Experience two of Europe’s most famous high-speed trains: the Eurostar train from London to Brussels and the high-speed TGV train from Strasbourg to Paris. Guided sightseeing is included in London, Vienna, Salzburg, and Paris, with included visits to St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, the Strauss House in Vienna, Mirabell Gardens in Salzburg, a ride to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and more. Also stay in Amsterdam, where an included canal cruise is the best way to see the 17th-century capital of Holland; in Germany’s Koblenz with a romantic Rhine River cruise; in Munich, where dinner at the 200-year-old Donisl restaurant gives you a chance to try out traditional Bavarian fare; in Innsbruck, Tyrol’s capital, where a horse-drawn carriage ride through the Alps is included; in picture-book Lucerne, with time to climb a mountain or attend a folklore party; and in the Black Forest, where you will learn all about the cuckoo clock and taste traditional Black Forest Cake. Scenic drives along the Rhine River, past the Salzkammergut area, and through the Alps make this vacation an unforgettable experience.
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in London, England. Welcome to London! Uniformed Globus Hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.
Day #2 London. Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide includes all the famous landmarks: the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben beside the River Thames, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall’s mounted horseguards and the Prime Minister’s Downing Street, Piccadilly Circus, and Buckingham Palace. Highlights are a visit to ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL and the ceremonial pageantry of the Changing of the Guard, if held. Time in the afternoon for independent activities. Optional excursions are available to the Tower of London and to Windsor Castle. Maybe a leisurely cruise on the River Thames? (B)
Day #3 London–Brussels, Belgium–Amsterdam, Holland. Meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and head for the railway station to board the high-speed EUROSTAR TRAIN to Brussels, Belgium. From here, a comfortable drive will bring you to Amsterdam, Holland’s 700-year-old capital. Tonight is your chance to join the locals during an optional dinner with local specialties at one of Amsterdam’s lively restaurants, followed by an evening walk through Old Amsterdam. (B)
Day #4 Amsterdam–Koblenz, Germany. Enjoy a CANAL CRUISE aboard a glass-roofed launch, which is the best way to get a good impression of how this city was built and how much still remains from the Golden Age. Depart for Koblenz, the German city where the Rhine and Moselle Rivers come together. An optional excursion to impressive Marksburg Castle, with spectacular views of the Rhine River, is available. (B,D)
Day #5 Koblenz–Munich. Start with a romantic RHINE CRUISE along the most scenic part of the Rhine River past castle-crested cliffs, terraced vineyards, and trim, half-timbered towns. Continue to Munich, capital of Bavaria, and see the Olympic Park and the 1,000-foot-high Television Tower. Also visit MARIENPLATZ with its New and Old Town Halls, where [LF] a special dinner with local specialties, like Frittatensuppe (pancake soup), wine, and musical entertainment awaits you at the 200-year-old Donisl restaurant. (B,D)
Day #6 Munich–Vienna, Austria. A scenic drive eastwards following the Bavarian Alps into Austria. Pass the lovely Salzkammergut Lake District, made famous by the The Sound of Music movie, and along the Danube Valley to Vienna, proud capital of Austria. (B)
Day #7 Vienna. Guided sightseeing features the State Opera House, the Jewish quarter, a stop at Hofburg Palace, and a visit to STRAUSS’ HOUSE. To make the most of your stay, choose from our optional excursions to magnificent Schönbrunn Palace or to Grinzing for a taste of Heurigen wine. (B)
Day #8 Vienna–Salzburg–Innsbruck. In Salzburg your Local Guide takes you through the historic center. Admire exquisite MIRABELL GARDENS, the Great Festival Hall, ST. PETER’S CHURCHYARD, and the monumental Domplatz. Also see Mozart’s birthplace in the charming Getreidegasse. Enter the Tyrolean Alps and arrive in Innsbruck. Take a pleasant stroll through quaint medieval lanes to Emperor Maximilian’s GOLDEN ROOF, then enjoy the special highlight of the day: [LF] a spectacular HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDE including a drink at a local café. (B,D)
Day #9 Innsbruck–Vaduz, Lichtenstein–Lucerne, Switzerland. Follow the River Inn on the comfortable highway through the Arlberg area, famous for Austria’s ski resorts like Lech and Zürs, to Vaduz, capital of the Principality of Liechtenstein. Time to buy your stamps or other souvenirs before continuing to picture-book Lucerne in Switzerland. During your walking tour, admire Thorwaldsen’s emotional LION MONUMENT, dedicated to the fallen Swiss Guards who protected the Royal House of France during the French Revolution, and the ornate patrician houses lining the cobblestone streets of the walled Old Town. Then, cross the famous covered CHAPEL BRIDGE to the Jesuit Church. Afterwards, shop for Swiss watches and chocolate. Tonight is your chance to join the Swiss Folklore dinner with yodeling and alphorn blowing. (B)
Day #10 Lucerne–Black Forest, Germany. Exciting optional activities to choose from: climb a mountain by cable car or take a cruise on the fjord-like lake. Then, re-enter Germany into the lush valleys and pine-clad hills of the Black Forest. [LF] Enjoy a warm welcome by the Drubba family at Hofgut Sternen hotel and learn all about the cuckoo clock, for which the area is famous. Of course, you will have a special dessert after dinner: the traditional Black Forest Cake. (B,D)
Day #11 Black Forest–Strasbourg, France–Paris. Cross the border into the Alsace region and arrive in Strasbourg, seat of the European Parliament, where you will board the high-speed TGV TRAIN to Paris. Optional excursions are available to the magnificent Louvre Museum, and tonight to try out local dishes at one of Paris’ fine restaurants, followed by an illumination drive to explore the “City of Light.” (B)
Day #12 Paris. Discover the world capital of chic and style with a Local Guide and admire its most famous sights: the Opéra, Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysées, and more. For a bird’s-eye view, take the elevator up to the second floor of Paris’ most famous landmark: the EIFFEL TOWER. To make the most of your stay, join an optional excursion to the lavish baroque Palace of Versailles, and an optional evening out for dinner and a show at the Moulin Rouge is the best way to say, “Au revoir, Paris.” (B)
Day #13 Paris. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Hotels:
LONDON Hilton London Metropole (SF)
AMSTERDAM NH Amsterdam Centre (SF)
KOBLENZ Mercure (F)
MUNICH Holiday Inn Munich City Centre (F)
VIENNA Mercure Grand Hotel Biedermeier (F)
INNSBRUCK Grauer Bauer (F)
LUCERNE Grand Hotel Europe (F)
BLACK FOREST Best Western Hofgut Sternen (F) at Breitnau
PARIS Mövenpick (SF) at Neuilly sur Seine