This trip from Paris to Amsterdam is paced to give you a quick taste of Europe. Enjoy two-night stays in Paris, Rome, Venice, and Amsterdam, with guided sightseeing in all major cities, like Paris, Florence, Rome, Venice, and Amsterdam. Start with a special welcome dinner with wine at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, followed by a cruise on the Seine River to get a first impression of the “City of Light”. Continue to Switzerland, and stay overnight in German-speaking Lucerne and Italian-speaking Lugano. In Italy, take pictures of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant in Florence to try out Tuscan specialties, and admire Michelangelo’s David. Visit St. Peter’s, the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, and more in Rome; enjoy a private boat cruise and visits to St. Mark’s Basilica and Doges’ Palace with its Bridge of Sighs in Venice; and stop in Ferrara and Innsbruck. Stay overnight in Munich, and enjoy a stein of beer or spätzi at the famous Hofbräuhaus, dating back to 1589. Visit medieval Rothenburg, stay overnight at the Rhine River, and cruise past the many castles. Stop in Cologne to admire the cathedral and end in Amsterdam, where a canal cruise is the perfect way to see the 17th-century city.
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in Paris, France. Welcome to Paris! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a [LF] special welcome dinner with wine near the Eiffel Tower, followed by a CRUISE on the Seine River for a first impression of this splendid city. (D)
Day #2 Paris. Morning guided sightseeing features Paris’ main highlights like the Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Champs-Elysées, and more. For a panoramic view, take the elevator to the second floor of the EIFFEL TOWER. Choose from our optional excursions: the lavish Palace and Gardens of Versailles, and tonight, dinner and a show at the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret as a proper “Au revoir, Paris.” (B)
Day #3 Paris–Lucerne, Switzerland. Drive past Fontainebleau Forest and enter Burgundy. Enjoy views of beautiful castles and vineyards on your way to the Swiss Alps. In picture-book Lucerne, admire Thorwaldsen’s emotional LION MONUMENT, dedicated to the fallen Swiss Guards who protected the Royal House of France at the time of the French Revolution, then walk through the Old Town and cross the famous covered CHAPEL BRIDGE to the Jesuit Church. (B,D)
Day #4 Lucerne–Lugano. Morning at leisure. Why not climb Mount Pilatus? Later, admire the towering majesty of the Swiss Alps and St. Gotthard on the way to subtropical Lugano in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. To truly appreciate splendid Lake Lugano, an exciting optional boat ride followed by dinner at a traditional “grotto” restaurant, is available. (B)
Day #5 Lugano–Pisa, Italy–Florence. Pass the commercial capital of Milan and turn towards the Mediterranean Sea. Arrive in Pisa, and marvel at its amazing Leaning Tower. In nearby Florence, enjoy time to explore the many gold and leather shops on Piazza Santa Croce before joining your [LF] special dinner with Tuscan specialties and wine at restaurant Finisterrae. (B,D)
Day #6 Florence–Rome. Your guided walking tour features a visit to Michelangelo’s celebrated David in the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS. Also admire the magnificent cathedral, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistry’s heavy bronze “Gate of Paradise,” and visit sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE. Continue to the “Eternal City.” (B)
Day #7 Rome. Morning guided sightseeing features visits to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL, monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA, the COLOSSEUM and the ROMAN FORUM. To make the most of your stay, join our optional Roman Highlights excursion and see the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and the sites and squares of medieval Rome made famous in the movie Angels and Demons. (B)
Day #8 Rome–Ferrara–Venice. In Ferrara, walk through the impressive Este Castle to the marble cathedral and browse through the attractive little shops. Tonight, in Venice, why not try out local specialties at one of the city’s fine restaurants? (B)
Day #9 Venice. Enter Venice in style by PRIVATE BOAT. Highlights of your walking tour with a Local Guide are ST. MARK’S SQUARE and its basilica, lavish DOGES’ PALACE and the BRIDGE OF SIGHS. Also watch skilled GLASSBLOWERS fashion their delicate objects. (B,D)
Day #10 Venice–Innsbruck, Austria–Munich, Germany. Across spectacular Brenner Pass, through the Tyrolean Alps to Innsbruck, where a pleasant stroll through quaint medieval lanes takes you to Emperor Maximilian’s GOLDEN ROOF. Continue to Munich, Germany’s “Secret Capital.” Visit MARIENPLATZ with its Old and New Town Halls, and [LF] enjoy a Stein of beer or Spätzi at the famous HOFBRÄUHAUS, dating back to 1589. Free time for dinner before going to your hotel. (B)
Day #11 Munich–Rothenburg–Rhineland. Marvel at the Olympic Stadium and its 1,000-foot-high Television Tower, before continuing through the Swabian Jura and part of the Romantic Road to picturesque Rothenburg for a walk through this walled town, famous for Christmas ornaments. (B,D)
Day #12 Rhineland–Cologne–Amsterdam, Holland. Enjoy a romantic RHINE CRUISE past castle-crested hills and terraced vineyards. In Cologne, visit the awesome twin-spired gothic CATHEDRAL before traveling to Amsterdam, capital of Holland. (B,D)
Day #13 Amsterdam. A Local Guide shows you the 700-year-old city, including Dam Square with the Royal Palace. Highlight is a CANAL CRUISE past patrician mansions and humpback bridges, followed by a visit to a major DIAMOND CENTER. Join an optional excursion that includes a visit to a working windmill and dinner in the pretty fishing village of Volendam—the best way to say Tot Ziens to Holland. (B)
Day #14 Amsterdam. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Hotels:
PARIS Mercure Paris Centre Tour Eiffel (F)
LUCERNE Ameron Flora (F)
LUGANO Novotel Lugano Paradiso (F)
FLORENCE Hilton Garden Inn (F)
ROME Crowne Plaza St. Peter’s (SF)
VENICE Plaza (F) at Mestre
MUNICH Holiday Inn Munich City Centre (F)
RHINELAND NH Bingen (F) at Bingen am Rhein
AMSTERDAM NH Carlton (F)