One of Switzerland’s finest cities, nestled amid its snowcapped Alps, surrounded by its lake, and embellished by the clear mountain waters of the River Reuss. Your visit takes in the impressive city walls, a covered wooden bridge, ornate patrician houses lining cobblestone streets, and the Lion Monument—a masterful stone sculpture in honor of the heroic Swiss Guard of Louis XVI. A grand selection of optional activities completes the day: a cable-car ride to the 10,000-foot summit of Mount Titlis; a cruise on the fjord-like lake; and, of course, there is time to shop for that very Swiss watch. (B)
Day #15 Lake Lucerne–Paris, France. Enjoy vistas of green pastures and attractive chalets with rustic timbering and luxuriant flowers. Then, into France, on the highway past some of its most famous vineyards, to Paris. Arrive in time to enjoy the optional cabaret show. (B)
Day #16 Paris. Paris holds a special place in the imagination. It’s a city of many facets and famed for its culture, beauty, sophistication, and sparkle. By sitting with a glass of wine in a bistro or sidewalk café, you can absorb the essence of the city and the individualism of its people. The center has wide boulevards and impressive buildings. Included sightseeing with a local expert shows off many of the best-known Parisian sights: La Sorbonne, Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramid near the Louvre, the Invalides, and Champs Elysées. Optional excursions are also available to the Palace and Gardens of Versailles and, to celebrate the success of your tour, a French farewell dinner might be just the ticket. (B)
Day #17 Paris–London, England. Relax and let the countryside whiz by on the road north to the coast, where you board your Channel ferry. Through Kent, return to London for an evening arrival. (B)
Day #18 London. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Hotels:
LONDON Novotel London West (F)
BRUSSELS Park Inn (ST)
WÜRZBURG Novotel (F)
PRAGUE Clarion (F) or Barcelo (F)
VIENNA Austria Trend Bosei (F)
VENICE AREA Poppi (F) at Mira
ROME Buenos Aires (ST) or Villa Maria Regina (F)
FLORENCE Italiana Hotel and Resort (F)
LAKE LUCERNE Hirschen (ST) at Flüelen
PARIS Forest Hill (ST) at La Villette