Enjoy a fast-paced trip to some of Europe’s most popular cities. Start in London and ride the high-speed Eurostar train to Paris. Here, enjoy guided sightseeing including a ride up to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower for a spectacular view over this fascinating city. Continue to the Alps and stay in picture-book Lucerne, Switzerland, with a chance to join an optional ride by cable car to Mount Pilatus. Arrive in Milan, Italy’s commercial capital, admire the gothic Duomo and word-famous La Scala Theater, and enjoy a traditional Milanese risotto dinner. Continue to romantic Venice and enter the city in the most exclusive way possible: by private water taxi. Admire St. Mark’s Square, enjoy a glassblower’s demonstration, and a pizza party at a local restaurant. Via Florence, where a guided walking tour shows you the city’s highlights, arrive in Rome, where dinner at a local restaurant is included to try out local specialties, as well as visits to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Colosseum, and the Roman Forum.
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–Paris, France. Meet your Tour Director and traveling companions, and head for the railway station to board the high-speed EUROSTAR TRAIN to Paris. Time to start exploring this magnificent city, and later, you may wish to join an optional dinner at one of Paris’ lively restaurants followed by an illumination drive through the “City of Light.” (B)
Day #3 Paris. Morning guided sightseeing of the world capital of chic and style features the Opéra, Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysées, and more. For a bird’s-eye view, take the elevator to the second floor of Paris’ most famous landmark: the EIFFEL TOWER. An optional excursion to the magnificent Louvre Museum with the famous Mona Lisa is available, and tonight, a cabaret show may just be the ticket! (B)
Day #4 Paris–Lucerne, Switzerland. Leave Paris, drive past Fontainebleau Forest and enter Burgundy. Enjoy views of a few castles and the vineyards on your way to the Swiss Alps and to picture-book Lucerne. Orientation includes Thorwaldsen’s emotional LION MONUMENT, dedicated to the fallen Swiss Guards who protected the Royal House of France during the French Revolution. Walk through the Old Town and cross the CHAPEL BRIDGE to the Jesuit Church. Tonight is your chance to yodel and blow an alphorn during an optional Swiss Folklore dinner party. (B)
Day #5 Lucerne–Milan, Italy. In the morning, you may wish to climb Mount Pilatus by cable car and shop for Swiss watches and chocolate. Then, have your cameras ready during an exciting drive along the St. Gotthard highway, which leads straight through the Swiss Alps and the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino. Enter Italy and arrive in Milan. Walk through Milan’s center admire the gothic Duomo, the Gallery, and famous La Scala Theater. Arrive at your restaurant, where a [LF] traditional Milanese risotto dinner with wine awaits you. (B,D)
Day #6 Milan–Venice. Prepare for a VIP entrance to Venice, city of romantics. [LF] Board your private WATER TAXI for an exciting ride on the Grand Canal to ST. MARK’S SQUARE. Enjoy a GLASSBLOWER demonstration, then time to further explore this fascinating city on your own. A PIZZA PARTY with wine at a local restaurant has been included. (B,D)
Day #7 Venice–Florence–Rome. Cross the Apennine Mountains on your way to Florence, “Cradle of the Renaissance.” A guided walking tour features the cathedral and its baptistry, the “Gate of Paradise,” and a visit to sculpture-studded SIGNORIA SQUARE. Then, continue through the Chianti vineyards and olive-clad Tuscan Hills to Rome, the “Eternal City.” Upon arrival, enjoy a special pasta dinner with wine at one of Rome’s lively restaurants. (B,D)
Day #8 Rome. Sightseeing with your Local Guide starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL, world famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling paintings. Continue to monumental ST. PETER’S SQUARE and BASILICA. Cross the Tiber and visit the COLOSSEUM and the ROMAN FORUM, where Roman legions marched in triumph. 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 #9 Rome. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Hotels:
LONDON Hilton London Metropole (SF)
PARIS Marriott Paris Rive Gauche (SF)
LUCERNE Royal (F)
MILAN Marriott (SF)
VENICE Delfino (F) at Mestre
ROME NH Midas (F)